Intel_DH55TC

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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 ===
Occasionally I have found the system in a state where was giving errors with memtest86 and was unable to complete the Linux boot.<<BR>>
The system was running fine again though after a hard power-off (swiching off the PSU from the back).<<BR>>
I suspect the cause could be some BIOS settings taking effect only after a hard power-off.<<BR>>
This didn't happen in while though, and I keep testing all the time with memtester and memtest86.
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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 (see below)<<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>>
The memory I have 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.<<BR>>
Update: I have been able to reprogram the SPD of my memory modules and now they run at 1333 8-8-8-24, up from 1066 7-7-7-20.<<BR>>
Reprogramming the SPD turned out to be incredibly easy with Linux.<<BR>>
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).<<BR>>
A few tips in case you want to try:
 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.
 4. take your time, don't rush, double check every number you type, this procedure could potentially brick your hardware.<<BR>>
The memory I have is: OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK<<BR>>
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_10666_platinum_low_voltage_dual_channel
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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>>
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This page, being a wiki, should be edited and removed of all 1st person sentences (I have tested, etc)

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

Occasionally I have found the system in a state where was giving errors with memtest86 and was unable to complete the Linux boot.
The system was running fine again though after a hard power-off (swiching off the PSU from the back).
I suspect the cause could be some BIOS settings taking effect only after a hard power-off.
This didn't happen in while though, and I keep testing all the time with memtester and memtest86.

BIOS SETTINGS

Hyperthreading: works
Turbo boost: works (see below)
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.
The memory I have 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.
Update: I have been able to reprogram the SPD of my memory modules and now they run at 1333 8-8-8-24, up from 1066 7-7-7-20.
Reprogramming the SPD turned out 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).
A few tips in case you want to try:

  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.

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

The memory I have is: OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_10666_platinum_low_voltage_dual_channel

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

This page, being a wiki, should be edited and removed of all 1st person sentences (I have tested, etc)

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