A quick 1st look: GA-G33M-DS2R, mATX P35 mobo (pic heavy)

[stncttr908]

Well I didn't have any problems with the F4 BIOS that came installed on the board, so I imagine I'd be alright with the F4a and a 1066MHz FSB processor.

[Chosen.]

Guys, does anyone have their ICH9R setup in the BIOS as AHCI?
I just bought a SATA Solid State Disk which works fine in Compatible/IDE mode, but fails to be detected in AHCI/RAID mode.
Any feedback?

[__Miguel_]

Guys, does anyone have their ICH9R setup in the BIOS as AHCI?
I just bought a SATA Solid State Disk which works fine in Compatible/IDE mode, but fails to be detected in AHCI/RAID mode.

Please define "fails to be detected", and tell us what OS you are using.

Any drive should be detected by any (post-Win9x) OS when in Compatible/IDE mode, including Linux.

The same also happens with Windows Vista and AHCI/RAID modes, since this OS has embedded AHCI and RAID drivers (not sure about Linux on this one).

Windows XP needs what's called an "F6-Install" for ICHx Southbridges running AHCI or RAID mode, because there are no embedded AHCI or RAID drivers on this OS, so you need to either slipstream them on the Windows install CD or F6-Install and provide them in a floppy disk.

My guess is, unless you have a very deep wallet to buy a 32GB+ SSD, you're running Windows XP, so F6-Install is a must. If not, then there can be a BIOS issue you should report to Gigabyte.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Miguel

[Tobit]

Gigabyte just released an F7 BIOS on 11/22, has anyone tried it yet? All Gigabyte says is that it adds Yorkfield support and a fix for 1TB drives. Curious as to if they also improved any OC settings as well. My board arrives next week so I can't check myself.

- JT

[comuneros]

I have try to use SpeedFan to control the two Fans in this mobo. But Speedfan detects them but I can increase or reduce the speed of the CPU and System FAN. Anyone with this problem?

I have modified the Speed option in the bios but the result is the same!!

Could you control the speed of the fans with SpeedFan?

[Norway]

I am on a 800FSB CPU so my lowest FSB/Ram ratio is 1/3.33 og 1/4
Is moding it to look like a 1333FSB CPU the only way to get 1/1 ?

[BulldogPO]

Hm, does F7 BIOS have 1:1 memory divider?
I´m still using that F4a beta.

[Norway]

Gigabyte.com.tw says it dont

my max 24/7 OC and my lowest FSB/Ram ratio ....


I can go higher on memory on 2.2v but not much and is cas6 even something to think of ?

[__Miguel_]

I am on a 800FSB CPU so my lowest FSB/Ram ratio is 1/3.33 og 1/4
Is moding it to look like a 1333FSB CPU the only way to get 1/1 ?

I might help you there, though it won't be the way you want it, unfortunately.

First of all, let me just say that the 3x/4x series chipsets do not officially support the following FSB:memory configurations:

- 800:200 DDR (1:1 on 800MHz CPUs)
- 800:233 DDR (3:4 on 800MHz CPUs)
- 1066:233 DDR (1:1 on 1066MHz CPUs)

Those were design choices: the 3x/4x series were designed with Penryn in mind, so the minimum RAM speed is usually 333MHz DDR, so that 1:1 with Penryn is available. Not even the x31 chipsets (which officially top at 1066MHz FSB) have 1:1 below 333MHz.

That being said, lack of official suppor doesn't mean "impossible". The only exception to this, I think, is for 533MHz FSB CPUs (3xx Cellys, the 805 and a couple of other), though I don't know why (it might also have to do with the divider problems... a 533MHz CPU would need a 2.5x multi on the memory to achieve the minimum 333MHz DDR, and you don't see that knd of memory multipliers every day...).

So, although is not impossible, it's certainly not easy to make non-supported dividers available. You've got to trick the MCH into it, and it takes time and patience. And, since Gigabyte mATX boards are not enthusiast-oriented, standard memory dividers are usually all you get.

Now, what I really think it's missing, since I've seen it on other boards and it's MUCH easier to achieve, is to be able to change memory dividers when you set an FSB. My P5B Deluxe does just that. When I OC to 333MHz, a new divider becomes available, and I can run my 400MHz DDR memory just fine at the standard speed (well, with a tad of OC, but manageable).

Ok, now to reply to some of the more specific questions:

@Norway: Gigabyte boards don't accept BSEL mods. You either get no POST or the board POSTs with the original CPU speed.

@Bulldog: from what I've read, the new F7 BIOS has 800:233 DDR memory support; it also seems to have reinstated 1:1 on 1066MHz CPUs.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Miguel

[Norway]

Thats why it didnt work on my P35-DS4

So is it any way at all to get a lower FSB/Ram ratio ?

[__Miguel_]

Thats why it didnt work on my P35-DS4

So is it any way at all to get a lower FSB/Ram ratio ?

Yes, there is. It involves editing the BIOS file yourself (or get one from someone who has already done it).

However, you have to keep two things in mind:

1) Editing the BIOS files for the DS2R seems to be a very messy deal. Some time ago (please check this very thread) it was only possible to read a BIOS file, not save it.

2) Even if you DO manage to save the altered BIOS file and update the board with it, there is no telling of what might happen. Again, some time ago (check this thread) someone managed to unlock either all the ratios for 800MHz CPUs, or the 3:4 setting (just like the F7 does), and it didn't turn out all that well. It worked, but with even more severe limitations to overclockability than the standard limited ratios you have...

So, long story short, unless Gigabyte releases a fully-operational and non-memory divider crippled BIOS, you won't get 1:1 on 800MHz CPUs, and you sill have to get faster memory. Or a faster CPU and regular memory, whichever you like most... hehehe

Cheers.

Miguel

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

seems like its time for a BSEL eh?

having used this board, its great for being an mATX but its just really limited by vdroop, and last i heard the mod over at madshrimps for vdroop doesnt work on all boards

[Norway]

seems like its time for a BSEL eh?

And that dosent work with Gigabyte, maybe I should return it for a Asus P5K-VM before it is to late

I'm going to watercool it any why its only that the P5K-VM looks so cheap and low-end ....

[Norway]

Now with F7 BIOS i get the 1:2.66 ratio with my 800FSB CPU

but i hate my CPU wall, atm i only have 3120Mhz ....

I know also got much more options n the BIOS from the old F5 BIOS i used

[StevenG]

could someone tell me what ram speeds i could use with 400x9 with a 1066mhz chip? q6600

im hoping that theres a 4:5 ram divider to give me 1000mhz on the ram? can someone confirm this please?

Thanks

[olDirdey]

Take a look on the first sites here in the Thread. You can use 4:5 divider. Take a look at the Screen with E6300 running 400x7 with RAM running on 500MHz.

[__Miguel_]

could someone tell me what ram speeds i could use with 400x9 with a 1066mhz chip? q6600

im hoping that theres a 4:5 ram divider to give me 1000mhz on the ram? can someone confirm this please?

AFAIK, with either the F4a or F7 BIOS versions, you can get the 1:1 divider on 1066MHz CPUs, meaning you would only need regular 800MHz memory sticks for that OC level.

Ok course, I don't own one of these boards, but from what I've been reading, that's how it works.

Cheers.

Miguel

[dart22]

Hi all

I Just upgraded my board from F4 to F8b and replaced my C2D E6750 (FSB1333) with pentium DC E2180 (FSB800), an and i can confirm now that my board has a new memory devider (2.66 X) !!
right now i have my board @ 333 X 8 and my Ram is @ 888MHz

Talal

[ziddey]

That's because 2.66x is part of the 800strap. So you should be getting quite decent performance at that since it's overclocking your chipset by a bit.

[dart22]

That's because 2.66x is part of the 800strap. So you should be getting quite decent performance at that since it's overclocking your chipset by a bit.

What i ment to say is that this 2.66 multi is new to this Board!! the lowest multi that was available before the bios update would give me 1110 Mhz on my memory !!!

[stragulus]

Same here.. finally I can run my e2160 at decent speeds! With 9x300 it runs @ 2.7Ghz with 800Mhz memory. Since the memory will do 1100, I finally have some headroom now!

[Dan_c]

guys, please excuse my nubish... but isn't there an automatic "link" between FSB and DDR?

and how does the next scenario loock to you?:
E8400 -pushed at 400fsb
2x4 gig Mushkin at 400mhz
g92 8800gts (Gainward GS 1g )
2x wd 3200aaks
2x Samsung sata DVD-RW

can I do all that without a Bios update? seems such a sweet board...

[Clint]

Guys, I just wanna give out a warning to use the Gigabyte @BIOS flash util under XP x64!!

I flashed my bios a couple of days ago and I thught it was kinda laggish in bios after that. I didn't gave it much thought after that since it booted and worked like it should. This morning though my IDE channel started to go south, installing 2008 server hanged at first screen and I couldn't for the life of me find the reason for it to happen. After a few hours searching hardware and software errors and going backwards in time I decided to try reflash the bios under 32bits XP.

All is fine after that, IDE working properly and 2008 server install no problems at all....

Close call there, it could have borked the bios so it wouldn't even boot.

[BulldogPO]

Any experiences with latest f8e bios?

[Clint]

Any experiences with latest f8e bios?

Yes, I tried it but got a lower stable clock as a result. Until now the F8b bios has been the best for my Q9300.