Nearly all are already known on here, but thought I would throw them out there since a lot seem like BIOS issues thus the more known, the more likely an update will fix them.
I'll start with the CPU itself since it is unrelated to this forum. I got an excellent oc'er but one with the flakey temp sensing. I have played with it to the extremes to get the full scope of the temp problems....everything from undervolted stock with the HS fan blowing hard for the lowest possible temps, to oc'd and a little overvolted with the fan off to push near max temps. End result....undervolted to normal voltage, weather stock or modest oc, core temps are about 10 degrees off. Push a little more till the cores are into the 60's, they are about 5 off. Make the cpu run hot, right near the 72 cpu die temp, the core temps even out in the high 70's+ (using coretemp 0.96.1 for reference). Many other reports of similar situations on the net, so after re-seating the cooler many times and even trying a different one, I have come to the conclusion I have gotten one of the bum chips as far as temp reading goes.
For the motherboard...
1) cpu fan in F11 runs high. The lowest it ever goes is about at 40% of the fan's range, even though temps are fine and not necessary (unless somehow the 10 degree high core is somehow effecting them PWM control). Also, voltage/auto settings in bios seem to do nothing, and there is no option to control the fan by temp.
2) #2 sys fan header is flakey. I havent put a multimeter to it to see exactly what it is putting out, but fans attached to this do not run full speed. I've tried 3 completely different fans with same result...all considerably slower.
3) Even under ctrl + F1 advanced mode, BIOS (F11) appears to be missing a couple options....namely temp control for the cpu fan, and multithreading enable/disable. Granted options can come and go with updates, and it is possible that temp control was taken out although I dont see why it would be taken out, but the multithreading option, since it was a change thus def supposed to be in there, I dont get that one. Other new item like loadline calibration is there though.
4) CPU temp.....I dunno if I buy the reading given by BIOS on this. It seems awfully high, and is awfully high compared to various utilities in windows. I'm more inclined to believe the various utils in windows for CPU temp as the readings are more in line with the core temps and respective delta between those and die temp then BIOS is. Usually not a big deal, but if it affects cpu fan speed, it is just creating more unnecessary noise with the higher temp readings.
5) The boot cycling....OMG how annoying! It has happened to me SEVERAL times! Seems to be very sensitive to OC/voltage settings....too much so! I can be 24hr prime stable on various oc and over or under volted settings...go in and out of standby fine...basiclly a rock stable system while running....untill it tries to reboot and does the cycling. It seems pretty random too. Same situation, can reboot fine like 3 or 4 times, then even though nothing at all has changed, the next reboot cycles. Also seems to happen at 100% default no oc no voltage adjusted settings every now and then at random too, albeit no where near as often. Seems like the only way to 100% make it not do it is run 100% stock, and turning off even the modest default performance enhancements in BIOS.
6) Last big issue....I dont think it's a fault of either piece individually, but the motherboard and creative xfi extreme gamer PCI sound card do not play nice together. At first, the machine wouldnt even get through post with it in. Once I figured out that was the cause, it took disabling EVERYTHING I possible could in BIOS to get it to post with that card in there. Just using a different slot didnt change anything. Now, with onboard audio off (obviously), com port off, parallel port off, it posts. turn on either one of those 2 ports much less the audio, nothing. Even that is not 100% as I have noticed a modified beta driver that changes some I/O aspects of the soundcard is the only driver package that wont hang the system when the device tries to come online. Again...I'm pretty sure this is just one of those random times where 2 things just dont play nice, but thought I would mention this as well since I have seen motherboard BIOS updates in the past that address similar situations.
In the end....this is probably the most problematic build I have done....EVER! I've been putting together my own machines once every year or 2 since the 386SX-16 days too. Hopefully most those issues will be addressed with future BIOS updates. Other then those items, I am very happy with the motherboard. The CPU core temps bug me though. I have already gone as far as lapping the heatsink as well as the cpu heatshield to see if it resulted in any change at all. It did lower temps another few degrees, but the difference is still there. I have a feeling that will get the better of me and the CPU is gunna be ditched for either a conroe or more likely one of the new quads when they come out.
I'll start with the CPU itself since it is unrelated to this forum. I got an excellent oc'er but one with the flakey temp sensing. I have played with it to the extremes to get the full scope of the temp problems....everything from undervolted stock with the HS fan blowing hard for the lowest possible temps, to oc'd and a little overvolted with the fan off to push near max temps. End result....undervolted to normal voltage, weather stock or modest oc, core temps are about 10 degrees off. Push a little more till the cores are into the 60's, they are about 5 off. Make the cpu run hot, right near the 72 cpu die temp, the core temps even out in the high 70's+ (using coretemp 0.96.1 for reference). Many other reports of similar situations on the net, so after re-seating the cooler many times and even trying a different one, I have come to the conclusion I have gotten one of the bum chips as far as temp reading goes.
For the motherboard...
1) cpu fan in F11 runs high. The lowest it ever goes is about at 40% of the fan's range, even though temps are fine and not necessary (unless somehow the 10 degree high core is somehow effecting them PWM control). Also, voltage/auto settings in bios seem to do nothing, and there is no option to control the fan by temp.
2) #2 sys fan header is flakey. I havent put a multimeter to it to see exactly what it is putting out, but fans attached to this do not run full speed. I've tried 3 completely different fans with same result...all considerably slower.
3) Even under ctrl + F1 advanced mode, BIOS (F11) appears to be missing a couple options....namely temp control for the cpu fan, and multithreading enable/disable. Granted options can come and go with updates, and it is possible that temp control was taken out although I dont see why it would be taken out, but the multithreading option, since it was a change thus def supposed to be in there, I dont get that one. Other new item like loadline calibration is there though.
4) CPU temp.....I dunno if I buy the reading given by BIOS on this. It seems awfully high, and is awfully high compared to various utilities in windows. I'm more inclined to believe the various utils in windows for CPU temp as the readings are more in line with the core temps and respective delta between those and die temp then BIOS is. Usually not a big deal, but if it affects cpu fan speed, it is just creating more unnecessary noise with the higher temp readings.
5) The boot cycling....OMG how annoying! It has happened to me SEVERAL times! Seems to be very sensitive to OC/voltage settings....too much so! I can be 24hr prime stable on various oc and over or under volted settings...go in and out of standby fine...basiclly a rock stable system while running....untill it tries to reboot and does the cycling. It seems pretty random too. Same situation, can reboot fine like 3 or 4 times, then even though nothing at all has changed, the next reboot cycles. Also seems to happen at 100% default no oc no voltage adjusted settings every now and then at random too, albeit no where near as often. Seems like the only way to 100% make it not do it is run 100% stock, and turning off even the modest default performance enhancements in BIOS.
6) Last big issue....I dont think it's a fault of either piece individually, but the motherboard and creative xfi extreme gamer PCI sound card do not play nice together. At first, the machine wouldnt even get through post with it in. Once I figured out that was the cause, it took disabling EVERYTHING I possible could in BIOS to get it to post with that card in there. Just using a different slot didnt change anything. Now, with onboard audio off (obviously), com port off, parallel port off, it posts. turn on either one of those 2 ports much less the audio, nothing. Even that is not 100% as I have noticed a modified beta driver that changes some I/O aspects of the soundcard is the only driver package that wont hang the system when the device tries to come online. Again...I'm pretty sure this is just one of those random times where 2 things just dont play nice, but thought I would mention this as well since I have seen motherboard BIOS updates in the past that address similar situations.
In the end....this is probably the most problematic build I have done....EVER! I've been putting together my own machines once every year or 2 since the 386SX-16 days too. Hopefully most those issues will be addressed with future BIOS updates. Other then those items, I am very happy with the motherboard. The CPU core temps bug me though. I have already gone as far as lapping the heatsink as well as the cpu heatshield to see if it resulted in any change at all. It did lower temps another few degrees, but the difference is still there. I have a feeling that will get the better of me and the CPU is gunna be ditched for either a conroe or more likely one of the new quads when they come out.
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