Gigabyte GA X38 DQ6 Blog

[supershanks]

Fairly decent instructions are given on page 16 of the manual.

1) Remove the 3 small screws from around the cpu area.
1

2

3


2) Unscrew the 2 x spring nuts on Northbridge.







3) Resecure Northbridge.
Insert the 2 spare bolts provided with the mobo into the underside as shown. Then insert and tighten up northbridge spring screws (as shown in 2) above.)

[supershanks]

When I first took this mobo out of the box i was struck by it's weight, so much so i weighed it

Weighing in at 1.125KG (about 2.5ibs.) it's substantial. By comparison the board i've removed Asus P5k Deluxe Wifi is 0.9kg.


It's not hard to see where the extra weight comes from:-
Not couloured allow but your actual copper


A routine task I always do with a new mobo is to remove the heatpipes and reapply thermal paste, to improve cooling.

Undoing the SB spring screws and releasing the plastic push throughs on the mossfet, releases the heatpipes


As you can see all of the blocks are well covered with Thermal Tape.
So all i did was resecure them

[supershanks]

Pictures are taken from the F5G Bios d.5/10/07

1) Main Menu


2) Standard Cmos Featues


3) Advanced Bios Features
Key OC settings here are configuring the CPU Options.


Hard Drive boot order use this sub menu, to select the drive (or raid) to boot from.


4) Integrated Peripherals


5) Power Management Setup


6) PnP/PCI Configurations


7) PCHealth Status

[supershanks]

Pictures are taken from the F5G Bios d.5/10/07


Robust Graphics Booster - helps to enhance the performance of the graphics chip and
memory.
C.I.A.2 Damn spy's get everywhere it's CPU Intelligent Accelerator 2 -

Disabled Disables the use of C.I.A.2. (Default)
Cruise Increases CPU frequency by 5% or 7% depending on CPU loading.
Sports Increases CPU frequency by 7% or 9% depending on CPU loading.
Racing Increases CPU frequency by 9% or 11% depending on CPU loading.
Turbo Increases CPU frequency by 15% or 17% depending on CPU loading.
Full Thrust Increases CPU frequency by 17% or 19% depending on CPU loading.

Nothing new just new name (well to me) if you want to play with it fine, i'll just be leaving it disabled & manually overclocking.

Performance Enhance Options Standard , Turbo and Extreme. Think these are like the Asus transaction booster. Will test later.

System Memory Multiplier Select ratio and base at which memory will run to FSB.
Options:-




THe straps are summarised below:-

[supershanks]

Memory Sub Timings & voltages



System Voltage Control - Can be Auto or Manual - On Auto BIOS automatically set the system voltages as required.

DDR2 OverVoltage Control - This is voltage over the Standard 1.8v DDR2 Spec. So if you want 2.2v then set DDR2 OverVoltage = 0.40v
Max overvoltage = 1.55v = 3.35v , more than enough to make your ram toasty


PCI-E OverVoltage, FSB OverVoltage Control & (G)MCH OverVoltage Control (MCH=NorthBridge ) all work in the same way. Increments are 0.05v

Some Settings are Hidden, CPU GTLREF1 Voltage Ratio & CPU GTLREF2 Voltage Ratio. To access these press [CTRL] + [F1] keys from the main menu.


Vcore CPU Voltage Control - Max of 2.35v gives plenty of room


CPU GTLREF1


CPU GTLREF2

[supershanks]

Base Camp established
CPU-Z Database (ID : 260619)

Prime run of 13hrs (we changed the clocks in the UK today Clocks Change Back An Hour so the 12hrs you see in shot = 13Hrs )

13Hr Prime Stable (blend) 9x400@ 2.66C = 8:6 = Mem = 1064 VC = 1.425v
Bios = F5H_BETA
Don't usually use everest for screenie, but CPU-Z couldn't get the 1600(400fsb)strap



Settings used:-

MB Intelligent Tweaker (MIT)
Robust Graphics Booster: TURBO
CPU Clock Ratio: 9x
CPU Host Clock Control: Enabled
CPU Host Frequency(Mhz) : 400
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) :105
C.I.A.2: Disabled
Performance Enhance : Standard - Will Raise next time:lol:
System Memory Multiplier 2.66D ( = FSBx1.33 (or 8:6 x ddr2 ) Base 400x4=1600
Memory Frequency(Mhz): 1064
DRAM Timing Selectable : Manual
Standard Timing ControlCAS Latency Time: : Auto  =5
DRAM RAS# to CAS# : Auto =7 (will tighten at 5)
DRAM RAS# Precharge : Auto = 7  (will tighten at 5)
Precharge Delay(tRAS) : 12
Advanced Timing Control
ACT to ACT Delay(tRRD) : Auto
Rank Write to READ Delay : Auto
Write To Precharge Delay : Auto
Refresh to ACT Delay : 35
Read To Precharge Delay  Auto: 
tRD : Auto
tRD Phase Adjustment : Auto
Command to #CS Timing: :2
Clock Driving and Skew Control
CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control : 1000
CPU Clock Skew Control : Normal 
(G)MCH Clock Skew Control : Normal
System Voltage Control 
DDR2 OverVoltage Control : 0.35 giving vdimm 2.15v (seems to overvolt looking at bios need to get mm out)
PCI-E OverVoltage Control :  0.2
FSB OverVoltage Control : 0.2
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control : 0.175
MCH Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Termination Voltage Control : Normal
CPU GTLREF1 Voltage* : Normal
CPU GTLREF2 Voltage* : Normal
CPU Voltage Control :1.425
Normal CPU Vcore : 1.2625

Advanced Bios Features
CPU Multi-Threading: Enabled
Limit CPUID Max to 3: Disabled
No-Execute Memory Protect: Disabled
CPU Enhanced Halt(CIE): Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor 2 : Enabled
CPU EIST Function: Disabled
Virtuaalization Technology: Disabled

Note: * Items are Hidden press 
[CTRL] + [F1] from the bios main menu to access.

It took a bit of playing aboput trying to guesstimate the vcore.
The 1.425 is based on my p5k bios setting 1.375v for the same clock + 0.0575 which was the droop i was seeing between bios & load on the x38, that gives 1.4325v, on a whim I ran just below that.

Intrerestingly enough the actual according to cpu-z & mbm was 1.376v
comparing this to Asus P5K @9x400 actual per cpu-z = 1.344v So I may leave it priming tonight at 1.40625v to see how that goes.

Update 29th
Reduced vcore & ran overnight, as i thought 1.40625vc has worked. When looking at the load vcore of 1.344v that's now the same as that shown on my p5k run so i'm happy.

Changes to Bios settings:-
1) vcore 1.425 to 1.40625
2) Performance Enhance : from Standard to Extreme
3)

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time: 5
DRAM RAS# to CAS# : Auto =7 (will tighten at 5)
DRAM RAS# Precharge : Auto = 7  (will tighten at 5)
Precharge Delay(tRAS) : 12
Advanced Timing Control
ACT to ACT Delay(tRRD) : 4
Rank Write to READ Delay : 4
Write To Precharge Delay : 8
Refresh to ACT Delay : 30
Read To Precharge Delay  4
tRD : 6
tRD Phase Adjustment : Auto
Command to #CS Timing: :2

VDroop
PQ6
Bios = 1.40625v
vcore idle = 1.392v
vcore load= 1.344v
vdroop 0.048v

Have read that increasing the PCI-E Overvoltage Control and / or FSB Overvoltage Control help reduce droop, i'll have a test and see if it does later.

9x400@2.66C Benches

[supershanks]

Learning about these bios settings , if anyone want's to lend a hand with any suggestions , please shout up
Thought i'd give this a quick run as i have a p5k run to compare it with.

CPU-Z Validation 9x450 X38

9x450@2.4B(5:6) 1080 vcore = 1.525v (bios) Bios F5H BETA


Ran this as a rough comparison to this
9x450 P5K Run (1.4875v VC

Settings:-

Bios F5H BETA
MB Intelligent Tweaker (MIT)
Robust Graphics Booster: Turbo
CPU Clock Ratio: 9x
CPU Host Clock Control: Enab
CPU Host Frequency(Mhz) :450
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) : 105
C.I.A.2: Disabled
Performance Enhance : TURBO
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) 2.4B 
Memory Frequency(Mhz): 1080
DRAM Timing Selectable : 5
Standard Timing ControlCAS Latency Time: : 5
DRAM RAS# to CAS# : 5
DRAM RAS# Precharge : 5
Precharge Delay(tRAS) : 12
Advanced Timing Control
ACT to ACT Delay(tRRD) : 3
Rank Write to READ Delay : 3
Write To Precharge Delay : 3
Refresh to ACT Delay : 30
Read To Precharge Delay :  8
tRD : Auto
tRD Phase Adjustment : Auto
Command to #CS Timing: : Auto
Clock Driving and Skew Control
CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control : 1000
CPU Clock Skew Control : Normal 
(G)MCH Clock Skew Control : Normal
System Voltage Control 
DDR2 OverVoltage Control : 0.40
PCI-E OverVoltage Control : 0.20
FSB OverVoltage Control : 0.20
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control : 0.175
MCH Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Termination Voltage Control : Normal
CPU GTLREF1 Voltage* : Normal
CPU GTLREF2 Voltage* : Normal
CPU Voltage Control : 1.525v
Normal CPU Vcore : 1..2625

Advanced Bios Features
CPU Multi-Threading
Limit CPUID Max to 3
No-Execute Memory Protect
CPU Enhanced Halt(CIE)
CPU Thermal Monitor 2
CPU EIST Function
Virtuaalization Technology

Note: * Items are Hidden press 
[CTRL] + [F1] from the bios main menu to access.

[supershanks]

CPU-Z Validation 3720 MHz (465x8@1:1) ) Max FSB so far still a lot to test

3720 = 8x465@2b(1:1) 930 4,4,4,12 1.45vc (Bios)


Benches

Bios F5H

MB Intelligent Tweaker (MIT)
Robust Graphics Booster: Turbo
CPU Clock Ratio: 8
CPU Host Clock Control: Enabled
CPU Host Frequency(Mhz) : 465
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) :105
C.I.A.2: Disabled
Performance Enhance : Extreme
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) 2.00B (1:1)
Memory Frequency(Mhz): 930
DRAM Timing Selectable : Manual  
Standard Timing ControlCAS Latency Time: : 4
DRAM RAS# to CAS# :4
DRAM RAS# Precharge :4
Precharge Delay(tRAS) :12
Advanced Timing Control 
ACT to ACT Delay(tRRD) :3
Rank Write to READ Delay :3
Write To Precharge Delay :6
Refresh to ACT Delay : 35
Read To Precharge Delay 3: 
tRD :Auto
tRD Phase Adjustment :Auto
Command to #CS Timing: :2T
Clock Driving and Skew Control
CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control : 1000
CPU Clock Skew Control : Normal 
(G)MCH Clock Skew Control : Normal
System Voltage Control Manual
DDR2 OverVoltage Control : 0.4
PCI-E OverVoltage Control : 0.35
FSB OverVoltage Control : 0.2
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control :0.175
MCH Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Termination Voltage Control : Normal
CPU GTLREF1 Voltage* : Normal
CPU GTLREF2 Voltage* : Normal
CPU Voltage Control : 1.45
Normal CPU Vcore : 1.2625

Advanced Bios Features
CPU Multi-Threading : Enabled
Limit CPUID Max to 3: Disabled
No-Execute Memory Protect: Disabled
CPU Enhanced Halt(CIE): Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor 2: Disabled
CPU EIST Function: Disabled
Virtuaalization Technology: Disabled

Note: * Items are Hidden press [CTRL] + [F1] from the bios main menu to access.

Lower Fsb doesn't seem to be a problem
9x420@2.66C = 1117 5,5,5,12 Vcore can probably be turned down a notch.

[supershanks]

Just got the mix right on the memory timings & went from 460 through to 480 FSB , using an 8 multi. Xp blue screened on loading at 485.

8x480@2=960 4,4,4,12 v2.2 Vcore 1.425(bios)

Think this is amongst the highest FSBs i've had on my Commando and P5K Deluxe.


One thing I must mention is this board's overclocking recovery. It behaves extremely well, believe me it's been tested thoroughly
If it won't post it reposts using the spd memory settings , disabling CPU Host Clock Control and System Memory Multiplier. You can tell by the sounds if you've scored

I've only used the cmos jumper once, after flashing the bios last friday, that was probably not required, but what ya gonna do

This isn't prime stable yet, think i'll try a bit higher before looking at stability What do you reckon??

[RoundHousePictures]

A another beautiful review This forums just keeps on getting better & better

I know it's early but any idea what's a better board GIGABYTE GA-X38-DQ6 or the Maximus Formula "SE" for gaming & editing?
ThankS