DFI NF4: Successful Installation Thread !!! (RULES IN POST #1)

[HARDCORECLOCKER]

O.K. - we already have here more than a handfull of threads at XS belonging to the DFI NF4 - all filled up with different kinds of problems, bugs, non working hardware etc.

So from day to day it will be more difficult to find a solution for a problem when always have to check all the threads with all the problems there.

So here we have a thread with these rules:

1) Do not post any problem.

2) Post a solution.

3) Show here how You successful installed new board.

4) Post Your BIOS screens of fine working system.

5) Post pics and screenies of Your fine working system.

This should be a help for all who need.

[simplyadvanced]

Fixing winxp installation problem:

hdd in first IDE slot, set to master. do not use cable select.
cd rom in 2nd ide slot, again master.

reset cmos, do not touch ANYTHING in bios.
try installing winxp...

thanks ian.ho for help with fixing the prob.

cant set more then 2.6v >> use the +/- keys to set and immediatley press f10 to save bios.

pics soon...

[HARDCORECLOCKER]

Fixing winxp installation problem:

hdd in first IDE slot, set to master. do not use cable select.
cd rom in 2nd ide slot, again master.

reset cmos, do not touch ANYTHING in bios.
try installing winxp...

thanks ian.ho for help with fixing the prob.

cant set more then 2.6v >> use the +/- keys to set and immediatley press f10 to save bios.

pics soon...

Nice help - THX, that's the kind of post I expect here......

[uranium]

Getting it to post with 2 x 512 OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev 2 and shipping BIOS dated 25.01.05

1. Tear hair out for a while trying dual channel
2. Clear CMOS, use one stick in slot 2 -post
3. Find default RAM voltage is set to 2.5- change to 2.7
4. Reboot- flash to beat BIOS 2.01.
5. SWITCH OFF
6. Install ram is slots 2 and 4- orange
7. Install Windows

Working system:
(sorry about the size- 23" TFT )

[xgman]

That is almost exactly where I left my pre-release board. Nice to see someone with tccd reporting with a retail board and good results. What volts?

[HARDCORECLOCKER]

Getting it to post with 2 x 512 OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev 2 and shipping BIOS dated 25.01.05

1. Tear hair out for a while trying dual channel
2. Clear CMOS, use one stick in slot 2 -post
3. Find default RAM voltage is set to 2.5- change to 2.7
4. Reboot- flash to beat BIOS 2.01.
5. SWITCH OFF
6. Install ram is slots 2 and 4- orange
7. Install Windows

Working system:
(sorry about the size- 23" TFT )

Very good result, congrats man !!!

So now we all know the trick: Use a 23" screen and Your rig will work - lol

[Jimi...]

That is almost exactly where I left my pre-release board. Nice to see someone with tccd reporting with a retail board and good results. What volts?

I thought OCZ used Hynix chips? That what it says in one of the memory threads anyway.

[xgman]

ocz 4200ELplats and 3200LE/3700EL plats use tccd.

[HARDCORECLOCKER]

I thought OCZ used Hynix chips? That what it says in one of the memory threads anyway.

3200 Plat. Rev.2 is TCCD.

[Jimi...]

3200 Plat. Rev.2 is TCCD.

Oh, what's 4000 Gold Rev.2?

[apu673]

I think the problems people are having when they first boot in DC with TCCD and the nf4 ultra is because they have 2x512 double-sidded DIMM's. I have 2x256mb of single-sidded TCCD, and I had no problems running and booting up the first time in DC.

Man I took a look at the BIOS and theres so many options I have no idea what they mean! Does anyone know some important settings in the BIOS that have to do with overclocking, and what to set it at? Esp. DRAM settings.

[HARDCORECLOCKER]

Oh, what's 4000 Gold Rev.2?

SRY - but this does not belong to here - put it into RAM thread...

[HARDCORECLOCKER]

I think the problems people are having when they first boot in DC with TCCD and the nf4 ultra is because they have 2x512 double-sidded DIMM's. I have 2x256mb of single-sidded TCCD, and I had no problems running and booting up the first time in DC.

Man I took a look at the BIOS and theres so many options I have no idea what they mean! Does anyone know some important settings in the BIOS that have to do with overclocking, and what to set it at? Esp. DRAM settings.

Good to have You here and the positive news - OPP will post some BIOS settings in another thread.......

[apu673]

Good to have You here and the positive news - OPP will post some BIOS settings in another thread.......

Awsome! I won't start overclocking til it's out

[HARDCORECLOCKER]

Awsome! I won't start overclocking til it's out

Just sent OPP a PM and pleased him to post it here also........

[ominae]

Here it is - had an issue with no video @ POST, but i think increasing VDIMM has fixed it (still needs more testing to reproduce the problem). Btw, anyone know why my memory bench is so low? :/

A64 3200+ 0450TPGW
DFI Nforce 4 SLI-DR
1GB OCZ Plat. EL R2
XFX 6800GT
580W Topower PSU

[quicksilverXP]

because your CPU clock is low... A64's benefit from more Mhz for higher bandwidth benchies.

[Xcalibur]

This might be a little OT but is anyone having problems with their ethernet connection?

Can't remember where I read them from but possible solutions are:
1. MAC address has to be manually entered in bios
2. The latest NVidia v6.39 drivers are causing BSODs, lockups and/or no internet connections. Use the drivers on your accompanied CD instead

Can anyone confirm this?

[mikead_99]

Getting it to post with 2 x 512 OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev 2 and shipping BIOS dated 25.01.05

1. Tear hair out for a while trying dual channel
2. Clear CMOS, use one stick in slot 2 -post
3. Find default RAM voltage is set to 2.5- change to 2.7
4. Reboot- flash to beat BIOS 2.01.
5. SWITCH OFF
6. Install ram is slots 2 and 4- orange
7. Install Windows

Working system:
(sorry about the size- 23" TFT )

lol, so now that I've read this I can skip step 1, right? Good job sorting through though. If time permits tomorrow night hopefully I'll get to post my own success story.

[Sephir0th]

This might be a little OT but is anyone having problems with their ethernet connection?

Can't remember where I read them from but possible solutions are:
1. MAC address has to be manually entered in bios
2. The latest NVidia v6.39 drivers are causing BSODs, lockups and/or no internet connections. Use the drivers on your accompanied CD instead

Can anyone confirm this?

Just the ethernet driver yeah, use ethernet driver from cd or 5.10 package. All other drivers appear to be ok from what ive read.

And yeah ive also read that you have to enter MAC address manually in bios.

[ominae]

Just the ethernet driver yeah, use ethernet driver from cd or 5.10 package. All other drivers appear to be ok from what ive read.

And yeah ive also read that you have to enter MAC address manually in bios.

yep u gotta enter it manually

[flexy]

yep u gotta enter it manually

where can i find the MAC ? someone said its on the box ?

EDIT: we need a FAQ - BAD I see the point in this thread to just post solutions and tips - but its very hard to keep it only at that...since some issues are not resolved yet (example "where is the mac adress ?") and some issues can only be resolved/cleared by communicating with others.

THEREFORE...*after* we have all the information to specific topic, whatever issue it is....THEN we could compile all the "hard facts" into a FAQ or similiar....the FAQ then would be clear of all the "noise".

Otherwise: Great thread....

Still amazed about the amount of information i (still) get here...eg. how to boot DC w/ 2 sticks TCCD....i am glad i know this now before i finish the build tomorrow/wednesday and freak out because i cant boot etc...
Keep 'em coming

Edit2: And..yes...entering the mac manually is..ehrm....weird ? Why's that ?

[apu673]

I can't tell if this Athena 500W 24pin PSU is holding my rig up. Right now at stock speeds I am getting 5.1v on +5, 3.3v on +3.3 and 11.75 on +12 rails, and 1.38vcore according to Speedfan. However in the BIOS +5 and +3.3 are a little higher, and +12v is 11.89. Vcore is at exactly 1.4v also. Which one do I believe? Are there any good hardware monitoring programs for this board?

[pablo]

ever since nforce 6.39 ive been getting bsod. getting rid of it tonight

[split]

where can i find the MAC ? someone said its on the box ?

I just seen a picture of the board, and it has 2 stickers on the LAN outlets.
They should contain the 12 digit MAC address. (one might have a 16 digit firewire GUID)
If you can't enter them manually in the BIOS, you are going to have to do it when you flash the BIOS.
This is all the same with awdflash, and it goes like this.
NVMAC:XXXXXXXXXXXX

To break that down, I suggest you look over here.

Yeah I know that ASUS, but awdflash is awdflash in both cases, as is programmed to do the same. I have just taken the DFI awdflash apart, and it has all the commands mentioned in this thread. (see post by UK_Bloke)
I can't believe DFI have left this out tho, as doing it when you flash is drawn out.
Maybe there is a way to actually enter the digits in the BIOS screens.

I had grief with MAC addresses on an ASUS board, and helped write that guide so been there done that etc and know what a pain it can be

EDIT STARTS: Page 101 and 107 of manual. (the one I have anyway)

Machine MAC(NV) Address
Enable this field to enter the MAC(NV) Address in the field below.
MAC(NV) Address Input
Move the cursor to this field and press <Enter>, then enter the
MAC address.

So looks like you can do it in the BIOS screen after all