Testing / comparing : Intel D975XBX2 / Asus P5B DX ***56K WARNING***

[K3Fallout]

Ah, ok. Well I just received my mobo! I'm going to start building tomorrow. Here are some more noob questions but I must clarify or else I'll be too afraid to even start building.
1. I have an SATA hdd and a SATA dvd drive. Does it matter where I plug it in on the mobo? I remember reading and everyone said to plug it in the black slots.
2. If I were to add another SATA hdd, I wouldn't run through any problems with any RAID or AHCI or anything right? I don't really care for those things, I just want more space.
3. Since this is a new build and I want to update to the latest BIOS when is the good time to update it? Right after I succeed in POSTing? After Windows is installed? I plan to use that ISO method nealh pointed out.
4. Still unanswered question on the Heatsink fan. Can I control the fan speed through connecting it to the mobo or do I have to use my fan controller? It's no big problem if I have to, I'd just like less wires going everywhere.

..That's pretty much all I can think of. Once again, please forgive me about these questions.

[redphil]

1. I have an SATA hdd and a SATA dvd drive. Does it matter where I plug it in on the mobo? I remember reading and everyone said to plug it in the black slots.

The controller for the black slots is better, yes. Shouldn't matter so much with single drives.

2. If I were to add another SATA hdd, I wouldn't run through any problems with any RAID or AHCI or anything right? I don't really care for those things, I just want more space.

No need for dealing with RAID, just plug in the second/third/whatever hdd and you can use them.

3. Since this is a new build and I want to update to the latest BIOS when is the good time to update it? Right after I succeed in POSTing? After Windows is installed? I plan to use that ISO method nealh pointed out.

Afaik it doesn't matter when you do it. Biggest problem is that you'll have to reenter the biossettings after flashing, so it make sense to do it before working in the bios.

4. Still unanswered question on the Heatsink fan. Can I control the fan speed through connecting it to the mobo or do I have to use my fan controller? It's no big problem if I have to, I'd just like less wires going everywhere.

AFAIK there's an automatic control or you can use speedfan or idcc for softwarecontroling.

[K3Fallout]

I checked speedfan and this mobo doesn't seem to be supported but I'll check out idcc. Thanks!
EDIT: I googled it and didn't seem to get anything for idcc. Also for the hard drives.. is it necessary to set them to IDE, or can I leave them as is? Once again, sorry.

[wa2000]

I checked speedfan and this mobo doesn't seem to be supported but I'll check out idcc. Thanks!
EDIT: I googled it and didn't seem to get anything for idcc. Also for the hard drives.. is it necessary to set them to IDE, or can I leave them as is? Once again, sorry.

IDCC = Intel Desktop Control Center

[K3Fallout]

Ok, thanks! I'm assuming that I should go for the 2.2 version since I don't Have Windows Vista?

[nealh]

Nvm

[JZX100]

Can anyone explain to me about the board killing ram?
Is it common problem or it will happen if i push the voltages too much?

[Hooker]

Okay, something really odd happened just now. I was doing my daily dosis of Counter-Strike Source, doing pretty good even, until my PC crashed.

BSOD (couldn't make out the error message, I reinstalled Vista recently and forgot to de-flag the automatic reboot). This didn't scare me as much as games tend to hang pretty often as I'm running the nVidia Beta Drivers (for CoH DX10 support).

It was just a typical Source-engine crash, hanging/looping sound only this time not returning to Windows.

Now comes the ugly part, after the BSOD went away to reboot my PC, the POST'ing never got done. It just won't post, normal or recovery BIOS. I don't have another PC with which I can swap pieces to test them individually, and I was wondering if any of you know some things I can do to find the culprit. As right now, I've got a €3400 POS sitting here doing nothing At first I thought it must have been the temperature (it's really warm today, 30 degrees from the usual 20 or so), So I let everything cool down first, but alas, no booting PC.

I was running the latest BIOS (2747 if I'm not mistaken)
The QX6700 was at 11* 310
533:800 strap
RAM was at 465 4-4-12 2.12V
I believe the voltages for the chipset were up 1 notch, the CPU 3 or 4 notches

8800GTX was at 625:1010 IIRC

Other specs in signature

[kpax]

... and I was wondering if any of you know some things I can do to find the culprit.

You're in a tight situation. What I would do is
1) check if mobo/cpu is dead; unplug everything except for the video card; take out the ram and turn on your computer; you should get 3 beeps (no ram); i think you should get 3 beeps even if your video card is dead
2) if you don't get those 3 beeps the motherboad/cpu might be fried; normally you would need a test cpu to detect which one is dead (i would buy a 40$ LGA445 Pentium 4 known to work with this mobo and try that one; also, you have the possibility to borrow a cpu from a friend, but i had cases where a dead mobo fried every cpu plugged into it, so don't try with an expensive cpu); if the new cpu still does not work, rma the mobo (i hope you did not do any pencil mod or so)
3) if you get those 3 beeps, put 1 dimm in and try posting; if it does not work try another dimm; the video card might still be the culprit in this case
4) if it still does not post, try resetting cmos (removing battery for like 10 mins), but be careful (i don't know if removing the battery voids the board warranty or not)

I hope some of these steps help you. Normally, if you fried a DIMM it should post and show less RAM, so I don't think it's the memory. But taking the RAM out and not getting those 3 beeps will eliminate the video card and reduce the usual suspects to 2: cpu and mobo.

[Hooker]

Okay, thanks for the reply!!


I just tried what you said, booting the rig with just the mobo, cpu and vga-card. And I heard no beeps (the speaker intergrated in the motherboard should beep right? Or do I need to hook one up?) So by your theory either the mobo, cpu or both have died. What would royally suck!! If my house-mate gets home today/this weekend I might be able to test the 8800. That way I'll at least know if that's either working/broken.

I'm looking for a test-cpu, cheapest one I can find is a Celeron 336 for €48 (including S&H) but that wouldn't get here until like Tuesday/Wednesday. Can't buy any motherboard either as it needs to be Quad-core ready :/

Why me, why now?! (exam week = now)

[kpax]

coz usually that's when it happens...
what i can tell you is that i had some probs with a DIMM (which I RMAed in the end), and while testing the mobo with that defective stick and everything else plugged in, i always got 3 beeps, no need to attach the case speaker.
btw, do any leds turn on when powering the system? also, PSU might be at fault to some extent...
from what you say, the mobo/cpu are the no 1 candidates, but do test that 8800 first!

[Hooker]

Yup, PWR led keeps on going, HDD led is doing nothing when those are connected.


One thing that I can't quite comprehend is to what triggered it. With a too-high overclock the system would hang when too many sounds were played in game. Gunsounds with radio command grenades and plugin sounds etc (still talking Counter-Strike). This happened when I killed someone, making the game playback the "HEADSHOT!" sample, this is when/where it happened, where I got the BSOD.

But if indeed the CPU and/or Mobo are FUBAR'ed, why could is still make and display that BSOD screen?!?

[K3Fallout]

Hey guys I just finished building my pc and it's working. kind of. For some reason the hard drive can't be detected. Is it dead? I'd be pretty pissed if it is. I check the bios and the auto detect was on auto and it was set as native and IDE.

[kpax]

yes, it would normally freeze and you would need to do a hard reset... but...
did you try resetting the cmos? best approach would be to try make it post with no OC in place.

[K3Fallout]

Can someone please help me with my issue? The issue is the post I made above kpax. Here are some images of what's going on.

Here are some horrible quality pictures:
First I see my video card:

Then this mess:

[kpax]

what kind of hdd do you have? if it's sata what connectors did you plug it in? the black ones are from intel, the other ones, blue and red, are marvell
i would recommend using the black sata connectors if you have a sata drive; also, if you have 2 power connectors (sata and std molex), like in case of WD Raptor, use only one.
your second screen is ok if you have nothing connected to the blue sata connectors. to get rid of it, disable secondary sata controller from bios (advanced -> peripheral config -> secondary sata controller)

[K3Fallout]

I have a Seagate 160gb. Yeah I'm only trying to use the black ports, specifically Port 0.

[Woland]

Since you have no OS on the HD its not bootable Try installing one

[Hooker]

Okay, posting now from the main computer. So hurdle no#1 has been passed. Only, it's as unstable as ****.

What I did was take out the CMOS battery for an hour (actually forgot about taking it out until I read your reply again kpax). I took it out briefly before but that didn't do anything, but after the hours I was able to POST again. Could boot into Windows, everything in seemlingly working order (OC gone though, running stock now for the time being). Was posting a lengthly reply changing the time as the CMOS wiped out everything and boom, another BSOD. Only the 8800 had it's OC on (RivaTuner on startup).

I then spend approxiately 3 hours getting back into Windows, the winload.exe file corrupted :S. Couldn't repair it at first, until it hit me you can't do anything with this board and Windows when you're using a SATA optical drive. Hooked up the IDE, repaired Windows and here I am. Now the laborious task of finding out what the flying *** happened in the first place.

Once again kpax, thanks for the advice! (pressing post now as I don't want to lose this reply due to another reboot again :p)

[nealh]

will vFSB at given vcore help Prime run longer or does vcore often give the best additional stability

I am at 3600 on L629F with 1.4v in bios....ran 16.5 hrs of Blend before I locked at vFSB of 1.3/MCH of 1.575v...so to get longer prime I know increasing vcore wil lwork but would increasing Vfsb be a little helpful

[kpax]

I have a Seagate 160gb. Yeah I'm only trying to use the black ports, specifically Port 0.

you need to check in bios to see if hdd is detected; if it is, need to install os to boot (also check boot sequence)

[kpax]

Okay, posting now from the main computer. So hurdle no#1 has been passed. Only, it's as unstable as ****.

Was posting a lengthly reply changing the time as the CMOS wiped out everything and boom, another BSOD.

Don't rely on BSOD to check for stability. I had all kinds of weird problems in Windows until I used Orthos and saw that the system was unstable. Resetting the CMOS probably set your RAM voltage back to 1.84. Depending on the type of RAM you have, you might need to increase it. Try increasing up a notch and rerun Orthos. I found mine (4Gb OCZ) stable at 1.96V. Run Orthos for at least 6 hours (24h is recommended). Mine was showing errors after several minutes at 1.84V, after 30 mins at 1.92V. CPU and the other voltages should be fine on auto. After stabilizing the RAM, if you want to OC, start methodically and take notes, running Orthos after each voltage/frequency change.

Check you RAM specs to see what Corsair recommends. I usually try to find a voltage value under the specs which is stable.
Search the net for Corsair 6400C4D and read about the problems others had with it, timings and voltage, but don't use high values for too long. Either start from default 1.84 and increase the voltage until you find something stable or pick a higher value, i think 2.1V is recommended for your RAM (check your RAM recommended max to avoid warranty problems) and decrease until you find the stable min.

[D_o_S]

Does the Apogee GT work on the Bad Axe 2? Or are there fiment issues? What if I cut off the part that is meant for socket 939?

Thx.

[C'DaleRider]

Does the Apogee GT work on the Bad Axe 2? Or are there fiment issues? What if I cut off the part that is meant for socket 939?

Thx.

I read in another thread a couple of days ago of a fitment problem with the BX2 and the GT. Seems the MOSFET heatsinks get hit by part of the mounting plate. One mentioned he had to Dremel the sinks out a tad to get the GT to fit.

Of course, I can't find it right now........figures.

[gtj]

I read in another thread a couple of days ago of a fitment problem with the BX2 and the GT. Seems the MOSFET heatsinks get hit by part of the mounting plate. One mentioned he had to Dremel the sinks out a tad to get the GT to fit.

Of course, I can't find it right now........figures.

Dremmel the mounting plate, not the heatsinks. Doesn't take much.