Testing / comparing : Intel D975XBX2 / Asus P5B DX ***56K WARNING***

[STaRGaZeR]

411fsb, 266/533 3-3-3-1 at 2.35v 24/7 results in:

Read: 10350 MB/s
Write: 7515 MB/s
Copy: 7420 MB/s
Latency: 41,6 ns

[gtj]

First off, thanks for the calaculator GTJ, makes life easier

My experience with BX2 so far hasn't been that easy. I've got a good line-up for a core too:

Xeon 3060 631B
Ballistix Tracer PC2-8000

I wanted an easy OC of 3600 MHz at 1:1 or 4:5 but I am having problems. I have confirmed the cpu is capable of 3.6 and the memory is capable of 1000 Mhz, however, the cpu is too hot at 3.6 (70C + orthos) and the memory won't do anything between 900 and 1000 MHz (5-5-5-18) when the cpu frequency gets cranked up.

Example, it won't do 928 (2.2-2.3v) at 3330 Mhz. The Xeon is totally solid but I am now having doubts about the ram or board or combination of the two.

The BX2 seems overly sensitive too, I have never owned a motherboard that gave so many cold boots from simple changes. I am positively sick of throwing the maintenance jumper on this board. So, here I sit at 3420 MHz @ 1.400v @65C orthos and 761 Mhz on the memory (2.28v). Not my expected result, but great performance nonetheless.

The Xeon scales well with voltage, and will do 3.6+ with 1.475v stable DDR2-800, however, I don't have the cooling to handle it. At least I know the chip is solid. The memory or the way the board handles memory is giving me a headache...........

Maybe you need to back off on the memory voltage a bit. They're rated at 2.2v but since they're DDR2-1000, you're underclocking them a good bit.

[gtj]

p.s. Might be getting an identical sata hd. Might experiment with RAID since i've never tried a RAID before. AFAIK, i will be limited to raid 1 and 0 due to my budget. What's the main diff of 0 and 1? Pros and cons ?

In RAID 0, data is striped across 2 or more drives. Your total storage capacity therefore is the sum of all the drives in the array. PROs: Read and write speed, large storage. CONs: Lose 1 drive and you've lost EVERYTHING.

In RAID 1, the same data is mirrored on 2 drives. Your total storage is limited to the capacity of the smallest drive. PROs: Security. If a drive fails you can replace it and the raid controller will automatically re-sync it. CONs: Smaller storage. Write speed is slower because the same data has to be committed to both drives. Read speed is actually good because the controller can read data from either drive.

[mezcal]

IDCC and IDU are lousy for reading temps because they don't measure the cores. I've found absolutely no use for either program.

Coretemp, RMClock and TAT are all getting their temps from the Digital Thermal Sensor located on each core. Those sensors are VERY sensitive and can update as fast as 30 times a second so unless the programs are all reading at EXACTLY the same instant, they'll probably not agree. They should be close though. RMClock averages the core temps over 5 seconds by default so it's going to be even more slightly off. Pick one and stick with it.

Speedfan and Everest report both the DTS core temps and the standard cpu and motherboard temps from the onboard sensor chip. You HAVE to use the latest versions of each program though. Everest versions before 3.80.880 or so can cause the board to lock up and prior to Speedfan 4.32, our board wasn't supported.

Tjunction is the reference temp for the processor. If the temp goes above that point, throttling should occur to prevent damage. It can be either 85 or 100 depending on the processor you're using. It's important to report because the processor reports the core temps as a number relative to tjunction. If the display program is using the wrong tjunction as a base, the temps will be 15c off.

I believe the e4300 has a 100c tjunction. There are a few threads in the info and support sub-forum that talk about this. You might take a look.

New 0.95 version of coretemp appears to have addressed the e4300 temp reporting issue. Anyone verify? I would but my bx2 box is STILL down waiting for parts...

[hotchoc]

In RAID 0, data is striped across 2 or more drives. Your total storage capacity therefore is the sum of all the drives in the array. PROs: Read and write speed, large storage. CONs: Lose 1 drive and you've lost EVERYTHING.

In RAID 1, the same data is mirrored on 2 drives. Your total storage is limited to the capacity of the smallest drive. PROs: Security. If a drive fails you can replace it and the raid controller will automatically re-sync it. CONs: Smaller storage. Write speed is slower because the same data has to be committed to both drives. Read speed is actually good because the controller can read data from either drive.

I think i should be going for RAID 1 in this case. I always wanted to backup my data in such a way that if a new data is entered into drive A, an exact data is replicated in say drive B.

Some questions though.
1. For RAID 1 to work, what options, configurations, software (Intel Matrix Storage Console), drivers do i need to install other than hitting the F6 option in the XP installation ?
2. I'll be having 2X 320GB Sata HD. Does this mean i will effectively have only 320Gb of space after implementing RAID 1 ?
3. What are meant by strip size? What are the amount i should put in when creating the RAID set (as stated in the manual) ?
4. Is it possible to create partition(s) within the RAID drives itself? I.e. splitting the 320Gb to say 200GB (Drive C) and 120 (drive D).
5. Let's say, I have already installed XP w/o the RAID drivers. Is there anyway to bypass the XP installation again ?

p.s. Btw, how did removing the master jumper solved the IDE dvd drive problem? Care to explain ? Thanks

[slappynutz]

411fsb, 266/533 3-3-3-1 at 2.35v 24/7 results in:

Read: 10350 MB/s
Write: 7515 MB/s
Copy: 7420 MB/s
Latency: 41,6 ns

That's some nice ram. Can't really compete with that.

Of course, I do get 10710 3Dmarks in 3Dmark06 with my moderately overclocked system.

[Forceman]

New 0.95 version of coretemp appears to have addressed the e4300 temp reporting issue. Anyone verify? I would but my bx2 box is STILL down waiting for parts...

It does - it changed the Tjunction to 100 and now shows similar temps to TAT (for me at least). Speedfan is about 15C off. I think I liked it better the old way.

[STaRGaZeR]

That's some nice ram. Can't really compete with that.

Of course, I do get 10710 3Dmarks in 3Dmark06 with my moderately overclocked system.

Damn you have a 8800GTX, I´m waiting for R600

[MuttonFlanks]

Anyone got aftermarket cooling on the SB or NB? Pics? I got a brand new HR-05 and a HR-05 SLI laying around. When I was mounting my Tuniq 120 I looked and I'm pretty sure the HR-05 won't work with it on. If they can't be used I'll just sell them.

[SiGfever]

Anyone got aftermarket cooling on the SB or NB? Pics? I got a brand new HR-05 and a HR-05 SLI laying around. When I was mounting my Tuniq 120 I looked and I'm pretty sure the HR-05 won't work with it on. If they can't be used I'll just sell them.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=137581

[mezcal]

It does - it changed the Tjunction to 100 and now shows similar temps to TAT (for me at least). Speedfan is about 15C off. I think I liked it better the old way.

Heard that. But if Intel thinks the chip is ok to 100C before throttling...
Wick it up!

[gtj]

I think i should be going for RAID 1 in this case. I always wanted to backup my data in such a way that if a new data is entered into drive A, an exact data is replicated in say drive B.

Some questions though.
1. For RAID 1 to work, what options, configurations, software (Intel Matrix Storage Console), drivers do i need to install other than hitting the F6 option in the XP installation ?
2. I'll be having 2X 320GB Sata HD. Does this mean i will effectively have only 320Gb of space after implementing RAID 1 ?
3. What are meant by strip size? What are the amount i should put in when creating the RAID set (as stated in the manual) ?
4. Is it possible to create partition(s) within the RAID drives itself? I.e. splitting the 320Gb to say 200GB (Drive C) and 120 (drive D).
5. Let's say, I have already installed XP w/o the RAID drivers. Is there anyway to bypass the XP installation again ?

p.s. Btw, how did removing the master jumper solved the IDE dvd drive problem? Care to explain ? Thanks

1: When you enable RAID mode for the Intel SATA controller, you'll get another BIOS screen. Hit CTRL-I and you can create your array. See my notes below though.

2: Correct. You'll see a single 320G drive in Windows.

3. The stripe size specifies how big the blocks written to the array are. If 64K for instance, and there are 2 drives, that means that 32k will be written to each drive. Not really important for RAID 1 since all data goes to both drives. Set to the highest. I forget if that's 64k or 128k,

4: Yep. In Windows disk management you'll see a single 320G drive that you can partition as you see fit.

5: If you have Windows installed on the IDE drive then you're in good shape. First, get the latest Intel Matrix Storage Manager package from http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/
Then restart the system and put the controller in RAID mode and create the array using the new BIOS screen that will pop up. Now reboot and when Windows comes up, you should get a prompt for drivers. Just cancel and install the full package you got from Intel.

EDIT: The jumper thing... I'm guessing you had the ide hard drive and the dvd on different ide controllers on your old board so they could both be masters. Since the bx2 has only 1 ide port when you connected both devices you had 2 masters on the same controller which isn't valid. When the ide driver loaded it got very confused. Removing the jumper on the dvd put it in "cable select" mode which made it be a slave instead of master.

[hotchoc]

thks mate am running on raid 1 now.

funny thing about the ide drive and ide hd.

still hangs if i load em together (i.e. one ide cable linking the hd, cdrom and ide connector together):

I---------------I-------I
ide port dvdrom ide hd

however if i were to do this:
I---------------I-------I
ide port dvdrom

or

I---------------I-------I
ide port ide hd

everything would be just fine. tried a second ide cable. same results. bx2 bug u reckon ??

[hotchoc]

1. Can i disable this option at BIOS to avoid seeing all the RAID splash screen:

Advanced - Peripheral - Disable Secondary Controller

2. What's with all the weird wordings that appear on the bottom right of the screen after the BIOS update(i.e. E9, 0, 94,B2, etc). Any way to get rid of em ?

[GamingDaemon]

Here are my scores:

Read: 7900
Write: 5756
Copy: 6036
Latency: 56.2

Wonder why they are so much lower than yours (except for the Copy, not sure what happened there with you). My RAM is at 4-4-4-12 @ 667MHz 2.12v and 320FSB.

I re-ran the benchmarks and got 5266 for Copy this time. You're probably right about Vista. I mean, I have the SideBar running a couple of gadgets, etc...who knows.

And gtj, thanks for the info on the TJunction in CoreTemp. So, because TJunction reads at 85C for the E6600, you were saying I shouldn't be concerned until my core temps reached upper 60's, low 70's, right?

[GamingDaemon]

With my current settings, I got 9504 marks with 3DMark06 at 1600x1200, no antialiasing. Not bad, I guess. Room to grow.

[gtj]

thks mate am running on raid 1 now.

funny thing about the ide drive and ide hd.

still hangs if i load em together (i.e. one ide cable linking the hd, cdrom and ide connector together):

I---------------I-------I
ide port dvdrom ide hd

however if i were to do this:
I---------------I-------I
ide port dvdrom

or

I---------------I-------I
ide port ide hd

everything would be just fine. tried a second ide cable. same results. bx2 bug u reckon ??

Here's how it works...

MB             SLAVE  MASTER 
 I---------------I-------I

You have to make sure that both devices are jumpered according to where they are on the cable OR you have to set both devices to "Cable Select". Cable Select allows the device to automatically set itself as either slave or master depending on which cable connector is used.

So if you have...

 I---------------I-------I
ide port      dvdrom    ide hd

The you must either set the dvdrom to slave and the hd to master, or set them both to cable select.

1. Can i disable this option at BIOS to avoid seeing all the RAID splash screen:

Advanced - Peripheral - Disable Secondary Controller

2. What's with all the weird wordings that appear on the bottom right of the screen after the BIOS update(i.e. E9, 0, 94,B2, etc). Any way to get rid of em ?

Secondary SATA Controller is the Marvell (red/blue ports). OK to disable it if you're not using it.

Those are the BIOS POST codes. No way to disable.

[ArcticOC]

Just got my brand new BX2, the revision is 505 and the bios is version 2663
I bought the bulk version and pair`ed it with an E4300.

The only mods I have done so far is replacing the thermalpaste from Intel with AS5 on the northbridge and A.Ceramique on the southbridge. The stuff that Intel had supplyed with the board didn`t look to High-End

So far I have not clocked the board or CPU to any max limit, but the first results look good so far.. Will come back with the max OC when I get done.

But as many others I have issues with C1E + EIST. CPU-Z is constantly reporting that the multiplier changes from 6 -> 9 and so on

As an old overclocker I like to have FULL control of thing`s like multis my self and this issue is driving me nuts

Have done this:
- disabled C1E in maintanance mode
- disabled WatchDog maintanance mode
- turned off EIST
- set all option`s in "override" menu to my own whishes (Voltages, memory timings, and all that stuff..)

The Board OC like it should, and when I put som workload on the CPU it run at the intended speed. But you all know what happens in IDLE, the multi dropps instantly to 6. This is not "the end of the world" for me, BUT do the Voltages and other stuff that I have set manually also get overridden?!

If so, then I get really worried! I must at any time have control over voltages and timings, this is really important to me as an overcloker.

Must post nice litle pic of the NB, production date 06 is 2006.. but 82? What week is that?

[aicjofs]

Anyone got aftermarket cooling on the SB or NB? Pics? I got a brand new HR-05 and a HR-05 SLI laying around. When I was mounting my Tuniq 120 I looked and I'm pretty sure the HR-05 won't work with it on. If they can't be used I'll just sell them.

I wouldn't call my solution after market, but I took a fan retension mechanism for a P3 800 I have lying around and it fits the NB heatsink like a glove. A little artic silver on the NB and this fan assembly and it runs completey cool to the touch. No forcing or modifications needed. Of course this isn't a passive solution for those looking for silence and probably not what you were looking for but I thought I would share in case anyone else was interested too.

Fan retension on old CPU
Removed assembly
On 975 NB

[gtj]

Just got my brand new BX2, the revision is 505 and the bios is version 2663
I bought the bulk version and pair`ed it with an E4300.

The only mods I have done so far is replacing the thermalpaste from Intel with AS5 on the northbridge and A.Ceramique on the southbridge. The stuff that Intel had supplyed with the board didn`t look to High-End

So far I have not clocked the board or CPU to any max limit, but the first results look good so far.. Will come back with the max OC when I get done.

But as many others I have issues with C1E + EIST. CPU-Z is constantly reporting that the multiplier changes from 6 -> 9 and so on

As an old overclocker I like to have FULL control of thing`s like multis my self and this issue is driving me nuts

Have done this:
- disabled C1E in maintanance mode
- disabled WatchDog maintanance mode
- turned off EIST
- set all option`s in "override" menu to my own whishes (Voltages, memory timings, and all that stuff..)

The Board OC like it should, and when I put som workload on the CPU it run at the intended speed. But you all know what happens in IDLE, the multi dropps instantly to 6. This is not "the end of the world" for me, BUT do the Voltages and other stuff that I have set manually also get overridden?!

If so, then I get really worried! I must at any time have control over voltages and timings, this is really important to me as an overcloker.

Must post nice litle pic of the NB, production date 06 is 2006.. but 82? What week is that?

Welcome to the club! Get the latest RMClock Beta from http://forum.rightmark.org/?id=6 and you'll be able to turn C1E on and off at will.

Oh yeah, the NB is made on Mars which has 98 week years,

[hotchoc]

Here's how it works...

MB             SLAVE  MASTER 
 I---------------I-------I

You have to make sure that both devices are jumpered according to where they are on the cable OR you have to set both devices to "Cable Select". Cable Select allows the device to automatically set itself as either slave or master depending on which cable connector is used.

where about do u set the devices to 'cable select' ?

[ArcticOC]

Welcome to the club! Get the latest RMClock Beta from http://forum.rightmark.org/?id=6 and you'll be able to turn C1E on and off at will.

Thanx

I read about the RMClock app and tried it and it works, but my question is if the C1E function also messes with my voltage settings and other stuff?! I must have full control of my voltages and timings

And it would also be nice not to start an app everytime I start my PC, is this problem only present in the BX2 or are other 975X boards also affected by this issue? If not, why can`t Intel correct this in a BIOS relase before I go completly nuts and have to sue them for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)

Thanx for the Mars info regarding prod week!

[gtj]

where about do u set the devices to 'cable select' ?

Look at the jumpers. There's usually a label or something telling you which position is which. Sometimes it's no jumper that sets cable select.

What are the model number of the ide drive and dvd?

[purepino]

hi guys, great forum. just wanted to ask if 370fsb at 1.35 vcore, 1.6vmch, 1.25 vfsb is a good place to use for everyday use. this is my first time overclocking and this thread was a great resource. i stopped at 23 hrs orthos blend stable at these settings but got a bsod after playing company of heroes. but i didnt restart the computer after using orthos for that long. does that mean its unstable? since restarting and playing again ive had no bsod. i still have to check my memory with memtest. anyway, this is how i approached my overclock. im still new to everything. any constructive criticism would be great. thanks.

my first overlock attempt

note i have the bx2 with 2333 bios and a e6300 allendale. c1e eist off and power slope on. i dont trust my xclio 500w psu yet. my timings are 5 5 5 15.

[gtj]

Thanx

I read about the RMClock app and tried it and it works, but my question is if the C1E function also messes with my voltage settings and other stuff?! I must have full control of my voltages and timings

And it would also be nice not to start an app everytime I start my PC, is this problem only present in the BX2 or are other 975X boards also affected by this issue? If not, why can`t Intel correct this in a BIOS relase before I go completly nuts and have to sue them for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)

Thanx for the Mars info regarding prod week!

The only thing C1E plays with is multipler and core voltage and if you've set the vcore to something other than default, then it doesn't even affect that.

It's been reported to Intel and I spent some time with them on the phone a few weeks ago walking through the problem. Hopefully they'll fix it in an upcoming release.

Might be good for you to report it as well. Use the form at http://supportmail.intel.com/scripts...d=36,2386,2578

Make sure you use a concise description like "Disabling C1E in the BIOS does not disable C1E on the processor"