DFI LT X48-T2R Lanparty Living Review.

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Test Set Up.

Here is the list of all the parts, in no particular order, backups/alternatives in red.

• CPU - Q6600 G0/E8400 Wolfdale/Q6600 G0 (replacement).
• RAM - Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 2x1GiB/Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2-8500 2x1GiB/Geil 2x2GiB PC2-6400 Black Dragon.
• Cooling - Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme/LittleDevil's Single Stage Phase Unit.
• Graphics - 8800GTX/Nvidia 6200 Generic.
• PSU - Corsair HX620W

The system will be built up on my desk on a box as per usual.


Next, The Genie BIOS....

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The Genie BIOS.

The BIOS is very similar to the X38 BIOS.

Please also see the DFI BIOS guide for further explanations on what does what - And also check out the C2D Overclocking Guide For Beginners - DFI Add-On

You can also download the latest Beta BIOS from here, or the latest final release BIOS from here - Please note that using a Beta BIOS may invalidate your warranty.

Genie BIOS Settings Main Page.



CPU Feature.



DRAM Timings Top.



DRAM Timings Bottom.



Clock Setting Fine Delay - Top.



Clock Setting Fine Delay - Bottom.

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Read Delay Phase Adjust.



DRAM Timings.



Voltage Settings - Main Page.



CPU VID Control.



CPU VID Special Add.

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DRAM Voltage Control.



SB Core CPU PLL Voltage.



NB Core Voltage.



CPU VTT Voltage.



VCore Droop Control.



Clockgen Voltage Control.

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GTL+ Buffers Strength.



Host Slew Rate.



GTL REF Voltage Control.



CPU GTL 1/2 Ref Volt.



CPU GTL 0/3 Ref Volt.



North Bridge GTL Ref Volt.

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Genie BIOS Template.

CPU Feature
Thermal Management Control: Disabled
PPM(EIST) Mode: Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
CIE Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled
Core Multi-Processing: Enabled

Exist Setup Shutdown: Mode 2
Shutdown after AC Loss: Disabled
CLOCK VC0 divider: AUTO
CPU Clock Ratio Unlock: Enabled
CPU Clock Ratio:
Target CPU Clock:
CPU Clock:
Boot Up Clock:
DRAM Speed:
Target DRAM Speed:
PCIE Clock: 100mhz
PCIE Slot Config: 1X 1X

CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled

Voltage Settings
CPU ViD Control:
CPU VID Special Add:
DRAM Voltage Control:
SB Core/CPU PLL Voltage:
NB Core Voltage:
CPU VTT Voltage:
Vcore Droop Control: Enabled
Clockgen Voltage Control: 3.45v
GTL+ Buffers Strength: Strong
Host Slew Rate: Weak
GTL REF Voltage Control: Disable
x CPU GTL1/3 REF Volt: 110
x CPU GTL 0/2 REF Volt: 110
x North Bridge GTL REF Volt: 110

DRAM Timing
Enhance Data transmitting: AUTO
Enhance Addressing: AUTO
T2 Dispatch: Disabled

Clock Setting Fine Delay
Ch1 Clock Crossing Setting: AUTO
DIMM 1 Clock fine delay: Current
DIMM 2 Clock fine delay: Current
Ch 1 Command fine delay: Current
Ch 1 Control fine delay: Current


Ch2 Clock Crossing Setting: AUTO
DIMM 3 Clock fine delay: Current
DIMM 4 Clock fine delay: Current
Ch 2 Command fine delay: Current
Ch 2 Control fine delay: Current

Ch1Ch2 CommonClock Setting: Auto

Ch1 RDCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch1 WRCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch1 Command to CS Delay: Auto

Ch2 RDCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch2 WRCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch2 Command to CS Delay: Auto

CAS Latency Time (tCL):
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD):
RAS# Precharge (tRP):
Precharge Delay (tRAS):
All Precharge to Act: AUTO
REF to ACT Delay (tRFC): AUTO
Performance LVL (Read Delay) (tRD): AUTO

Read delay phase adjust: Enter

Ch1 Read delay phase (4~0)
Channel 1 Phase 0 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 1 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 2 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 3 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 4 Pull-In: Auto

Ch2 Read delay phase (4~0)
Channel 2 Phase 0 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 1 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 2 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 3 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 4 Pull-In: Auto

MCH ODT Latency: AUTO
Write to PRE Delay (tWR): AUTO
Rank Write to Read (tWTR): AUTO
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD): AUTO
Read to Write Delay (tRDWR): AUTO
Ranks Write to Write (tWRWR): AUTO
Ranks Read to Read (tRDRD): AUTO
Ranks Write to Read (tWRRD): AUTO
Read CAS# Precharge (tRTP): AUTO
ALL PRE to Refresh: AUTO

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Hard Disk Performance.


I'm using a single Western Digital Raptor 74GB 16MB Cache Hard Drive, connected to the Intel SATA sockets.

SiSoft Sandra 2007 Hard disk Benchmark.

• 76 MB/s

HDTune.

• 71.7 MB/s
• 8.2ms Access Time

HDTach Quick Bench - 8MB Zones.

• 75.5 MB/s
• 8.2ms Access Time

HDTach Long Bench - 32MB Zones.

• 75.5 MB/s
• 8.1ms Access Time

From these tests we can see that the disk performance is fine and pretty much as expected. Some tests are fractionally slower than the X38 model, but the amount is negligible and could be caused by numerous factors, so not worth worrying about.

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A Few Initial Thoughts And First Overclock.

The board setup was completely fuss free and it fired up first time with no problems.

I'm going to start with;

• Q6600 G0
  
• 2x1GB Ballistix Tracer D9 (Green slots - these proved to have better stability for 2x1GB DIMMS on the X38 for me).
• 8800GT
• Thermalright Ultra Extreme 120
• Corsair HX620
• Raptor 74GB 16MB Cache.

I'm going to do the air cooling first again, and then the phase later.

Once again the build quality is excellent - Nothing more to say about that, you'll just have to take my word for it

One of the things that impressed me about the X38 version was that I was able to achieve some relatively high overclocks at lower voltages than previously possible on any other 775 boards that I've used.

One thing I noticed is that the NorthBridge core voltage is slightly higher at default than the X38 (1.205v vs 1.211v). This may mean a slightly higher NB temp, but not by much.

Keeping that in mind, my first overclock was to be 400x9 and the aim was to get Wprime 1024M/OCCT/Superpi 32M stable at less voltage than I managed on the X38 (1.3256v) - Doable?

Yes, it is doable!

400x9 3600Mhz 1.31v 800Mhz RAM - All voltage settings at default apart from the NB voltage at 1.35v and DRAM voltage at 2.19v.





CPU Feature
Thermal Management Control: Disabled
PPM(EIST) Mode: Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
CIE Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled
Core Multi-Processing: Enabled

Exist Setup Shutdown: Mode 2
Shutdown after AC Loss: Disabled
CLOCK VC0 divider: AUTO
CPU Clock Ratio Unlock: Enabled
CPU Clock Ratio: 9 X
Target CPU Clock: 3600Mhz
CPU Clock: 400
Boot Up Clock: AUTO
DRAM Speed: 400/800
Target DRAM Speed: 800Mhz
PCIE Clock: 100mhz
PCIE Slot Config: 1X 1X

CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled

Voltage Settings
CPU VID Control: 1.31v
CPU VID Special Add: AUTO
DRAM Voltage Control: 2.19v
SB Core/CPU PLL Voltage: 1.51v
NB Core Voltage: 1.35v
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.211v
Vcore Droop Control: Enabled
Clockgen Voltage Control: 3.45v
GTL+ Buffers Strength: Strong
Host Slew Rate: Weak
GTL REF Voltage Control: Disabled - Not needed yet.
x CPU GTL1/3 REF Volt: 110
x CPU GTL 0/2 REF Volt: 110
x North Bridge GTL REF Volt: 110

DRAM Timing
Enhance Data transmitting: AUTO
Enhance Addressing: AUTO
T2 Dispatch: Disabled

Clock Setting Fine Delay
Ch1 Clock Crossing Setting: AUTO
DIMM 1 Clock fine delay: Current
DIMM 2 Clock fine delay: Current
Ch 1 Command fine delay: Current
Ch 1 Control fine delay: Current


Ch2 Clock Crossing Setting: AUTO
DIMM 3 Clock fine delay: Current
DIMM 4 Clock fine delay: Current
Ch 2 Command fine delay: Current
Ch 2 Control fine delay: Current

Ch1Ch2 CommonClock Setting: Auto

Ch1 RDCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch1 WRCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch1 Command to CS Delay: Auto

Ch2 RDCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch2 WRCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch2 Command to CS Delay: Auto

CAS Latency Time (tCL): 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD): 5
RAS# Precharge (tRP): 5
Precharge Delay (tRAS): 15
All Precharge to Act: AUTO
REF to ACT Delay (tRFC): AUTO
Performance LVL (Read Delay) (tRD): AUTO

Read delay phase adjust: Enter

Ch1 Read delay phase (4~0)
Channel 1 Phase 0 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 1 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 2 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 3 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 4 Pull-In: Auto

Ch2 Read delay phase (4~0)
Channel 2 Phase 0 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 1 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 2 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 3 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 4 Pull-In: Auto

MCH ODT Latency: AUTO
Write to PRE Delay (tWR): AUTO
Rank Write to Read (tWTR): AUTO
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD): AUTO
Read to Write Delay (tRDWR): AUTO
Ranks Write to Write (tWRWR): AUTO
Ranks Read to Read (tRDRD): AUTO
Ranks Write to Read (tWRRD): AUTO
Read CAS# Precharge (tRTP): AUTO
ALL PRE to Refresh: AUTO

I couldn't go any higher at this voltage.

Admittedly 0.015v isn't a huge amount, but it's an amount that I wasn't able to do on the X38.

More to follow....

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First Overclocks Continued.

410x9 3690Mhz 1.33v 820Mhz RAM



Click The Image For Full Size.


420x9 3780Mhz 1.4v 840Mhz RAM



Click The Images For Full Size.



430x9 3870Mhz 1.45v 860Mhz RAM



Click The Images For Full Size.



At this point onwards, the voltage starts to go sharply upwards and the Thermalright cooler starts to lose control slightly and instability sets in. I was seeing temps of 62c, so as we have matched the X38 clock for clock, I have decided to move onto the RAM testing until I fit the phase unit in a couple of days time, but I think it's safe to say that we are at this CPUs stable limit on air cooling.

I also found something interesting while testing that may be old news to long term DFI fans...

I had noticed that the Vcore set in the BIOS, let's say 1.38v showed up as 1.4*v in almost all applications, and it was only when I was looking through the BIOS that I realised that the Special VID setting is at auto and must be adding voltage automatically (hence the AUTO duh!), so I'm doing an experiment with it and I'll post my findings later

Next up, RAM testing.....

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First Minor Problem [Fixed!] & Thoughts on x64 Vista Installation!

I had started to test the RAM and I kept getting the system hard locking when I was opening Everest Ultimate.

I was using version 4.20, but the strange thing was that it had worked once or twice so far, but then refused to open at all.

Version 4.50 of Everest was installed and then I got an error telling me that I was using an unknown motherboard and it wasn't supported - great!

DFI say that version 4.20 worked for them, but they are going to look into it, I have also submitted a report to Lavalys to see if they can fix it.

I will update this part as soon as I hear anything

Update: I managed to grab a beta version of Everest and that has cured my problem - the bottom line here is, if you are using version 4.20 and you are getting crashes when it loads, you need to update!

Vista Installation.

I also took the time to do a fresh install of Vista Home Premium x64 on a separate Samsung 320GB SATA II hard drive.

(If you don't want to read my waffling on about the pitfalls of Vista, skip the blue text )

Admittedly, I don't like vista much - there, that's that out of the way using a Vista upgrade version, so two installs are needed, and once done, you get a retail license.

So, I install Vista on its own 30GB partition, all goes smoothly, but it does take rather a long time to install, but on the plus side, I didn't have to use any install discs, windows update found drivers for everything barring the chipset drivers (INF Update) so I grabbed those from the Intel website.

I started the upgrade process, went through the steps to upgrade and was greeted with the "upgrade is disabled" message.

Baffled, I tried again, and this time I noticed that it said that there wasn't enough room on the hard disk to continue - But there must be about 15GB? The next message informed me that there was only 17.9GB free and I needed 18.2GB. So I need over 30GB to install Vista.

Anyway, after much swearing, the like of which hasn't been heard since the Abit IX38 quadGT, I redid a 50GB partition and reinstalled the lot.

To sum up, the Vista x64 installation process for this motherboard is a breeze and depending on your other hardware, you should only need chipset drivers to get up and running - Brilliant!