Good design, good overclock, good pipe-The MSI P35 Neo2-FR overview

[[LCN]Knowledge]

Hey guys, did you know this?

A microcode reliability update is available that improves the reliability of systems that use Intel processors

Link: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=936357

I saw this on the OCZ Forums. If any of you are having system stability issues or strange system behaviour, get this update (for those using earlier BIOS).

[wyemarn]

Hey guys, did you know this?


Link: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=936357

I saw this on the OCZ Forums. If any of you are having system stability issues or strange system behaviour, get this update (for those using earlier BIOS).

It's included in XP SP3 RC1.

Anyone tried beta BIOS 1.81? I'm using it now but it seems not as good as 1.77.

[[LCN]Knowledge]

It's included in XP SP3 RC1.

Anyone tried beta BIOS 1.81? I'm using it now but it seems not as good as 1.77.

I just flashed to 1.81, it is still beta, but i can't notice any difference, just that it shows real vdroop (comparing against v1.1).

I wanted a BIOS that help me push my memory a bit farther, running it at DDR-2 900 5-5-5-15. No matter what i do, they wont pass memtest any higher.

Is BIOS 1.77 better than 1.1? regarding overclocking and stability.

[wyemarn]

I just flashed to 1.81, it is still beta, but i can't notice any difference, just that it shows real vdroop (comparing against v1.1).

I wanted a BIOS that help me push my memory a bit farther, running it at DDR-2 900 5-5-5-15. No matter what i do, they wont pass memtest any higher.

Is BIOS 1.77 better than 1.1? regarding overclocking and stability.

Try upping the tRFC. Actually no difference between 1.1 or 1.77 if you set the correct voltage. Vdrroop is normal. Setting 1.3V in 1.1 = 1.35V in 1.77.

[[LCN]Knowledge]

Yeah i did an extensive research about memory subtiming and I guess my memory is already maxed out. I tried tRFT at 62 but not luck.

[clon22]

Try upping the tRFC. Actually no difference between 1.1 or 1.77 if you set the correct voltage. Vdrroop is normal. Setting 1.3V in 1.1 = 1.35V in 1.77.

Yup, noticed the voltages too.

[wyemarn]

Official BIOS 1.7 is out.
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?f...1&prod_no=1261

Beta BIOS 1.83 is also out.
http://msi-forum.de/thread.php?threadid=31968&threadview=0&hilight=&hi lightuser=0&sid=a5e9701d020bfdcf3c4066e35b17631e&p age=21


Using 1.81. Going to try 1.83 instead of official 1.7

[s0bieski]

Guys i like that board. It looks very good and its cheap. I have question. Can i chase extreme overclocks with E8400 and that board (Neo2-FR)?

[[LCN]Knowledge]

Guys i like that board. It looks very good and its cheap. I have question. Can i chase extreme overclocks with E8400 and that board (Neo2-FR)?

Sure you can, i don't see why not. I'm very happy with mine. Lot of options in BIOS (Cell menu) for overclocking. Also my CPU and RAM go very well along with this board.

The only thing holding me back is my memory, but i'm still pushing, i guess i can do 3.4 but the memory will top out at that speed.

[[LCN]Knowledge]

Ppl have pushed this board to 570 FSB, and i see more and more ppl having good OC with it. Look a this: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/sh....php?t=1754798

And this is the official MSI guide for Maxing out Core2 with P35 Neo2FR/P35 Platinum: http://www.msicomputer.com/msiforms2/maxP35.asp

[dropglock]

Yo~

1. Anyone have any OC information on 8400 with this mobo?

2. Will this mobo boot up with the 8400 so I can flash it to the updated bios? I don't have a 775 CPU to flash this mobo with.

Thanks in Advanced.

[dropglock]

I just checked again on the MSI website, and it states support for 45nm chips has been since BIOS v1.4.
So, now I just hope I get a Rev 1.2 board.
What is the main difference between rev 1.2 and other revisions? Does it overclock as good?
WSX, how is your Neo2 FR rev 1.2?

The site says since BIOS 1.6.

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?f...1&maincat_no=1

[[LCN]Knowledge]

The board will boot E8200 with BIOS 1.1. I guess it should boot with E8400/E8500 too. Of course you should flash to a newer BIOS for better performance

Test Setup :
E8200 w/Intel default cooler.
Msi P35 Neo2-Fr Bios v1.1/1.81b
Corsair 6400C4DHX 2GB
Msi 8800GT 512Mb -OC Edition(Red Juliet)
Hitachi 160Gb sata
Acbel iGold 550w

Neo2/platinum Users take note:
If you are on any bios earlier than v1.6.
Do not worry, it will still boot and run fine.
You can always flash the bios later.

Here is the link: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/sh....php?t=1840396

[[LCN]Knowledge]

I guess this is the limit for these memories, they would need more voltage or loosening the timings a bit more, but i don't like those voltages. 3.2/3.3 with 4-4-4-15 timings and lower voltages is better for my taste

[Dr.Leary]

I have ~5 degrees celsius hotter temps on this board than my old Asus P5N-E SLI board with same CPU and settings. Does anybody experience the same?

[[XC] DragonOrta]

Just so everyone with this board knows, the onboard voltage sensors are crap, and vDroop is awesome.

With 1.48v selected in BIOS, I get 1.495 measured on my DMM and 1.485 running OCCT.

Speedfan reads 1.46 idle and 1.43 running OCCT.

[wyemarn]

Just so everyone with this board knows, the onboard voltage sensors are crap, and vDroop is awesome.

With 1.48v selected in BIOS, I get 1.495 measured on my DMM and 1.485 running OCCT.

Speedfan reads 1.46 idle and 1.43 running OCCT.

Does that mean no Vdroop when measured with your DMM? Your speedfan readings are quite good. Same with mine. 0.02V lower when idle and 0.04~0.05V lower when under olad

[clon22]

Thanks for the info. DragonOrta.

[[XC] DragonOrta]

Does that mean no Vdroop when measured with your DMM? Your speedfan readings are quite good. Same with mine. 0.02V lower when idle and 0.04~0.05V lower when under load

I get .005-.01v vDroop on mine, which is even lower than my P5K-E has with CPU Damper enabled.

I started poking around with my DMM because Speedfan was reporting 2.58 vDimm when I selected 2.15v in BIOS, which scared the hell out of me. DMM reported the 2.15v that I selected in BIOS, so I decided to figure out what else wasn't being reported right.

[Etihtsarom]

Hello all. I'm on the Platinum, but they're the same.
First I'd like to say I really like this board given the first impressions I've had with it. It took my old E6600 which topped out @3.5Ghz on Asus P5W DH to 3.8GHz. I am now using this board with my new 8400 and as most of us are aware, booting @4.5Ghz is not a big deal with this combination. Mine is currently Orthos stable 11hrs@4.1 and 4.3G, for whatever that's worth, albeit with a little of a high idle temp.
Having said that, I'd like to iron out a few things in order to be on the same page with every one about this board.
Here are my questions:
1. Still works with E8400 on Bios v.1.1, would upgrading Bios help with further performance and/or lowering temp?
2. This is sort of a comment: In terms of PCIE Frequency, when I set it to 101...the Sound card doesn't work. Resetting to 100 works. Just in case any one has this problem.
3. 5xSATA is a little bit lacking.
4. Setting a lower multi does not work. After setting a multi of 8, or 8.5, the board boots into Windows with a multi of 9 using the same FSB. Is this observed elsewhere?
5. Here are the voltages for my OC, please feel free to suggest any adjustments that might allow better results:
FSB@456x9=4.10Ghz
Vcore=1.3875
Memv=2.2
VTT FSB Vcore=1.25
NB voltage=1.5
SB I/O Pwr = 1.5
SV Core Pwr=1.15
Auto Disable DIMM/PCI Frequency=enabled


Adv. DRAM Conf:: 5-5-5-15

Idle Temp ~ 49C
Load Temp ~70C
Ambient ~30C
The system ran Orthos Small for 11 hrs, Memtest passed @ this setting.

6. There is agonizingly slow boot time particularly @ the "Initializing..." stage. Is this due to something and what can I do to correct it?
Thanks every one.

[wyemarn]

I get .005-.01v vDroop on mine, which is even lower than my P5K-E has with CPU Damper enabled.

I started poking around with my DMM because Speedfan was reporting 2.58 vDimm when I selected 2.15v in BIOS, which scared the hell out of me. DMM reported the 2.15v that I selected in BIOS, so I decided to figure out what else wasn't being reported right.

Speefan also reported higher vDimm with mine. I set 1.85V in BIOS but speedfan reporting 2.18V. So what is the real voltage with DMM? I agree the Fintek controller is crap. Nowhere near ASUS and uGuru's sensor.

Hello all. I'm on the Platinum, but they're the same.
First I'd like to say I really like this board given the first impressions I've had with it. It took my old E6600 which topped out @3.5Ghz on Asus P5W DH to 3.8GHz. I am now using this board with my new 8400 and as most of us are aware, booting @4.5Ghz is not a big deal with this combination. Mine is currently Orthos stable 11hrs@4.1 and 4.3G, for whatever that's worth, albeit with a little of a high idle temp.
Having said that, I'd like to iron out a few things in order to be on the same page with every one about this board.
Here are my questions:
1. Still works with E8400 on Bios v.1.1, would upgrading Bios help with further performance and/or lowering temp?
2. This is sort of a comment: In terms of PCIE Frequency, when I set it to 101...the Sound card doesn't work. Resetting to 100 works. Just in case any one has this problem.
3. 5xSATA is a little bit lacking.
4. Setting a lower multi does not work. After setting a multi of 8, or 8.5, the board boots into Windows with a multi of 9 using the same FSB. Is this observed elsewhere?
5. Here are the voltages for my OC, please feel free to suggest any adjustments that might allow better results:
FSB@456x9=4.10Ghz
Vcore=1.3875
Memv=2.2
VTT FSB Vcore=1.25
NB voltage=1.5
SB I/O Pwr = 1.5
SV Core Pwr=1.15
Auto Disable DIMM/PCI Frequency=enabled


Adv. DRAM Conf:: 5-5-5-15

Idle Temp ~ 49C
Load Temp ~70C
Ambient ~30C
The system ran Orthos Small for 11 hrs, Memtest passed @ this setting.

6. There is agonizingly slow boot time particularly @ the "Initializing..." stage. Is this due to something and what can I do to correct it?
Thanks every one.

1. Newer BIOS means more bug fix and newer firmware for your built in controllers. I suggest that you try the new ones and flash back to 1.1 if you are not satisfied. Pls bear in mind that if you flash to BIOS 1.4 and above, the lowest Vcore would be the CPU's VID. That means you have to set the Vcore 0.05V higher than your current settings to get the same voltage.

2. I have no problems with 105 or even more. Actually there is little or no performance benefit by upping PCI-E speed. Maybe new BIOS could solve the problem. Try the latest BIOS or stick with 100mhz

3. Actually the total no of SATA is 7. Two ports from ICH9-R are used as external sata. Ideal for external RAID setup. Do you actually need 5x500GB?

4. Did you turn of C1E and Speedstep? If not, mobo will automatically change the ratio. I have no problems running at 6, the lowest ratio.

5. I running on a different CPU but on that FSB speed(456) my system and RAM is stable with these voltages.
RAM : 1.85V (5-5-5-12)
VTT : 1.2V
NB : 1.275
SB I/O : 1.6
SB Core : 1.05V

IMHO, chipset doesn't need extreme voltages below FSB 500.

6. Did you enable Fast Boot? Maybe you have a lot of device. Try unplugging your USB devices and check the boot time.

Your temps are pretty high for 24/7 usage. I suggest you lower the Vcore and speed. Maybe 4Ghz would be ideal because no much difference in games after C2D passes 3Ghz. If you are doing encoding, should have got a quad.

[clon22]

Juz did a quick run on my E8400...
i didn't get a good chip thou...
Will try out more tomorrow..
Booted @ 1.1 then I flashed the bios over.
Using bios 1.83 now.

[Penguin463]

Awesome review

[dropglock]

Juz did a quick run on my E8400...
i didn't get a good chip thou...
Will try out more tomorrow..
Booted @ 1.1 then I flashed the bios over.
Using bios 1.83 now.

Sorry I am new to all this overclocking stuff. But how is that not a good chip? Your're getting 4ghz with only 1.150v. Is'nt that really GOOD?

[tty]

I changed my 4x1GB Team Elite 800 with some Adata 2x2GB 800+ kit.
Runs at 1000MHz 5-5-5-18 2.0v for now and I managed up to 1060MHz, using only 2.0-2.1v .
This is the memory:
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5475029
Actually thats not the memory I have, I couldn't find the one in US stores.
This is what I have:
http://www.memoryc.com/products/desc...kit/index.html