Computer Audio Asylum

• The GA-G31M-ES2L mobo may not be optimal! - ckniker 21:24:41 11/06/08 (3)
  In Reply to: RE: Recommended MB has been replaced posted by ckniker on November 06, 2008 at 11:28:56

  Just a warning to all, I recently bought the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L from Newegg because the cMP recommended mobo, the GA-G31M-S2L, is no longer available from Newegg.
  
  Unfortunately, the newer board's BIOS doesn't seem to have all the same flexibility that the older board may have had. Specifically, the BIOS doesn't give you control over many of the recommended MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.) settings:
  
  No Spread Spectrum control
  No DDR timing controls!
  No ability to lower the FSB Voltage Control
  No ability to set CPU GTLREF Voltage Ratio
  
  There were a few other settings that are no longer available but these are the bigger ones (off the top of my head).
  
  After applying all the BIOS tweaks that I could from the recommended list, my machine now hangs at the POST screen. In addition, the display is scrambled and illegible. Before I can proceed, I need to figure out how to reset the BIOS to a working state. Any tips?
  
  Chris
  
  
  

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  • RE: The GA-G31M-ES2L mobo may not be optimal! - Ryelands 02:34:44 11/07/08 (2)
    In Reply to: RE: The GA-G31M-ES2L mobo may not be optimal! posted by ckniker on November 06, 2008 at 21:24:41

    Thanks for the tip. All motherboards feature a jumper that allows you to restore BIOS default settings - see the manual. Another way is carefully to remove the battery, leave it out for about 15 minutes and then put it back. (By the time you finish your cMP2 setup, you'll probably be quite good at this . . .)
    
    BTW, it may be worth updating the BIOS to see if later versions allow more changes.
    
    Best
    
    Dave
    
    

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    • RE: The GA-G31M-ES2L mobo may not be optimal! - ckniker 06:47:05 11/07/08 (1)
      In Reply to: RE: The GA-G31M-ES2L mobo may not be optimal! posted by Ryelands on November 07, 2008 at 02:34:44

      To provide information to others who may go down this path as well.....
      
      The GA-G31M-ES2L BIOS I tried was version F4. This was the most recent version that I could find. Again, this version does not appear to have control over all the tweaks recommended by cics.
      
      Chris
      
      
      

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      • RE: The GA-G31M-ES2L mobo may not be optimal! - Scuba 10:51:06 03/08/09 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: The GA-G31M-ES2L mobo may not be optimal! posted by ckniker on November 07, 2008 at 06:47:05

        The only control that ES2L lacks is spread spectrum!
        All the others are present (through MIT, after CTRL + F1) .
        
        

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• Where was F6x? from the internet or on a memory stick? - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 14:57:03 11/06/08 (6)
  In Reply to: RE: Recommended MB has been replaced posted by ckniker on November 06, 2008 at 11:28:56

  Chris,
  
  Just curious.
  
  I used a memory stick for the "original" version 2 board and had no problem with @BIOS, though my memory tells me I did not get it to work the first time.
  
  I wonder if there is a reason you cannot do it directly from internet since it is coming from SOURCEFORGE instead of GIGABYTE?
  
  It would not surprise me if there is some kind of fail-safe in place to stop that from happening. But, I really have no idea.
  
  Let us know.
  
  Bye,
  
  Rick McInnis
  
  

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  • RE: Where was F6x? from the internet or on a memory stick? - olegpolitaev@gmail.com 23:20:26 11/16/12 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: Where was F6x? from the internet or on a memory stick? posted by rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com on November 06, 2008 at 14:57:03

    Hello! Share BIOS F6x for Gigabyte G31 S2L . Thanks !
    

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  • RE: Where was F6x? from the internet or on a memory stick? - ckniker 20:59:32 11/06/08 (4)
    In Reply to: RE: Where was F6x? from the internet or on a memory stick? posted by rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com on November 06, 2008 at 14:57:03

    The F6X BIOS was downloaded earlier from cics's cMP download site on sourceForge. I then stored it on a thumbdrive and mounted it prior to running @BIOS.
    
    The @BIOS software seemingly did a checksum on this BIOS image and determined that it wasn't meant for my motherboard.
    
    Chris
    
    p.s. I have since updated the GA-G31M-ES2L to the latest and greatest firmware and attempted all the BIOS optimizations suggested for the GA-G31M-S2L (all the BIOS changes that were possible, that is). Unfortunately, my system is now hung at the at the initial POST screen with a completely scrambled, garbled, and illegible display. I need to figure out how to reset the BIOS before I can continue.
    
    Incidentally, I would not recommend the slightly different mobo (the ES2L) as it doesn't appear to have the same BIOS tweaking capabilities (I haven't been able to find a way to change the memory parameters, for one).
    
    

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    • I was hoping that could make a difference. - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 08:38:08 11/07/08 (3)
      In Reply to: RE: Where was F6x? from the internet or on a memory stick? posted by ckniker on November 06, 2008 at 20:59:32

      I am sorry that this new purchase has turned out to unsuitable for cMP.
      
      I see that NEWEGG has some OPEN BOX of the proper boards. Just looked again, they are now gone.
      
      There have to some of these available somewhere. Though it could turn out to be like my attempted memory purchase at AMAZON that says it has shipped but ... who knows? Caveat Emptor when dealing with anyone other than the established GOOD vendors.
      
      I see the following as saying they have stock:
      http://www.pcrush.com/product/Desktop-Motherboards/133231/Gigabyte-GA-G31M-S2L-Desktop-Board?refid=1238
      
      http://www.shopsharksystems.com/browse/currency-USD/product/GA-G31M-S2L/?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleBase
      
      I will keep looking for both memory and MBs
      
      
      
      

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      • Is Gigabite GA-G33M-S2L compatible? - Ebit 17:19:00 11/07/08 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: I was hoping that could make a difference. posted by rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com on November 07, 2008 at 08:38:08

        Checked out the local store today they didn't have a GA-G31M-S2L but did have the other. Looking at the Gigabite website it showed the GA-G33M-S2L as having these differences - G31M specs in brackets():
        1. Memory 1.4(1.2) x 1.8v DDR2 DIMM sockets up to 8(4)GB of system memory
        2. LAN RTL 8111B chip (not mentioned for G31M)
        3. Northbridge Intel G33(G31) Express Chipset
        3. BIOS 1 x 8(4)Mbit flash
        4. SM BIOS 2.4(2.3)
        5. Micro ATX form factor 24.4cm x 20.7(19.3)cm
        6. G33M Compatible with Extreme CPUs
        Additionally the G33M has more USB ports and headers

        Would any of these not be compatible/fit with the current cMP/CPlay design?

        Thanks
        Frank
        
        
        

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        Edits: 11/07/08
      • Yikes ! Panic Attack - Children Go Hungry as MoBo is Ordered !! - gjwAudio 11:36:05 11/07/08 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: I was hoping that could make a difference. posted by rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com on November 07, 2008 at 08:38:08

        ...just kidding - about The Children :)
        
        Sheeeeesh... the House of Cards tumbles without the right mainboard. Thanks so much ckniker for the heads-up/ warning/ lesson !
        
        Just ordered the requisite GA-G31M-S2L from my regular PC supply shop here in Canada - real people with real bricks-n-mortar and real Support when you have a problem. Oh, and competitive pricing too.
        
        Now where'd that F6x get to...
        
        Cheers,
        Grant
        
        That's not a Toy... IT'S A TOOL !!
        
        

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      • RE: I was hoping that could make a difference. - Uzeb 10:54:15 11/07/08 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: I was hoping that could make a difference. posted by rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com on November 07, 2008 at 08:38:08

        I just received a Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L from Canada Computers; paid through pay-pal arrived 7 days latter.
        I believe they have stock, cross border shopping is quite easy with Fedex or UPS handling the paper work.
        
        WWW.canadacomputers.com
        PC XPpro TC Electronic Konnekt-8 firewire i/o, 2-Tact 2150's, Genesis 500 modified speakers, Virtual Dynamics & XLO cables
        
        

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