X2/MSI K8N Neo2 works with UAD1!

[Jim Roseberry]

I've seen several posts about gliches/etc when running an Athlon 64 X2 (dual core) with NF3 motherboards (in particular the MSI K8N Neo 2)... so I wanted to chime in and let you all know that it *DOES* work.

BUT...
You need to do the following:

I'm assuming you've already installed SP2 and the four dual-core patches/updates from AMD/Microsoft.

1. Get the absolute latest BIOS for the K8N Neo2
(beta in this case - version 1C3)
2. Get the absolute latest chipset/etc drivers for the K8N Neo2
This is where it gets a bit harder for the novice... as you have to search a bit... and nab updated drivers from several sources. I installed the latest Nforce drivers from the Nvidia site, installed a couple of updates from the latest NF4 drivers, and then nabbed a couple of updates (latest stable betas from Nvidia) from a 3rd party.
3. Get the latest BIOS update for your video card. In my case, it was a Geforce FX5200.

If you do all the above, the UAD1s will run glitch-free.
FWIW, I run a pair of UAD1s on my main studio DAW (X2 4800/MSI K8N Neo2/FX5200/2GB DDR)... and it'll run the plugins totally glitch-free under heavy UAD and CPU loads.

This process will get a easier (especially for the novice) once the BIOS/drivers are officially released. Until then, just be careful (have backups before starting the process) and find/apply the above updates.

The MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum is an excellent DAW motherboard (single-core or dual-core processor).
As of now, X2/UAD1 users really only have two choices:
1. Nforce 3 motherboards
2. Via KT 800 motherboards


Hope this helps.

 

[sj_digriz]

I have a K8N Neo2 and can't get UADs working. However I have a couple of questions about your driver comments. It would be a big help if you could expand on your comments.

I'm assuming you've already installed SP2 and the

Yep, done...

four dual-core patches/updates from AMD/Microsoft.

come again? I have an AMD 4400 in the K8N. Where is there a patch that is AMD specific for upgrading for X2 MBs? I've never heard of this.

1. Get the absolute latest BIOS for the K8N Neo2
(beta in this case - version 1C3)

I don't see this driver anywhere. The latest I see is 1.B from Sep. Where would we get the 1C3 driver? As far as I can tell it is not on the MSI site.

2. Get the absolute latest chipset/etc drivers for the K8N Neo2
This is where it gets a bit harder for the novice... as you have to search a bit... and nab updated drivers from several sources. I installed the latest Nforce drivers from the Nvidia site,

ok, I had already downloaded the 5.11 Nforce 3 drivers from Nvidia. What other drivers would you be refering too?

installed a couple of updates from the latest NF4 drivers,

eh? which of the NF4 drivers can you run on the NF3 board?

and then nabbed a couple of updates (latest stable betas from Nvidia) from a 3rd party.

err...I don't see any other drivers other the 5.11 drivers.

3. Get the latest BIOS update for your video card. In my case, it was a Geforce FX5200.

Do you mean the the NVidia video drivers or are you really referring to a BIOS update for you video card? I have a GeForce 6800 Ultra, but as far as I know there has never been a BIOS upgrade for it.

Anyhow, thanks for the post. At least I know that someone has this board working. I have a very close setup to what you have.

 

[sontrinh]

i also have neo2 w/ x2 4200 and when i did a fresh xp installation, the plugins worked perfectly w/ nuendo.. but as i slowly installed more plugins, like waves gtr, voxengo, etc. the pops started to come back. i just flashed the bios to the beta and the crackles got worse. as for the nvidia drivers. can you post the links to the places where you got each file?

 

[sj_digriz]

oh, which slots do you have the UADs in? I have 3 cards only right now. Delta 1010 in slot 2, and UADs in 3/4. I've moved them around without any luck.

 

[h4nc0]

http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=59711.0

1.C3 EasyBIOS.

Also, I have UAD1s in PCI4 and PCI5.
Anyway, I thought you got your system working. What's wrong with it?

 

[Jeraz]

I run a K8N Neo4 Platinum ultra with no problems to speak of. Sometimes intensive MIDI (LOTS of controller and velocity and Modulation messages) runs funny—notes cutting off too soon—and if I change latency on the fly, I will get a latency mismatch warning. Still, since I lowered the UAD PCI latency to 32 (from 64) and upped extra buffers to 8, all's well with Sonar 5 PE and Samplitude Pro 8.21 and Cubase SE.

I just bought an Opteron dual-core though. Gonna pop that baby in and say hello to a serious performance increase.

N4 folks try here for the latest nvidia drivers, as MSI is behind by at least one release on N4:

http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

Click through to your need. I go to nForce4, AMD. The latest driver for N4/XP is 6.70 and is here:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_nf4 ... _6.70.html

 

[sontrinh]

I just bought an Opteron dual-core though. Gonna pop that baby in and say hello to a serious performance increase.

the problem is when you throw an X2 processor into the equation that things get seriously messed up

 

[sj_digriz]

http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=59711.0

1.C3 EasyBIOS.

Also, I have UAD1s in PCI4 and PCI5.
Anyway, I thought you got your system working. What's wrong with it?

I got it working until I put the x2 in. Now I get garbled sound if I turn on a UAD plug. If I put the FX 53 back in it works fine. The beta BIOS makes no difference.

Do you have the audio card in slot 2?

 

[Jeraz]

I just bought an Opteron dual-core though. Gonna pop that baby in and say hello to a serious performance increase.

the problem is when you throw an X2 processor into the equation that things get seriously messed up

Actually, in the case of the Opteron, my readings reveal the opposite...at least with nForce4 and at least in the Sonar and Samplitude forums. Hmmm...

We will know by Thursday night!

 

[jcat]

I've seen several posts about gliches/etc when running an Athlon 64 X2 (dual core) with NF3 motherboards (in particular the MSI K8N Neo 2)... so I wanted to chime in and let you all know that it *DOES* work.

BUT...
You need to do the following:

I'm assuming you've already installed SP2 and the four dual-core patches/updates from AMD/Microsoft.

1. Get the absolute latest BIOS for the K8N Neo2
(beta in this case - version 1C3)
2. Get the absolute latest chipset/etc drivers for the K8N Neo2
This is where it gets a bit harder for the novice... as you have to search a bit... and nab updated drivers from several sources. I installed the latest Nforce drivers from the Nvidia site, installed a couple of updates from the latest NF4 drivers, and then nabbed a couple of updates (latest stable betas from Nvidia) from a 3rd party.
3. Get the latest BIOS update for your video card. In my case, it was a Geforce FX5200.

If you do all the above, the UAD1s will run glitch-free.
FWIW, I run a pair of UAD1s on my main studio DAW (X2 4800/MSI K8N Neo2/FX5200/2GB DDR)... and it'll run the plugins totally glitch-free under heavy UAD and CPU loads.

This process will get a easier (especially for the novice) once the BIOS/drivers are officially released. Until then, just be careful (have backups before starting the process) and find/apply the above updates.

The MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum is an excellent DAW motherboard (single-core or dual-core processor).
As of now, X2/UAD1 users really only have two choices:
1. Nforce 3 motherboards
2. Via KT 800 motherboards


Hope this helps.

Can you post the links to all ALL the relevent downloads you have mentioned in this post. Including the NF4 extra updates (are you really installing NF4 drivers stuff on an NF3 board?).

I'm using my K8N Neo2 with a single core currently, but would like to up that to a dual core if it really is feasable and working.



Cheers,

jcat

 

[Jim Roseberry]

oh, which slots do you have the UADs in? I have 3 cards only right now. Delta 1010 in slot 2, and UADs in 3/4. I've moved them around without any luck.

UAD1s are in slots 1 and 2.
Audio cards (VSL2020 and 1820m) are in slots 3 and 4.

BTW, You need to do *all* the steps for this to work.

-mobo BIOS flash
-absolute latest chipset drivers
-update BIOS for video card
-absolute latest video card drivers

 

[Jim Roseberry]

come again? I have an AMD 4400 in the K8N. Where is there a patch that is AMD specific for upgrading for X2 MBs? I've never heard of this.

The AMD dual-core patch is on the AMD website.
You need to install this... as well as the dual-core patch from MS.
MS has also released two \"hot fixes\" for SP2.
Apply all the above

ok, I had already downloaded the 5.11 Nforce 3 drivers from Nvidia. What other drivers would you be refering too?

-5.11 drivers (install first - DL from the Nvidia site)
-Nforce 4 AMD 6.7 drivers
-Unified 8.22 drivers (assembled by a 3rd party)

Install the 5.11 drivers as your base
Then use the 6.7 and 8.22 drivers to update individual components.

err...I don't see any other drivers other the 5.11 drivers.

Right. As I said, you won't find them on the main Nvidia download site.
Do a Google search... and you'll find them.

Do you mean the the NVidia video drivers or are you really referring to a BIOS update for you video card? I have a GeForce 6800 Ultra, but as far as I know there has never been a BIOS upgrade for it.

There's a BIOS update for your video card.
Again, do a Google search... and you'll find it. :wink:
Also, download the latest Geforce beta driver v82.12 if you're using a Geforce video card.

 

[sontrinh]

just curious.. how can updated bios of the video card make a difference?

and i've already done the updating of the nvidia cards. for those who don't know. try http://www.nforcerhq.com for a lot of this stuff.

garbage! i'm going to try to flash the video card now since i can upgrade my 9800 pro to XT for performance boost. hopefully it'll help my UAD situation too.

 

[h4nc0]

I am not so sure about the VGA BIOS thingy, but here is a good videocard BIOS/utils site.

http://www.mvktech.net/

 

[sontrinh]

I'm happy to report that everything worked once i flashed the bios for my video card. thanks jim

 

[sj_digriz]

The AMD dual-core patch is on the AMD website.
You need to install this... as well as the dual-core patch from MS.
MS has also released two "hot fixes" for SP2.
Apply all the above

I can't find jack shit on the AMD web site that is a dual core patch. All I see is stuff for Cool&Quiet and Unix drivers.

-5.11 drivers (install first - DL from the Nvidia site)

Already done.

-Nforce 4 AMD 6.7 drivers
-Unified 8.22 drivers (assembled by a 3rd party)

Install the 5.11 drivers as your base
Then use the 6.7 and 8.22 drivers to update individual components.

Are you choosing specific drivers out of the 6.7 and 8.22 sets? If so which ones? It seems a little odd that there is something specific about any one of those drivers having to be sequenced.

Right. As I said, you won't find them on the main Nvidia download site.
Do a Google search... and you'll find them.

Ah, so you're suggesting using hack drivers. I think I'm gonna pass on that.

There's a BIOS update for your video card.
Again, do a Google search... and you'll find it. :wink:
Also, download the latest Geforce beta driver v82.12 if you're using a Geforce video card.

I called BFG (the video card manufacturer) directly and they said there is no BIOS upgrade for my video card. I already have the 82.12 drivers.

So, it boils down to a specific driver that is either in the NForce 4 or the hack driver sets. Which specific drivers are you choosing to install on those two installs?

 

[sj_digriz]

I'm happy to report that everything worked once i flashed the bios for my video card. thanks jim

do you mean you can use your UAD with x2 without hickups after flashing your video card BIOS?

 

[Jim Roseberry]

just curious.. how can updated bios of the video card make a difference?

The same way a Mobo BIOS update could potentially help...

FYI, Before updating my video card's BIOS (FX5200), I was getting small pops/clicks while the Task Manager was open (monitoring CPU performance while running Cubase SX3/Sonar 5/Samplitude 8/etc)

We're very much at the "bleeding edge" with this stuff.
The NF3 mobos added X2 support *very* recently...
At some point, once most major issues have been ironed out, configuring an X2/NF3 system will be a lot quicker/easier.
But of course... we'll be on to the next "big thing"

In any event, the bottom line is that the above system works.
If anyone needs further assistance, feel free to Email me.

 

[Jim Roseberry]

I can't find jack shit on the AMD web site that is a dual core patch. All I see is stuff for Cool&Quiet and Unix drivers.

The AMD dual-core driver/update can be found here:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/Tec ... 18,00.html

Are you choosing specific drivers out of the 6.7 and 8.22 sets? If so which ones? It seems a little odd that there is something specific about any one of those drivers having to be sequenced.

The drivers don't have to be sequenced.
You could create a full/complete collection of the individual drivers that would install in one go. I just didn't take the time to do that... as it isn't really necessary. Updating drivers is quick/easy.

Install the 5.11 drivers to have support for LAN/etc.
Then update SMBus, GART, IDE from the NF4 and 3rd party package.

Ah, so you're suggesting using hack drivers. I think I'm gonna pass on that.

WRONG!!!
The drivers to which I refer are *ALL* created by Nvidia. The 3rd party package was merely collected/assembled from the latest Nvidia component drivers. Some of these drivers are still considered 'beta'... but are known to be stable.

As someone who's built literally hundreds of DAWs, I'm merely telling you how to make the mobo/system work with the UAD1s.
Its your machine... do whatever you want...

I called BFG (the video card manufacturer) directly and they said there is no BIOS upgrade for my video card. I already have the 82.12 drivers.

The person to whom you spoke doesn't know what the #### they're talking about. If you're using an Nvidia card, here's the link:

http://whitebunny.demon.nl/hardware/chi ... ml#vgabios

So, it boils down to a specific driver that is either in the NForce 4 or the hack driver sets. Which specific drivers are you choosing to install on those two installs?

Nope. It boils down to the fact that we're at the bleeding edge running dual-core processors. The NF3 mobos only (very) recently added dual-core support. Now, factor in all the individual drivers that have to be updated/tested/de-bugged/distributed... and you end up here.
You can wait for final release versions of all the above... or you can pool the most up-to-date resources together yourself.

The whole point here is that the system works. :lol:

 

[Jim Roseberry]

I'm happy to report that everything worked once i flashed the bios for my video card. thanks jim

Glad it works!! 8)