XFX 630i network card related crash / freeze

[DesktopMan]

Model: MG-630I-7109

During network activity (file transfer, download etc) the computer freezes completely, no input and no screen updates. Sometimes only the network connection dies (e.g. share not available), I'd say 50/50. I've tried a PCI network card instead, and without changing anything else everything works.

It happens on Windows XP x64 with nVidia and Marvell's (much newer) own driver package, as well as on Linux kernels 2.6.18, .22 and .24. (Linux has been known to have problems with this chip so...)

Advice?

[xfxsupport]

Sorry to hear that but if you have the latest drivers installed correctly and you can use a PCI card with no problem you may need to have the mobo swapped out. Do you get any error codes when this happens? After you reboot, go into the device manager are there any question marks indicating problems?

[srpeters18]

I was having problems with mine for a while, I went into device manager and it had 8 adapters installed, copy 1, copy 2 etc. Rebooted in safe mode, removed all of them and reinstalled only the two network controllers. Rebooted normally, computer would freeze every time Windows loaded. Went back into safe mode, ran msconfig and disabled all startup items and all non-microsoft services and rebooted normally, everything came up fine. It ended up being the network card teaming in System Tools, now I just leave it alone and have no more issues.

[DesktopMan]

Nope, no errors logged anywhere, I'm guessing the system isn't even able to, it just freezes right away.

I've tried the nvidia drivers and the Marvell drivers, the Marvell drivers are very new.

The 630i only has one PCIe based network card, I can't see how teaming can be involved.

I've had a string of bad luck with mobos lately, returning two others (non-xfx) the last week. Really hope I can figure this out...

[srpeters18]

Not saying the teaming relates to your situation, but that system tools sucks. Try uninstalling the nvidia network access manager.

[DesktopMan]

Right. Well I never installed it. Because it kinda sucks :)

[DesktopMan]

I installed Windows XP 32bit to test, and the errors still happen. I guess it's safe to assume that there's something wrong with the network chip at this point.

[Gizmo]

I have the XFX MG-630i-7159. I am experiencing the exact same problem. Running 32 XP. I am under the assumption that the nvidia drivers do not contain the marvell drivers [only for an nvidia network card] - so this will not work anyway. I think you have to install the marvell drivers. I have not resolved this issue. I am at the point where I think that if I get a replacement motherboard that I will experience the same issue. I can only assume that the only way to fix this is to disable the o/b LAN in bios and get a cheap pci network controller and rather use that. I also had dat corrupting when copying from the network - i hope [not happily] that these issues are linked. Any suggestions or adive would be appreciated.

Thanks for the post - this has helped me going through alot of painfull troubleshooting!!!

[DesktopMan]

Gizmo: I thought that the nVidia drivers not installing the network card was caused by faulty hardware at my end, but it seems this might not be the case if it doesn't have Marvell drivers at all.

I can install the card successfully with the Marvell drivers, but I get either data corruption, stopped transfers or completely frozen computer in just a few minutes.

I've tried safe bios settings, optimized settings, and custom settings I used to run (disable everything I don't use), none change the result.

Also, as a side note: On linux kernel 2.6.18 I don't get DMA for IDE harddrives. Peculiar.

Since the network trouble are exactly the same in 5 different OS versions for me this seems like a hardware issue. There were some suggestions that disabling ACPI on Linux might fix this (I haven't been able to try this yet), if so it might be an ACPI issue in the mainboard, hopefully fixable by a BIOS update.

XFX Support: any ideas?

Tested driver version: Marvell 10.53.2.3. This is the only one available on the Marvell page.

Tested with and without other addin cards, makes no difference. Clean XP, XP64, and Linux installs.

[Yenko69]

I was experiencing the exact same issues with freezing in XP, corrupting data transfers, or just disconnecting using the network drivers that came with the motherboard. I updated the full set of motherboard drivers from XFX's website and it stopped the lockups but the NIC would never communicate properly (no DHCP, static address couldn't talk to anything else, etc.).

Found one thing on another forum that fixed it for me as well. I went into the BIOS under Integrated Peripherals and disabled HD Audio. That was the only change I made and the NIC has been working properly for the past hour. :yes: Give this a try.

The current Windows XP Marvel driver that I'm using (which seems kind of old) is version 8.61.2.3 dated 11/2/2006 if it makes a difference to anyone else's setup.

[Gizmo]

"I can install the card successfully with the Marvell drivers, but I get either data corruption, stopped transfers or completely frozen computer in just a few minutes."

Did you find this is only/directly related to copying of files from a network and in no other situation?

"Tested with and without other addin cards, makes no difference. Clean XP, XP64, and Linux installs."

Please explain further. Have you tried disabling the onboard LAN and using a pci network card? Does the pci network card work fine on its own? I think you mentioned this in an earlier post? Is is correct that a PCI LAN card works fine? If so, I know this is not the best solution, but why dont you just use that rather?

BTW. I have opened a ticket with the XFX site. Let's see what they say - I would still love some more solid info on this.

"Tested driver version: Marvell 10.53.2.3. This is the only one available on the Marvell page." Thanks for this - this was going to be my next move. No point obviously.

BTW - I have used the latest nforce drivers off nvidia's site and that did not help anything.

XFX Support: any ideas?

[DesktopMan]

Yes it works perfectly fine with a pci network card (as I wrote earlier) or a pcie network card. That's still unacceptable though.

IMO the info is pretty darn solid.

Yenko69: Could you try updating to the newer driver and see if that makes it stop working again?

As for disabling the HD audio, this was one of my original settings anyway, and it makes no difference for me.

[Gizmo]

Yenko69: So what you are saying is that I can play network games without sound. Or Listen to music, but not be able surf the net. LOL.

Thanks for the info anyway.

DesktopMan: I hear you.

[DesktopMan]

Btw: I am using an IDE harddrive. since I had trouble with DMA in Linux there's a *very* tiny chance it's related. Any of you using IDE too?

[Gizmo]

No. I am using SATA2 hard drive + SATA DVD drive.

[DesktopMan]

XFX: Can you atleast try this? Install XP, install latest Marvell drivers, transfer data. It seems way too peculiar to be a hardware issue as it happens to more than just me.

Please!

[XFXTechSupport]

We did a clean install of XP 32 on a retail package to check, and it worked fine in our labs. Can anyone experiencing this problem PM me with their CPU, Memory, and hard drive configuration? As well as any additional add in cards used.

[bladexp]

I to have this problem, here is some detail of my setup.

XFX 7100/630i
E8400 3g 1333fsb
2 1G DDR2-800 (kingston)
Sata II HD
IDE DVDRW
fresh load XP PRO SP2 OEM
using intergrated video

XP loaded fine and loaded the drivers from the XFX CD less the nivida driver for nic. loaded the marvell Nic driver from the CD. When I try and download the system locks up and have to reset. Noticed that the bios sets timing for the memory as 5-4-4-17 but the SPD on the memory is 5-5-5-18. tried and set bios to SPD settings but no help so set bios timing to 6-6-6-18 and behold now can download w/o locking up. Have not verified that the download are not corrupt. I tried and put in a 8500GT and the system doen't lock up but it loses network connection ( can't go out on web or renew ip).
I have a 2nd board that is same setup but has all microsoft updates, office 2007, spybot, adaware 2007 and all the other drivers for the motherboard installed ( hd audio,hdmi audio). this one doesn't work with any memory timing when memory set to DDR2-800 but if you set it to DDR2-667 it does work. Also another fix for me was changing out the E8400 for a E2180 and the system works with the bios default timings for the memory. It seems this chipset is pretty unstable. I have also used some Jetway motherboards w/ this chipset and have also had unstable results. I hope the motherboard vendors can straighten this mess out with Nvidia. Its pretty slim pickings out there for 1333FSB motherbaords if you don't want Intel Chipsets on your board

********************************Update Info*********************************
Even though the downloads completes if you download more than one thing at a time your downdloaded files do get corrupt. Also tried a E6750 and no luck same results locks up on download. Want to clarify also w/ the E2180 was using DDR2-800 memory set as DDR2-800

[DesktopMan]

My specs:

XFX nForce-630i+GF7100, DDR2, m-ATX, Socket-775, DVI/HDMI/HDCP, PCI-Ex16
Corsair TWIN2X 6400 DDR2, 2048MB CL5 Kit w/two matched CM2X1024A-6400 Dimm's
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.67GHz 1333Mhz Socket LGA775, 4MB, BOXED
Western Digital 80gbyte IDE harddrive
No other add-in cards.

Seeing how *everything* works if you use another network card I'd start looking there :P

[DesktopMan]

I have ordered an identical motherboard and will swap it for the one that is faulty. If the error still happens I will be returning both. I will let you guys know how it turns out.

[Miker]

I have ordered an identical motherboard and will swap it for the one that is faulty. If the error still happens I will be returning both. I will let you guys know how it turns out.

If they both don't work you proved it is not a problem with the Mobo, only your network...

[DesktopMan]

No I haven't, I have in that particular case (if it happens) proven that something is wrong with this board.

You can't crash a computer with a network. If you could it would be devastating for the complete internet and intranet infrastructure. Bad packets are dropped, and although there have been denial of service possible on some cards this is an error with the card not with the network itself. It happens with a crossover cable, my gbit network and my 100 mbit network, and it does *not* happen with any other NICs I put in. That's pretty clear right there.

[Miker]

Let me reword that...

If you have 2 Mobos, and nether works, it means it is a compatibly problem with your network card or something else in your PC.

If this Mobo didn't work with network cards I am sure more people then just you would have this problem.

[DesktopMan]

The network adapter that crashes the system is the one *built into* the motherboard. You really should read the thread before commenting. Also noted in the thread, there are *no* other addin cards.

[Miker]

"I've tried a PCI network card instead, and without changing anything else everything works."

WOW, I miss-read half of this thread!

Ok, just use that PCI slot network, it will be better in the long run. Less chance of a power surge coming in the cat-5 and frying your Mobo. Also, I have had lots of problems with getting Ethernet to work on build-in network adapters.

[DesktopMan]

$40 pci express NIC card to make a $100 main board work is somewhat extreme. I don't keep defective hardware :P But we'll see when I get the second board.

[Miker]

$40 pci express NIC card to make a $100 main board work is somewhat extreme. I don't keep defective hardware :P But we'll see when I get the second board.

When I was on dial up I must've gone threw 15 modem cards. Learned never to use onboard for stuff that is plugged into the wall.

[DesktopMan]

Got my replacement board today, it also crashes the exact same way. Right now I'm considering it a driver issue, or possible bios issue. Will investigate further.

I've also tried the new drivers from Marvell released a few weeks ago, same crash.

[techman36]

Guys, this seems to be a chipset wide problem. I have the EVGA version of the 630i, we have found that setting your ram to 667 or lower fixes the network problem.

See this thread.

http://www.evga.com/forums/m.asp?m=249979

I'm currently suffering from 2 dead boards of this chipset with 88 boot codes (dead)

Hope that provides some insight, now if we could get Nvidia and the Manufacts to acknowledge this issue we would be much better off.

Techman

[mrkh]

I'm experiencing the same issue...my configuration is as follows

Intel Core 2 E8400
2 x 2GB GSkill DDR2 800
WD Caviar GP SATAII 1TB
Toshiba IDE DVDRW
Win XP SP2, 32bit
No PCI/PCIe cards

(Edit: Everything is at default timings, voltages and frequencies)

It appears that EVGA 630i boards are also affected by this issue - see the following links...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188021
http://forum.ncix.com/forums/index.php?mode=showthread&msg_id=1576239&threadid=1576239&forum=101&product_id=26645&msgcount=3&overclockid=0#msg1576239
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=239730&mpage=1��
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=244750&mpage=1&

From the last link, it appears that dropping RAM speed to 667 MHz may eliminate this issue - but obviously this is not a viable option for those of us who went to the expense of buying 800 MHz RAM.

(Edit: sorry techman36, I didn't mean to just repeat what you said - I had submitted my post already and it was waiting for approval by the moderator when yours appeared)

[DesktopMan]

I'm currently suffering from 2 dead boards of this chipset with 88 boot codes (dead)
Techman

Is this related to the network problems or did you add it as a side note?

I have two boards that crash, and I doubt very strongly that RMAing them will fix the problem. I will try setting the ram to 667 mhz when I get home.

XFX: Time to step up your testing game. You're doing a bad job if you can't replicate this error.

[mrkh]

Just an update - I tried dropping my RAM clock speed to 667 MHz and 500 MHz (for some reason it wouldn't POST at 400 MHz).

This didn't solve the problem, but it did seem to reduce the severity - I haven't yet encountered any system lock ups at 667 MHz and below, only data corruption (e.g. web page images corrupted) and interrupted downloads. Also, I did switch back to 800 MHz and confirmed that the lock ups still occur.

It's quite interesting that this problem seems to be affected by memory timings, because usually this would show up in memory tests or other memory intensive tasks . I wonder is it related to DMA transfers between the Marvell chipset and RAM?

[DesktopMan]

Update:

I also tried dropping my RAM to 667 MHz. I have checksummed 12 GByte of data so far, no errors as of yet. I will continue testing for corruption, but it seems to have fixed my problem. How exactly is this not a board problem XFX?

[Miker]

Sometimes RAM is just not compatible with said Mobo as said speeds.

[mrkh]

Sometimes RAM is just not compatible with said Mobo as said speeds.

Then why do we only see this problem with data transfer through the NIC, and not in other memory intensive situations or memtest86+ ?

[blukens]

New 680i LT from Tiger, I'm glad I paid for their extended return policy. I have Intel Duo-core at 2 ghz, 4 gig of 800 mhz ram, one SATA drive, One IDE drive and "trying" to run WinXP 64 bit OS.
I tried a PCI NIC, but 64 bit drivers are not to be found (old Kingston) I was hoping I could use the USB connection from my Moto SB4200 cable modem, same issue, no 64 bit drivers.
I read in another forum about IRQ conflicts, changed my SATA to another port, still no NIC. I'm going to get the Marvell drivers and see if they make a difference.

I expected better from NVidia, I guess they are too swamped...

[DesktopMan]

New 680i LT from Tiger

This is entirely unrelated to the current thread. Please keep on topic. I advice you to search the forums and/or make a seperate topic.

[Rexelpitlum]

Alright guys.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one having these problems with the onboard nic. I have jst purchased and built the following system and seem to be having the same issues that you are having.

XFX S775 nForce 630I/GeForce 7150 DDR2 MATX A L G
Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 2.66GHz 6M Cache S775 1333MHZ
OCZ Technology 2x2GB 240DIMM PC2-6400 Gold

I did a fresh install of win xp. I stay online for minutes after boot and then it drops the connection. Disabling then re-enabling the network port sometimes works but eventually it will hang and the only way to bring it back up is a system reset.

I hope XFX can resolve this issue quickly as it seems to be a major problem a lot of people are having.

I will be trying to drop my ram speed when i get home but it shouldn't be treated as a fix. XFX, help!

[Rexelpitlum]

Hi,
I've just noticed that this thread ended on the 22nd of March.

Can someone tell me if there was a solution to the Nic issues we're having?

Thanks in advance
Rex

[DesktopMan]

In my opinion we've given XFX all the information they have asked for. We have yet to hear back from them.

My board is still running OK at 667 MHz. I agree that this is *not* an acceptable fix, but at least the board will be usable until (eventually/maybe) XFX responds.

[Dragon_CPU]

The problem lies with that model board the 630i/7150 I have the 630i/7109 they are identical except for onboard gpu speeds I have run XP, Vista, and I OC as you can see in my SIG I have never had a problem with the nic on this model. There are lots of people with your same issue with that model board.

My advice if XFX would do it is to make them exchange that model u have for the 630i/7109

The difference in onboard is only 30mhz. 7150@630 and 7109@600

[ketan.sakariya@gmail.com]

My sys config is :

CPU : core2duo 3.0 GHz E8400
RAM : 2 GB 800 MHZ (Transcend)
MB : XFX 630i 7100.


system crashes while file or data transfer through onboard network card.

Did anyone get any solution now for this ? Or should I go for the replacement of the Board ?

[aandea]

CPU : core2duo E6759 FSB 1333MHz
RAM : 4 GB (2 x 2) 800 MHZ (Corsair)
MB : XFX 630i 7150.

Same network disconnect issues...

a few other thoughts
a) does it happen only for 1333 FSB CPUs ?
b) I will try the 667 RAM fix... will post a follow-up soon

[aandea]

I have a follow-up on my original post with the issue

I have dropped the memory speed from 800 MHz to to 667 MHz with the following results

(+) The network adapter works ok now. I have transfered over 100 Gb with no issues
(-) Bitter aftertaste (still deciding if I should return it or not)

[NoMoreBugs]

I have the identical problem with onboard NIC card in MG-630I-7109.

I have 10 equal computers. 5 works fine and other 5 have problems with onboard cards. They works fine with RTL8139 PCI NIC. The SO has been instaled in one of the computers and mirrored to the others.
Memtest86+ and MemScope don't find any problem on the memory.
The problem is not universal. As the configuration (hw and sw) are the same, the problem are some of the mobos. Not the chipset, the memory, etc.

[DesktopMan]

I have the identical problem with onboard NIC card in MG-630I-7109.

Are the ram chips exactly the same aswell? Timing and frequency

[mrkh]

In case any readers are just watching this thread, and not the whole XFX Motherboards forum, I just noticed this sticky thread (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23298) posted on Apr 23th, saying that a 630i BIOS update to fix the network problems was to be released on Apr 25th.

Unfortunately this BIOS update is nowhere to be found on the XFX website, even though it's now May 2nd.

[NoMoreBugs]

Yes. All the PC's have been bought at same time, at the same place, with the same components. The memories are all Kingston KVR800D2N5K2.