Sapphire A9RD580 Bug/Issues/Fixed

[xs64]

Hello everyone , who owns a Sapphire A9RD580
I create this topic to discuss about this mobo : bugs , how to fix , trick ect

I have this mobo for about 2 weeks , and got many issues with Bios
As far this mobo overclock very good , but the Bios has to be improved and fixed
And i tested with all Bios in Sapphire website ( 0403 , 0411 )

Ok , let's go

*1. PC will not turn on everytime you turn it off , including turn off your PSU or not. At this time clearing Cmos is your friend ( i did it too many times that cant remember in 2 weeks )

*2. With divider 200 , when you set Trwt-Twtr-Twr = 2-1-2 , it will auto change 3-1-2
With divider 166 , when you set Trwt-Twtr-Twr = 2-1-2 , it will auto change 2-1-3

*3. Divider 200 : Tref will be : 200 3.9us
Divider 166 : Tref will be : 166 3.9us
And U cant change this Tref in Bios

*4. In User Config Mode , only these settings can be adjusted : Max Async , Read Preamble , DDR Drive Strength N/P
The others cant be adjusted , they will not change or make PC not boot

That's all the issues of Timings setting

*5. Issues of LDT Freq.: cant set 5 when HTT is over 280 , you must set it 4 for HTT 280 --> 340 or more . Even when you pump up HT Link Volt , PCIe Volt or CFx3200 Volt ect

*6. One more issue is the Vcore :
Better not adjust CPU Vid Control , just leave it at DF and adjust the CPU Volt Offset
Or you must set CPU Volt Offset = 0.24v , then adjust CPU Vid Control

And for sweet Overclocking your CPU , i recommend these setting

First , leave the HTT bus at DF , set RD580 HT Drive Strength and RD580 HT Receiver Comp. = 31 , RD580 HT PLL Control = Fast
And then turn off PC ( PSU too )
Then turn PC on , start raising HTT ect

And even chipset RD580 is not too hot , but the passive heatsink of Sapphire seems too much hot , i cant touch the HS in 3 seconds ( about 80°C at full load without airflow )

Also there is no Software can monitor Temps , Volts ect. ATI System manager can only adjust HTT , no more. This is very annoying for end-user who hope this board can OC like hell

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Maybe there are still some bugs that i have not faced them. So please feel free to report.

Best Regards.

ps : sry for my poor EN


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Update :

Ok, Speedfan does work if started with the /NOSMBSCAN option. At least I can now somehow check my CPU temp on this "great" overclocker mobo....
........
Found out how to make Lavalys Everest not freeze the system: Create EVEREST.INI in the program folder. Content:

[Generic]

LowLevelSMBus=0

[situman]

Sounds like a half baked board, bios wise.

[balrog]

This board is giving me some headaches too. Via google i found this link, which could be helpful. Couldn't test it myself...

http://www.cdrinfo.com/fw/Overclocki...Xpress3200.pdf

*5. Issues of LDT Freq.: cant set 5 when HTT is over 280 , you must set it 4 for HTT 280 --> 340 or more . Even when you pump up HT Link Volt , PCIe Volt or CFx3200 Volt ect

I don't think this is an issue. HTT 4x280 = 1120 should be sufficient. Everything above 600 should have no performance impact.

[balrog]

Found out how to make Lavalys Everest not freeze the system: Create EVEREST.INI in the program folder. Content:

[Generic]

LowLevelSMBus=0

[Marlowe]

Thanks a lot for making this thread! Finally seeing some temps and voltages

I think the board reads the temps a bit low.. Or maby this is normal temps for stock 144 with Tuniq? Touching 32 after a while now..

[balrog]

Marlowe, I think Temp1 is the CPU!

I got the following readings on running Prime95:

Temp2 went from 24 to 39 C
Temp1 went from 34 to 42 C

this is running on an Arctic Freezer 64 on full speed (yes, no fan speed management, great achievement Sapphire!).

I think T2 maybe the bridge chip and T1 the CPU.

[xs64]

I don't think this is an issue. HTT 4x280 = 1120 should be sufficient. Everything above 600 should have no performance impact.

Maybe , but i used Asus A8R32-MVP too ( chipset RD580 ) , and it easily run with HTT 300 and LDT 5 with no more volt needed
My DFI NF4 can run HTT 300 LDT 5 with LDT volt 1.4v

This Sapphire can not run LDT 5 even more volt

[balrog]

Maybe , but i used Asus A8R32-MVP too ( chipset RD580 ) , and it easily run with HTT 300 and LDT 5 with no more volt needed
My DFI NF4 can run HTT 300 LDT 5 with LDT volt 1.4v

This Sapphire can not run LDT 5 even more volt

Maybe, but HTT 1500 or above is giving nothing to performance. it just generates more heat. stay around 1000 and be fine.

Oder anders gesagt: Balkenlänge oder Schwanzlänge ist uninteressant - ab einem bestimmten Punkt bringt mehr halt nicht mehr. HTT 1000 ist ausreichend für die zu transportierenden Daten.

[Marlowe]

I really think Temp2 is supposed to be cpu, since it variates a bit like it typically does.. And also it has the same temps as it says in the bios.

[macci]

*6. One more issue is the Vcore :
Better not adjust CPU Vid Control , just leave it at DF and adjust the CPU Volt Offset
Or you must set CPU Volt Offset = 0.24v , then adjust CPU Vid Control

Did you also try the latest A0411_A.bin (dated 19th Apr.) BIOS?
It seems that the VID + Offset control is now working in this release. It will list unsupported (by the CPU) VID values (such as 1.425-1.55V in the case of my FX60) but as long as you select a VID supported by the CPU both VID and Offset controls appear to be working now.
But then again it might be easier to just let VID to default and adjust voltage higher w/ the Offset setting which offers 0.60V above VID value (that should be enough?)

[Marlowe]

The zip seems to be corrupt, can't extract.
BIOS Apr 19th, 2006 2K060411A 408.3KB http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/driverfiles/114.zip

Can you link from somewhere?

Edit: Sorry it's ok!

[macci]

The zip seems to be corrupt, can't extract.
BIOS Apr 19th, 2006 2K060411A 408.3KB http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/driverfiles/114.zip

Can you link from somewhere?

Just downloaded from the link you provided and it extracts ok. Redownload perhaps?

There are still some issues with this release thou - update coming ASAP (should get rid of the boot up problems and give higher HTT X5 clock). Please be patient

[Marlowe]

The board will not go directly to high HTTs, needs to go in steps of 20-30 MHz?

Doesn't like running my memory at 2,5-3-3-..?

Highest I've reached till now is 295 HTT. Not touched "HT Drive Strength" or "HT Receiver Comp" yet. Finally getting somewhere

[Grayskull]

Guys please be patient. All of these issues have been tracked down to bios issues. Sapphire has been notified and is working on an update.

The board will be totally different with the newly updated bios. The ATI reference boards with reference bios do not suffer from these issues.

There is no need to overclock in increments when everything is working properly (including proper bios). You should be able to cold boot at 1400-1600 HT link no problem (variances based on CPU/board etc). Just FYI, every reference board that we have tried can cold boot and run anything error free at 1500 HT link with the right settings (HT PLL high speed mode and optimal drive settings).

[Grayskull]

A new version of ATI System Manager will also follow with full support for the Manta reference board and any board based off of it (like the Sapphire board). It already exists as everyone has already seen from Chew* and Tony. It is undergoing a slight change and then full testing for release to the public.

We do not encourage the use of any 3rd party applications for motherboard monitoring as it cannot be guaranteed that they will work properly.

[pcdoc1]

We do not encourage the use of any 3rd party applications for motherboard monitoring as it cannot be guaranteed that they will work properly.

I for one are thrilled that ATI is active and paying attention to what’s happening with the RD580 boards regardless of the manufacturer… but I think you guys have been very slow to respond to problems. Additionally… statements like

We do not encourage the use of any 3rd party applications for motherboard monitoring as it cannot be guaranteed that they will work properly.

...are rather irrelevant when you are lucky that your $200.00+ board will even post, let alone worry ‘bout monitoring… With that said, when you see a screenie of ATI System Manager and you ask the poster for a link/copy of the app, you receive the response that it’s not for public release and “sorry ‘bout your luck”… So what alternatives are you suggesting?

Edit:

There is no need to overclock in increments when everything is working properly (including proper bios). You should be able to cold boot at 1400-1600 HT link no problem (variances based on CPU/board etc). Just FYI, every reference board that we have tried can cold boot and run anything error free at 1500 HT link with the right settings (HT PLL high speed mode and optimal drive settings).

Does this mean that top level board manufacturers are not qualified to code a bios for this chipset without ATI's guidance? No offense here (I know I'm gonna get clobbered on this) but, if you forget Sapphire, does DFI, Asus, and Abit really need training from ATI?

[i found nemo]

Maybe, but HTT 1500 or above is giving nothing to performance. it just generates more heat. stay around 1000 and be fine.

Oder anders gesagt: Balkenlänge oder Schwanzlänge ist uninteressant - ab einem bestimmten Punkt bringt mehr halt nicht mehr. HTT 1000 ist ausreichend für die zu transportierenden Daten.

can you PLEASE explain how that is true?

[Grayskull]

You have to understand that ATI is working with other parties to get the issues solved. Once other parties are involved it generally takes more time to do things. These are Sapphire, ASUS, DFI, ECS, etc motherboards, NOT ATI motherboards.

The ATI System Manager that you are seeing screenshots of are beta versions being used by beta testers and haven't passed final qualifciation. This is why we are not allowing public distribution at this time. But we will. We are trying to keep one version that will support any ATI reference board and this adds complication. Qualification takes time and we want to release a fully working tool.

As for boards not posting and whatnot, ATI cannot control build quality and production testing of motherboards designed with our chipsets. I suggest that you contact your motherboard manufacturer or retail outlet if this happens.

I for one are thrilled that ATI is active and paying attention to what’s happening with the RD580 boards regardless of the manufacturer… but I think you guys have been very slow to respond to problems. Additionally… statements like ...are rather irrelevant when you’re lucky that your $200.00+ board will even post let alone worry ‘bout monitoring… With that said, when you see a screenie of ATI System Manager and you ask the poster for a link or a copy of the app, you receive the response that it’s not for public release and “sorry ‘bout your luck�… So what alternatives are you suggesting?

[Grayskull]

Valid question...yes most Tier 1 and Tier 2 motherboard makers are skilled enough and do not require training. However they do need to program the chipset properly, especially for overclocking and to do so, they need programming instructions from the chipset vendor (in this case ATI)


Edit: Does this mean that top level board manufacturers are not qualified to code a bios for this chipset without ATI's guidance? No offense here (I know I'm gonna get clobbered on this) but, if you forget Sapphire, does DFI, Asus, and Abit really need training from ATI?[/QUOTE]

[situman]

Glad to see ATI reps are actively making sure that their produces are utilized correctly and to its full potential. The boards are even widely available yet, not in the US at least. So rushing is pointless for some of us. Besides, haven't we learned what rushed hardware/software is capable of doing to our wallets and patience? Just ask the many early DFI NF4 adopters. Although I must say, it would be a great idea to have a Built by ATI mobo and a new bios release every 1.5month or so. That way, when people (Joe sixpacks) buy ATI cards naturally they would think it is a good idea to pair it up with an ATI mobo and vice versa. Well, at least ATI can advertise it that way.

BTW, anyone seen that Nvidia rep around? Anyone? Anyone?

[markr]

Grayskull your avatar needs an upgrade.

[pcdoc1]

Valid question...yes most Tier 1 and Tier 2 motherboard makers are skilled enough and do not require training. However they do need to program the chipset properly, especially for overclocking and to do so, they need programming instructions from the chipset vendor (in this case ATI)


Edit: Does this mean that top level board manufacturers are not qualified to code a bios for this chipset without ATI's guidance? No offense here (I know I'm gonna get clobbered on this) but, if you forget Sapphire, does DFI, Asus, and Abit really need training from ATI?

Three cheers, I appreciate your response... It's clear in my sig what product I'm testing/using and I'm very content with it... I didn't intend to highjack the thread and will regress from any further OT discussion… Certainly my opinions/conclusions are irrelevant; but I appreciate your response and are satisfied that the growing pains will be resolved…

Regards-

[pcdoc1]

....BTW, anyone seen that Nvidia rep around? Anyone? Anyone?

situman: yep, to my surprise he posted a few weeks ago suggesting that my OC problems were related to the “ingrown� toenail on my left foot; he stated that he was going to level 1 tech support to resolve the issue. To date I haven’t received any response, but I’m still confident that they will prescribe a med that will fix the problem…

Regards

[Marlowe]

I'm in a debate wether to return this mobo now or wait 3-4 months for the finished bios and software. Sapphire needs to sharpen up.

[xs64]

Guys please be patient. All of these issues have been tracked down to bios issues. Sapphire has been notified and is working on an update.

The board will be totally different with the newly updated bios. The ATI reference boards with reference bios do not suffer from these issues.

There is no need to overclock in increments when everything is working properly (including proper bios). You should be able to cold boot at 1400-1600 HT link no problem (variances based on CPU/board etc). Just FYI, every reference board that we have tried can cold boot and run anything error free at 1500 HT link with the right settings (HT PLL high speed mode and optimal drive settings).

Thx for your responsibility
I'm waiting day after day for the "superior Bios"

he board will not go directly to high HTTs, needs to go in steps of 20-30 MHz?

Did you set HT Drive strength = 31 and save Bios , turn off PC , then turn on and go directly to HTT 290 ? I guess it will work