Intel_DH55TC

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= Intel DH55TC motherboard = == Intel DH55TC motherboard ==
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One fix is to use the command line ACPI=off or ACPI=ht.<<BR>>
This will allow to install the system using a live media.<<BR>>
The main problem with disabling ACPI is that the system will use only 1 of the physiscal/logical cores available, and speedstep will not work.<<BR>>		 See https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/507770 <<BR>>
One fix is to use the kernel parameter ACPI=off or ACPI=ht.<<BR>>
To do this press F6 when the live media presents the boot menu, then choose ACPI=off from the menu that comes up, or press ESC and add the option manually.<<BR>>
This will allow installing the system using a live media.<<BR>>
Once the system is installed, the main problem with having ACPI disabled is that only 1 of the physiscal/logical cores will be used, and speedstep will not work.<<BR>>
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At present (26/1/2010) I am running 10.04 alpha 2 with all updates and the kernel mentioned above, and the system is working very well, and fast.<<BR>>
Graphics(both 2D and 3D), sound, network card, all run smoothly.<<BR>>
On my CPU (i5 660) Speedstep scales the speed in 9 steps from 1.2 to 3.33 GHz.<<BR>>
I didn't try any of the ACPI suspend/resume features yet.		 === GRAPHICS ===
2D and Compiz effects work well. Tested with 1920x1080 display connected through DVI.<<BR>>
Direct rendering also works OK. Tested with warzone2100.<<BR>>
Kernel mode setting: to be tested.
=== SOUND ===
I only tested the rear analogue sound output (the green jack), and works fine.<<BR>>
Left to be tested are: the front panel analogue header, he SPDIF header, and the HDMI sound output.
=== NETWORK CARD ===
Just works.<<BR>>
=== ACPI ===
With the kernel mentioned above on my CPU (i5 660) Speedstep scales the speed in 9 steps from 1.2 to 3.33 GHz.<<BR>>
I didn't try any of the suspend/resume features yet.
=== STABILITY ===
I experienced some major stability problems consisting in errors by memtest86 and inability to successfully complete the boot process, which seem to have gone away on 2 occasions after a hard power-off.<<BR>>
I fiddled with various BIOS settings during that time, so I suspect some BIOS settings take effect only after a hard power-off. I will keep investigating.<<BR>>
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Enabling the VT-d option seems to cause major stability problems.<<BR>>
The VT-x option on the other hand seems to work fine and is detected by virtualbox.		 Hyperthreading: works<<BR>>
Turbo boost: works<<BR>>
Virtualization: works, virtualbox detected VT-x<<BR>>
VT-d: not tested
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The BIOS doesn't allow to set the frequency or timings of the modules, so be sure to buy one that is tested by intel, or you might end up buying 1333 modules that will run at 1066 !<<BR>>
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 (like OCZ), set the wrong data in the SPD.		 The BIOS doesn't allow setting the modules frequency or timings, so be sure to buy one that is tested by intel.<<BR>>
My OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK is branded 1333 but runs at 1066.<<BR>>
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.<<BR>>
A future BIOS update might enable memory frequency override.
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To check if it is really working, you can try this program: http://code.google.com/p/i7z/ <<BR>> To check if it really is working, you can try this program: http://code.google.com/p/i7z/ <<BR>>

Intel DH55TC motherboard

The system freezes when gnome is launched with the kernel included in 9.10 and 10.04 alpha 2.
See https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/507770
One fix is to use the kernel parameter ACPI=off or ACPI=ht.
To do this press F6 when the live media presents the boot menu, then choose ACPI=off from the menu that comes up, or press ESC and add the option manually.
This will allow installing the system using a live media.
Once the system is installed, the main problem with having ACPI disabled is that only 1 of the physiscal/logical cores will be used, and speedstep will not work.

A good fix is to install a recent kernel from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/
Steps to do this:

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

  2. select v2.6.33-rc5/ (latest at present, you might try a more recent one)
  3. download linux-image-2.6.33-020633rc5-generic_2.6.33-020633rc5_amd64.deb (or one matching the chosen version)
  4. sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.33-020633rc5-generic_2.6.33-020633rc5_amd64.deb
  5. reboot

GRAPHICS

2D and Compiz effects work well. Tested with 1920x1080 display connected through DVI.
Direct rendering also works OK. Tested with warzone2100.
Kernel mode setting: to be tested.

SOUND

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

NETWORK CARD

Just works.

ACPI

With the kernel mentioned above on my CPU (i5 660) Speedstep scales the speed in 9 steps from 1.2 to 3.33 GHz.
I didn't try any of the suspend/resume features yet.

STABILITY

I experienced some major stability problems consisting in errors by memtest86 and inability to successfully complete the boot process, which seem to have gone away on 2 occasions after a hard power-off.
I fiddled with various BIOS settings during that time, so I suspect some BIOS settings take effect only after a hard power-off. I will keep investigating.

BIOS SETTINGS

Hyperthreading: works
Turbo boost: works
Virtualization: works, virtualbox detected VT-x
VT-d: not tested

RAM

The BIOS doesn't allow setting the modules frequency or timings, so be sure to buy one that is tested by intel.
My OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK is branded 1333 but runs at 1066.
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.

TURBO BOOST

It seems to work fine, even if you will not find out by looking at /proc/cpuinfo !
To check if it really is working, you can try this program: http://code.google.com/p/i7z/
You will have to change 1 line to disable the processor check (it is meant for i7 and will not work on the newer i3 and i5).

My board revision is 204 and BIOS version is 0028

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