Gigabyte k8NSNXP-939/K8NS Ultra-939 tips, tricks and guide thread

[***Deimos***]

Hmmm.....how did you push 2.8V to the ram? I thought it was peaked at 2.7v(2.5 + .2)?

Using multimeter on my board, default 2.5V measures 2.56V, +0.1 measures 2.65V and +0.2 measures 2.75V.

Here are my results with 2x512MB OCZ PC3200 Gold Edition on Gigabyte k8nsc-939 (nforce3 agp), timings 2-8-12-2-2-7-2-2-2-1 CMD1:
2.6V 208
2.9V 216
3.0V 221
3.1V 226
3.2V 229
3.3V 235

This ofcourse using an OCZ DDR Booster.

[***Deimos***]

TIP:

If you are having problems increasing HTT over 290, then upgrade to the new F8 bios for the K8NSC-939.. it nearly allowed 330HTT for me.

It also fixes HDD recognition (secondary on 2nd channel), and S.M.A.R.T. support.

[bundy]

Has anyone been able to remove the northbridge heatsink off this motherboard ?

I was planning to replace it with the Zalman blue heatsink but cant seem to get the gigabyte one off. (The fan is rattling which is why I'm replacing it). I've pulled the fan out, but even when under extreme temperature the heatsink just wont budge.... (The white plastic holders have been cut off)

What am I missing here...

[*Viba*]

Has anyone been able to remove the northbridge heatsink off this motherboard ?

I was planning to replace it with the Zalman blue heatsink but cant seem to get the gigabyte one off. (The fan is rattling which is why I'm replacing it). I've pulled the fan out, but even when under extreme temperature the heatsink just wont budge.... (The white plastic holders have been cut off)

What am I missing here...

I did that for about two weeks ago, i had no problems. I just squeezed the white pins and popped em out. Then i just pulled a little and the heatsink came off.

[***Deimos***]

anyone run an opty on this board? i just bought the k8nsc and a opty 146, but the BIOS dosent recognize the chip correctly. also how does it overclock with this chip? please help !!

need to use K8 bios (added Opteron support).

recap of some experiences with this K8NSC-939 board, and overclocking help for the beginners:

THE BIOS
* K8 (newest, as of March 2006) BIOS is invaluable (best options, overclockability, stability, Opteron support).. 1st thing before complaining, get a bootable floppy or CD and flash BIOS to newest version.
* K8 also adds SMART for hard drives, more DRAM timing settings, and added invaluable 150 mem divider setting (thanks for listening and prompt replies Giga-byte tech)
* acess advanced options in BIOS using CTRL-F1

NEWB HELP
* if you're new to overclocking, dont set your expectations too high (just because Joe can, doesnt mean everyone can).
* Typically most Athlon64 can get to 2.3-2.5Ghz range with ~1.5V on stock heatsink (more provides diminishing returns ... aka not worth it). For higher Mhz you will need a good chip (not all overclock well), quality PSU, better cooling (ex Zalman CNPS7000, Thermalright XP-90/120 etc..), and perhaps higher voltage and other alternations (volt mods).
* you can OC using either BIOS or clockgen windows utility for nForce3, or combination. Set AGP to 67 to lock it. Set CPU voltage to 1.5V
* Raise "fsb" (HTT) from default (200) gradually (by 3-5) testing along the way. Around 250-260 need to drop HTT multiplier from 4x to 3x - 3x tops out around 300-330, with no help from 2x setting.
* Also need to keep an eye on the memory speed. Change MEMCLK divider from default 200 (1:1) to 183, then 166, 150 etc... so that your memory speed always stays at or below its rated speed.

Experience
* HTT voltage negligible help. CPU voltage has small but real impact on HTT overclockability.
* AGP voltage is useless. But do make sure to set AGP aperature to at least 256MB or 512MB (invaluable for BF2)
* K8NSC power circuitry is poor... CPU core voltage swings a lot -> you went get as high overclock as with other boards - you get what you pay for.
* Vdimm only goes up to ~2.75V (+0.2) in BIOS. There is PSU3.3V to Vdimm capacitor mod, that raises memory voltage to about 3.0-3.1V - worked great in my case, except for sporadic memtest errors (noise?)

EDIT:
* "top performance" seems to only automatically overclock to 208 if set to default 200.. no other effect.
* if you're not using it, disable IDE raid and SATA to shorten boot time.
* a previous BIOS had a HDD detect wait time.. if you're having problems beacause so many HDD, try that.

[***Deimos***]

Arin,
there is nothing wrong with your motherboard, RAM or processor. If you are using 5xHTT and having trouble raising HTT without crashing, then its quite obvious what the problem is. If you are using anything above 250, you should be using 3xHTT.

No, the HTT speed does not lower performance.. difference between 3x to 5x is negligible (think for a moment what the HTT is used for and you will realize why.. hint: DRAM controller on CPU).

Since your setup has probably changed considerably since you started posting, please clearly describe your problem again if you are having problems....

[***Deimos***]

ok, dropped from 11 to 10 on the processor, and 1 to 1 on the ram and its running at 250 fsb.

maybe I can take the HT up to 4x?

so its at 2500 mhz.

How do I get clock gen to load these speeds at boot?


[EDIT]

Tried 4x on the HTT... crashed
Tried 3x on the HTT at 250mhz.... Crashed after a little bit in windows.

So I am back to stock speeds.

What should I do here? Should I try finding the limits on different parts? maybe 2x htt, 100 divider on the ram, and low multiplyer on the processor and play around with it? I'm kinda at a loss right now.

you should never use 2xHTT.. its very unstable.
change MEMCLK in A64tweaker or in BIOS to 166 and make sure you are using low CPU multiplier (ex 6x) . Using this combination, when you set HTT to 250Mhz, your memory should be running only 190Mhz (which makes sure its not the limiting factor).

This might help (table setup for 9x CPU multiplier, DRAM speed is derived from CPU speed... ex 1800/10 -> 180) :

9		133	150	166	183	200
		14	12	11	10	9
200	1800	128.6	150.0	163.6	180.0	200.0
203	1827	130.5	152.3	166.1	182.7	203.0
206	1854	132.4	154.5	168.5	185.4	206.0
209	1881	134.4	156.8	171.0	188.1	209.0
212	1908	136.3	159.0	173.5	190.8	212.0
215	1935	138.2	161.3	175.9	193.5	215.0
218	1962	140.1	163.5	178.4	196.2	218.0
221	1989	142.1	165.8	180.8	198.9	221.0
224	2016	144.0	168.0	183.3	201.6	224.0
227	2043	145.9	170.3	185.7	204.3	227.0
230	2070	147.9	172.5	188.2	207.0	230.0
233	2097	149.8	174.8	190.6	209.7	233.0
236	2124	151.7	177.0	193.1	212.4	236.0
239	2151	153.6	179.3	195.5	215.1	239.0
242	2178	155.6	181.5	198.0	217.8	242.0
245	2205	157.5	183.8	200.5	220.5	245.0
248	2232	159.4	186.0	202.9	223.2	248.0
251	2259	161.4	188.3	205.4	225.9	251.0
254	2286	163.3	190.5	207.8	228.6	254.0
257	2313	165.2	192.8	210.3	231.3	257.0
260	2340	167.1	195.0	212.7	234.0	260.0

[e-jump]

hiya there?
any of u guys able to run 2gb sticks stable beyond ddr500?
im on neo2, and i cant seem to get my sticks beyond ddr510 stable..
some other neo2 user with other procs have problems too(highest was ddr540), so we thought it may be nf3 limitation..
unless u guys can prove it wrong

[***Deimos***]

I am having the same problem here Deimos.
I have a Giga K8NSC-939 with the same problem. +5, -5 e -12 are flutuating up and down. Did you find the cause or a solution for this problem??? I am having problems with games too.

The K8NSC doesn't have full hardware monitoring like other boards. These readings are just "random". When using sisoft sandra, mainboard information (scroll down to voltage sensors), only pay attention to CPU1 = Vcore (CPU voltage), CPU2 = Vddr (memory voltage), +3.3V = PSU +3.3V and +12V = PSU +12V.

[***Deimos***]

hiya there?
any of u guys able to run 2gb sticks stable beyond ddr500?
im on neo2, and i cant seem to get my sticks beyond ddr510 stable..
some other neo2 user with other procs have problems too(highest was ddr540), so we thought it may be nf3 limitation..
unless u guys can prove it wrong

How would NF3 have anything to do with it.. there is not a single trace connecting it to the DRAM.... a lot depends on the trace routing by the mobo maker.. ex.. DFI boards are really good.

[Chrome_Rust]

ok how do i get the k8nxp bios to work with my k8nsc mobo.... it sais the size is wrong..

[***Deimos***]

ok how do i get the k8nxp bios to work with my k8nsc mobo.... it sais the size is wrong..

I doubt you can, or would want to. The BIOS are very similar, but the parts that are different, are because there are different features on the board... ex having BIOS show SATA when none exists could lead to problems.

[Chrome_Rust]

i read somewhere that flashing to that BIOS will help with acheiving a HTT over 300 on these boards...

[***Deimos***]

Chrome Rust, since you are the expert, please go ahead and flash that BIOS, and let us know how it turns out.

[Chrome_Rust]

i never said i was an expert.... i just remember reading there was a way to flash these boards... I was asking if you had read the same thing. and in a previous post i mentioned that the size is wrong...

[kbtat2]

TIP:

If you are having problems increasing HTT over 290, then upgrade to the new F8 bios for the K8NSC-939.. it nearly allowed 330HTT for me.

It also fixes HDD recognition (secondary on 2nd channel), and S.M.A.R.T. support.

I'm sorry if this a noob question but I am a noob so....

I'm currently running the F12 bios, Am I able to run the bios you're talking about on my board, K8NSNXP-939?

I'm also having a problem with the Silicon Image sata ports not recognizing my HDD's. I've plugged them in numerous times and everytime I reboot I don't see them in the bios.

[***Deimos***]

kbtat2,

1st, you have a different motherboard (K8NSNXP-939), so my experience with my similar but different K8NSC939 may not apply.

- you cant and shouldn't run different BIOS... unless you have specific BIOS problem, you also should not unnecessarily flash the BIOS.
- Have the SATA ports ever worked? Are they enabled in BIOS? Is SATA RAID enabled? Did you try the drives individually? Which nforce driver version are u using?

[kbtat2]

kbtat2,

1st, you have a different motherboard (K8NSNXP-939), so my experience with my similar but different K8NSC939 may not apply.

- you cant and shouldn't run different BIOS... unless you have specific BIOS problem, you also should not unnecessarily flash the BIOS.
- Have the SATA ports ever worked? Are they enabled in BIOS? Is SATA RAID enabled? Did you try the drives individually? Which nforce driver version are u using?

The reason I'm asking about the bios is because I have flashed the F12 bios multiple times and cleared the cmos everytime but I still have the "Detecting IDE Drives" message at startup. I was told that with the newer bios that message won't be there.

The sata ports, at the bottom of the MB, have never worked for me. The only ones that work are the Nvidia ones. They are located right above the AGP card.

I'm having troubles with the PCI Bus #2. Everything that is connected to it is showing up in the device manager with a yellow exclamation mark next to it. I have re-installed windows so many times but they are still there.
Could I possibly be having a problem with the AGP/Pci lock?

I am OC'ed but I am also very stable with my settings, as far as heavy gaming, prime 95 and Super Pi are concerned.

I can't get my Marvell ethernet port working, it says Im having problems with the TI IEEE 1394 controller and my Realtek etehernet card that is installed in the bottom slot.

I'm running the Nvidia 5.11 chipset drivers if that matters.

Any more help would be SOOOO appreciated since Im at the end of my rope here.

Thanks for everything so far, KBTat2

[***Deimos***]

I have "detecting ide" too with F8 for k8nsc939.

PCI bus problem is probably IRQ sharing conflict. There is option in BIOS where you an designate IRQ.

1st thing before even thinking of reinstalling windows, you should try everything stock.

1394 is firewire..if its on the motherboard and you arent using it, I suggest disabling it. Disable all devices that you dont use.. ex COM ports, RAID, 1394 etc... after doing that, try installing windows again. Any errors when nfrce 5.11 install?

Are you reinstalling from scrach on bare empty partition, or just "reinstalling" like thousands do, and run into problems.

[kbtat2]

Every time I reinstall windows I do the "slow" format for the disc if thats what you meant.
Also when I try to install 5.11 drivers I have found that I get a hang up if I try to install the ethernet drivers from that series. I have to use a different driver for that.
How would I go about finding the "conflict" in my IRQ? I saw that I can change those settings but I didn't know much about it so I left it the way it was.
As far as leaving everything stock I have tried that too but the MB defaults to raid enabled which I'm not running. Actually I did try to use RAID at first but quickly gave up because it was a lot more complicated to set up than it was with my trusty old NF7-S .

Thanks for your help so far.
EDIT: I added a pic so you could see what the device manager is showing me. All of the items with the exclamation point are on PCI Bus #2.

[***Deimos***]

When you are in device manager, change the list show to be "by connection". You should see all the devices using all the IRQ. Then go through each yellow exclamation mark, and check which resources it needs.. If its the same IRQ as some/many others, then try to change resources for the others.

EDIT: Also, try reflashing the BIOS and but also select "CLEAR DMI". Then all the PCI devices will be re-enumerated.

[***Deimos***]

Hi Deimos, I was jus using Rosted's account until I got one ( he is a friend )

First I will put here all my system.

Mobo GA-K8NSC 939
A64 3000+ Winchester ( with Zalman Cooler )
2 x 512 COrsair value 400 Mhz
EVGA 6800 128 MB ( with Zalman cooler )
Audigy 2 ZS
SATA 80 GB Seagate
PSU Thermaltake 480 watts

Well, the problem is, when I am playing games ( any game ), the computer just freezes with 10 minutes or less and a noise start coming from the speakers. Crtl+ ALt + Del doesn't work, so I have to press the reset button.
But, the most weird thing is, when I am doing OC the system just runs fine, no freezes. I don't know what to do anymore. Here is the config under OC.

FSB: 245
HT: 4x
Memory: 200 ( 2.5-3-3-8)
Vcore: 1,425

Obs: The drivers are the last WHQL certified for all hardware.

Please, any suggestion will be nice. Thanks...

James Cash, dude if you're there, I'm just having the weirderst odest thing happening on my rig too. After like a week of running pretty solid with custom made heatsink on the back of the 6800 ontop of the diodes, SOP FETs and TSOP VREG, and thus really low ambient temps, I thought I must have been in heaven. I ran successive 3DMark2005 loops up to 425/950 (1.3V BIOS). And even for the first time, got 430 and 435 going. Now, the computer is freezing up all the time during heavy 3D. The strange thing is, when I set 3DMark2001 NAture loop it starts stuttering and freezing (sometimes cant get back to desktop, in games like BF2 the sound just keeps looping), after about 10-11min... and I've done it 4 times in a row... seems pretty consistent.

Now, what I really dont understand is that when I did it in the afternoon, it got up to like 63C... but when it was really cold in the morning, only up to 57C and still after 10-11min.. like I have the rivatuner hardware monitor pics to clearly show this.


Now, I knew I was risking trouble when I bought this low end motherboard, but didn't expect the following. On a hunch I look at the CPU voltage in CPU-Z while running some 3D benchmarks in the background. I monitored it before in like SuperPi, Prime etc.. not 3D.. and had what I thought were big fluctuations.. maybe 20mv. That's nothing. Surprise surprise. Running 3D apps, the voltage is all over the place. Set at 1.475V in BIOS. Readings anywhere from 1.408V to 1.496V.

[yasha32]

Deleted, didnt read some stuff

[***Deimos***]

if anybody is still around on NF3 (w00t!!)
I have recently come in possesion of not one but three sets of OCZ's nice 1GB PC3200 Gold Edition kits.

And guess what.

First impression. My original sticks are crap. Mobo voltages fluctuate all over the place. Vdimm~ 2.75V. Only did 208/209Mhz depending on which slots and how arranged. Even with OCZ DDR Booster pumping in 3.2V barely manage to sqeek 230Mhz. Something definetly feels wrong.

New pair: 213/216Mhz. wow.. much better than 208. So, what happens with the OCZ DDR Booster? 3.2V, and still barely manage to sqeek in 230Mhz. No typo here folks. Just the sad sad frown of a clown.