- Joined
- Jul 3, 2002
- Messages
- 23,397
Hi there,
I create a sort of Opteron&FX trouble guide here.
This only applies to the K8T-Master series as because I have this board, but can work for other boards too.
The part at the end is for K8N-Master series, I add info when I see solutions.
Ok, here we start:
Memory
The board MUST be used with REG-ECC-DDR or it will NOT work.
The CPU is very picky about the ram you use, it's best to use MSI tested memory.
Because the memory-controller is internal in the CPU it's NOT the boards fault if a certain brand doesn't work, it will fail on other brands of boards too.
See the other Sticky for MSI tested memory.
The memory should be inserted in the folowing manor:
1 stick - slot 1 Single channel
2 stick - slot 1&2 for dual channel or 1&3 for single channel.
4 stick - all slots dual channel.
I think it's best if you allway's use the same memory sticks, at least for Dual-Channel operation!
So 2 the same in slot 1&2 and 2 the same in slot 3&4, do not mix!
Allway's check the memory with Memtest86 to be sure it doesn't have problems.
If you have 4GB memory installed (MS-9130 board), it won't report all of them.
This is a BIOS issue as far as I know, MSI promised to look into this matter, as the BIOS lacks memory remapping to above 4GB.
FX not running full speed
Update the BIOS to version 1.10 or above, then it will run just fine.
The latest version at the moment is 1.3B5 and can be gotten from the MSI download pages.
For most people versions 1.10 or 1.20 are sufficient, a new BIOS will probably released at the end of Sept 2005.
MSI Coolers or other ones
They are loud the first minute, after that they drop to about 2200RPM.
I think you must turn on smart-fan-monitor for this.
If you want to use a different type of cooler:
CPU coolers for the K8T-Master type of boards that fit.
The coolers you can use instead of the standard MSI coolers are the ones for Intel Xeon 604 type with screws.
An example for rackmount can be found here:
Thermaltake 1U CPU cooler
Anyway, I tested this cooler, it does the job, but only after I sort of turned it into a Sallman cooler.
Ergo, I have bend all the plates as far as I could to create a wafer of it.
I also putted 2xPC-2700 REG-ECC memory in slot 3+4, because 1+2 will make the CPU overheat in a 1U case.
I also noticed that the BIOS does turn the heat up a lot, Linux made it run at about 45-47C, but after rebooting into the BIOS
I saw it going up stadily to about 65C, ergo, do not trust the BIOS reading much, as e.g. Linux runs the CPU a lot cooler then the BIOS does.
Why? No clue, as I tested 1 FX-51 and 1 Opteron 240, both went way nuts on temps in the BIOS, even the heatsink was very hot.
After running Linux for 30 minutes, then check the BIOS, only 45C and instantly going up a lot.
Tested Linux is Debian 3.1 64-bit.
Harddisk led doesn't go out
I have that too, a newer BIOS didn't fix it, don't know why (yet).
It works normal with 2 CPU's, but stay on with 1 CPU
Try every BIOS until you have the right one where it does work
Core-Center-Pro
Download the latest version from the MSI website.
On my Opteron serveral things don't work like:
FSB x Multiplier
CPU-Fan-speed after it dropped below 2500RPM
(Has been reported to MSI, no answer yet)
Powersupply
Make sure you have enough power!!!!
Most DUAL-Rail 12V PSU's fail because they are not able to deliver enough.
Find a Powersupply like the Enermax 465 - 33A@12V single line or the OCZ 450 12U 26A@12V (or a higher model as long as it's single rail)
Check the manual very carefull on this part, you can use a normal 20pin PSU BUT you must connect the connector to the section that is NOT covered by the sticker!
See MANUAL!!!!!
The 4pin 12V connector goes on the 8pin connector, NOT on the one that is near the AGP slot!!!!
What ever you do, DO NOT use JPWR2 at all!!!
Keyboard
When numlock is turned on in Windows, after shutdown the numlock stay on.
(Can't find a BIOS setting to change this)
BIOS/Windows performance settings
First a warning, DO NOT ATTEMPT to flash any of the 1.4x BIOS versions!!!! It will kill the BIOS Chip!!!!
I have been playing with a few settings, these might give the maximum performance.
Load Optimised Settings first.
Then change:
AGP 1WS Write disable
AGP 1WS Read disable
Spread Spectrum disable
Chipkill disable
DBI disable
PCI 0WS enable
PCI Post enable
PCI Delay enable
Registry entries Win2000 (might work for XP too:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"LargeSystemCache"=dword:00000001 (doesn't seem to work with just 256MB)
"SecondLevelDataCache"=dword:00000400
WinXP with SP2
SP2 seems to cause a lot of trouble.
But there is a quick solution.
Go into the boot.ini and replace the /NoExecute=OptIn to /Execute
This will turn of the 64bit extensions needed for DEP and turn off DEP as well.
After this SP2 works like it should be.
K8T-Master-2-FAR7 (MS-9617)
BIOS 1.10 and below have AGP-videocard problems, if it won't boot, put a PCI videocard in and flash to BIOS 1.12 (worked for me)
My FX-51 CPU doesn't work on the board, problem has been reported to MSI, running an Opteron 240 at this stage.
The BIOS doesn't safe well, the clock changes at the first start, no clue why yet.
Putting a single CPU in will give all sorts of troubles, MSI is working on a new BIOS with new CPU-code to solve this.
With 2 Opterons in, it should work just fine with BIOS 1.12.
K8N-Master Second CPU no boot problem
(Thanks to Diranged for finding the solution)
I found out recently that the board comes with a Voltage Check circuit that makes sure that CPU1 and CPU2 have the same voltage. If they don't, the system powers off after about 1 second. If the board is in any way changing the voltage of the CPU, it changes the CPU1 voltage first -- which causes a trip situation in the circuitry and the board shuts off.
It can be reproduced by going into the BIOS and manually setting the Hammer FID/VID settings. Once you reboot, the system will not stay on. Or, you can try using "RMClock" to manually set the voltage in Windows and your system will shut off instantly.
As it turns out, there is a re-work on the board that is required to make the feature work (they basically disable the voltage check circuitry) -- but you have to send your board in to them. Once they send your board back, Cool'n'Quiet on 2 CPUs will work, and your system should be fine..
That's about it for now, when I see more troubles I alter the post.
I create a sort of Opteron&FX trouble guide here.
This only applies to the K8T-Master series as because I have this board, but can work for other boards too.
The part at the end is for K8N-Master series, I add info when I see solutions.
Ok, here we start:
Memory
The board MUST be used with REG-ECC-DDR or it will NOT work.
The CPU is very picky about the ram you use, it's best to use MSI tested memory.
Because the memory-controller is internal in the CPU it's NOT the boards fault if a certain brand doesn't work, it will fail on other brands of boards too.
See the other Sticky for MSI tested memory.
The memory should be inserted in the folowing manor:
1 stick - slot 1 Single channel
2 stick - slot 1&2 for dual channel or 1&3 for single channel.
4 stick - all slots dual channel.
I think it's best if you allway's use the same memory sticks, at least for Dual-Channel operation!
So 2 the same in slot 1&2 and 2 the same in slot 3&4, do not mix!
Allway's check the memory with Memtest86 to be sure it doesn't have problems.
If you have 4GB memory installed (MS-9130 board), it won't report all of them.
This is a BIOS issue as far as I know, MSI promised to look into this matter, as the BIOS lacks memory remapping to above 4GB.
FX not running full speed
Update the BIOS to version 1.10 or above, then it will run just fine.
The latest version at the moment is 1.3B5 and can be gotten from the MSI download pages.
For most people versions 1.10 or 1.20 are sufficient, a new BIOS will probably released at the end of Sept 2005.
MSI Coolers or other ones
They are loud the first minute, after that they drop to about 2200RPM.
I think you must turn on smart-fan-monitor for this.
If you want to use a different type of cooler:
CPU coolers for the K8T-Master type of boards that fit.
The coolers you can use instead of the standard MSI coolers are the ones for Intel Xeon 604 type with screws.
An example for rackmount can be found here:
Thermaltake 1U CPU cooler
Anyway, I tested this cooler, it does the job, but only after I sort of turned it into a Sallman cooler.
Ergo, I have bend all the plates as far as I could to create a wafer of it.
I also putted 2xPC-2700 REG-ECC memory in slot 3+4, because 1+2 will make the CPU overheat in a 1U case.
I also noticed that the BIOS does turn the heat up a lot, Linux made it run at about 45-47C, but after rebooting into the BIOS
I saw it going up stadily to about 65C, ergo, do not trust the BIOS reading much, as e.g. Linux runs the CPU a lot cooler then the BIOS does.
Why? No clue, as I tested 1 FX-51 and 1 Opteron 240, both went way nuts on temps in the BIOS, even the heatsink was very hot.
After running Linux for 30 minutes, then check the BIOS, only 45C and instantly going up a lot.
Tested Linux is Debian 3.1 64-bit.
Harddisk led doesn't go out
I have that too, a newer BIOS didn't fix it, don't know why (yet).
It works normal with 2 CPU's, but stay on with 1 CPU
Try every BIOS until you have the right one where it does work
Core-Center-Pro
Download the latest version from the MSI website.
On my Opteron serveral things don't work like:
FSB x Multiplier
CPU-Fan-speed after it dropped below 2500RPM
(Has been reported to MSI, no answer yet)
Powersupply
Make sure you have enough power!!!!
Most DUAL-Rail 12V PSU's fail because they are not able to deliver enough.
Find a Powersupply like the Enermax 465 - 33A@12V single line or the OCZ 450 12U 26A@12V (or a higher model as long as it's single rail)
Check the manual very carefull on this part, you can use a normal 20pin PSU BUT you must connect the connector to the section that is NOT covered by the sticker!
See MANUAL!!!!!
The 4pin 12V connector goes on the 8pin connector, NOT on the one that is near the AGP slot!!!!
What ever you do, DO NOT use JPWR2 at all!!!
Keyboard
When numlock is turned on in Windows, after shutdown the numlock stay on.
(Can't find a BIOS setting to change this)
BIOS/Windows performance settings
First a warning, DO NOT ATTEMPT to flash any of the 1.4x BIOS versions!!!! It will kill the BIOS Chip!!!!
I have been playing with a few settings, these might give the maximum performance.
Load Optimised Settings first.
Then change:
AGP 1WS Write disable
AGP 1WS Read disable
Spread Spectrum disable
Chipkill disable
DBI disable
PCI 0WS enable
PCI Post enable
PCI Delay enable
Registry entries Win2000 (might work for XP too:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"LargeSystemCache"=dword:00000001 (doesn't seem to work with just 256MB)
"SecondLevelDataCache"=dword:00000400
WinXP with SP2
SP2 seems to cause a lot of trouble.
But there is a quick solution.
Go into the boot.ini and replace the /NoExecute=OptIn to /Execute
This will turn of the 64bit extensions needed for DEP and turn off DEP as well.
After this SP2 works like it should be.
K8T-Master-2-FAR7 (MS-9617)
BIOS 1.10 and below have AGP-videocard problems, if it won't boot, put a PCI videocard in and flash to BIOS 1.12 (worked for me)
My FX-51 CPU doesn't work on the board, problem has been reported to MSI, running an Opteron 240 at this stage.
The BIOS doesn't safe well, the clock changes at the first start, no clue why yet.
Putting a single CPU in will give all sorts of troubles, MSI is working on a new BIOS with new CPU-code to solve this.
With 2 Opterons in, it should work just fine with BIOS 1.12.
K8N-Master Second CPU no boot problem
(Thanks to Diranged for finding the solution)
I found out recently that the board comes with a Voltage Check circuit that makes sure that CPU1 and CPU2 have the same voltage. If they don't, the system powers off after about 1 second. If the board is in any way changing the voltage of the CPU, it changes the CPU1 voltage first -- which causes a trip situation in the circuitry and the board shuts off.
It can be reproduced by going into the BIOS and manually setting the Hammer FID/VID settings. Once you reboot, the system will not stay on. Or, you can try using "RMClock" to manually set the voltage in Windows and your system will shut off instantly.
As it turns out, there is a re-work on the board that is required to make the feature work (they basically disable the voltage check circuitry) -- but you have to send your board in to them. Once they send your board back, Cool'n'Quiet on 2 CPUs will work, and your system should be fine..
That's about it for now, when I see more troubles I alter the post.
