Official GIGABYTE X38-DQ6/X38T-DQ6 Info/BIOS Thread

Anyone else having sound issues with BIOS F9C and X-Fi cards? I tried the latest Creative WHQL driver and the Beta driver that was released a few days ago, but both of them don't seem to work "completely". I mean I do have some sounds, but other sounds especially in Windows are missing such as the little sound samples during the Windows welcome screen or when I close Windows, or the little beeping sounds when I close a program in the Task Bar, all those sounds are gone. And when I tried to adjust the main volume via the Windows Sounds options my Motherboard beeps instead of getting any real OS sounds, as if my card wasn't plugged or as if I had no audio drivers at all.

In games I have most of the sounds but they often don't get balanced between both speakers, and there's lots of sounds going on top of each others (I.E playing at the same time) or lots of crackling. I cannot recall ever having those issues before with BIOS F8C. I think I'll try flashing back to the official BIOS F8 and see if it fixes my problem. But I'd still be curious to know if I'm the only one in this situation. Any other X-Fi owners experiencing similar problems with the latest Beta BIOS'ses?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zenoth

Anyone else having sound issues with BIOS F9C and X-Fi cards? I tried the latest Creative WHQL driver and the Beta driver that was released a few days ago, but both of them don't seem to work "completely". I mean I do have some sounds, but other sounds especially in Windows are missing such as the little sound samples during the Windows welcome screen or when I close Windows, or the little beeping sounds when I close a program in the Task Bar, all those sounds are gone. And when I tried to adjust the main volume via the Windows Sounds options my Motherboard beeps instead of getting any real OS sounds, as if my card wasn't plugged or as if I had no audio drivers at all.

In games I have most of the sounds but they often don't get balanced between both speakers, and there's lots of sounds going on top of each others (I.E playing at the same time) or lots of crackling. I cannot recall ever having those issues before with BIOS F8C. I think I'll try flashing back to the official BIOS F8 and see if it fixes my problem. But I'd still be curious to know if I'm the only one in this situation. Any other X-Fi owners experiencing similar problems with the latest Beta BIOS'ses?

---

Yes my friend, the F9c screwed my sound (Xfi) too, but it would just drop out completely and i had no sound at all. I had to reboot to get the sound back and that would last for 5-10 minutes until it dropped out again. As well as that Windows components would crash, running apps would crash sometimes the whole fricken system crashed to a blue screen. It was impossible to use for me, i ve gone back to the previous F9b that doesnt have these problems.

It sure fixed the latency thing but i couldnt use the system without problems.

I cant wait to see if the P45 boards have this problem, we should know in a week or two.

Ok so you're saying that F9b fixed your issues?

Because I am currently trying F8 (final) and I'm still experiencing the same sound problems. The last BIOS I used was F8c and I believe with that one I had no problems. I think I'll have to try F9b, and if that fails I'll try F8c again... the thing is I don't like to flash the BIOS too much, I think that if I see @BIOS Utility fail only once or if the power cuts out (for God knows what reasons, just because I'm doing something important) while I'm flashing my heart would stop for a few seconds. If it ever happens I won't be able to post back here since I don't have any back-up PC's, Desktop or Portable. Even if the flashing utility is good I think it's always a risky business, but, at least, the GA-X38-DQ6 do have a back-up BIOS in case one fails.

Alright, I tried F9b, but I still had the same issues, nothing fixed. But F9b wasn't even allowing me to over-clock the FSB, each time I tried to enable the manual adjustment of it then it immediately grayed out itself, I couldn't change it at all. Right now I'm back with F9c, I don't feel comfortable going back with the F8 series simple because I do get some performance boots on the Memory with F9c.

I think I'll deal with my sounds issues for now until maybe F9 final is out or even waiting for the F10 series if it'll ever happen, the thing is I do get sounds in games and such, but there's just some problems some times and most of my Windows sounds are gone, but I guess it could be worse, I don't get any BSODs or anything critical. There's also the possibility that the next final Creative audio drivers will fix it, maybe it's not related to the BIOS at all.

EDIT: Ok, I tried F8c, finally, and to my surprise I still get the damn issue. I really thought that it was a BIOS-related issue. Now, all I can think of are two things:

1) My X-Fi is slowly dying on me, and I bought it only five months ago.
2) My Windows Install somehow got screwed up and I need to reformat and install anew, perhaps caused by the change from SP2 to SP3, without knowing it for sure.

I hope it's just Windows 'cause I don't have the money to buy another X-Fi, thanks God for the integrated Audio in the this motherboard because I might well end up having to use it for months to come if the problems ends up being my X-Fi dying on me.

Maybe you could try reinsalling the sound card, or removing it and trying the onboard to see if it still happens. I would try reinstalling the drivers first.

With the bios you might need to press ctrl+f1 again to unlock the settings for overclocking. Try the F9a it is on the Gigbyte Site. If you dont already,you should return to bios defaults before you flash and load bios defaults after, then set for your config.

You should get a floppy drive if you do alot of tweaking/flashing, theyre only 15 bucks and more reliable.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false

Realtek 889A, version 1.95.

Theres a new DirectX too for the gamers.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Buggalugs

Maybe you could try reinsalling the sound card, or removing it and trying the onboard to see if it still happens. I would try reinstalling the drivers first.

With the bios you might need to press ctrl+f1 again to unlock the settings for overclocking. Try the F9a it is on the Gigbyte Site. If you dont already,you should return to bios defaults before you flash and load bios defaults after, then set for your config.

You should get a floppy drive if you do alot of tweaking/flashing, theyre only 15 bucks and more reliable.

---

I tried physically removing and re-installing the card, no go. And of course I un-installed and re-installed the drivers dozens of times, no go. I tried BIOS F8c, F8 Final, F9b and F9c, no go. It has to be either the OS or the sound card itself, I see nothing else.

Maybe that my Northbridge over-voltage damaged the sound card? Is that possible?

I dont think so. Maybe try a OS repair or something.

I have the GA-X38-DQ6 with an Xfi card, and I am using F9c. I have not experienced any of the problems that a couple of you are using. Make sure that after you flash to a new bios that you reset the card to default settings and then re-enter the bios and re-set all of your settings to any overclocked values, etc... and save. Then re-boot. Make sure that the on-board audio is set to disabled.

It's ok now guys, I've completely reformatted, it's fixed now, it was indeed something wrong with the OS and not the BIOS nor the audio card, thanks God for that.

I tried the F9C BIOS and my latency got worse than ever.

On top of that, the CPU temperature sensor started measuring double the actual temp. I wondered why my CPU fan was constantly running at top speed, then noticed my CPU temp was 80C!

I've told you a few times it's not a mobo problem for the latency, it's an application or a device that needs to be single on an IRQ and it shares it with other device ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChrissTi

I've told you a few times it's not a mobo problem for the latency, it's an application or a device that needs to be single on an IRQ and it shares it with other device ...

---

Well why are Gigabyte releasing bios fixes.?? and why dont people with Asus boards have the same problem with the same applications/devices.?? We shouldnt have to set things to different IRQs, most of us have the same common hardware and it works fine on a Asus board.

Driver Package R1.95
Realtek HD Audio Driver support all of Realtek HD Audio Codec in Vista/WinXP/Win2000/Win2003 .
1. Vista WHQL Supporting: ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC888, ALC889, ALC861VD, ALC660, ALC662, ALC663, ALC260, ALC262,ALC267, ALC268, ALC269, ALC272
2. Windows 2000/XP WHQL Supporting: ALC880, ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC888, ALC889, ALC861VC, ALC861VD, ALC660, ALC662, ALC663, ALC260, ALC262, ALC267,ALC268, ALC269, ALC272
3. HDMI Device WHQL Support: ATI HDMI Devices
4. OS Supporting: Microsoft WindowsXP, Widnows2000, Vista x86/x64
5. Pack with Microsoft High Definition Audio UAAV1.0a(5013)
6. Add/Fix
1.) Driver :
1. Customizations.
2. Fix encryption stream issue for ALC889.
3. Fix DRM issue.

The P45 boards from Gigabyte dont have the latency issues according to this:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=190360

I would like to see how the DPC latency works on a P45 with Vista 64. My XP2 OS works just fine, but when I go to Vista that is when the spikes get bad enough to receive a warning message from the DPC pgm.

http://www.west-tech.com/DPC%20Laten...-DQ6%20F9c.jpg (XP Pro Link) iTunes,Orthos,Picassa,Ham Radio Pgm, all running during tests.

http://www.west-tech.com/Vista%2064%...%20Latency.jpg (Vista 64)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Buggalugs

Well why are Gigabyte releasing bios fixes.?? and why dont people with Asus boards have the same problem with the same applications/devices.?? We shouldnt have to set things to different IRQs, most of us have the same common hardware and it works fine on a Asus board.

---

Why are you so sure that ASUS don't have such problems ? I changed my ASUS MB because of this ... My X-Fi even on WIN XP wasn't working ok ... I was having glitches and blue screens ...
Now with X38-DQ6 on vista and works OK, and I've tested it on win XP, and on dcplat I have latency under 15 microseconds ...

For me, all that changing of bioses, didn't made any difference, it's just breaking my CPU stability for overclocking, had to go down the CPU freq on 9c.
I worked for 4 years in a computer store at the service departament, and I think I have an ideea of what I'm talking about. There were entire transportships of ASUS mobos broken, or malfunctioning.
If i'm telling you that norton or symantec products made the computer systems work slower than normal, and some computer hardware to malfunction or not working at all. you wouldn't believe me.
And I bet that you have a program or something there that is breaking your system, and you keep installing it and you don't know what is wrong with your system. But wht should I bother.
I think that gigabyte is trying, to fix an unexisting problem, and in the meantime they are, breaking the mobo stability.

BTW there is a beta driver for X-Fi, and they are still trying to fix 4GB memo problem ... They are fixing it for a few moths, so ... your latency problems can be from that sound card driver. I'm not if front of that system to see what's going on.

Chrissti, i dont doubt your experience with computers or your experience with the latency issue, but the fact is many many people have reported this issue. You know as well as anyone that no 2 boards/cpus/ram/soundcards are exactly the same. People can get different results with the same hardware.

I'm guessing you are one of the lucky ones, and thats the thing with this problem, everyone has different experiences. Some people like you dont have a problem. Some people had a problem but the new bios fixes it. Some people had a problem and the new bios makes it worse. Some people see no change.

I'm not sure if you read my earlier posts but i said i have treied the board with bare minimum fresh install, ie onboard sound ,no drivers or anything installed.

I dont recall any major faults or latency problems with Asus at least in the last 5 years. Which boards are you talking about? hmmm they had a problem with soundmax onboard with P5B P965 chipset if thats what you mean.

Chrissti this has been a well known issue with Gigabyte in the audio/sound scene for over a year(even longer). They are the first guys that noticed it and there are some very big threads about it on sites like Cakewalk, Cubase and other sound software sites. I only knew about it a couple of months ago but its hard to deny an issue exists after reading many reports about it. Also I dont think Gigabyte would admit to problem that isnt caused by them.

I dont know exactly what youre saying about Norton but i agree it sucks. I used Norton once on the very first computer i owned and i quickly learned its more trouble than its worth so i agree with you there.

Anyway we can agree to disagree, i'm still interested in your opinion. Computers is a bit of a gamble, sometimes you win sometimes you lose but I still like Gigabyte and the DQ6 overall except for this issue. I would have liked for you to try and help me fix it a few weeks ago but at this stage i am already planning to get another board anyway. Their P45 boards look good so i might get one of those or a P5E. I dont think i'm doing crossfire anytime soon so i might just get the P45 until Nahelem comes out. Nahalem will be the must have upgrade do u agree?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Buggalugs

I dont recall any major faults or latency problems with Asus at least in the last 5 years. Which boards are you talking about? hmmm they had a problem with soundmax onboard with P5B P965 chipset if thats what you mean.

Anyway we can agree to disagree, i'm still interested in your opinion. Computers is a bit of a gamble, sometimes you win sometimes you lose but I still like Gigabyte and the DQ6 overall except for this issue. I would have liked for you to try and help me fix it a few weeks ago but at this stage i am already planning to get another board anyway. Their P45 boards look good so i might get one of those or a P5E. I dont think i'm doing crossfire anytime soon so i might just get the P45 until Nahelem comes out. Nahalem will be the must have upgrade do u agree?

---

First of all I never used on board sound card from any mobo. You should read the forums from ASUS site, and I think that you got lucky with that mobo...
I use Sonar, Cubase on Vista x64 is a little buggy.

Before my computer was based on AMD because before Intel's Dual Core Duo, AMD was better performer.
I will never use crossfire because bad graphic drivers support for linux from AMD/ATI. Nvidia performs 3,4 times or more better in linux, because their GPU is not splited in two like on ATI. So I'll rather buy an 9800x2. but I'm not so sure, because for the games I'm playing, what I have is enough for now.
For the CPU I will not hurry to buy it, I'll wait for the benches and the prices, and for AMD's future CPU's.
It's not worth it to hurry, and spend so much money, and after half a year or a year to see the the prices droped by half ...

Would anyone have an idea as to why my S/PDIF optical out isn't working? There isn't even a red light eminating from the port PLUS when I open the Master Volume panel, the volume slider for S/PDIF is greyed out.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080611/Realtek.jpg

Same with the Realtek Audio Manager.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080611/GBcontrol.jpg

There are no other audio devices installed and I have uninstalled the old drivers and loaded the latest from Realtek (1.95). I have also uninstalled the ATI Function Driver for High Definition Audio driver for my HD 3870s but they reinstalled themselves when I booted again. Could these be interfering with the Realtek drivers?

The Azalia coded is set to "AUTO" in the BIOS as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dr Spank, the ATI drivers should be ok. Have you looked at the Windows Audio settings like in Vista where you can select which device to use and run the test thing.There is a guide somewhere about installing Realtek Audio becasue sometimes the windows built in drivers insatll themselves and conflict with Realtek. From memory you need to uninstall all audio drivers, reboot, then windows will auto load some audio drivers then you need to go into Device manager and uninstall the audio device and then install Realtek. Something like that but there is a guide somewhere on the net.

Everyone...version F9D! For the X38-DQ6

http://rapidshare.com/files/122102957/X38DQ6.F9D.html

Also version F3B for the EX38-DQ6

http://rapidshare.com/files/122103262/EX38DQ6.F3B.html

These are the newest betas to fix the latency issues. I hope they help.

Ooooo! Thanks Chirkby3! I'll try this when I get back home. F9a and F9c were kinda helpful but the latency problem was still kinda noticeable, at least to me. Speaking of which, can someone please repost a link to where to download the DPC program to check my latency?

I've been posting in the thread at http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...179965&page=16 about my experience with degradation. When my E8400 processor was still "young and strong" before the misguided VTT abuse I put it through, manual GTL settings made a huge difference with stability at higher OC's at about 4GHz and above, even though it's widely said the normal setting is good enough for Core 2 duos in general. Does anyone know of a conversion table and/or formula Gigabyte mobo users can implement as a guide?

http://www.thesycon.de/dpclat/dpclat.exe

Flashed to F9d.....

The O/C process was easier then F9c, but Everest is again not moving the multi, it's stuck at 6x for some reason when testing/benchmarking.... :confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Richard Dower

Flashed to F9d.....

The O/C process was easier then F9c, but Everest is again not moving the multi, it's stuck at 6x for some reason when testing/benchmarking.... :confused:

---

Where did you get F9d from ?

Sry, didn't read page 109... :D

Gigabyte support finally.

meh i hope they finally will release a f10 bios so i get some love for my x38t....

Downloaded F9D

1. fixed dlp latency issue
2. everest reports all overclocking settings correctly
3. memory timings on seperate bios page

1st time overclock worked smoothly, so far so good
recommend this bios to all x38-dq6 users

p.s. b4 flashing to new bios, boot with default bios settings first (ie. no overclock)

I was thinking of upgrading cpu, mobo, gpu again this year, but after careful thought, I will be happy to keep my system as is for another year or so, the only upgrade justifiable for now would be a new or second gpu.

Same problem for me as with the F9C beta BIOS: after a couple of reboots, the CPU temperature measurement doubles. Instead of reading 40C it reads 80C and my CPU fan runs at high nonstop.

Well i got my P5E, sold the DQ6 and my problems are solved. My system is snappy lightning fast again. No strange slow memory latency or laggy games or DPC latency. I'm gonna head over to the P5E forum from now on so goodbye all.

That's good or bad?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alcibiades

Downloaded F9D

3. memory timings on seperate bios page

---

Where/how do I find the memory timings using BIOS F9D?

Thanks.

EDIT: Have Found it.....CTRL + F1

Gigabyte EX38-DQ6, flashed with F3B bios,cannot allow me to modify FSB, if I tried, when I pres Enter for select, returns @333 Mhz.:ROTF:

Bravo:down::ROTF: to Gigabyte stuff...
Return to F2.

Also has anyone the trouble to cannot BOOT from optical DVD-RW (S-Ata Interface), mounted on ICH9 if it has also a raid matrice?
Not even succed to boot from Floppy (for drive image backup software):down:
The only way to succes booting is to use the S-ata optical unit to Jmicron controller...
But I don't want to use Gigabite's JMicron controller...

I have the configuration described down:

Gigabyte EX38-DQ6

Creative X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champ1on

4 X 1 Gb Ram

1X 36Gb ADFD Raptor, for Vista

1X WD6400 AAKS for Games Images storage

2X WD74 ADFD Raptors in Raid0, for Installed Games, for fast acces and speed.

I've been trying for months to get the below rig to run the RAM at 10066mhz 5-5-5-15 or bettter but keep failing I've looked all over the web but the system fails tests from within XP and games hang. Please can anyone help
At the moment I have to run at 800mhz 4-4-4-12 @ 1.8v at these speed the system is rock solid 24/7

--------------------------------------
CPU: Intel C2D E6700 @ Stock 2.66Ghz
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 BIOS F8
Memory: 2 x 1gb Geil Ultra DDR2 8500 (4-4-4-12) @ 800mhz 4-4-4-12 @ 1.8v
GPU: EVGA GTS SSC 640MB @ Stock 576Mhz / 1800Mhz
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 500
APU: Onboard
Display: 22" Samsung 2232bw
Case: Antec Sonata III 500 - 2x120 fans

Realtek 8111B/C Vista Diagnostic Utility (new/updated), version 1003: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daveperks

I've been trying for months to get the below rig to run the RAM at 10066mhz 5-5-5-15 or bettter but keep failing I've looked all over the web but the system fails tests from within XP and games hang. Please can anyone help
At the moment I have to run at 800mhz 4-4-4-12 @ 1.8v at these speed the system is rock solid 24/7

---

I got a big break when I was trying to get my OCZ RAM sticks to run at their advertised timings of 5-5-5-15 when I looked up some memory specifics in Everest. If you have something similar that can show you your Enhanced Performance Profile (EPP) stored on your Geil RAM sticks, you'll be well on your way. Heck! CPU-Z gives you the "basics" under the SPD tab and, more importantly, how much voltage you need to run the setting. The challenge you might face is matching up what your BIOS calls certain parameters you'll see in CPU-Z or Everest or Memset, or the like. Heh! Anyway, considering your motherboard which is the same as mine uses 1.8V default, you'll have to go into your BIOS where the memory settings are, and set the extra voltage needed to get to say 2.1 or whatever it is your memory sticks require for EPP. If I recall correctly, the setting is called DDR2 Overvoltage. Let me know how things go for you. Peace!:cool:

the memory should be good to run at 1066mhz 5-5-5-15 @ anything upto about 2.4V which I have tried a few times but I always run into failed tests using things like ORTHOS and super Pi. I've seen loads of people running simlar spec machine at without issue, I get the feeling I'm missing a setting in the bios, maybe to do with the voltages on the NB or CPU to balance it out. I'm just a bit unhappy I can;t even get the stock speed from what I have bought, becuase of this I've not even dared to try OC'ing the CPU just yet.

everest shows the following:-

Field Value
Memory Module Properties
Module Name GeIL CL4-4-4DDR2-1066
Serial Number None
Manufacture Date Week 27 / 2006
Module Size 1 GB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered DIMM
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed DDR2-800 (400 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 1.8
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings
@ 400 MHz 5-5-5-18 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 23-42-3-6-3-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 266 MHz 4-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 16-28-2-4-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 200 MHz 3-3-3-9 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 12-21-2-3-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)

Memory Module Manufacturer
Company Name GeIL USA
Product Information http://www.geilusa.com/products


-----

Field Value
North Bridge Properties
North Bridge Intel Beachwood X38
Supported FSB Speeds FSB800, FSB1066, FSB1333
Supported Memory Types DDR2-667 SDRAM, DDR2-800 SDRAM, DDR3-800 SDRAM, DDR3-1066 SDRAM, DDR3-1333 SDRAM
Maximum Memory Amount 8 GB
Revision / Stepping 01 / A1
Core Voltage 1.25 V
In-Order Queue Depth 12

Memory Controller
Type Dual Channel (128-bit)
Active Mode Dual Channel (128-bit)

Memory Timings
CAS Latency (CL) 4T
RAS To CAS Delay (tRCD) 4T
RAS Precharge (tRP) 4T
RAS Active Time (tRAS) 12T
Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) 42T
Command Rate (CR) 2T
RAS To RAS Delay (tRRD) 3T
Write Recovery Time (tWR) 13T
Read To Read Delay (tRTR) Same Rank: 4T, Different Rank: 6T
Read To Write Delay (tRTW) 8T
Write To Read Delay (tWTR) Same Rank: 10T, Different Rank: 5T
Write To Write Delay (tWTW) Same Rank: 4T, Different Rank: 6T
Read To Precharge Delay (tRTP) 5T
Write To Precharge Delay (tWTP) 13T
Precharge To Precharge Delay (tPTP) 1T
Refresh Period (tREF) 3120T
DRAM Read ODT 3T
DRAM Write ODT 6T
MCH Read ODT 8T
Performance Level 4
Read Delay Phase Adjust Neutral
DIMM1 Clock Fine Delay 1T
DIMM2 Clock Fine Delay 6T
DIMM3 Clock Fine Delay 1T
DIMM4 Clock Fine Delay 5T

Error Correction
ECC Supported, Disabled
ChipKill ECC Not Supported
RAID Not Supported
ECC Scrubbing Not Supported

Memory Slots
DRAM Slot #1 1 GB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
DRAM Slot #2 1 GB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)

PCI Express Controller
PCI-E 2.0 x16 port #2 In Use @ x16 (EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB Video Adapter)

Chipset Manufacturer
Company Name Intel Corporation
Product Information http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets
Driver Download http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets
Driver Update http://driveragent.com?ref=59

Howdy Dave! I kinda know the feeling of paying a "good dime" for these things and not getting what you need out of them. Anyway, two things in your reply stood out to me that may have been really screwing you over. One is your TRAS value: you wanted to do 15 but your RAM says it can do 18. So try it at 5-5-5-18 instead. Two is your performance level setting: enough of us have had to learn through experience or through stumbled-upon info that if you end up overclocking, you're gonna have to increase that setting to 7 or 8 and still get some better-than-decent performance. That may actually be more of your problem than TRAS, as I used to fail to even post when my PL was 6 when I overclocked my system. Oh! Am I to surmise since your post didn't include it, your RAM sticks don't have an EPP?:confused:

thanks tmatrix I'll give some of the higher settings a go later on.

forgive me for asking what might be a silly question but what and where do i set the "performance level" from 4 to 6 or 7, is this a bios setting for the memory becuase i can't see it anywhere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daveperks

forgive me for asking what might be a silly question but what and where do i set the "performance level" from 4 to 6 or 7, is this a bios setting for the memory becuase i can't see it anywhere.

---

It's the Static tRead Value
try 7 with 5-5-5-15

The 3 important timings to adjust are:
Precharge delay TRAS
Refresh to ACT Delay
Static tRead Value tRD

If you follow the 'memory timings' in this link you should be good.

http://www.jzelectronic.de/jz2/html/...00001450012500

Ok my experience with the F4b bios for my Gigabyte EX38-DS4 is a bad one. First of all I had to hike up the CPU voltage to 1.6 before it would accept my OC of my Q6600 @ 3.4ghz. So I reset back to defaults over again and rebooted my machine. After rebooting the motherboard reported a Checksum error in the bios repeatedly and reported it was getting an old Bios from the HDD. So I left it do its thing but after a few reboots it failed to go as far as the POST screen but still repeatedly rebooted.

So I done all the usual troubleshooting stuff , reseat the CPU , Reseat the RAM , reset the bios manually , Turn off the power and press the Power button for a few seconds and plug out the 24 pin power. Everything failed to work. So I put my ASUS Crosshair and AMD X2 6000+ back into my machine. Powered up and that reported that the ram was dead.

I then found a cheap stick of Kingston Valueram and installed it into my crosshair and booted up. I set the ram voltage to 2.3v , powered down and installed my Cell Shock ram. Still no go. So I put the cheap ram in and flashed to Bios 0804. With that bios installed My Cell Shock ram worked again.

Then I tested my ram for problems with Memtest 2.1 and one stick of Ram is now faulty. So I am going to get more Thermal Compound and test the Gigabyte motherboard again with the cheap ram. Im hoping it will boot into windows for me so that I can flash to bios F4a again. I would use Q flash in Dos but I dont have a floppy disk and for some strange reason the Gigabyte motherboard doesnt recognise my USB stick even though I have it formatted to Fat32.

steve30x:
You need to have the "Legacy USB storage detect" option in "Integrated Peripherals" set to enabled. Then the USB stick should be recognized... ;-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zilla

steve30x:
You need to have the "Legacy USB storage detect" option in "Integrated Peripherals" set to enabled. Then the USB stick should be recognized... ;-)

---

I know that. I have all USB options enabled on the motherboard but it still wont recognise the USB stick in dos. It gets Recognised in windows though. I Flashed bios F4b to the motherboard with Qflash in the bios once but since then it doesnt recognise the USB stick in the bios or in DOS mode.

Realtek 889A drivers, 1.96: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false

Just rechecked the motherboard and its dead. It fails to get as far as the Post screen and constantly reboots. Ive tried resetting the bios which doesnt work either. Back to AMD again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alcibiades

It's the Static tRead Value
try 7 with 5-5-5-15

The 3 important timings to adjust are:
Precharge delay TRAS
Refresh to ACT Delay
Static tRead Value tRD

If you follow the 'memory timings' in this link you should be good.

http://www.jzelectronic.de/jz2/html/...00001450012500

---

Ok so I played with all the bios settings for ages and managed to get the system somewhat more stable using different stressing applications but nothing was rock solid, Think I'm going to call it a day and stick with 800 4-4-4-12 as I get better results anyway see the below screen dumps, just really pi55es me of paying for 1066 but only getting 800

New Intel Chipset software, version 9.0.0.1009: http://downloadmirror.intel.com/1601...9_PV_Intel.exe

So my question is do these effect overclocking at all? The intel drivers,,

Well I seem to have hit a sweet spot finally with my Q9450. I am currently at 3.6Ghz 1.29v and still pushing forward. Maybe I just didn't know how to handle her. :up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by steve30x

Just rechecked the motherboard and its dead. It fails to get as far as the Post screen and constantly reboots. Ive tried resetting the bios which doesnt work either. Back to AMD again.

---

I too am on my second RMA for this board. I understand that this time around, it is absolutely my fault -- my only request of Gigabyte, if you release a new @BIOS, make sure it CANNOT be installed with Vista 64 so that people like me, who don't bother to read everything, can have someone filter stupidity :up:

Quote:

---

CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control : 800mv
CPU Clock Skew Control :Normal
(G)MCH Clock Skew Control :Normal

---

Did anyone play around with this settings for overclocking?

For me i just used 800mV, 350, 250. Not sure if that is optimised.

Any bios updates folks?...the EP45-DQ6 has still not come into stock in Euroland so i'm stuck with the X38 for now, i bought the COPPER version of the Scythe Ninja Rev. B...it weights over a Kg!!
But the EP45 has dumped the CrazyCool so i can use backplates and custom retention mechanisms besides the default Intel setup on the new mobo.

changing from x38 to p45 is imho not the smartest choice. Especial when in 5-6 month first X58 mobos hit the street.

Has anyone here used Loadline calibration on their board and OCs?
Sorry for the random questions here, abit lost on some stuff.

-----------

Hornet,

Well i guess if financially if you are able to make the change, why not?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by farksy

Has anyone here used Loadline calibration on their board and OCs?
Sorry for the random questions here, abit lost on some stuff.

---

Hi, I never went without it, it does the right thing :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ToyTen

Hi, I never went without it, it does the right thing :)

---

Been reading all about the big whoo ha about it in the Asus Maximus Formula.

Well as Tony said i guess,

Enabled -> Vcore set is the 'average load Vcore'. [Not sure about this]
Disabled -> Vcore set is the peak value.

Just did a quick test. Barely got the CPU to be stable at a certain setting on LLC enabled, turned it off and BSOD comes in. I think it's a psychological thing, so you set a lower Vcore and feel better :D [And of course, better control of the Vcore straight from BIOS]

Hi, is there anyone here who is able to run 4*1gb ddr2 PC8500 at 1066mhz on ga-x38-dq6?

I've tried various settings but memtest+ test7 fails.:shrug:
In 2*1gb configuration at 1066mhs there is no error... :mad:

Ram are adata vitesta extreme edition 8500+ (4*1gb)

Mch overclocking and raising Vdimm was useless.

Now my cpu runs at 333*9 (3ghz) but ram are now at 1000mhz and system it is rock solid.... what can I do?

How about loosening the strap on the divider?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by farksy

How about loosening the strap on the divider?

---

The 333 b-strap for 1066mhz doesn't work..... ( lotsa errors in memtest+ ) in 4*1gb configuration..... ( in 2*1gb it works.... i think there's a problem on ga-x38-dq6 ....)

The A strap for 1000mhz ( It's an A strap for fsb 266) works and ram run pretty fine at 1000mhz.... no error in memtest+ ....but I want 1066 mhz for ram sticks..... :(

Can you guys tell me if these have a low fsb ceiling with 45nm quads ?

:up:

I am able to get 465 x 8 with my 9450 but, I have the ex38-dq6 and they haven't updated my bios in awhile and it needs some work. I think the board is holding me back at that point.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by il menne

The 333 b-strap for 1066mhz doesn't work..... ( lotsa errors in memtest+ ) in 4*1gb configuration..... ( in 2*1gb it works.... i think there's a problem on ga-x38-dq6 ....)

The A strap for 1000mhz ( It's an A strap for fsb 266) works and ram run pretty fine at 1000mhz.... no error in memtest+ ....but I want 1066 mhz for ram sticks..... :(

---

The looser the strap the higher the rams can go.

See if there is a divider with the D option.

If not try upping FSB, lowering multiplier to accomodate for this rams. Won't be easy thou.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by il menne

Hi, is there anyone here who is able to run 4*1gb ddr2 PC8500 at 1066mhz on ga-x38-dq6?

I've tried various settings but memtest+ test7 fails.:shrug:
In 2*1gb configuration at 1066mhs there is no error... :mad:

Ram are adata vitesta extreme edition 8500+ (4*1gb)

Mch overclocking and raising Vdimm was useless.

Now my cpu runs at 333*9 (3ghz) but ram are now at 1000mhz and system it is rock solid.... what can I do?

---

It's working fine for me, like a dream, check it out....................

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/hmj2k3/PC-1.jpg

I could push it even more but....I live in a hell hot like area.............................................. ......................

Those Kingston HyperX PC2-8500 are crazy fast and overclockable !

What really is the Current System Temperature reading? I thought I read somewhere that it is just the case temp.

I'm playing with the F9d and I think this is the best BIOS I've used on this Board, I've noticed that the auto V-core Bug that was in earlier F9x releases has been fixed and the overclocking seems easier and steadier, I also found that the memory perfomance is a little better on my system.

me like, me very like !!!!:hump:

Come on Gigabyte show us F9e

• Coolermaster COSMOS S Case
• Gigabyte GA-EP45-EXTREME
• Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3Ghz
• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound 12g
• Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
• Scythe 120mm S-FLEX Fluid Dynamic Bearing Quiet Fan 1600rpm
• OCZ 2GB (2x 1GB) DDR2 1200 FLEX XLC II C5 Edition (PC9600 - OCZ2FX12002GK) Ram Module Kit
• Gainward nVidia Geforce 8800GT 1GB Golden Sample Factory Overclocked PCI Express Graphics Card

Upgrading my friends PC, can't wait to see what this board/cpu/ram combo can do!

Aiming for as close as possible to 600fsb, 1:1 1200Mhz ddr2

What really is the Current System Temperature reading? I thought I read somewhere that it is just the case temp.
__________________

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by truehighroller

What really is the Current System Temperature reading? I thought I read somewhere that it is just the case temp.
__________________

---

Not sure about that! :confused:

I was wondering because I see people talking about their NB temps and ws wondering where they are even getting the temp because from what I have read if correct the current system temp is just that the case temp.

Any one? How are you people reading your nb temps if the current system temp is not the actuall nb temp sensor?

Hmm strange.... ok just got a 8400 and i just cant OC with 6 or 9 multi. its greyed out :confused:
Can anyone with a EX38+8400 confirm this? Useing F3b bios.

I am supprised no one here knows the answer to my question.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by truehighroller

I am supprised no one here knows the answer to my question.

---

I only see CPU temp. and system Temp. I'm not aware of NB sensor for temp. on this mobo though I've been using it since September.

System temp isn't "NB temp".... it's "motherboard" temp... sensor is somewhere next pci-express x16 slot1, I think....

( I have a high temperature in system temp because of my 8800 ultra oc, I think.... )

;)

Ok thank you guys, I just wanted to make sure I was right about that then I need to get cooling for my NB because that is what is holding me back with my overclock. I am going to order some thermalright chipset coolers for her and that should resolve any heat issues.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by truehighroller

Ok thank you guys, I just wanted to make sure I was right about that then I need to get cooling for my NB because that is what is holding me back with my overclock. I am going to order some thermalright chipset coolers for her and that should resolve any heat issues.

---

I thought the heat pipe is doing an OK job doing that !!

I don't think so. I have a 9450 and can get it up to 465 x 8 then it starts to need more voltage on the nb +.5 or whatever it is to be specific and at that point it starts getting to be to much for it to handle.

I'm guessing that is what is wrong with it,, either that or this board is just :banana::banana::banana::banana: for the 9450 or the 9450 is :banana::banana::banana::banana: I have but, I don't think it is the chip to be honest because it seems like it is running fine at like 1.3v~ for the 465x 8. Advice would be awsome.

Should I get chipset coolers for this or leave the stock on it. I think the stock is not doing the job good enuogh at high voltages. Is there a vdroop pencil mod for this board?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by truehighroller

Should I get chipset coolers for this or leave the stock on it. I think the stock is not doing the job good enuogh at high voltages. Is there a vdroop pencil mod for this board?

---

Try to plug a small fan over the heatpipe above the NB!
I did that with my old p965-DQ6

CoOl I will go to microcenter today and pck one up but, is there a vdroop pencil mod for this board does any one know?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by truehighroller

CoOl I will go to microcenter today and pck one up but, is there a vdroop pencil mod for this board does any one know?

---

I'm pretty sure there's no pencil mods for any of the GA-X38 boards.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alcibiades

I'm pretty sure there's no pencil mods for any of the GA-X38 boards.

---

That sucks the vdroop on mine is bad like, .1v so, I say give it 1.35v and it gives it 1.25v.. with loadline enabled yes. I got the fans for my beast last night I got a spot cool for my memory and a little powerfull quiet fan for my chipset and a new more powerfull fan for the side of my case " that makes like ten fans in her now lmao" and was able to run prime95 all night with the following settings, 450x 8 = 3.6Ghz , CPUv 1.35v actuall 1.25v, fsb term +.1 and nb +.3 and PCIEv +.2. I would say at this point I should be able to get 3.8Ghz easy,, and possibly even 4ghz.Some one really needs to figure out how to do a vdroop pencil mod on his thing tha would be sweet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by truehighroller

That sucks the vdroop on mine is bad like, .1v so, I say give it 1.35v and it gives it 1.25v.. with loadline enabled yes. I got the fans for my beast last night I got a spot cool for my memory and a little powerfull quiet fan for my chipset and a new more powerfull fan for the side of my case " that makes like ten fans in her now lmao" and was able to run prime95 all night with the following settings, 450x 8 = 3.6Ghz , CPUv 1.35v actuall 1.25v, fsb term +.1 and nb +.3 and PCIEv +.2. I would say at this point I should be able to get 3.8Ghz easy,, and possibly even 4ghz.Some one really needs to figure out how to do a vdroop pencil mod on his thing tha would be sweet.

---

Very nice indeed, I only have a V1 on my CPU and 2 120mm TT fans and the side of my TT shark case has some open mesh and things are very fine.

I would like to push it to 3.8 but with the current hot weather it's impossible for a 24/7 Machine.......:shrug:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by truehighroller

That sucks the vdroop on mine is bad like, .1v so, I say give it 1.35v and it gives it 1.25v.. with loadline enabled yes. I got the fans for my beast last night I got a spot cool for my memory and a little powerfull quiet fan for my chipset and a new more powerfull fan for the side of my case " that makes like ten fans in her now lmao" and was able to run prime95 all night with the following settings, 450x 8 = 3.6Ghz , CPUv 1.35v actuall 1.25v, fsb term +.1 and nb +.3 and PCIEv +.2. I would say at this point I should be able to get 3.8Ghz easy,, and possibly even 4ghz.Some one really needs to figure out how to do a vdroop pencil mod on his thing tha would be sweet.

---

Good news is the vdroop is only really bad under load conditions :rolleyes:
when it's idle it's not too bad, :rofl:
so try not to run any games or demanding apps and it should be ok

But seriously folks, vdroop is the only gripe I have left for my x38-dq6
apart from that the board is sweet after a dozen or so bios revs.

Finally, I have seen a proper mod for the vdroop for my board, maybe there's one for the ex38 as well if you feel confident to try it, I wasn't game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alcibiades

Good news is the vdroop is only really bad under load conditions :rolleyes:
when it's idle it's not too bad, :rofl:
so try not to run any games or demanding apps and it should be ok

But seriously folks, vdroop is the only gripe I have left for my x38-dq6
apart from that the board is sweet after a dozen or so bios revs.

Finally, I have seen a proper mod for the vdroop for my board, maybe there's one for the ex38 as well if you feel confident to try it, I wasn't game.

---

Nope I agree, :rofl: I'm not game for all that work lmao. I seen wires and :banana::banana::banana::banana: and was like ha nope. I have her at 470 x 8 right now though on a good note. I just ran through prime95 at 465 x 8 so :clap:

Vdroop on my ga-x38-dq6 with loadline calibration activated is only 0,01v ( full load ) .... pretty fine! :D

Actually mine was overvolting about the time he wrote it was bad only under load. It was actually overvolting quiet a bit to. I just ordered an Asus P5Q Deluxe P45 board though so, things will get better now :rofl: . Bye Bye Gigabyte :clap: . I lost both my MBs in an electrical storm Saturday by the way. The lighting went through the cable modem and zapped my EX38 DQ6 completely and just fried my Fiances Nic on her P35 DQ6. I am sending the boards back seperate to avoid them saying this was electrical and bought that new board which will be here tomorrow and when I get the EX38 DQ6 back,, I will proably sell it on Ebay or to some one here if they want it.

ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/jmb36x/W....39.01Beta.zip

hi,
I was wondering when a new bios would appear for this X38T-DQ6 mobo? still at f7b at the moment.
No hurry, just a little ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ToyTen

hi,
I was wondering when a new bios would appear for this X38T-DQ6 mobo? still at f7b at the moment.
No hurry, just a little ;)

---

Is that currently the best and most bug free and stable bios available at the moment? I am also waiting for a stable bug free bios.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HeadShotWI

Is that currently the best and most bug free and stable bios available at the moment? I am also waiting for a stable bug free bios.

---

Last bios for ga-x38-dq6 is f9d. ;)

New BIOS for EX38-DQ6 today, F3 final:up:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...ProductID=2760

Quote:

---

1. Support DES Advanced
2. Update CPU microcode(Support Intel Wolfdale/Yorkfield E0-stepping CPU)

---

EX38T-DQ6
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...ProductID=2762

Edit: looks like all EX38 got new bios today.

4 months passed since then. PC is on 24/7. Not a single problem. So I guess these Q6600s can really take a beating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 6_6_6

About a week ago, my pump failed. Q6600 @3.2 GHz ran at this temperature for about 10 hours:

http://x5.net/tmp/cpu.jpg

I did days of stability tests afterwards and no errors.

---

Any body overclocking on X38_DQ6 have problems with bios resetting overclock setting back to stock settings randomly?:shrug:

Just so y'all know...i'm done with the X38 model and have purchased the EP45-DQ6, though i haven't physically installed the mobo as yet. Few weeks before i install...as such updates and what not will be located at the official EP45 thread.