DFI lanparty nf4 questions (bios/post)

[cauzomb]

System specs lanparty ultra-D nf4, a64 3400+ 2x512 OCZ ddr2, in the "orange slot" ati hd2900xt in pci-e with the big row of jumpers on the motherboard set to 16x single card.

I'm having trouble getting the bios settings to take; when I select save and exit, the sytem apears to restart, then I get a black screen, no beep codes, 4 red diagnostic LED's and one RED led on the top/back edge of the ati card. Once I clear Cmos, and restart, everything posts fine and it says "bios checksum error" defaults loaded, press F1 to continue or pres DEL to enter setup, if I press F1 it procedes to the boot menu, I don't have any drives installed, so I end up pressing the "reset" button. After pressing reset, the sytem goes to the black screen and I have to clear cmos to get it to post again. if I go into the bios config/setup after clearing the cmos, I set the CPU/FSB/DRAM, when I click save and exit, it goes back to the black screen... I have not used a dfi board before today, so I'm not familiar with the bios configuration. I am currently looking through the manual PDF, however, I only have one PSU to use between the two systems, so I can't be on this computer and the DFI at the same time. I'm looking for recommendations on bios settings that I can print out for reference, then take over to the other computer. This is a second hand nf4 board, with a couple custom "bios profiles" in the bios setup menu, I'm fairly certain that the bios profiles are being loaded, and I don't have the same CPU that the previous owner had.. I am going to contact the previous owner for suggestions on configuring the bios/profiles, but any help would be appreciated.

[cauzomb]

Here's some info that i've found on different forums..
Mem kit is:
ocz4001024eldcper2-k

400MHz DDR
CL 2-2-2-5

---------------------------------------------
some dram settings recommended/used by a couple different people:
-------------------------

Trrd at 3
Twr at 2
Twtr at 2
Trwt at 3

---------------------------------------------
FSB: 260
LDT/FSB Freq: auto
CPu FSB Ratio: 10x
CPU startup:1.50v
CPU VId control: 1.50v
CPU VID Special: Auto
LDT Voltage: 1.3v
Chipset Voltage: 1.6v
DRAM Voltage: 2.8v

DRAM Frequency: 200
CPC: Enable
TCL: 2.5
TRCD: 3
TRAS: 5
TRP: 3
TRC: 10
TRFC: 16
TRRD: 2
TWR: 3
TWTR: 2
TRWT: 3
TREF: 3072
Odd Divisor Correct: Disable
DRAM Bank Interleave: Enable

DQS Skew Control: Auto
DQS Skew Value: 0
DRAM Drive Strength: 7
DRAM Data Drive Strength: Level 2
Max Async Latency: 8.0 ns
DRAM Rewsponse Time: Normal
Read Preamble: 6.0 ns
Idle Cycle Limit: 256 cycles
Dynamic Counter: Disabled
R/W Queus Bypass: 16x
Bypass Max: 7x
32 Byte Granularity: Disable

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

Nf4 UT Sli
4/6/06 Bios
4600X2 Manchester
2@ 512 Kingston HyperX Old BH5


Genie BIOS Settings:

FSB Bus Frequency............................. - 223
LDT/FSB Frequency Ratio....................... - x4.0
CPU/FSB Frequency Ratio....................... - 12.0
DFI SLI FX55 Memtimings as follows.
2X1gig OCZ Platinum 3200 DC defaults of 5-2-3-2


FSB Bus Frequency............................. 200 MHz
LDT/FSB Frequency Ratio....................... 5
CPU/FSB Frequency Ratio....................... Auto
PCI eXpress Frequency......................... 100

CPU Voltage .................................. Auto
LDT Voltage .................................. 1.20v
ChipSet (NF4) Voltage ........................ 1.52V
DRAM Voltage ................................. 2.71V
+0.03 if not 3.2V ............................ N/A

Memclock (DRAM Frequency) .................... 200
1T/2T Timing (Command Per Clock).............. 1T
CAS Latency (Tcl)............................. 2T
RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd)..................... 3T
Min RAS# active time (Tras)................... 8T
Row precharge time (Trp)...................... 2T
Row Cycle time (Trc).......................... 10T
Row refresh cyc time (Trfc)................... 16T
Row to Row delay (Trrd)....................... 3T
Write recovery time (Twr)..................... 3T
Write to Read delay (Twtr).................... 2T
Read to Write delay (Trwt).................... 3T
Refresh Period (Tref)......................... Auto
DRAM Bank Interleave.......................... Enabled

DQS Skew Control.............................. Auto
DQS Skew Value................................ 0
DRAM Drive Strength........................... Level 8, 9, or 10
DRAM Data Drive Strength...................... Level 1 (Reduce 50%) or 2 (Reduce 30%)
Max Async Latency............................. 8ns
DRAM Response Time............................ Normal
Read Preamble Time............................ 6ns
IdleCycle Limit............................... 64
Dynamic Counter............................... Disable
R/W Queue Bypass.............................. 16x
Bypass Max.................................... 4x
32 Byte Granularity........................... Disable (4 Bursts)

stock settings for stock speeds. FX55



PCI eXpress Frequency......................... - 105Mhz

CPU VID StartUp Value......................... - Startup

CPU VID Control............................... - 1.350v
CPU VID Special Control....................... - 110%
LDT Voltage Control........................... - 1.20v
Chip Set Voltage Control...................... - 1.50v
DRAM Voltage Control.......................... - 3.50v

DRAM Configuration Settings:

DRAM Frequency Set............................ - 200
Command Per Clock (CPC)....................... - Enabled
CAS Latency Control (Tcl)..................... - 02Bus Clocks
RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd)..................... - 02 Bus Clocks
Min RAS# active time (Tras)................... - 05 Bus Clocks
Row precharge time (Trp)...................... - 02 Bus Clocks
Row Cycle time (Trc).......................... - 07 Bus Clocks
Row refresh cyc time (Trfc)................... - 14 Bus Clocks
Row to Row delay (Trrd)....................... - 02 Bus Clocks
Write recovery time (Twr)..................... - 02 Bus Clocks
Write to Read delay (Twtr).................... - 02 Bus Clocks
Read to Write delay (Trwt).................... - 02 Bus Clocks
Refresh Period (Tref)......................... - 3120 Cycles
Write CAS Latency (Twcl)...................... - Auto
DRAM Bank Interleave.......................... - Disabled

DQS Skew Control.............................. - Increase
DQS Skew Value................................ - 50
DRAM Drive Strength........................... - 8
DRAM Data Drive Strength...................... - 4
Max Async Latency............................. - 6
DRAM Response Time............................ - Normal
Read Preamble Time............................ - 5
IdleCycle Limit............................... - 256
Dynamic Counter............................... - enable
R/W Queue Bypass.............................. - 16 x
Bypass Max.................................... - 07 x
32 Byte Granularity........................... - Disable(4 Bursts)

[cauzomb]

I got memory settings and cpu voltages set; ran memtest for a little while with zero errors. Ran into another issue: When I inserted xp install disc; as soon as I get to the booting from CDROM message, the screen goes blank and the monitor light turns orange.
I used the following settings:
FSB Bus Frequency............................. 200 MHz
CPu FSB Ratio: 11x
LDT/FSB 4.0x
CPU startup:1.30v
CPU VId control: 1.20v
CPU VID Special: Auto
LDT Voltage: 1.3v
Chipset Voltage: 1.5v
DRAM Voltage: 2.6v


DRAM Frequency: 200 fsb 1:1
CPC: Enable
TCL: 2.5
TRCD: 3
TRAS: 5
TRP: 3
TRC: 10
TRFC: 16
TRRD: 2
TWR: 3
TWTR: 2
TRWT: 3
TREF: 3072
Odd Divisor Correct: Disable
DRAM Bank Interleave: Enable

DQS Skew Control: Auto
DQS Skew Value: 0
DRAM Drive Strength: 7
DRAM Data Drive Strength: Level 2
Max Async Latency: 8.0 ns
DRAM Rewsponse Time: Normal
Read Preamble: 6.0 ns
Idle Cycle Limit: 256 cycles
Dynamic Counter: Disabled
R/W Queus Bypass: 16x
Bypass Max: 7x
32 Byte Granularity: Disable

[cauzomb]

passes memtest at 1T settings 2.45ghz with no errors but I get data corruption and read errors when trying to load windows OS to the drive; due to the 1T Command per clock and low voltages.. Usually it's bsod before file copy can complete.. I increased some ram latency and disabled cpc... Made some progress at 200fsb 200 dram 1:1 4x htt 11x multi CPU at 2.2ghz; lota auto dram settings.. Voltage going to the CPU/chipset put it at 1.4v and 1.6v,
htt volts at 1.2; dram at 2.5-2.6

I'm making some progress; no more blank screens, I was able to start the windows installation and got to the point where it says "this portion of windows setup is finished, to continue setting up windows you must restart your computer" or something like that, when it restarts; I get "error loading opperating system"

I'm guessing I need to try again after reformating the drive/go with ntfs and full format, but what else could cause this?

[cauzomb]

I was reading some google searches on dfi lanparty and "error loading opperating system" and found something about hard drive access mode needing to be set to "large" or "LBA" instead of auto and that S.M.A.R.T. should be enabled.... I don't need "smart" :P

I don't care if the drive crashes.. Does windows xp NEED smart to boot? or just LBA or LARGE?

I think the bios defaults to "heads cylinders sectors" access mode for eide drives; waiting for scandisk to finish a thorough surface scan; then I'm going to try setting the access mode and re-format the drive via the windows installation..

Or do I need to have nf4 "forceware" slipstreamed?

[Edit] Fixed;

Set the drive access mode to LBA; left HDD S.M.A.R.T. off; turned off full screen logo/ installed windows, and have a baseline CPU mark run..