My Asrock 775i65G Rev 2 Motherboard Review
Written: Aug 28 '09 (Updated Oct 01 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cheap computer upgrade
Cons: Reliability may be a problem in the future
The Bottom Line: Not really a good idea for an upgrade or a replacement considering the problems I had. You're better off using a more modern motherboard
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| peterdmar's Full Review: Asrock 775i65G Motherboard |
Note: This review has been rewritten and republished
Here is my review on the refurbished Asrock 775i65G revision 2.0 with bios version 3.20 that will work with a 65 nm, Conroe or Core 2 Duo that operates with up to a bus speed of 1066 MHz. When using bus speed above 800 MHz on this motherboard, you have to use a dedicated video card. In the bios, the maximum bus speed is 300 MHz Quad pumped to 1200 MHz. Apparently, the processor I purchased for use with this system is the Pentium dual core E5300. Using this processor with this board, the speed is locked at 1.2 GHz only according to the bios setup. The multiplier was locked at 6 and other settings such as overclocking was grayed out. The Pentium E5300 has the 45 nm Wolfdale core which isn't compatible with the existing bios. But lucky for me that it's still post so I was able to update the bios to version 3.22. Otherwise, I would have to go out and buy a cheap Socket 775 single core processor such as a Celeron to do the bios update. Apparently, Asrock doesn't have this bios version on their website. I found it on the German overclocking site after googling about a bios version that supports Wolfdale core processor for this motherboard. There, I found just the bios file by itself without the bios installer program. I obtained the bios installer from Asrock website along with the instructions on installation. After the installation of this new bios, the computer fully recognize my processor as well as allowing for overclocking.
This motherboard allows me to overclock the dual core Pentium E5300 with a default 2.6 GHz with a bus speed of 800 MHz to more than 3 GHz with complete stability. To overclock simply increase the front side bus speed like in my case from 200 to 231 MHz Quad pumped to 920 MHz from 800 MHz. The resulting speed ends up 3 GHz. The highest speed that I tried was 3.2 GHz. But for complete reliability and stability at the same time low power consumption I settle for for 3 GHz. At this speed, the computer is very reliable and fast. In fact it's almost the speed of my much more expensive Core 2 Duo E8500 at 3.16 GHz. To set the speed on this computer, you have to go into the bios setup by pressing F2 while booting. Even in its overclocked state at 3 GHz, this processor is still very power thrifty with a power dissipation maximum at about 54 W. It's because of this, the supplied heat sink with the processor retail kit is very skimpy looking as compared to the one for Pentium 4. The aluminum cooling fins on the thing is only about 13 mm thick this compared to the one for the Pentium 4 of more than 24 mm. Using this along with a homemade side intake duct that directs cool air to the CPU heatsink in my case. The resulting arrangement was enough to prevent the temperature from getting even near 55°C under a full continuous 100% CPU loading under a stress test. Also the cooling was more than adequate that I can use the quietest setting for the fan of low. Even at full load for more than 15 minutes at hundred percent CPU loading, the CPU cooling fan did not speed up but remaining at 1300 RPM. After this upgrade, it was necessary to repair Windows, by booting into the Windows CD Installation Disk. If your previous motherboard's chipset is not the Intel 865 like this one, you may have to reactivate Windows after the repair. Also if your computer was manufactured by one of the major computer makers, the Windows repair process may not work on a new motherboard. The only option under this condition would be to purchase a new Windows installation CD with a new license to use for repairing Windows.
According to some benchmark, the speed of this new setup is close to three times that when it had the old setup, with the Prescott Pentium 4 at 3.4 GHz yet consume only about 60% of the power. This much faster computer was much more enjoyable to use and much quieter to boot. After I modified my 430W Antec with the addition of the -5 V rail, the computer still does not post or boot with the better power supply. I've tested this on another computer and it works fine there. At this point, that wasn't the problem. The problem is that either this motherboard is very particular about power supplies or more likely it could be defective. the problem appears to be perhaps the Power Good control on the motherboard. Maybe the old cheaper power supply Power Good signal operates at a slightly higher voltage then the Antec one. Because of this, I'm stuck using the lesser power supply. Since I updated the bios, I voided the warranty and unable to return it. I may consider buying another identical one to replace it, or just simply use it as it is with this cheaper power supply.
I've just purchased an identical motherboard and the result was the same. It will not post with the better Antec triple rail 430 W power supply. This definitely rules out a defective motherboard. It appears that I wasted my $30 for an extra motherboard. This motherboard is very picky on power supplies that it will operate. The power supply that I am presently using that works is the Sparkle Power Inc. model number FSP250-60ATV 250 W power supply. I've noticed on 3B Tech they have a bare-bones kit that uses that particular motherboard and the power supply options are the three Viotek models varying from from the 550 W to the 700 W models. Because of that, I assume those should work with this particular motherboard. At this point my best option if I should have problems with my present power supply, is to try one of those.
wasn't the problem. The problem is that either this motherboard is very particular about power supplies or more likely it could be defective. the problem appears to be perhaps the Power Good control on the motherboard.
I did have problems in beginning with the installation and also after the installation while in use. I discovered that this motherboard will not post or boot using a power supply that lacks the -5 volt rail perhaps. Most newer ATX power supply don't have the -5 V rail anymore because in most cases it's not needed. I've happened to have an older 300 W ATX power supply that contains the -5 V rail. Using this power supply, the motherboard was able to post as well as booting. This computer originally use the more powerful 430 W triple rail power supply, that lacks the -5 V rail. I intend to use this power supply again after modifying it with the addition of a 5 V rail. I would do this by adding a -5 V three terminal integrated circuit voltage regulator, tapping on to the -12 V rail. Another minus annoyance with this motherboard is it takes longer than most other motherboard to post. In the beginning, it sometime failed to post and requires me to hold the power button for more than 4 seconds to force shutdown. I would then repeat the starting process. Gradually it was able to start on the first try. It doesn't post right away but makes a slight hum and then stop and then hums again and then the keyboard lights up and finally post. Right after the post the boot process begins. Being that the computer is very fast, Windows XP boot up fairly quickly as compare with before this upgrade. Installing the -5 V rail did not make any difference with this 430 W power supply.
My second motherboard has failed, so I reinstall the first one and it functional again. The computer suffered the BSOD and then refuse to post or start up again. According to the failure code online, it appeared that the memory or RAM was the cause of the failure. So I disassemble everything from the failed motherboard and reassemble everything onto my first motherboard and then reinstall back into my case. Since everything works afterward, this seemed to indicate the motherboard was the culprit. It appeared possible that the memory controller on the Northbridge might have failed rather than the DDR RAM.
To learn more about my computer modification as well as the link for the bios upgrade on my website, please copy and paste this URL http://peterdmar.110mb.com/computer4%20page%202.html
Final thoughts: This motherboard isn't a good choice for a new build or an upgrade considering how much effort went into get it to work and also the second motherboard that I purchased suffer a failure. It's basically for those who already heavily invested in old hardware such as an expensive AGP graphics card as well as large DDR1 memory modules. Like in my case, I have an AGP Pine brand GForce 256 MB 7600 GT video card as well as 2 GB dual Channel PC 3200 DDR. My choice of the Pentium E5300, lies in that it has a lot of performance potential for the low cost. And with the newer core it has more overclocking potential as well as being more power thrifty. This is also for those of you who like to tinker with your computer. I would like to add that this motherboard is no longer in production and only available from a few vendors as a refurbished product. To find a vendor try googling Asrock 775i65G Rev 2.
Update September 30, 2009: Because my memory on this computer wasn't able to take such high overclocking over the long term, I had to set the CPU speed down to 2.8 GHz instead of 3 GHz. At this setting to computer is completely reliable and stable. Also, I took a chance and bought a new power supply to use with this computer. The new power supply that I bought is the CoolMax M-500B, 500 W unit. I am happy to report that the computer works fine with this new power supply. Luckily this computer is a micro ATX one, otherwise the power supply wires are too short.
Warning risk of electrical fire! Do not use the included line cord with this power supply, but to discard it. If you need a line cord, it's probably best to buy one locally after inspecting it making sure it's 18gauge construction. The included line cord is of very poor quality and it doesn't have the UL certification. When I compared it with a standard line computer line cord, it was much lighter and thinner. The standard UL certified line cord has 18gauge wires minimum as compared to this one with only 26gauge. Prior to discarding this line cord, I've decided to cut it open and found the extremely thin wires inside. In the event of any malfunction or short-circuit, instead of the circuit breaker or fuses tripping or blowing the wires in this cord light up instead. This appears to be a problem with most generic power supply that also includes a line cord set.
I will update this review as I learn more about this product.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 60
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Epinions.com ID:
peterdmar
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Member: Peter Mar
Location: San Francisco , CA USA
Reviews written: 71
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
My name is Peter Mar and I am 61 years of age. San Francisco native.
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