**Official DFI LanParty UT P35-T2R Review/Overclock/Guide Thread**

[Speederlander]

Hey guys, I see mixed opinions on quads for this board. Is there any general consensus? I want to run my QX6700 on this or a different board with phase. My quad can hit almost 500 fsb on air, so hopefully phase pumps it into the mid 500's or so. I like the wide open area around the socket. What do people think? Quad on this board or a different one?

[momomo6789]

nope i dont have anyone to hot flash i can get to the flash screen but it just crashs at this point but still 26$ for a bios chip i tought asus was crap they overnighted me a bios before =/ guess you dont pay for support with dfi

[Heidfirst]

The Abit forum is consumer led & although theres actually no proper concise guides or real information the club/community vibe is good & things get sorted quickly.

As raju said about DFI's, abit's forum is primarily a support forum & as such is full of mainly support issues.
We do like to feel that there is a sense of community though & very few questions won't get a reply.

If anyone feels like writing a guide & it's worthy we'll easily sticky it, just contact a Mod there or here (at least 3 of us are also members here).
I will warn you though that stickying something is tantamount to making it invisible, just like the search button seems to be!

Unfortunately we rarely get detailed advance information on forthcoming products - abit are very strict on their NDAs.

[Raja@ASUS]

nope i dont have anyone to hot flash i can get to the flash screen but it just crashs at this point but still 26$ for a bios chip i tought asus was crap they overnighted me a bios before =/ guess you dont pay for support with dfi

I know someone that may be able to help you. Drop me a pm and I'll ask him nicely...

regards
Raja

[Praz]

nope i dont have anyone to hot flash

Thought you had a 965-S? If so you can hot flash the chip yourself. The P35 BIOS will flash fine on the 965-S.

[Bulldog14]

DFI's distribution into the UK is nothing short of pathetic. It's like this board doesn't even exist. No real excuse for it being as boards have been in the hands of others since the second week of august. 4/5 weeks on and the UK is left un supplied like usual.

DFI Europe is aware of the distribution issues in the UK. The problem is that our primary distributor in the UK "closed shop", if you will, a while ago. I have spoken to my management and have been informed that there are a number of P35 boards earmarked for the UK market. The trick is getting the right distributor on board. Sorry that I don't have any more information than that

DFI Support Europe.

[RLM]

Things seem to of come to a bit of grinding holt or at least have gone very quiet, regarding the new beta bios update.

Firstly is there an official release on the horizon?

Secondly where are the breakdowns, results and findings?

I can understand given recent history that average joe customer like myself is reluctant to play guinea pig or beta tester again.

It very much feels at the moment that the approach is 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', which is a bit sad. Hardly representative of what you'd expect from an enthusiast's board.

It would therefore be nice to see some of the research/findings that have been done by the DFI sponsored guys. You know some real world tests with bios settings.

I'm glad to say I'm picking up my replacement board tomorrow. However a tad nervous about tweaking it into RMA or borked bios status.

RLM

[orkan]

Exactly why I'm not really doing much to my t2r RLM. I'm getting that ugly feeling of buyers remorse coming on.

Well in the mean time... I'm dancing around most of the settings that could get me in trouble.

[Raja@ASUS]

we are updating as we can here;

http://csd.dficlub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3765

bear in mind this is an evaluation bios, and is subject to being changed before going open beta, everything has been unlocked for us to look at. Some settings may not need to be open as their effects are either too benign or are best left on an auto setting behind the scences as most other companies do. Nothing is concrete at this point, DFI wanted some feedback and Tony/Andre enlisted some guys to help out.

Is there anything in particular you want answered or tested?

I had a long prime run to do which has eaten up a lot of my time testing, the results however were quite interesting when GTL settings were bang on. Getting Nbgtl on the mark allowed lower Vcore and lower VDimm, if any of the GTL settings are out of alignment by even 1 mark, higher voltages will be required to overcompensate, hence we see people running quite excessive voltages on vcore/vdimm for some 'stable' tests (even with G0 cpu's). The G0 ES and retail G0's available at the moment are perfectly capable of sub 1.4vcore 3.6ghz and 2.1vdim for 5-5-4-9 overclocks @ 1125mhz.

regards
Raja

[retrospooty]

I dunno guys... If you go to any forum anywhere related to any newly released motherboard you see the same thing. Lots of questions, positive results and yes, lots of not so great results, and board failures as well. It is part of being and early adopter/enthusiast... DFI is no different from any other mobo maker here. Honestly if this type of thing scares you , you should not be an early adopter on any motherboard, much less an enthusiast one.

Its only been on the market a month, I wouldn't worry about new BIOS either. The 9/13 beta bios with all those extra tweaks would obviously indicate that an official release if being worked on

[Raduke]

Are there any CORSAIR 620W PSU issues with this board? Anyone using them both? Thanx

[orkan]

I guess I've got the dfi-street blues. I miss getting answers at a moments notice. I once posted there and got 5 different "right" answers from 5 different people. All 5 ways worked and allowed me to find the fastest of the 5. hehe

Whatever dfi is doing... I just hope they don't go and throw themselves down the toilet like so many enthusiast hardware manufacturers of the past. They got a good thing going... don't go getting lazy or worse yet... GREEDY.

That being said... I'm liking my board. I sure as hell don't like having two sata channels DOA though. That pretty much screwed up the plans I had for storage.

[mad mikee]

Bios Savior for DFI P35 boards

I use it so I can go to the 'next bios' and then keep the old one for emergency backup, just flick a switch and clear cmos and I am back working in disasters, never had to send a board back because of a BIOS problem...

Hope it helps...

Next - Now let's see what is under one of my q6600 IHSes (I think they may be JUST high enough w/o them )

[Praz]

That being said... I'm liking my board. I sure as hell don't like having two sata channels DOA though. That pretty much screwed up the plans I had for storage.

If you have two non-functioning SATA ports RMA the board. There isn't anyone at DFI that wants a customer to make do with a board that isn't fully functional.

[Brother Esau]

Seriously bro don't waste you're time playing kids games! Go buy you're self a nice Areca Raid Controller Card and never have to worry about changing out boards and losing you're storage ever again.

I paid $1000.00 for mine between the Controller Card and 1gb Kingston ECC RAM and its one of the best purchases I have ever made matter of fact cheap price to pay for piece of mind.

[retrospooty]

I paid $1000.00 for mine between the Controller Card and 1gb Kingston ECC RAM and its one of the best purchases I have ever made matter of fact cheap price to pay for piece of mind.

Dang... Thats a big chunk of change. What sort of improvements did you see from it vs standard onboard SATA?

[RLM]

Just had a look at that link again Raja. Makes some interesting reading. Especially with regards your gtl refs, which don't stick to the default x 0.67 rule.

My chip as it happens seems to be doing quite nicely using x .67. However I think these values are certainly worth a bit of experimentation. Certainly for those trying to get the vcore down.

A question that comes to mind is with regards the NB and VTT settings. Is running these settings at 1.6+ suitable for a 24/7.

I know it's a bit of a contentious issue right now, but like EVA does with i4memory, it would be nice to see a copy of what you've posted there over here. It would also be nice to see some more testing and conclusions, much as you've already done. Call me impatient, but I look forward to that

Edit: Just an Edit. Obviously it would be nice to see tests done with some more run of mill processors. retail q6600's and the like.

May well spurn some others into jumping on board and doing the same. In addition it may well attract a few more potential customers and get the ball rolling here again.

Thanks for the link and response, appreciated

RLM

[RLM]

Bios Savior for DFI P35 boards

I use it so I can go to the 'next bios' and then keep the old one for emergency backup, just flick a switch and clear cmos and I am back working in disasters, never had to send a board back because of a BIOS problem...

Nifty looking gizmo Mad Mikee. What a great idea

RLM

[orkan]

If you have two non-functioning SATA ports RMA the board. There isn't anyone at DFI that wants a customer to make do with a board that isn't fully functional.

I use this board in my every-day system. It is utilized every day... for no less than 14hrs for work/play. So dealing with an RMA is not exactly an option at this point. Its their own fault for not having the quality control to ensure this doesn't happen. ... so now they can deal with the bad press associated with my +1 statistic. If they didn't want me to have to deal with a board that wasnt fully functional... maybe they should have made sure it worked before they put it in the box.

Given all the other reports of C1 hangs, bios corruption and various other issues... I figured I would just sit on this thing and play with it until ddr3 and solid parts/performance comes down the pipe. ... if this board lasts that long.

As was mentioned, it is my own fault for thinking a motherboard should have adequate and solid storage capability, and not having purchased a dedicated raid controller.

I won't make that mistake next time.

[Danger30Q]

I've been following this thread for awhile as well as the IP35 Pro thread (damn it's long). I think I am about to take the DFI P35 plunge.

I was waiting for preliminary X38 reviews but I just don't think I need 2x16 or any of the other features considering I'm running DDR2.

I'll post my results and impressions here and try to learn from what I've read in this thread. Thanks guys.

[Brother Esau]

Dang... Thats a big chunk of change. What sort of improvements did you see from it vs standard onboard SATA?

With proper X8 Electrical smokin fast even in Raid 6 with the Double Parity Calculation hit its very fast and scales linearly = more drives you add the faster the Array becomes.

But the point of having a Dedicated Enterprise level Raid Controller Card is Fault Tollerance and data security!

[RLM]

NCSA very kindly lent me his DFI P35-T2R to use over the last few days, whilst I waited for a replacement. Cheers bud

It's been on bios 815 and running very nicely (Dare I say it). Seems a 3.825 mhz overclock on my q6600 with 1.47v 24/7 isn't out of the question. I'm a happy man. Just hoping my replacement is up to scratch.

Did a quick bench last night in 3Dmark 06 (NCSA knows by the way ). Using the 163.69 drivers and rivatuner 2.04 to overclock the shader domain independently.

This is at 445x9 1.56v. 8800 GTX stock 640/1675/1035 Memory 2GB Gskill 6400 GBHZs

CPU Feature
- Thermal Management Control: Disabled
- PPM(EIST) Mode: Disabled
- Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
- CIE Function: Disabled
- Execute Disable Bit: Enabled
- Virtualization Technology: Disabled
- Core Multi-Processing: Enabled

Exist Setup Shutdown: Mode 2
CLOCK VC0 divider: AUTO
CPU Clock Ratio Unlock: Enabled
CPU Clock Ratio: x9
- Target CPU Clock: 4005 mhz
CPU Clock: 445
Boot Up Clock: Auto
DRAM Speed: 333/800
- Target DRAM Speed: 1069
PCIE Clock: 100mhz

Voltage Settings
CPU VID Control: 1.57500
CPU VID Special Add:
DRAM Voltage Control: 2.420 (2.35 in SMG, which I believe is more accurate)
SB 1.05V Voltage:1.150
SB Core/CPU PLL Voltage: 1.55
NB Core Voltage: 1.57
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.55
Vcore Droop Control: Disabled
Clockgen Voltage Control: 3.45v
GTL+ Buffers Strength: Strong
Host Slew Rate: Weak
GTL REF Voltage Control: Enable
x CPU GTL1/3 REF Volt: 105
x CPU GTL 0/2 REF Volt: 105
x North Bridge GTL REF Volt: 112

DRAM Timing
- Enhance Data transmitting: FAST
- Enhance Addressing: FAST
- DIMM 1 CLK fine delay: Current 0
- DIMM 2 CLK fine delay: Current 5
- DIMM 3 CLK fine delay: Current 0
- DIMM 4 CLK fine delay: Current 5

CAS Latency Time (tCL): 4
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD): 4
RAS# Precharge (tRP): 4
Precharge Delay (tRAS): 12
All Precharge to Act: AUTO
REF to ACT Delay (tRFC): 42
Performance Level: AUTO
Read delay phase adjust: AUTO
MCH ODT Latency: AUTO
Write to PRE Delay (tWR): AUTO
Rank Write to Read (tWTR): AUTO
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD): AUTO
Read to Write Delay (tRDWR): AUTO
Ranks Write to Write (tWRWR): AUTO
Ranks Read to Read (tRDRD): AUTO
Ranks Write to Read (tWRRD): AUTO
Read CAS# Precharge (tRTP): AUTO
ALL PRE to Refresh: AUTO

PCIE Slot Config: 1X 1X
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled

RLM

[Raja@ASUS]

Just had a look at that link again Raja. Makes some interesting reading. Especially with regards your gtl refs, which don't stick to the default x 0.67 rule.

My chip as it happens seems to be doing quite nicely using x .67. However I think these values are certainly worth a bit of experimentation. Certainly for those trying to get the vcore down.

A question that comes to mind is with regards the NB and VTT settings. Is running these settings at 1.6+ suitable for a 24/7.

I know it's a bit of a contentious issue right now, but like EVA does with i4memory, it would be nice to see a copy of what you've posted there over here. It would also be nice to see some more testing and conclusions, much as you've already done. Call me impatient, but I look forward to that

Edit: Just an Edit. Obviously it would be nice to see tests done with some more run of mill processors. retail q6600's and the like.

May well spurn some others into jumping on board and doing the same. In addition it may well attract a few more potential customers and get the ball rolling here again.

Thanks for the link and response, appreciated

RLM

I have a tuned clock of 8 hours prime at lower vdimm than you see in the OCCT run, NBgtl tweaking brings the ability (if done right) of lower vdimm not to mention lower vcore.

In terms of 67% of VTT, remember onboard resistors are genrally of the 1% tolerance class. Take into account thermal drift (resistor value drift with ambient or onboard temp rises etc and while passing current), you will understand how things are not always A + B = C (old rgonian proverb, we need to get a book together of his stuff), we have terminations inside the prcessor and NB that are subject to this 1% of variance at the very least. Couple this with Intel speed binning, fsb walls and the like, GTL tweaking becomes something that cannot be taught, it is a game of absolute perseverance and realistic acceptance. It took me 5 attempts to get the NB GTL right, further than the OCCT stable shot with high Vdmm, this nailed down me to only having only core 4 (aka core 3) failures during prime , a further 1 digit off GTL 2/3 (ignore bios numbering, should read 0/1 - 2/3).

I have a retail B3 stepping Qx6700 here which I will test too...

regards
Raja

[RLM]

I have a tuned clock of 8 hours prime at lower vdimm than you see in the OCCT run, NBgtl tweaking brings the ability (if done right) of lower vdimm not to mention lower vcore.

In terms of 67% of VTT, remember onboard resistors are genrally of the 1% tolerance class. Take into account thermal drift (resistor value drift with ambient or onboard temp rises etc and while passing current), you will understand how things are not always A + B = C (old rgonian proverb, we need to get a book together of his stuff), we have terminations inside the prcessor and NB that are subject to this 1% of variance at the very least. Couple this with Intel speed binning, fsb walls and the like, GTL tweaking becomes something that cannot be taught, it is a game of absolute perseverance and realistic acceptance. It took me 5 attempts to get the NB GTL right, further than the OCCT stable shot with high Vdmm, this nailed down me to only having only core 4 (aka core 3) failures during prime , a further 1 digit off GTL 2/3 (ignore bios numbering, should read 0/1 - 2/3).

I have a retail B3 stepping Qx6700 here which I will test too...

regards
Raja

I'm no engineer, but I do get the gist of what you are saying. Does make me wonder, given your comments, if that sweet spot can change from day to day due to ambient temps.

Any methodology in your approach to working with the GTL refs, or it solely intuition?

My FSB on this quad seems to be limited to 470 at the moment, maybe some adjustment to nb core etc and GTL refs may give it a boost. That and the chosen multiplier.

Cheers

RLM

[Mekrel]

DFI Europe is aware of the distribution issues in the UK. The problem is that our primary distributor in the UK "closed shop", if you will, a while ago. I have spoken to my management and have been informed that there are a number of P35 boards earmarked for the UK market. The trick is getting the right distributor on board. Sorry that I don't have any more information than that

DFI Support Europe.

Well thanks for the explanation, I could see why that would cause the issues we're experiencing with stock. Hope you get it sorted soon, I love DFI boards and hardly complain about them apart from availability. I don't mind how complex they are or how late to the market they are either.