Where Are The Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6 Motherboards?

[Smitty1705]

Originally posted by: Warpx9

Originally posted by: Smitty1705
NICE... thanks Gary!
Any comments on this bios? Perfect for my build tonight!

BTW - Is anyone running Vista on their setup or sticking with XP? If you are running Vista.. how is that working for you?

Thanks..

Smitty

I actually have both 32bit and 64bit versions of Vista. Right now for the first week of my build I've been running the 32bit version of Windows Vista Ultimate. I haven't had any problems, had a clean install, loaded the NVIDIA Chipset drivers version 15.00, and NVIDIA Video Drivers version 158.24, and no BSODS to report. Vista Recognized everything except for my HP Photosmart 7150 Printer, which I had to just do a workaround to get it to work. Performance wise it has been flying, very quick.

Good to hear. I think I will try Vista also (32 bit business) and see how it goes then. I'm sure SP1 will be out soon from Microsoft and fix a ton of issues.

Thanks for the O.S. replies!

Smitty

 

[KRentfrow]

Gary, I tried your link to F4F Bios but it's the F4e BIOS that downlaoded, can you please check the link.

Thanks.

Kevin

 

[Smitty1705]

Check the folder it created, there was a F4E and an F4F in there. The F4F should be the final one....

Smitty

 

[Warpx9]

Originally posted by: Smitty1705
Good to hear. I think I will try Vista also (32 bit business) and see how it goes then. I'm sure SP1 will be out soon from Microsoft and fix a ton of issues.

Thanks for the O.S. replies!

Smitty

I think the last I heard SP1 was coming out in or around October.

 

[Gary Key]

I provided both the F4E and F4F in the file, just in case there is an issue with F4F, you can drop down to F4E. F4F will be the final BIOS once it passes QA testing. Work on the F5 has started to address some upcoming processor revisions and memory changes (Micron/Naya have started producing DDR2-1066, native, 5-5-4 at 1.8V that should easily do 1333).

 

[sskmercer]

Originally posted by: Gary Key
I provided both the F4E and F4F in the file, just in case there is an issue with F4F, you can drop down to F4E. F4F will be the final BIOS once it passes QA testing. Work on the F5 has started to address some upcoming processor revisions and memory changes (Micron/Naya have started producing DDR2-1066, native, 5-5-4 at 1.8V that should easily do 1333).

I just want to thanks for these, as i've been having troubles like alot of others with O/C the quad cores. Hopefully they work. At the moment all is good @315-320fsb(F3 bios) above that nada, no matter what i do.

Also is it ok that i post a link in another forum to this thread in particular, where you posted the actual bios updates on page 23 (i think).

Cheers

 

[sskmercer]

With some quick testing with the F4f bios, it dosnt solve a thing. Still got a pretty hard ceiling @320fsb for teh Quad Q6600.

Even throwing 1.32v at and lowering multi to 8 @325 it will SOMETIMES get to windows login before it reboots. Tried it at 327-350 in case there were any FSB holes so to speak and the exact same issue as before.

So I'd bet there isn't much they can do with a bios upgrade to fix the fsb ceiling for Quads as i would say it's a hardware thing ie the GTLREF voltage and a mod will need to be done to get the board further at least for a QUAD core.

Gigabyte need to look at this, as it will be a problem with native 1333fsb Quad Cores when they come out, if you cant even hit 325fsb at the moment. I also know it's not my setup either as i know a few with basically the same except the Mobo and are hitting 400+fsb on a Quad.

Edit - Strange thing though when i loaded the new bios and rebooted the 1st time all my old settings where unchanged (which is good) except for the SB/PCIE which went up .30 for some reason WTF. Also CPU temp was only showing around 19c (got a pic) with system temp on 32c.

Thanks for reading my rant LOL. Hopefully something gets done.

 

[cdfire]

Upon bootup I see the F4 BIOS but in cpuz and everest it still shows the F2 BIOS. Any Ideas why anyone?

 

[Bayard]

my cpu-z shows the correct bios: F4f date: 5/11/07

 

[sskmercer]

Originally posted by: cdfire
Upon bootup I see the F4 BIOS but in cpuz and everest it still shows the F2 BIOS. Any Ideas why anyone?

I had this same problem when going to the F3 Bios for some reason as well.

Originally posted by: Bayard
my cpu-z shows the correct bios: F4f date: 5/11/07

Thats what i get with this version, it actually shows up properly in CPUZ 1.39 and 1.4. I used the @Bios utility to flash from windos desktop (Vista 32bit). Still as i posted above it hasnt fiixed the Quad core core problem and would say it does need a little polishing yet.

 

[imported_alcuin]

 

[imported_alcuin]

I want to post some of my observations of this board so far.

1; Analog audio output through rear jacks is extremely good and clean, as long as output is set to speakers. When set to headphones, the audio codec seems to try to amplifly it, and in doing so creates horrendous line noise and interference. So for headphone use, either leave it on the speaker setting, or use an X-Fi.

2; Gigabyte/Jmicron secondary/external SATA controllers are hot pluggable (of course), but sadly do not provide SMART data. Also, the Nvidia SATA ports are also hot pluggable (and do support SMART data); but do not plug in a drive that was previously attached to the Gigabyte/Jmicron controller to the Nvidia controller, or vice versa, without powering down first. Otherwise the system will lock up when you move the drive to a different controller. Drives detected on the JMicron are shown up as SCSI drives; I think when the drives are re-recognized on the different controller, it confuses the heck out of windows, that a drive with the exact same signature would have a different identification in Device Manager.

3; Both the F4E and F4F bioses don't seem to work on my system. The flash appears successful, but when I reboot, it takes a very long time (30sec) before it starts to post, and when it does so the post screen says F3. I have tried both in-Windows @BIOS flashing, and flashing from the Qflash in-bios program. I suspect it may have something to do with the processor I'm using.... It's a Celeron 336 (yeah, yeah, it's only a temporary cpu until I save up for a Q6700). Yes, it works fine on the F3 bios.

 

[Smitty1705]

I am running the F4F bios and i don't see any issues yet but i'm not very far in! I am stuck trying to load Vista at this point. I try and load the sata drivers at the start and when i do I get a blue screen of death! Not toooo sure what I can do about that... anyone have any ideas? I have downloaded the latest ones from gigabyte..

BTW I have the 30 second delay before start also. You can disable the logo on bootup in the bios and I'm sure that will help. They just want you to look at the screen for a bit and be able to read your options..

Smitty

 

[Smitty1705]

So... I have my 2 hard drives plugged into the Nvidiacontrolles sata ports controlled by the south bridge. ALL documentation i have read online, in the book etc say that I have it plugged into Sata II 0 and 1.. When it boots up is says it's on 2 and 3? I'm also trying to load the SATA drivers from Nvidia for Vista and it just freaking blue screens... and also beeps when I'm in the Vista setup... Thinking about XP now until they get some more drivers out. Think this is possibly an F4F bios issue?

Smitty

 

[Smitty1705]

Okay.. odd... I went back to the F3 bios and Vista started to laod no problem! Go figure! I think I will wait for the final one to get released...

Smitty

 

[cdfire]

Originally posted by: Bayard
my cpu-z shows the correct bios: F4f date: 5/11/07

Which method did you use to flash the BIOS? @BIOS in windows or Qflash from the BIOS page?

 

[cdfire]

Originally posted by: sskmercer

Originally posted by: cdfire
Upon bootup I see the F4 BIOS but in cpuz and everest it still shows the F2 BIOS. Any Ideas why anyone?

I had this same problem when going to the F3 Bios for some reason as well.

Originally posted by: Bayard
my cpu-z shows the correct bios: F4f date: 5/11/07

Thats what i get with this version, it actually shows up properly in CPUZ 1.39 and 1.4. I used the @Bios utility to flash from windos desktop (Vista 32bit). Still as i posted above it hasnt fiixed the Quad core core problem and would say it does need a little polishing yet.

When using the @BIOS program do you select clear DMI and PnP Data?

 

[justinburton]

Smitty,

I had a sh*t load of problems installing Windows XP on my Raptor raid on the Nvidia controller. It is not the bios. I tried slipstreaming the drivers into an XP disc using nLite and of course I tried the F6 floppy method. I got the BSOD every time. After a couple hours I gave up and put the RAID on the Gigabyte controller and XP installed fine. I put my other hard driver on the Nvidia controller and everything is stable now. Nvida drivers are garbage. Cheap Chinese chips and half-a*sed drivers.

I am running at 425x8, +.4 V Ram, 1.45V CPU, +.05 FSB, Unlinked 1066mHz Ram. Very stable. I think overclocking an e6600 from 2.4 gHz to 3.4 is pretty f*ckin good. One weird thing though...I know 425x8=3.4gXh, but windows says I'm running at 3.83gHz. Any ideas? Maybe the memory multiplier or something?

I made an extra partition on the raid and plan on installing Vista on it, so I can dual boot. Too bad there are no games for Vista/Directx10 yet. Crysis looks crazy though.

Here are my specs:
Case: Lian Li G70B w/window
MB: Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6
CPU: Intel e6600@3.4gHz [watercooled]
Mem: OCZ 2x1GB PC2-8500 1066mHz (5-5-5-15)
Video:2 BFG 8800GTX in SLI @ 626/1458/2000mHz [watercooled]
1 Asus PhysX P1 card (Ageia)
Power: Thermaltake Toughpower 850 Watt (W00131)
Sound: Creative soundblaster Xfi Fata1ity Platinum
Monitors: Dell 24" LCD and Viewsonic 19" LCD
HD: 2 Western Digital 74GB in Raid 0, 1 Seagate 500GB, 1 Seagate 320 GB, 1 Maxtor 500GB
CD-ROM: Liteon SATA SH-16A7S, Samsung SH-D162(Xbox 360), LG drive (Wii)
Cooling: Asetek Xtreme pump, Black Ice Xtreme 3 radiator, Tygon tubing, Fluid XP
Mouse: Logitech G7 laser wireless
Keyboard: Auravision Eluminx keyboard


Oh yeah, I got a score of 15,100 in 3Dmark06 the first time I ran it. I will post some picture links of my rig once I finished prettying it up.

 

[Smitty1705]

I"m having NOTHING but trouble with this Vista install. I have NEVER had this many issues doing an OS install.. EVER! Got everything worked out form my previous bitches... NOT I get this "unidentified network" and "local only" access when i try and get out on the network card. I have uninstalled the drivers and even went to Marvell to get updated drivers (newer then Giga provides) and i still have the problem. I have searched high and low and a ton of people report the same issues and it's not just this board it's with VISTA. I think I'm throwing the hat i on this install and going to XP until they get SP1 out! I just want to enjoy my new rig instead of fighting it for 24 hours!

I'm a TOTAL noob when it comes to overclocking.. I did read the Nvidia users guide to overclocking.. I was wondering if some one coudl post the most important changes they made in the bios? Just want to get to 3.0-3.2 for the E6600 and I would like to push mu Crucial 8500 memory up to 1066 at least.. I'm not if i should be doing this just through the Gigabyte software? Not sure how to do the multipliers on either.

Also noticed that the bot screen says something about 4 dimm modules not supported? Do i need to switch the memory to linked or something in the bios to get this working right? Guessing this is why Visa only sees 2815 of memory instead of the full 4 gig? I know the video card eats up some of it.. but that seems like a bit much..

So frustrated... built hundreds of machines.. and this is by far THE worst because of VISTA! I think the hardware I have is great though.. =)

Thanks in advance!

Smitty

 

[Seanies Show]

Hi justinBurton

Yours is an easy problem to cure, Windows is basically just not seeing the drop in your Multiplier from x9 to x8 thats all.

as for the rest of you with bios issues, I would suggest you put either the F4e or F4f bioses or even both on a floppy disk or bootable USB key and flash using Q-Flash by hitting end at the bios POST screen, then flash both your main bios and the back-up bios with one of the above.

I was having the problem where sometimes my system would boot on F4e and sometimes on the back-up bios of F2, it was doing my head in, so this was he easiest way to solve it, now it doesnt have a choice but to boot on F4e with the same settings on the Main and back-up bios.

You probably think im mad flashing beta bioses to the main and back-up bios, but dont forget if it goes wrong you can just stick the Gigabyte CD in your Drive and it will search that for a recovery Bios.

 

[cdfire]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Now it not only shows F2 in windows programs, it may have done that with the F3 BIOS also for I may not have paid much attention to it, but now sometimes upon rebooting the pc I get building data pool something, something and it sits there with a black screen. Have to hit the reset button to reboot and then it will go into windows. Not all the time, but its happened twice since this F4f BIOS. Think maybe I shall go back to the F3 BIOS.

 

[Smitty1705]

I finally got mine going with the F4F bios and seems to be okay so far. I got rid of Vista and I'm loading XP right now.. I need F3 then F4F in that order..

 

[Smitty1705]

Wow.... all drivers are loaded... no conflict in device manager and I can't get the dang NIC cards to let me out to the internet. I have 3 other machines that work FINE.... Something about the Marvel/Nvidia drivers for this achine are not working for me for Vista OR XP? What am I missing here!? Checked cables.. connection.. reloaded drivers.. all looks good but i get "limited or no connectivity" on all 4 nic ports on this machine... makes NO sense... Yes.. they are all enabled.. checked the basics..
Anyone else have any issues with the network cards? The Marvel software is pretty nice.. shows you how to team them together, but I see no mention from Nvidia o how to use their NIC cards as "teamed"... hell I'd be happy if one just worked! haha
SP2 is loaded also on XP... =)

So.. found this thread http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=36&threadid=2043790&enterthread=y

Basically... rebooted my Linksys router and it all works now.. I'm going to run it over in my driveway in a few minutes... OMG 12 hours of driver issues and such... haha.. and it was SO simple and obvious but I never thought of it since my other 3 machines were working fine.. GAH!



Smitty

 

[sskmercer]

This is for Smitty1705, not sure why you are having so many problems. I've installed Vista and XP now on my Raptors on the Nvidia Sata ports in a Raid 0 array no problems at all.

Are you loading the Drivers for Sata and Raid controls onto a floppy and doing the F6 thing for XP or loading them when Vista asks.

As for your networking i cant say what's going on teher, unless you have them disabled in the Bios for some reason, thats about all i can think of. I have plugged my cable into each port and all is fine Vista and XP. Though Vista is a bit of biatch to setup when it comes to sharing stuff across the a Network, though there are heaps of guides out there for that.

Check the Bios first for the networking and let us know how you go then.

Edit - Get all the latest Drivers from Nvidia etc, as they are more upto date then whats on the Gigabyte website for this board at least anyway.

My Specs are in my sig now.

 

[Smitty1705]

I edited my post right as you were replying.. I'm going to scrap Xp AGAIN and try Vista AGAIN.. since I fixed the dumb problem under XP... (and it had nothing to do with the OS)... This is almost funny!

BTW - If I do load the Sata-IDe vista driver from floppy when it's setting up and askig for drivers.. I get a bluescreen... I'll just load it without and update it once Vista is going..

Smitty