The MSI Neo2 Platinum Owners Help Thread

It's all a question of balance.
If say your old system was maxed out with a 9800 Pro, you won't see a huge difference.
On the other hand, maybe a X850 is an overkill for your old system not for your A64. (prolly need more than a small winnie to get the most out of a X850 as well)

If your just browsing the web and word processing you don't need an A64.
A lot is always going to depend on what you use your PC for, but A64 is going to be faster with some apps.

I just stuck a 2800 barton in my daughters PC to replace a AMD 1400, and it's halved the time it takes to do a complete virus scan.

Oh BTW, justifying the price of a X850 to the misses really takes some grovelling ;)
 
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I really hope one of you guys can help as I am close to giving up. I have just upgraded my system and I am more than happy with it's performance in that I do not need to overclock. What I would like to do is run 'Cool'n'quiet' successfully but cannot!

I am running Windows XP Pro SP2 on my MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum (obviously) with an A64 3200+ Venice. I have 'CnQ' enabled in the BIOS, I have Power Management set to 'Minimal Power management', I am running latest version of Core Centre with 'CnQ' enabled. I have the latest AMD 64 processor driver installed which is listed on AMD's site as version 1.2.2.2 but appears in Device Manager as 1.2.2.0 (??). I have all the latest MB drivers including BIOS 1.8. As far as I can tell I am doing everything that I need to in order to run in 'CnQ' but it is not happening :confused:

I can leave my PC idling for 10 minutes (before screen goes blank at 15 minutes) and Core Centre will still report that I am running at 200 MHz x 10 (2010 MHz). Task Manager reports that my CPU is fluctuating between 0-3% usage which in my mind doesn't require my processor to be operating at full warp speed!

Temperatures are still low (42 even with these very warm UK nights), but I'm sure they could be much lower if 'CnQ' were to kick in.

Any help would be tremendously appreciated.

Regards
DBM

** EDIT ** I also have a retail A64 with stock fan, if that's relevant.
 
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split said:
It's all a question of balance.
If say your old system was maxed out with a 9800 Pro, you won't see a huge difference.
On the other hand, maybe a X850 is an overkill for your old system not for your A64. (prolly need more than a small winnie to get the most out of a X850 as well)
Click to expand...

I dont have an X850 - Its a 6800GT

I dont think the Barton was maxed out either, but because the barton is running a treat, I decided to slap the GT onto that, and use the 9800Pro in the Winchester.

I play more games upstairs on the Barton in the LAN room than I do downstairs, on the winnie, so the 9800Pro is more than enough for all my games... In fact, to be honest, the 9500np @ 9700 is just as good, perhaps better because I use the DNA 4.11 drivers on that, and I get 160+ FPS in UT Classic, while *** 9800Pro using CAT 5.6 I have a flap 59FPS, so in some ways the 9500np is the better card, and I have even had thoughts of using that!


split said:
If your just browsing the web and word processing you don't need an A64.
A lot is always going to depend on what you use your PC for, but A64 is going to be faster with some apps.
Click to expand...

Oh, the A64 is permenently on, and yes, a lot of browsing etc, and the occasional games, as I said.

There "Some Apps"... What are they exactly?

I have run SUPER-PI comparing my fastest systems.

The XP17 clocked currently to 2.8 is getting me 37
The Barton @ 2.6 is 39
The Barton @ 2.2 is 41
The Wichester is 46 for gods sake, so the CPU aint better

Opening up thigns like apps and explorer windows are also noticably slower. The bartons are instant, this has a definite 1 or 2 second delay.

Everythign I do is noticably slower, maybe not by much, but definitely by something, with the exception of games... They are no slower, but also no faster either.


split said:
I just stuck a 2800 barton in my daughters PC to replace a AMD 1400, and it's halved the time it takes to do a complete virus scan.
Click to expand...

I use NOD32 and it takes less than 3 minutes to do a full scan through 4 HDs, consisting of over 400,000 files... NOD32 isnt all that much faster on any of my PCs, even the TB 14 ( my server ) is only marginally slower, however, thats using SCSI Drives.



split said:
Oh BTW, justifying the price of a X850 to the misses really takes some grovelling ;)
Click to expand...

The 6800GT took hours of pure grovveling... You have no idea how much I had to do, especially as I had jus tgot a new Mobo & CPU... Even after that, last night, I ahve had to do some PSU grovelling, and we are currently in silent mode now.... So stuff her, thats what a credit card is for!
 
Thanks for that link Split. :D

It looked promising but has not given me anything else to try other than the RMClock utility which is a possibility. I would rather get the hardware CnQ working properly though before I consider anything else as an alternative.

This is so perplexing. I really don't know what I am doing wrong. The only differences I see with people who have it working (following that link) is that they are running a lower driver version for their processor (1.1.0.1.4)? Could I be having problems because I have the latest drivers for all hardware?? I hope not!

One strange thing I do notice in both the BIOS and Core Centre is that I cannot lower the FSB manually to anything less than 200MHz. I can drop the multiplier in the BIOS but not the FSB. It only goes up. There is also no setting for multiplier in Core Centre, only FSB. Is FSB frequency locked in BIOS 1.8?

Sorry for my noobish questions :( This is my first A64 setup so this is all new to me :rolleyes:

Here are my BIOS settings under the Cell Menu (if it helps) -

High Performance - Manual
Agressive Timing - Disabled
Dynamic Overclocking - Disabled
Spread Spectrum - Enabled
HT Frequency - 4x
Cool'n'Quiet -ENABLED (it is, honest!)
Adjust CPU Ratio - Startup
Adjust CPU FSB Frequency - 200
Adjust AGP Frequency - 66
Adjust CPU VID - Startup
CPU Voltage - by CPU VID
Memory Voltage - Auto
AGP Voltage - 1.50

Something tells me it could be the BIOS. Would it be worth going back to an earlier version?

Once again, thanks for any advice
DBM
 
I force myself into an upgrading rule. I only upgrade my PC when I am doubling the CPU Mhz. This stops me trying to keep taking little steps. Instead I end up upgrading every couple of years this way. IMHO this gives me better value for money.

In between the CPU upgrades, I replace the video card. Again I will only replace with a leap of technology. Not just grabbing it because it's the latest thing.


I therefore avoid what FatRakoon is seeing - the rough feeling from seeing little change for a big outlay. But do remember, you have now future proofed yourself a bit. Meaning a much cheaper upgrade in the future by swapping that A64 to a bigger one.
 
Well I for one find an FX-53 chip on a Neo2 much snappier than say my socket A rig, but at that price it ought to be.

I will add tho I have raptor in my Neo2 rig which may help launching apps. (plus I suppose a fresher windows install)

If I zipp or rar huge files, the A64 rig is so much quicker than socket A.

Maybe a few people (myself included as I am not a big gamer) fall into the upgrade hype.

I suppose if your PC does everything you want it to do well, leave it alone.
There was a thread on here awhile back about hardware going way beyond software, and I think there is an element of truth in that.

Think it's going to take a lot these days to see the leap the 9700 gave, but lets remember that was nothing but trouble on the VIA boards when it first came out.
It took the Nvidia2 chipset really to get us unlocked PCI buses (which we take for granted these days)
Anyways, we mustn't spam the Neo2 thread :)
 
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split said:
Anyways, we must spam the Neo2 thread :)
Click to expand...
Haha.... death by typos. :) Lots of lovely Spam. :)

'tis all relevant though. When does one upgrade? In my case I noticed all kinds of speed boosts. I didn't even have DDR in my previous system. And the video card was being held back by the old CPU, so that also got a boost with more power behind it.

The biggest shock was the sheer install speed. From booting CD to settled desktop in less than 20 mins!! Shockingly fast!! Though shed loads of RAM and a pair of screaming SCSIs do help a bit there.... :D
 
Something tells me it could be the BIOS. Would it be worth going back to an earlier version?
Click to expand...

Hmm dunno.

Most people on here don't use Cool'n'Quiet cos they want to thrash the PC rather than make it quiet.
Best BIOS page for Neo 2 is here.
Many of those are beta tho, so take care.

You could try either here or here (as well as the MSI forum I gave you) but they are more for overclocking it than making it quiet :(
 
Cheers Split :rolleyes:

It's not that I fear OC'ing, it's being surprised by such a performance leap that makes me want to stay at stock for a while. This A64 setup makes my 6800GT scream :eek: In 3DMark01 I get 3000+ more (20k+ at last), 3DMark03 1000+ more and 3DMark05 300+ more. I haven't as yet done any PC marks but the gain in gaming performance (not just the bench results) will make me keep the whip from the beast!

As far as CnQ goes, for now I will admit defeat. For whatever reason it doesn't want to happen. I will not worry about it. For one thing I've got the lowest temperatures I've had in a long time at full load and idle. The highest it's been so far is 52 and that was when it was very hot the other night.

Thanks for the advice and links.
Regards
DBM
 
DarkBlueMan.... mmmm... are you sure you are not one of the Blue Intel men from the Intel adverts? :) Are we dragging you over the the Dark Side. LOL...

I swapped from an old T-Bird, so my temps have dropped a lot as well. The old T-Bird is behind me and running at 52 degrees, whereas this new A64 is only 42. Which is a big improvement. (And that is both with case sides off.... :D)
 
problems posting.......

just installed a k8n neo 2 board with a 3500 winny and 1 gig of ram a x800 xt and 120 ide hdd....
I turn it on and a get a lovely picture then a message telling me to press delete to enter setup.....I do this and nothing.Just stays on that pretty picture. I have tried three different keyboards and no joy.I have also tried a usb keyboard. I cleared the bios by the jumper switch and I have pulled the battery.

I dont know what to do next!!!!

Any ideas peeps?

Many thanks,

Fluffy
 
Strange. Sounds like a borked BIOS.

Have you also tried entering the BIOS when your hard drives / CD are unplugged? Just in case it is a detection problem.

Otherwise you have tried everything I would have. Could be RMA time...
 
not tried without hdd connected.............
If it is the bios could I do a blind bios ?
This what I found

Quote:
Originally Posted by uniacid
Ok update: I tried with a pci vid card with the 3700 and it didnt work, but I tried it with my FX-53 and it posts, but it still turns on automatically, so now I am unsure if I should still rma my mb and now should I rma my cpu?


Don't give up yet. Put the FX-53 in there and reflash the bios. There's a chance that a corrupt bios won't let you boot with the 3700. If you can successfully reflash, you might find that you don't have to rma anything. That could save you a headache or two.

(bios page....http://www.lejabeach.com/MSIK8N/k8nneo2.html)

If you're unsure about flashing the bios from a floppy, follow these instructions:
1.) Insert floppy disk into your floppy drive. (of a working computer with internet access) Format and "Create an MS-DOS startup disk."
2.) Download "AWFL833D.EXE" from http://www.lejabeach.com/MSIK8N/AWFL833D.EXE
3.) Download "7025v18F.zip" from http://www.lejabeach.com/MSIK8N/7025v18F.zip (That bios image is the same one that you'd get from MSI's webpage. It is for bios 1.8 final release, so it should support venice and sandiego chips.)
4.) Copy "AWFL833D.EXE" to the floppy disk.
5.) Decompress the bios file "7025v18F.zip". There will be a folder called "7025v18F" created and it will have 4 files in it. Don't worry about any except the one titled "w7025nms.180". Change the name of the file "w7025nms.180" to "w7025nms.bin". Copy "w7025nms.bin" to the floppy disk.
6.) Insert the floppy into the machine that you want to reflash. (K8N Neo2 Platinum in this case.)
7.) As the computer is booting, keep hitting F11 (pretty sure it's F11) to get the boot menu. Choose to boot off of the floppy disk.
8.) When you see "A:/" type "dir" (no quotes)....this will give you a listing of the directory on the "A:" drive. (This is not necessary, but it will let you know what's on the disk so that you don't make a typo.)
9.) You will see "A:/" on the screen....type the following after it:
AWFL833D w7025nms.bin
It will look like this: A:/AWFL833D w7025nms.bin
10.) Hit enter and follow the instructions that come up on the screen. DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER OR RESTART IT UNTIL THE FLASH IS COMPLETE! (It will let you know when it's done.....it shouldn't take more than 4 minutes tops to copy the bios files.)
11.) Restart with the floppy out of the drive and keep pressing "del" until you get into the bios when rebooting.
12.) Hopefully, it should work again and you can do a happy dance like so:

would that work?
 
It could just be a dodgy drive cable. I have seen a PC go mad because the IDE lead was torn. This gave an intermittant connection. Meaning detection could be hit and miss. (Though, I think this was a cheeky company testing out my diagnostic skills....)

When I have a problem like you describe, I remove all hard drives and floppy drives. Then boot with only a graphics card installed. Nothing else. Then I swap to a different graphics card to check it isn't being fussy about that.


Flashing the BIOS implies the PC will boot to a floppy disk. Have you tried a DOS bootable disk? Can you get an A: prompt up? This above description assumes you can see your screen.

Though it would be possible to do it blind I guess.... I would stick with official BIOSes from the MSI site. Makes it easier to RMA later.

Sensible suggestion as this will refresh that BIOS code. It could be that it was corrupted in transit. Bolt of lightning hit the delivery van. Or the driver was wearing too much nylon.... Or just Tribbles :)
 
Take everything off like hard discs / CD etc (only leave the stuff you need to boot to BIOS) and clear the BIOS.
My first one did that, I pulled everything and it was OK.
I added a bit at a time, and never see that problem again. <shrugs>

Thinking...you might also try just a single stick of ram in closest slot to CPU.

I just see you edited your post.
The way it's written on Rebels site looks OK.
MSI seem to like you to use ramdrive, and you need 2 floppies for that.

See post here for that method.
You don't need a bootable floppy with ramdrive, but to make a bootable floppy for Rebels way you need "Driver Free Disk For Bios Flashing" from http://www.bootdisk.com/.

I wouldn't flash anything until you have tried it without anything attached tho.
 
Might sound silly, but how long did you wait?

The thing is that mine also just stood there.

I press DELETE like hell, and it will ignore me and then go on to finding the HDs on the RAID card.... It was about here that I kept pressing RESET and trying again, but what its doing, is goinmg into the BIOS at the last stage... My Socket A boards went into the BIOS BEFORE it looked for RAID Drives, the MSI goes into it AFTER it checks the RAID card.

The RAID card is an ITE8212, and NOT the on-board SATA - if you are wondering.
 
MAllen said:
DarkBlueMan.... mmmm... are you sure you are not one of the Blue Intel men from the Intel adverts? :) Are we dragging you over the the Dark Side. LOL...
Click to expand...

Hehe! No chance of that. I've only ever owned one Pentium and that was a 233Mhz MMX. Then it was onto a T-Bird 1.3GHz, an XP2600+, then an XP3200+ and now finally (well so far) a 64 3200+ Venice.

There's not much arguement that AMD offer the best performance for your money. With so many upgrade options available on 939 I will continue with them for the time being...
 
Can someone confirm 3 sticks of 512 ram will work on this motherboard? im planning on going upto the shop tomorrow to get one and a 3200 venice. so can anyone confirm this fast? as someone said it would work with a bios upgrade.

Any fast responses would be apreaciated.

Thankyou.
 
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