Intel_DH55TC

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The system freezes when gnome is launched with the kernel included in 9.10 and 10.04 alpha 2.<<BR>> The system freezes when gnome is launched with Karmic.<<BR>>
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Once the system is installed, a kernel from the updates will fix the problem if you are running Ubuntu 10.04.<<BR>> Once the system is installed, a kernel from the updates will fix the problem.<<BR>>
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This might also improve the stability of the GPU since many fixes have been released in the 2.6.33-rcX kernels. This might also improve the stability of the GPU since many fixes have been released in the 2.6.33 kernels.
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 2. select v2.6.33-rc7/ (latest at present, you might try a more recent one)
 3. download linux-image-2.6.33-020633rc7-generic_2.6.33-020633rc7_amd64.deb (or one matching the chosen version)
 4. sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.33-020633rc7-generic_2.6.33-020633rc7_amd64.deb		  2. select v2.6.33/ (latest at present, you might try a more recent one)
 3. download linux-image-2.6.33-020633-generic_2.6.33-020633_amd64.deb (or one matching the chosen version)
 4. sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.33-020633rc8-generic_2.6.33-020633_amd64.deb
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Direct rendering works OK but can sometime freeze the system. The problem manifests running quake3.<<BR>>
This is a known problem, that has also been reported in some Phoronix reviews.<<BR>>		 Direct rendering works OK: tested with Warzone 2100 and Quake 3.<<BR>>
There were reports of frequent freezes after few minutes of playing with Quake3, but at present, with Lucid Alpha 3, stock kernel and all updates Quake 3 is able to run overnight without crashing.<<BR>>
Quake 3 has very playable frame-rates at 1920x1080 with maximum settings.
Doom 3 and Quake Wars Enemy Territory seem to crash during start-up.
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There are reports that when running 2.6.33 the latest version of the driver from Intel has to be used for networking to work.
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Using module w83627ehf it is possible to monitor the CPU temperature, but not the fans. For the voltages to be monitored properly a suitable sensors3.conf seems to be needed but none can be found at present.
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=== STABILITY ===
There has been a report of errors with memtest86 and inability to complete the Linux boot when the system was turned on after having been on low temperatures (15-20C).<<BR>>
This was probably caused by the pre-applied thermal paste on the Intel cooler that is almost solid when cold and "melts" every time is heated.<<BR>>
The problem has been completely resolved by removing all the pre-applied paste and applying Artic Silver 5 thermal compound.
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VT-d: not tested. Software support for this new extension seems to be in-existent at present. VT-d: not tested. Software support for this new extension seems to be non-existent at present.
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 1. the addresses you need are: 0x50 0x51 0x52 0x53, corresponding to the 4 memory slots.
 2. don't forget to change the checksum !
 3. change the SPD of *only 1 module*, and test it with the other module removed. If the system is unbootable, install the other module and when 2 modules with different timings are installed, the slowest timings of the 2 are used. This will allow you to change the timings back to a slower setting.		  1. you need to modprobe i2c-dev and i2c-i801
 2. the addresses you need are: 0x50 0x51 0x52 0x53, corresponding to the 4 memory slots.
 3. don't forget to change the checksum, just to be sure, since modules with the wrong checksum appear to work fine
 4. change the SPD of *only 1 module*, and test it with the other module removed. If the system is unbootable, install the other module and when 2 modules with different timings are installed, the slowest timings of the 2 are used. This will allow you to change the timings back to a slower setting.
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http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_10666_platinum_low_voltage_dual_channel http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_10666_platinum_low_voltage_dual_channel <<BR>>
Running one of those heat-spreader fitted modules publicized as having good timing like 7-7-7 at 1.65v is highly discouraged. These memories will likely produce error at 1.5v even when lowering their frequency/timings.<<BR>>
Modules reported as compatible in Intel website will likely produce best results.<<BR>>
Kingston KVR1333d3n9k2/4g is reported to work very well with this board.

Intel DH55TC motherboard

The system freezes when gnome is launched with Karmic.
See https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/507770
One fix is to use the kernel parameter ACPI=off or ACPI=ht.
This will allow installing the system using a live media.
Once the system is installed, a kernel from the updates will fix the problem.

Another fix is to install a recent kernel from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/
This might also improve the stability of the GPU since many fixes have been released in the 2.6.33 kernels. Steps to do this:

  1. Open http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/

  2. select v2.6.33/ (latest at present, you might try a more recent one)
  3. download linux-image-2.6.33-020633-generic_2.6.33-020633_amd64.deb (or one matching the chosen version)
  4. sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.33-020633rc8-generic_2.6.33-020633_amd64.deb
  5. reboot

GRAPHICS

2D and Compiz effects work well. Tested with 1920x1080 display connected through DVI.
Direct rendering works OK: tested with Warzone 2100 and Quake 3.
There were reports of frequent freezes after few minutes of playing with Quake3, but at present, with Lucid Alpha 3, stock kernel and all updates Quake 3 is able to run overnight without crashing.
Quake 3 has very playable frame-rates at 1920x1080 with maximum settings. Doom 3 and Quake Wars Enemy Territory seem to crash during start-up.

SOUND

The rear analogue sound output (the green jack) works fine.
Left to be tested are: the front panel analogue header, he SPDIF header, and the HDMI sound output.

NETWORK CARD

Just works.
There are reports that when running 2.6.33 the latest version of the driver from Intel has to be used for networking to work.

ACPI

With the kernel mentioned above on an i5 660 Speedstep scales the speed in 9 steps from 1.2 to 3.33 GHz.
Using module w83627ehf it is possible to monitor the CPU temperature, but not the fans. For the voltages to be monitored properly a suitable sensors3.conf seems to be needed but none can be found at present. suspend/resume features not tested yet.

BIOS SETTINGS

Hyperthreading: works
Turbo boost: works (see below)
Virtualization: works, virtualbox detected VT-x
VT-d: not tested. Software support for this new extension seems to be non-existent at present.

RAM

The BIOS doesn't allow setting the modules frequency or timings, so be sure to buy one that is tested by intel.
Untested memory might run at 1066 even if branded 1333 !
This is due to the fact that the board reads the modules SPD data in order to figure out its capabilities, and some memory brands, even famous ones, set the wrong data in the SPD.
A future BIOS update might enable memory frequency override.
It is possible however to reprogram the SPD of memory modules which happens to be incredibly easy with Linux.
All you need is the DDR3 SPD specs (a document called 4_01_02_11R18.pdf that can be found at jedec.org), and the i2c-tools (a standard Ubuntu package). This also requires some knowledge of hexadecimal/binary numbers manipulation and is not generally user-friendly.
A few tips in case you want to try:

  1. you need to modprobe i2c-dev and i2c-i801
  2. the addresses you need are: 0x50 0x51 0x52 0x53, corresponding to the 4 memory slots.
  3. don't forget to change the checksum, just to be sure, since modules with the wrong checksum appear to work fine
  4. change the SPD of *only 1 module*, and test it with the other module removed. If the system is unbootable, install the other module and when 2 modules with different timings are installed, the slowest timings of the 2 are used. This will allow you to change the timings back to a slower setting.

  5. take your time, don't rush, double check every number you type, this procedure could potentially brick your hardware.

Memory reported to have wrong SPD data:
OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_10666_platinum_low_voltage_dual_channel
Running one of those heat-spreader fitted modules publicized as having good timing like 7-7-7 at 1.65v is highly discouraged. These memories will likely produce error at 1.5v even when lowering their frequency/timings.
Modules reported as compatible in Intel website will likely produce best results.
Kingston KVR1333d3n9k2/4g is reported to work very well with this board.

TURBO BOOST

It seems to work fine, even if you will not find out by looking at /proc/cpuinfo or any of the cpufreq entries in /sys !
To check if it really is working, you can try this utility: http://code.google.com/p/i7z/

Intel_DH55TC (last edited 2010-08-08 13:28:30 by 78)