The MSI Neo2 Platinum Owners Help Thread

Ok, should be buying this board very shortly so a few last minute questions:

[1] I assume the boards will come with the latest bios. Is it fine to keep this even if I decide to overclock a bit, or is it more prudent to update it to a newer one / custom one?

[2] Windows Xp + Sp2. I'm using Xp Pro + Sp1 at present. Are there any major problems connected to this board, A64 winchesters, sata drives etc that are known to occur when using SP2?

[3] Anything needs to be done setting or hardware wise when I first fit the board? i.e. any bios settings need altered (sata enabled as default?). I assume the "boot up initially with 1 stick of memory" thing still applies?
 
Originally posted by xenole
Ok, should be buying this board very shortly so a few last minute questions:

[1] I assume the boards will come with the latest bios. Is it fine to keep this even if I decide to overclock a bit, or is it more prudent to update it to a newer one / custom one?

[2] Windows Xp + Sp2. I'm using Xp Pro + Sp1 at present. Are there any major problems connected to this board, A64 winchesters, sata drives etc that are known to occur when using SP2?

[3] Anything needs to be done setting or hardware wise when I first fit the board? i.e. any bios settings need altered (sata enabled as default?). I assume the "boot up initially with 1 stick of memory" thing still applies?
Click to expand...

1. The board will either come with the 1.3 or 1.4 BIOS I think, in my opinion if your overclocking use 1.36b as it gives you the full range of voltage options (and they work).

2. No issues with SP2 as far as I'm aware.

3. There's a few things that need altered when you first boot (enable SATA RAID if your using it etc). You won't need to only use 1 stick at first. This thread should contain any info you need about specific settings - note there is a bug when trying to change the HT multiplier, just use Page Up/Down to do it.

Jokester
 
Neo2 and SB Audigy 2

Hello peeps,

Fairly new to this board but I have enjoyed reading all the posts, most informative. This is my first post and am in need of a little help.

My system is a clean install of XP Pro with SP2 and everything ran just fine and dandy, stable if a little hot according to the 'Core Centre'. I then tried to add a SB Live 5.1 card which threw up all kinds of probs and made my whole system unstable. I removed the card and reverted to the onboard sound and put it down to the SB card being quite old.

I have since got hold of a SB Audigy 2 card which I have installed and ever since I have been getting BSOD's every half hour or so which is very annoying. I have all the latest drivers for the sound card to no avail, I have also read on the net that this has happened to more that just my good self, although nothing within this forum.

Anyone have any solutions or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

SMD
 
Originally posted by Andrew665
Got the motherboard and cpu today, Bios checksum error! Yes I am a lucky chappy.

What do you think is wrong with it?
Click to expand...

You need to look at threads like this or search that forum for checksum.

One thing the MSI Nforce 3 is good at I have found is recovering from things like this.
If it was a Nforce2, many more would have been RMA'd cos they are pants at recovering from BIOS errors.
 
thanks for the speedy reply... doing that now... well not 'now' as that would severly **** my computer :)

I think also move my 2 ram sticks to the 2 slots next to the cpu if i have read that correctly.

Cheers,

SMD
 
Last edited:
Neo2 and SB Audigy 2
Click to expand...

Audigy 2 probs seem common on this board, but seen very few with the old Lives.

Try the 3rd slot.
Also do a search here for audigy and live.
You will find plenty of audigy threads, but hardly any Live ones.
 
I'm not saying the Audigy doesn't work with this board, it just seems to give a few people problems.
Try searching the MSI forums (or even amdmb.com), and you will see what I mean.
 
My temp readings are crazy.

SpeedFan reads:

Temp1: 7c
Temp2: 41c
Temp3: 33c
Temp: -1c

Temp2 goes to 120c underload, but it is still stable. I have reseated my Mach II 5 times now and it is making good contact with the cpu.

Erm, what the hell is going on?
 
Thanks guys my system has now returned to its stable self by moving my audigy card to the 2nd from bottom PCI slot (it had been in the 3rd from bottom) no more BSOD.

Another quick question... Is it better to use the Nvidia nForce drives of the the ones that came outa the box from MSI?

Also i am hoping that the BIOS update will fix my temperatures as they are being recored at all sorts of crazy temps, anywhere form 42 to 58!!

Cheers,

SMD
 
Originally posted by smd
audigy card to the 2nd from bottom PCI slot
Click to expand...

That was lucky on my part, I only put it there so I could get to the CMOS clear jumper with a pair of pliers.

At the moment I'm just using the drivers out of the box, but I should really update them.

Jokester
 
Finally have my Neo2 working dual channel.

I got myself a Tagan 480W psu (definitely going to get a modular psu next time - this thing has way too many unused wires!!!!). Stepped up from a 350W.

I also got a DDR Booster. This is the coolest gadget ever!

I have a Neo2 and 2 strips of 256MB Crucial Ballistix PC3200. Up until I put the PSU and DDRB in I couldn't get the machine to boot with 2 strips of ram in it (dual channel or not). I upped the voltage to 3.0V (thanks to the guy on here that said the Ballistix require a lot of juice).

The only small issues I have are that the default timings don't seem to work properly (bsods during boot) and one of the IDE drives isn't working, but I can live without it. I'll be tightening the timings this evening and maybe do a bit of oc'ing too.

Thanks to everyone who chipped in with suggestions! <raises a beer>
 
Anyone having problems with the USB ports of the Neo2?

I've not connected my front ports, so I'm speaking solely of the motherboard mounted 4 ports at the rear. 3 of them have stopped working altogether and I get regular USB device Unknown messages from those three ports.

The one that works seems to work as it should.

To try and get them to work I have tried to update the motherboard drivers (nforce drivers) but I dont have nTune or any drivel like that installed.

I also noticed I'm getting the odd electric shock from the USB ports when I plug them in (on ocassion not all the time mind you).

Could it be an earthing issue or is this a common fault with this board. If I have to RMA another of these P.O.S I'll swear I'll go back to Abit.

TIA

CK
 
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