Intel_DH55TC

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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>>		 This will allow installing the system using a live media.<<BR>>
Once the system is installed, a kernel from the updates will fix the problem if you are running Ubuntu 10.04.<<BR>>
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A good fix is to install a recent kernel from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/ <<BR>> Another fix is to install a recent kernel from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/ <<BR>>
This might also improve the stability of the GPU since many fixes have been released in the 2.6.33-rcX kernels.
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 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		  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
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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 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>>
=== SOUND ===
The rear analogue sound output (the green jack) 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 an i5 660 Speedstep scales the speed in 9 steps from 1.2 to 3.33 GHz.<<BR>>
suspend/resume features not tested yet.
=== 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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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. Software support for this new extension seems to be in-existent at present.
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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>>
Untested memory might run at 1066 even if branded 1333 !<<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>>
It is possible however to reprogram the SPD of memory modules which happens 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). This also requires some knowledge of hexadecimal/binary numbers manipulation and is not generally user-friendly.<<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>>
Memory reported to have wrong SPD data:<<BR>>
OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK<<BR>>
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_10666_platinum_low_voltage_dual_channel
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It seems to work fine, even if you will not find out by looking at /proc/cpuinfo !<<BR>>
To check if it is really working, you can try this program: http://code.google.com/p/i7z/ <<BR>>
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).<<BR>>

My board revision is 204 and BIOS version is 0028		 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 !<<BR>>
To check if it really is working, you can try this utility: 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.
This will allow installing the system using a live media.
Once the system is installed, a kernel from the updates will fix the problem if you are running Ubuntu 10.04.

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-rcX kernels. Steps to do this:

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

  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
  5. reboot

GRAPHICS

2D and Compiz effects work well. Tested with 1920x1080 display connected through DVI.
Direct rendering works OK but can sometime freeze the system. The problem manifests running quake3.
This is a known problem, that has also been reported in some Phoronix reviews.

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.

ACPI

With the kernel mentioned above on an i5 660 Speedstep scales the speed in 9 steps from 1.2 to 3.33 GHz.
suspend/resume features not tested yet.

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).
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.
The problem has been completely resolved by removing all the pre-applied paste and applying Artic Silver 5 thermal compound.

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 in-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. 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.

Memory reported to have wrong SPD data:
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 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)