Newbie Cell Menu / QPI Frequency Question

[rcanino]

Big Bang X-Power
core i7 980X
G.Skill Ripjaw 12G (3x4G)
Gigabyte GTX470
Corsair HX850

Brand new build - POST ok. (BIOS is AMI vers 1.1) - no HDDs installed yet.

Hi Guys -

I'm having trouble understanding how to read the Cell Menu. Not looking to make changes right now, just understand.

At the top of the Cell Menu are 3 read-only frequencies: CPU, DRAM and QPI. The first 2 are fine but my QPI reads 4800MHz.
Further down in the Memory-Z section I see QPI Frequency is at 6400, but it's the "Adjusted QPI Frequency."

So my question is, what frequency is the QPI running at? Because 4800MHz isn't right for the Gulftown - it should be 6400MHz I think.

Thanks for bearing with a newcomer to this world of system building, and thank you in advance for any thoughts or advice you can share.

-Richard

 

[Jack the Newbie]

Please update you BIOS to the latest version available on the board's product site.  Do not use M-Flash and/or MSI Live Update but >>Use the MSI HQ Forum USB flasher<< to update your BIOS.  If you do not have another MSI System or if you don't want to install an operating system but update the BIOS first, please follow these instructions (USB Method) as an alternative to the MSIHQ Forum USB Tool:  https://forum-en.msi.com/moderator//BIOS_FD.pdf

The changelogs you find on the BIOS Download Page for your mainboard do not show all changes/fixes that were actually implemented.  You can find more detailed changelogs here:

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=140522.0

The important fix for your current sitation is probably this this one here:

- Add Uncore Ratio 0.5 solution for Gulftown CPU.
- Fix Gulftown QPI Frequency default to Follow Intel Spec.

Also, with 12GB of RAM and that GTX470 installed you may also run into the following issue unless you update your BIOS:

Fix WIN7 system very slow when 12G memory

---------------------
/EDIT:

BIOS is AMI vers 1.1

Are you definately sure that you currently have BIOS v1.1?  I am asking because the initial "public" BIOS Release for this board was actually v1.2. 

 

[rcanino]

dang, I was afraid it would come to that - flashing the BIOS. I've never done that...and I hate to have to now.

Thanks for your reply Jack - let me read the links you posted and I'll post back. I tried saving my current BIOS settings already with M-Flash and I couldn't get it to work. Using this U3 thumb drive - but maybe that wasn't the problem since I didn't understand the M-Flash directions (save specific folder, save "extend name"...etc. ???).

So I definitely have a problem here eh? shoot. everything was going so well...

 

[Jack the Newbie]

I tried saving my current BIOS settings already with M-Flash and I couldn't get it to work.

You can't save your settings (at least not to a drive of any sort).  Don't worry about the settings for now, all you need is to load "Optimized Defaults".  Everything else can wait for now. 

Regarding M-Flash:  Please leave that alone as well for now.  It is too risky to use for BIOS Updates.

Using this U3 thumb drive

Please get rid of the U3-stuff (there is an U3 removal tool available, google it).  It may get in the way when you try to boot from an USB Flash Drive later.  Once you are done with the BIOS Update, you can reinstall the U3 partition again, if needed.

------------------

I didn't understand the M-Flash directions (save specific folder, save "extend name"...etc.

M-Flash will save your current BIOS Version, not the settings.  However, as BIOS Releases can usually be downloaded on the product page for the board in question, creating a BIOS Backup is not really that necessary.

------------------

Can you please answere this question as well:

BIOS is AMI vers 1.1

Are you definately sure that you currently have BIOS v1.1?   I am asking because the initial "public" BIOS Release for this board was actually v1.2. 

 

[Frankenputer]

Don't worry about getting rid of the U3 on your flash drive.  You can always get it back on after your successful flash.

 

[rcanino]

Thanks Jack - I see you're one of the good ones!

so okay, I thought it was important to have a backup of your current BIOS (admittedly I'm not sure if that means the actual BIOS or the just the settings). In any case I couldn't get it to work.

But you say it's not important anyway so I guess I won't worry about it too much. But what if the worst happens during the update - shouldn't I have something I can go back to? I don't see my version on the MSI website...

I read the Word doc and d/l all the files - the Win98SE threw me a bit (not exactly current!) but I'm guessing that's the DOS commands I'll need?

yes I'm sure I have vers. 1.1. The full name at the top of the screen is "A7666IMS V1.1 053110"
All the instructions I've read for getting your BIOS name says it'll appear after the memory count, but in my case it's at the top of the screen (just thought I'd tell you - I can't imagine it's very important where it appears - after the memory count it's "Press F12 if you want to load..." another line about "Initializing USB Controllers...Done" and then it lists the 2 USB devices I've got running.)

I guess I'm following the instructions in the Word doc for "Reflash BIOS by USB Disk Under DOS Mode Procdure"

Unfortunately I don't know $%# about DOS - this seems pretty straightforward but I'm only 50% confident. I guess my only question is in step #5.

5. When you get the DOS prompt, type the following sequence:
(assuming USB Flash drive uses F:/ (F Prompt)
F:>cd<space> XXXXVXX(document name) <enter>
F:\XXXXVXX>afud4234<space>AXXXXIMS.XXX(bios name) <enter>

Is that 2 different commands, or are they showing 2 examples of the same thing? (sorry, I said I was pretty ignorant in DOS!)

It looks to me like you put in your USB drive, boot your machine, get to the DOS prompt (somehow) and then, ChangeDrive space and then what document name are they looking for here? then Enter.
Then that document should be at the F:\ prompt. Now you execute the Flash tool, space, type the BIOS filename, Enter.
After that you reboot.
What about clearing CMOS? Does that happen first, before anything? And does that get my to the BIOS defaults automatically or should I manually change them in the BIOS menu?

Am I close? to the right procedure I mean.

Thanks so much for your help. I know I asked a lot here - whatever help you're willing to give - one day I can hopefully I'll return the favor!

 

[rcanino]

Don't worry about getting rid of the U3 on your flash drive.  You can always get it back on after your successful flash.

Thanks for the heads up Mike. Yeah, I'm not bothered by getting rid of U3 - in fact I'd like to. Seems completely unnecessary. I love SanDisk CF cards, use them in all my cameras - but this mini-OS or whatever it is...I can live without it.

On the HP format tool. I came across it yesterday on OC'ers forum - maybe it was an older thread but I read that only vers 2.06 (i think it was) would work, and that the newer versions weren't wiping all USB drives. Anyway now I have both versions. Think it matters which one I use?

Thanks again you guys! took me forever to get a confirmation email from MSI but I'm glad I finally did - I really appreciate your help!

 

[Jack the Newbie]

Is that 2 different commands, or are they showing 2 examples of the same thing? (sorry, I said I was pretty ignorant in DOS!)

Well, I just realized that those instructions are just a little more complicated than they need to be.   I will give you some better ones:

1. Remove the U3 Partition with this tool: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/U3-Launchpad-Removal-Tool.shtml

2. Download the this tool:  http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/HP-USB-Disk-Storage-Format-Tool.shtml  and download the DOS-Files.rar Archive I am attaching to this reply (then extract the DOS Files included in the archive to a folder of your choice).

3. Run the HP USB Disk Format Tool, select your USB Flash Drive (if it is not selected already), select "FAT32" and also mark the "Creating DOS Startup Disk" Option at the bottom and point the tool to the folder that contains the DOS Files you just extracted from the archive).  After that click on "START".  Once the tool is done, your USB Flash Drive should be bootable.

---------------------

Now, download the BIOS Archive (v1.3) from the product site for your board and extract the AFUD4310.EXE file (flasher) and the A7666IMS.130 (BIOS Image) from it.  Copy both files to the root directory of the already prepared/bootable USB Flash Drive.

-->  Boot from the USB Flash Drive (Press F11 after system start-up to bring up the BIOS Boot Menu) and select the USB Flash Drive from there).  You should end up in the DOS Command Prompt.

Enter the following command to start the flash:

AFUD4310 A7666IMS.130 /P /B /N /C [Enter]

Once that is done (you will get a status message: "Program ended normally" at the end of the flash), turn off your system, unplug your PSU from A/C power and >>Clear CMOS<<.  Turn on the system after that and load "Optimized Defaults" in BIOS.

Basically, that is it.

--------------------------

One more thing:  For safety reasons, please use one memory module in the first black slot for the BIOS Update procedure, not all three of your sticks.


--------------------------

Oh, and if you really want to create a Backup of your current BIOS Version, just enter the following command into the DOS Command Line (before entering the flash command I mentioned above):

AFUD4310 /O BACKUP.ROM

 

[rcanino]

Thanks Jack - doh, shoulda left "Quick Format" checked I guess - this is taking forever...

anyway I'm working on it - as long as I haven't screwed it up by typing while the thumb drive is formatting...

btw - you said the public vers was 1.2. Did I get an old board? Is it anything to be concerned about? I bought it from the egg and they're usually pretty good - in my experience anyway.

I suppose it doesn't matter anyway since I'm updating to 1.3 today?

thanks again for all your help today Jack - I really (really!) appreciate it.

[edit - once this format is done I'll run the BIOS update - should I clear CMOS first - I see you said to do it afterward. And should I also change in the BIOS menu to "fail-safe" or "optimized"? before I run the update - sorry if you already addressed this but it was before the new instructions and I'm a little paranoid about this whole process I guess. Thanks!]

 

[HU16E]

Did I get an old board?

Initial retail release was with A7666IMS.110. The first two I received had that installed. The latest one I got has 1.2 installed. As long as nothing is OC'd & your settings are on 'auto' or 'defaults', you should be good to go. Clear CMOS 'after' the flash (power cord removed from the PSU).

 

[rcanino]

As long as nothing is OC'd & your settings are on 'auto' or 'defaults', you should be good to go.

you do mean for now right? for the update?

I've done a tiny bit of tinkering - with the power savings mode - and I set up controllers to AHCI. All of them will disappear with the update I assume.

Should I just hit F8 now - fail-safe defaults - and then start the update? (or maybe F6, optimized defaults?)

Thanks HU!

 

[Jack the Newbie]

Clear CMOS after the update and yes, loading "Fail-safe defaults" before the update will probably not hurt.  However, it is not really that necessary (AHCI Settings have no affect on USB Functionality and the Flash Procedure for that matter.

 

[rcanino]

Thanks Jimi! (cool pic) - I mean Jack.

I don't mind starting from scratch so I'll do the Fail-Safe I guess.

wish me luck - here goes!

 

[Jack the Newbie]

 

[rcanino]

ah heck - one more thing before I do it - I don't know whether the BIOS Flash Protection is enabled or not - I can check. Should it be either or before I update? I assume it has to be disabled - and I did do the Fail-Safe settings - not sure if that enables it or disables it though...

edit - n'mind Jack - I'm getting silly now - of course it has to be disabled!

 

[Jack the Newbie]

of course it has to be disabled!

Yep.   

 

[rcanino]

okay - so I inserted the thumb drive - the right files are on it - and hitting F11 brought me to a command prompt, just like you said.
but it's C:\

It has to be the USB drive doesn't it? There are no other drives connected. It just threw me a little seeing C:\

I don't need to cd right? I mean, I don't think there's anything I can "cd" to anyway!

and on the backup - do I hit ENTER after typing that line?

(i promise you - if you're ever in NYC I'll buy us a few rounds of the beverage of your choice!  - Thank You!)

 

[Jack the Newbie]

The drive letter that appears after a DOS Boot is always the letter of the drive DOS was booted from (so: in this case: your USB Flash Drive). 

I don't need to cd right? I mean, I don't think there's anything I can "cd" to anyway!

CD means "Change Directory". Since there are no other folders on the USB Flash Drive besides the root folder, there is no folder you could change to. 

and on the backup - do I hit ENTER after typing that line?

Commands will only be executed when you hit the ENTER or RETURN key. So, yes, hit ENTER after typing the command.

 

[rcanino]

Ah...it's always that drive letter - okay. right, I know a few (very) DOS commands, and I saw a couple cd commands in the other instructions...I figured... -

oh hell, I don't know what I was figuring - it's the only drive connected!

I ended up doing a dir command and saw the 2 files I need. I'm good to go.  my next post will be the results of the update.

thanks again (again) jack. I'm a nervous nellie here today - i swear i'm not usually!

 

[rcanino]

Ta-Da! Thank you thank you thank you!

The BIOS vers. now is 1.3 082010 and the fix worked - the QPI current freq is now correct. After re-installing the 2 sticks of RAM all 12G are recognized and the boot process is normal.

So many thanks - I appreciate your help very much Jack.

I think I'm actually almost ready to install my OS. I need a little advice on the other updates on MSI's download page but maybe I should open a new thread for those? I'm sure I've exhausted your patience by now anyway!

Thanks again Jack (and Mike)

edit: oh btw, saving the current BIOS didn't work. I tried a /zero and a /O but both resulted in "unknown command." Not that it matters, just thought you might like to know.