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

[STaRGaZeR]

I think that is the lowest vdroop you're going to get with any board out there.

Asus boards with vdroop mod have 0 , and thats my target if possible. Anyway 0,02 is good, and with that mod...

[GamingDaemon]

I have noticed a vdroop of ~0,02v under load, what is your vdroop guys? Is there any pencil mod to avoid this?

Dude, with your avatar, you need an nVidia 8800GTX!! You'd probably double your 3DMark06 scores for sure.

[Zucker2k]

Asus boards with vdroop mod have 0 , and thats my target if possible. Anyway 0,02 is good, and with that mod...

As you've noted, that is 0.02 without mods. I guess vdroop on this mobo is so low nobody's bothered with a mod. If you want to be extreme you could find the power slope ic, penciling it should do the trick.

[ArcticOC]

Got this e-amial from Intel regarding the C1E issue:

Hello again, Jorn,

Thank you once more for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.

Regarding this situation with your Intel(R) Desktop Board D975XBX2, please be aware that this multiplier difference detected could be related to the TM2 (Thermal Monitor 2) technology, which is supported by both your chipset and processor.

This enhanced TCC provides an efficient means of reducing the power consumption within the processor and limiting the processor temperature. Thermal Monitor 2 is supported in your unit of the Intel(R) Core™ 2 Duo processors.

When Thermal Monitor 2 is featured, the enhanced TCC causes the processor to adjust its operating frequency (by dropping the bus-to-core multiplier to its minimum available value) and input voltage identification (VID) value. This combination of reduced frequency and VID results in a reduction in processor power consumption.

At this point, there is no option to turn off the feature. It is enabled by default when a processor that supports it is detected by the BIOS.


Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you need further assistance.

Sincerely,

Paul C.
Intel(R) Technical Support

Jesus Christ.. why the f*#k would I ever want the vid to change on an overcloked system?! This is scary stuff for me at least.. If vid`s changing values, this really gives me chills down my spine..

This combination of reduced frequency and VID results in a reduction in processor power consumption.

Like I care?! Electrical power is really cheap here in Norway.. And if other 975x bords/brands don`t have this problem, why can`t the invetor of this CPU+chipset find a solution to eliminate this issue?!! or at least give me the option to disable this function?! (beside 3.party solutions) And as most people know, reduction of the frequency gives minimal power saving, lower voltage (Vcc) does, but stay away from this option on an OC`ed system!
I want control my self, and if other brand`s can do it on the same chipset why can`t Intel?! Does anyone who know the phone number to companies like DFI or Abit and please give it to the Intel support staff so we can resolve this issue?

So my CPU is trotteling because of the heat (TM2), and the heat is most intensive at IDLE state??! Where is the logic here? There are shurly som really bright heads working at Intel`s mainbord division

I give up.. This board and it`s support staff will shurly make me tell everyone to avoid this board.. Period! Do I look like a 5 cent whore? If not, then why are Intel trying to fu*k me like one?!

[Bama Badaxe]

New everest is showing much lower tempature than TAT and somewhat lower than the new core temp.
TAT got up to a reported 81c
I have some shin etsu ordered to replace this AS5 junk.
Really am hoping to see 3.6 ghz at least post.
System would post at 3.375 but error out on orthos.
I have had 3.3 running orthos for 9 hours stable overnight but dropped it down to 3.0 for fear of the high temps.




TAT Results.txt

coretemp coretemp Temp Log.txt

[ChaosMinionX]

That bull about the TM2 can easily be disproved by someone using phase or Dry Ice and checking what cpuZ says then. It cant be TM2 its just their board not turning off C1E ive checked my other boards and none of them clock back with CpuZ1.39, not to mention the temperature they are talking about is at like the 60C mark for that TM2 to kick in no?

[Xilikon]

This is my first post here on XS forum so hi to everyone Also, good job with this massive XBX2 topic that I followed from day one as a owner.

I would like to add something about the C1E / TM2 issues :

Download http://cpu.rightmark.org/products/rmclock.shtml then run it. It's nearly useless for tweaking since C2D is not 100% supported but the best thing with this is that it will show what PM (Power Management) features is enabled or disabled. With this software, we can see EIST, TM1, TM2, ODCM and CxE and if you run this software on the XBX2 with C1E "disabled" in the BIOS, RMClock will still show CxE in blue, meaning it's enabled. However, TM2 is still in black.

I also got further as testing the "throttling" point and I was never able to throttle my E4300 at 3.5 GHz, only got reboots each time CoreTemp 0.94 display 75-77C, which is not a TM1/TM2 feature. Normally, if TM2 is working fine, the computer should be still running, only with lowered multiplier and voltage to keep the temperature in check.

This is the perfect proof XBX2 has a bad bug with TM2 disabled and C1E enabled by default. Show this data to the stupid Intel engineers and tell them to fix this.

Some more infos about those features can be found in http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...res-core2.html

[badboy]

Right click on the bottom status bar (where the Copyright statement is) and take CPU Tweakings.



Yeah, word for word, that's what I got.

Thank You.

[ArcticOC]

This is my first post here on XS forum so hi to everyone Also, good job with this massive XBX2 topic that I followed from day one as a owner.

I would like to add something about the C1E / TM2 issues :

Download http://cpu.rightmark.org/products/rmclock.shtml then run it. It's nearly useless for tweaking since C2D is not 100% supported but the best thing with this is that it will show what PM (Power Management) features is enabled or disabled. With this software, we can see EIST, TM1, TM2, ODCM and CxE and if you run this software on the XBX2 with C1E "disabled" in the BIOS, RMClock will still show CxE in blue, meaning it's enabled. However, TM2 is still in black.

I also got further as testing the "throttling" point and I was never able to throttle my E4300 at 3.5 GHz, only got reboots each time CoreTemp 0.94 display 75-77C, which is not a TM1/TM2 feature. Normally, if TM2 is working fine, the computer should be still running, only with lowered multiplier and voltage to keep the temperature in check.

This is the perfect proof XBX2 has a bad bug with TM2 disabled and C1E enabled by default. Show this data to the stupid Intel engineers and tell them to fix this.

Some more infos about those features can be found in http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...res-core2.html

Sorry for all the "nasty" words in my last post, but I was a bit frustrated.. But anyway, can`t we sum it up in one really good answer and I (or others) can send Intel. Get a really detailed description of the problem and also prove the fact that the C1E + EIST + TM2 conclusion they give us don`t make any sense?

My english is not the best in the world as I normally speak norwegian, so it would be of great help to me if anyone can write the reply and I will send it ASAP to Intel

[Xilikon]

The last link explain everything very well so a good idea would be to send this link to them and explain why their explanation doesn't make sense. I don't have time to write a summary but I'm sure someone will do.

I'm even willing to send a email to Intel if someone tell me at which address

[STaRGaZeR]

Dude, with your avatar, you need an nVidia 8800GTX!! You'd probably double your 3DMark06 scores for sure.

I´m waiting for R600, must be patient

PS: Updated 3DMark06 score

[ChaosMinionX]

Ive tested P5W DH, and P5B Dlx..... and I turn C1E on with them and they go 2.4ghz with 400x6 multi....If I goto the bios and turn C1E off and check again with CPUZ 1.39 I read 3600mhz 400x9.......


So Its obviously an error with intels bios.

[badboy]

Anyone use this memory? I was just wondering how high you got it on the BX2. I am currently using it now. Also what kind of memory chips is it?
http://www.patriotmem.com/products/d...&id=317&type=1

[GamingDaemon]

I´m waiting for R600, must be patient

PS: Updated 3DMark06 score

You may be waiting a while... On the other hand, with my mildly overclocked E6600, and no OC on the 8800GTX, I am getting 9100+ 3DMark06 scores.

[ArcticOC]

That bull about the TM2 can easily be disproved by someone using phase or Dry Ice and checking what cpuZ says then. It cant be TM2 its just their board not turning off C1E ive checked my other boards and none of them clock back with CpuZ1.39, not to mention the temperature they are talking about is at like the 60C mark for that TM2 to kick in no?

Yes it`s bull, I have watercooling so heat is not an issue. I think it is quite funny/ironic that the company that invented the board+chipset+cpu can`t resolve this "bug".. while Abit, Asus, DFI and all other MB makers can on the same config??!


It ALL boils down to this: INTEL DOES NOT RESPECT ENTHUSIAST/POWER USERS

[STaRGaZeR]

You may be waiting a while... On the other hand, with my mildly overclocked E6600, and no OC on the 8800GTX, I am getting 9100+ 3DMark06 scores.

Thats because your high results come from high SM2.0&3.0 tests, graphics tests. Mine are a mixture of CPU and GPU. Damn ATI (now AMD argh!), it´s being a long wait...

[GamingDaemon]

Thats because your high results come from high SM2.0&3.0 tests, graphics tests. Mine are a mixture of CPU and GPU. Damn ATI (now AMD argh!), it´s being a long wait...

I think you should bite the bullet and the get the 8800. Or, give me that avatar pic and find one that says ATI or AMD

[J@mmer]

ahh so it was all a ploy to steal his avatar???

[GamingDaemon]

ahh so it was all a ploy to steal his avatar???

Uhhh, maybe...ok...yes!

[STaRGaZeR]

lol guys, this beauty is only mine

[Skerlnik]

Well, since i got the board to 4 days ago I was running them at 2,40v 822 3-3-3-1 (and optimized with memset at windows startup), but they work just fine with 2,36v, so I dropped the voltage. My chips are Micron D9GMH. I´m now thinking that in a few weeks my second stick will be dead. Hope not.

People here with OCZ RAM seems to have no memory related issues.

Not true. I had 3 out of 4 1GB sticks of OCZ Titanium Alpha PC2-8000 die on me recently. They stopped booting at stock voltages AND anything in between up to 2.3v (their rated voltage). Don't know why they died, it could have been this board or the Asus P5W-DH that I junked for this board. I *think* my OCZ modules also contain D9GMH (if not GMH it's some other D9) chips... perhaps they don't play nice together.

They are in RMA land at the moment.

[Skerlnik]

Onboard sound WILL steal cpu cycles, so I'd say it depends on the game you're playing - ie. if it's a cpu hogging game then get a gamers sound card like the xfi which has its own processor to process the audio; plus you get full EAX 4.0 if its supported by the game.

The X-fi is a great sounding card. I always prefer a nice quality card to onboard audio. Yes it uses less CPU cycles (not really noticeable these days with these nice CPU's), but I don't think Creative's current Vista driver supports EAX 4.0 yet. Regardless, the card sounds crystal clear. I recommend picking one up.

[chaotic646]

I got a different response from Intel regarding the C1E bug. It seems they are completely denying it now.




Thank you for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.

First at all, even though the C1E and the Enhance Intel(R) SpeedStep Technology are related, they are not the same. C1E is a feature that refers to the Enhanced Halt State and the Enhance SpeedStep Technology allows the system to dynamically adjust processor voltage and core frequency, which can result in decreased average power consumption and decreased average heat production

Then again the operating system handles the power management for the different devices within the system, you can try going to power options in the control panel and set the power schemes to always on.

We do not rely on what third party software states, that is why we would recommend you to run the Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility to properly identify your Intel(R) processor and its features.

The Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility was developed by Intel(R) Corporation to enable consumers the ability to identify and, in some circumstances, determine if their Intel(R) processor is operating at the correct speed intended by Intel(R) Corporation. Beginning with the Pentium(R) processor, this utility provides consumers with the ability to determine standard CPU identification of Intel processors. In addition, supported processors can utilize the Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility to help determine if a processor has been over-clocked.

You can download this utility at:
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/

Then again, you can try running the latest BIOS version for your motherboard. You can get this update at the following link:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...ProductID=2578



This was their reply to me after I told them CPU-Z and Everest was how I determined C1E wasnt disabling. I dont even know how to politely respond to this.

[Zucker2k]

The X-fi is a great sounding card. I always prefer a nice quality card to onboard audio. Yes it uses less CPU cycles (not really noticeable these days with these nice CPU's), but I don't think Creative's current Vista driver supports EAX 4.0 yet. Regardless, the card sounds crystal clear. I recommend picking one up.

Came across this yesterday:

Creative ALchemy Project allows you to run your favorite DirectSound3D games on Windows Vista as the developers intended - with full hardware accelerated 3D Audio and EAX support! This is done by translating DirectSound calls into OpenAL. In order for this to happen, a couple of files need to be installed into each game directory. This is handled automatically by the ALchemy installer - but can also be performed manually by advanced users.

Requirements:
- Windows Vista
- SB X-Fi * series soundcard with native OpenAL 1.1 Support * Excludes SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio


Download here: http://preview.creativelabs.com/alch...hemy%201.3.zip

[GamingDaemon]

HELP!

I got my fan back from Enermax today and went straight about installing it. Easy enough. Then I tried to boot.

Arrrgghhhh! I kept get the message about failed POSTs, press 'Y' to go to BIOS, 'N' to use prior settings. No matter what I did, 'Y', or 'N', I could not get it to boot.

Thinking that the fan was pulling extra Wattage (I have a Corsair 620), I put extra voltage to the memory, vCore, everything, but nothing worked. Finally, by going back to no overclocking at all, I was able to boot.

So then, I went back in, restored my old overclocking (in my sig), and booted. Got the 'Y' or 'N' again. So then, I tried this old trick I had learned when I was overclocking last week. I would get to the 'Y' or 'N' message, press 'N', quickly press the reset button on my case, and then hold down the pwoer button. That worked! I booted to here, buyt my memory timings are 667 5-5-5-12 not 533 4-4-4-12.

I am going to jumper the BIOS right now, but will be back to see any replies. Please, gtj, anyone, help me!