[First Look] DFI 680i LT NF-680i LT SLI (56K Warning~~~)

[Jobeo]

so how's everybody coming along on their quad-clocks ?? on meh qx6700 i'm having the most success with 1:1 memory (2T). i run into trouble trying link + sync 1T memory mode dropping the multiplier to 8 and raising the FSB.

anyone having good success with link+sync and quads with ~400 FSB ? i can't seem to get close to 400 without something going wrong =/

[bingo13]

0504 for quad. Yes i do have a X-Fi installed. I did do a clean install. I never tried it with the X-Fi out. I also had an Areca 1210 in lowest PCI-X slot.

Can you pull the X-FI and Areca out and try it? I had an issue with the X-FI in testing. Also, the 0504 BIOS completely changed the way the board handles memory now. Forget about sync and 1T being stable around 900~950 with it. It appears they have gone back to high DDR2 speeds with 2T being optimal (not really if you know what I mean). Run sync and 2T with tight timings down low or unlink with 2T and increase your RAM speed to get the best performance out of the 0504 release.

[virtualrain]

I'm trying to find a good stable overclock on the CPU before I go anywhere with the RAM (it's underclocked at the moment).

What GTL settings are good for Quad's?

Right now I'm trying Tony's settings...

A sweet spot you may want to try is VTT 1.4 to 1.44V...GTL1=170, GTL2 95 and NB GTL 85

With high Vcore and NB Voltage.

I notice that if I set 1.535V in BIOS, I get a reading of 1.5 in Windows, and it droops to 1.47 under load.

[Pete@X]

What GTL settings are good for Quad's?

I´m at VTT: 1.40V GTLs: 180/100/100 right now with a X3210, GTLs need a lot of tweaking ... as not 1 CPU behaves the same (i have some 3210 and 322ß here ...).

NB 1.48V
VCore 1.45V in Bios (more than needed for sure ...)

8x413 stable and aiming for more right now

[Raja@ASUS]

I'm trying to find a good stable overclock on the CPU before I go anywhere with the RAM (it's underclocked at the moment).

What GTL settings are good for Quad's?

Right now I'm trying Tony's settings...



With high Vcore and NB Voltage.

I notice that if I set 1.535V in BIOS, I get a reading of 1.5 in Windows, and it droops to 1.47 under load.

that gtl table is direct from Oskar, aim for the 1.4 vtt mark, though setting each range will give almost the same results, as you are keeping the same variance level to give the same effect overall....


as said by pete it is quite variable, for me 168/96/85 worked well with vtt 1.41, this is how the 467 fsb run came into play... again tune it for your cpu.



Obviously bios updates bring changes as Bingo has already pointed out. I will definitely be keeping a copy 0503 for benching...

regards
Raja

[virtualrain]

When tweaking GTL, what approach should I take?... is there any rhyme or reason to it? I guess I'll have to study the articles on TheTechRepository, but if someone has some recommendations on the best way to tweak, I'm all for it.

One of my problems is that I'm now stable (Windows, Super PI, etc.) except for PRIME... so testing anything for stability takes a long time. I can go anywhere from 15min to an hour before PRIME errors (usually on core 4). Thus it will take me eons to tweak every darn setting to find ultimate stability.

[Pete@X]

One of my problems is that I'm now stable (Windows, Super PI, etc.) except for PRIME... so testing anything for stability takes a long time. I can go anywhere from 15min to an hour before PRIME errors (usually on core 4). Thus it will take me eons to tweak every darn setting to find ultimate stability.

That`s a Overclockers Life .... Testing

VTT 1.4 GTL 1750/95/85 should be a good start, also - you did not mention your actual GTL/VTT Settings ...

Try the settings and see how Core 4 behaves, normally when 1 Core crashed here i`ll add the corresponding GTL +2 and redo the testrun (in that case 170/97/85). Step by step you get closer to the sweetspot - but it takes some time as every CPU is a bit different.

[Raja@ASUS]

When tweaking GTL, what approach should I take?... is there any rhyme or reason to it? I guess I'll have to study the articles on TheTechRepository, but if someone has some recommendations on the best way to tweak, I'm all for it.

One of my problems is that I'm now stable (Windows, Super PI, etc.) except for PRIME... so testing anything for stability takes a long time. I can go anywhere from 15min to an hour before PRIME errors (usually on core 4). Thus it will take me eons to tweak every darn setting to find ultimate stability.

I use OCCT 30 mins test, I find this just as good, actually better than prime, as it is a quick hit. The 30 min test is good enough for me if it passes, generally everything I throw at the pc runs..

Rhyme or reason is in the Gtl article by Kris as you thought. With regards to formula's Gtl is in the 2/3 VTT ballpark as Kris has told, the rest is down to onboard resistor/component variance and tolerance levels, including thermal drift, system specific rfi/emi etc, not forgetting individual cpu variance...

regards
Raja

[MikeMK]

Can you pull the X-FI and Areca out and try it? I had an issue with the X-FI in testing. Also, the 0504 BIOS completely changed the way the board handles memory now. Forget about sync and 1T being stable around 900~950 with it. It appears they have gone back to high DDR2 speeds with 2T being optimal (not really if you know what I mean). Run sync and 2T with tight timings down low or unlink with 2T and increase your RAM speed to get the best performance out of the 0504 release.

LOL, this board is looking more and more like a no go for me... first of all my Galaxy PSU looks like its got compatibility issues, and now im hearing theres an issue with the X-fi! Typical...

[virtualrain]

Ok, I got an OCCT stable overclock using what I would call a brute force methodology of going with aggressive voltages. My next step will be to scale back voltages to see what the OC is sensitive to so that I know what to emphasize when I drive higher...

I'm interested in your opinions on what voltages may be excessive at this point. (see below)

Details:
- X3220 at 3600 MHz (400x9)
- Voltages in screen shot below
- Cooling CPU on water (load temps 58-63-deg C) and NB via fan
- No OC on memory (using link/sync and optimized so memory is at 800 5-5-5)



Note the differences between settings and BIOS measurements.

Also, I found that in Windows under load, the Vcore would droop as low as 1.46V from this value!!!

More screen shots here.

[Pete@X]

I'm interested in your opinions on what voltages may be excessive at this point. (see below)

Details:
- 3600 MHz (400x9)
- Voltages in screen shot below

NB Core looks a bit tooo high for 400FSB, right now i use 1.48 for 8x400 and 8x413 without a Prob. - but it´s an approach. If it works with these settings - start to lower the voltages notch by notch and rerun OCCT 30 Min test and work your way down

[virtualrain]

Correction: Although it passed OCCT, it failed Prime. I guess I just got lucky. I assume OCCT uses similar code base to Prime?

[safan80]

someone needs to test a seasonic power supply on this board to see if they have any issues.

[virtualrain]

someone needs to test a seasonic power supply on this board to see if they have any issues.

I'm using a Corsair which I recall reading is OEM'd from Seasonic. No problems with it so far.

[revenant]

LOL, this board is looking more and more like a no go for me... first of all my Galaxy PSU looks like its got compatibility issues, and now im hearing theres an issue with the X-fi! Typical...

perhaps get one of the other 680i LT boards.. (foxconn variants, eVGA or XFX) I hear they rock with quads and don't have any compatibility issues with xfi that I know of.. I have a friend who just got one to replace his Abit 32x max and he's running his qx6700 at 400 on the fsb all day no problems.. says it'll do upwards of 440 stable... pretty nice. anyways..

edit: oh crap.. I thought you were quad'ing it.. hehe.. nm then.. but still and all, those board look like nice ocers.

[safan80]

I have a friend who just got one to replace his Abit 32x max and he's running his qx6700 at 400 on the fsb all day no problems.. says it'll do upwards of 440 stable... pretty nice. anyways..

ask him for a CPU-z screenshot.

[Raja@ASUS]

better than cpu-z would be an actual 3d bench...

[safan80]

better than cpu-z would be an actual 3d bench...

ok a 3d bench with cpu-z

[palese]

Hi and I hope someone is looking at the boards today,

I am now gone to install the DFI 680i, when it comes to chip set heat sinks I am a noob. The owners manual comes with a supplemental page on how to install the heat sink but it states the NB already comes with thermal paste already on it, and they tell you not to spread it out as the heat sink will take care of that. Well it does not come with paste already on it or at least mine did not, so my question is do I just use Artic Silver and if so how much and do I spread it out covering the chip or should it be a rice size drop

Thanks for any help.

[Raja@ASUS]

you should have a tube of paste with the heatsink to use...

If not use arctic ceramique in that area as it is non conductive/capacative.....

regards
Raja

[palese]

you should have a tube of paste with the heatsink to use...

If not use arctic ceramique in that area as it is non conductive/capacative.....

regards
Raja

God I'm so stupid Thanks you are so right. Should I use just a drop or spread a thin layer?

[MikeMK]

perhaps get one of the other 680i LT boards.. (foxconn variants, eVGA or XFX) I hear they rock with quads and don't have any compatibility issues with xfi that I know of.. I have a friend who just got one to replace his Abit 32x max and he's running his qx6700 at 400 on the fsb all day no problems.. says it'll do upwards of 440 stable... pretty nice. anyways..

edit: oh crap.. I thought you were quad'ing it.. hehe.. nm then.. but still and all, those board look like nice ocers.

Hi rev... I will be quad'ing it shortly... getting either a Q6600 or QX6700 to play around with Thats y im looking at other boards atm, as well as the fact my IN9 just crapped out on me and is @ RMA.

Really from what ive seen its between the EVGA or the DFI... personally i would prefer the DFI as Ive always had good results with the various DFI's Ive had, but obviously its a no go if there are compatibility issues with my other hardware.

[Raja@ASUS]

God I'm so stupid Thanks you are so right. Should I use just a drop or spread a thin layer?

I would use a good sized blob in the middle, as the instruction leaflet says the pressure from the heatsink will auto spread the paste for you..

[palese]

I would use a good sized blob in the middle, as the instruction leaflet says the pressure from the heatsink will auto spread the paste for you..

Thanks raju

[virtualrain]

If you are interested, I posted some pics of my bench water cooling setup (actually on the dining room table) in this thread over in the water cooling forum... http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=144079