Foxconn Mars Living Review

[supershanks]

First stability test revisits the 24/7 clocks from the X38 boards.
CPU-Z Validation 8x450

8Hr Prime
Click to Enlarge



Benches
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3dMark06 = 12760

VDroop (PerAegis)
Idle....1.42v
Load..1.38v
Droop 0.04v

Comparison :-
Abit IX38 QuadGT

Bios Settings

Foxconn Mars    

Gladiator BIOS    
CPU Features - Sub Menu    
EIST Function.........................Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal...................Disabled
C1E Function...........................Disabled
Execute Disable Bit...................Disabled
Virtualization Technology...........Disabled
Frequency Unlimit.....................Disabled
Core Multi Proceessing..............Enabled
Memory Timing Config - Sub Menu    
Dram Timing Selectable    
Cas  Latency Time (tCL)............. 5    
Ras# to Cas# Delay (tRCD).........  5  
Ras# Precharge (tRP)................  5  
Precharge delay (tRAS)..............  10  
Write to Precharge (tWR)...........  4  
Row Refresh Cycle (tRFC)...........  30 
Write to Read Delay (tWTR)........  4  
Row to Row Delay (tRRD)    .......... 4
Read to Precharge (tRTP)...........  12  
Fast Chip Select.......................    Auto
Clock Per Command...................    2T
Memory Channel0 DLL Adjust....... Auto   
Memory Channel1 DLL Adjust....... Auto    
Refresh Count Adjust................. Auto
Performance Level....................  Auto
All Voltage Control -Sub Menu    
CPU Voltage Multiplier............... 1.0
CPU Voltage Setting..................1.4125v    
Target CPU Voltage...................1.4125v    
Dram Voltage Setting.................2.1600v    
NB Voltage Setting....................1.5000v    
CPU VTT Voltage Setting    ..........1.2750.v
SB Voltage Setting....................1.5380v    
    
Overclock Phase Select    Manual O.C.
CPU Clock Ratio Unlock...............Enabled
CPU Clock Ratio    ....................... 8
CPU N/2 Ratio.......................... Disabled
Target CPU Core Speed............. 3,600Mhz
CPU Clock............................... 450 Mhz
CPU Clock v Memory Speed.......    1:1.40
System Memory Speed............    1,080 Mhz
PCI Express Clock...................  105Mhz
PCI Clock..............................33.33 Mhz
    
Auto Detect PCI Clock    Enabled
Spread Spectrum    Disabled
Over Clock Recovery    Enabled

[supershanks]

I've been running 3760 8x470 1:1.20 24Hrs Prime Stable on the abit for almost 2 months now.

Whilst the Mars will post & bench on that, so far can't get it stable.
Have got a strange glitch in bios at the moment which i've reffered back to foxconn.

Running my Q6600 Go I'm getting a problem with Half Multilplier
This happens with both G29 & G30 Beta Bios.

As you can see from the pic the 8.5 multi is selected giving 8.5x 470 =3995 , but there is no CPU N/2 Ratio line available to disable the half multi.
Correct setting should be 8x470 =3760

[lokeey]

is it me, or does this board look very similar to the gigabyte ga-x38-dq6 board?

[supershanks]

It feels very similar in build qiuality which is on apar with the DQ6. main difference is the gypsy caravan on the NB

So far doesn't overclock as well as the gigabyte, but it's early days & I've not been playing long

[Nomad]

A very nice comprehensive review I am really interested in buying this board since it has everything I was looking for. What sort of stable overclock should I expect on my Q6600?

What does the x38 version offer over the p35?

My main use for this rig will be simply gaming so I do not really need a big overclock.

Great Site btw

[supershanks]

Hi Nomad,
Welcome to the forum
Well as you saw earlier 8x450 1.4125vc 1:1.20 1080Mhz was pretty painless & is prime stable. 9x400 should also be doable, it really depends on your ram rating, which offers the best option.

The X38 version is a hybrid. Foxconn X38A It can run DDR2 using 4 slots , but also has 2 DDr3 slots, giving you the option of running either DDr2 or DDR3.
That may be useful, in preserving the investment in your motherboard, but is usually at the expense of performance.

Just Gaming will a decent Overclock will fit the Mars nicely.

luck

[supershanks]

Since getting the board I've had some issues with a hard drive plugged into the esata ports disappearing occasionally.
I have also seen a message flashing across the boot/post screen :-

By disabling Audio then jmicron controller in bios I narrowed the issue to latter.
This was confirmed by checking the driver detail in device manager where the vendor and device IDs are the same.


Have got a support request in with Foxconn today.

[Ace-a-Rue]

Originally Posted by supershanks

yep it's a damn well built board. I must admit until i got the board , saw the fan & tunnel on the NB I hadn't realised quite how clever it was. Know what you mean about a wagon train. It reminds me of those old gypsy caravans


Like these - Wagon of the month must be the Mars

yep P35 v X38 comparisons will be interesting with this, Watch this space for winner

that NB heatsink looks like a farmers barn!

[Ace-a-Rue]

hey luck, i was wondering about the Foxconn X38A which has 6 dimm slots...it can work either with 8gb of ddr-2 or 4gb of ddr3...the price is about $230 USD.

if i were to buy it, i would buy ddr-3 along with it...it would just be a stepping stone to the X48; although some makers are going to make ddr2 versions of the X48.

[supershanks]

Hi Ace,
Yep I saw the X48A but thought with it supporting both that performance might not be as good in either if that makes sense. So I thought i'd give this a try. As far as X48 goes I had thought the Blackops was looking good., so thought i'd try it's little brother out.

It may be that both have a way to go at the minute.
1) The mars is a great board but the bios is frustrating being very coarse voltage wise see
Gladiator Bios- (2of3)
Gladiator Bios (3of3)
AS you can see the voltage increments are about x2 the sixze of the dDFI for example.

Clocking wise i've had 3.6k stable & managed a bunch of overclocks >3.6k , non of them more than OCCT stable at this stage. All require surprisingly high NB violts.

2) The Foxconnn X48 Blackopps seems Now appears to have the wagon train Cooler but without the heatpipes. Blackopps Pictures of BlackOPS X48 - From Foxconn ForumChannel The site is a bit like the Asus support forum, bobbins speed & availabilty.

The wagon train cooler whilst good, is too high to allow a thermalright extreme 120 to be mounted with fans blowing to rear of the case. Someone on the Foxconn forum suggested the wagon roof comes off, though he'd not tried it and niether have I yet. So it doesn't sound promising.