Gigabyte DS3 + E6400 questions/problems

[thilanliyan]

Okay just got the combo (E6400 retail week 24). Updated bios to F4C. Booted fine with 2 sticks of OCZ Gold PC2-6400 5-5-5-12 1GB(2x512mb) DDR2.

When I try to install windows with my USB DVD drive, it reads really slow. Can a USB DVD drive go to PIO mode. I switched over to an IDE DVD and I think it's fine now. Also, is there any place in bios to check whether a hard drive or cd drive is in DMA or PIO mode??

Does anyone else get some weird starting routines...like it'll start fine sometimes but other times it'll start then shut off immediately...sometimes when I save and exit out of the BIOS it shuts off.

Also, is the PCI (not PCI-e) bus locked at 33mhz?? I wanna overclock but I got a SCSI drive on a PCI controller. I see a setting to lock the PCI-e bus but not the PCI bus.

I'm installing windows now...I'll post my OC results a little later. THanks for any help.


Update 1
Okay, fired it up at all stock voltages except CPU voltage which is set to 1.400v (stock 1.325) and through Gigabyte easytune I have it running at 400x8=3.2GHz. Currently running SP2004 Orthos(like Prime95) to check for stability.

BUT, are the temperatured reported in Bios and Easytune correct?? I was getting about 48-52 degrees at idle in bios and about 66-68 degrees at load in Easytune. I'm running a Thermaltake Big Typhoon. So are the temperatures off??

Update2
I got to 3.2GHz SP2004 stable at only 1.35v from 1.325 stock. Mmmm...loving this processor. And temperatures stay around 60 load degrees now. If the temp. readings are correct, they skyrocket even if you add a small amount of voltage.

 

[MrWizzard]

Your USB drive is probably slow because its operating at 1.1 speeds.

You have to have some dos utility or pre-load the USB 2.0 drivers for it to work at 2.0 when you are doing a OS install. I am guessing it will be fine once you get it all up and running with SP2 and everything installed correctly.

This is what happened to me with other computers.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: MrWizzard
Your USB drive is probably slow because its operating at 1.1 speeds.

You have to have some dos utility or pre-load the USB 2.0 drivers for it to work at 2.0 when you are doing a OS install. I am guessing it will be fine once you get it all up and running with SP2 and everything installed correctly.

This is what happened to me with other computers.

Really??...I've done an OS install off the USB DVD drive before and it definitely wasn't that slow.

Well, at least my IDE DVD drive is running in DMA mode.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[MrWizzard]

I have also had a USB port be slow because it was slightly shorted....

That was a fun one to figure out.

Have you tried switching which USB port its plugged into?

I doubt this is the problem though pretty rare.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: MrWizzard
I have also had a USB port be slow because it was slightly shorted....

That was a fun one to figure out.

Have you tried switching which USB port its plugged into?

I doubt this is the problem though pretty rare.

Nope didn't bother changing ports...just hooked up an IDE one instead. I'll finish the XP install then test the USB drive also.

 

[thilanliyan]

bump for temperature questions.

 

[buck]

Atleast yours is booting, im so fricken pissed off, i have the same cpu/mobo/ram you have and it will light up but nothing on the lcd.
Tried switching slots, sticks, and trying one stick. I worked with a pentium d and plat (ya i switched to gold at frys today) just fine. I think im just going to return the ds3 tomorrow.
Not trying to hijack, just wanted you to feel fortunate.

 

[mayest]

I've got that motherboard running a Celeron D 351 until I can get an e6600. The BIOS temperature is about 7 or 8 degrees celsius HIGHER than what Easy Tune or Speedfan reports. It's the opposite of what you are reporting.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: buck
Atleast yours is booting, im so fricken pissed off, i have the same cpu/mobo/ram you have and it will light up but nothing on the lcd.
Tried switching slots, sticks, and trying one stick. I worked with a pentium d and plat (ya i switched to gold at frys today) just fine. I think im just going to return the ds3 tomorrow.
Not trying to hijack, just wanted you to feel fortunate.

Which video card are you using??

There's a setting in the bios to change whether to look for the video card in the PCI port of PCI-e port...by default it was PCI for me(although it still booted fine).

Try another video card.

OC update...I got to 3.2GHz SP2004 stable at only 1.35v from 1.325 stock.

 

[Duvie]

NIce job Thilan....I would be very happy to get 400FSb out of my E6600...

How hot is the NB chipset, and power caps???

What vdimm, divider, etc are you running th ram?? Actively cooling them with a fan directed at them???

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: buck
Atleast yours is booting, im so fricken pissed off, i have the same cpu/mobo/ram you have and it will light up but nothing on the lcd.
Tried switching slots, sticks, and trying one stick. I worked with a pentium d and plat (ya i switched to gold at frys today) just fine. I think im just going to return the ds3 tomorrow.
Not trying to hijack, just wanted you to feel fortunate.

Which video card are you using??

There's a setting in the bios to change whether to look for the video card in the PCI port of PCI-e port...by default it was PCI for me(although it still booted fine).

Try another video card.

OC update...I got to 3.2GHz SP2004 stable at only 1.35v from 1.325 stock.

I just went to frys and exchanged my ram with some patriot stuff, its just fired up. I dont know if i will keep this mobo yet.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Duvie
NIce job Thilan....I would be very happy to get 400FSb out of my E6600...

How hot is the NB chipset, and power caps???

What vdimm, divider, etc are you running th ram?? Actively cooling them with a fan directed at them???

The system kept locking up at random points until I found the NB was BLAZING hot...I actually burned my finger and I kept it on for less than a second. I now have a fan directed at it on an open case and things are stable.

Don't know hot hot the power caps are...I can barely reach inside my case with the Big Typhoon in it and the watercooling lines for the video card.

Vdimm is at 2.0v or 2.1v...can't remember and the ram is on the 2 divider so it's at DDR2-800 at 5-5-5-X timings I think. The 120mm fan directed at the NB sorta cools the dimms and will have to do until I can find a better solution.

 

[harbin]

Blitzz PCI super G woreless card not working on DS3. (None of the 3 PCI slots works)

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: Duvie
NIce job Thilan....I would be very happy to get 400FSb out of my E6600...

How hot is the NB chipset, and power caps???

What vdimm, divider, etc are you running th ram?? Actively cooling them with a fan directed at them???

The system kept locking up at random points until I found the NB was BLAZING hot...I actually burned my finger and I kept it on for less than a second. I now have a fan directed at it on an open case and things are stable.

Don't know hot hot the power caps are...I can barely reach inside my case with the Big Typhoon in it and the watercooling lines for the video card.

Vdimm is at 2.0v or 2.1v...can't remember and the ram is on the 2 divider so it's at DDR2-800 at 5-5-5-X timings I think. The 120mm fan directed at the NB sorta cools the dimms and will have to do until I can find a better solution.

i figured as much...400 is an extreme load on it...I think I will hot glue a 40mm fan on it....also going to mod fan to aim at ram....


I wont have the vid card heat as all I am using is an ATI X1300...I dont game....This dragster wil be ocing fun, mutlimedia, and folding the rest of the time....Heck it may live on a desk for weeks until I liek the parts...I would like to see what ATI and Nvidia will have to offer...

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: buck
I just went to frys and exchanged my ram with some patriot stuff, its just fired up. I dont know if i will keep this mobo yet.

I think once people get around the quirks of this mobo they like it. The ram problem is a b!tch though from what I was hearing...I was lucky it fired up without problems...I think most of the problems were because the board would default to 1.8v for ram that needed more...for some reason I guess it wasn't reading the SPD values correctly or something.

Play around with the motherboard a bit before you give it up. I myself got to 400fsb on stock voltages (except CPU voltage), and I doubt lots of boards can do that.

Originally posted by: harbin
Blitzz PCI super G woreless card not working on DS3. (None of the 3 PCI slots works)

Really?? I have a PCI SCSI card and my OS is running off that. Works perfectly.

Make sure to update to the F4C bios. It apparently fixes lots of issues. That's what I'm running currently.


Another question: in the bios, when I change the "enable USB mouse" setting to disabled, I can still use my regular usb mouse in windows...so what is the setting for??

 

[harbin]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: buck
I just went to frys and exchanged my ram with some patriot stuff, its just fired up. I dont know if i will keep this mobo yet.

I think once people get around the quirks of this mobo they like it. The ram problem is a b!tch though from what I was hearing...I was lucky it fired up without problems...I think most of the problems were because the board would default to 1.8v for ram that needed more...for some reason I guess it wasn't reading the SPD values correctly or something.

Play around with the motherboard a bit before you give it up. I myself got to 400fsb on stock voltages (except CPU voltage), and I doubt lots of boards can do that.

Originally posted by: harbin
Blitzz PCI super G woreless card not working on DS3. (None of the 3 PCI slots works)

Really?? I have a PCI SCSI card and my OS is running off that. Works perfectly.

Make sure to update to the F4C bios. It apparently fixes lots of issues. That's what I'm running currently.


Another question: in the bios, when I change the "enable USB mouse" setting to disabled, I can still use my regular usb mouse in windows...so what is the setting for??

Will try F4c tonight. Let's see. I'll report.

USB. I did the same thing. I disabled the USB in the bios. But my USB wireless adapter still working!

 

[buck]

I just flashed the bios to f4, i will go get the ocz tomorrow..... Im trying to figure if i should get gold or plat.....

 

[Madellga]

My experience is similar to yours. I found the sweet spot quickly also (8x400).

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8299/dq6pluse640032ghzvdim195bli0.jpg

Using the DQ6 bios from this thread:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109719&highlight

I downloaded the F3E from this link provided there:
http://rapidshare.de/files/27992450/965PDQ6.F3E.html

The memory I'm using is this one, 2GB OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Platinum Revision 2
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/m.../ocz_ddr2_pc2_6400_platinum_revision_2

It was 10% more expensive than the cheap 667 available here (which was not on stock).

I'm now able to Prime95 for 8 hours, using the following hardware/setup:

Gigabyte 965-DQ6 bios F3E / C2D E6400 3.2GHZ@1.37V (8x400) / Thermalright SI-128 / 2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 800 4-4-4 @1.95V / EVGA 7950GX2 / Audigy 2 ZS / 2x250 GB Seagate SATA / Nec DVDRW 3540 / Enermax Liberty 620W / Antec P160

I learned since the first day that high VDim (2V or higher) does not help - it was crashing soon. After going with just 1.95V, the system is now stable (8 hours on Prime95).

I can go up with FSB and lower CPU multis. Together they ware not working.
I will try also lower CPU Overv and lower VDim.

The second huge difference was going from an Artic Freezer 7 to a Thermalright SI-128. Not only the CPU is 10C cooler, but it also helps with the Northbridge and Power regulators cooling. Best thing, very easy to install (NO TOOLS!!) and no need to take that idiot crazy bracket.

My target was 3.2GHz, so I'm pretty happy about it.

My bios settings are just like yours, just the MIT screen is a bit different:
CPU Rate 8x
CPU Host ENABLED
CPU HOST FREQ 400
PCI-E 100
CIA2 DISABLED
DRAM TIMING MANUAL
CAS 4
RAS TO CAS 4
RAS PRE 4
TRAS 15
ACT ACT DEL AUTO
RANK WRITE AUTO
WRITE TO PREC AUTO
REFRESH TO ACT 0
READ to PRE AUTO
MEMORY PERF NORMAL
DIMM OVERV +0.15V
PCI-E OVERV NORMAL
GMCh OVERV NORMAL
FSB OVERV NORMAL
CPU OVERV 1.375V

 

[Madellga]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: buck
I just went to frys and exchanged my ram with some patriot stuff, its just fired up. I dont know if i will keep this mobo yet.

I think once people get around the quirks of this mobo they like it. The ram problem is a b!tch though from what I was hearing...I was lucky it fired up without problems...I think most of the problems were because the board would default to 1.8v for ram that needed more...for some reason I guess it wasn't reading the SPD values correctly or something.

Play around with the motherboard a bit before you give it up. I myself got to 400fsb on stock voltages (except CPU voltage), and I doubt lots of boards can do that.

Originally posted by: harbin
Blitzz PCI super G woreless card not working on DS3. (None of the 3 PCI slots works)

Really?? I have a PCI SCSI card and my OS is running off that. Works perfectly.

Make sure to update to the F4C bios. It apparently fixes lots of issues. That's what I'm running currently.


Another question: in the bios, when I change the "enable USB mouse" setting to disabled, I can still use my regular usb mouse in windows...so what is the setting for??

Same here and double that for the Keyboard. I guess it is for DOS based software.

 

[gobucks]

out of curiosity, what's the highest speed anybody's gotten with an e6400 on stock volts? Mine's at 3GHz on stock vcore, but my RAM is pretty much at its limit (have to use DDR2-533 until my Corsair DDR2-800 comes ). has anybody gotten beyond that on stock?

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Madellga
My experience is similar to yours. I found the sweet spot quickly also (8x400).

Hey what are your idle and load temperatures in Bios and easytune??

 

[cpl edge]

i just dont see how you are doing it... i have a e6400 on the giga board with the 4c bios with good xms2 ram and i cannot get above 2.4 stable overclock. its 667 ram but i even turn it down to 533 and that is all i get. and i cannot even overclock at all in the bios, if i use the manual cpu mhz thing in the bois it will not post at all. even if i put it on stock speeds. i dont know if the mobo is bad or if i some how have a bad flash of the bios, but the overclocking in bios does not work at all for me. i have to get the 2.4 in easytune, and that seems to slow the computer down more when it is on anyway...

 

[cpl edge]

oh and did i mention that i have liquid cooling too so it is not a heat issue... it sits at or below 30c at load at 2.4ghz.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: cpl edge
i just dont see how you are doing it... i have a e6400 on the giga board with the 4c bios with good xms2 ram and i cannot get above 2.4 stable overclock. its 667 ram but i even turn it down to 533 and that is all i get. and i cannot even overclock at all in the bios, if i use the manual cpu mhz thing in the bois it will not post at all. even if i put it on stock speeds. i dont know if the mobo is bad or if i some how have a bad flash of the bios, but the overclocking in bios does not work at all for me. i have to get the 2.4 in easytune, and that seems to slow the computer down more when it is on anyway...

How are you going down to 533 MHz ram?? I don't think there are any ram DIVIDERS, only MULTIPLIERS. A multiplier of 2 is the lowest. Either way at such a low OC the ram shouldn't be limiting you.

Could you post your comp specs(EVERYTHING!! including PSU) and your bios settings and maybe I can help you. Try turning off all the thermal throttling features except thermal monitoring. Also it would be great if you could take some pics of your bios settings and post em so I can compare to mine.

My OC was actually set through the bios. 400x8 in the bios boots fine and is stable...I just gotta worry about cooling on the northbridge.

 

[Cuhulainn]

I'm at 8x350=2.8ghz, andI have stock everything: all voltages, stock heatsink, no NB cooling, and I've been running Orthos (like Prime95, but does both cores in one program) for 20+ minutes and passed 2 runs of memtest86 with no errors. Temps have not exceeded 50.