Taken from my post at another thread: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...3&postcount=61


Ok, I have done some prelim testing on the issue with vCore as it relates to BIOS revision.

Disclaimer: Testing only done in a manner that did NOT put my hardware at extreme risk of burning (I dont have *that* much money to burn)

I have been researching strap vs. vcore fixing that has been going on in Striker BIOS revisions.

I have tested 0402, 0505, 0701, and the new 0802.

BIOSes 0505, 0701, and 0802 suffer from vcore to strap fixing. Check it out:

I tested 3 strap 'zones' (FSB is QDR'ed).

1) Below 1333
2) From 1333 - 1600
3) Above 1600

In the BIOSes that exhibit strap to vcore fixing, typically:
Zone 1 exhibits no vcore fixing, but severe vdroop (setting 1.45 will result in 1.36-1.38 in reality)
Zone 2 exhibits a hard vcore lock at 1.40v, often dipping to 1.37v.
Zone 3 exhibits a hard vcore lock at 1.50v, ranging from 1.47 - 1.52v.


Now the great news.

BIOS 0802 FIXES vdroop issue BELOW FSB1333QDR Strap!

Tested the following BIOS settings:
1.35v in BIOS = 1.34 at load
1.40v in BIOS = 1.40 at load
1.45v in BIOS = 1.44v at load
1.50v in BIOS = 1.51v at load

I am still researching this, and I am going by BIOS and Probe readouts, not from a DMM, but so far the voltage seems consistent with the temps I am getting.

So, in summary,

0402 does not suffer from vcore to strap fix, but only severe droopage
0505 suffers from vcore to strap fix in Zone 2 and 3 and droop in Zone 1
0701 suffers from vcore to strap fix in Zone 2 and 3 and droop in Zone 1
0802 suffers ONLY from vcore to strap fix in Zone 2 and 3. Zone 1 is spot-on.

Hope this helps in your endeavors.