!UPDATE! abit AW9D-Max (retail) arrived

[Tony]

I can run 1;1 just fine with the gold as long as over 350 the board sets the 1333 strap, if not I shoot straight for 400 like on the P5B where the board does move to this strap and its good to 450.

The Aw9 is sat on the 1066 strap, this will make it harder at higher clocks. using the gold which is a gamer module will be having an effect as its not as tollerant as our plat range which is mainly micron based.

I have just begged Abit for a board..if they come thru I will work with them to get this sorted. In short though they need the 1333 strap in bios and usuable for this board to clock like the the asus 965 and gigabyte boards are doing. Badaxe has 1333 so there is no reason the AW9 can not have it either

[NicoOCZ]

I can run 1;1 just fine with the gold as long as over 350 the board sets the 1333 strap, if not I shoot straight for 400 like on the P5B where the board does move to this strap and its good to 450.

The Aw9 is sat on the 1066 strap, this will make it harder at higher clocks. using the gold which is a gamer module will be having an effect as its not as tollerant as our plat range which is mainly micron based.

I have just begged Abit for a board..if they come thru I will work with them to get this sorted. In short though they need the 1333 strap in bios and usuable for this board to clock like the the asus 965 and gigabyte boards are doing. Badaxe has 1333 so there is no reason the AW9 can not have it either

Just to make sure I don't get it wrong, you're saying that I can't run 1:1 as long as abit doesn't implement a 1333 strab?

[Tony]

Just to make sure I don't get it wrong, you're saying that I can't run 1:1 as long as abit doesn't implement a 1333 strab?

All 975 boards have issues above 350fsb 1:1 due to the nature of the strap settings and memory ratio's. What I am saying is for Abit to stand a chance they HAVE to implement the 1333 option in bios for you to choose at 350ish and this will allow the board to sale thru 350fsb to well over 400+fsb. The issue is this though, ram performance will be slower. Now i asked abit to add the NB latency settings into bios also with the hope that the 1333 slowness could be countered by altering the latency, pretty much like you saw on the IC7 boards.

Micron based dimms are more tollerant and give the memory controller an easier time...they will allow 1;1 and above 350fsb easier using the 1067 strap, but they will still top out.

ALL the 975 boards at this time excpet badaxe are using the 1067 strap and not moving to the 1333..this is the reason they are ALL clocking less than 965. 965 is also a better clocking chipset and will clock higher in the strap range than 975 but it does still top out, this is why we see asus using 1333 at 400 and up.

So in short the dimms may limit you a little yes, the nature of the chipset is also limiting you and unavailable bios options.

[Sentential]

Hmmm glad I read this, looks like when I go conroe I will be getting either a P5B or a DS3. Just another dud from abit, shame to be honest.

[NicoOCZ]

All 975 boards have issues above 350fsb 1:1 due to the nature of the strap settings and memory ratio's. What I am saying is for Abit to stand a chance they HAVE to implement the 1333 option in bios for you to choose at 350ish and this will allow the board to sale thru 350fsb to well over 400+fsb. The issue is this though, ram performance will be slower. Now i asked abit to add the NB latency settings into bios also with the hope that the 1333 slowness could be countered by altering the latency, pretty much like you saw on the IC7 boards.

Micron based dimms are more tollerant and give the memory controller an easier time...they will allow 1;1 and above 350fsb easier using the 1067 strap, but they will still top out.

ALL the 975 boards at this time excpet badaxe are using the 1067 strap and not moving to the 1333..this is the reason they are ALL clocking less than 965. 965 is also a better clocking chipset and will clock higher in the strap range than 975 but it does still top out, this is why we see asus using 1333 at 400 and up.

So in short the dimms may limit you a little yes, the nature of the chipset is also limiting you and unavailable bios options.

Ok, but why can't I run stock FSB of 266 1:1? As I said, no matter what voltages, FSB or other settings, 1:1 doesn't work for me.

[Raja@ASUS]

All 975 boards have issues above 350fsb 1:1 due to the nature of the strap settings and memory ratio's. What I am saying is for Abit to stand a chance they HAVE to implement the 1333 option in bios for you to choose at 350ish and this will allow the board to sale thru 350fsb to well over 400+fsb. The issue is this though, ram performance will be slower. Now i asked abit to add the NB latency settings into bios also with the hope that the 1333 slowness could be countered by altering the latency, pretty much like you saw on the IC7 boards.

Micron based dimms are more tollerant and give the memory controller an easier time...they will allow 1;1 and above 350fsb easier using the 1067 strap, but they will still top out.

ALL the 975 boards at this time excpet badaxe are using the 1067 strap and not moving to the 1333..this is the reason they are ALL clocking less than 965. 965 is also a better clocking chipset and will clock higher in the strap range than 975 but it does still top out, this is why we see asus using 1333 at 400 and up.

So in short the dimms may limit you a little yes, the nature of the chipset is also limiting you and unavailable bios options.

Tony, I wonder if Asus are maniplualting the strap on the P5WDG2 Pro too. I have a few users that are known personally to me that are NOT hardcore overclockers that can get that board to post above 450fsb in bios.

BTW Tony where are you at present? If in the UK drop me a pm, I have a contact email of ABIT over here which is not listed on the web...

regards
Raja

[camouflage]

With this issue fixed, I'm pretty sure this board can fly.

Haha - yes I also thought this too many times. The only way those boards did fly for me were out of the window........

[Anarchy]

Hmmm glad I read this, looks like when I go conroe I will be getting either a P5B or a DS3. Just another dud from abit, shame to be honest.

Posts like this are the main reason why i rarely visit XS ... it's the first user review bout the board and it's less than 12 hours old.

An instant ban for posts like that would be nice ...

[Tony]

Ok, but why can't I run stock FSB of 266 1:1? As I said, no matter what voltages, FSB or other settings, 1:1 doesn't work for me.

No idea as even after 20 requests I still do not have a board. its probably the board not reading the SPD coorectly and forcing cas3 maybe which the dimms will not do.

[NicoOCZ]

Err, remember me mentioned having issues to assemble the 8 Pin 12V connector and using the 4 Pin one instead?
I just investigated the connectors, I tried my best paint skills to get this explained on a picture:



In case it's too blurry, here's what a 8 Pin 12V PSU connector looks like. Both of my PSUs use that design, just that abit's connector has a rounded "port" where pin number 7 (with a not rounded port) should fit. Long story short, it doesn't fit. What the ...?

[Tony]

Posts like this are the main reason why i rarely visit XS ... it's the first user review bout the board and it's less than 12 hours old.

An instant ban for posts like that would be nice ...

Everone has the right to an opinion, being said that is a bash and i will be keeping an eye on further posts.

lets all remember it is early days for this board...im sure fixes will surface soon

[Tony]

Err, remember me mentioned having issues to assemble the 8 Pin 12V connector and using the 4 Pin one instead?
I just investigated the connectors, I tried my best paint skills to get this explained on a picture:



In case it's too blurry, here's what a 8 Pin 12V PSU connector looks like. Both of my PSUs use that design, just that abit's connector has a rounded "port" where pin number 7 (with a not rounded port) should fit. Long story short, it doesn't fit. What the ...?

Thats one for Abit to answer i think

[NicoOCZ]

Thats one for Abit to answer i think

Definately ... gonna post that in abit-usa's forum ...

[NicoOCZ]

No idea as even after 20 requests I still do not have a board. its probably the board not reading the SPD coorectly and forcing cas3 maybe which the dimms will not do.

Sorry, didn't mean to bother. I was just trying to find out if this might be a known bug for this sticks, or smth chipset related you might heard of from other boards, etc.

[Tony]

Sorry, didn't mean to bother. I was just trying to find out if this might be a known bug for this sticks, or smth chipset related you might heard of from other boards, etc.

hey i wasn't having a go at you..i honestly have no idea as i don't have the board. i know from past boards though bios forcing a setting is usually the main reason for none boot.

[The Nemesis]

Sicness,
You don't have access to any other ram modules? Maybe a friend? I purchased a kit of corsair 5400C4's when I was making the move to conroe so I would have options in case of incompatability.
I'm not going to write this board off just yet. If Zipzoom get em tomorrow I'll order one and test. I've had a pretty good run testing conroes of late, so maybe my luck will hold out for this board. If not, the P5W DH with the available 1.85mch and now adjustable downward multi will certainly be the pick of the litter. I'm quite pleased with mine.

Freaking awesome to see you here Tony! What OCZ ram do you guys have thats comparable to the G Skills in both performance & price.

[NicoOCZ]

Tony, nevermind. I really appreciate your help

The Nemesis, I don't have access to any other DDR2 sticks

[situman]

So how are the other guys doing at the other forums? Are they having similar issues? Seems to be the people at Abit are a little clueless as to how these chipset internal timings function if the problem is not limited to OCZ ram.

[Got Chow]

Hmm.... that 8pin EPS is reminiscent of that board that came out which had one of the PCI 1x (??) slots which was located on the motherboard in such a way that you would never be able to actually plug in a device. Don't know if I want to say it, but I BELIEVE it was an abit board...

Nevertheless, I'm interested in how this board will do with some BIOS updates.

[^don.k's^]

Err, remember me mentioned having issues to assemble the 8 Pin 12V connector and using the 4 Pin one instead?
I just investigated the connectors, I tried my best paint skills to get this explained on a picture:



In case it's too blurry, here's what a 8 Pin 12V PSU connector looks like. Both of my PSUs use that design, just that abit's connector has a rounded "port" where pin number 7 (with a not rounded port) should fit. Long story short, it doesn't fit. What the ...?

LOL They dont even know how an 8pin eps connector should be made... How can they even build a good BIOS ??

I was hoping good things for this board, i liked 2vmch and some other voltage options it has, but, if it's crap, it doesnt mind even if it can feed the cpu with 220v... Im VERY sorry to say that, be sure of it.

[The Nemesis]

Ordered this board from EXcalibur PC. It will probably be Monday or so before I get it. I doubt its gonna replace my P5W DH, but hopefully it will be fun to play with

[Heidfirst]

Definately ... gonna post that in abit-usa's forum ...

it's user-to-user though so you won't get an official reply.

LOL They dont even know how an 8pin eps connector should be made...

I'm sure that they just ordered a part from a supplier the same as Asus, DFI etc. do.
it's too soon to know if this is a 1-off, a batch error or w.h.y.

[xgman]

Posts like this are the main reason why i rarely visit XS ... it's the first user review bout the board and it's less than 12 hours old.

An instant ban for posts like that would be nice ...

With twenty something posts I don't think you are in a position to be calling for a ban on anyone quite yet. That said, I think that it is ok for people to vent their frustrations with any hardware particulars here as long as they don't over do it. Xtreme forums tend to be a friendlier place than some other sites which will remain nameless, and I am sure that this will continue under the new setup.

[Anarchy]

With twenty something posts I don't think you are in a position to be calling for a ban on anyone quite yet. That said, I think that it is ok for people to vent their frustrations with any hardware particulars here as long as they don't over do it. Xtreme forums tend to be a friendlier place than some other sites which will remain nameless, and I am sure that this will continue under the new setup.

I said that i'm rarely here ( joined 07/2003 - 3 years ago) because of the numerous nonsense posts ... but if you want some Postcounts go to the H|F : 3k posts, joined 08/2000 - thats over 6 years.

Venting frustrations sure is OK, but you just can't expect the very first BIOS to be perfect. Abit is working on that prob so calling this board a dud or somethin is plain wrong (ATM)

[vowkilmer]

Any more updates on performance yet?