Intel Memory Translator Hub (MTH) Reboot Issue

Intel^® Memory Translator Hub (MTH) Reboot Issue
May 2000

Intel has found that some motherboards using the MTH (memory translator hub), such as the 820, may be sensitive to system noise under extreme conditions, and this issue may manifest itself in intermittent system reboots or system hangs during operation. This noise sensitivity may result in data loss and/or corruption. Intel has placed the MTH component and an Intel motherboard that uses the part on shipment hold.

Introduced in systems in November 1999, the memory translator hub is a component that enables SDRAM. The MTH component is used on some boards and in some systems using the Intel^® 820 Chipset, including the Intel^® CC820 Desktop Board Family with SDRAM. This issue does not impact boards or systems using the Intel 820 Chipset with RDRAM* memory.

Does this issue affect boards/systems using the Intel^® 820 Chipsets with RDRAM* memory?
No, this issue only involves boards/systems using the MTH component with SDRAM memory. The Intel^® 820 Chipset was developed for use with RDRAM* memory, and RDRAM-based boards/systems are not affected by this issue.

Does this issue cause data corruption?
This noise sensitivity could potentially result in data corruption. As a result, Intel has placed the MTH component and an Intel motherboard that uses the part on shipment hold.

What is Intel recommending for end-users to do?
Computer users who want to know if their board/system uses an MTH component can contact their computer maker or place of purchase for more information, or they can download a utility to determine if they have a board/system containing the MTH component.

What do you mean when you say, “some boards/systems” may be affected by this issue?
The issue is intermittent and has only been observed on some, not all, boards/systems that have an MTH component. The noise sensitivity that could cause this issue is highly dependent on the noise interaction between the board/system and the MTH component and, in some cases, may cause a reboot or hang.

Is there going to be another version of the MTH component for use with the Intel^® 820 Chipset?
Intel has adjusted the design of the MTH component to address this issue by improving the noise immunity of the part. Intel will do testing/validation with this new version of the MTH. The Intel 820 and Intel 820E Chipsets will have a new version of the MTH available for boards/systems in Q3.

Is this the same issue that was reported on the MTH in late March?
The previous MTH component issue was related to intermittent errors on the SDRAM memory subsystem when running a specific synthetic memory stress test. That issue was fixed by applying a pull-down or pull-up resistor on SCLKA.

How was the MTH reboot/hang issue first discovered?
A customer informed Intel that intermittent system reboots and system hangs had been observed on a small number of Intel 820 Chipset-based desktop boards with the Intel MTH component. The boards were sent to Intel for investigation and the issue was duplicated at Intel.

Intel^® Memory Translator Hub (MTH) Reboot Issue
Intel^® MTH ID Utility (Windows* Version).

The Intel^® MTH ID Utility has been designed to allow any user with an Intel processor based-system to test for the presence of a Memory Translator Hub (MTH) component on your system. If an MTH component is detected, the utility will report the presence of MTH, the manufacturer of the motherboard, and the motherboard name.

Note: This utility will not run properly from a command prompt. Please run it by double clicking the desktop icon.

System Requirements
The Intel MTH ID Utility is designed to run on an Intel processor based-system. The following Windows* operating systems are supported:

• Windows* 95 (OSR 2.5 and higher)
• Windows 98
• Windows 2000
• Windows NT* 4.0 (Service Pack 4 and higher)

If you do not have one of the supported operating systems, we recommend that you download the DOS version of the utility.

Installation Instructions
Windows NT* and Windows* 2000 users must have administrative rights to their systems to successfully install this utility.

1. Download imthidu_w.exe to your hard drive
2. Double click on the file
3. The Install Shield* program will install the utility
4. Once the Install Shield program is finished, an icon will be placed on your desktop
5. Double click on the icon to run the utility

Intel^® Memory Translator Hub (MTH) Reboot Issue
Intel^® MTH ID Utility (DOS Version)

The Intel^® MTH ID Utility has been designed to allow any user with an Intel processor based-system to test for the presence of a Memory Translator Hub (MTH) component on your system. This DOS version of the utility is intended to be used only by creating a bootable diskette.

Note: This utility will not run properly from a DOS command prompt. It must be run as a boot disk.

System Requirements
The Intel MTH ID Utility is designed to run on an Intel processor based-system in a non-Windows* environment.

Installation Instructions
In order to run this utility, you must first create a system boot diskette. If you need instructions for help in creating a system boot diskette, please see Creating a System Boot Diskette For Windows 95 or Creating a System Boot Disk For Windows 98.

1. Create a MS-DOS bootable diskette.
2. Copy the downloaded file, mtd_id.exe to the diskette
3. Boot the system using this diskette
4. At the command prompt, type mth_id and run the program
5. Read the software license agreement, displayed the first time only. Then select ‘y’ to accept the conditions of usage
6. Select the language of your choice (0 through 4)

Intel^® Memory Translator Hub (MTH) Reboot Issue
Am I Affected?

If your system has a Memory Translator Hub present, you may be affected by this issue. Since the MTH was not introduced until November of 1999, systems purchased before this time should not be affected.

Intel^® MTH ID Utility
Intel has created a utility that will allow users to detect the presence of an MTH controller on their system. The Windows* version of the utility is designed to operate on Windows 95/98/2000 and Windows NT* 4.0. Intel has also developed a DOS based version of the utility that can be used to test systems in non-Windows environments.

Intel MTH ID Utility (Windows* version)
Intel MTH ID Utility (DOS version)

Follow the instructions provided with this utility to determine if an MTH is present on your system. If an MTH is not detected on your system, then you will not be affected by this issue.

What To Do If An MTH Is Detected
If an MTH is present on your system, you may be affected by this issue. You will need to contact your place of purchase for support, for they are more familiar with the configuration of your system and would be best informed on how to help you.

If you are using a system with an Intel^® CC820 Desktop Board installed and you would like a refund or replacement for the Intel CC820 Desktop Board, please contact your place of purchase for information. The refund is the most expedient option. The replacement option will include an Intel® VC820 Desktop Board and 128MB of RDRAM. Details of replacement availability will be communicated to your place of purchase in the near future.

If your motherboard is from a manufacturer other than Intel, and it utilizes an MTH component, please contact your place of purchase for more information.

Given that this issue has just recently come to light, it’s possible that your place of purchase is still developing their support processes and getting full details to their customer support/tech support centers. We suggest you wait a few days to give them time to finalize their support schedule and training.

This data courtesy of the Intel Corporation, all rights reserved.

Notice: Intel®, Pentium®, Celeron® are trademarks of the Intel Corporation. Windows® 95, Windows® 98, Windows® NT, Windows® 2000 and Microsoft® Office are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

*These are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.