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

[C Stat B]

you have to boot it in the configuration mode (set with jumpers)

Ah right, thanks.

[Circaflex]

Just got everything up and finally water cooled, what settings should i try right away? So many voltage options and stuff ive never seen. CPU+NB+GPU all watercooled

[hawk1]

does the zalman 9700 fit ok on this board? i seen somewhere that it crushes some of the solder points on the back or something

[Comp-Freak]

If it has the same backplate as the 7700, you'll have to remove a little bit of plastic because it touches some solder points. But nothing to worry about, just a tiny little bit of plastic.

[chicago312]

A friend of mine has the Zelman 9700 installed on his BX2, I have the Enzotech installed on my BX2

the 9700 lined up with the rear exhaust fan.

I like the Enzotech it cools the board down also because the fan blows down on the board.

FYI I replaced the fan with a PWM fan, that way it use the MB fan control.

[AndyM]

I got some newly cheap Ballistix (DDR2-1000 version), 2GB (2x1GB). I was all ready to go in thoughts of having some fast memory finally, but am getting kind of disappointed now. Here's the scoop. At my guaranteed stable 3.6 GHz running the 1:1 divider at 4-4-4-12, 400mhz, those sticks will do Orthos stable fine at 2.12 volts. Switching to the 4:5 divider to get DDR2-1000 (where they are rated at), using 5-5-5-15 I get no boot from 2.12 volts up to 2.32. 2.32 volts will boot, but crash Orthos within 10 seconds. I turned up the memory voltage up to 2.4 but same situation, Orthos crashes in 10 seconds or less. My MCH is at 1.6, I tried going to 1.625, and my FSB is at 1.3, I tried going up to 1.4, and none of these made any difference.

So far the best I've been able to get these to do is 423mhz 4-4-4-12 at 2.36 volts Orthos stable for over 8 hours (doing some 3.8 GHz testing now). Anything you guys think I am doing wrong, or did I get a not so great set of Ballistix? I really hope I'm doing somethng wrong, because this would confirm that I am cursed when buying memory, my origional Corsair's I replaced with the Ballistix were origionally DOA on delivery, if this set cant make what they are rated for, the curse is confirmed

[rbsmontemor]

I need 1.65 MCH to run 4:5 here at 400FSB

Rbs.

[qckings]

does the zalman 9700 fit ok on this board? i seen somewhere that it crushes some of the solder points on the back or something

I have a Zalman 9700 on the Bad AXE 2 board and there were no problems installing it.

[nealh]

I got some newly cheap Ballistix (DDR2-1000 version), 2GB (2x1GB). I was all ready to go in thoughts of having some fast memory finally, but am getting kind of disappointed now. Here's the scoop. At my guaranteed stable 3.6 GHz running the 1:1 divider at 4-4-4-12, 400mhz, those sticks will do Orthos stable fine at 2.12 volts. Switching to the 4:5 divider to get DDR2-1000 (where they are rated at), using 5-5-5-15 I get no boot from 2.12 volts up to 2.32. 2.32 volts will boot, but crash Orthos within 10 seconds. I turned up the memory voltage up to 2.4 but same situation, Orthos crashes in 10 seconds or less. My MCH is at 1.6, I tried going to 1.625, and my FSB is at 1.3, I tried going up to 1.4, and none of these made any difference.

So far the best I've been able to get these to do is 423mhz 4-4-4-12 at 2.36 volts Orthos stable for over 8 hours (doing some 3.8 GHz testing now). Anything you guys think I am doing wrong, or did I get a not so great set of Ballistix? I really hope I'm doing somethng wrong, because this would confirm that I am cursed when buying memory, my origional Corsair's I replaced with the Ballistix were origionally DOA on delivery, if this set cant make what they are rated for, the curse is confirmed

I bet the ram is really fine..no curses Andy..how can anybody who builds a beautiful TJ07 be cursed

the issue is likey the 4:5 divider, not the ram...from what i have heard it can require alot more NB voltages and just may not be stable

I tried to get my 10th anniv crucial that will do 5-6-5-5-18 at 500mhz for 24hrs on RD600 to run like 390fsb at 4:5...it was a no go

The Badaxe 2 is a great and stable board but it really doe not tweak well for performance IMHO

That is ..1:1 at 400 and maybe up to 430-450 from many other reports is probably ok on a C2D...but the 4:5 divideris a real push on this mobo

[scorpion]

your right nealh, i cannot run 4:5 no matter how high i take the voltage!!!!!!!!!!

[AndyM]

I bet the ram is really fine..no curses Andy..how can anybody who builds a beautiful TJ07 be cursed

the issue is likey the 4:5 divider, not the ram...from what i have heard it can require alot more NB voltages and just may not be stable

I tried to get my 10th anniv crucial that will do 5-6-5-5-18 at 500mhz for 24hrs on RD600 to run like 390fsb at 4:5...it was a no go

The Badaxe 2 is a great and stable board but it really doe not tweak well for performance IMHO

That is ..1:1 at 400 and maybe up to 430-450 from many other reports is probably ok on a C2D...but the 4:5 divideris a real push on this mobo

I saw the same thing, tried the 4:5 at 400 mhz, no boot until doing 1.6 mch, 1.4 fsb, and 2.32 mem. Orthos would instantly crash though. Same situation all the way up to 1.65 mch, 1.4 fsb, and 2.4 mem. Basically non functional. I then went to the 1333 strap and tried 5:6, no boot no matter what. So I'm stuck at 1:1...but here's where I think my memory is still a problem, doing 423 44412 it will do Orthos for over 8 hours, but then if you do Orthos and stuff like web browsing and other applications, it will randomly lock up or turn off once in a while, ~ an hour or two. And it needs 2.32v to run Orthos at that speed, and even 2.36 wont do either at 423mhz to stop the lockups/turnoffs. I didnt try higher voltages. Reading what others are doing with D9 ballistix, I get the feeling that this stuff isnt so good. I dunno. I'd think I should even be able to at least do 400 mhz 3339 with this, but no go there either. I suppose I could be happy with 3.8 ghz/423 1:1 44412, but with the lockups/turnoffs, I'm not. And I definately would like to try to explore 3.9 Ghz, but I dont know if my memory is the cause of no boot, or the cpu needing more that 1.55 vcore is the cause . I guess I'll RMA it and see what another set will do, my overall feel for this is that something's wrong. My lowly Corsair Promos have a much more stable at the edge feel to them than this 'super duper D9' memory. You know, I just thought of something, try 55515 at 423+ to see what happens. Arrgh, wish I thought about this earlier as I had the day off, tommorrow I gotta go to work and I will be wondering all day.

[hawk1]

A friend of mine has the Zelman 9700 installed on his BX2, I have the Enzotech installed on my BX2

the 9700 lined up with the rear exhaust fan.

I like the Enzotech it cools the board down also because the fan blows down on the board.

FYI I replaced the fan with a PWM fan, that way it use the MB fan control.

Was the Enzotech easy to install? Did it crush any solder points?

[creicks]

Was the Enzotech easy to install? Did it crush any solder points?

I had no problem installing my Enzotech on the BadAxe2 in an NZXT Zero case.

It could only be mounted with the heat pipes facing the ram sticks. Otherwise the pipes would hit either the voltage regulator heat sinks or the north bridge heatsink.

The Enzotech has performed very well for me.

[chicago312]

Was the Enzotech easy to install? Did it crush any solder points?

no it did not crush an solder points, I had to remove the BX2 from the case to install the Enzotech.

[AndyM]

It's official...I'm an idiot. Nothing wrong with my new Ballistix, it was the 4:5 divider. I went down to 3.0GHz to use the 2:3 divider to make 500 mhz, and sure enough, it could do a pass of memtest right on spec. Definately gives me some direction in my OC goals now that I can trust the memory, amazing what you learn in these forums, thanks all!

[nealh]

I saw the same thing, tried the 4:5 at 400 mhz, no boot until doing 1.6 mch, 1.4 fsb, and 2.32 mem. Orthos would instantly crash though. Same situation all the way up to 1.65 mch, 1.4 fsb, and 2.4 mem. Basically non functional. I then went to the 1333 strap and tried 5:6, no boot no matter what. So I'm stuck at 1:1...but here's where I think my memory is still a problem, doing 423 44412 it will do Orthos for over 8 hours, but then if you do Orthos and stuff like web browsing and other applications, it will randomly lock up or turn off once in a while, ~ an hour or two. And it needs 2.32v to run Orthos at that speed, and even 2.36 wont do either at 423mhz to stop the lockups/turnoffs. I didnt try higher voltages. Reading what others are doing with D9 ballistix, I get the feeling that this stuff isnt so good. I dunno. I'd think I should even be able to at least do 400 mhz 3339 with this, but no go there either. I suppose I could be happy with 3.8 ghz/423 1:1 44412, but with the lockups/turnoffs, I'm not. And I definately would like to try to explore 3.9 Ghz, but I dont know if my memory is the cause of no boot, or the cpu needing more that 1.55 vcore is the cause . I guess I'll RMA it and see what another set will do, my overall feel for this is that something's wrong. My lowly Corsair Promos have a much more stable at the edge feel to them than this 'super duper D9' memory. You know, I just thought of something, try 55515 at 423+ to see what happens. Arrgh, wish I thought about this earlier as I had the day off, tommorrow I gotta go to work and I will be wondering all day.

Funny you mention the 133 strap and 5:6 divider on my e6600 L628A266 that hit 3500..when I tried to run 500mhz(or close) this way..I got a no boot as well

I finally gave and decided this/my board was designed to only run 1:1...

I have no idea on my max 1:1 fsb but I am betting in the 425-450 range like everyone...my cpu will need 1.5v real to hit 3800 or more maybe and I just can see moving off 1.38v real at 3600....beside these "F" chips heat up real fast

too bad Intel wont allow lower mutlipler

I cant believe I am even contemplating this but given how P35 chipset allows for high fsb and lower vcores than the 965/975 chipsets ..I may try to get one (while the wife is out of town and unknowning....she would kill me given what I just spent in the last week...she has no idea

[AndyM]

You are reading my mind with getting away from the 975x. That lower 400's FSB limit these are supposed to have kinda spoils the party for me. I was testing out 3.9 GHz now that I know my issues really probably are the 975, and sure enough, lock up city, turn off city, Orthos crash too. I'm kinda getting lowered gains for the amount of more voltage put into this thing to make it sort of work. Right now I backed it down to 417/3.75GHz and am testing it here, seems like a decent speed that it might like from what I've been seeing so far. Sad to say, but it might be time to upgrade, I hope that Coollaboratory LM TIM didnt turn into a rock like it's rumored to. That stuff definately helps with heat transfer at highly elevated thermal output levels (like a B chip) compared to the best application of AS5 and lapping that I could do. So now I'll have 2 XBX2's on the shelf if I do upgrade (dont ask how I got the other one ). I'm wondering when this upgrade cycle might end...you know when the 45 nm CPU's are out it starts all over again

[nealh]

You are reading my mind with getting away from the 975x. That lower 400's FSB limit these are supposed to have kinda spoils the party for me. I was testing out 3.9 GHz now that I know my issues really probably are the 975, and sure enough, lock up city, turn off city, Orthos crash too. I'm kinda getting lowered gains for the amount of more voltage put into this thing to make it sort of work. Right now I backed it down to 417/3.75GHz and am testing it here, seems like a decent speed that it might like from what I've been seeing so far. Sad to say, but it might be time to upgrade, I hope that Coollaboratory LM TIM didnt turn into a rock like it's rumored to. That stuff definately helps with heat transfer at highly elevated thermal output levels (like a B chip) compared to the best application of AS5 and lapping that I could do. So now I'll have 2 XBX2's on the shelf if I do upgrade (dont ask how I got the other one ). I'm wondering when this upgrade cycle might end...you know when the 45 nm CPU's are out it starts all over again

Your killing me..so what is the best P35 mobo or do you wait for the X38

[screwtech02]

I aggree, with you guys about the P35, and even the X38 coming out, its a crying shame that the current Intel "flagship performance" motherboard isnt/wont be compatible with the new procs coming out... Not to mention this whole 1:1 thing only is gettin old......

[AndyM]

I gotta read up some more on it tommorrow at work, but I looked a bit today, seems the Abit or Gigabyte maybe is good? Asus might be good, but all those BIOS updates scare me. It is a new product, so we'd really be trailblazing with it with any manufacturer I'd think. Lost 3.75, going back to 3.7, I know it can do that stable, gotta see how that works with the D9 loading it vs. the Promos it is known to work with well. Then I get to pull my hair out trying to get this thing to run 4 GB, yay!

[Skerlnik]

Have you burned many DVDs? I found reading OK, but Nero + Burner + Marvell = occasional BSOD.

I have 2 DVD burners on the Marvell controller. No issues with burning from Nero (7.9.6.0). If you're running Vista make sure that your Nero is version 7.7x or above. Some of the earlier 7x versions are really quite terrible. Crashes & skipping audio CD's galore.

[C Stat B]

Thanks again to those people who told me about Watchdog. Solved my problems!

[scottk]

Have you burned many DVDs? I found reading OK, but Nero + Burner + Marvell = occasional BSOD.

Similar experience here, but no BSOD... my ASUS DRW-1814BLT SATA DVD worked read-only on the Marvell. Got hangs when trying to burn (Nero 6.6.1.6 OEM). Ending the process through task manager dropped all other SATA HDs on the controller and had to reboot to get drives back.

Works fine on the Intel controller so far...

[Circaflex]

So im at 300fsb easy, but if i try 315 or something and boot into windows it stays at 300fsb, any ideas?

[chaotic646]

Im running a 4:5 @ 417 MHz and 100% stable so I dont know what the "1:1 or die" crap is all about. All my voltages are at default as well.