Gigabyte DS3 + E6400 questions/problems

[cpl edge]

Originally posted by: thilan29

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.

i have:
ultra 500w psu
gigabyte 965p ds3 f4c bios
e6400 with gigabyte water cooler
corsair xms2 ddr667 5-5-5-15 2x1gb
radeon x700
wd 250gb sata
win x64 pro

one thing i notice is that when i manually set the ram timings, it ignores what i tell it for cas latency. i tell it 5 in bios, and it shows up as 3 in cpuz. ( 3 is when i had it running as ddr 533) i need to install 32 bit windows so i can use the ram testers, but i have not gotten around to it. i will get pictures up whenever i get a camera to take them.

 

[cpl edge]

and as far as i know i have all the thermal throttling turned off. if it sits at idle in windows and cpuz says its at 1600MHz and when i use it it shoots up to 2130, does that have anything to do with the throttling you speak of?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: cpl edge
one thing i notice is that when i manually set the ram timings, it ignores what i tell it for cas latency. i tell it 5 in bios, and it shows up as 3 in cpuz. ( 3 is when i had it running as ddr 533) i need to install 32 bit windows so i can use the ram testers, but i have not gotten around to it. i will get pictures up whenever i get a camera to take them.

Then you aren't saving your BIOS settings when you exit the BIOS.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: cpl edge

Originally posted by: thilan29

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.

i have:
ultra 500w psu
gigabyte 965p ds3 f4c bios
e6400 with gigabyte water cooler
corsair xms2 ddr667 5-5-5-15 2x1gb
radeon x700
wd 250gb sata
win x64 pro

one thing i notice is that when i manually set the ram timings, it ignores what i tell it for cas latency. i tell it 5 in bios, and it shows up as 3 in cpuz. ( 3 is when i had it running as ddr 533) i need to install 32 bit windows so i can use the ram testers, but i have not gotten around to it. i will get pictures up whenever i get a camera to take them.

Hey nice I have the exact same Gigabyte Galaxy water cooler, but use it for the vid card instead.

Anyway, I think your Ultra PSU might be somewhat of a culprit. IIRC, they are not very good PSUs (I think anyone would tell you that). However, I suppose your bios settings are probably contributing more to your problems.

So at stock your ram runs at DDR533 right?? Try setting the ram timings to auto so you can concentrate on your CPU overclock. I have mine set to auto and it is running at DDR2-830 at 5-5-5-12 at 2.1v with the CPU at 3.3GHz. And about the CPUz reading, apparently it is wrong when it says it is CAS3 so don't go by the CPUz timings.

Turn off all of the throttling (and yes if your computer sits at 1600MHz then shoots up to 2100MHz, you have throttling on). Leave thermal monitoring on though.

Here are pics of my bios:
click
click
click
click

Use those exact settings other than your hard drive settings and hopefully those help. Also, a word of warning, point a fan at your Northbridge (big gold heatsink) because I was getting lockups because it was running SO hot. Don;t up the voltage on the northbridge.

 

[cpl edge]

ok, i have throttling off now and everything on auto (auto ram speed is 667 at 5-5-5-15) as soon as i enable the manual cpu host clock control and put it at any setting, it refuses to start. (from 100 to 400 and everywhere in between) also, even when i just turned the pcie bus up to 100 it refused to start. i think you might be right about the psu. when i flip the power switch to turn it on, all the lights and fans turn on for about a second, then turn off for a second, then come back on again to finish starting the computer. also, if it doesnt like the setting i selected in the bios, it flips on and off a couple of times and then starts with default bios setting. i have never had a computer auto clear its own cmos before. thats weird... im gonna try a different psu here in a sec...

 

[buck]

I have the extreme spirit 2 on my NB on the DS3.
Its working great and you can move it around to change airflow and to make room for bigger hsf's.

 

[cpl edge]

it was not the psu... im gonna read some more about other conroe mobos. and check the ram.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: cpl edge
ok, i have throttling off now and everything on auto (auto ram speed is 667 at 5-5-5-15) as soon as i enable the manual cpu host clock control and put it at any setting, it refuses to start. (from 100 to 400 and everywhere in between) also, even when i just turned the pcie bus up to 100 it refused to start. i think you might be right about the psu. when i flip the power switch to turn it on, all the lights and fans turn on for about a second, then turn off for a second, then come back on again to finish starting the computer. also, if it doesnt like the setting i selected in the bios, it flips on and off a couple of times and then starts with default bios setting. i have never had a computer auto clear its own cmos before. thats weird... im gonna try a different psu here in a sec...

Originally posted by: cpl edge
it was not the psu... im gonna read some more about other conroe mobos. and check the ram.

Well, I really can't think of what's wrong other than maybe one of your components is screwed. Also try flashing back to an older bios and see if you can overclock even a little bit. Also, CLEAR our cmos before you do anything.

 

[cpl edge]

i did clear the cmos (jumper and the hold down pwr swich method) i have decided that since i went "cheap" and only got the e6400, i would splurge and get the intel 975xbx. so thats what im doing...their manual might actually be in proper english too.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: cpl edge
one thing i notice is that when i manually set the ram timings, it ignores what i tell it for cas latency. i tell it 5 in bios, and it shows up as 3 in cpuz. ( 3 is when i had it running as ddr 533) i need to install 32 bit windows so i can use the ram testers, but i have not gotten around to it. i will get pictures up whenever i get a camera to take them.

Try the F4E beta BIOS, it fixes the CAS issues.

Overall this board is a POS. Too many issues. The restart "bug", the RAM voltage issues, and the incompatibility with a lot of high-end RAM modules.

 

[Kougar]

POS my gluteus maximus!

The Software backup utility that auto-boots off the driver CD has killed my RAID 0 array not once but twice just by it accidentally getting run when I try to activate other windows boot modes, forcing me to reinstall XP SP2 and all my programs, 60+ updates, and all the drivers three full times over. But I will only say Gigabyte software is harmful to your computer's health, the hardware is great!!

I am currently running a 1.86ghz E6300 @ 3.33ghz stable. 475FSB, ~1.356vCore and the system runs completely cool with the panel off. With it on heat builds up though and I'm trying out various ways to improve my cases's airflow, which is ironic since it is a P180-B! A side panel duct intake is really needed. I'm using an old Zalman 7700Cu cooler, which just barely clears the MCH heatsink and keeps it nice and cool. I "hung" a tiny fan from the ICH8 heatsink as it was getting much hotter than the northbridge, but I don't even have the room to put one on the MCH heatsink. The Zalman keeps it only moderately warm.

I guess I got extremely lucky in my choice of RAM, as at stock it only wants 1.9v, never had any issues there. I am using the F3 BIOS though and am having the exact issue with the CAS latency being stuck at three, even when I have the RAM set for 5-5-5-15. I don't know how, but it runs and I have only upped the Vdimm to "+0.2v". According to Speedfan it is getting a hair under 2v now. I shall try the F4E BIOS, as I can easily get a 500FSB with this board if I can keep the heat down. Everything is extremely heat sensitive, especially the CPU. Anything over 57c and my E6300 can start throwing errors, but under 55c it can and has run dual-Prime95s all night long with no errors. This thing will make a watercooling user out of me yet...

I don't think this "restart bug" people are complaining of is a bug. I find it rather neat to watch every single 120mm fan in my system spool up 1 at a time, 1 by 1. Only after the last one starts up do the optical drives kick in and the system POSTs... I either had figured it was a intentional gradual spooling up of the fans + drives, or it was done because it gives the chipset that special touch... Not many boards can break 400FSB, let alone run 475FSB 24/7 without an issue!

For those DS3 users that are having OC issues, simply keep both northbridge and southbridge coolers "warm" to the touch but not hot. Don't up the MCH voltage by more than "+0.1v", it is not needed until over 450FSB, and while using "+0.2v" will get ya above 475FSB but it will run to hot IMHO, even with active fan cooling. If you have your chipset on a waterblock though then I say go for it... Also again the CPU is absurdly sensitive to heat, 3.4ghz is my limit without pushing the temps to high or finding someone's watercooling set up to borrow.

Figuring out the BIOS took a little help, but I suggest going here and reading Aldamon's post and examining his BIOS settings/photos as they did the trick for me. The default host freq of 100 threw me off. http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...&STARTPAGE=2&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear I simply put in 400FSB and everything worked off the bat.

Full Specs:

Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86ghz @ 3.33ghz
w/ Zalman CNPS7700-Cu, (~1.356v, 475FSB)
(Dual Pime 95's for 2 hours @ 54c cureently, Idle's at 32c with EIST/C1E both off)
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 Motherboard (FS3 BIOS)
2 x 1Gb Corsair DDR2-800 RAM @ 950mhz (~2v according to Speedfan? CPUZ shows 3-5-5-12)
ATI 7000 PCI Graphics Card
Antec NeoHE 550watt PSU / Antec P180-B Case


As best I recall, these were the settings I had been using at 450FSB:
EIST: Disabled
C1E: Disabled
Azalia: Disabled
Serial Port: Disabled
Parallel Port: Disabled
All mainboard Fan controls disabled. (Defaults them to full speed)

CPU Host Freq: 450
System Memory Multiplier: 2 (Times the host freq, ='s DDR2=900mhz RAM)
RAM manuall set at 5-5-5-12 (In windows it shows as 3-5-5-12, again due to my current BIOS)
DIMM Overvoltage "+0.2"
FSB Overvoltage "+0.2"
MCH Overvoltage "+0.1"
CPU Voltage: Somewhere around 3.500 was a hair to low, whatever the one setting higher is was enough to get stability at 3.15ghz.
I did not mess with ANY PCIe settings, because I am using a basic PCI GPU atm.


Two screenies, my first attempt to reach 500FSB: Linky

My current config I am running 24/7 for folding@home use. Linky (Those were 600 point WU's, apiece )

Also I want to note that Speedfan 4.29 was recently released for ICH8 southbridge support, but I am still getting lots of wonky info with mine. My +12 rail reads 0.0v at idle, but runs up to anywhere from 3.0v to 5v under full load. I have tried Everest but it is not fully compatible yet either and has some info missing... Also I have tried the EasyTune5, EasyTune 5 beta, and even easytune4 but not a single one will run on my system!! What is even more strange is that the ONLY "@BIOS" program that I found that worked was the "1.10d". I only found this on the driver CD, their website only lists 1.10b and 1.10c, neither of which would let me flash my BIOS to F3

 

[Kougar]

Okay, I've updated to the "F4c" BIOS and the CAS latency is still hard locked at 3 no matter what I do to it. I can't claim to know how a $180 kit of 2gb 800mhz Corsair RAM can run at 950mhz, 3-5-5-12 with 2v going into it. This memory is advertised as 5-5-5-12 at 1.9v. I haven't been able to lower any other timings though as of yet. This is my memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

Tweaked the settings around, +3 on the FSB and dropped the CPU Vcore, left the MCH at +1 and everything is running cooler, am running two instances of folding@home for the past 5 hours and temps are only 41-45c at most. When I find a BIOS that fixes the CAS bug I will make another run at 3.5ghz with a 500FSB, I'm dead sure it's that CAS of 3 on the RAM holding the OC back.

 

[vhx]

Hmm I just noticed my RAM running at 3 CL even though its rated at 5 CL. Is this a good thing, isn't a lower CL faster or could this be part of me being unstable?

I also I can't get a stable 400 FSB unless I am at 1.475V, which is a lot more than what I expected. Is this because of my CL?

Also yeah my northbridge burns my finger but its pretty much impossible to fit a fan in there since I use a Scythe Ninja and a P180. I did makeshift an 80MM fan blowing across the back of my vid card towards the northbridge but didn't really have an effect. (Probably because its too far) 3RD party Northbridge cooling would probably be impossible because of the Scythe Ninja.

Any ideas on my questions?

 

[Kougar]

I would tend to think so, most RAM can't support a CAS timing of 3!! And since the board is picky about pushing the RAM voltage above "+0.3v" and seems to refuse to do so as a failsafe measure for some people it is definitely a major limitation unless you own $400-500 memory. It has me stuck at a 475FSB until I can raise this to something more inline with the original specs.

As for your P180, move your HDDs to the lower bay and mount a second 120mm fan on the upper drive cageto make use of the wind tunnel. This has helped my own OCs greatly. If your northbridge is to hot to touch then it's to hot to OC until you find some way to jury rig active cooling for both north and southbridge chips.

 

[Kougar]

The primary issue I have with unstable OCs and this processor is heat, from the first OC to my latest overclock. The CPU is extremely heat sensitive, for me anything over 58c is not really stable. Both the north and south bridge heatsinks need active cooling as well.

Here is a link to the latest "F4e" BIOS that I am using right now. It fixes the CAS 3 bug! http://rapidshare.de/files/28960251/965pds3.f4e.html

Edited to add the usual disclaimer, it's a beta BIOS far as I know. It has given me my first working 501FSB overclock though...

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: vhx
Hmm I just noticed my RAM running at 3 CL even though its rated at 5 CL. Is this a good thing, isn't a lower CL faster or could this be part of me being unstable?

I also I can't get a stable 400 FSB unless I am at 1.475V, which is a lot more than what I expected. Is this because of my CL?

Also yeah my northbridge burns my finger but its pretty much impossible to fit a fan in there since I use a Scythe Ninja and a P180. I did makeshift an 80MM fan blowing across the back of my vid card towards the northbridge but didn't really have an effect. (Probably because its too far) 3RD party Northbridge cooling would probably be impossible because of the Scythe Ninja.

Any ideas on my questions?

If you're reading the CL off of CPUz, FYI it's wrong. Apparently CPUz doesn't read the CL value correctly. I think the other values are read correctly though.

 

[Kougar]

I tried CPUZ, Everest, and some other utility that I don't recall. All three were reporting the exact "3-5-5-12" timings. Considering a few recent articles I've read up on with Corsair, a CAS of 3 just isn't possible at DDR2-1,000mhz, which is what I was running due to my OC.

 

[vhx]

BTW my old HD is IDE so I can't put it in the lower bay, sadly.

EDIT: Btw there is an official F4 bios on Gigabytes website for the DS3.
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=2314

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: thilan29
If you're reading the CL off of CPUz, FYI it's wrong. Apparently CPUz doesn't read the CL value correctly. I think the other values are read correctly though.

The motherboard is reporting it wrong. Use BIOS F4e or the final F4 to fix that issue.

 

[larciel]

Originally posted by: buck
I have the extreme spirit 2 on my NB on the DS3.
Its working great and you can move it around to change airflow and to make room for bigger hsf's.

Whoa, you can actually fit the thermaltake with your Asus giant HSF ? what board are you using?

 

[Mogadon]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: thilan29
If you're reading the CL off of CPUz, FYI it's wrong. Apparently CPUz doesn't read the CL value correctly. I think the other values are read correctly though.

The motherboard is reporting it wrong. Use BIOS F4e or the final F4 to fix that issue.

To second this, yes it's a known bug with the earlier BIOSs.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Mogadon

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: thilan29
If you're reading the CL off of CPUz, FYI it's wrong. Apparently CPUz doesn't read the CL value correctly. I think the other values are read correctly though.

The motherboard is reporting it wrong. Use BIOS F4e or the final F4 to fix that issue.

To second this, yes it's a known bug with the earlier BIOSs.

Thanks for the heads up. Is it only the CL value that is wrong?

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: thilan29
Thanks for the heads up. Is it only the CL value that is wrong?

Yes.

 

[shadowfire1]

I got my raid 0 array killed by xpress recovery also.I'm in the prosses of rmaing the hardrive that left the array :/. does a bios update fix the problem with xpress recovery? Otherwise ill return the hd's and just get 1 raptor.

Also, what is the safest way to update the bios. Im useing f2 so i should update it, im just worryed about it failing and computer refuseing to post.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: shadowfire1
I got my raid 0 array killed by xpress recovery also.I'm in the prosses of rmaing the hardrive that left the array :/. does a bios update fix the problem with xpress recovery? Otherwise ill return the hd's and just get 1 raptor.

Also, what is the safest way to update the bios. Im useing f2 so i should update it, im just worryed about it failing and computer refuseing to post.

I updated using the built in BIOS updating utility in the BIOS. Q-bios or something I think it's called.