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Unleaded's - MSI MS-1029 Review - Page 6

post #101 of 665
9/1/05 at 2:47am
I think 1.5GB (1 x 1GB, 1 x 512MB) RAM will still run at DDR400 if I remember right according to xmeld.
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post #102 of 665
9/1/05 at 9:17am
this memory problem is very strange
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post #103 of 665
9/1/05 at 11:38am
Hi all!

I bought a Targa 826T MT32 for 1299 EUR on LIDL supermarket two months ago.
http://www.targa.co.uk/
This laptop is no more than a rebranded MSI MEGABOOK 635, with the MS-1029 motherboard. It comes with 2 sticks of 512MB Siemens memory (SwissBit), DDR333, CL2.5, double sided (1GB total).

The memory runs fine at 333MHZ, and its double sided. I am using bios 2.30 from MSI, and not the bios 2.20 from Targa. The only diference from the 2.20 MSI bios version to the 2.20 Targa version is the Post logo. I updated to MSI 2.30 as Targa didn't update they bios acordingly ( the latest version on their site is version 2.20). The notebook came with bios version 1.80, and was running the memory at 333MHZ.

Problem: I bought a 1GB made by VDATA/SDATA, DDR400 CL2.5 double sided, removed the two installed ram modules, and installed the 1GB module in slot 1. The notebook didn't boot. It turned on, but nothing apeared on screen. Then I installed one of the 512MB DDR333 modules on slot 2 and the notebook booted to windows and crashed every time. I removed both the modules, and instaled the 512MB module on slot 1, and the 1GB module on slot2, and now the laptop is running just nice, at DDR333 speeds. When I launch cpuz, I can see both modules clocked at DDR333 CL2.5. I run memtest86 for hours with no problems detected. also run a prime95 burn in test and the laptop runs rock solid.


Nice huh!!!!! well I would love to get rid of the 512MB module, and be able to run the laptop at DDR400 CL2.5 with the 1GB ram module.


I also found a funny thing: the audio codec is a realteck 658. Installing any realtek drivers ( I have the latest ones that came out yesterday 3.76), the HRTF tab on the audio properties doesn´t apear, nor the tab to choose the configuration output of the audio jacks. All the laptops I have seen with a realtek codec have these things..

does this happen to you guys?
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post #104 of 665
9/1/05 at 12:18pm
I want to buy one of these but will wait until the memory issues are sorted out. Does this mean (and excuse me if I missed it in the previous 7 pages) that the vendors that have been configuring and selling these have been doing so with memory that doesn't run at the rated speed? I really just want a new laptop, want a 15.4" screen and want a Turion with 7200RPM drive and 1GB of RAM - I don't care about memory brand so long as it works as advertised - I will likely not bother overclocking whatever I buy.

I have an old PIII 800MHz Winbook that is really getting long in the tooth. It still is adequate for email and web surfing but really too slow for development or any gaming beyond solitaire. Actually it's noticeably slow rendering web pages . . .

I'll be watching this thread to see if there's a resolution. It looks like other than memory issues MSI has a winning product.
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post #105 of 665
9/1/05 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by finas
Hi all!

I bought a Targa 826T MT32 for 1299 EUR on LIDL supermarket two months ago.
http://www.targa.co.uk/
This laptop is no more than a rebranded MSI MEGABOOK 635, with the MS-1029 motherboard. It comes with 2 sticks of 512MB Siemens memory (SwissBit), DDR333, CL2.5, double sided (1GB total).

The memory runs fine at 333MHZ, and its double sided. I am using bios 2.30 from MSI, and not the bios 2.20 from Targa. The only diference from the 2.20 MSI bios version to the 2.20 Targa version is the Post logo. I updated to MSI 2.30 as Targa didn't update they bios acordingly ( the latest version on their site is version 2.20). The notebook came with bios version 1.80, and was running the memory at 333MHZ.

Problem: I bought a 1GB made by VDATA/SDATA, DDR400 CL2.5 double sided, removed the two installed ram modules, and installed the 1GB module in slot 1. The notebook didn't boot. It turned on, but nothing apeared on screen. Then I installed one of the 512MB DDR333 modules on slot 2 and the notebook booted to windows and crashed every time. I removed both the modules, and instaled the 512MB module on slot 1, and the 1GB module on slot2, and now the laptop is running just nice, at DDR333 speeds. When I launch cpuz, I can see both modules clocked at DDR333 CL2.5. I run memtest86 for hours with no problems detected. also run a prime95 burn in test and the laptop runs rock solid.


Nice huh!!!!! well I would love to get rid of the 512MB module, and be able to run the laptop at DDR400 CL2.5 with the 1GB ram module.


I also found a funny thing: the audio codec is a realteck 658. Installing any realtek drivers ( I have the latest ones that came out yesterday 3.76), the HRTF tab on the audio properties doesn´t apear, nor the tab to choose the configuration output of the audio jacks. All the laptops I have seen with a realtek codec have these things..

does this happen to you guys?
Where do you get your driver/bios updates from lol...

The USA MSI site doesn't seem to have any bios updates for the MS-1029

Also, which program do you use to test memory freq? I hear SiSoft Sandra reports differently, then, say, CPU-Z.
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post #106 of 665
9/1/05 at 1:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnc_22
Does this mean (and excuse me if I missed it in the previous 7 pages) that the vendors that have been configuring and selling these have been doing so with memory that doesn't run at the rated speed?
I am working with one customer on an appropriate solution for the only 1029 to date that has been ordered with 2 sticks of RAM. All prior orders have been for a single SODIMM. We no longer offer an option to configure with 2 sticks of RAM save for when 2GB is desired and only then with very clearly stated notices about the potential downclocking issue.
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post #107 of 665
9/1/05 at 2:14pm
How much does CPU affect 3dMark performance?

Asus z70va:

Quote:
Pentium M 770 @ 2.13 Ghz
1x1 GB DDR2 RAM
Hitachi 60GB HD @ 7200 RPM
ATI X700 128MB PCI-Express (not sure what it's clocked at, heard Asuses are underclocked)
802.11 a/b/g Wireless
Internal Bluetooth
15.4" SXGA+ LCD
2442 3DMark05, stock drivers

http://www.notebookforums.com/showth...9&page=1&pp=15
---------------------------

MSI MS-1029:

Quote:
Here are the the 3DMark01se and 05 numbers.
The CPU is a Turion64 MT-32 1.8 gig 512 L2
1.25 gig PC3200 Cas3
80 gig Samsung 5400 RPM
X700 at 350 core and 300 mem

3DMark05 is 2297
How much of the ~150 pt difference can be attributed to the CPU difference/HD difference/cache difference (P-M's have 2mb cache)?
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post #108 of 665
9/1/05 at 2:50pm
Thread Starter 
MSI has a new BIOS for the MS-1029. They will be testing this BIOS (received from Tapei) today in LA with a variety of DDR400 memory. I will have word from them on stability/resolution by this evening.
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post #109 of 665
9/1/05 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unleaded
MSI has a new BIOS for the MS-1029. They will be testing this BIOS (received from Tapei) today in LA with a variety of DDR400 memory. I will have word from them on stability/resolution by this evening.
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!
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post #110 of 665
9/1/05 at 3:21pm
I found the 2.3 bios

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/suppor...ID=610&kind=11
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post #111 of 665
9/1/05 at 3:41pm
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/suppor...ID=610&kind=11

bios and drivers for the ms-1029


http://www.msicomputer.com/NB/produc...?model=MS-1029

x64 drivers for the ms-1029

http://www.service.targa.co.uk/

bios and drivers for the ms-1029 ( targa logo). check targa 826 MT32.
Targa has newer drivers for the Elantech touchapad and for the onboard modem than msi.


You can get up to date drivers for amd cpu's on

www.amd.com

newer drivers for the realtek onboard sound and for realtek lan on

www.realtek.com.tw

newer drivers for ati x700 ( catalist 5.8) on

www.ati.com

and if you have the msi minipci wlan and bluetooth combo, you can get the latest bluetooth driver at:

http://www.bluesoleil.com/update/index.asp
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post #112 of 665
9/1/05 at 3:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lordsavant
Where do you get your driver/bios updates from lol...

The USA MSI site doesn't seem to have any bios updates for the MS-1029

Also, which program do you use to test memory freq? I hear SiSoft Sandra reports differently, then, say, CPU-Z.

From the sites above.

All the programs I use give me the same info regarding cpu and mem frequency.
I use sissoft sandra cpuz and central brain identifier.

I would love to hear news about that new ms-1029 bios!!!! really want to have this notebook running at DDR400 CL2.5 !
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post #113 of 665
9/1/05 at 4:11pm
Thread Starter 
The BIOS to correct the issue is not released folks. It is effectively a Beta. If the tests they are conducting today are successful, it will be accessible to resellers at a minimum. I don't know if or when it might be available for D/L from MSI.
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post #114 of 665
9/1/05 at 5:03pm
I hope their tests are successful, so that they can put the update up online quickly hehe.

I'm kind of skeptical that this memory clocking issue can possibly fixed with a software patch, and that it's not an inherent flaw with the architecture. O well, if they can get it to work, it's better for me ^^
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post #115 of 665
9/1/05 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
I am quite optimistic about the results as, for instance, the MS-1013 has no issues with paired DDR400...it does NOT exhibit the same downclocking behavior. This was confirmed during tests that MSI conducted yesterday.
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post #116 of 665
9/1/05 at 5:23pm
Anyone knows why the HRTF and output jack tabs are missing on Realtek control panel?

by the way, the latest realtek sound driver (3.76) fixes some important bugs related to ATI chipsets (SB400).

check the changelog here:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/ac97readme.pdf

download the driver here:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&Software=True
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post #117 of 665
9/1/05 at 11:51pm
Unleaded....how are you in contact with MSI? I have been trying to call them all day to ask them a few questions of my own and I havn't been able to get through. I was on hold for like an hour. Any special #"s I can call?

-David
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post #118 of 665
9/2/05 at 12:37am
Thread Starter 
teethandnails:

I am a reseller for MSI among other ODMs so I have all the "digits" so to speak . I'm sorry I can't share my contact numbers with you, however, if you have any specific questions, feel free to post them here or PM me and I will try to answer them myself or get answers from those people who know more than I at MSI. I've been working very hard with MSI over the last week or so to try to find a resolution for the "downclocking" issue and I am impressed with the effort that MSI is expending to correct the problem. The first BIOS "tweak" did not succeed in correcting the issue though it did improve on the system's overall compatibility/stability with a variety of memory types. We hope that the efforts being applied over the coming days will result in another BIOS which will properly address the 2 SODIMM downclocking.
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post #119 of 665
9/2/05 at 3:13am
Well, one of my questions is about warranties. IBUYPOWER and Cyberpower do not offer any extended warrenty with any of their MSI notebooks, and after working at Compusa for a year I have seen how screwed up notebooks can get. I have seen that MSI offers a 2 and 3 year extention and I was wondering if would apply to this one if configured by a company for me?

Also...would be a good idea to wait on later Turion designs that offer better battery life...or is this as good as it will be for a while on the turions? I would much rather have the 64bit ability of a Turion, but the PM's offer alot better battey savings from what I have seen.
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post #120 of 665
9/2/05 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 
Most of the resellers I know of can pass along MSI's extended warranties to you. In essence, you buy the warranty from the reseller and the reseller buys the extension from MSI. If you care about an extended warranty just stick with one of the outfits that will offer it.

I can't speak to whether or not the battery life on the MS-1029 is indicative of what other systems with the same CPU might exhibit. I can say that I personally don't believe that 2.5 - 3.5 hours (depending on settings and use) of battery on a system such as this is really that bad at all. If you or anyone else requires more rundown than that, you might want to look elsewhere.
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