Gigabyte GA X38 DQ6 Blog

[taal]

Originally Posted by supershanks

Hi guys,
welcome to the forums

@taal
Not sure about the ram use 2x1gb, but both firms produce good performance memory products, so either will be fine.
what are you planning to cool your 8400 with , there are heat issues at the moment, they run somewhat hotter than expected, or the CPu's internal core sensor is screwed.
I always plan that a psu will last 2 or 3 builds, so usually get a psu with a bit more power than i need , giving room to grow
Corsair make good PSUs if you can manage it i'd go for a higher wattage, if not it should be fine.

luck with the build

Thanks supershanks!

Using that setup I'd be limited to only 4GB though, I'd like to have 8. I've read that there have been problems using all 4 mem slots with PC2-8000, PC2-64000 seems to be fine. Has anyone reported any problems using 8GB?

In terms of cooling I'm looking at Thermaltake V1, if it can fit in my case :-).

[supershanks]

Like i just said to ray cant really help you with >2Gb memory issues as i've not done it, sorry.

Not seen the Thermaltake V1 looks different

Let us know how it goes m8
Luck

[taal]

Originally Posted by supershanks

Like i just said to ray cant really help you with >2Gb memory issues as i've not done it, sorry.

Let us know how it goes m8
Luck

Thanks!, I'll make sure to take a few pics as well :-)

A few questions before it arrives ... I can't wait (This will be my second build only :-D ... technically speaking)

1) I don't have a pre E8400 Intel Socket 775 CPU on hand, this should probably post just fine on the default bios version?
Then should I, using the usb bios update thingie update the bios?, or install VISTA first.

2) Regarding the bios, what version do you think I should go with, F7 or F6?

3) The only bios setting it looks like I'll need to change to get it working (basically) is making sure the RAM Voltage is @ 2.2V which is what my ram is rated at (I've seen some problems where the default is 1.8V) ... this might not even be needed.

Any other bios settings to watch out for?

Thanks!

[taal]

Sorry, one more question.

Can you use PC28000 i.e. DDR21000MHz instead of PC28500 i.e. DD21066MHz with the board?

I take it you don't have to use ram from the list they provide ... it's very limited, and I noticed in many sigs most do not use memory from that list.

Thanks!

[Zenoth]

I have new information concerning BIOS F8b.

According to Station-Drivers (they're back!), the changelog is the following: -http://www.station-drivers.com/page/gigabyte/ga-x38-dq6.htm

1. Features Fine CPU Clock Ratio for 45nm [+0.0][+0.5]
2. CPU GTLREF1 Voltage Ratio jetzt [Auto] (X3

With that said, there's already a newer revision out, BIOS F8c: -http://rapidshare.de/files/38503057/x38dq6f8c.exe.html

Some users are testing it (F8c) on that forum: -http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=156346&page=66 Testing BIOS F8

[supershanks]

Can you use PC28000 i.e. DDR21000MHz instead of PC28500 i.e. DD21066MHz with the board?

I take it you don't have to use ram from the list they provide ... it's very limited, and I noticed in many sigs most do not use memory from that list.

Yes will run fine, though probably not as fast
All motherboard manufacturers have a recommended ram list , but tio be honest their only ever going to be very rough giuides givedn thase variery & brands of memory , it's impossible to do a thorough test. Ocassionally you get a particular brand that doesn't oplay nice, but these days's their few and far between.

Can't think of a time I have used ram that was on the list , certainly not consciously.


luck

Edit:
Zenoth added link to the xtreme thread , but the rapidshare link is just to the promotion/intrroduction screen.

luck

[capitolray]

supershanks,

It's all over the web, 4x1 Crucial or others wont hack this mobo without downsizing speed to 800 on the memory.

I'll be getting my 2 GB of Crucial Ballistix back soon. Let's see if the 4GB amped up settings (you suggested) will handle it.

A BUNCH of ppl. have settled for the 800 and 4GB. That isn't right!! Skew controls in here man...

I'll give you my 2 GB Crucials to figure this one out, if you think it's worth the trouble.

And Clunk, you have any opinion on this? BTW most folks are at F7 BIOS.

Ray

[supershanks]

I'll give you my 2 GB Crucials to figure this one out, if you think it's worth the trouble.

Sorry ray, can't help as i've sold the board. The boards you've seen me review so far have all been supplied by myself so I don't really get chance to hold mire than 2 boards. I still think though that as most of the issues on this board are memory orientated , tRD particularly, that may be the place to look.

Yep Skew control might help , but I never found much benefit from it, that shouldn't preclude you trying it or having success with it.

luck

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by capitolray

supershanks,

It's all over the web, 4x1 Crucial or others wont hack this mobo without downsizing speed to 800 on the memory.

I'll be getting my 2 GB of Crucial Ballistix back soon. Let's see if the 4GB amped up settings (you suggested) will handle it.

A BUNCH of ppl. have settled for the 800 and 4GB. That isn't right!! Skew controls in here man...

I'll give you my 2 GB Crucials to figure this one out, if you think it's worth the trouble.

And Clunk, you have any opinion on this? BTW most folks are at F7 BIOS.

Ray

I haven't used this board, so I would just be guessing, sorry

My *guess* is, wasn't there some kind of subtiming issue that fixed some memory problems? Maybe that needs looking at?

A touch of extra voltage to the NB perhaps?

Are you absolutely 100% sure that all of the sticks are ok?

Memory voltage set to 2.2v?

Also, you do know that there is no JEDEC spec for 1066Mhz?, so you will always have to set that manually anyway - again, I'm not sure if this is related to your problem, just trying to give you suggestions

[capitolray]

Originally Posted by supershanks

I still think though that as most of the issues on this board are memory orientated , tRD particularly, that may be the place to look.

Yep Skew control might help , but I never found much benefit from it, that shouldn't preclude you trying it or having success with it.

luck

supershanks,

I can't thank you enough for your help already. You have saved me and a lot of other ppl. a lot of setup time and on to gaming or benching or whatever we are building for.

I titled this reply as we know it will show up on our friends Google and and Yahoo/Microsoft? LOL

The best thing that I think everyone should consider is that you all use your own resources and don't rely on hand-picked and engineering samples to do your work.

I will hope that the community of users with the GA-X38-DQ6 will look at your posts to all of us and maybe cooperative work and feedback to Gigabyte will yield a solution for 4x1GB and just maybe it is exactly as you say, a memory related problem (overall settings/tRD), and not just Gigabytes not quite stepping up to the plate on this one.

Ray