EPoX 8K3A Overclocking BIOS Comparison - 2312 vs 2612

[N8]

I hadn't tried any other BIOS's for this board in months since I knew by reading others complaints of the new BIOS releases that the 2312 was still king performance-wise, if you were operating over 166MHz FSB. A few days ago EPoX Tech posted a new beta BIOS 2612 in the AOA forums, and since I have played with the 2312 for a couple months now, I thought I'd tinker around with the 2612 to see what all was different.

This is my little comparison which I'll share with you other 8K3A owners. All tests were run on an unlocked XP1600+ @ 7.5mult x 185MHz FSB. My Abit G4 was clocked to stock speeds of 250core/500mem. Onboard sound was disabled and memory timings were set to most aggressive in both BIOS's. I ran the tests with each BIOS in this order: 3DMark - Sandra Memory - Sandra CPU - Sandra CPU Multi-Media. A defrag was performed before both 3DMark runs and the system was rebooted between every benchmark. Time for the numbers...

2312

3DMark2001se:
10180pts (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/23123dmark.gif)

Sandra CPU:
3847/1923 (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/2312cpu.gif)

Sandra CPUMM:
7542/8874 (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/2312cpumm.gif)

Sandra Memory:
2812/2510 (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/2312mem.gif)

2612

3DMark2001se:
9884pts (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/26123dmark.gif)

Sandra CPU:
3846/1923 (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/2612cpu.gif)

Sandra CPUMM:
7539/8873 (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/2612cpumm.gif)

Sandra Memory:
2578/2317 (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/2612mem.gif)

Basically what it comes down to as far as I can see is that the 2312 has better memory performance than the 2612. I'm not so sure this is a bad thing, especially if you have a locked processor. I'll probably just continue to run the 2312 because if I want to get my FSB up I can simply relax the memory timings some. Take it for what its worth...either BIOS is fine in my mind, depending on what you want to accomplish. If you want to keep your PCI devices as close to in-spec as possible and get raw performance that way, you'll want to run the 2312. If you're looking to run the max FSB attainable, you may just want to try the new 2612 as I was able to easily take it to 220MHZ FSB (http://roadrage.sports-gaming.com/slo/teamslo/imup/2612220fsb.gif) ;)

[Chong345]

hey [n8] what about running that 26.12 at a higher fsb. I know that the 23.12 is faster but it is not as stable at high fsb's. So my questions is will the 26.12 at something like 199 be faster or even way above at like 210? I'm looking to get my 3dmarks up to the higest possible. Also were you getting tear at 220 or did you ever run it that high? I get tear at 200 with the 25.08.

[SKATAN]

Epox are crap in making bios


:(

the 2312 is fast but the new bios have fixed quite a few bugs apart from being slow , so you are at a dilema ....



Why did i do a silly thing like sell the 8kha+ to buy this EPOs 8k3a

i could bench at 218mhz with no agp tearing

(8kha+ is the only mobo from EPOS that has good bios)


although some bugs of the 8kha+ where fixed in 8k3a

they never get something right

what´s the point of 2.2vcore if they kill it´s bandwidth?!?!?!?!?

[Wolf]

I know its sad man. Im buying abit from now on out and just doing the stupid voltmod.

[N8]

Chong,
I didn't test that, but I'm sure there is some FSB gap between the 2 BIOS's where they would bench the same. What you'd need to do is basically write down ur max scores with the 2312 and see if you can get the FSB up on the 2612 to match those scores. I, for one, am going to remain using the 2312 and just relax my timings a little and up my fsb and see if i can gain anything in 3DMark this way. The obvious best setup would be the 2312 w/ an unlocked CPU and some ram faster than my Samsung :)

Skatan,
what issues are their with the 2312 other than the problem with FSB's under 166? This BIOS has been stable as could be for me, and scoring great benchmarks.

[Chong345]

well I think that the bios (23.12) alone has an issue like below 166 but with over 190 for me at least. I have corsair xms3000 which is pretty good stuff. My cpu is unlocked but its not the problem. I dunno what to do. Oh I hear raid issues with the 23.12. Scores really suck and overall raid performance sucks.

[N8]

hehe, perhaps it is not my memory holding me under 190FSB then :) I made some runs at 195FSB today on the 2312 but it took me alot more vcore to raise my mult up.

I think the next night I have time to play again I am going to jack that 2612 up as high as I can get it without tearing, and see if I can come close to my 2312 memory/3dmark scores with more aggressive timings. I'll report back how I make out.

[Chong345]

cool, yeah I can't go above 190 it is impossible no matter what voltages. Also I have 2 sticks of 256 in maybe I should take one out but its a pain cause I have the tt active kit which would require me to take both sticks out. Also you know wiith the epox that you have to take the vid card out to get that first stick out. I just wanna be safe. Yeah let me know how it works out.

[N8]

Originally posted by Chong345
Also you know wiith the epox that you have to take the vid card out to get that first stick out. I just wanna be safe. Yeah let me know how it works out.

Just one of the many reasons I chose the 4200 over the 4400. My PCB is nice and small and DIMM removal with the card in is a piece of cake :)

[Chong345]

good point, think I should take out a stick? Or is it just the crazy bios.

[SKATAN]

bios 2312 is fast but not as fast and stable as the bios for 8kha+ :(


ram slot 3 is the best overclocker

[Marci]

Definitely agree on Ram Slot 3... if using 2 sticks use 1 & 3. With a 256 in 1 & 2 highest FSB i could get was somewhere in the 180s... with ram in 1 & 3 I get 200 - 210.

Altho just flashed to the "new" beta last night and haven't had chance to play yet... reading comments above tho, I'm thinking of swiping the last 8KHA+ off the shelf and having a tinker with that too...

[Chong345]

let me know about that new bios. Maybe there should be just an epox thread section somwhere. Then again there aren't that many of us but with all the probs with these bios it would be nice.

[N8]

What I will probably do is just create an EPoX 8K3A thread in this forum here soon. Cuz I'm already tired of looking at these 5 different threads :D

[Chong345]

yeah me too, I can help if ya need it

[SKATAN]

Originally posted by Marci
Definitely agree on Ram Slot 3... if using 2 sticks use 1 & 3. With a 256 in 1 & 2 highest FSB i could get was somewhere in the 180s... with ram in 1 & 3 I get 200 - 210.



that´s weird


the best slot´s fo OC are #2 & #3 , #1 oc´s like sh|t


if you use slots #2 & #3 at the same time you can´t use 1t comand because it´s forced by the bios

if you use slots #1 & #2 or #1 & #3 the 2t time comand isn´t forced

i wanna :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: slap the Epox bios engineers

[UaZa]

there is no sense in this compare..
for sure 2312 is faster with same settings.. the point is really not this..


for example.
i can run around 190cl222 in 2312..
and 215 cl2-3-2 in 2612...
both without artifacts..

but in 2312 i got some reboots.. not 100% stable and SLOWER comparing with this settings..

that why i use 2612.. its faster for me..

for sure 2312 is faster comparing 190x190 same timmings.. no douts about that ;P


ahh.. about MEM SLOTS...
i just got the SAME thing in all ;p
and with 2x256 tooo ;-)

[AndrOvr]

Originally posted by SKATAN



that´s weird


the best slot´s fo OC are #2 & #3 , #1 oc´s like sh|t


if you use slots #2 & #3 at the same time you can´t use 1t comand because it´s forced by the bios

if you use slots #1 & #2 or #1 & #3 the 2t time comand isn´t forced

i wanna :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: slap the Epox bios engineers

Yeah... I can only use 128 mb stick when I bench in 3Dmark to enable the 1t..... That SuCkS!
:mad:

[SKATAN]

Originally posted by UaZa
there is no sense in this compare..
for sure 2312 is faster with same settings.. the point is really not this..


for example.
i can run around 190cl222 in 2312..
and 215 cl2-3-2 in 2612...
both without artifacts..

but in 2312 i got some reboots.. not 100% stable and SLOWER comparing with this settings..

that why i use 2612.. its faster for me..

for sure 2312 is faster comparing 190x190 same timmings.. no douts about that ;P


ahh.. about MEM SLOTS...
i just got the SAME thing in all ;p
and with 2x256 tooo ;-)



prove it with a 3dmark score ;) or sandra TE memory score

sandra 2002 mem benches = Sh|t

[macci]

Originally posted by SKATAN
i wanna :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: slap the Epox bios engineers
LOL second that :D
Certain ASUS bios guys should be kicked in the nuts too..

btw I guess you are not using that sig over at aoaforums? ;D

[N8]

Originally posted by UaZa
there is no sense in this compare..


There is sense in this compare :)

If I can get my FSB up high enough with aggressive timings to overcome the speed difference in the 2 BIOS's, then the 2612 will end up better for me. One thing that makes me want to check this is that a guy on the ORB below me emailed me asking what BIOS I was using as he was over 1.9GHz and running something liek 212FSB yet scored below me. Needless to say, he switched to the 2312 and passed me at a lower FSB. I've since passed him back but you can see why I would doubt whether the higher FSB will make up for the slower performance ;)

[Chong345]

yeah, if this proves so then I'm ovin on to the abit. Damn volt mod though. Never done one.

[N8]

Chong,
I'm very close to being able to answer how many points you might gain from switching to the KX7. May find the time to test this tonight, if not, by the end of the week.

FYI, I was not able to match my 3DMark score of the 2312 using the 2612. 2312 seems to be your best bet so far. This was comparing the 2312 @ 185FSB vs 2612 @ 206FSB. I think the tearing is the only thing keeping the 2612 from matching the 2312....either way tho, u still gotta up ur FSB very high to get the 2612 to run like the 2312 :)

Edit: This is 3DMark only I am talking about. I have the 2612 smoking the 2312 right now in sandra..............

[Chong345]

damn that tear really sucks. What's up with that. It could be solved with a bios like the 23.12 but just stable up to 200. That would be sweet. Anyway I want to get the kx-7 but money is a little tight. Plus the volt mod makes me kinda not wanna get one cause I do know how to do it.

[N8]

I did the volt mod on my AK31A. I found it to be fairly easy, but it is a MOD. I used micro-clips so it was removable...cuz i sux w/ solder ;)

Yep that tear really sux.....I got new memory coming so I've got some playing to do when it gets here :D

I've seen the difference between the KX7 and my 8K3A at similar settings in 3DMark(this is with the 2312) and I must say, while(so far, got some tweaks to check) the KX7 is faster, I'm not sure it is enough to make me want to switch.

After I get a chance to make these tweaks and make another run or 2, i will get back to you on the difference between the 2 boards at the same speeds. There is a gap....its not huge...but I'm trying to minimize it ;)

[Chong345]

let me know the tweaks afterwards and if you do a lot better cause I'm stuck right now and pretty bored cause I don't get to oc much nowadays. I can't get the crystal orb off my vid card. SO i'm looking for very little tweaks or anything to make my score better. I don't know if getting tha kx-7 is worth the point gain since I'm kinda broke.

[N8]

the tweaks can be found in gibbo's guide that opp posted in the 3dmark forum :)

[Chong345]

oh I used those already but I'm still stuck. Well I didn't use some of them because they were used in ME and I can't find them in 2k. Anyway I've heard the same results about the higher sandra mem scores and lower 3dmarks scores. I had it happen to me when I switched from the 25.08 to the 23.12. I'm hoping that epox will have a bios soon. Probably not with 400 coming out. They eventually will but it could take a long time.

[SKATAN]

bios 2312-

7477mrks

ALU 992
FPU 1096



bios 2619-

7319mrks


ALU 975
FPU 1056

[N8]

what FSB/Mult was that run at Skatan?

btw,thx for the input! :)

[Chong345]

yeah skatan. What settings were used? Did you try both at the same fsb and then go for the max fsb?

[SKATAN]

:)


I used the exact same settings


11x166

2/2/2/6 8/2 1t


I didnt try higher because this cpu is still locked

sorry for the low score but i used a 32mb geforce 2 gts 200/333 27.42 detonator

the settings in 3dmark where 640x480 16bit 16bit zbuffer 16bit textures


no driver tweaks what so ever


so you can asume that there is a much greater diference in 3dmark scores if you use a ti4600 ;)


I tested bios 2619 because i saw some noob head say in aoaforums 2619 was faster than 2312 ...

I actualy know why

some times certain ram settings and memory bank combinations make the bios 2312 (and others) change a chipset register that makes it very slow , with wpcredit and that register is back on track it actualy does not afect stability but afects performance a tremendously

(EPOS at it´s best)


it´s offset 6B bit 6 it should be 1 enabled (when it´s off it´s very slow :( )

I just hate Epox bios so much they make me sick

[Chong345]

ok so with the registry settings on the 26.19 is it better or equal on the 3dmarks?

[SKATAN]

2312 is still the best by far


all the new ones have cpu fast comand decode disabled

[Chong345]

damn, sigh... I thought there was hope with that post in AOA. I saw that but [n8] was gonna try it. Sadly we both new what the outcome was gonna be.

loot at my avatar, does that look like a pic of a happy guy or what. :D

[N8]

thx for that info, Skatan...my goal is this...to be able to outperform the 2312 in 3dmark by jacking the FSB up in the 200's with the 2619(which I can't get past 190FSB stable w/ the 2312) I dunno if it'll work but its worth a try :)

[Chong345]

keep us informed [N8]. I was gonna try it today but right when I was fixing to flash I had a power outtage. Better be glad the power outtage wasn't after I made it into the program. :(

[SKATAN]

[n8]


this new 2619 is not as slow as previous tested by me

to me it´s second best to 2312


in order for the 2619 to match 2312 you will need to be running 10~15mhz+ of fsb and then you have to increase to get past it ;)


so you will need more than 205mhz to pass bios 2312 at 190

just guessing ;)


why don´t you do a 3dmark score at 166mhz with 2312 and then try bios 2619 and try to increase the fsb until you match the 2312 score at 166

try

bios 2312

166x10 = 1666

then

bios 2619

166x10 = 1666

175x9,5 = 1666

and then

185x9 = 1666

[sysfailur]

Heh, 2619 didn't even work on my Tbred :P

[N8]

Skatan,
This I could do :)

I just got a new chip in I need to test, then I have a HD that I need to patch up, THEN I can do this test ;)

[SKATAN]

sysfailur

what bios are you using that works fine with the tbred?


[n8]

let us know the results when you do the test ;)


peace

[Chong345]

skatan, so offset 6b bit 6 on wpcredit is supposed to be faster? Is it "page kept active when cross bank"? I'm using 2312 and this isn't enabled at the moment.

[SKATAN]

yes enable it


it´s muchhh faster

if you where benchmarking with it disabled , enable it and you will see a boost in your scores