Gigabyte GA-EP45-EXTREME Living Review - Page 8

GreatWazoo · #71 23-07-2008, 09:07

Just finish the first tests with my Extreme. So far, my conclusions are as follows
Pros:
-Very good build
-Stable and reliable
-I can reach 3.400 MHz (400 fsb/533 mem bus) in my Q9550/g.skill 8800 with strictly stock normal volts, except for the mch, which needs a couple of notchs above the norm (1H OCCT stable)

Cons:
-Too much Vdroop and Vdrop. 1.25 Vcore in Bios is 1.20 measured in Bios, ET, Everest and Cpuz. In full load, descends to 1.17. (In Bios we not have Loadline Calibration)
-Stupid layout. All the sata ports are below my GTX280. I need at least 5 ports, including the 2 e-sata but I only have 4, and i can´t to use the e-Sata bracket. Very very frustrating.
-Too much READ memory latency. I have lost around 1000 MB/sec from Maximus II to Ep45
-Very poor HW monitoring in Bios and especially in ET

supershanks · #72 23-07-2008, 11:05

Hi Alcibiades,
Welcome to the forum

Not that your a stranger Alcibiades Handy Hints from the X38-DQ6

Thanks for sharing these benches

Quote:

I will put up my bios settings tomorrow to show you guys how the figures translated for me.

Look forward to seeing those.
I ordered a Gigabyte EP45T-Extreme yesterday , looking forward to seeing how it performs on DDR3.

be interested to hear about your take on the

Quote:

OCZ 2GB (2 x 1024mb) DDR3 2000 Platinum Enhanced Bandwidth Edition PC16000

I got a set of those , as did Clunk , couldn't get them to platy very well with the X48T or the DFI UT X48-T3RS
According to RyderOCZ I did well to get 19200 out off them. I've since sold them & am sticking to my Cellshock Blue. You might find you need high TRFC on them.

supershanks · #73 23-07-2008, 11:14

Hi GreatWazoo,
Thanks for sharing , I to was a bit concerned about the middle sata pair, but haven't tried it with a longer card yet. Can't really see why they didn't have those at 90 degrees as Sata 0 & 1.

Quote:

-Very poor HW monitoring in Bios and especially in ET

I was pleased to see all the voltages in Easy tune , but the temps aren't that great, I agree.

Alcibiades · #74 23-07-2008, 13:15

These bios entries gave me the ET6 settings I posted above

Keep in mind these settings are a guide only and might be particular to my hardware components and cpu batch#
But it's interesting to see just how out of wack these values are from bios (f6a) to ET6

CPU Vcore - 1.44375v affected by vdroop to 1.408v in ET6 and under load drops to 1.376v lowest
CPU Termination - this value changes correctly
CPU PLL - this value changes correctly
CPU Reference - 800 in bios shows 720 in ET6
CPU Reference2 - 876 in bios shows 800 in ET6
MCH Core - this value changes correctly
MCH Reference - 736 in bios shows 660 in ET6
MCH/DRAM Ref - 910 in bios shows 760 in ET6
ICH I/O - this value changes correctly
ICH Core - this value changes correctly
DRAM Voltage - this value changes correctly
DRAM Termination - 910 in bios shows 760 in ET6
Channel A Reference - 910 in bios shows 760 in ET6
Channel B Reference - 910 in bios shows 760 in ET6

I had vMCH at 1.380V but had to move it up a notch to 1.400V.
CPU CLock 900mV
PCI CLOck 900mV
CPU CLocK 50ps (100 works 2)
MCH cLOck 0ps

and thanks for the welcome supershanks,
your living review is awesome and helped me out quite a lot.

I've handed this PC off to my friend now so I'm back on my trusty X38-DQ6
oh wait I forgot I get to play with the EP45T-EXTREME tomorrow

GreatWazoo · #75 23-07-2008, 18:10

Quote:

I was pleased to see all the voltages in Easy tune , but the temps aren't that great, I agree.

Beware!
The volts in the Tuner section of ET are not monitored volts, they are settings...Normal values and custom values.
The volts monitored only are in HW monitor section. Only CPU, DIMM and 5v power line.

Ace-a-Rue · #76 23-07-2008, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by supershanks

No not reaklly it is a pre release sample i've been using , the bios has about 3 times the options of it's predecessors it's just bad luck I'm very tempted on what i've seen so far to think about buying the IP45T , the ddr3 version.

BUT...you have to acknowledge the placement of the battery on this board is HORRIBLE...i have a similar problem on my wife's Asus P5B battery being right under the darn video card for the first PCIe 16x slot...dumb design for both boards.

supershanks · #77 23-07-2008, 19:34

Thanks for posting the settings Alcibiades

Quote:

and thanks for the welcome supershanks,
your living review is awesome and helped me out quite a lot.

No problem , what goes around comes around, I got my X38 pretty late after launch and found your tips that I linked earlier helpful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatWazoo

Beware!
The volts in the Tuner section of ET are not monitored volts, they are settings...Normal values and custom values.
The volts monitored only are in HW monitor section. Only CPU, DIMM and 5v power line.

Must admit I missed that, i'll have to check when new board or replacement comes. Thanks for update.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace-A-Rue

BUT...you have to acknowledge the placement of the battery on this board is HORRIBLE...i have a similar problem on my wife's Asus P5B battery being right under the darn video card for the first PCIe 16x slot...dumb design for both boards.

Already did Mate 20 days ago

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Board Layout Observations & Air cooling - Item 3