DFI LanParty NFII Ultra B - Driver Troubles?

[squidster]

So I build this 'rockin' machine, but the system freezes sometimes after seconds, mostly every 10 minutes or so. Occassionally, I'll get a couple of hours of use before it locks-up. Other than regular freeze-up symptoms I also have regular strange happenings, such as:

1. Semi-transparent pull- down menus (that's a sign that normal shutdown is not an option anymore)
2. Pointer 'hides' for a second or 2, then shows up at the edge of the screen.
3. Pointer freezes, but can still do some navigating with windows key and others - except keyboard shutdown
4. Audio stops - this has happened a lot in UT 2K3, even in safe mode audio setting.
5. LAN stops working (this machine only) I even disabled the 'extra' MCP port to no avail.

I have a dual boot system, Win2K Pro and XP Pro (Win2K Pro is even less stable), with a Barton core AMD 1800+, all the latest drivers from DFI Site I have also tried flashing the BIOS to the latest version, and using an adapter to hook up my USB mouse and keyboard to the serial (PS/2) connectors. I also manually set the FSB in the BIOS - automatic was giving a multiplier lower than what DFI suggests.

This is driving me NUTS! Please help if you have any ideas

[Rand Dusing]

I have the same exact board and when I first got it I kept getting blue error screen messages. My friend down the street said it could do something with memory so I set the memory speed to auto. Try twekaing the memory.

[Kynetx]

I have the same board, same problems.
My Rig:
DFI NFII Ultra
2500 Barton
1 gig generic RAM
Sapphire 9500

I have updated every last thing I can think of. Memory ratio is set to 1:1 (166 Mhz), Latest Catalysts, latest NF2 drivers, latest DirectX implementation...
I didn't have the problem before I rebuilt on Monday night. New OS (XP Home), and the problems start happening.
I was thinking of clearing the BIOS. I have tried resetting the DMI pool data about a half dozen times. I'm on my second OS build in three days with the same problems.
I know it's not cooling because I water cool the damn thing. It can't be hardware because it was rock solid stable before I wiped the OS.
I have the exact same symptoms as you. The system works great for about 5 minutes to an hour, then the sound quits, or the keyboard/mouse (logitech cordless MX) locks, or it hardlocks completely.
I'm at the end of my freakin rope here. What have you tried so far? Maybe we can whittle this one down together.


UPDATE:
Just got off the phone with DFI support. They insist clearing the BIOS will fix the problem. I'm at work right now, so I can't do it. Will update if it works.

[dafanman]

Here is a tip for you dfi users,
If you go over to amdmb.com>Dfi forum,
They have dfi reps in that forum that handle the type of questions that youre having.

Good luck

*Edited*

Here ya gohttp://www.amdforums.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=66

[Kynetx]

No dice on the CMOS clear.


Squid, I cross-posted to the AMDMB forums for us. The thread is below.


http://www.amdforums.com/showthread....88#post2185188

In short, the recommendations revolved around the memory or USB drivers. I installed the USB drivers from the LanParty disk. Things look stable so far.


If this doesn't work, we'll have to work together to see what we have in common, that could be causing the problem. Meanwhile I'm gonna look at my error logs and see if there are any errors that might be enlightening.

Thanks, Dafanman.

[dafanman]

No problem,
For best results you should drop a post on angrygames, seems to be a make things happen kind of dude at the dfi forums.

Good luck guys

[bigpappageorgio]

I had the same problems as both of you, I tried new memory, processor, power supply, even rma the board, and still the same problem. It seems, in my case, that disabling the sound, really doesnt disable it, right after installing my sound drivers, all the wierd stuff starts happening. What is wierd though, it locked up while formatting and again during the OS install. With the new mobo, and without my Turtle BeachSC, everything has worked fine for a week now, no crashes. Maybe it was the board, who knows, but with my 1800+ the computer was fine, but with the 2500+ it crashes all the time.

[dafanman]

What ram timings are you guys running?

[Kynetx]

Not sure about the RAM timings, but that USB fixed worked like a charm. It seems that the USB interface will conflict with the sound interface if you use the NForce2 drivers from Nvidia.
Problem solved.

[bigpappageorgio]

Mine are 2.5-3-3-7, very modest I must say.