replacing my xfx nforce sli 750i mobo: Advices

amoretam · 14 Sep 2010

chev65 said:

Not late at all Fabe, thanks for the input. I didn't know about the bios overclocking jumper on the XFX boards. I just hate seeing a perfectly good board bashed and tossed aside for no good reason. I'd be willing to bet there isn't anything wrong with his board, it just needs an adjustment or two is all.

I will not even describe everything I've been through with this mobo after reading only bad reviews, taking it to technicians and following many directions from different forums.
The problem has not been constant, it dessapeared and came back different but the same, very tricky.
I've done everything that you suggested.
The only thing I have not touched is the BIOS voltage or timing settings, why? because if I am not overclocking then I don't need to touch that overclocking jumper, that's my logic!!

These are the links of my past threads about the booting problem in cronological order:
My computer won't boot up!!

strange booting problem

There, you will notice that the problem started like a month and a half after buying the mobo when I installed Win7 x64, which made me think that it was an OS problem.

chev65: I really wish I was wrong about my conclusions.

Do you want me to send you every page of my BIOS or what pages do you need?

Should I set the overclocking jumper on the motherborad before taking pics??

THANKS A LOT

Everlong · 15 Sep 2010

The board's auto voltage setting has problems with quad cores. You need to manually set a voltage to get it running properly. I had the same problems when I upgraded to a quad core on the exact same motherboard. You need to move the jumper to open the overclocking/voltage section in the BIOS. I said in my last post which section of the BIOS you need to go to.

amoretam · 15 Sep 2010

Ok thanks for the reply,

Chev65 said: "With your 8GB of memory you need to try using 1.5 volts for the SPP "north bridge" voltage and also make sure that all other memory settings are per manufacture specs."
"Using DDR2-800 (5-6-6-18 2T with memory voltage to OCZ specs should get you up and running."

Everlong said: "If I remember correctly, once you've changed the jumper on the motherboard, the voltage settings can be found by entering BIOS>Advanced BIOS features>Cell Menu>XFX J0C1 Overclock Function then there will be CPU Voltage, Memory Voltage etc.

I appreciate your detailed description but I still do not have the sufficient knowledge to go and change voltages or timings.

I will set the jumper right away and take a pic of the Cell Menu so you people can guide me!!!

Thanks a lot!!!!

amoretam · 15 Sep 2010

Ok, I have attached two Bios pages which I believe are the ones for timings and voltages....
Wow, this is exciting, I've never seen those options before, now after setting up that jumper the BIOS is no longer boring!!

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!

Everlong · 15 Sep 2010

Okay, for the memory timings that chev mentioned. You want to change the following:

CAS Latency(CL) = 5,
tRCD = 6
tRP t = 6
tRAS to 18
1T/2T Memory Timing to 2T

Set the tREF to 7.8uS too. This helped fix the random times the PC decided it wouldn't want to boot for me, too.

Now for the CPU voltage, set it to 1.265 volts to start off with (or as close as you can to this). If you still get problems with this voltage, then increase it by one notch in the voltage list.

Set the NB voltage to 1.5.

See how you get on with these settings.

If you run in to any problems doing this, then just push the reset button on the back of your motherboard to reset the BIOS to default settings.

amoretam · 15 Sep 2010

Everlong said:

Okay, for the memory timings that chev mentioned. You want to change the following:

CAS Latency(CL) = 5,
tRCD = 6
tRP t = 6
tRAS to 18
1T/2T Memory Timing to 2T

Set the tREF to 7.8uS too. This helped fix the random times the PC decided it wouldn't want to boot for me, too.

Now for the CPU voltage, set it to 1.265 volts to start off with (or as close as you can to this). If you still get problems with this voltage, then increase it by one notch in the voltage list.

Set the NB voltage to 1.5.

See how you get on with these settings.

If you run in to any problems doing this, then just push the reset button on the back of your motherboard to reset the BIOS to default settings.

ok, I did this:

CPU voltage (V) set to [0.1250V] - - Is that what you mean? next is > [0.1375V] - -

Memory Voltage: Shouldn't I set this to [2.10]? as Chev said "make sure that all other memory settings are per manufacture specs."
It is currently set to [1.90] (Default Voltage)

NB Voltage (V): There is no [1.5]. There is a [1.51] but the RED WARNING shows up telling me that this is not a recommended setting. RED WARNING starts at [1.36]. Everything below: ([1.32] - [1.28] - [1.24](default) - [1.20] - has no warning.
What should I set?

About the DRAM configuration, I did what you suggested and left tRRD, tRC, tWR, tWTR in auto.

Ok, i'll be wating here with my BIOS on...
thanks

Everlong · 15 Sep 2010

I missed the memory voltage sorry. If 2.10v is the manufacturer's specs, then yea set it to 2.10.

Set the NB voltage to 1.32v instead.

And don't keep it at 0.1250 for now and see how it goes.

I'm not sure if 0.1250 is the voltage it will be at, or the voltage on top of the default voltage. Though if I remember correctly, it is how much voltage to add on. If you still get some problems, then just keep try increasing the CPU voltage a bit more until it's running fine.

amoretam · 15 Sep 2010

Everlong said:

I missed the memory voltage sorry. If 2.10v is the manufacturer's specs, then yea set it to 2.10.

Set the NB voltage to 1.32v instead.

And don't keep it at 0.1250 for now and see how it goes.

I'm not sure if 0.1250 is the voltage it will be at, or the voltage on top of the default voltage. Though if I remember correctly, it is how much voltage to add on. If you still get some problems, then just keep try increasing the CPU voltage a bit more until it's running fine.

"And don't keep it at 0.1250 for now and see how it goes".

What do you mean, what should I set it to? you mean I should leave the default value? [0.000]??

Everlong · 16 Sep 2010

amoretam said:

Everlong said:

I missed the memory voltage sorry. If 2.10v is the manufacturer's specs, then yea set it to 2.10.

Set the NB voltage to 1.32v instead.

And don't keep it at 0.1250 for now and see how it goes.

I'm not sure if 0.1250 is the voltage it will be at, or the voltage on top of the default voltage. Though if I remember correctly, it is how much voltage to add on. If you still get some problems, then just keep try increasing the CPU voltage a bit more until it's running fine.

"And don't keep it at 0.1250 for now and see how it goes".

What do you mean, what should I set it to? you mean I should leave the default value? [0.000]??

Oops, I meant keep it at 0.1250, sorry. How much is that up from 0.0000? After doing some reading around to refresh my memory, increase the voltage around 6 to 7 notches and go from there. That's about how much I increased mine by on that board.

amoretam · 16 Sep 2010

Everlong said:

amoretam said:

Everlong said:

I missed the memory voltage sorry. If 2.10v is the manufacturer's specs, then yea set it to 2.10.

Set the NB voltage to 1.32v instead.

And don't keep it at 0.1250 for now and see how it goes.

I'm not sure if 0.1250 is the voltage it will be at, or the voltage on top of the default voltage. Though if I remember correctly, it is how much voltage to add on. If you still get some problems, then just keep try increasing the CPU voltage a bit more until it's running fine.

"And don't keep it at 0.1250 for now and see how it goes".

What do you mean, what should I set it to? you mean I should leave the default value? [0.000]??

Oops, I meant keep it at 0.1250, sorry. How much is that up from 0.0000? After doing some reading around to refresh my memory, increase the voltage around 6 to 7 notches and go from there. That's about how much I increased mine by on that board.

Ok, yesterday I left it at [0.0000] cause you said don't keep it at [0.1250.]

To get to [0.1250] I have to increase ten notches.

I just increased 7 notches to leave it at [0.0875V].

But, even on [0.0000], the computer turn on normally this morning!!
I can't believe it!!!
After a year of troubleshooting all I needed to do was this????????
WOW.. Incredible

I hope I'm not celebrating too early.

A few questions now:

The fact that I cannot rate my computer has something to do with this? I mean the WEI score, the button does not do anything.

I think my RAM memory is getting too hot, if I touch it after 3 seconds it becomes almost untouchable. how hot is too hot??

Can I set the jumper to safe mode now>??

THAt's it , thanks a lot... :I am so happppy!!!