Forward: official GIGA 965P-S3/DS3/DS4/DQ6 beta BIOS

[newls1]

Well, with this BIOS I can finally go over 460FSB. I'm @ 475FSB x7 = 3.32GHz. I ran SP2004 for an hour on large and small ftt test, and passed **AFTER** I set my Vdimm to +5 (is this 2.3V??, and is it ok to keep it here?) all seems ok, going to play some games to test now. Im just a little freaked out about using +5 Vdimm, but if someone can tell this = 2.3V and with ram cooling it will be ok to use, i'll feel a little bit better. Thanks

[aldamon]

It's still early, but my first impression is F8i rocks! Priming away at 460 right now. Before, I couldn't get past 451 or even run 2.2V through my D9 without getting errors in MEMTEST. Now I'm really rocking and my Tunique Tower arrives on Monday. I decided to leave the VDROOP mod on. Also, my X-Fi is still working fine.

I will report back if my Raptor 150GB is not detected on a cold boot. Hopefully the D9 RAM incompatibility was causing that too.

THANK YOU BINGO!

[ericminou]

My first post here I have to say this thread has been very informative. Thank you everyone for for your valuable comments. I have a rather simple question. Has anyone been able to get the DS3 stable over 3.6ghz with any C2D or settings (I have a E6600)??? I can run 9x400 or 8x450 all day under load. BUT if I boot at anything above that frequency I can't run Prim95 nor Orthos for more than 2minutes without the system rebooting itself (XP boots all the way to 3.8ghz). If you look at this data http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1075792 it seems that I am not the only one with that problem as all the scores over 3.6ghz are done on ASUS boards (I have the highest E6600 overclock with a DS3).

So, 3.6ghz as good as it gets with the DS3????

To get 3.6ghz I am running on air with a Zalman9700 (63 degree under Orthos small FFT load and 36 idle)
Vcore is 1.39V
Dim: +0.4V
MCH: +0.3
FSB: +0.0V

What gives???

[aldamon]

Try F8i ericminou.

[newls1]

Well, with this BIOS I can finally go over 460FSB. I'm @ 475FSB x7 = 3.32GHz. I ran SP2004 for an hour on large and small ftt test, and passed **AFTER** I set my Vdimm to +5 (is this 2.3V??, and is it ok to keep it here?) all seems ok, going to play some games to test now. Im just a little freaked out about using +5 Vdimm, but if someone can tell this = 2.3V and with ram cooling it will be ok to use, i'll feel a little bit better. Thanks

UPDATE..... Had to back down to 470FSB as for some reason my sound locked up during game play Testing again....

[tripleflip18]

First post. Love the F8i. Before Max stable was 7x431 or 8x425. Now Stable 7x481 and 8x431. Tried higher in the 7x but wouldn't be too stable,
So far ran over an hour in 7x481 and NP big big boost in performance. I can only hope that Final bios will bring a little bit more for the $ But even now and then can't beat this board for its price point/performance. Very happy Customer. The only thing thats holding me back is my CPU. Running it at 1.5625 and max only 3.44gig. And can't lower the voltage on it cause crashes. Anyhow i read this thread from page one over the months and its been my pleasure. POST with results with the new BIOS!!

[ericminou]

Try F8i ericminou.

I already have... I had to slightly increase my Vcore voltage to boot with the same BIOS settings as with Bios 7 (went from 1.39xx to 1.40). BIOS F8i doesn't seem to fix that problem..

[aldamon]

I already have... I had to slightly increase my Vcore voltage to boot with the same BIOS settings as with Bios 7 (went from 1.39xx to 1.40). BIOS F8i doesn't seem to fix that problem..

Then I'm inclined to say you've hit the limit of your CPU with that cooling. 63C is kind of hot. Get the temps down and you might do better.

[ScythedBlade]

My CPU is at 75 degrees C ... nothing bad. I think anything under 80 will work.

[ericminou]

Then I'm inclined to say you've hit the limit of your CPU with that cooling. 63C is kind of hot. Get the temps down and you might do better.

Sorry I disagree. Again take a look at the Hardforum results. Why are there so many people able to run E6600 at much higher frequencies (ok maybe not that much higher but all the way to 3.9) than 3.6ghz on ASUS boards?? But NONE of the DS3 can cross 3.6??? 63 isnt that hot. Just browse through the many forums and you'll see people going into the low 70s. BTW, I have a L629Bxxx chip/.

Take a look at this!!! No one over 3.6 with the DS (on air nor water). We all are hitting a hard wall there!!!!

[davidos]

For everyone who is saying "yeah! this bios is the sh t!!!" What exactly are your bios settings because I am about to flash back to F7 because I can't overclock AT ALL ANYMORE with F8i... It just resets back to default... and sometimes it doesn't reset I just get a flashing line in the upper left corner.

[ScythedBlade]

It's cause your a nub ... or you've hit the strap ....

But anyway, I find that MCH at +.2 is more stable than +.3 ... so try that

[tripleflip18]

Update, rand 7x481 for few hours Orthos, browsing and regular stuff. NP. Decided to overclock video, crash, go to bios and give +.1 to PCIE. Reboot, no go, no go, 7x470, no go. down to 460, boots but crashes after few min. upped the vmch and fsp, and lowered Vcore to 1.5 and so far running orthos for 40 min 7x470

weird. Cause ran just fine 7x481. did benchmarks and everything,then try to boot again and no good.... any reason you can think of?

Also today did the Vdroop Mod, i still had the same drop as before, didn't affect vdroop at all? did any of you see no difference? I did it with a conductive ink.

[ericminou]

My CPU is at 75 degrees C ... nothing bad. I think anything under 80 will work.

yep... you are right... beside how often do u run your PC at full load?? and 36~37 at idle is very reasonable....

[ericminou]

It's cause your a nub ... or you've hit the strap ....

But anyway, I find that MCH at +.2 is more stable than +.3 ... so try that

was that addressed to me??? humm... ??? I would be more than happy to see someone to get that board stable over 3.6 on any FSB...

[aldamon]

Also today did the Vdroop Mod, i still had the same drop as before, didn't affect vdroop at all? did any of you see no difference? I did it with a conductive ink.

It works fine. Try again.

[aldamon]

yep... you are right... beside how often do u run your PC at full load?? and 36~37 at idle is very reasonable....

ericminou, I look at your chart and I see a lot of water cooling beating you and not by much. Be thankful you're within a few percentage points of those expensive water cooling setups.

Let's see what Lestat says eh? Should be interesting. LOL.

[ericminou]

ericminou, I look at your chart and I see a lot of water cooling beating you and not by much. Be thankful you're within a few percentage points of those expensive water cooling setups.

Let's see what Lestat says eh? Should be interesting. LOL.

You do?? I only see one guy having a better score than me with the DS3 board?? are we looking at the same chart?? and he only gets 3.680 with a E6400?? but pay attention how many people with the Gigabyte boards get stopped between 3.5~3.6???

I am happy, but I want more, but I doubt a better cooling with help me achieve that. A new board might...

[aldamon]

You do?? I only see one guy having a better score than me with the DS3 board?? are we looking at the same chart?? and he only gets 3.680 with a E6400?? but pay attention how many people with the Gigabyte boards get stopped between 3.5~3.6???

I am happy, but I want more, but I doubt a better cooling with help me achieve that. A new board might...

Yeah, you're right. Sorry. I'm out of suggestions. LOL.

I guess all I will say is, yes you could get better cooling and a $200+ board, but considering the cost, I think the phrase diminishing returns applies. Good luck with your quest.

[Jodiuh]

...better cooling and a $200+ board, but considering the cost, I think the phrase diminishing returns applies.

Maybe apples with dip. After booting up a P5B Deluxe, 6600, and the Crucial Anniversary ram, I can't help but think, "Why?"

[tripleflip18]

Just redone the Vdrop Mod and its just amazing seeing the volts staying the same. some testing again.. lol

[markopoleo]

Most people run there CPU underload all the time since they don't turn off PC. Im at 60c underload and would not want to go any more.

[ericminou]

Most people run there CPU underload all the time since they don't turn off PC. Im at 60c underload and would not want to go any more.

??? You are running both cores at 100% utilizations all the time?? huh??? MOST people leave there PC idle not at full utlizations idle meaning 0% (or near 0%) processor load.

[chrisf6969]

You do?? I only see one guy having a better score than me with the DS3 board?? are we looking at the same chart?? and he only gets 3.680 with a E6400?? but pay attention how many people with the Gigabyte boards get stopped between 3.5~3.6???

I am happy, but I want more, but I doubt a better cooling with help me achieve that. A new board might...

All of those people who ponied up for a $250+ motherboard, probably ponied up for watercooling (check chart), 600W-1000W PSU's (not on chart), top notch ram (check chart), have great case cooling / NB cooling (not on chart!), etc.. There's more to the #'s than that limited information on the chart.

My experience leads me to believe those people at the top with the top end motherboard, probably took some extraoridinary means to get there. Like trying several CPU's. I know at least one of those people tried 3 different e6600's before he got one that did over 3.6Ghz! SO maybe all is not what it seems with "THE Chart".

Oh yeah, and for me less has been more on the MCH & FSB voltages. With +.1v for both, I can reach 473Mhz FSB with F7 BIOS. Try backing down that +.3v!

OR MAYBE you're right. And maybe its just something like the power circuitry on the DS3 is only good up until about 3.6Ghz max. Compared to the power circuitry on the Asus board that costs nearly twice as much, is a little bit better and can handle some more Mhz.

[ScythedBlade]

I leave my comp stressed for 20 hours on 71 degrees C, and it doesn't burn out. so ehh ..