**Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 OC-Tips-Bios-Discussion Thread**

[KorbenD]

Another quick question for you guys using this board. How much of a difference does the big NB air cooler make to NB temps? Just wondering as I may well want to use one of the PCI-E 1x slots for a sound card but with the additional cooling connected it wont fit.

I take it if I put the soundcard in the bottom 8x slot it will make one of the 16x slots drop down to 8x which will effect my crossfire performance?

If no one else lets you know about this, I'll post in a day or two. Got my board arriving tomorrow and wasn't planning on using the big Northbridge cooler.

[R3alsp33dy0ne]

I havn't tried without it, but on mine it gets pretty warm. I think the NB would get very hot without it.

[jwteacher]

If no one else lets you know about this, I'll post in a day or two. Got my board arriving tomorrow and wasn't planning on using the big Northbridge cooler.

Looking forward to it. I have the same sound card problem that uses PCIEx1 and do not want to have to lose that slot because of the cooler. Can you let us know too how hot the NB cooler gets without the pipe?

[erickwok]

Hi, where can find the latest bios download path??
thank you very much

[KorbenD]

Looking forward to it. I have the same sound card problem that uses PCIEx1 and do not want to have to lose that slot because of the cooler. Can you let us know too how hot the NB cooler gets without the pipe?

Sure thing. I've got the same issue with a SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium that I want to use in a PCIe 1x slot.

[KorbenD]

Hi, where can find the latest bios download path??
thank you very much

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...ProductID=3251

[jwteacher]

Sure thing. I've got the same issue with a SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium that I want to use in a PCIe 1x slot.

Thank you very much!

[nyeah]

i've replaced stock waterblock with enzotech CNB-S1 and the temp stays @ 52c ambient 26c open case.
i don't use the silent pipe

[pyn]

not to get off topic but, GA-X58A-UD5 was just launched GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

[OC_Nooby]

36x is as low as it goes (there is a "slow mode" but don't even bother trying that, it's useless). But QPI speed shouldnt become an issue until you get to about 220 BCLCK.

Well something is stopping me flat on my face. I can do 191bclk and 21 multi but can't do 200bclk and 20 multi (they both get you 4ghz). I can run 200 bclk and 19 multi all day long. Ram set to 1600mhz qpi @ 36x...Im pretty sure I have a ty 920 d0...

Currently im running @ 3.8ghz 200bclk 21 multi, 1600mhz @ 6-7-7-19, 1.3v cpu, 1.36vtt/qpi, 1.66v mem. I've done all possible ram settings, voltage adjustments etc etc. Ohh well...i'll wait for a new bios, maybe my luck might change.

Thanks to the people who helped!

[Demo]

The memory controller is in the CPU. Most of the time issues w/ 12GB of ram has been CPU dependent. I'll be throwing in another 6GB today again (as the F@H bigadv is a ram pig). Hopefully it won't limit my OC.

Well I am up to 12GB now. Didn't have to decrease the bclk either. Sitting nicely @ 229.

My friend has a X58-UD5 w/c has a supported memory of 1600Mhz but only 1 module per channel, since the memory controller is on the CPU it self why does the X58-UD5 limit the support and the X58A-UD7 support it at 1600Mhz with all DIMM slots used??

[MikeMK]

If no one else lets you know about this, I'll post in a day or two. Got my board arriving tomorrow and wasn't planning on using the big Northbridge cooler.

Thanks mate... lookin forward to the results

[luther138]

@ Sam_oslo

You're seriously getting those temps on air with a 2.67 Ghz Proc

Is it the Xeon chip you have that runs so cool or is it the Noctua or both?
If I purchased a Noctua could I expect temps/speeds like this on my i7-975

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As per advice from OC Nub I lowered my clock rate on my ram and bumped up its timings
allowing me to significantly decrease my DRAM Voltage and QPI Voltage. Also I mounted my Megehelam horizontally instead of vertically. Doing all of these things dropped my temps by about 10C. My application is CPU bottlenecked so clocking down the ram was an easy choice.

Thanks for the help everyone, although depending on Sam_oslo's response I may have to invest in a Noctua. Too bad I already bought 4 (yes I am building 4 identical machines) pre-lapped (warranty voided) Megahelams.

Heres the latest results
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/barrowsr...ightCPU4_2.png

Also does anyone know of a good loading program for linux (fedora) I can't get my temps within 10C of linX windows7. What gives?

-Luther
This Board + 6GM Corsair Dominator 2000Mhz @1800Mhz + Megahelem + i7-975

[FeRaL]

not to get off topic but, GA-X58A-UD5 was just launched GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

SNAP! Looks nice. Thanks for the heads up!

[Ender17]

Not exactly. No CPU's are created equal

right, I know that
I'm saying keep the exact same CPU, not another chip of the same model number

[lowfat]

My friend has a X58-UD5 w/c has a supported memory of 1600Mhz but only 1 module per channel, since the memory controller is on the CPU it self why does the X58-UD5 limit the support and the X58A-UD7 support it at 1600Mhz with all DIMM slots used??

I don't know I never paid attention to this when I had the EX58-UD5

right, I know that
I'm saying keep the exact same CPU, not another chip of the same model number

It should.

[Sam_oslo]

@ Sam_oslo

You're seriously getting those temps on air with a 2.67 Ghz Proc

Is it the Xeon chip you have that runs so cool or is it the Noctua or both?
If I purchased a Noctua could I expect temps/speeds like this on my i7-975

..

Yep, really. Isn't it great?

This particular batch# is cooler than average W3520 (as far as I have seen) and I believe this the main reason for good temp . But I believe the Noctua is helping too.
EDIT: (Some i7-batches run cooler with the same Vcore/clock. I have heard others with several w3520 saying this batch# runs about 10'C cooler clock-4-clock.)

I just got this cooler for 2 days ago and can't say much firm about it, yet. But it seams to be running ~5'C cooler at load compared to my good old Prolimatech Megahalems with 2x1600RPM fans.
But I'm using a really strong 38mm 3000RPM fan + NH-14 now and this may play a role too.

This cooler is rally good, and is probably the best within air-cooling right now But I belive the batch# is the main reason for this results.

[luther138]

Thanks! I went and read some comparisons for that cooler and they agree with your statement of running about 5 degrees cooler, well I have 3 more 975's coming perhaps one will run really cool but unfortunately they will all have to be clocked the same.

I am beginning to feel like there may be better options for chips, I really just wanted fast cool and stable, I thought this would cover it but I guess if I want more I would have to go WC.

Its funny how you learn things the hard way sometimes this Motherboard kind of turned out to be an overkill for what I was trying to do. Oh well I least I still have all the power and flexibility it offers.

Thanks Again.

-Luther

[Sam_oslo]

NP, Yeah, ~5'C cooler sounds cool, for now

The MB is very important component and I believe it will never be overkill. It is a good idea to invest on a good one, specially for you, it costs almost nothing compared to those "cheap" 975 you got.

Why didn't you get i7 920? or even better, wait for upcoming i7 930 which is right around the corner and 4 of them would cost almost as much as one 975, and would OC as good (for 24/7 use on air).
Those "cheap" 975 shows their strength on subzero cooling, but they OC almost the same as i7 920 for 24/7 use on air. The OC headroom of i7 depends on batch#, not the the model#.

Probably you can get a better 24/7 OC on air with a good batch# of i7 930 (you have a better chance to get a good batch# at the first days of release). I don't remember the exact resale date for 930, but should be here soon.

4 systems exactly the same OC? What are you up to, and what are you going to use them for?.

[Sam_oslo]

Fresh new 10 run LinX. Some Optimization from last run, ended up with following for now:

VVT = Vcore = 1.34v
QPI PLL = IOH Core = ICH Core = 1.14v

W3520 @4.51GHZ(215x21) 1.34v

[LarsMarkelson]

4.5 stable on air is

[fritzman]

Awesome job... must get the butt of my cooler sanded smooth and then retry for some solid settings.

[OC Nub]

Fresh new 10 run LinX. Some Optimization from last run, ended up with following for now:

VVT = Vcore = 1.34v
QPI PLL = IOH Core = ICH Core = 1.14v

W3520 @4.51GHZ(215x21) 1.34v

That is a great chip you have. Nice job.

[andressergio]

Fresh new 10 run LinX. Some Optimization from last run, ended up with following for now:

VVT = Vcore = 1.34v
QPI PLL = IOH Core = ICH Core = 1.14v

W3520 @4.51GHZ(215x21) 1.34v

Congrats on your chip mate

[Sam_oslo]

Thx guys

It is always fun to push it a bit further, and I'm having some with this great CPU but the new MB and new Noctua NHD14 cooler should get some of the credit too