My Gigabyte 8INXP arrived today!!

[Elvis2]

Hi, I your XP the same copy for the previous motherboard? No activation problems with changing mobos?

Yeah, it's the same. I haven't activated it yet with this configuration. I'm waiting to make sure I'm happy with the present setup lest I have to reformat. Besides, I've reactivated this copy numerous times, either online or by phone. They're starting to know me on a first name basis up there @ MS XP activation center .

 

Originally posted by: Elvis2

Hi, I your XP the same copy for the previous motherboard? No activation problems with changing mobos?

Yeah, it's the same. I haven't activated it yet with this configuration. I'm waiting to make sure I'm happy with the present setup lest I have to reformat. Besides, I've reactivated this copy numerous times, either online or by phone. They're starting to know me on a first name basis up there @ MS XP activation center .

lol me to, reading those looonnnngggg @ss numbers gets annoying.

 

[ragazzo]

Originally posted by: Elvis2



Now for the squawkes.
I occasionally get a very slight, split second stutter. It can appear as a mouse hang, a slight stutter in my racing sim game or 3dm2k1. I use "End it All" to shut down backround processes but by no means does it shut down the vast majority that I have no idea what they do under XP Pro. It maybe a driver issue since this doesn't happen in safe mode.

i hate that. i used to get it all the time in my old cusl2 board. couldn't figure out what it was. if anyone else can figure this out, that will be great.

 

[mechBgon]

The UT / WinZip benchmark is simply a user-timed WinZip 8.1 Maximum-compression of a folder that you've copied the contents of UT Disc 1 into. Pure and simple. Gotta make sure to use the Maximum compression setting for it. The best result I've seen so far was a PC1066-equipped P4 2.53GHz, at about 1 minute 30 seconds (the user might have forgotten to use Maximum compression but I thought he said he did use Maximum). So I was curious how the comparable bandwidth of dual-channel DDR compares.

 

[neilm]

I've never built a computer from scratch before, but I will be when this board is released.. would the instruction be good enough to aid me through this so I won't foul anything expensive up?

 

[ArborBarber]

neilm...the mobo is very forgiving...in that I mean it is very well labeled, pos and neg pins are clearly marked...you should be fine....I'm sure Elvis2 will be glad to help you with any questions...I'll be putting together a system with this mobo also, so if it ever arrives I'll be more then happy to pass along any info...everything will be new that's going into this new system+some new technology(serial HD). So once I have it up and running I'll post any problems encountered, if you don't hear from me, it's probably because I blew something up in which case I'll shoot myself...lol
Thanks Elvis2!!!...you do realize we're vicariously living our lives at the moment through you?LOL...
Keep us up-to-date bro! YOU DA MAN!

 

[mechBgon]

Yeah, go for it. Computers are so modular that it's hard to put them together "wrong." My #1 tip is: don't drop or jar the hard drive! Also make double-sure that when you bolt the motherboard down to the supports, there are no extra supports that don't correspond to a hole in the board, or they'll probably short out on the underside of the board. And don't skimp on your power supply, buy Antec, Sparkle Power or Enermax, splurge and get a 350W+ unit.

 

[poMONKey]

bravo bravo...

Im still waiting for an asus p4g8x board >>> hangin'

I haven't purchased anything yet tho

Lets see what happens here!!

thanks for giney pigging out for us... keep it comin'

 

[ArborBarber]

*Bump*...........pomonkey, go for the gigabyte...it comes recommended by the editor of motherboard reviews working for anandtech...Evan Lieb.

 

[Elvis2]

Ahhh Yes....."bleeding edge" technology. Gives one a wonderful chance to sharpen their trouble shooting skills. Much has happened since my last post. "sigh".

Those minor complaints I had about an occasional stutter and that XP Pro took to long to load? Well, things deteriorated rapidly. . I spent most of yesterday trying to debug this thing. It got to a point where it wouldn't even load windows. I tried removing drivers and it would run great....for awhile. Then it would become sluggish and then back to the "won't load windows" deal. No BSOD's or anything. Just wouldn't work. When it got to a point where it wouldn't even load in safe mode I started searching for hardware issues. Problem was, I didn't know anyone, anywhere with experience with this mb. I noticed that hd performance seemed to suffer so that's where I started. I 86'ed the whole RAID 0 setup and reconfigured it.Toymaker suggested that that I look on the boards install cd for RAID driver file I could load onto a floppy. I found the instructions on the readme txt and went to work. I reformatted and F6'd and loaded the floppy and got and error message. Couldn't find a file. I went back and redid it three times only to realize that the instructions in the readme were wrong! By that time, it was late and my wife was pissed 'cause I spent darn near the whole day on this thing, so I scratched the RAID setup all together and went ata133 instead.

Problem solved! !

This thing is now so smooooth and fast. It's unbelievable. Got my 2.53 runnin@ 2948mhz, rock solid, stable@46C on STOCK VOLTAGE. Looped 3DM2K1 at this speed all nite without so mucj as a hiccup . Set a new personal best score at 14,123.

I don't see a problem for anyone not planning to run RAID. I plan on trying it again, just after more people have tried it and can maybe tell me what I might be doing wrong.

 

[poldi1]

Grats on your board Elvis2! I am still waiting for mine and will be for some more I fear.
I have to questions: 1. I want to use the raid as ATA133 too and I am cough cough don`t have a floppy drive atm, destroyed it two weeks ago, will that be a problem? Do I need to install any drivers if I only want to use it as ATA133?
2. Since I want a system as quiet as possible, how much noise do that cool blue thingie fan and the chipset fan make? I have to live with the chipset fan atm, but I definately don`t have to live with that blue thing(which name I forgot atm)), since it does nothing besides emitting that blue glow, hehehe.

 

[Ajaykay]

Hey Elvis!

I just picked up this board at a computer show here in NJ yesterday -- $279 (ouch!!) -- and started the setup last night. Had a lot of the same RAID problems as you did, so I scratched it and went with the regular IDE channels. Of course I have never set up a RAID array before so I attribute the problem to my lack of experience.

Anyway, I've got a 2.8 P4 in there now with a 9700Pro and 1 gig of Corsair XMS3200C2 not overclocked in any way (yet). Installation was problem free (after ditching the RAID setup) and all is stable and seems lightning fast -- but then I only have my old Athlon XP1600 w/Geforce4 to compare it to.

Are you overclocking with Top Performance enabled in the BIOS? Also, mine came with the F2 bios -- is there something newer? The site of this GB board tempted me yesterday and I probably should have researched it a bit more but the sight of it sitting in front of me yesterday at the show, and $279 burning a hole in my jeans made me a bit more impulsive than I normally am.

Will check back here periodically to see how you and others are making out -- right now I have a lot of application software reinstalling to do. Good luck to both of us!

 

[TheCoz]

Elvis2 - So you didn't reload Windows XP when you changed mobos? If so, I'm surprised it worked at all. I've noticed that NT-based OSes like 2K and XP can be pretty flakey when changing boards. WinME is a pile of crap but can cope very well with motherboard changes but the last time I tried it with XP I got nothing but BSOD during the OS load.

How about some more benchies with your fresh XP install? Have you tried going much beyond 155MHz FSB with more juice yet? How does the overclocking on your GB board compare with the other two platforms? How about the undervolting when idle, under load etc.?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[TheCoz]

Originally posted by: Ajaykay
I just picked up this board at a computer show here in NJ yesterday

How come all you guys with the hippy member icon get Gigabyte GB boards?? Are you all part of some hippy club and you get free stuff? Damn, time to change the old bulldog.......

 

[Elvis2]

1)

1. I want to use the raid as ATA133 too and I am cough cough don`t have a floppy drive atm, destroyed it two weeks ago, will that be a problem? Do I need to install any drivers if I only want to use it as ATA133?

2)

Since I want a system as quiet as possible, how much noise do that cool blue thingie fan and the chipset fan make? I have to live with the chipset fan atm, but I definately don`t have to live with that blue thing(which name I forgot atm)), since it does nothing besides emitting that blue glow, hehehe.

3)

Are you overclocking with Top Performance enabled in the BIOS? Also, mine came with the F2 bios -- is there something newer?

4)

Elvis2 - So you didn't reload Windows XP when you changed mobos?

Answers:
1) I'd say you need the floppy to install a RAID configuration. For ata133, you can probably install your hd's as a master/slave configuration on your primary IDE channel, install your OS and then load the ata133 drivers off the cd than move your drives over to IDE channels 3 & 4 or as a m/s on IDE 3.
2) Noise is relative. What might be tolerable for me might be way to loud for you. I was used to an oc'd AMD system with eight case fans so compared to that, this is much quieter. I don't find it too loud.
3) I can't seem to get top performance to work although I haven't tried backing off ram timing or upping voltage. I shouldn't have to kick the voltage up because I can run @ 2900+mhz (155fsb) without changing it and I believe Top performanc runs at 139fsb
4) Of course I reformatted and did a fresh install. I always do with a major hardware change. It's the only way to minimze hardware issues

How come all you guys with the hippy member icon get Gigabyte GB boards?? Are you all part of some hippy club and you get free stuff? Damn, time to change the old bulldog.......

Yeah...I wish it was free.

 

[ShoNuff]

Originally posted by: Elvis2
This thing is now so smooooth and fast. It's unbelievable. Got my 2.53 runnin@ 2948mhz, rock solid, stable@46C on STOCK VOLTAGE. Looped 3DM2K1 at this speed all nite without so mucj as a hiccup .[/b] Set a new personal best score at 14,123. I don't see a problem for anyone not planning to run RAID. I plan on trying it again, just after more people have tried it and can maybe tell me what I might be doing wrong.

Yo Elvis, on your old Gigabyte board were you able to overclock your 2.53 at stock voltage? In other words how does the 8INXP perform with your 2.53 vs. your old board?

Oh, as for the RAID driver thing goes, I bought the 8PE667 because I couldn't wait for the 8INXP any longer. When trying to install the RAID drivers I got the same problems you described earlier. I noticed when installing XP if I did not put the driver disk into the floppy until XP promted me for it (vs. putting it in at the same time I hit F6 or shortly thereafter) I had no problems. When I put the disk in early it wouldn't work. For some reason I would get an error message. I can't explain that one? I just know I could reproduce it. I believe the 8INXP is using the same Promise RAID controller chip as the 8PE667. If you would like me to email you a copy of the disk just let me know.

 

[Kowan]

Ajaykay
Was there two boards there at the show? I would have over paid for one myself. I'm weak like that.

 

[poldi1]

Thanks for the answer Elvis2 )

 

[Ajaykay]

Hey Kowan!

I was one of the first people through the gate and the dealer who had it only had 1 board. I knew I had to sh*t or get off the pot cause it would be gone my next time around. I grabbed it and I saw no other GB boards at the show. Basically, right place at the right time for me.

I must say the board was a breeze to set up and software installation and stability has been solid. Small overclock to 150FSB with everything stock is enough for me at the moment (puts me comfortably over the 3 gig mark with the 2.8 P4). I'll raise it some more in time, do a few benches and see exactly what I've got here. So far so good though.

Good luck finding one -- check Googlegear and Essential Computer -- someone told me they saw them onsite for about an hour or so last week but they sold out. And Newegg will have the AOpen one again in a few days. Make getting one your New Year's resolution -- it's definitely worth it!

 

[TheCoz]

Gamepc.com have the GA-8INXP in stock NOW for $260.

GA-8INXP @ GamePC

 

[ShoNuff]

Essential had the 8INXP in stock for two days before someone paid $299.00 for it. I am surprised Essential priced it so high. They are usually one of the more "Reasonable" vendors on the net.

 

[Flakk]

it's all about supply and demand.. as long as ppl are willing to pay that much vendors will charge that much... sad but true

ArborBarbor: its no prob man.. i thought your comeback was kind of funny.. fish breath haha

 

[ArborBarber]

Flakk...I'm glad you have a good sence of humor....
I went with UpgradeSource.com for my mobo...I didn't like some of the reviews I read about the company though, especially about back ordered items...I'm starting to get alittle impatient and worried, I hope they don't let me down. If they do let me down, I'll do everything possible to tarnish their company's "iffy" name...I'm partly to blame, I didn't READ any reviews till AFTER the purchase. I've also noticed that they raised the price of the mobo since I bought it...this has me concerned. I mean why send me a mobo in hand for less if they got other ppl willing to pay more?

 

[Elvis2]

I've also noticed that they raised the price of the mobo since I bought it...

This seems to be a common practice with this board. I really lucked out finding my board on egay (one of two listed by Knowledgemicro on 12/20) but as soon aa I bought it, they jacked up the price on the other one . Even at the higher price ($259.00) it didn't last long,

 

[mechBgon]

I'm still waiting for someone to post some WinZip compression times for me here! C'mon, someone must have both WinZip 8.1 and Unreal Tournament...

If it escaped notice, here is what you do, and 1 minute 30 seconds is the time to beat (from a 2.53GHz/PC1066 system):

• Make a new folder on your system partition
• Copy all the files and folders from Unreal Tournament Disc 1 into this folder
• Right-click the folder and select WinZip > Add to Zip file...
• The WinZip option panel comes up. Select Maximum (slowest) compression level.
• Start timing as you click the Add button
• Go grab a cup of coffee
• Stop timing when the progress meter disappears