Gigabyte MA790FX DQ6

G0ldBr1ck: Thx for the info :up: If there was a "thanks" option on this forum u would have 5 minimum from me ;)

So far so good,left WSFTP yesterday night running,which crashed fastest on Ballistix,and woke up to no BSOD. More testing needs to be done,if it passes the 24hr barrier I should know for sure cause it never passed 20hr barrier before on Ballistix. Btw still not sure about Row Cycle refresh,someone mentioned that they must be the same? U have ram in slots 1 and 2 and no problems with them beeing different?

Remember that e.p.p profiles also sets subtimings, something you can't tweak when overclocking them manually on many boards.

When you choose a memclk in bios, the bios sets a certain value for every subtiming, when you overclock htt making ram freqs higher, the subtimings often gets too tight making bsods/instabilities. This is why overclocking in windows with setfsb/clockgen often freezes your system, too ;)

Yeah only I never clocked with EPP enabled so far ;) And probably wont.
Anyway, seems stable so far.24 hr barrier finally passed :yepp: Goldbr1ck,u obviously made my quest for compatible ram extremly short,thx man :up:
Also the system seems to "breathe" alot easier now with the dominators then it did with the ballistix.

Glad it worked out for you. I just wish they were as cheap when I bought mine as they are now. Those things are a steal at the price there at now.

They were ~73 euro here and im seriously considering snatching another 2 gigs... but atm no place for them. Considering to mod my TRUE and cut off a piece of it with a proxxon mini drill :D

If your only running them @ 800mhz @1.8/1.9 volts. then It shouldnt be any big deal at all to cut off the tops of the heatsinks on the ram with hacksaw or somthing. they dont generate any heat at that voltage.

Also you could go with a ZALMAN CNPS9700 cooler, one of the very best out there, keeps my phenoms cool at 3.0ghz and is just tall enuff above the ram for the dominators to fit. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118019

Hi!

Has somone a new beta bios?

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Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck

If your only running them @ 800mhz @1.8/1.9 volts. then It shouldnt be any big deal at all to cut off the tops of the heatsinks on the ram with hacksaw or somthing. they dont generate any heat at that voltage.

Also you could go with a ZALMAN CNPS9700 cooler, one of the very best out there, keeps my phenoms cool at 3.0ghz and is just tall enuff above the ram for the dominators to fit. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118019

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Nice ideas ;) Have u tried running them at 1100 MHz CL5? That would be perfect if it would work,since 300x11 on mem divider 667 gives me that frequency and cpu is rock stable. I rather stick to the TRUE,effort invested in lapping is priceless,I cannot put a price tag on that,or noone would pay for it at least ;) Yesterday I found out my 3870 blue PCB has a stock unlocked BIOS :rocker: without the 862 MHz limit so another nice surprise. Only thing left to do is check ballistix in slots 3 and 4, must make sure that its no the DIMM slots 1 and 2 that are gone bad.

The research I have done says that you can change the multiplier of the CPU-integrated northbridge in the BIOS of this board. The sources also suggest that this feature was not available with the original stock BIOS (F1) and was added later.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/img/data.../giga_bios.jpg

This screenshot of the BIOS shows at the top something called the Memory controller frequency. I know that the CPU intergrated northbridge deals with the level 3 cache and memory. Is this the northbridge multiplier by a different name??
I am assuming this to be the case as the values match up i.e stock 2000Mhz and default multiplier x10.

The recent F5 BIOS allows you to adjust the voltage of this too doesn't it?

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Originally Posted by -= rtz =-

Nice ideas ;) Have u tried running them at 1100 MHz CL5? That would be perfect if it would work,since 300x11 on mem divider 667 gives me that frequency and cpu is rock stable. I rather stick to the TRUE,effort invested in lapping is priceless,I cannot put a price tag on that,or noone would pay for it at least ;) Yesterday I found out my 3870 blue PCB has a stock unlocked BIOS :rocker: without the 862 MHz limit so another nice surprise. Only thing left to do is check ballistix in slots 3 and 4, must make sure that its no the DIMM slots 1 and 2 that are gone bad.

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I did run mine at 1120 Mhz and it had no problem, they do overclock well. And grats on your lucky card!

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Originally Posted by Phenomenalspeed

The research I have done says that you can change the multiplier of the CPU-integrated northbridge in the BIOS of this board. The sources also suggest that this feature was not available with the original stock BIOS (F1) and was added later.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/img/data.../giga_bios.jpg

This screenshot of the BIOS shows at the top something called the Memory controller frequency. I know that the CPU intergrated northbridge deals with the level 3 cache and memory. Is this the northbridge multiplier by a different name??
I am assuming this to be the case as the values match up i.e stock 2000Mhz and default multiplier x10.

The recent F5 BIOS allows you to adjust the voltage of this too doesn't it?

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Well, if im understanding your question right, the answer is yes the memory controller is onboard the CPU and that is its operating frequency adjustable by multipliers. The speed of your memory controller cannot be less then the speed of the HT Link (wich is the Bus speed of the comunication between CPU and Northbridge and southbridge).

The memory Controller onboard the CPU is not a northbridge realy though I could see how it could be confused if migrating from Intel systems.

The newer bios allows Voltage adjustments to the HT bus.

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Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck

I did run mine at 1120 Mhz and it had no problem, they do overclock well.

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Nice :) I will put a blower on them first,and then try to get CL4 as high as possible. Btw,do u or anyone else knows how much subtimings affect performance? I mean will 4-4-4-12 with higher subtimings on lower frequency (for example 940-ish Mhz) be faster then 5-5-5 on 1100 MHz but with tighter subtimings?

-= rtz =-: 940mhz at 4.4.4.12 could very well be faster then 1100@5.5.5.15 Dont know for sure. Each number represents how many clock cycles it takes to perform that specified task so it does directly effect the performance of your ram. Im sure there is a formula of some sort that can be used to figure wich would perform better but I dont know it. The best way is to try diffrent settings and Bench.

Oh and one more thing. Make sure you manualy set the rams voltage to 2.1v or even 2.2 if needed when going for the higher Mhz with low timings or youl never make it. That ram was once rated at 2.2v and after revision 2 i think they rated it at 2.1 but not because of any real change other then it was found that all there chips worked flawless at 2.1 so they relabled. therfore you dont have to wory about damaging the ram at those volts...throw it to it!! and good luck.

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Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck

Well, if im understanding your question right, the answer is yes the memory controller is onboard the CPU and that is its operating frequency adjustable by multipliers. The speed of your memory controller cannot be less then the speed of the HT Link (wich is the Bus speed of the comunication between CPU and Northbridge and southbridge).

The memory Controller onboard the CPU is not a northbridge realy though I could see how it could be confused if migrating from Intel systems.

The newer bios allows Voltage adjustments to the HT bus.

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Thanks. As I suspected it is the CPU-Northbridge under a different name.

According to this post http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=797 Intergrated memory controller voltage adjustment was added with BIOS F5C.

The motherboard manual has a HT link voltage adjustment in the BIOS options. That suggests to me that it was around at the time of the motherboard's release and the stock (F1) BIOS.

Hello I have a bit of a problem.

I now have with me one of these motherboards (DQ6). It arrived yesterday.
I got a very good deal. I bought it second hand. Well actually I haven't paid anything for it yet as the guy agreed to send it to me first so that I could test it before paying.

Unfortunately the motherboard doesn't work. When I turn the power on all I get is a black screen. No beep codes. The CPU fan comes on same with the graphics card fan I have tried all the PCI-Express graphics slots and 2 different graphics cards and 2 different power supply units. I have also tried to clear the CMOS. All to no avail.
I have tried everything I can think of.
Any suggestions?

Instead of sending it back to the guy and forgetting about it I am thinking that maybe I could contact Gigabyte and try and get an RMA. Hopefully they will send me a new motherboard. I have never dealt with Gigabyte before.
I am wondering if they would give me an RMA as it is second hand.
If they do give me an RMA what kind of turnaround is there likely to be? I.e time from them receiving it to me getting a motherboard returned to me.

What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance.

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Originally Posted by Phenomenalspeed

Hello I have a bit of a problem.

I now have with me one of these motherboards (DQ6). It arrived yesterday.
I got a very good deal. I bought it second hand. Well actually I haven't paid anything for it yet as the guy agreed to send it to me first so that I could test it before paying.

Unfortunately the motherboard doesn't work. When I turn the power on all I get is a black screen. No beep codes. The CPU fan comes on same with the graphics card fan I have tried all the PCI-Express graphics slots and 2 different graphics cards and 2 different power supply units. I have also tried to clear the CMOS. All to no avail.
I have tried everything I can think of.
Any suggestions?

Instead of sending it back to the guy and forgetting about it I am thinking that maybe I could contact Gigabyte and try and get an RMA. Hopefully they will send me a new motherboard. I have never dealt with Gigabyte before.
I am wondering if they would give me an RMA as it is second hand.
If they do give me an RMA what kind of turnaround is there likely to be? I.e time from them receiving it to me getting a motherboard returned to me.

What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance.

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This is normal if your board came with the F1/F2 bios and your using a phenom 9850. It will not recognise it and will not post. you will have to use a old socket AM2 cpu to boot the board
(any non-phenom cpu will work) then flash the bios to at least F3 Then your board should post with no problem. I had the same with both my DQ6 boards as they came with F2.

Im 99% sure that is what you have ran into as those are the exact symptoms.

The problem is that I haven't even used my Phenom 9850 BE yet.
I was trying to boot it up using an AM2 Opteron 1210 which is supported by the F1 bios.

I planned to do exactly what you just suggested. Boot up with Opteron 1210 and then update to F3 BIOS and then update to F5.

Unfotunately it will not even power on self test with the opteron. I could be wrong but surely if the motherboard is working and you try to boot with an unsupported CPU the very least you will get is a beep code. It doesn't do anything. The CPU fan starts but just a permanenet black screen.

Well I would think that your opti would boot, however whith a phenom thats not supported by bios. It dosnt beeb or anything, usualy your Hdd light will flash and fans run full speed and thats it. Guess I would check on the Gigabyte site to make sure that opti is supported by that bios and if it is then I guess you were right on the dead board. EDIT: Wasnt paying attention to notice that you had already verified the suport of your opti...sorry

I looked it up and that is the only opti supported and on F1 at that. What Ram are you using?

And dont take offence if this question seems like this kind of mistake is way below you cause i dont mean it to but have you made sure that you have the correct 8/4 pin connector on the MB at CPU? Just worth asking as it cant hurt.

It just seems the board must have been working when it was shipped to you or you wouldnt think they would have shipped it without pay to let you test it first if it was dead in there hands.

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Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck

Well I would think that your opti would boot, however whith a phenom thats not supported by bios. It dosnt beeb or anything, usualy your Hdd light will flash and fans run full speed and thats it. Guess I would check on the Gigabyte site to make sure that opti is supported by that bios and if it is then I guess you were right on the dead board.


I looked it up and that is the only opti supported and on F1 at that. What Ram are you using?

And dont take offence if this question seems like this kind of mistake is way below you cause i dont mean it to but have you made sure that you have the correct 8/4 pin connector on the MB at CPU? Just worth asking as it cant hurt.

It just seems the board must have been working when it was shipped to you or you wouldnt think they would have shipped it without pay to let you test it first if it was dead in there hands.

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I was using one of my Corsair CMT2X1024-6400C4 sticks to attempt power on self test.
I have 2 power supplies. One of them only has a 4pin CPU connecter.
The other has both 8pin and 4 pin. I tried all.

I would have thought the same too. The guy said before that he didn't know much about computers and he was selling it on behalf of a friend. I've emailed him. I'm waiting to hear back. Perhaps his friend can shed some light.

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Originally Posted by Phenomenalspeed

I was using one of my Corsair CMT2X1024-6400C4 sticks to attempt power on self test.
I have 2 power supplies. One of them only has a 4pin CPU connecter.
The other has both 8pin and 4 pin. I tried all.

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Well, sorry to hear that you ended up with a DOA board. maybe youl get lucky and the board still has warranty.

I have sent the DQ6 to Gigabyte.
It arrived there yesterday. They said 3-7 working days. Hopefully I will get it back working soon. I am using an AM2 motherboard in the meantime.

The RMA form that they sent me specifies REPAIR only.

"NO CREDIT/REPLACEMENT for INDIRECT CUSTOMERS"

Is this normal for Gigabyte RMA???

Thanks.

your actualy lucky that they are RMAing at all realy, I never have that good of luck. Anyways keep us posted and let us know how it goes and how the board turns out for you!

Well I finally ordered Dominators since a buddy is buying my G.Skill for a DFI mobo. This Gigabyte DS5 better not decide to blow up now... G0ldBr1ck are you running them ganged?

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Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck

your actualy lucky that they are RMAing at all realy, I never have that good of luck. Anyways keep us posted and let us know how it goes and how the board turns out for you!

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I have very good news.

I got the motherboard back yesterday (Monday) from Gigabyte. Amazing considering they only received it last Thursday.
Initially I was sceptical as I'd heard bad things about Gigabyte RMA process (on here and other places). I just thought it was too good to be true.
I wanted to find out exaclty what was done to the board before ripping apart my current AM2 system. They enclosed a sheet with the motherboard but it made no sense to me. I phoned them and they said they replaced a faulty component. If anyone is interested The component is designated no 185. I was curious so I spent a while searching for this component on the board. It is underneath and in-between the two orange x8 PCI-express slots.

Anyway I put my phenom 9850 in and the other essentials. The moment of truth. I swithced it on and it POSTed successfully :) Further than I got last time. I was able to boot windows. I quickly noticed that every time I restart I would get that silent (no beep code) black screen again. The same when I tried to change a BIOS setting and exit and restart. I had to clear CMOS every time. It was saying CMOS checksum error or something like that. The board had BIOS F4 on it. ( I did ask them to update to the latest BIOS for me but that's another story) I thought that may be the problem. So I flashed it with F3 and then with F5. It made no difference. At this point I was fearing the worst. I was cursing Gigabyte for rushing this board back to me without testing it properly and thinking I would end up having to send it back again. I called it a day.


Today I decided to try my other PSU (from my case). The one I was using to test it was 450W and only had a 4pin CPU 12v power cable. I tried my main PSU (from my signature) and hey presto it worked! :) I don't know it was the lower power output or the 4pin 12v CPU or maybe the PSU is faulty but this board didn't like it. I was not expecting to even be able to POST with the Phenom 9850 BE using a BIOS earlier than F5 so that was a big bonus. I am quite happy with the motherboard at the moment.

I was never expecting such a lightning fast turnaround from Gigabyte RMA technical support department. I know some of you have had your problems with them but in my case they were good. I don't know about in other countries but here in the United Kingdom they are pretty bloody good based on this experience.

:)

I've just been trying some overclocking using Motherboard Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T) in BIOS and have encountered some strange things. I have managed to increase the CPU multiplier and Vcore successfully.

I have tried to change the intergrated memory controller(CPU-northbridge) settings. I changed its multiplier from auto to 11. That should give it a frequency of 2200Mhz. I saved to CMOS and it restarted no problem there.
When I got into windows CPU-Z, AMD Powermonitor and CPU Brain identifier all registered it at the default frequency 2000Mhz instead of the expected 2200Mhz. When I changed the intergrated memory controller voltage in the BIOS it registered correctly in AMD powermonitor.

I also wanted to increase the voltage of my RAM in order for it to run at its EPP timings of 4-4-4-12. When set to auto it gives 1.8V and registers as 1.856V in the PC Health screen. I increased the RAM voltage by 0.250V. Next to DDR2 Voltage control it changed to show 2.10. I hit F10 to save to CMOS and it restarted no problem. However when I go back into BIOS and look at the PC Health screen it is still showing 1.856v. Even though on the M.I.T screen voltage control is still showing and increase of 0.25v equalling 2.10v.
When I boot to Windows Everest sensor shows a Vdimm of 1.86V. I don't understand this at all. I disabled Auto Xpress to see if that would make any difference and it didn't. Also when in Auto Xpress EPP Mode and EPP Voltage control are never selectable. I have no idea why.

Can anyone please shed any light on the above? I am clueless.
Any other weird quirks of this motherboard that I should be aware of??

Thanks.