K9A2-CF with P9600 - First test issues

[Russ_64]

I did a bench test with my K9A2-CF and 9600 yesterday. Installed 2x1Gb PC6400 and HD3850. All worked fine.

MB came with BIOS v1.0 but it recognized the P9600 Quad-core okay, anyway I updated to 1.1 from MSI downloads and installed Vista Ultimate 32bit. Loaded system drivers from CD (for Vista) which says that chipset is RD780 (??). Then installed AOD v2.10 which does not work (AMD OVERDRIVE CANNOT DETECT AMD R700 CHIPSET ON THIS COMPUTER) ?? Tried to downloaded ATi System drivers from MSI but downloads just fail (it is 143Mb).

Another weird thing is that CPU-Z does not show any info on the Memory tab (only 2048MB) but SPD is fine (A-Data DDR2 has SPD for 200/233/400). BIOS says RAM is Single Channel but I used 2 slots closest to CPU ??

The layout of the Cell Menu is also a bit strange, not easy to use IMO. Tried setting my RAM timings manually but there is only Auto or Both (?). Tried both and there are 2 sets of CAS/tRAS/tRC/etc ? POST screen also does not show RAM settings at boot - only 800Mhz and Single Channel.

Any ideas / suggestions welcomed

[KTE]

*Your board seems to have issues with reading SPD/EPP info to its users through Windows software. Another fella is also having the same problem. Try asking MSI and see what they say for a workaround.
*RAM need to be in unganged mode and it will be dual channel. Look at CPU-Z 1.42 and it should read dual channel correctly and even if not just run a EVEREST bandwidth test and we can tell you if its dual or single channel. The slots you've chosen are correct.
*"Both" is the one you should choose to set the timings manually. You get some v.good options there, what do you see wrong with that?
*The OC menu is new - so you are bound to need to get used to it. Looks fine to me and it was first time I saw it too.
*They're all BIOS issues. Showing single channel, not showing the real current frequency at POST, not picking EPP info of RAM -> you'll have to try the BETA BIOSes and see if its any better but only MSI can help there.
*Your chipset is 790X. You have to install MB drivers for it for software to correctly recognize this which you say are failing. Try a different server.

[Russ_64]

[QUOTE=KTE;2634164*"Both" is the one you should choose to set the timings manually. You get some v.good options there, what do you see wrong with that?[/QUOTE]

Just a bit new I guess - there are 2 sets of timings - do I need 1 set for each channel or what? (Only tried 2 sticks but I have 4 matched)

I can get a beta bios v1.21 but some report AOD does not work with it, any others around?

Cheers for the info

[KTE]

Try 113 BETA (it's supposed to be the latest AFAIK) and the best according to what I've seen and experienced.

Yes, set the timings for both of the sticks that you need (set them the same). The processor has two independent memory controllers so they can each access both RAMs and you need to tell it the latencies for those accesses. Type in the RAM latencies that your RAM is rated for and set the correct voltage for the RAM under Cell Menu.

Typically, leave tRC, tRFC as Auto and change the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th values. See how that goes.

[Russ_64]

KTE - thanks, mate.

My MB is MS7388 - I think the Plat BIOS is different ?

[KTE]

Not sure TBH. But the versions available have the same numbers for both.

[Russ_64]

Just checked on MSI and they are not the same:

K9A2 Platinum = MS7376 (has eSATA)
K9A2 CF-F = MS7388

Think I will try the v1.21 beta or hopefuly there will be a newer one by 25th when I start my build.

[KTE]

I'm aware that the boards are different but the BIOSes I'm still not sure of. The dfferences are very small.

When is 1.21 beta dated?

[madfaze]

MB came with BIOS v1.0 but it recognized the P9600 Quad-core okay, anyway I updated to 1.1 from MSI downloads and installed Vista Ultimate 32bit. Loaded system drivers from CD (for Vista) which says that chipset is RD780 (??). Then installed AOD v2.10 which does not work (AMD OVERDRIVE CANNOT DETECT AMD R700 CHIPSET ON THIS COMPUTER) ?? Tried to downloaded ATi System drivers from MSI but downloads just fail (it is 143Mb).

Another weird thing is that CPU-Z does not show any info on the Memory tab (only 2048MB) but SPD is fine (A-Data DDR2 has SPD for 200/233/400). BIOS says RAM is Single Channel but I used 2 slots closest to CPU ??

The layout of the Cell Menu is also a bit strange, not easy to use IMO. Tried setting my RAM timings manually but there is only Auto or Both (?). Tried both and there are 2 sets of CAS/tRAS/tRC/etc ? POST screen also does not show RAM settings at boot - only 800Mhz and Single Channel.

Any ideas / suggestions welcomed

if downloading failed use download manager, BTW what server did you used?

i never notice bout the rd780 thing..have you resolved it? already downloaded the drivers from MSI still it reads RD780




i thing quite annoying is when i boot up and my screen shows no PS2 mouse or press f1 to contnue..have you encountered this?

you have to insert your dimms to one green and one orange to run dual channel

[KTE]

This is the latest BIOS for your boards: http://www.msi-forum.de/thread.php?threadid=35790

v1.22 BETA.

[madfaze]

This is the latest BIOS for your boards: http://www.msi-forum.de/thread.php?threadid=35790

v1.22 BETA.

thanks mate!

[Russ_64]

if downloading failed use download manager, BTW what server did you used?

i never notice bout the rd780 thing..have you resolved it? already downloaded the drivers from MSI still it reads RD780

i thing quite annoying is when i boot up and my screen shows no PS2 mouse or press f1 to contnue..have you encountered this?

you have to insert your dimms to one green and one orange to run dual channel

Sorted out the downloads - my firewall AV was blocking.

Checked on the MSI Specs and it says Chipset is AMD 790X (RD780) - so the drivers will show RD780 in the install log.

Are you using USB mouse? I use PS2 (with KVM) - try the beta - I know that 1.21 fixes PS2 mouse message.

I did insert my DIMMS in 1 & 2 - maybe it doesn't like my RAM chips - A-Data use Hynix for PC6400. Maybe because I was forcing 1T ?

[Russ_64]

KTE - thanks for the beta link.

Bit easier to read - http://translate.google.com/translat...hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[informal]

Sorted out the downloads - my firewall AV was blocking.

Checked on the MSI Specs and it says Chipset is AMD 790X (RD780) - so the drivers will show RD780 in the install log.

Are you using USB mouse? I use PS2 (with KVM) - try the beta - I know that 1.21 fixes PS2 mouse message.

I did insert my DIMMS in 1 & 2 - maybe it doesn't like my RAM chips - A-Data use Hynix for PC6400. Maybe because I was forcing 1T ?

Don't use 1T command rate with DDR2.The default is 2T for DDR2 and 1T really doesn't yield much better results if any when used with DDR2 memory modules(which was not the case with DDR1 which gained a lot with 1T command rate).

[madfaze]

Checked on the MSI Specs and it says Chipset is AMD 790X (RD780) - so the drivers will show RD780 in the install log.

Are you using USB mouse? I use PS2 (with KVM) - try the beta - I know that 1.21 fixes PS2 mouse message.

I did insert my DIMMS in 1 & 2 - maybe it doesn't like my RAM chips - A-Data use Hynix for PC6400. Maybe because I was forcing 1T ?

so this RD780 are the 790x chipset?

yup im using wireless mouse..

[madfaze]

have you already tried the BETA version of BIOS?how was it?

[madfaze]

o darn tried the beta version but my systems seems unstable./..revert it back to 1.1v


grrr

[Manicdan]

just got my k9a2 CF today. with patriot 6400 4-4-4-12 2.2v and a 5000+ BE.

the only way for my pc to boot is if i reset the bios, then if i change anything in the bios it locks up while saving, and anytime i tell it to ignore the bios problems and try to boot windows it gets a blue screen of death with one line of code across the middle. not sure what it says, but its about 80% just a bunch of Zeros and some other random number.

im not sure if i should try to upgrade my bios to the 1.1 or 1.2 beta version. or if its my ram. theres no way for me to figure out what voltage my ram is running at in the bios, it just says auto. also how do i change voltages for the cpu, nb, bios, and one other, that are all at auto and according to the manual are read only?

[Russ_64]

@Manicdan - I think it could be your RAM - Patriot was not tested by MSI and it needs 2.2v AFAIK, Auto defaults to 1.8v

To change these values, place the cursor on the field and use the + & - keys on your Numkeypad, should work. Leave the others for now - your CPU is certified and you are not overclocking.

[Manicdan]

ok will give it a try, ty