GIGABYTE DS3 FAQ by CrazyJohn /FAQ on 1st page/

[Dazog]

works running the same now.

Just need to dual prime it and thats a 1.5 gigahertz overclock. INSANE

[Pjoeloe]

Anyone have any idea if that new zalman passive northbridge hs will be an improvement over the stock one....

ZM-NBF47 - that one.

YES

[Trellame]

Somebody here who tried to flash the ds3 bios with the utility @bios from F1 to F4 ? ( I don`t have a floppy or burner )

I can`t find the F4 bios online with this utility online, only the F3. The weird thing is, I can`t flash to F3 or F4 if the .bin is on my harddrive and if I try to flash via the gigabyte server, I constantly get the same error : Can not load Rom image from Bin file. Maybe BIN file size noth match.

Are you running Windows x64? I have that exact same problem in x64. When I boot up WinXP 32 bit off a different drive, I can flash fine with the same images.

[Pjoeloe]

nope, x32, just running xp professional with all the fixes etc....

[Ribbon]

Ribbon have you tried lowering your multiplier to 8x, just to see what happens?

You can change the divider in the same section where you change your multiplier, vcore, and all that jazz. It's probably set to auto. You'll know when you find it because when you toggle it, your memory speed in that same screen will change (sorry I'm being lazy but I know it's there). Also of course make sure that PCI-E is set to 100 and not auto.

I really think that its your board being finicky. I'm not running at 400 FSB and my timings are 5-5-5-18, but I wouldn't worry too much about that last timing being a bit high since Conroe doesn't seem to respond too much to lower timings anyways. Also, make sure you are running at least +.1v on the RAM, since the board defaults to 1.8 and that RAM is 1.9.

Yeah, my Vdimm is +0.2v and my PCI-e is 100. I'll just leave my RAM timings on auto.

My computer won't post past 370x8 (2960MHz). This is really starting to annoy me..

Advanced BIOS Features
Limit CPUID Max. to 3: Disabled
No-Execute Memory Protect: Disabled
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E): Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2): Disabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled

Integrated Peripherals
USB Keyboard Support: Disabled
USB Mouse Support: Disabled
Azalia Codec: Disabled
Onboard Serial Port 1: Disabled
Onboard Parallel Port: Disabled

MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.)
CPU Clock Ratio: 9x
CPU Host Clock Control: Enabled
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz): 356
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz): 100
C.I.A. 2: Disabled
System Memory Multiplier: 2.00
DRAM Timing Selectable: Auto
Memory Performance Enhance: Normal
DIMM OverVoltage Control: +0.2v
PCI-E OverVoltage Control: +0.1v
FSB OverVoltage Control: +0.1v
(G)M.C.H.: +0.1v
CPU Voltage Control: 1.5v
Robust Graphics Booster: Auto

[korruptedone]

You could try what HeadShot did, clear the CMOS, and start from scratch when he flashed his BIOS to F4. I think he also set his RAM timings manually. I decided to start from scratch as well and see what I can come up with, since I also need a high vcore compared to most to get 400x8 stable.

It could very well be that your board and the 6600 aren't cooperating nicely like tends to happen with the Allendale chips.

[Ribbon]

You could try what HeadShot did, clear the CMOS, and start from scratch when he flashed his BIOS to F4. I think he also set his RAM timings manually. I decided to start from scratch as well and see what I can come up with, since I also need a high vcore compared to most to get 400x8 stable.

It could very well be that your board and the 6600 aren't cooperating nicely like tends to happen with the Allendale chips.

You are right.. I'm lazy and I don't clear the CMOS after I flash my BIOS.. I will try this tonight, wish me luck~

[Pjoeloe]

fixed

[dogsx2]

OK CJohn, I looked thru your tread and here's my problem:

If I change Vdimm to more then +3 it shows DDR 18v Fail in the bios hwm.

I can run 8x438 @ 1.4125 but the ram at 1:1 with only 2.1v is not enough juice to it. Does the board not like the ram in my sig? It was the same with the other two DS3 boards that I had that worked.

The MSI and Asus 975X boards had no trouble hitting 1090 so I know the ram will clock.

[Ruhnie]

1. u can change the warning levels (rpms) at the settings menu, they are just set like that by GBs team. my fan spins (?) even at 700rpm, so i have lovered the warning level

2. u don't have to connect anything to system fan nor cpu fan but be preparied to get warning signs in programs and or bios - check their settings.
i've connected cpu fan to CPU and psu fan to SYS fan and enabled the beeping option in bios so to know when anything fails.

3. Core Temp shows the difference in temps (cpu die temp - cpu current temp) so it's like 85-30 = 50*

4. what bios do u have? F1, F2, F3 had problems with showing timings in a proper way, maybe upgrade?

Thanks for the reply. I'm running the F4e beta BIOS linked from this thread.

[Ribbon]

I think it's running better now. I can run 32m SuperPI stable 378x9 (3.4GHz), but my Vcore is pretty high @ 1.5v.. I'll run 2x Prime95 overnight and see what happens.

I couldn't get into Windows @ 400x9 and I kept trying to bump up the Vcore, but at 1.525v, I had to stop, that's too high on just air cooling (Scythe Ninja Plus).

Edit: Also, I manually set my timings to 5-5-5-12, which it's supposed to be (before it was diong 5-5-5-17/18 on auto).

[Pjoeloe]

Well so far with final F4 bios I`m doing 9 x 400 / E6600 retail cas 4-4-4-12 / 2 gb 667 @ ddr800 el cheapo ram / all on air and 100% silent. With setfsb I can do 9 x 415 and with all the voltages high 9 x 425 but I don`t like such voltages.

[korruptedone]

For those the F4 BIOS, if you don't mind, check your voltages when you set the vcore to AUTO in the BIOS. 1.325 is stock, correct? I and others have noticed that the board seems to be overvolting on this setting.

The AUTO setting gives 1.425ish in CPU-Z idle, and 1.39ish under load (for me, at least). That is at 400x8 (if you set it to 266x8 then the vcore is volted properly). However, I can overclock to 400x8 on my E6400 with very few BIOS adjustments when I use the AUTO setting. But when I was manually setting things, it takes 1.45 volts on the vcore to be stable at 400x8.

[Dystopian God]

man thats tooo much trouble with the DS3

[BottomsUp]

For those the F4 BIOS, if you don't mind, check your voltages when you set the vcore to AUTO in the BIOS. 1.325 is stock, correct? I and others have noticed that the board seems to be overvolting on this setting.

The AUTO setting gives 1.425ish in CPU-Z idle, and 1.39ish under load (for me, at least). That is at 400x8 (if you set it to 266x8 then the vcore is volted properly). However, I can overclock to 400x8 on my E6400 with very few BIOS adjustments when I use the AUTO setting. But when I was manually setting things, it takes 1.45 volts on the vcore to be stable at 400x8.

I tried this and yes with 'normal' my vcore shows 1.424 in cpu-z. Also in PCHealth i now get FAIL for vcore, 12v, and 3v. Can someone check pchealth and let me know if they see that? i def didn't have that on F4e

[Ribbon]

Well so far with final F4 bios I`m doing 9 x 400 / E6600 retail cas 4-4-4-12 / 2 gb 667 @ ddr800 el cheapo ram / all on air and 100% silent with mch + vdim + Vcore all +0.2 V. With setfsb I can do 9 x 415 and with all the voltages high 9 x 425 but I don`t like such voltages.

I like this speed and I am waiting for the DFI RD 600 . Anybody know where you can download a good working easy tune 5 ? I can see here : http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...lity_List.aspx 2 versions, but they don`t work here

EasyTune (wouldn't run) and @BIOS (couldn't update BIOS, gave me an error every time) didn't work off the website for me either, but I installed them off the CD that came with the DS3 and they work now.

[BottomsUp]

WTF? Now i just checked easy tune and it says my vcore is 2.05, my 3v rail is 2.03 and my 12v rail is 8.05. Speedfan is reporting the same thing and CPU-Z says vcore is 1.213v. In BIOS i have vcore at 1.375

I'm running dual prime stable and my CPU temp is reading low at 21C. Multimeter says 12v rail is 11.95 and 5v rail is 4.9.

What the heck is going on? Should i be worried..my CPU can't be running 2v i have it set to 1.375 in bios

[FinanceFan]

I can't get my OCZ 6400 Gold to work! I can post with cheap ram and increase the volts but it does no good and still doesnt post with OCZ. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am using the newest Bios.

What ram should I buy thats cheap and overclocks well to replace it?

[delas52]

FINALLY broke down the 330FSB wall. Everyone here is convinced setting the pcie freq. at auto is suicide for some reason so I never did when trying to figure out what was wrong. Luckily after updating my BIOS (to F4) I forgot to set it to 100 and voila, no more fsb-wall. I am now stable up tp 400fsb although I hit the reset switch during POST and now it wont post past 375 even though I know it is prime (or orthos) stable to at least 400FSB. I guess I will have to re-flash the bios or something. But 375x8 (3 Ghz) for tonight. 1.45V on the vcore. No other voltages upped.

Here are 2 screens I took (the only two I took):

[RangerXLT8]

Just a FYI guys, the DS3 vDIMM is acutally .07v above what is set in bios. This is atleast according to my multimeter.

[dan007]

i have this MB and one HD WD 250GB sata2. transfer rate is UDMA-6. its ok? How have I set sata2 transfer rate?

[Kougar]

it is one of the "suckest" memories available on market.

I got one pair before and sold within 24hrs

Why exactly would you say this?? I have this exact kit and am running DDR2-952mhz @ 5-5-5-15 2v right now with it. It runs up above DDR2-1,000mhz at the same timings without a voltage increase or any issues, and it was almost as cheap as the cheap voltage hungry G.Skill stuff... And I didn't even have any issues with it even though my board shipped with the F1 BIOS.

I am totally loving this motherboard, I just wish it had RAID 5 or 0+1 at least, and two PCIe x16 slots and I'd be unable to find a drawback with it now.

If I ever switch from air cooling to water I can see how far 1.4v on the CPU will get me. 1.356v is enough for 3.5ghz on my E6300, although with one core unstable. I don't suggest changing the MCH or FSB Overvoltage options either, they are not needed and only hold the OC back due to the extra heat. First image is currently what I use for 24/7 folding, second was my last attempt to find a ceiling to this board...

[Kougar]

EasyTune (wouldn't run) and @BIOS (couldn't update BIOS, gave me an error every time) didn't work off the website for me either, but I installed them off the CD that came with the DS3 and they work now.

I had the exact same issue. EasyTune off the CD would not work, so I downlaoded Easytune4, Easytune5, and a beta of EasyTune5 and none of them would work after an install/uninstall/install... The version of @BIOS on the driver CD was newer than both the versions I was able to find off of their website, oddly enough!

WTF? Now i just checked easy tune and it says my vcore is 2.05, my 3v rail is 2.03 and my 12v rail is 8.05. Speedfan is reporting the same thing and CPU-Z says vcore is 1.213v. In BIOS i have vcore at 1.375

I'm running dual prime stable and my CPU temp is reading low at 21C. Multimeter says 12v rail is 11.95 and 5v rail is 4.9.

What the heck is going on? Should i be worried..my CPU can't be running 2v i have it set to 1.375 in bios

I say ignore the software readings completely, and don't worry about them. If you want strange, how about looking at what Speedfan gives me for my -12v and -5v rails... If you were really feeding 2v into your CPU the temps would be high enough that you would know, if it simply didn't auto-shutdown first. Assuming you didn't turn that off in the BIOS anyway like some people are doing...

I can't get my OCZ 6400 Gold to work! I can post with cheap ram and increase the volts but it does no good and still doesnt post with OCZ. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am using the newest Bios.

What ram should I buy thats cheap and overclocks well to replace it?

This is the RAM I use, it booted just great even with the F1 BIOS, and worked better with the beta F4e. I haven't tried the official F4 BIOS yet... Price on it went up by ~$13 since I bought it though.

[geof]

Pjoeloe and Ribbon may you post your bios settings please ? because i have same ring E6600 and DS3 , i can't boot over 375 with coef 9 ...

[CrazyJohn]

DS3 does not NOT like D9, it just doesn't like tight timings

There are different mems on different PCBs, so it does NOT like D9 Good Ram Pro nor Good Ram nonPRO. The question is about the rest of D9