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

[Vladik]

Yeah I've been there, downloaded several packages to no avail. Maybe I'll make a post.

[panheimer]

Well, swapped the dfi mobo with p7n and run in a cuople of troubles: the shipped official 1.0 bios refused to recognize my g15 at every start, so i've had to reboot so many times trying to get in bios. Luckily, after many many run i've been able to flash to 1.21 wich seems to have solved this issue.
But the major issue is the mobo to chassis connector wich block the installation of my 2nd ultra in the white slot, so i'm forced to sli with both che blue slot. In the end i have to use the bulndled crappy pci-e x-fi and throw away the pci one. Very disappointing.
At least the system seems to be stable at stock settings, i've run prime95 all nigt long and this morning it was still running!
But i'm a bit concerned with temps: at stock the cpu idles at 40° C and reached a max temp of 56° C, while previously with the dfi i've got a max temp of 50°. of course i've checked twice the mounting, in fact i've mounted it three times and got same results.
Also the mobo temps seems pretty high to me: everest registered a max temp of 60° C! I've touched the rollercoaster and the pipes goign to mosfet and both were very hot at touch, so i think that they were doing their job but still seems a much high temp for stock settings.
Where is its sensor located? And wich temp does it show? Is it safe to run at this temps, and what is its max suggested temp? Is there any way to cold it down? - i've not any ideas to how to put a fan near the rollercoaster as at one side i've got the 8800 ultra and on the other side there is the true (wich fan i've hoped would pull some hot air away from the chipset).

[Cal]

Hi all
Well after much messing around with my P7N i sent it back for testing and it was found to be at fault woohoo im not mad after all new one is on its way so with any luck ill be clocking soon

[panheimer]

just started playing with bios and oc...and i'm going nowhere!
do someone have a conversion table for the old cpu gtl and fsb term to the new values?
for now i'm able to get in win at 1333x9 and everything in auto, but as soon as i start prime95 in blend mode all four cores falls in error
tried upping cpu vcore to +0,075 and vnb to 1.425 but nothing changed.
think i'll have to play with cpu gtl and fsb term but theese new values (official 1.1 and 1.21 beta bios) are confusing and scaring me...

[loonym]

The max fsb termination voltage (vtt) is only 1.313v which I consider safe for any cpu and especially for 65nm such as your q6600. I have used fsb term volts*.67=cpu gtl ref voltage for my q6600 with good success. For example if I decide to run 1.313v fsb term I get 1.313*.67=.879v for my cpu gtl setting. You may want to run considerably less fsb voltage but the 67% factor should still apply.

[BababooeyHTJ]

Where can I find a beta bios for this board and when will the official bios finally come out that adresses the video corruption issue which an Msi customer support staffer told me does not exist on 780i boards?

[BababooeyHTJ]

Any help with this question would be greatly apreciated as well http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=191640 Thanks.

[AaronYuri]

http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?board=45.0

BIOS 1.2B1 address the corruption issue.

[BababooeyHTJ]

Thank you

[panheimer]

thank again loonym.
after much tryiing (still have many usb issue with my g15) i was able to flash to p07 bios and found the old digits in gtl ref and fsb term.
Tried at 1333x9, upped a bit cpu voltage and nb voltage and booted in win. Small FFT in prime went smoothly but as soon as i star blend test all four cores crashes one after the other.
So got in bios and started playing with cpu gtl and fsb term. tried many combination, but still nothing changes...is there some step by step instruction or something like a debug table there to find the cause and the solution?
i've learned that with prime95 small fft test stresses CPU and its chache, so an error with it means that cpu needs more volt (and/or more cpu gtl), while large fft stresses ram so nb voltage (and/or fsb term) is invoked in this case. is it correct?
and what can i try?
i wanna get a medium oc from this board (3.3-3.4 ghz) but don't wanna put casual settings, i'm aiming to know this mobo, and go step by step increasing little by little and learn its characteristic.

[Mannekino]

Hello,

I need some help overclocking my current computer. I'm running my setup @ 1400/800 now and it is completely stable. I'm unable to get it past 1500/750. I would really like to get my system stable at 1600/800 settings (this is my target). Any suggestions on how to achieve this? I'm a bit at a loss with regard to the voltage settings. Here is all the information with regard to my computer. I have read quite a few topics on this forum and also on several other forums. It seems that most people get excellent results, but that is not the case for me so far :cry:.

System specifications:

- Chassis: Cooler Master Cosmos S
- Power supply: Cooler Master Real Power M1000
- Motherboard: MSI P7N Diamond
- BIOS version: V1.2B1
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo, E8500
- Processor cooler: Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme
- Memory: OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Reaper CL4 4GB Edition (OCZ2RPR800C44GK)
- Videocard: EVGA e-GeForce 9800GTX 512MB (two in SLI)
- Hard disk drives: Western Digital VelociRaptor (two)
- Monitor: Dell 2407WFP
- Operating system: Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit) with Service Pack 1

BIOS: other:

- IOAPIC Function: Enabled
- MPS Table Version: 1.4
- PCI Latency Timer: 64
- Execute Bit Support: Disabled
- C1E Support: Disabled
- Set CPUID MaxVal to 3: Disabled
- CPU TM Function: Disabled
- HPET: Enabled

BIOS: Cell Menu:

- D.O.T. Control: Disabled
- Intel EIST: Disabled
- SLI-Ready Memory: Disabled
- System Clock Mode: Manual
- FSB Clock: 1400
- DRAM Clock: 800
- Adjust CPU Ratio: 9.5

- DRAM Timing Mode: Manual
- CAS Latency (CL): 5
- tRCD: 5
- tRP: 5
- tRAS: 18
- tRRD: Auto
- tRC: Auto
- tWR: Auto
- tWTR: Auto
- tREF: Auto
- 1T/2T Memory Timing: 2T

- Adjust PCI Frequency: 100
- Auto Disable DRAM/PCI Frequency: Disabled

- CPU Voltage: 0.1
- DRAM Voltage: 2.1
- NB Voltage: Auto
- SB Voltage: Auto
- NB Memory Reference Voltage: Auto
- DIMM Memory Reference Voltage: Auto
- Memory Terminator Voltage: Auto
- CPU GTL Reference Voltage: Auto
- FSB Terminator Voltage: Auto
- SB Sleep Mode Voltage: Auto
- PCI Expander PLL Voltage: Auto

- Spread Spectrum: Disabled

My goal is to get an FSB Clock of 1600 and a DRAM Clock of 800 with a CPU Adjust Ratio of 9.5 and with Intel EIST enabled. Any help is greatly appreciated. I will post updates of my progress.

Kind regards,

Mannekino

[AaronYuri]

Increase your NB voltage to 1.4/1.425v. Increase FSB term to 1.3v. Set FSB to something like 1604 because there's usually a hole @ 1600FSB.

[dogg]

panheimer
Got the same issues before but with P07 it was much better and with 1.2B1 all working correct.. Found this keyboard very useful for OC with Everest and custom lcd settings for temp, voltage sensors and much more showing on display ...

[jdfloresd]

Hi Guys, have been reading the thread the last couple of days, and until recently got time to play with my system, my characteristics: P7N Diamond, Q9300 Yorkfield, 4 GB RAM Gskill.

Today flashed the 1.21 BIOS, certainly can see the 7.5 multiplier, but won't let me change it nor the voltages, disabled DOT, Spread spectrum, EIST, and no luck, am I missing something?

Regards!

[panheimer]

dogg
i'm now with p07, have tried 1.21, 1.18 and the official 1.1 and while all worked much better than the shipped 1.0 it still occasionaly don't recognize usb devices, especcially the g15. it's a nightmare to flash bios with usb drive when the bios doesn't recognize the keyboard! but i found that if i connect only the g15 and the usb flash drive on its hub and wait a little bit after the "initializing usb devices" message (or something like that) i can manage to flash the bios.
Adn yes, teh g15 is a fantastic keyboard for oc as you can see every parameters from the lcd!
for now i'm stuck at 2750 with my q6600 as it works with all auto settings (a little shame as the old crappy dfi 680lt with the same hardware worked at 3.0 without touching anything, and the rampage formula pushed the same q6600 at 3.2 letting al settings in auto).
I still didn't managed to acquire confidence with this board as i spent the last night playing GRID!

[Mannekino]

Increase your NB voltage to 1.4/1.425v. Increase FSB term to 1.3v. Set FSB to something like 1604 because there's usually a hole @ 1600FSB.

Thank you, and do I need to set the DRAM Clock to 802 to keep an 1:1 ratio? And the rest of my voltage settings are in order?

Today flashed the 1.21 BIOS, certainly can see the 7.5 multiplier, but won't let me change it nor the voltages, disabled DOT, Spread spectrum, EIST, and no luck, am I missing something?Regards!

You need to use the numpad plus (+) and minus (-) keys. I was not able to change Spread Spectrum but it was "Disabled" with my current settings. See a few posts above.

[jdfloresd]

You need to use the numpad plus (+) and minus (-) keys. I was not able to change Spread Spectrum but it was "Disabled" with my current settings. See a few posts above.

Thanks Mannekino, I was able to change the Multiplier, but won't let me go beyond 7.5 wich is the default value....

[Mannekino]

Thanks Mannekino, I was able to change the Multiplier, but won't let me go beyond 7.5 wich is the default value....

Sorry, I don't know anything about that. I am only able to change the multplier when Intel EIST is Disabled.

[Mannekino]

I've managed to get my system stable @ 1580/790 but I'm a bit worried about my voltage settings being too high. Furthermore I find the results a bit disappointing considering that my CPU temperature is not very high during load (about 55°C). Below are my current settings. Maybe the combination of settings that I'm trying is wrong? I've have also tried 1600/800 and 1620/810. With those settings my PC locks after or during the Windows Vista loading screen. Green are the settings that I have changed.

BIOS (Cell Menu):

- D.O.T. Control: Disabled
- Intel EIST: Disabled
- SLI-Ready Memory: Expert
- System Clock Mode: Manual
- FSB Clock: 1580
- DRAM Clock: 790
- Adjust CPU Ratio: 9.5

- DRAM Timing Mode: Auto (using EPP settings with 2.2 V)
- CAS Latency (CL): Auto (4)
- tRCD: Auto (4)
- tRP: Auto (4)
- tRAS: Auto (15)
- tRRD: Auto
- tRC: Auto
- tWR: Auto
- tWTR: Auto
- tREF: Auto
- 1T/2T Memory Timing: Auto (2T)

- Adjust PCI Frequency: 100
- Auto Disable DRAM/PCI Frequency: Disabled

- CPU Voltage: 0.2 (Actual 1.336 V)
- DRAM Voltage: 2.2
- NB Voltage: 1.45
- SB Voltage: Auto
- NB Memory Reference Voltage: Auto
- DIMM Memory Reference Voltage: Auto
- Memory Terminator Voltage: Auto
- CPU GTL Reference Voltage: Auto
- FSB Terminator Voltage: 1.313
- SB Sleep Mode Voltage: Auto
- PCI Expander PLL Voltage: Auto

- Spread Spectrum: Disabled

[loonym]

I don't know if this will help you but I've read 63% of fsb term volts will be more or less an ideal cpu gtl setting for the 45nm C2D. I don't think your voltages are excessive at all although I've never taken the time to identify read points for actual voltages on the P7N 780i. Maybe a good rainy day project

[nugzo]

I haven't had any luck obtaining a decent OC with any of the 6 or 7 series MSI nforce boards. I haven't seen where anybody has had much luck. MSI has been disappointing with the these. I wouldn't touch one if my intentions were to OC.

[BababooeyHTJ]

I had overclocked my e8400 to 3.825. I set my fsb to 1700, dram to 850 cpu v to0.2, dramv to 2.1 nbv to 1.350 and sbv too 1.550. It ran stable for a while I ran prime95 for 10 hours no problems. My temps were a little high for my liking so I bought a zerotherm nirvana and an asus dx and about a couple of weeks later I decided to run at stock to check temps and the what not and when windows booted up I got the bsod and it will happen anytime I boot into windows at stock speeds not with the voltages I used to oc. When I went into hardware moniter in bios I saw that my effciency was ranging between 19 and 25%. I swaped out my psu and same thing could it be my mobo? Please help someone I dont know what to do.

[loonym]

I haven't had any luck obtaining a decent OC with any of the 6 or 7 series MSI nforce boards. I haven't seen where anybody has had much luck.

Unfortunate you didn't get good results with the P7N Diamond but I know it oc's very well because I do get good results and I've read lots of good results from others in this and other forums. It really took a lot of tinkering and learning the kind of weird bios though, not for the impatient, gimme results now crowd.

Bababooey, I wouldn't put too much faith in the ps efficiency readouts in hw monitor. It's really only been kinda sorta accurate in 1 or 2 bios releases I think. Don't stress over it. Have you tried clearing the cmos to solve the stock speed problem? Are the settings all bios defaults when you get the blue screens? If so it might be your ram settings need to be set up manually.

[jdfloresd]

Anyone has a Q9300? Obtained any results? I have not been able to even post doing the slightest overclocking...

Anyone else has a q9300? any results?

[panheimer]

i've been playing with this board for some days and still haven't managed to comprehend it. Found it has a big fsb between 1460 and 1510. Now i'm trying to get a stable config at 3.4 but can't manage by myself.
So there are my settings:
BIOS 1.21
FSB 1520 (x 9)
Mem 760 (5-5-5-15 2t)
CPU Volt. + 0.2125 (my q6600 has a VID of 1.225)
DRAM Volt. 2.1
NB Volt. 1.425
CPU GTL 0.862 (found that it's automatically linked to FSB Term)
NB GTL 0.789 (found that it's automatically linked to FSB Term)
FSB Term 1.290
Everything elese is on AUTO.
The fact that i primed for a cuople of cours with small FFT test, but as soon as I start a blend test i immediately get a BSOD!
Tried upping CPU (to +0.275) an NB (to 1.5) voltages, changed FSB Term to 1.313, varied RAM volt, timings and freq but leaded to nothing, always BSOD.
The worse thing is that i've never managed to get this board stable, tried differents speed, from 3.0 to 3.2 and i always got able to prime with small FFT while blend test always gives me errors or BSOD.
So the question is: what parameters do i have to change? Can anyone help me?