Official MSI P7N Diamond (780i) Discussion/Review/Overclock/Guide/BIOS Thread

[loonym]

I'm testing with the x3360 now. I know I need a fresh os install but since the P7N is my main rig I've been stalling. Not much success overclocking this cpu yet, although I can reach the cpu's fsb wall of 475 @ multi 8. Using 1.1 bios, the board will boot and let me use the 8.5 multi until I start changing settings in cell menu. After that it becomes unavailable. I'm trying to get taiwan to give me a new beta

edit: I'm glad to see more people enjoying and having successes with this board. I think it's a great clocker and extremely stable, reliable. With the recent bios releases I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone as the best 780i board available.

[AaronYuri]

TW won't give you a beta, because I don't even have it yet, LOL.

MSI are aware of the half-multiplier bug and are working on a fix. As soon as I get the new beta and/or performance BIOS release, they will be uploaded.

[loonym]

Beta bios 121 is available now at the msi forum. You need to reg there to d/l. It fixes the multi problem for the yorkfield quad (at least the Q9550/X3360 that I can verify) and should address wolfdale multi issue too. Also stated that there is a vid corruption fix included for anyone who has been having that problem. Be aware that spread spectrum is enabled by default. You'll want to disable this if you plan to oc. Hit F4 in cell menu to allow disable. So far I like this bios for the yorkfield. I'll try and get some quick bench run screens up later.

edit: here's a few benches
spi32m

3dm01

03

05

06

aquamark

[Vladik]

What wolfdale issues? I'll download it because I'm always looking for the latest and see if it fixes anything. but I'm on 1.1 right now.

updated. don't see any big differences, DIMM ref voltage settings changed

[loonym]

What wolfdale issues? I'll download it because I'm always looking for the latest and see if it fixes anything. but I'm on 1.1 right now.

updated. don't see any big differences, DIMM ref voltage settings changed

There were people reporting some half multis not available.

[bluspikez]

Hey loonym, quick question. I noticed you mentioned the Youp-Pax drivers for the soundcard included with this board...which version did you use to get them to work? I was confused when I looked at the pax site and that long post in the driverheaven forums...could you lead me in the right direction? Thanks!

[loonym]

It's been awhile but it seems to me it was 4.06

[bluspikez]

Alright, sounds good. Did you get the suite of software to work too, or just the drivers? There is a new version of those drivers out, too (5.10). Can be had at this site: http://www.theqhost.net/pax/.

As for the motherboard, I'll give the new BIOS a go once the storms blow over around here. Would hate to brick my board just because some lightning decided to knock out power...

EDIT: Not sure how you got the PAX drivers to work, but I've had no luck. I talked to the guy who modded the drivers, and he said that support for the xtreme audio card isn't there yet, but that he would let me know when he gets support added for it. I'll mention it here once I get the drivers working. Back to the stock creative ones for me....

[Cal]

Beta bios 121 is available now at the msi forum. You need to reg there to d/l. It fixes the multi problem for the yorkfield quad (at least the Q9550/X3360 that I can verify) and should address wolfdale multi issue too. Also stated that there is a vid corruption fix included for anyone who has been having that problem. Be aware that spread spectrum is enabled by default. You'll want to disable this if you plan to oc. Hit F4 in cell menu to allow disable. So far I like this bios for the yorkfield. I'll try and get some quick bench run screens up later.

edit: here's a few benches
spi32m

3dm01

03

05

06

aquamark

Dude i love your aquamark score wish mine was that good what fx cards do you have im using a 8800gtx and could only dream of a score like that might have a look at sli if it will help me get there

Nice one

[loonym]

Those cards are the cheapie Zotac 8800GTS 640 cards (G80) that fxvideocards.com has for $119. I'm probably not keeping them but they're fun for the price. I can only imagine what a pair of GTX's would do I really love this board and it gets better with each bios release IMO.

[Cal]

I just updated the bios and im now running @ 1900/950 the cpu to x 8 and fingers crossed its running stable best i have had it so far got a aquamark score of 13400 again best i have had just waiting on ocz to give me a spd so i can up the trfc to 54 or higher and give 2000/1000 a go tried it an hour ago and it didnt like it at all lol.
might be the mobo but im not sure had the NB @ 1.475 might need more for that clock but ill give the 1900/950 some more testing first.

[AaronYuri]

The purpose of the 1.2B1 BIOS was to address the 780i video corruption issue and the Wolfdale half-multi. Not sure if there has been other changes, I will try and find out.

[Cal]

Wasnt stable BSOD but only after 2 hours of games but after that i couldnt load to windows till i cleared the cmos

[spammah]

Blah, still doesn't help. Still not fixed. If I try to open any video from video-sharing sites like Youtube etc, the video will play fine for 10 minutes and then everything locks up. But the sound is still fine and playing (not a loop). And then the screen will start blinking every 2 seconds...

[loonym]

The purpose of the 1.2B1 BIOS was to address the 780i video corruption issue and the Wolfdale half-multi. Not sure if there has been other changes, I will try and find out.

It did what I needed by enabling the 8.5 multi with yorkfields.

[Bjynne]

Do any have a problem with this board and any older CPUs? I tried my old Pentium D 820 B0 Stepping on this board yesterday and it would not boot. It do boot on my older Intel945 chipset though.

Here are my specs.
Msi P7N Diamond bios 1.2b1
4X1024mb PC8500 1066mhz 5-5-5-15-22
XFX 9800GX2 745/1127mhz
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 at 3600mhz Watercooled Zalman Reserator XT

My Q6600 G0 1.3000vid is stabel at 3600mhz 450X8
Vcore +3.000v
vDimm 2.2v(Defualt)
Vnb 1.5v (1.45 2GB memory)
Cpu Gtl Ref 0.902v
FSB Term 1.313v
The Rest on auto.

[loonym]

Nice results with the quad Bjynne. I haven't had the opportunity to test any p4's. Maybe someone else will be able to help.

[panheimer]

Hello everybody!
I'm new here and want to post a question. Is this mobo good for a Q6600? And is stable enough? What are it's biggest problem?
Reading this forum it seems to be the best choiche between the 780's as it has less issues than striker 2 formula and xfx/evga.
I'm coming from a dfi nf680i wich has driven me mad enough, very hard to oc and buggy bioses, it got me 3 months to get stable at 3.3 ghz (i've oced the same q6600 on a rampage formula at 3.6 in two days - the second for 12 hr of prime95).
Thanks

[loonym]

It's a great sli board for a q6600. The voltage options in the newest bios are great and if it had a bit more fsb voltage (vtt) I think it would be perfect but it can run the quads at 3.6ghz on decent air easy. I see a few complaints about the x-fi but it's always worked ok for me even with xp64. I like that it can run the mem with tight timings and 1T with good kits and the nvidia chipset being able to run unlinked to stay at 800 is great for me because I do like to try and keep the timings tight as possible. 3 months ago I would not have recommended this board to anyone because of the bios issues but now msi has really shown they support this product with the latest releases.

[panheimer]

thanks loonym, i'm gonna order it today!

[panheimer]

Another question: wich bios to use?
I've seen that there's an official 1.1 bios and many beta ones. After registering at the official forum, i went to the user modified bios thread and found three bioses: 1.18beta, 1.21 beta and P07.
The first question is what differences lies between the perfomance and the normal bios. I known the performance is intended for oc but it adds more advanced parameters or does it simply have some optimization for benchmarks?
Also, i'm not able to find older betas like 1.14 or P05, where to download them?
In the end, wich bios it's better or worthing to try for a q6600?
thanks

[loonym]

Honestly I could never tell much difference between the performance or other bios. I'm using 1.21 now and it seems very good. If you really want to try the older ones you can pm me we'll figure a way to send to you.

[panheimer]

thanks loonym, i think i'm gonna try 1.21 too, as i've told before, i'm coming from a dfi 680 and bioses were very buggy, each new beta release fixed some issues and put on new problem and i never managed to get the best from this mobo, so you can never rely on new bioses but have to choose between the less problematic.
The P7N will arrive tomorrow, and this week-end i'll try some oc, for now i wanna look for differences in SLI configuration in white and blue slot as i want to keep my pci x-fi.

[Vladik]

I am VERY interested in these PAX drivers or some third party because my mic is VERY quiet for some reason. I've tried the jit jot and bip bop of troubleshooting and can't find much other reason than drivers.

[loonym]

I am VERY interested in these PAX drivers or some third party because my mic is VERY quiet for some reason. I've tried the jit jot and bip bop of troubleshooting and can't find much other reason than drivers.

Here's a link to the home page. http://www.youp-pax.org/index.php
The gentleman that mods these creative drivers is quite helpful.