Pegatron IPMTB-TK motherboard version 1.04 and BIOS question?

[dashby1]

Hi,

I bought a refurbished HP Pavilion Elite m9650f, Win 7 on 04-21-2010
and it too has suffered from the crashes, freezes and multiple BSOD

that many people have been complaining about.  I have the Pegatron

IPMTB-TK TRUCKEE version 1.04 motherboard.

HP calls it TRUCKEE-UL8E.

Am I looking to replace it with version 1.04 E01 or version 1.05E?

(With much reading on the web about my m9650f problems,

I finally have it maybe 90% stable after replacing the hard drive,

upgrading to BIOS ver 5.29 and replacing all the RAM.)

I know there is a class action suit including the m9650f pending.

http://www.hpelitedesktopsettlement.com/

Will I be able to request a repair for my HP computer?

When will HP let people request a repair?

Also, I currently have BIOS ver. 5.29 and notice that there is a ver. 6.10

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=pv-88852-1&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en

BIOS ver 6.10 improves system support for Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition processors which is what ver 5.29 says it does.

BIOS ver 6.10 also installs HP Vision Diagnostic tool which I don't know anything about.

I don't plan on installing an Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition processor.

Should I upgrade to BIOS ver 6.10 or just leave well enough alone?

Thank you for your time.

[dashby1]

Any one have any thoughts, ideas or opinions please?

[Big_Dave · Accepted solution]

Hi dashby1,

If the 6.01 bios was not posted for your model PC then don't try to install it.  Some one else out here did try and ended up with problems.

If you are having stability issues, then disable the IEEE 1394 port in the bios and see how it goes.

[dashby1]

Hi Big_Dave,

Thank you for your suggestions.

My computer is running pretty solid right now.

I just replaced one stick of 2GB RAM that did not match the other two sticks of 2GB RAM, Total 6GB and

added another 3 sticks 2GB each of matching RAM for a Grand Total of 12GB and replaced the C: HHD.

I will stay away from version 6.01 BIOS don't want more problems.

And I'll disable my firewire IEEE 1394 port if stability issues return.

There is suppose to be an HP 90 day repair window opening soon for people who have the 2009 HP Pavilion Elite series that has the Pegatron IPMTB-TK motherboard with BSOD and freezing issues.  When I got HP Pavilion Elite m9650f it had multiple BSOD and freezing issues but over time, I did various updates, etc. and the BSOD and freezing issues became less.  With my recent RAM and HDD replacements things are rather stable.

Do you think I should go for the HP repair when it is offered, you send in your computer and they replace the

motherboard only with a newer version, I have the 1.04 version or might it be better to leave well enough alone?

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

Turn the in the settlement paper work quickly before the settlement offer expires. 

Try this bootable memory diagnostic CD. Download memtest86 iso file and burn it to disk using Imgburn.

[dashby1]

Hi Big Dave,

If you mean this website:

http://www.hpelitedesktopsettlement.com/

Yes, I have been monitoring their website and know about their Update October 6 2011.

I have been checking HP's website to see if HP had an announcement and a place to file claims but see nothing yet.

So I wrote HPEliteDesktopSettlement a few days ago asking when will HP put a notice on it's website

and what date does the "90 day warrenty service enhancement period" begin and end.

A staff member replied,

"The date has not been set for the 90-day repair option. 

Once we have received this information, after final approval,

it will be posted on the website (www.HPEliteDesktopSettlement.com)."

So yes indeed, it will be prudent to keep checking their website for that posting.

In an other area, I tried disabling the IEEE 1394 port in BIOS

as you suggested but my computer still freezes, crashes

and BSOD now and then.

Also, although I tested the memory a while back with

memtest86 that's a good idea since I recently added

6 GB of RAM for a total of 12 GB.

My IPMTB-TK (Truckee-UL8E) motherboard is version 1.04.

Do you have the IPMTB-TK (Truckee-UL8E) version 1.04 E01 or the 1.05?

Do you know what the difference is between version 1.04 E01 and 1.05?

In addition, do you know if the second PCIe x16 slot for this motherboard also supports controller cards?

Is the PCIe x1 slot ver 2.0 or 1.0?

Is the PCIe x4 slot ver 2.0 or 1.0?

I think the PCIe x4 slot is ver 2.0 but I

can't figure out if the PCIe x1 slot is as well.

Are you using the Asus U3S6 expansion card?

Have you tried it in the second PCIe x16 slot?

Thanks for your help.

dashby

[Big_Dave]

Hi Dashby,

My motherboard is 1.04E01 and it has been very stable.   I have not heard or seen anyone with 1.05.

You can put PCI cards other than x16 in the PCI-E x16 slot such as x1 or x4 cards.

Typically what happens if another video were to be install in the second PCI-E x16 is the total 16 lanes of bandwidth would be split between the two slots.  You can't run SLI or CrossFire on the truckee motherboard so in my opinion a second video card is a waste.  Just use a BIG video card if needed.

You can use PC Wizard and look under Mainboard PCI Express to gain information about the PCI-E slots and the speed that they are running when a card is installed.

The Asus U3S6 expansion card is an interesting piece of technology. hmmmm   I wonder if the bios would support a SATA 3 boot device?

[dashby1]

Hi Big Dave,

I sure hope HP replaces my motherboard with a good IPMTB-TK version

1.04E01 or maybe a motherboard with USB3, SATA6 and RAID 0/1/5. 

Yes I know I can insert PCIe x1 and PCIe x4 cards into PCIe x16 slots.

The version numbers of the PCIe slots are important too.

Version 1.0 has a throughput of 2.5 Gbps.

Version 2.0 has a throughput of 5.0 Gbps.

Version 3.0 has a throughput of 8.0 Gbps.

I know the two PCIe x16 slots on my motherboard are version 2.0.

I need to know if the PCIe x4 and PCIe x1 slots are also version 2.0.

(Sometimes PCIe x1 slots are version 1.0 and there can be other limitations too.)

I see no settings in the BIOS, do you know if the PCIe x16 slots downshift to x8 if a PCIe x8 card is inserted?

I'll check out PC Wizard to see if it can tell what version the other slots are.  Thanks.

I have an Asus U3S6 expansion card installed in the PCIe x4 slot and I have

an OCZ Agility 3, SATA 3, 120 GB, SSD attached to it as the C: boot drive.

So yes the IPMTB-TK, BIOS version 5.29 supports SATA 3 boot devices.

I get reads of 400 mbps and writes of 200 mbps.

I probably would have higher numbers if my SATA 3 was native to the motherboard.

In addition, I have a RAID 0/5 @ 257 mbps connected to the Intel, SATA 2 ports of the motherboard.

I read somewhere you might get even faster C: throughput if you put the Asus U3S6 in the spare PCIe x16 slot.

I tried it but the computer hangs at the Windows 7 splash screen and then reboots regardless of BIOS settings.

Any ideas about the snag?  I also read somewhere that some PCIe x16 slots will not function with a controller card.

And some people have said that you cannot have the Asus U3S6 plugged in and have a Intel, RAID setup at the

same time but at least with the PCIe x4 slot I have accomplished that much.

In the meantime, I am grateful that

I have the Asus U3S6 going this well

minus the freezes, crashes and BSOD.

Any information is appreciated.

[Big_Dave]

Hi dashy,

I did some research on the Sass USES.  There are a few PC-E cards that can be used for additional boot devices.  Some motherboards do require bios updates and some restrict the use of RAID.  The OCZ RevoDrive is good example.

Unfortunately, I don't have room inside my e9280t for the Asus U3S6.  The GTX460 covers the the PCI-E x4 slot and while the other PCI-E x16 is open, installing a card into that slot would restrict the fan air flow for the graphics card. The PCIE x1 slot has a wireless card in it so that slot is out.

PCI-E version 4 is already being talked about in some magazines as it has twice the bandwidth compared to version 3. Perhaps it's time for a new cabinet and mobo.:smileyvery-happy:

[Europe1]

Hi, Big_Dave, I also have an HP lemon, e9180t, fighting with lots of lock-ups and BSODs. After reading your post, I disabled IEEE 1394 and no problems for almost a month now (this is a first for me). I have the 1.04 MB with 5.29 BIOS.

It was a really good tip, thanks a lot.

All the best,

Europe1