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

[Fiskbit]

I'm just at about wits end here. It wont even boot into a linux distro (ubuntu) from a CD, but could boot using the Nero 6 bios flash method. Tried a friend's ddr2 800 at 533 and 800, still no go. I figured the motherboard should be good, since I can go into the bios fine and at least halfway install windows. Memory should be ruled out (even underclocked it and tried different dimms). Graphics seem fine. Power supply should be ok (all fans/lights/graphics work fine).

So essentially, I have a $1400 paperweight.


EDIT: Emo emotions above.... sorry. I am pissed. Well, gettin further along. Figured out I had to OC the CPU and up the voltage on the CPU and NB to get any further. Now I can get about 85% through a windows xp install, then it either restarts or blue screens with "Driver IRQL Not Less Than Equal" error. Gettin closer at least...

This sounds like SATA/RAID driver issues. Using the 780i SATA/RAID drivers caused me reboot after reboot, even during Windows installation. The 790i drivers work flawlessly from the start.

Despite all of the trouble I've had with this board, I must say I'm now rather happy with it. After overclocking it and getting the voltages set up properly, it's been working like a charm. This is not a board for anyone intended to run stock settings, as it may be entirely unstable (as it was for me). Now that I'm running it at 1333 FSB, it's working like a charm. No reboots during use, no problems booting. I still don't intend to buy another MSI motherboard anytime soon (and I'm very weary of any driver produced by nVidia), but after enough tweaking, this board can certainly run well.

Perhaps other people are having more luck with it now, like myself?

[dogg]

This sounds like SATA/RAID driver issues. Using the 780i SATA/RAID drivers caused me reboot after reboot, even during Windows installation. The 790i drivers work flawlessly from the start.

Despite all of the trouble I've had with this board, I must say I'm now rather happy with it. After overclocking it and getting the voltages set up properly, it's been working like a charm. This is not a board for anyone intended to run stock settings, as it may be entirely unstable (as it was for me). Now that I'm running it at 1333 FSB, it's working like a charm. No reboots during use, no problems booting. I still don't intend to buy another MSI motherboard anytime soon (and I'm very weary of any driver produced by nVidia), but after enough tweaking, this board can certainly run well.

Perhaps other people are having more luck with it now, like myself?

I just must agree with you.. My problem was SATA as well, but after I installed nForce driver 15.23 there is no problem with it..

[BababooeyHTJ]

I just got my P7N back from MSI. Aparently the northbridge went bad. I can tell because of the hack job with the piece of pcb stuck to the back of the board under the nb. Half of my heatsink is also missing. Have a look.


Here is the northbridge heatsink.


There used to be something here as well. Im sure this is good for the pwm's.

[craigbru]

Okay guys, I'm in need of a bit of advice. I've been running this board since April of this year, without incident. Until recently that is. In the past two weeks or so, I've been getting quite a few blue screens. Mostly "Memory_Management" or "PFN_List_Corrupt" errors. I've never really had much for hardware problems, so I investigated things from the software side. I've rolled back, restored from backup, and reinstalled XP, Vista, and Ubuntu, but the problem still exists. In fact, I was having a very hard time even getting an OS to reinstall. So, what's left, hardware right? Well, I suspected my memory, but Memtest, and Windows Diagnostics haven't turned up any issues.

After reading these, and other forums, I decided to play around with my voltages. As prior to now, everything had been running at it's default "Auto" settings. I changed my memory timings to spec, and applied a little more voltage to the CPU, NB, and SB. I was able to get my OS's installed, but still got hit by a couple generic blue screens.

So, am I on the right track here? Do I just need to play around with the voltages to get the board stable? If so, why has it been solid up to this point?

My system specs are as follows.

MSI 780i (should be latest BIOS)
NZXT 1200 watt PSU
eVGA 260 GTX's in SLI
2 x 2GB Mushkin Redline DDR2 (currently running at 1000mhz 5-5-5-12 1.9v)
CPU is a 2.33 Ghz ES Yorkfield (currently running at stock speeds)



I should probably add that the CPU is peltier cooled. I'm running a 437 watt TEC with a Wintch Labs block, and a Meanwell 600 aux. PSU. Current temps are below what any software can monitor.

So, after all that rambling, do you guys have any suggestions for me? Thanks in advance!

[craigbru]

Anyone? I suppose you're all playing with your shiny new i7's and x58's....

[AaronYuri]

Set DRAM back to 800MHz, 5-5-5-15, 1.9v. Then increase NB voltage to 1.35v.

[craigbru]

I tried that, but no luck. It's still not stable. I've tried voltages a little higher, and a little lower as well. I can't seem to get this figured out... What would cause a system to from completely stable, to the opposite over the course of a week? Mind you, I was running at stock settings prior, and didn't even start tweaking until I was having problems.

[BababooeyHTJ]

Oh, it's you!That sucks. You put alot of work into that build, it's beautiful. That sounds like a hardware problem to me, sadly. This really seems to be a problematic board. Your not the first person that Ive seen post that a once stable clock isnt stable anymore. Hell, my northbridge just went out of nowhere. I wish you the best of luck. This is depressing to hear really. That is one of the best mods that I have ever seen.

[craigbru]

Thanks man! I appreciate the compliments! At this point, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I've got an EVGA 790i sitting in a box, but no DDR3. I doubt the MSI board is RMA'able right now. I've got conformal coating on it, and the socket is packed full of dielectric grease. Lol. The thought of pulling the board out, ugh... that's the last thing I want to do. As much as I love the rig, I didn't exactly make it easy to work on...



I'll keep playing with it, but I'm not getting my hopes up. When I picked this board out last spring, it seemed to be the most promising of the 780i's. It's unfortunate that they've turned out to have so many issues. I've already started designing my next rig, and I've set myself a new goal. It will be watercooled, but every component in the case needs to be removed in less than 30 seconds. In the Rogue, it's at least an hour to get down to the motherboard.

[BababooeyHTJ]

Its not going to be fun to get to that board. I dont blame MSI, though. If you go to Evga forums you wont hear the best things in the world about their 780i either. I think the chipset is just really crappy. My p45 with the same hardware, other than the GTX260s, benches much better with the same clocks as well.

[craigbru]

I've got a slight update here. I've managed to get the system pretty stable in Vista's Safe Mode, and Ubuntu seems relatively stable. However, when I boot into Vista normally, I always blue screen. Sometimes immediately, sometimes in 5 or 10 minutes. Normally this would point to a software issue. Multiple re-installs, both fresh, and from backups don't fix the problem. So, that leaves it at a hardware issue. What hardware isn't being used in Safe Mode or Ubuntu? I suspected the sound card, removed it, and uninstalled drivers, no luck. Video cards, no luck. I guess I'll try USB devices next, but geez, what a pain this thing is being...

[stickboy00]

Are you using Vista64? There is a compatibility issue with Vista64 and 2x2gb DIMMs with this 780i board, if you aren't already aware. I had to install and run with 1 2gig chip before updating to SP1.

[craigbru]

Are you using Vista64? There is a compatibility issue with Vista64 and 2x2gb DIMMs with this 780i board, if you aren't already aware. I had to install and run with 1 2gig chip before updating to SP1.

As a matter of fact, I am. It's something I'll check out, as I'm running out of other options. Thanks!

[FedericoUY]

There are some new beta bios of 1.3 (b1 and b2). If anyone is intrested.

[craigbru]

There are some new beta bios of 1.3 (b1 and b2). If anyone is intrested.

Do we have to email MSI for the links, or are they hosted somewhere else?

[FedericoUY]

Do we have to email MSI for the links, or are they hosted somewhere else?

Maybe mailing them is an option, but if anyone can tell me where and how to host them i could get them there.

[BababooeyHTJ]

You should just have to register at MSI forums. You should find it there under the moded bios section.

[stickboy00]

Has anyone had a problem formatting a 1.5TB drive with this board? I can only allocate 1 terrabyte to the drive. Will the new nForce drivers solve this problem?

[yomny]

hello everyone, im new to the board and i was looking for some help overclockingm y q6600 over 3.0ghz...im running 2x2gb g skill ddr800 ram modules and well the msi p7n diamond with q6600. My chips VID is 1.32 and i currently have it +.1 in bios. I have my cpu gtl set at 65 and fsb term at 25 as per other board members suggestion along with a 1.35NB and 1.37SB votlage. Im a bit confused as to how do i know when i need to raise the NB or SB voltage as opposed to the vcore. I have my ram unlinked at the moment. Thank you for your help in advance. I've tried raising the voltage up to +.187 even +.2 which sets me at 1.5vcore and NB to 1.47 even 1.5 but nothing i cant seem to get stable.

[BababooeyHTJ]

1) Flash the bios to 1.2. 2) If you still can, return the board. 3) Good luck!

[yomny]

you think so, damn i just came back from returning an Nvidia 780i because i couldn't get above 2.6ghz im starting to think that is not the boards problem.. Anybody else care to chime in and give me there thoughts. Thanks for you comments though i will flash the bios. Thank you

[BababooeyHTJ]

This is a very problematic board. Read through the thread. I never had the bandwith results that I should have, but I passed all stress tests that I threw at it. Unless you need sli I wouldnt stick with a Nvidia chipset. Seriously save yourself alot of headaches and go with another board, if you still can. This is not a fun board to learn how to overclock on.

[yomny]

what would you suggest, iwas looking at the Gigabyte EP45, any suggestions, i already had two Asus mobo's and i they wouldn't boot with the rest of my hardware, had an m2s sli deluxe and an asus p5q.. so i would rather stay away from those.. thanks

[BababooeyHTJ]

I love my P5Q Deluxe, but if I were to buy a P45 today I would pick up a Gigabyte UD3P. Ive heard alot of good things about it, Keep in mind it does not support sli. What do you plan on using for hardware?

[yomny]

sounds great, thats exactly what i had in mind(GA UD3P).. i was reading alot of reviews and alot of fellow memebers also recommended that mobo, im using 2x2gb g.skill ddr800, no sli just one 260 gtx and a black caviar WD 1Tb HDD, and an 800watt PSU from Powerup, may change that in the near future.