The OFFICIAL MSI K8N Neo2-939 tips and tricks guide thread

[charlie]

MSI Neo2 nforce3



overclocking options
Bus Speed: 200-300mhz in 1mhz steps
Bus Multiplier: 1x-5x
CPU Multiplier: 4x-20x
AGP speed: 66-100 in 1mhz steps

overvolting options
Vcore: 1.4-1.85* in 0.05v steps *1.90 with bios 1.36b
Vdimm: 2.55-2.85* in 0.05v steps *overvolts to 2.90v on most boards
Vagp: 1.55 to 1.85 in 0.05v steps

periphals and features
IDE: 2 ATA 133 slots
IDE raid: 0,1,0+1,JBOD
SATA: 4 SATA 150 slots (2 are unlocked)
SATA raid: 0,1,0+1,JBOD
sata+ide drives in raid: yes
Firewire: 3 IEEE 1394A ports
LAN: nforce3 integrated gigabit ethernet
Sound: realtec ALC850 8 channel

links
mainboard homepage: K8N neo2 Platinum
forum discussion: The OFFICIAL MSI K8N Neo2-939 tips and tricks guide thread
review #1: Anandtech
review #2: Hothardware
review #3: Hardwareluxx (german)
vmod #1: vcore
vmod #2: vdimm
vmod #3: vht
vmod #4: vdd


pros
very stable vcore up to 1.90v read the tips to see how to get 1.9v
vdimm overvolts to 2.90v on highest setting
VTT tracks automatically, OCZ DDR-Booster works up to 4,0V (put it in ram slot 4)
runs great with ballistix
runs great with tccd memory
runs great with bh5 (needs bios 1.36b or newer)
2x Memory Interleaving?

cons
cpu socket position problematic for some cases
vdimm mod requieres trace cutting
SATA ports 1 and 2 are not locked, use slots 3 and 4 (closest to the cpu)
issues with ram slots 3&4 not working very well seems to work fine for some people
cpu temperature reading not working correctly seems to work fine for some people
doesnt like ocz eb

TIPS
TIP: you have to disable cool n quiet when ocing
TIP: Cpu fan header must be connected, if not the pc could experience boot problems
TIP: if you have problems booting with BH5 try another stick of memory and set vdimm to the max and make sure you set the cas latency to 2.5 or 2.0 as bh5 wont boot with cas 3.0, then swap in the BH5
TIP: the CPU backplate is hard to get off on the MSI ... just heat it with a hair dryer, it will come off easily then
TIP: for best performance the MSI only needs Vdimm/3.3V bypass mod (or the OCZ booster).
Yet to try a chipset mod or HTT mod on the MSI ... it may help with LDT 4x @ > 260 HTT bus speeds
TIP: shut down core center after you used it to adjust or check your settings, if left running it might crash your system
TIP: if you have problems booting at low temps with a winchester try the latest beta bios
TIP: disable fast writes
TIP: only bios 1.36beta and 1.37beta allow up to 1.9v vcore
TIP: color coded ram slots are different than other 939 boards. Slots 1&2 are the ones nearer to the CPU and are dual channel
TIP: use HTT multiplier 4x up to ~260 and 3x up to ~290
TIP: use the + and - or PgUP and PgDn keys to change the htt speed, DO NOT HIT ENTER
TIP: check out the official msi 939 neo2 tips and tricks guide thread
TIP: check out this 2 ram compability lists: 1 2
TIP: In the bios press and hold Shift+F2 and then press ALT+F3 to unlock "hidden" features within the BIOS
TIP: If anyone has trouble getting low temp readings downlaod the latest MBM5 (use the K8N NEO Plat mobo selection, click settings,temps,CPU,and choose the first option for Winbond Diode 2)
TIP: if you experience problems with Antec Neopower and Truepower PSUs and also with PowerStream PSUs, try Bios 1.37 and turn the PSU off after you shut down, seems to help as well
TIP: Dissable Agressive Timings in Cell Menu if you're going to overclock
TIP: some people had close to no thermal compount on the nb, if your nb runs hot add some thermal compound (WARNING! might hurt your warranty)
here is a guide that explains how to remove the nb heatsink
TIP: The MAch II needs a new firmware to operate with this board get it here
TIP: the vcore of winchesters seems to undervolt about 0.1V, max vcore for winchesters is 1.7V
TIP: bios collection: 1.10, 1.20, 1.23, 1.25, 1.30, 1.33, 1.34, 1.35, 1.36, 1.37, 1.41
TIP: beta biosses
TIP: 1.37 modded bios by Trats 1 2
TIP: lots of biosses, incl. beta and modded ones with changelogs
TIP: bios flash guide
TIP: windows tool bios flash guide
TIP: newer boards, with S/N:K0411xxxxxx and S/N:K0410xxxxxx, seem to no longer have a bug with winchesters at low minus temps
TIP: get Codered's A64 tweaker
TIP: if you have BH-5 memory use the A64 tweaker and lower the timings as described here
TIP: OC Guide for the msi k8n neo2 by XS GraveDiggA
right click save as and open with wordpad
TIP: corsair xl pro memory wont fit in the board with an xp-90 or xp-120 heatsink
TIP: the newer northbridges (0410/0411) seem to need less vdimm to reach the same overclock in 1:1!
TIP: If you are having trouble getting windows to boot from SATA ("Error Loading Operating System"), be sure to set SATA1/2/3/4 RAID to "ENABLED", even if you are not running RAID
TIP: older bios revisions need the agp speed set to 67mhz to lock it
TIP: disable aggressive chipset timings (performance mode) when ocing
TIP: if you boot with trcd 2 vdimm seems to drop 0.1v, boot with trcd 3 and use corecell or codered's a64 tweaker to set it to 2 in windows
TIP: bios 1.36b and 1.37 and modded variants seem to work best for bh5/bh6
TIP: to reach 1.9v vcore set 1.5 in bios + 3.3%, then get in windows use core center all the way up, and finally you use NF3 Clock-gen add 0.05v...it's about like 1.9v
TIP: turn off NV/ATI Speed Up in the hidden bios settingsas it ocs most cards gpu
TIP: It is about TRFC timing , when u run ram dividers other than 200 it changes TRFC from 14 to lower values and it limits memory overclocking. If u set it by a64 tweaker to 14 then memory overclocks as good as in 200 divider.



check out the ultimate 939 mobo guide here for informations, bugfixes and tips for all 939 mainboards
Game snacks from the Coles specials this week will be the main thing everyone seeks.




EDIT:
-saaya

[cowpuppy]

Nice to see you back charlie. What cpu did you pick up to run in the MSI?

The pic I have for the vcore mod, it's kind of hard to tell which leg of the chip it is on the one side. Charlie will you post some picks of the mods when you get them done. My board should be here Tues. Did you see the latest bios update gives HTT up to 450 I would be happy with a little 270-5 1/1 action.

I was talking to kingpin and if this board will do some good FSB we are going to team up and put it under his chilly1 cascade, between the two of us we have plenty of memory, 2 9800XT PE's along with a TAP warranty at CompUSA, and a proven 3gz FX53 and if that doesn’t go 3.3+ it has a warranty at Newegg too.

Mods: http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41350
http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40136

I have a beta bios that Onepagebook gave me a link to here ya go http://www.e04hardware.com/W7025NMS.135

[charlie]

cowpuppy,
I'm getting a 3500+ 90nm this week to hold me over 'til fx55. I'll try to use the OCZ DDR booster thingie, and maybe some khx3000 bh5 or some tccd... MSI really has a lousy reputation, but this MAY be the board to bring them back to the table! Onepagebook has had some good #'s! I don't have a good pic of vcore mod, only the one from kyosen, right?
Sounds like you guys could definitely do some damage! Will be intresting to see
Hopefully everyone will see fit to drop k8n neo2 nuggets HERE as they're discovered!

C

[cowpuppy]

Ya the vcore mod by kyosen. I can't tell on the left side which leg that wire is on, it kind of looks on the 2nd one down, maybe we could get hell-fire to mark up a pic for us.

[d]g[ts]

Thats the same chip as on the gigabyte k8n 754 board. Should be 5th pin from top on right to ground.

You guys find hidden bios options in bios 1.2? they are in cell menu, and accessed by hitting shift + F2 then ALT + F3 not sure yet what they do ,but was curious to see what others have found.

[Mariachi]

Nice info...
I'll be getting that mobo next week, might be helpful

Thank you very much cowpuppy for the vmod info !!

[`schr0et]

Just got the board today, really nice package. Slots 1&2 are top most or bottom?

[Levish]

1&2 are nearer to the CPU

[Frost_Bite]

I have been playing with the board for quite some time, and have kinda gotten to know its quirks.

First...this board did not like my BH-5 Mushkin or PC3700EB. The BH-5 would only allow me to do about 210HTT, and the EB would run out quick at 218HTT. I picked up a gig of Crucial Ballistix PC4000 and it's humming at 260 x 10 1:1 with 2.85v. Run the RAM in slots 1 & 2, 3 & 4 will give DC...but it will cause instability.

In order to get the AGP to work, you need to set the freq to 67. Only SATA ports 3 & 4 have working PCI locks.

Within Cell Menu, press Shift F2 & ALT F3 to unlock "hidden" features within the BIOS. It has a couple of neat things, namely a "overdrive" function that works on any ATi or Nvidia card.

I could not get the OCZ Booster to work properly in this board. It causes major instability, even though vTT was tracking right.

[xgman]

Nice to see you back charlie. What cpu did you pick up to run in the MSI?

The pic I have for the vcore mod, it's kind of hard to tell which leg of the chip it is on the one side.

Pin 10 and pin 15.

I got tired of waiting for DFI, so I've decided to join the MSi Neo2 club and just ordered one to go with some new OCZ LE platinum 3700 ram they just put out. I'll do the vcore mod and use a booster on it I guess.

[xgman]

Thats the same chip as on the gigabyte k8n 754 board. Should be 5th pin from top on right to ground.

You guys find hidden bios options in bios 1.2? they are in cell menu, and accessed by hitting shift + F2 then ALT + F3 not sure yet what they do ,but was curious to see what others have found.

What about Bios 1.3?

[d]g[ts]

Options still there. also found in 1.3 that sideband addressing can be enable/dissabled after unlocking hidden options.

[xgman]

beta bios 1.36 (heard maybe higher vcore options)

http://www.maksys.biz/comcentral/showthread.php?t=128

[cowpuppy]

A little 3d action this is with stock vid card clocks

[xgman]

Booster or vmod on the ram? Only 2.9V at 259 2-2-2-?

[Alex08]

xgman what kind of chips are the new ocz 3700 platinums packing? lol ocz wouldnt tell me, they said to ask a third party.

[JNav89GT]

the booster works fine with this board. Charlie or cow you can pm me for beta bios. I can give some tips too. I reviewed board, and also reviewed booster on this board . PS charlie, you will need bios 1.2 or newer to even boot with that 0.09U cpu :O

[cowpuppy]

Booster or vmod on the ram? Only 2.9V at 259 2-2-2-?

Booster 3.4v CL2-2-2-6-11-16 BH-5

I had to turn LDT down to 3x to do any kind of OCing. Here is a bandwidth shot with my 3700EB@ 3.1v

[xgman]

the booster works fine with this board. Charlie or cow you can pm me for beta bios. I can give some tips too. I reviewed board, and also reviewed booster on this board . PS charlie, you will need bios 1.2 or newer to even boot with that 0.09U cpu :O

Which slot are your running the booster in? Slot 1?

[xgman]

Booster 3.4v CL2-2-2-6-11-16 BH-5

I had to turn LDT down to 3x to do any kind of OCing. Here is a bandwidth shot with my 3700EB@ 3.1v

Nice work. What timings on the EB's at 3.1v?

[xgman]

xgman what kind of chips are the new ocz 3700 platinums packing? lol ocz wouldnt tell me, they said to ask a third party.

Same at the 3200 Plat rev 2. They are all samsung.

[xgman]

the booster works fine with this board. Charlie or cow you can pm me for beta bios. I can give some tips too. I reviewed board, and also reviewed booster on this board . PS charlie, you will need bios 1.2 or newer to even boot with that 0.09U cpu :O

What is the max vcore and vdim with bios 1.36?

[charlie]

WOW! This is great.... all kinds of good stuff here! I'm just getting ready to order a CPU today.... but I don't have an EXTRA A64 processor to boot with to flash BIOS.... I thought I read somewhere that it WOULD boot with only 1 stick of ram in there! And BTW, only a week or less for FX-55 right?


C

[JNav89GT]

Which slot are your running the booster in? Slot 1?

farthest one from cpu

[JNav89GT]

WOW! This is great.... . I thought I read somewhere that it WOULD boot with only 1 stick of ram in there! And BTW, only a week or less for FX-55 right?


C

I never heard of that but you may be right charlie. I didn't have to worry as I had a spare cpu.

Also, TCCD oc's less on more voltage. I think that is why the OCZ I had didn't do well. This G.Skill I have is doing better at 2.6v vs higher.