Gigabyte GA-EP45-EXTREME Living Review

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Gigabyte GA-EP45-EXTREME
Motherboard Intelligent Tweaker(MIT) 1of3

Clock Chip Control


Robust Graphics Booster
Optimises performance of the graphics chip and memory.
Options are: Auto (default), Fast, Turbo.
Recommended: Turbo worked fine on X38 & X48 as well.
CPU Clock Ratio - Select CPU Multiplier
Fine CPU Clock Ratio - Select CPU 0.5 Multiplier if 45nm CPU (Wolfdale or Yorkfield)
CPU Frequency - Information display CPU Speed (CPU Clock Ratio + Fine CPU Clock Ratio) x CPU Host Frequency(FSB)
Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control
Default = DIsabled Enable to manually adjust CPU Host Frequency(FSB) below.
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) - Set FSB

PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)
Set the PCIe clock frequency. Range is from 90 MHz to150 MHz. Default = Auto =100 MHz.
C.I.A.2
Nowt to do with Central Intelligence Agency
CPU Intelligent Accelerator 2 (C.I.A.2) is designed to automatically adjust CPU computing power
to maximize system performance. C.I.A.2 allows your system bus to be changed dynamically
based on CPU loading through the use of 5 preset states.
Note: System stability varies, depending on your system hardware components.
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
Default = Disabled

Advanced Clock control Sub Menu

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Advanced Clock control Sub Menu

Advanced Clock Control
PCIE & CPU now have separate Clock Driving circuits unlike the X38 & X48 boards.
CPU Clock Drive

Allows you to adjust the amplitude of the CPU and North Bridge clock.
Options are: 700mV, 800mV (default), 900mV, 1000mV
PCI Express Clock Drive

Allows you to adjust the amplitude of the PCI Express and North Bridge clock.
Options are: 700mV, 800mV, 900mV (default), 1000mV
CPU Clock Skew (ps)

Sets the CPU clock prior to the North Bridge clock.
Options are: 0ps~750ps. (Default: 0ps) 50~150ps may help stabilise higher FSB clocks.
MCH Clock Skew (ps)

Sets the North Bridge clock prior to the CPU clock.
Options are: 0ps~750ps. (Default: 0ps) 50~150ps may help stabilise higher FSB clocks.

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Gigabyte GA-EP45-EXTREME
Motherboard Intelligent Tweaker(MIT) 2of3

Dram Performance Control


Performance Enhance

Enables different levels of Performance and stability Extreme being most aggressive standard more stable. The tRD values are adjusted according to the option selected, if left on Auto.

Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)

If your memory supports XMP , then this option will be used. The profile values willalso be placed in the SPD column so you can see what is used.

(G)MCH Frequency Latch

This allows the user to select the strap specific to the Stock FSB of their CPU. Personally I leave it on Auto enabling the display of all straps & dividers in the System Memory Multiplier selector below.

System Memory Multiplier
Select the ratio for memory to FSB.
Note: The A,B,C & D suffix refers to the Stock FSB of Available CPUs as mentioned above see right of pictures.
The numeric prefix is the FSB multiple. For example 400 FSB at 2.00D = 400x2 = 800 , in other words 1:1 or 400/800 as used elswhere.
Available options :-



Memory Frequency (Mhz) Displays the resultant Memory speed from the selected FSB and System Memory Multiplier


Standard Timing Control

CAS Latency Time
tRCD Dram RAS# to CAS#
tRP DRAM RAS# Precharge
tRAS Precharge Delay

Advanced Timing Control Sub Menu

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Advanced Timing Control Sub Menu
Note: Bios F5E added Adds Ram Clock Skew Control

tRRD - Act to ACT Delay
tWTR - Rank Write to READ Delay
tWR - Write To Precharge Delay
tRFC - Refresh to ACT Delay
tRTP - Read To Precharge Delay
Command Rate (CMD)

Channel A
Static tRead Options 1~15
tRD Phase0 Adjustment Auto (default), 1-Advanced, 0-Normal
tRD Phase1 Adjustment Auto (default), 1-Advanced, 0-Normal
tRD Phase2 Adjustment Auto (default), 1-Advanced, 0-Normal
tRD Phase3 Adjustment Auto (default), 1-Advanced, 0-Normal
Trd2rd(Different Rank) Auto (default), 1~15.
Twr2wr(Different Rank) Auto (default), 1~15.
Twr2rd(Different Rank) Auto (default), 1~15.
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank) Auto (default), 1~15.



Channel B
Static tRead Options 1~15
tRD Phase0 Adjustment Auto (default), 1-Advanced, 0-Normal
tRD Phase1 Adjustment Auto (default), 1-Advanced, 0-Normal
tRD Phase2 Adjustment Auto (default), 1-Advanced, 0-Normal
tRD Phase3 Adjustment Auto (default), 1-Advanced, 0-Normal
Trd2rd(Different Rank) Auto (default), 1~15.
Twr2wr(Different Rank) Auto (default), 1~15.
Twr2rd(Different Rank) Auto (default), 1~15.
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank) Auto (default), 1~15.

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Gigabyte GA-EP45-EXTREME
Motherboard Intelligent Tweaker(MIT) 3of3

Mother Board Voltage Control
The main change here compared to previous boards is the dropping of the Overvoltage methodology and reversion to absolute values. Good move


Note: Values are using a 45nm CPU the range, normal & defaults may vary with older CPU's , if you have a 65nm CPU & see a different values please share them & I'll update this post. Bios Used = F4G

CPU
CPU Vcore Range - 0.50V~2.30V Increment 0.00625v
CPU Termination Aka as Vtt, FSB overvoltage on other boards
Range 0.80v~1.94v Increment 0.02v Default = 1.20v )

Another additionsl option is :-
CPU PLL
Range 1.10~2.80v Default = 1.50v increment range 1.1~1.50=0.1v 1.56~2.80v=0.02v
Another real improvement from the very limited options on earlier boards CPU GTLREF
CPU Reference
Range 0.493v~1.053v 0.49~0.8v Increment =0.02v 0.8v~1.040v =0.015v Default = Auto
CPU Reference2
Range 0.490v~1.050v Increment 0.478~0.818v=.02v 0.818~1.038v = 0.015v Default = Auto

MCH/ICH
Again a big improvement in the options.
MCH Core
0.80v~1.80v default is Auto Normal = 1.10v Increment 0.8~1.10v = 0.1v 1.140v~1.80v = 0.02v
MCH Reference
Range 0.550v~1.095v Increment= 0.538~0.798v 0.02v 0.798~1.083=0.015v Normal = 0.76v (as CPU Reference1) default = Auto.
MCH/DRAM Reference
Range 0.64v~1.90v Increment 0.640~1.10v = 0.02v 1.10~1.90v=0.05v Normal=0.90v default = Auto.
ICH I/O
Range 1.00v~2.30v Increment 1.00~1.50v = 0.10v 1.54~2.30v = 0.02v Normal=1.50v default = Auto.
ICH Core
Range 0.80v~1.80v Increment 0.80~1.10 = 0.1v 1.140~1.80v = 0.02v Normal = 1.10v default = Auto.

DRAM


[I]DRAM Voltage
Range 1.80v(jdec)~3.00v Increment 0.020v more than enough to toast your micron Normal=1.80v
DRAM Termination
Range 0.82v~1.525v Increment 0.82~1.10v 0.02v 1.125~1.525v = 0.025v Normal 0.90v
Channel A Reference
Range 0.64v~1.90v Increment 0.640~1.10v = 0.02v 1.150~1.90v = .050v Normal 0.90v
Channel B Reference
Range 0.64v~1.90v Increment 0.640~1.10v = 0.02v 1.150~1.90v = .050v Normal 0.90v

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Bios - Other Settings (1of2)
These menus are pretty well unchanged from earlier boards.

Standard CMOS Features

Hidden from above screen Total Memory

Advanced BIOS Features



Advanced Bios Features - Hard Drive Boot Order
Use this to select your permanent Boot Drive. Press [F12] at post to select a one off boot option.


If Overclocking disable the following features in the Advanced Bios Features:-

Limit CPUID Max. to 3
No-Execute Memory Protect
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)
C2/C2E State Support
x C4/C4E State Support
CPU EIST Function
Virtualization Technology

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Bios - Other Settings (2of2)

Integrated Peripherals


Power Management Setup



PnP/PCI Configurations



PC Health Status

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My experience with Gigabyte boards and their copper heatpipes have led mne to borrow kitchen scales to weigh them.
X48T=1.18kg


We have a new winner 1.52kg weighed including the Hybrid cooler as here.


Unlike previous boards with Crazy cool, there are no heatsinks underneath :-

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1) Clear but tight PCI slot
The only lost slot using the hybrid is the PCIEX1_1 slot. It is however the only x1 PCI-E slot.


2) Good news Ram slots are clear of the graphics card so ram can easily be added and removed.
Bad news is that sata slots 2 and 3 may get obstructed by a long card. Any chance of this occurring would have been eliminated had the sata socket been the same horizontal type as sata 0&1 .


3) Battery Placement
Don't forget to connect the front audio connection before mounting Hybrid Pipe
Hope the failed overclock recovery is as good as X38/X48 cause that battery looks a bugger to remove & replace.


Air Cooling

Fitting & Clearance
There is about 1/4~3/8" vertical gap between top of NB & cooling fins, using the XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 which is pretty typical of a number of popular coolers.


Fitting the fanin bottom left corner was a bit tight but doable. Probably easier with thermalright clips.

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Barebones on Air


These shots remind me of a distillery, never seen so much copper