Abit IX38 Quad GT - Living Review II

[supershanks]

wouldn't think so normally , but you never know especially with an RMA??

[glowball]

That sucks. A short behind the motherboard perhaps?

[af-1968]

I have the bios 11 and would like my MB with a new bios to flash.
Which bios recommend it, a beta variant or bios 12?

af-1968

[supershanks]

Hi af-1968,
Welcome to the forum
I'd go for official 12,but the cpu temps in guru are stil a mile out, they got fixed by an erarlier beta but , seems to have been unfixed again


if your unsure about flashing procedure Bios Ace-a-r's Abit Flashing Procedure

luck

[karas]

whaaa.. im running memtest now.. but dunno.. i don't think the problem are the ram.. duh..

the best i could get is 350fsb @ 1:1.25 /4,4,4,12 which means im not using the 1066 mhz of my ram.. (not tryed other latencies 'cause dunno what to set how )

if I try default fsb + default ram (which must be ddr2-1066mhz, 2:1.00).. it crashes with prime95..
if I try 360fsb with 1:1.00 i get bsod
if I try 333fsb @ 1:1.50 same thing.. wtf..

i'll post later my actual bios configuration to see if you guys have other suggestions.. but I think i had no luck with this PC..

[supershanks]

Is this your memory ?? Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5DF - XMS2 Dominator

if I try default fsb + default ram

= FSB 272 Memory = 816Mhz (uses 1:1.50) -

which must be ddr2-1066mhz, 2:1.00)

Not necessarily the auto setting come from the spd of your memory. Even 8500 memory has an auto (spd) value less than it's rating. Use CPU-Z to view your SPD. Open CPU-Z & click the SPD tab. as you can see from the article

SPD programmed at:
JEDEC standard 5-5-5-18 values at 800MHz
EPP standard 5-5-5-15-2T, 2.1V values

set memory voltage to 2.1v, auto timings should pick up 5-5-5-18

[karas]

yep, well, it says

Tested at EPP SPD settings (5-5-5-15-2T) at
2.1V at 1066MHz

i set so, and bsod

I mean.. 266fsb @ 2:1.00 (1066mhz), manual latency 5-5-5-15-2T (other options auto), vdimm 2.1v.. andddd.. it does boot.. but just when windows starts.. bsod :/

EDIT: no error found with memtest86+

[karas]

actual config:

ABIT IX38 QuadGT

OC GURU:
 
CPU OPERATING SPEED................ - USER DEFINE
EXTERNAL CLOCK..................... -   333 MHz 
MULTIPLIER FACTOR.................. - x 9 
ESTIMATED NEW CPU CLOCK.......... - 2997  MHz 
DRAM SPEED (CPU/DRAM)........... - DDR2-833 (1:1.25) 
PCI EXPRESS CLOCK.................. - 105MHz 
 
VOLTAGE CONTROL:
 
CPU CORE VOLTAGE................... - 1.3125V 
CPU Core Voltage Offset............ - 0V
Target CPU Core Voltage............ - 1.3125V
DDR2 VOLTAGE....................... - 2.100V 
CPU VTT VOLTAGE.................... - 1.30V 
MCH 1.25V VOLTAGE.................. - 1.30V 
ICH 1.05V VOLTAGE.................. - 1.12V 
ICHIO 1.5V VOLTAGE................. - 1.50V 
DDR2 REFERENCE VOLTAGE............. Default
CPU GTLREF 0+2..................... - 68%
CPU GTLREF 1+4..................... - 67%
 
ADVANCED CHIPSET FEATURES:
 
DRAM TIMING SELECTABLE............. - MANUAL 
CAS LATENCY TIME (TCL)............... - 4
RAS TO CAS DELAY (TRCD)............. - 4 
RAS PRECHARGE (TRP)......... .......... - 4 
PRECHARGE DELAY (TRAS).............. - 12
REFRESH CYCLE TIME (TRFC)........... - 30
WRITE RECOVERY TIME (TWR)......... - 3 
WRITE TO READ DELAY (TWTR)........ - 3 
ACT TO ACT TIME (TRRD)............... - 3 
READ TO PRECHARGE (TRTP)............ - 12 
COMMAND RATE....................... - 2T 
PCIE Root Port Function............ - V1.0A 
PEG FORCE X1....................... - DISABLED 
INIT DISPLAY FIRST................. - PCIEX 
 
ADVANCED BIOS FEATURES / CPU FEATURES:
THERMAL CONTROL.................. - DISABLED
 C1E FUNCTION....................... - DISABLED 
 EXECUTE DISABLE BIT................ - DISABLED 
 VIRTUALISATION TECHNOLOGY.......... - DISABLED
 EIST FUNCTION...................... - DISABLED

[supershanks]

EDIT: no error found with memtest86+

How long did you run it & at what settings ??

I mean.. 266fsb @ 2:1.00 (1066mhz), manual latency 5-5-5-15-2T (other options auto), vdimm 2.1v.. andddd.. it does boot.. but just when windows starts.. bsod :/

Yes which means your rams unstable. have you raised MCH voltage as i suggested & repeated it.


Edit:
missed your bios template, thanks that helps
TRy increasing MCH 1.25V VOLTAGE as suggested earlier. Start at maybe 1.35v see if this adds any stability.

if not try :-
1) Increasing DDR2 VOLTAGE a notch & retesting.
or
2) Slacken timings

DRAM TIMING SELECTABLE............. - MANUAL 
CAS LATENCY TIME (TCL)............... - 4 -> 5
RAS TO CAS DELAY (TRCD)............. - 4 -> 5
RAS PRECHARGE (TRP)......... .......... - 4 -> 5
PRECHARGE DELAY (TRAS).............. - 12 -> 15
REFRESH CYCLE TIME (TRFC)........... - 30 -> 35
WRITE RECOVERY TIME (TWR)......... - 3 -> 4
WRITE TO READ DELAY (TWTR)........ - 3  -> 4
ACT TO ACT TIME (TRRD)............... - 3  -> 4
READ TO PRECHARGE (TRTP)............ - 12 
COMMAND RATE....................... - 2T 
PCIE Root Port Function............ - V1.0A 
PEG FORCE X1....................... - DISABLED 
INIT DISPLAY FIRST................. - PCIEX

Or both 1) + 2) I think 1) should work maybe plus PRECHARGE DELAY (TRAS).............. - 12 -> 15 if not then 2) which iis pretty poor for the memory specs.

luck

[karas]

eheh.. what if I say that even 1+2 doesn't work ?

ABIT IX38 QuadGT

OC GURU:
 
CPU OPERATING SPEED................ - USER DEFINE
EXTERNAL CLOCK..................... -  266MHz 
MULTIPLIER FACTOR.................. - x 9 
ESTIMATED NEW CPU CLOCK.......... - 2394  MHz 
DRAM SPEED (CPU/DRAM)........... - DDR2-1064 (2:1.00) 
PCI EXPRESS CLOCK.................. - 105MHz 
 
VOLTAGE CONTROL:
 
CPU CORE VOLTAGE................... - 1.3125V 
CPU Core Voltage Offset............ - 0V
Target CPU Core Voltage............ - 1.3125V
DDR2 VOLTAGE....................... - 2.100V 
CPU VTT VOLTAGE.................... - 1.20V 
MCH 1.25V VOLTAGE.................. - 1.35V 
ICH 1.05V VOLTAGE.................. - 1.05V 
ICHIO 1.5V VOLTAGE................. - 1.50V 
DDR2 REFERENCE VOLTAGE............. Default
CPU GTLREF 0+2..................... - 67%
CPU GTLREF 1+4..................... - 67%
 
ADVANCED CHIPSET FEATURES:
 
DRAM TIMING SELECTABLE............. - MANUAL 
CAS LATENCY TIME (TCL)............... - 5
RAS TO CAS DELAY (TRCD)............. - 5 
RAS PRECHARGE (TRP)......... .......... - 5 
PRECHARGE DELAY (TRAS).............. - 15
REFRESH CYCLE TIME (TRFC)........... - 35
WRITE RECOVERY TIME (TWR)......... - 4 
WRITE TO READ DELAY (TWTR)........ - 4 
ACT TO ACT TIME (TRRD)............... - 4 
READ TO PRECHARGE (TRTP)............ - 12 
COMMAND RATE....................... - 2T 
PCIE Root Port Function............ - V1.0A 
PEG FORCE X1....................... - DISABLED 
INIT DISPLAY FIRST................. - PCIEX 
 
ADVANCED BIOS FEATURES / CPU FEATURES:
THERMAL CONTROL.................. - DISABLED
 C1E FUNCTION....................... - DISABLED 
 EXECUTE DISABLE BIT................ - DISABLED 
 VIRTUALISATION TECHNOLOGY.......... - DISABLED
 EIST FUNCTION...................... - DISABLED

not only doesn't work.. but it's lower then this one (ram):

ABIT IX38 QuadGT

OC GURU:
 
CPU OPERATING SPEED................ - USER DEFINE
EXTERNAL CLOCK..................... -   333 MHz 
MULTIPLIER FACTOR.................. - x 9 
ESTIMATED NEW CPU CLOCK.......... - 2997  MHz 
DRAM SPEED (CPU/DRAM)........... - DDR2-833 (1:1.25) 
PCI EXPRESS CLOCK.................. - 105MHz 
 
VOLTAGE CONTROL:
 
CPU CORE VOLTAGE................... - 1.3125V 
CPU Core Voltage Offset............ - 0V
Target CPU Core Voltage............ - 1.3125V
DDR2 VOLTAGE....................... - 2.100V 
CPU VTT VOLTAGE.................... - 1.30V 
MCH 1.25V VOLTAGE.................. - 1.30V 
ICH 1.05V VOLTAGE.................. - 1.12V 
ICHIO 1.5V VOLTAGE................. - 1.50V 
DDR2 REFERENCE VOLTAGE............. Default
CPU GTLREF 0+2..................... - 68%
CPU GTLREF 1+4..................... - 67%
 
ADVANCED CHIPSET FEATURES:
 
DRAM TIMING SELECTABLE............. - MANUAL 
CAS LATENCY TIME (TCL)............... - 4
RAS TO CAS DELAY (TRCD)............. - 4 
RAS PRECHARGE (TRP)......... .......... - 4 
PRECHARGE DELAY (TRAS).............. - 12
REFRESH CYCLE TIME (TRFC)........... - 30
WRITE RECOVERY TIME (TWR)......... - 3 
WRITE TO READ DELAY (TWTR)........ - 3 
ACT TO ACT TIME (TRRD)............... - 3 
READ TO PRECHARGE (TRTP)............ - 12 
COMMAND RATE....................... - 2T 
PCIE Root Port Function............ - V1.0A 
PEG FORCE X1....................... - DISABLED 
INIT DISPLAY FIRST................. - PCIEX 
 
ADVANCED BIOS FEATURES / CPU FEATURES:
THERMAL CONTROL.................. - DISABLED
 C1E FUNCTION....................... - DISABLED 
 EXECUTE DISABLE BIT................ - DISABLED 
 VIRTUALISATION TECHNOLOGY.......... - DISABLED
 EIST FUNCTION...................... - DISABLED

uhm.. that maybe is because here i have 333fsb.. but wha.
I have to higher up the MCH 1.25V ? what's the limit w/ damaging ? the others voltages too ? (first configuration, with 1066)

Or, do I have to try with the first (working, 333fsb) configuration but setting 1066 & more MCH ?