Official GA-8IEXP Thread !!!! Able to hit 150 FSB with 3:4 ratio STABLE!!! RMAing board b/c i found a better board !!!!

[gsethi]

woohoo.....

my GA-8IEXP should be here tomorrow morning. I am so exited about it. Post all your questions that you want to know about the board here so that i can respond to them tomorrow.

heres some from my side:

1) rebooting issue like the RXP when VCore is changed ?
2) 3:4 memory ratio ?

i will also confirm if the board can go to 355 FSB as stated by gigabyte on paper. The board should be able to do it, the trick is to find a CPU and memory that can handle it (wonders if my CPU can go that high.....that will be one heck of an overclock .....wont we need 0.5x memory ratio for that or maybe 0.33 ?....wonder if thats built in....LOL)

EDIT 1: I am just curious as to with what processor or memory did Gigabyte tested their 355 FSB (4 x 355 = 1420 Mhz) claim ? I want that particular processor and memory.

EDIT 2: Scroll down for latest update.

Thanks

 

[TimidOCer]

This board looks so great but im gonna wait till more places carry it (NEWEGG or MWAVE) . A couple things from [Hardocp , EasyTune 4 works wonderfully. This board DOES have a 3:4 memory ratio (WOOHOO) and it is a good OCer . One guy has his 1.6a @ 2.55ghz with only 1.55v (im sure he could go higher). Another guy has his 2.0 @ 2.660 .

Good board im definately getting this.. with all the goodies this board has to offer so far its my fav board.

 

[Sukhoi]

I'm really hoping this is a good board. Here's what I'm interested in:

Stability with upped CPU voltages.
Availability of 4:3 memory ratio at any FSB.
Availability of AGP/PCI lock at any FSB.
Does it overclock well?
Does the onboard LAN work well?

Basically I want to know if it's even better than a 4BDA2+.

 

[Barrei]

I don't think it has the pci/agp lock feature ,probably will have several different settings to keep it close to 33/66.

 

[gsethi]

it does has the PCI/AGP locking feature now......

 

[looper]

Gsethi...


Keep us informed how the board performs at this same thread, so I don't have to go wandering for you...

Thx... looper

 

[GNUchica]

Originally posted by: gsethi
it does has the PCI/AGP locking feature now......

Stupid question... what's PCI/AGP locking?

 

[Barrei]

Right on Gsethi , the pci/agp lock is a major feature for overclocking.

 

[gsethi]

ok just received my motherboard......opened the box and first empressions are great.......onto installing it in my case now

wish me luck......

gsethi

 

[gsethi]

First Review of the board: INSTALLING THE BOARD

all i can say here is that think think and think the layout of all your cards before proceeding. You wont have that many slots left after everything is installed. I installed my own SB Live instead of using onboard sound, and a modem.

you will loose 3 PCI slots (1 for the USB ports, 1 for the IEEE, and third for the SPD if connector). yeah, the wire for the SPD if connector is not standard. It wont fit into my SB Live. The sb live has only 2 pins for spd while this wire requires a 3 pin input. So i just connected it to the mobo for now.

ok going to install my drives now..........

 

[gsethi]

Second Review of the Board: Overclocking Options: Using BIOS F3

FSB: 100 - 355 Mhz

PCI/AGP: Fixed/Automatic
Fixed from: 33/66 to 50/100 (tons of options in between, cant list them here.....if demand is more, i will list them)

Memory Ratio: 2.0 (1:1), 2.66 (3:4) at all FSBs.

DIMM OverVoltage: Normal, +0.1v, +0.2v, +0.3v

AGP OverVoltage: Normal, +0.1v, +0.2v, +0.3v

CPU Voltage: 1.5v to 1.725v (increments of 0.025v)

It also has a setting called "Top Performance"

will let you know how high it will overclock later.....have to install Windows XP on it again. Also, my CPU Temp is kinda high even at 1.6 GHz (in the BIOS, ~47C......going to reapply AS3)

will keep you posted

gsethi

 

[RedRooster]

Originally posted by: gsethi
Second Review of the Board: Overclocking Options: Using BIOS F3

will let you know how high it will overclock later.....have to install Windows XP on it again. Also, my CPU Temp is kinda high even at 1.6 GHz (in the BIOS, ~47C......going to reapply AS3)

will keep you posted

gsethi

The Gigabyte boards read a little high, around 5C or so. At least, the KT333 ones do, not sure if it's the same Winbond chip on the P4 boards or not.
Thanks for the info so far, this looks like it'll be at the top of my list for my upgrade next week!

 

[Sukhoi]

Hmm, that's a surprisingly small range for the CPU voltage. Does this board give true voltages, or does it go a little low? I was only planning on going to 1.75V max anyway, so this isn't an issue to me if it gives true voltages.

 

[Barrei]

I've seen a few of the newest boards have the +15% from stock cpuv .

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: gsethi
First Review of the board: INSTALLING THE BOARD

all i can say here is that think think and think the layout of all your cards before proceeding. You wont have that many slots left after everything is installed. I installed my own SB Live instead of using onboard sound, and a modem.

you will loose 3 PCI slots (1 for the USB ports, 1 for the IEEE, and third for the SPD if connector). yeah, the wire for the SPD if connector is not standard. It wont fit into my SB Live. The sb live has only 2 pins for spd while this wire requires a 3 pin input. So i just connected it to the mobo for now.

ok going to install my drives now..........

i noticed that when i was trying to decide between the gigabyte and the abit.

 

[Sukhoi]

Can you guys explain more what you're talking about with the SPDIF connector? I'm really confused.

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Can you guys explain more what you're talking about with the SPDIF connector? I'm really confused.

the SPDIF cable that comes with the board is not compatible with the SB Live sound cards.

If you look at the SB Live cards, they have only 2 pins for the connector while this cable has 3 pins.....incompatibility here.
so i had to plug that in directly to the mobo.....


I just came back from someplace and am installing Win XP and then i will try to overclock later in the night and post my review here.

I need a suggestion, should i use my own SB Live or onboard Creative ?

thanks

 

[Sukhoi]

IMHO I'd use the separate SB Live!. In one of Anand's reviews it showed the onboard Creative sound being quite CPU intensive, though I don't know if we're talking about the same chips here.

I've always gotten the two wire digital audio cables with my CD-ROM drives so I guess that's why I didn't know what you were talking about with the three wire thing.

 

[gsethi]

ok.....just finished installing Win XP......my old Hard drive was giving me some problems.......aparantly there was a virus which was preventing from installing new OS on it.


got all figured out and now i am going to start overclocking it in a short while

wish me luck

 

[WideMouth40]

Originally posted by: gsethi
ok.....just finished installing Win XP......my old Hard drive was giving me some problems.......aparantly there was a virus which was preventing from installing new OS on it.


got all figured out and now i am going to start overclocking it in a short while

wish me luck

Hehehe, good luck, and we want details, tons and tons of details! Hope ya hit at least 166 FSB

Peace

 

[gsethi]

ok here i go: tonight i will see how high i can boot into windows. I knew this processor was working fine in the GA-8IRXP at 150 FSB, so i should be able to go 150 atleast. really want 166 atleast. on the RXP, i wasnt able to boot to windows at 155, so fingers crossed here.....

UPDATE: The board restarts fine (unlike the GA-8IRXP) when VCore is changed or increased........

TOP PERFORMANCE: ENABLED

First Try: 133 Mhz FSB
Memory: 354 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.5v
Boot to windows: NORMAL

Second Try: 150 FSB
Memory: 300 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.5v
Boot to windows: NORMAL (the board is as good as GA-8IRXP)

Third Try: 160 FSB
Memory: 320 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.5v
Boot to Windows: NO GO so far

Fourth Try: 155 FSB
Memory: 310 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.6v
Boot to windows: Blue Screen of Death

Fifth Try: 155 FSB
Memory: 310 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.7v
Boot to windows: its going....its going........CRAP.....NO GO

Sixth Try: 155 FSB
Memory: 310 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.725v (Highest i can go)
Boot to windows: its going....its going........IN WINDOWS (but not so happy......i have maxed my voltage)

Seventh Try: 160 FSB
Memory: 320 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.725v (Highest i can go)
Boot to windows: its going....its going.......NO GO
It cant be my memory since it is DDR 333 (samsung PC2700)......so is it my CPU or my Motherboard ?

Eighth Try: 150 FSB
Memory: 399 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.725v (Highest i can go)
Boot to windows: its going....its going........in Windows.....

Ninth Try: 154 FSB
Memory: 308 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.725v (Highest i can go)
Boot to windows: its going....its going........in Windows

Tenth try: 155 FSB again
Memory: 310 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.725v
Boot to windows: Weird.....it booted to windows fine....maybe it doesnt likes huge FSB jumps

Eleventh Try: 157 FSB
Memory: 314 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.725v
Boot to windows: hmm.....Boots fine again

Twelveth Try: 160 FSB straight
Memory: 320 DDR
CPU VCore: 1.725v
Boot to windows: NO Go again

Will try 159 FSB now....

i am using stock cooling......maybe thats why it is.....will get a better heatsink/fan over the weekend and will let you guys know.

ok....i forgot but where is the memory setting for the RXP ? i mean where do i setup the SPDs manually ?

Thanks

 

[gsethi]

My Evaluation so far:

The board is definately better than the GA-8IRXP.
you dont have to deal with the rebooting issue. you get IEEE ports as well as the SPDIF connector.

Overclocking wise:

the highest VCore i can go upto is 1.725 v (which is a con). They should really allow atleast 1.85 v
you dont have to deal with PCI/AGP dividers anymore.....you get FIXED PCI/AGP options and tons of them

 

[Barrei]

It boots into Windows thats great, can you run applications at 150fsb and over?

 

[Sukhoi]

By checking in Sandra or something can you verify that you're getting a true 1.725V? If so, I think I'm going to pick up this board. Thanks for the listing of all your overclocking!

 

[gsethi]

ok no go at 159 FSB.....it boots at 158 FSB though.

rebooting now again at 155 FSB and will let you know the true VCore using the included hardware monitoring.
Also will check if i can run some applications at 155 FSB (will test IE, Media player....havnt installed others yet).

hold on just a longer......

i was really expecting atleast 165 FSB out of this board but maybe its just my processor. It never went up 155 on the RXP even with the 1.85v. So i cant blame on this board yet. Maybe i just need better cooling (using stock cooling right now)........what do you guys think ?