Peter Missel Motherboard Master........

[Fritz44]

Got my M748LMRT today and have most all of Win98 installed with devices working, but 'may' have a problem. When I first booted the system, I got a CMOS battery low message. I thought, "oh boy, here we go" but then it seemed to keep all its settings but one -- the Master IDE H/D. When I go into the BIOS and hit F3 to auto-detect everything, it shows the 10.2 gig W/D Caviar as a USER drive. Seems well enough until I shut down at which point the H/D disappears. So I restart and reconfigure using F3 but the same thing happens. I go in again, but this time configure it for AUTO so that everytime it boots it auto-detects the H/D. This doesn't seem like the way it should be done or am I wrong? On other mobos I've configured, once its set its set and the comp doesn't have to reconfigure it unless the CMOS battery is dead. What gives with this BIOS? Its revision March 31, 2000 and I also got the 7.1 driver set for the onboard devices (not that that pertains but what the hay.....) Any ideas? Fred

[Peter M]

... I did tell you to set the "CMOS clear" jumper to Normal, didn't I? The manual also explicitly says so at least twice.

If you did that already, then here's how HDD management in AMI BIOS is.

Hit "Detect Drives". The drives are detected ONCE, and their parameters noted down into a user-defined HDD setting.

Set the channel to "Auto", and the drive will be auto-detected on EVERY boot. This normally is what you want.

Regards, Peter

[Fritz44]

Yup thats what I did and it works as intended. Also, I'm testing the modem connection on an account that I never get below 52000kps on, however, the Micromodem that came with the board and is supposed to be 56k never gets above 36k. I've confirmed v.90 compatibility in the modem diagnostics window and it seems in order. Have you had similar experiences with this type of modem? Thanks, Fred

[Fritz44]

Also, one other thing....can I enable 32 bit transfers on the h/d settings in the BIOS? I'm using Win98 and a W/D 10.2 Caviar (5400RPM) Thanks, Fred

[Peter M]

I haven't used the HSP modem too often, yet I was always happy with the connect speeds (46.6 to 50.6). My expensive over-engineered Elsa Microlink 56k (the original one) doesn't do any better.

32-bit wide access to the HDD is fine with any IDE drive on the onboard controllers.

Regards, Peter

[Fritz44]

Thanks for the help Pete........the whole thing went pretty good with the exception of not being familiar with AMI BIOS's, and that turned out not to be a problem at all(knocking on wood). Seems everything is working now and the modem, while not getting the speeds I'd like is good enough to supplement the LAN. Now to try a game on it and see what the graphics look like. I know they're not made for it but I'm curious. And for 68 bucks I can't complain a bit. My sister and I thank you, Fred

[Fritz44]

So you're saying that even though I'm showing a slow connection spedd, I may be able to get 56K equivalent download speeds?

[Peter M]

As long as it's connecting at more than 33600, it's in V.90 mode. It can then shift speeds up and down in 1333 bps steps as line conditions allow. The modems do that all the time.

A slow initial connect speed does not imply poor performance lateron. In fact, it's a good idea for a modem maker to start out slow so that the PPP setup and user logon process doesn't run into transmission problems.

Another thing, you might want to visit www.talent-union.de (the German PC-Chips branch). Enter the Download section for the freshest BIOS for your board. If your board is a v3.3 or higher, then this BIOS enables you to run Coppermine core Celeron-II (66 MHz bus) or Pentium-III (100 MHz bus).

Regards, Peter

[Fritz44]

Well, it started at 33600, but as of the past 5 hours its connected in the very low thirties and even 26400. This is a connection that never gives me less than 50666 with a 3com modem. That its not using v90, what would that indicate? As I said earlier, in the modem diagnostics it shows a v.90 line. I've always used this as a insurance that its working properly, but something's amiss here.

[Peter M]

Hi again,

Your discrepancy in modem _connect_ speed might be the HSP modem being cautious about the initial speed, and your other modem being more aggressive. Since V.90 modems shift speeds up and down all the time during the connection, you should keep an eye on actual transfer speeds. Downloads of precompressed stuff on a good line should approach 5 KB/s, uncompressed data like text pages should come in at up to three times that speed with the HSP modem and at up to 11.5 KB/s with a modem connected to a serial line.

With the HSP modem, you can also watch the current speed in its Properties window. With a serial line "real" modem, that's not possible, one can only poll the last speed before disconnection on some models.

Regards, Peter

[Peter M]

If it connects at 33600 or below, then it's not running V.90 connections. Check your inhouse cabling and wall outlets. The V.90 back channel being digital, it requires good signals. Narrow it down by unplugging other telephones or other devices.

I have a severe case of modem-no-work here after the lady connected another phone. Going there on monday to unknot that.

Regards, Peter

[Peter M]

news update ... I found the culprit there, it was a Fax/Phone combo that wouldn't loop the phone line through but instead connect its In and Out in parallel.

Even after we did a new wiring of the phone lines in the appartment, this screws line quality up enough to make the HSP modem connect (and stay) at 40000 instead of 50666 with the Fax/Phone disconnected. Before we rewired, it wouldn't even detect a dial tone.

Maybe you check for those things too.

Regards, Peter