Abit IX38 Quad GT - Living Review II

[supershanks]

Hi SteedaYo,
welcome to the forum

Can you please give more info:-
1) exactly what make of memory have you ?? What voltage are you trying to run it at & what is the rated voltage from the specs.

2) What FSB are you running, i'm not familiar with your cpu so not a clue what multi you might be on.

3) what timings/bios settings are you using.
Please copy block below into a post & enter your settings

EXTERNAL CLOCK..................... -     MHz 
MULTIPLIER FACTOR.................. - x
ESTIMATED NEW CPU CLOCK.......... -     MHz 
DRAM SPEED (CPU/DRAM)........... - DDR2- 
PCI EXPRESS CLOCK.................. - 100MHz 
 
VOLTAGE CONTROL:
 DDR2 VOLTAGE....................... - V 
 
ADVANCED CHIPSET FEATURES:
 
DRAM TIMING SELECTABLE............. - MANUAL 
CAS LATENCY TIME (TCL)............... - 
RAS TO CAS DELAY (TRCD)............. -  
RAS PRECHARGE (TRP)......... .......... -  
PRECHARGE DELAY (TRAS).............. -  
REFRESH CYCLE TIME (TRFC)........... -  
WRITE RECOVERY TIME (TWR)......... -  
WRITE TO READ DELAY (TWTR)........ - 
ACT TO ACT TIME (TRRD)............... -  
READ TO PRECHARGE (TRTP)............ -  
COMMAND RATE....................... - 2T 
 
ADVANCED BIOS FEATURES / CPU FEATURES:
THERMAL CONTROL.................. - ENABLEDl
 C1E FUNCTION....................... - DISABLED 
 EXECUTE DISABLE BIT................ - DISABLED 
 VIRTUALISATION TECHNOLOGY.......... - DISABLED

luck

[SteedaYo]

) exactly what make of memory have you ?? What voltage are you trying to run it at & what is the rated voltage from the specs.
it is Patriot, PC2-8500 1066mhz 2gb (2x1) (5-5-5-15), 2.3v....that is everything on the box
2) What FSB are you running, i'm not familiar with your cpu so not a clue what multi you might be on.
umm I am not sure where to look and find out
3) what timings/bios settings are you using.
Please copy block below into a post & enter your settings


Code:
EXTERNAL CLOCK..................... - 204 MHz
MULTIPLIER FACTOR.................. - x16
ESTIMATED NEW CPU CLOCK.......... - 3264 MHz
DRAM SPEED (CPU/DRAM)........... - DDR2- 1:2.00 (ddr2 816)
PCI EXPRESS CLOCK.................. - 100MHz

VOLTAGE CONTROL:
DDR2 VOLTAGE....................... - V 2.0

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

ADVANCED BIOS FEATURES / CPU FEATURES:
THERMAL CONTROL.................. - ENABLEDl
C1E FUNCTION....................... - DISABLED
EXECUTE DISABLE BIT................ - DISABLED
VIRTUALISATION TECHNOLOGY.......... - DISABLED


Besides the timings everything else I left alone. I played around with the exit clock doesnt like anything over 250, I accually lose FPS in track mania bench test when i go above 210 ext clock.
I would like to learn alot more on how to OC and what everythin effects, anywhere you could point me would be helpful.

thanks in advance

[supershanks]

umm I am not sure where to look and find out

it's ok that's = to your external clock speed, FSB is just easier to write & say so your using 204 MHz

The problem my be using the low default fsb of your CPU to run your memory as fast as 800, this means using the maximum memory ratio or strap of

DDR2- 1:2.00 (ddr2 816)

Things to try :-
1) Try increasing memory voltage

DDR2 VOLTAGE....................... - V 2.0

to 2.1v or 2.2v

OR

2) try a lower memory ratio 1:1.66 ddr 677 This to try & highlight that the 1:1.20 strap is an issue. If this is the case dropping the cpu multiplier to 14 & increasing FSB to say 241 will help increase the memory speed back to 800, whilst keeping your clock at around the 3200~3300 mark If you go for this option you may need to increase your Vcore(cpu voltage) & MCH 1.25v (northbridge voltage)

luck

[SteedaYo]

ok I tried that and learned that the CPU is what is stopping the ram working at its best,
FSB 230, could not change the multiplier, cpu clock around 3600 if I use 1:2.00 ddr and the DDR2 climbs to 920. MCH 1.25 is now 1.4

Is jumping the CPU clock that much higher going to be an issue?
What programs do you all use to test your OC?
and any advice on what CPU i should start looking at?
Sorry I know this thread is about the IX38 QuadGt. Is anyone having any better luck then when they first started out? which Bios should I be running on it? Sorry for the million questions, but you all have the answers.

thanks in advance

[supershanks]

Hi SteedaYo,
So 1) increasing DDR2 VOLTAGE didn't help ??

if I use 1:2.00 ddr and the DDR2 climbs to 920

Use

try a lower memory ratio 1:1.66

=764Mhz

Is jumping the CPU clock that much higher going to be an issue?

yes you'll have to increase your vcore, to get the cpu stable at the higher clock.

As i say i don't have any experience of your cpu, thought you can lower the

MULTIPLIER FACTOR.................. - x16

to x14??

for 2core Orthos
for Quads Prime 95 v. 25.5

Is anyone having any better luck then when they first started out?

Oh Yes

Luck



CPU wise depends what you want & your budget. a 2 core Wolfdale is relatively cheap & gives you a bang up to date CPU.

Yorkfield Quad is the most expensive option.

A Q6600 Go is older technology than the above but will give you great quad core performance for the £ of the dearest wolfdale.


Try bios 12 m704d12
See Bios Ace-a-Rue's Flashing Procedure for howto.

[karas]

lol.. i have to wait until the ~4th of february to change my bad ram :S

i feel like donald duck.. bad luck persecutes me xD

[supershanks]

Know how you feel m8 , last ram i sent back coincided with me getting my q6600 go. had a measly 1gb stick of el cheapo ddr2. spent the time by seeing how higher fsb i could get for the lowest vcore. you have to have something to pass the time

luck

[glowball]

Originally Posted by karas

i feel like donald duck.. bad luck persecutes me xD

Ha, I know how you must feel, it's taken me 2 weeks to get my RAM replaced... and I'm still waiting for my RAID card & battery which was in stock when I ordered them - but not now. Hopefully soon. This year sucks.

Good luck with yours.

[supershanks]

and I'm still waiting for my RAID card & battery which was in stock when I ordered them - but not now.

That's naff, where did you order from ??

[glowball]

Scan, both were in stock when I ordered but not by the time they were being picked, think they ought to get a computer to control their stock levels... or maybe that's the problem!
More stock is due in today so hope to have parts early next week, next headache will be sussing out how to install vist-uh? with 64 bit drivers - not sure which ones to load, can't find any help or guides.
Don't recall previous RAM running so hot, would be better if there was more room between RAM slots on the IX38 for better airflow. Abit?