Official DFI NF4Ultra-D/SLi owners thread.

dlthorpe · 9 Oct 2005 at 13:56

Got a weird problem with this board and my setup...

X2 4400 / Leadtek7800 GTX / 2GB OCZ Platimum / HyperX 580w

Sometimes when i boot i see the post screens etc, but then the screen goes black where i would expect to see the OS boot screen. If i reboot its fine, but it happens every now and then.

Also sometimes when i get to my OS login screen, my keyb or mouse might not be active. I have to unplug them and put back in which works np. I have tried changing the usb support for these in the bios, but it still does it.

Any ideas?

9zap · 9 Oct 2005 at 14:00

dlthorpe said:
Got a weird problem with this board and my setup...

X2 4400 / Leadtek7800 GTX / 2GB OCZ Platimum / HyperX 580w

Sometimes when i boot i see the post screens etc, but then the screen goes black where i would expect to see the OS boot screen. If i reboot its fine, but it happens every now and then.

Also sometimes when i get to my OS login screen, my keyb or mouse might not be active. I have to unplug them and put back in which works np. I have tried changing the usb support for these in the bios, but it still does it.

Any ideas?

hi there

umm what bios you running with the x2 4400? i use the 704-bta which cleared up a simalr problem

smids · 9 Oct 2005 at 14:28

9zap said:
hi there

umm what bios you running with the x2 4400? i use the 704-bta which cleared up a simalr problem

And I used the 704-2BTA which broke my windows (HAL - hal.dll corrupted).

About the keyboard/mouse issue - you are not, by any chance, using a usb mouse and ps2 keyboard or the other way round are you? If so, I had multiple problems. I found using both on USB worked best, with USB enabled support in BIOS. This problem first occured in 510 BIOS but has never been fixed for me so I solved it with running both off USB.

kimandsally · 9 Oct 2005 at 15:39

smids said:
And I used the 704-2BTA which broke my windows (HAL - hal.dll corrupted).

About the keyboard/mouse issue - you are not, by any chance, using a usb mouse and ps2 keyboard or the other way round are you? If so, I had multiple problems. I found using both on USB worked best, with USB enabled support in BIOS. This problem first occured in 510 BIOS but has never been fixed for me so I solved it with running both off USB.

Hi Smids

Off topic but I notice in your sig you've reduced your overclock from 2601 to 2500, is there a reason? I read that sometimes the overclocks get worse has that happened?

I'm interested because I've just bought an X2 4400.

Thanks.

smids · 9 Oct 2005 at 15:54

kimandsally said:
Hi Smids

Off topic but I notice in your sig you've reduced your overclock from 2601 to 2500, is there a reason? I read that sometimes the overclocks get worse has that happened?

I'm interested because I've just bought an X2 4400.

Thanks.

Well, basically it all started when I updated the BIOS

. I was originally running 623-2 and updated to 704-2BTA. This BIOS was supposed to be better. It was pretty much completely stable before update. Anyway, I suffered heavily on that BIOS (HAL corruption/windows b0rked). I've now gone back to 623-2. The reason I lowered the clock is because initially, the problem was noticed by playing UT2004 which would crash with a General Protection Fault. A google on this showed it was likely to be an over zealous overclock. I prime tested my computer Small FTT's for 15 hours which passed @ 2.6ghz, I memtest'ed the RAM which passed 8 hours. Now, this rules out the RAM and CPU. I ran large FTT's and that failed on a random core (even core0 which is my better core - as in amazing) within about 3 minutes. It can't be the chipset as you know our boards so I was dumbfounded as to why it was failing large FTT's. Anyway, I had an essay to write for Uni and just needed stability so downclocked to 2.5ghz which is both large and small FTT stable. I will clock back up again but for the minute, just want a stable PC. (Sorry for the block text

).

kimandsally · 9 Oct 2005 at 16:00

smids said:
Well, basically it all started when I updated the BIOS . I was originally running 623-2 and updated to 704-2BTA. This BIOS was supposed to be better. It was pretty much completely stable before update. Anyway, I suffered heavily on that BIOS (HAL corruption/windows b0rked). I've now gone back to 623-2. The reason I lowered the clock is because initially, the problem was noticed by playing UT2004 which would crash with a General Protection Fault. A google on this showed it was likely to be an over zealous overclock. I prime tested my computer Small FTT's for 15 hours which passed @ 2.6ghz, I memtest'ed the RAM which passed 8 hours. Now, this rules out the RAM and CPU. I ran large FTT's and that failed on a random core (even core0 which is my better core - as in amazing) within about 3 minutes. It can't be the chipset as you know our boards so I was dumbfounded as to why it was failing large FTT's. Anyway, I had an essay to write for Uni and just needed stability so downclocked to 2.5ghz which is both large and small FTT stable. I will clock back up again but for the minute, just want a stable PC. (Sorry for the block text ).

Thanks hopefully you'll get it back then

I have mine at 250x10 just because it's extremely quick at that and it only needs 1.4v prime stable for about 14 hours, I really don't like too much voltage.
Good luck with getting your overclock back I will keep a look out.
Cheers.

dlthorpe · 9 Oct 2005 at 18:03

9zap said:
hi there

umm what bios you running with the x2 4400? i use the 704-bta which cleared up a simalr problem

i think its the 623 if that sounds right?

dlthorpe · 9 Oct 2005 at 18:04

smids said:
And I used the 704-2BTA which broke my windows (HAL - hal.dll corrupted).

About the keyboard/mouse issue - you are not, by any chance, using a usb mouse and ps2 keyboard or the other way round are you? If so, I had multiple problems. I found using both on USB worked best, with USB enabled support in BIOS. This problem first occured in 510 BIOS but has never been fixed for me so I solved it with running both off USB.

no they are both usb devices.

smids · 9 Oct 2005 at 19:12

dlthorpe said:
no they are both usb devices.

That's odd then. So long as USB mouse and keyboard support is enabled in BIOS, then it should work - unless of course there is something wrong with the drivers in windows.

dlthorpe · 10 Oct 2005 at 09:42

smids said:
That's odd then. So long as USB mouse and keyboard support is enabled in BIOS, then it should work - unless of course there is something wrong with the drivers in windows.

Well its not consistent so I will just have to monitor and try to find a pattern.

[die]Deadly · 11 Oct 2005 at 09:20

This is a great thread for information, so hopefully you can help me.

I have just built a system based on the SLI-D, and though it is working perfectly, the marvell network controller won't connect. Windows says it is installed correctly (used the cd drivers - DFIs site is playing up) but whenever i plug a network cable in (100mbit LAN) it doesn't register it - still says "cable unplugged". The lights on the port don't do anything either.

If i plug it into the Nvidia network, it works fine (well, i had to put the MAC in the bios first). Any ideas?

Other than that, the only problem was installing to the sata with the IDE seagate in - wouldn't start after the first reboot even though i specifed the raptor as first boot.

smids · 11 Oct 2005 at 11:34

[die]Deadly said:
This is a great thread for information, so hopefully you can help me.

I have just built a system based on the SLI-D, and though it is working perfectly, the marvell network controller won't connect. Windows says it is installed correctly (used the cd drivers - DFIs site is playing up) but whenever i plug a network cable in (100mbit LAN) it doesn't register it - still says "cable unplugged". The lights on the port don't do anything either.

If i plug it into the Nvidia network, it works fine (well, i had to put the MAC in the bios first). Any ideas?

Other than that, the only problem was installing to the sata with the IDE seagate in - wouldn't start after the first reboot even though i specifed the raptor as first boot.

Believe me, it's not worth the hassle. Even when that port does 'work' it is always slow and sometimes doesn't engage a connection. Unless you need both ports running, I wouldn't worry about it as it is pretty much known to be a useless port on the board. If it isn't working at all, perhaps you could just RMA the board so that it comes back working but it is a slower connection so unless you desperately need both ports, just stick to the Nvidia one.

Efour · 11 Oct 2005 at 12:34

Haha,

neither of my networkports work correctly on my ULtra-d, 1 connects 1 dosnt exisist, yes i have them both on in the bios etc etc.

Ive turned them all off now unistalled any drivers and us a PCI NIC, no more messing about.

If you read the official DFI forums they have no end of complaints about these ports, some cant use nVidia some cant use Marvell.

[die]Deadly · 11 Oct 2005 at 12:44

Yeah, ive been there for the last hour. Luckily it is rare that neither work, but usually there is a problem with one or the other. One post indicates this being a problem with the cd drivers - i have downloaded official marvell ones but could not install them due to lack of network (only got the nvidia working at around midnight - didn't know you had to type the mac in !)

I am not in front of it, but using RD to my router i can tell its still up on the nvidia, so it appears the nvidia is ok. Will remove the firewall though - seems like it causes a lot of problems for some.

[die]Deadly · 11 Oct 2005 at 22:54

OK, the marvell controller now works, but it was running stupidly slow for some reason. So i went back to the nvidia controller.

I have started overclocking, and i am already at 2450Mhz - 450Mhz on top, with an X2 cpu - not bad ! The cpu is always around 48/49c, but the chipset(might be PWM) seems a bit warm at 52. Think i need to move some cables around to give it better airflow.

Already have a 3dm05 score of over 7k, and i haven't tried to overclock the 7800 GT OC yet - its running cool at around 42 according to the nvidia drivers.

warnea1984 · 12 Oct 2005 at 13:38

Hi I have the DFI NF4-DR but i can't find the pci-express lock where is this located i nthe bios as I can't find any option labeled pci-express lock.

This is all I need to know then I want to start overclocking, any tips with this board.

My specs are in my sig.

Many Thanks in advanced.

Minstadave · 12 Oct 2005 at 13:42

Its locked by default

[die]Deadly · 12 Oct 2005 at 13:45

Whats too high for the chipset temperatures? according to speedfan, and the bios seems to agree, under load it can reach 53c. I think my PWM was about 5c lower which seems fine. This is at 245 fsb now though

I think i should manage my cables better, you can barely see the chipset, so i doubt its cooling very well. The p180 is a nice case but damn hard to manage cables well.

tomos · 12 Oct 2005 at 14:11

well in a p180 my PWM is 32c right now - havent put the exhaust thingy on yet so hopefully that will knock the temps down a tad

warnea1984 · 12 Oct 2005 at 14:19

Thank you minstadave.

One more question I was thinking of going dual core later this year I have the 0310 bios will this be ok for dual core cpu's

Right I am of to try and overclock my cpu for the first time. Any tips would be great, think I will go and read the oc forum guides.