Boot from HDD Problem [SATA drive not detected]

Yesterday, I had to chalk down a "victory" for the F6 gang. When installing a new system based on Gigabyte GA-K8VM800M, the XP install CD didn't detect the SATA. I had to start over and go F6 on it. I fed it the RAID drivers for XP and the SATA drivers for VIA VT8237. The installation went without a hitch.

This is a VIA K8M800 / VIA VT8237 chipset and it was not possible to disable RAID in BIOS. The BIOS detected the SATA.

Gigabyte GA-K8NX U-SLI uses a nForce4 chipset and it was possible to disable RAID in BIOS. I don't remember disabling RAID in BIOS when installing the ASUS P4P800 system but on both systems, XP installed without going the F6 route.

Could it be that different chipsets (BIOS) communicate in different ways with XP? All three BIOSes have detected the SATA but not all let XP know about it.

Could it be that disabling SATA (if possible) will let You get away without the F6 routine? It did on the GA-K8NX U-SLI. (I didn't try installing with RAID enabled. When I read in the manual that RAID was enabled by default, knowing that RAID was not to be used, I disabled it immediately.)

Christer

 

That was true when I installed XP. I never connect the second harddisk until after OS installation. That way, I'm 100% sure that XP ends up on the intended harddisk and partition.

After connecting the second harddisk, some "RAID-thingy" flashed by during post at first startup. Never seen it since then. Well, there is a promt to hit <TAB> to enter RAID setup but I have no such plans. The IDE PM/PS and IDE SM/SS are detected in a separate screen, preceeding the RAID screen under which the Serial Ch0 and Serial Ch1 are detected.

I wonder if it would automatically set up RAID if both harddisks had been connected from square one? I don't think so but I have not "been there ".

No, absolutely not but since people have made different experiences compared to my experience, I wanted to find out the underlaying circumstances. I don't know if I have, though ...... ...... ! The only conclusion I have drawn (again) is that statements are neither black or white, nor false or true but sometimes hard to believe ...... ...... until Yours Truly have been properly convinced.

Christer

 

I started helping my friend to convert his Fujitsu-Siemens to a BOAC (Box Of Assembled Components) by reinstalling everything from square one, using a retail XP pro. Next, his son wanted a new computer and I built and installed one for him. This time it's one of the daughters who is in need of assistance. I'm only one daughter and his wife away from having done the whole family ...... ...... !

It's actually a "budget computer" based on:

Gigabyte GA-K8VM800M with integrated graphics
AMD Athlon 64 2800+ socket 754
Kingmax 512 MB PC3200 SuperRAM
2 x Hitachi 7K250 SATA, 160 GB (one of which in a mobile rack)
NEC ND-3540 DVD-R/RW
Asus 16/48 DVD-ROM
Antec Sonata II 450 W

The computer for her brother was based on Gigabyte GA-K8NX U-SLI, Athlon 64 3000+ socket 939, 2x512 MB RAM and the same HDDs. To be honest, I don't detect any difference at all during installation and "basic computer work ". Socket 754 has ½ the band width (a single memory channel) of socket 939 (two memory channels) but it probably requires a higher load to notice a difference.

I think that she'll be pleased.

Christer

 

I'm actually impressed by the Antec Sonata II. I have compared temperatures with my own BOAC (Box Of Assembled Components).

My box has an intake fan, controlled by the system but no exhaust fan. The CPU (Athlon Thunderbird 1GHz/266MHz) idles at 44°C and the HDDs (7K250 PATAs) idle at 42°C.

The AS-II has no intake fan but an exhaust fan which is user controlled by a switch (low-medium-high). It is set to low. The CPU (Athlon 64 2800+) idles at 28°C and the HDDs (7K250 SATAs) idle at 35°C.

Ambient temperature (in the vicinity of the boxes) is 23°C.

The Athlon 64 is running "Cool'n'Quiet" which means that its frequency is lowered under low load conditions. Its "maximum" is 1.8 GHz and I believe it is idling at ~½ that frequency. This, of course has an impact on the idling temperature.

In general, a SATA runs a bit warmer than the corresponding PATA. The difference of 7°C in favour of the SATA is an indication of the cooling quality of the AS-II.

The AS-II is also much quiter.

Christer

 

Hi Christer

Agree with your comments on the Antec Sonata - I have the Mark I case and very impressed with the cooling.

FYI my AMB Athlon 64 3500+ with Cool 'n Quiet enabled runs at 28 deg C on idle too.

The AMD PowerNow Dashboard provides a display of the status of the processor - quite interesting to watch for a few minutes ....

http://www.amdboard.com/powernow.html

 

Hi Pete!

I have not installed any extra utilities ...... ...... the young lady has no technical interest whatsoever. When I build a new BOAC for myself, then it's a different matter. I won't mind a bit of self-indulgent drooling ...... ...... !

Christer

 

Pete,
I downloaded and installed the most recent version of Everest Home Edition (2.20). I don't remember having seen "Computer > Overclocking" in the previous version I had installed (1.50) but maybe I missed it (not being an overclocker).

Anyway, it reported the CPU to be running at ~1000 MHz, multiplier 5 on ~200 MHz. I went to Control Panel > Power Options Properties > Power Schemes and changed from "Minimal Power Management" to "Always On ". The reported values in Everest changed to ~1800 MHz, multiplier 9 on ~200 MHz. The idling temperature rose from 28°C to 30°C.

As I understand it, the multilplier is lowered in steps depending on conditions and multiplier 5 seems to be the lowest for the socket 754 Athlon 64 2800+.

I assume that Your Athlon 64 3500+ is a socket 939 but which core? 130 nm or 90 nm? How low and high does it go if You replicate my changes?

Christer

Edited:

I forgot to mention that Vcore was changed from 1.12V to 1.52V when going from multiplier 5 to 9.

 

Hi Christer

I had v2.0 of Everest which included the Overclocking entry and have now upgraded to v 2.2.

My Athlon 64 3500+ is Socket 939 with the 130nm core - alias Clawhammer.

On 'Minimal Power Management' the reported values in Everest are ....

CPU running at ~1000 MHz, multiplier 5.0 x on ~200 MHz FSB

Idle temp 28/29 deg C

Vcore 1.07v

On 'Always On' - this bypasses the Cool 'n Quiet Technology ....

CPU running at ~2200 MHz, multiplier 11.0 x on ~200 Mhz FSB

Idle temp 43/44 deg C

Vcore 1.45v

Catch up with you in the morning - I need my beauty sleep

 

Pete,
I'm on my way out for the weekend but a few short comments:

It seems like multiplier 5 is the bottom (for any processor).

The rise in temperature on Your system is quite significant compared to "my" system.

I'll be back on sunday evening CET.

Christer

 

Christer

I have noticed that the processor temp maxes out at about 55 deg C when the utilisation is 100% when video editing - still within acceptable limits.

The cooling in your Mk II case may be improved, but the additional speed of my CPU will no doubt generate more heat? The CPU fan runs at ~3150 rpm and changes little.

Incidentally, reading through the Readme file on the Cool 'n Quiet Dashboard I noted that the Power Option should be set to 'Portable/Laptop' ....

Strangely, when I looked in the Power Options I found the option set at 'Intervideo DVD5' which I can only assume was installed by Intervideo Win DVD5 which came as a freebie with the motherboard (Ausus A8V Deluxe). I had already set the hard drives and standby to 'Never' which is my preferred operating mode.

 

Hi Pete,
I have hijacked a computer to post this ...... ...... !

When I had installed the Cool'n'Quite drivers from the MB-CD, the Power Scheme had been set to "Minimal Power Management ". I have removed all Power Schemes except that one and "Always On" which I have modified to really be always on, nothing ever shuts down.

I wonder what happens if a user removes "Minimal Power Management "? Would it be possible to create a new "Minimal Power Management" and get the function back, without reinstalling the driver?

I'm 200% sure that scenario will happen ...... ...... somewhere, sometime(s)!

(Today, I will deliver that computer to the owner and have no more opportunity to test.)

Christer

 

Christer

My immediate reaction to that would be that reinstalling the driver is unlikely to do anything to restore deleted Power Options - that is a Windows feature coupled with an ACPI compliant motherboard/Bios. Maybe running System File Checker would fix that or you might need to repair Windows. Something to be looked into - I have no idea what the internal power settings may be for each of those options. For sure the AMD POwerNow feature would need to be enabled (or the Intel equivalent) for some options, but how ??

On the other hand are the option parameters just the defaults in the drop down boxes - which we alter anyway??

 

Christer

I have re-read my Asus A8V Deluxe manual on the subject of Cool 'n Quiet and it states quite clearly that the 'Minimal Power Management' scheme should be selected, which is not in agreement with the quote I posted from the AMD Cool 'n Quiet Dashboard readme. However, the AMD applet still works on this setting.

I also discovered that there is an ASUS equivalent of AMD's Dashboard which conveniently minimises to the Notification Area. FYI - see the screenshot - both running simultaneously. Take your pick if you have an Asus board.

 

Pete,
I have never seen "Minimal Power Management" as a Power Scheme before. It must have been created when installing the Cool'n'Quiet driver.

Christer

 

Christer

I don't think so - I checked out my other desktop with an old AMD Athlon XP CPU running XP Home and "Minimal Power Management" is an option under Power Schemes.

 

Hmm ...... ...... me and my teflon coated memory!

I always remove Power Schemes that I don't plan on using. I obviously manage to do that with my eyes closed ...... ...... !

Thanks for checking,
Christer