Best BIOS for BadAxe2 (D975XBX2) and Moderate OC'ing

[GamingDaemon]

Hi!

I just joined this forum and this is my first post.

I also just purchased my most expensive PC to date:
[*] Enermax Chakra Case
[*] Intel D975XBX2 (The BadAxe2)
[*] Intel E6600
[*] Zalman CNPS 9700 Cooler
[*] eVGA 8800GTX
[*] G.SKILL @G (2x1GB) DDR2-800
[*] CORSAIR 620W Power Supply
[*] WD 80GB Sata2 Hard Drive
[*] Seagate 320GB Sata2 Hard Drive
[*] HP LightScribe DVD Burner

I am eager to build this rig, but I want to make sure I do it right. I am only looking to do moderate OC'ing, say 400FSB, so I can get a 3.6GHz clock speed.

What's the best BIOS to do this? I have heard there are problems with 2634.

Thanks in advance...

 

[BigShroom]

This appears to be your 225th post. Got the amnesia?

Anyway I'm using the bx2 board with an e4300, and I'm overclocked to 3.33ghz using the 2618 bios with no problems. I've just been updating whenever I feel like it and haven't had any problems with any of them 2333+.

This is a good thread to watch for updates on the bx2 though.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: BigShroom
This appears to be your 225th post. Got the amnesia?

Anyway I'm using the bx2 board with an e4300, and I'm overclocked to 3.33ghz using the 2618 bios with no problems. I've just been updating whenever I feel like it and haven't had any problems with any of them 2333+.

This is a good thread to watch for updates on the bx2 though.

Ok, thanks for the thread...not to sure about the other comment...but then, that's your issue...

 

[BigShroom]

I guess you meant this is your first post in the motherboard sub-forum.

Updated to the newest bios(2663) today and besides having to enter maintenance mode after flashing to correct my clock speeds everything is working just fine.

 

[imported_RedStar]

new bios released on 5th of march. i've downloaded it..but so far i been too afraid to try it

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: BigShroom
I guess you meant this is your first post in the motherboard sub-forum.

Updated to the newest bios(2663) today and besides having to enter maintenance mode after flashing to correct my clock speeds everything is working just fine.

Ahhhh, thaaaaat I copied that over verbatim from an un-named fourm where no one seems to answer posts, but is accessible from client's proxy server. Anandtech forums are blocked for some reason. After waiting for an answer for a day or so, I posted here, coying the text verbatim. Sorry for the mixup...my bad!

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: RedStar
new bios released on 5th of march. i've downloaded it..but so far i been too afraid to try it

Well, I'll let you know. I am putting my BadAxe2 rig together Friday night. I bought a Zalman CNPS 9700 fan BTW. I have never used an after-market fan before, so hopefully I will have a good experience.

 

[AstroDogg]

That looks like a pretty nice case for ventalation GamingDemon.
http://www.3dgameman.com/content/view/3192/48/
I hope you added the two optional 120mm fans to the front and rear. I'd put a 75-105cfm fan exahusting at the rear with a speed controller and a quieter fan in the front around 50cfm for intake. I would run the side 250mm fan on the intake setting. I'd also of modded the case to add a 50cfm 120mm exhaust fan to the top center of the case. You don't want to create a negative or positve air flow pressure to the cabin of the case. Sucking air in or blowing it out through your optical drive(s) to equalize pressure isn't a good thing. It looks as if you have considered good ventalation in your build and very important, because doubling a CPU's bus speed is hardly what I would call a moderate overclock. And as another mod to the case you may want to think about is some pivoting case feet this would add some rubber cushions for vibation/noise dampening and add stability from crashing if the case was bumped from the side.

P.S. I'd say the latest biosis the best to run!

 

[imported_RedStar]

how come we don't get an official badaxe 2 thread?...it is like the most stable board out there

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: AstroDogg
That looks like a pretty nice case for ventalation GamingDemon.
http://www.3dgameman.com/content/view/3192/48/
I hope you added the two optional 120mm fans to the front and rear. I'd put a 75-105cfm fan exahusting at the rear with a speed controller and a quieter fan in the front around 50cfm for intake. I would run the side 250mm fan on the intake setting. I'd also of modded the case to add a 50cfm 120mm exhaust fan to the top center of the case. You don't want to create a negative or positve air flow pressure to the cabin of the case. Sucking air in or blowing it out through your optical drive(s) to equalize pressure isn't a good thing. It looks as if you have considered good ventalation in your build and very important, because doubling a CPU's bus speed is hardly what I would call a moderate overclock. And as another mod to the case you may want to think about is some pivoting case feet this would add some rubber cushions for vibation/noise dampening and add stability from crashing if the case was bumped from the side.

P.S. I'd say the latest biosis the best to run!

Thanks AstroDogg. However, having just finished putting it all together, and flipping the power switch, I am flabbergasted to find out that the big huge fan on the side doesn't work. I've tried a number of different pwoer cables so I am frustrated and angry.

So far, I've added one 120mm fan in the rear, but I will definitely add an intake in the fornt now that the side doesn't work.

The box is sooooo quiet, but I'm really angry about the fan. Not sure if I shoudl return it or not... What do you think?

 

[AstroDogg]

I don't know where you purchased the case from, But I would definitely get ahold of them on the phone and talk to the Sales Dept. See if they will send you a RED TAG/RECALL TAG so you dont have to pay shipping. That is the law technically! on a defective item, I'd mention that if the call is not going your way(I could write on this subject enough to fill one whole forum page in here) Ask for the supervisior as soon as any dispute arises, If he has an attitude ask for the Dept. Head then goto Customer Service so on and so forth. Maybe a return of just the fan to save shipping costs is a worthy suggestion. In a RMA situation I alway ask to re-order the product and receive reimbersement to my credit card when the returned product is found defective as it is a time inconvience from your company I did not purchase in the sales agreement. Many companies do this to keep customer satisfaction. Keep in mind it is a risk if the company doesn't find the product a manufacture's defect you then will be stuck with another purchase. Some companies will have nothing to do with a program like this because then they're stuck with a product they have to sell as an openbox item, even know they get reimbursed from the manufacture. Perhaps a little pocketing of cash going on there by the company or just a hassel or creating a tie-up in profits.
Now after doing this with the buisness you purchased from you may want to contact Enermax and go thru the same thing and evauate your options from both parties.

Some things are surly going to get turned down. The idea behind asking them is to make your sales rep think and throw him off his defense and have him/her feel some pity for you, helping aide a decision in your favor. You got to be as slick as they are when advertising yourself, your needs and situation, because deep down they dont want to do anything that takes from thier overhead profit if no bad publicity comes from it or think it effects your future purchases and the word of mouth generated from you is not significant.

If for some reason in the end your option is to pay for shipping the whole case back I'd probley just buy a new 250 mm fan and replace it. It would cost about the same or less and you wouldn't have to wait for thier turn around. Then Post on several forums of your experience honestly.

EDIT Oh bypass the switch for the fan to make sure it is the fan and not the switch.

 

[AstroDogg]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon
Well, I'll let you know. I am putting my BadAxe2 rig together Friday night. I bought a Zalman CNPS 9700 fan BTW. I have never used an after-market fan before, so hopefully I will have a good experience.

If you didnt read this post I made in another thread here is a Link it has 2 posts from me on page 10 about installing the CNPS9700 but this is not a specific step by step post to the installation.