**Official ABIT IX38 QuadGT Review/Overclock/Guide Thread**

[ScubaMob]

Thanks, AMDfreak. The flash to B06 went alright, however, my lame problem still persists. CPUz still says I'm using a x6 multiplier and the voltage is still around 1.192V. Also, uGuru is still not picking up my bus speed. Weird. Everything seems to be running smoothly though, haven't run all my benchmarks but vista 64 goes from post to desktop crazy fast! I guess I'm off to research the problem *shakes fist defiantly at computer*.

thanks, all!

[Heidfirst]

Thanks, AMDfreak. The flash to B06 went alright, however, my lame problem still persists. CPUz still says I'm using a x6 multiplier and the voltage is still around 1.192V.

C1E & EIST working?

which version of CPU-Z are you using?
& remember that with 1.41 & 1.42 there can be a conflict when having both uGuru & CPU-Z open at the same time.

[ScubaMob]

well disabling c1e and eist took care of the multiplier issue (thanks, heidfirst!). guru reads around 1.3V and cpuz about 1.19V. uguru still shows 0 clock speed... i must just be using virtual clocks... and writing virtual posts in this forum. that means you are all figments of my imagination!

together or separate cpuz and guru get the same readings. I'll try running some other monitors and see what they say!

[R*r]

the B06 makes me able to run at 445x9 stable with B05 cant do it,same setting

but still no luck with the memory divider

[Supershanks]

but still no luck with the memory divider

no but there is another thing. when you try 1:1.25 it now recovers more gracefully I tried it the other day, then had forgotten about it until mark0326 remarked on it.

maybe next time

ScubaMob, are you using the latest guru - bottom item here

Anybody struggling with x8 issues noticed any improvement with 12.06??

[TuKo]

Just bought this motherboard with a QX9650. It's kinda good !

But with latest BIOS 12b6 (and olders too), multiplicator is always set to 9 ! Any clue with this ? I don't want to stay at 445*9

[jcool]

C1E & EIST working?

which version of CPU-Z are you using?
& remember that with 1.41 & 1.42 there can be a conflict when having both uGuru & CPU-Z open at the same time.

I'll just have to repeat myself again, I guess - CPU-Z does NOT usually show accurate Vcore on any Abit Motherboard (because of µguru). So far I had the IN9-32X Max, the AW9D-Max, AB9 QuadGT and now the IX38 QuadGT and never did it show the correct Vcore regardless of the version!
So just forget about CPU-Z when it comes to Vcore with Abit boards.
Just use guru or Everest.

However, you can always trust CPU-Z in terms of FSB/Multiplier.
If you have EIST/C1E enabled, it's perfectly normal to have a 6x multiplier displayed in windows idle. Just keep CPU-Z open and start prime, you'll see how the clocks change

About guru not showing FSB, I had the same problem at first. I had to do a complete uninstall (NOT repairinstall) and reinstall the latest version of guru again, now it works perfectly.

[Humble]

Just throw my Commando away and switch to this board. It's my 2nd day with it now.

This mobo gave me BSOD at the first time I got into Windows on default settings. I just kinda shock about it. But today the problem seems gone.
I think it may be caused by this board that set my Q6600 FSB a little bit higher at 272, so the RAM is also OCed a little too. Also now I'm using BIOS 12B06 which seems working better. And one more thing, I tried it in Windows that still have previous board driver installed, so it may be driver's conflict.
However, I didn't see any problem with this board, such as keyboard freezing or C1 boot error that other members suffer here.

But this board still have some minor problems:
1. DDR voltage and DDR VTT offset are way too high. These make my board "screaming" all the time, so I must set the "beep" alarm to OFF.
2. When I powered on the PC, it always sound a long beep once and the post code stay a bit longer at C1. May be this board was a little slow at detecting my RAM and think that my RAM was error for a while everytime it was booting. And this problem didn't occured when I reboot/ reset my PC. How to fix it then?
Hearing such sound everytime booting up my PC is a little annoying for me.
3. And about that buggy divider 1:1.25, I haven't tried it yet.

Anyhow, I'm still running on the default setting right now. And getting prepared to OC at least to 3.0 Ghz. Any ideas how to start that?
My Q6600 is L724A and VID is 1,2875v with TRUX120.
I have tested that this processor can running at 3.0 Ghz with vcore only at 1,20v full load.
So the questions remain now are vMCH and vFSB, i think... How much "juice" I have to set on vMCH and vFSB to get it running fine with 9 X 333 FSB on this board? Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

More over, how about the settings to run at 3,6 Ghz? What vMCH and vFSB setting should I take then?

Thanks b4 for all your kind reply.

[Supershanks]

such as keyboard freezing

Fixed in 12.05 so no worries in 12.06

1. DDR voltage and DDR VTT offset are way too high

not noticed if running stock i thought vdimm was 1.9v What memory are you using most performance ram nereds >2v

3. And about that buggy divider 1:1.25, I haven't tried it yet.

No it's still with us

I have tested that this processor can running at 3.0 Ghz with vcore only at 1,20v full load.

Whaere dis you read tyhe voltage , what is it set to in bios.

9x400 12HR Prime Stable worked for me may be a strating point for you see bios settings at end of post.

luck

[jcool]

Just throw my Commando away and switch to this board. It's my 2nd day with it now.

This mobo gave me BSOD at the first time I got into Windows on default settings. I just kinda shock about it. But today the problem seems gone.
I think it may be caused by this board that set my Q6600 FSB a little bit higher at 272, so the RAM is also OCed a little too. Also now I'm using BIOS 12B06 which seems working better. And one more thing, I tried it in Windows that still have previous board driver installed, so it may be driver's conflict.
However, I didn't see any problem with this board, such as keyboard freezing or C1 boot error that other members suffer here.

But this board still have some minor problems:
1. DDR voltage and DDR VTT offset are way too high. These make my board "screaming" all the time, so I must set the "beep" alarm to OFF.
2. When I powered on the PC, it always sound a long beep once and the post code stay a bit longer at C1. May be this board was a little slow at detecting my RAM and think that my RAM was error for a while everytime it was booting. And this problem didn't occured when I reboot/ reset my PC. How to fix it then?
Hearing such sound everytime booting up my PC is a little annoying for me.
3. And about that buggy divider 1:1.25, I haven't tried it yet.

Anyhow, I'm still running on the default setting right now. And getting prepared to OC at least to 3.0 Ghz. Any ideas how to start that?
My Q6600 is L724A and VID is 1,2875v with TRUX120.
I have tested that this processor can running at 3.0 Ghz with vcore only at 1,20v full load.
So the questions remain now are vMCH and vFSB, i think... How much "juice" I have to set on vMCH and vFSB to get it running fine with 9 X 333 FSB on this board? Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

More over, how about the settings to run at 3,6 Ghz? What vMCH and vFSB setting should I take then?

Thanks b4 for all your kind reply.

1. Never seen that problem, and have built 3 rigs based on that board by now + my own...
2. Also strange, didn't have that problem either
3. It's not buggy as long as you don't push it too far. You can easily run mem@1000 with the 4:5 divider, it just gets unstable over 1100 or something

Recommended settings for your quad@3Ghz:

- Set Vcore according to your CPU's needs
- Set Memory Divider to 1:1.25
- Set memory Voltage to 2V
- Set FSB to 333
- Leave all the other voltages at stock - worked for me with 3 different boards/Q6600's

--> you should be running stable. If not, come back here

For 3.6 Ghz I'm using VTT 1,3V - MCH 1,35V - ICH 1,20V
Just don't expect to be running 3,6 stable out of the box on air, not all CPUs can do it and also the mobo might need some fine-tuning as well.

[Humble]

@Supershanks; jcool: Million thanks for both of you, brothers. Your kind replies are highly appreciated!

Fixed in 12.05 so no worries in 12.06
not noticed if running stock i thought vdimm was 1.9v What memory are you using most performance ram nereds >2v
No it's still with us

Whaere dis you read tyhe voltage , what is it set to in bios.

9x400 12HR Prime Stable worked for me may be a strating point for you see bios settings at end of post.

luck

I'm using a pair of Crucial Lanfest Limited Edition 2 GB right now. When I set everything to auto (timing, voltage, etc), it start with 1.94v as detected by uGuru. Everest read it higher at 1.96v. I know this voltage is normal. But, this is not what I mean.
I believe we have a little misunderstanding here. Sorry for being a little confusing for you...

Please see this picture below:


See the red line? The DDR2 and DDR2 VTT limit offset are way to ridiculous. I believe that this is caused by the erronous BIOS, right? I then have no option except to set OFF the BIOS warning for DDR2 and DDR2 VTT voltages.

About the vcore for my Q6600, on my previous Commando, I set it to 1.275v in BIOS, and it was idling at 1.24v. When I running Prime95, it dropped to 1.20v only! A huge vdroop, wasn't it? But, everything was running normal at that setting. If I dropped the vcore even just one step, say... to 1.2625, the full load vcore would drop below 1.20v, at 1.18v, and I wouldn't survive the Prime95 test even for 3 minutes.

And oh, before I forget, I would like to thank you for your great review there. I was googling to find the pros and cons of this board back then and I found Clunk's review alongside with yours.
Thanks for your advice bro. Will try that setting very soon.

1. Never seen that problem, and have built 3 rigs based on that board by now + my own...
2. Also strange, didn't have that problem either
3. It's not buggy as long as you don't push it too far. You can easily run mem@1000 with the 4:5 divider, it just gets unstable over 1100 or something

Recommended settings for your quad@3Ghz:

- Set Vcore according to your CPU's needs
- Set Memory Divider to 1:1.25
- Set memory Voltage to 2V
- Set FSB to 333
- Leave all the other voltages at stock - worked for me with 3 different boards/Q6600's

--> you should be running stable. If not, come back here

For 3.6 Ghz I'm using VTT 1,3V - MCH 1,35V - ICH 1,20V
Just don't expect to be running 3,6 stable out of the box on air, not all CPUs can do it and also the mobo might need some fine-tuning as well.

About the keyboard problem, I think that may be the problem only happened to USB keyboard user, meanwhile I'm using an old keyboard with PS2 connector here, so I don't ecounter the same problem.

And about C1 problem, I have done more testing. And the result is when I cold boot the system (unplug the power cord), the problem doesn't happen. but, when I warm boot the system, it always give me that long beep sound. Dunno what's wrong after all, but everything is working just fine.

Thank you also for your recommendations bro. I'll take those into my high consideration alongside with Supershanks'.
I'll post the result here soon.

[R*r]

3. It's not buggy as long as you don't push it too far. You can easily run mem@1000 with the 4:5 divider, it just gets unstable over 1100 or something

1:1.25 / 4:5 555@4-4-4-15 failed 3d06 and pass spi32mb,memtest 3hr ok

1:1.5 / 2:3 585@5-4-4-18 pass 3d06 and spi32mb,memtest 3hr ok

that is my result with B06

[ust]

Hiya
I also own this motherboard. Went from IP35 Pro - so the change isn't major.
But I'm experiencing some issues; sometimes the system hangs at boot and will not post, but it's totally random. Additionally the board can't seem to set the timmings ( especially Tras) of my Ballistix 8500 properly - eventhough I adjust them manually.
I've tried the latest beta BIOS B06, but it does not seem to fix the problems.
So my question is, and the whole point of this message , when is Abit going to realease an official BIOS? Anybody know?

[JPxM0Dz]

Hiya
I also own this motherboard. Went from IP35 Pro - so the change isn't major.
But I'm experiencing some issues; sometimes the system hangs at boot and will not post, but it's totally random. Additionally the board can't seem to set the timmings ( especially Tras) of my Ballistix 8500 properly - eventhough I adjust them manually.
I've tried the latest beta BIOS B06, but it does not seem to fix the problems.
So my question is, and the whole point of this message , when is Abit going to realease an official BIOS? Anybody know?

Yeah not a huge upgrade from IP35 Pro, in fact the IP35 scored higher in some benches over the IX38 for me.

Timings are definitly off with the IX38, BIOS setting is 4-4-4-4 = 4-4-4-10 actual, TRAS being the only setting to be off from what I can see.

Also command rate from 2T to 1T has no obvious effect, changing this setting in bios does save, but actual speed stays at 2T

Hopefully a later bios addresses this.

[-GobliN-]

finally upgraded from p35dq6
I spent lots of time with installing windows . I encountered many problems
guru was different last time I used abit was my legend board aa8 max
but trying to get used to this board . Still lots of setting are not familiar
and I have a boring problem: though I set Tras to 14 everest and and cpuz shows it 21 can anyone help me about timing settings

[Supershanks]

@humble DDR2 & VTT are only redline because the limits are wrong. Change them in bios or in guru, Reinstall guru or check version.

It's difficult to know what a q6600 needs on a commando, i'd ditched the board in favour of a p5k b4 i got ny q6600 then 9x400
vcore = 1.375v which is the lowest i giot, but was amongst the best in the oc databases.

I'd use jcools

- Set Vcore according to your CPU's needs
- Set Memory Divider to 1:1.25
- Set memory Voltage to 2V
- Set FSB to 333
- Leave all the other voltages at stock - worked for me with 3 different boards/Q6600's

1st then if that's stable & you feell like going on try 3.6k.

Thanks for the words
luck

[jcool]

About the keyboard problem, I think that may be the problem only happened to USB keyboard user, meanwhile I'm using an old keyboard with PS2 connector here, so I don't ecounter the same problem.

Strange, I'm using the Enermax Aurora Keyboard, which is, of course, USB.

And about C1 problem, I have done more testing. And the result is when I cold boot the system (unplug the power cord), the problem doesn't happen. but, when I warm boot the system, it always give me that long beep sound. Dunno what's wrong after all, but everything is working just fine.

That shouldn't be the case. Hopefully Abit will get that sorted out later on.

Thank you also for your recommendations bro. I'll take those into my high consideration alongside with Supershanks'.
I'll post the result here soon.

Can't wait to see them

1:1.25 / 4:5 555@4-4-4-15 failed 3d06 and pass spi32mb,memtest 3hr ok

1:1.5 / 2:3 585@5-4-4-18 pass 3d06 and spi32mb,memtest 3hr ok

that is my result with B06

Okay so it depends on the mobo/ram combination I guess... but safe to say that 1000 works in any case (which will be of inetrest to many people, running 400 4:5)

About the (mem)speed - the IP35 was faster, and the preceding AB9 QuadGT was even faster than the IP35 clock-per-clock wise
Something's going wrong with that development don't you think

I also agree that there are issues that can't seem to be explained, eg. I'm currently running two nearly indentical rigs side by side, both equipped with IX38 Bios B12.06, Q6600@3Ghz (customer's) and Q6600@3,6 (mine ), both running 4GB D9GMH, both with 8800 Vid Cards. Only differences are water for me, IFX-14 for the customer and Enermax Liberty 500 <-> Corsair HX520.

So these setups are as similar as it gets - then WHY does the 3Ghz machine show ridiculously low CPU and System temp? It shows about 12C and then freezes it there, making it impossible for me to regulate Fan speed after CPU temp :/
Never seen that problem on my rig before.
I also had to RMA one IX38 because the top PCIe x16 wasn't working - tried 3 GFX cards and the mobo kept showing "90" - putting the cards into the lower PCIe "solved" the problem
Anyone ever seen a defective PCIe x16 before on a brand-new motherboard? I certainly haven't...

[Viper GTS]

Finally got a chance to do some more testing. My new video card (8800GTS 512) solves the boot problems with the top 16x slot, perhaps it was just an issue with the PCI-e 1.0 cards I had to test with before.

I also replaced all the push-pins with nylon bolts so those should all have better contact than before.

My new problem:

I'm trying to run my Q6600 at 400x6 to make sure I can handle the 400FSB. (This is an attempt to follow AnandTech's quad OC'ing article.) Memory is running at 1:1 for 800 MHz, mem timing & voltages are set to spec. I can run memtest all night but I BSOD & restart within seconds of starting Prime95. No amount of MCH or DDR2 voltage will get it stable, and I tried some absurd levels (1.6 and 2.25). Lower FSB speeds (333 and 366) with ratios resulting in at or near 800MHz memory speeds prime fine.

Any other voltages I should be looking at to successfully run 400MHz? From what I see here 400 shouldn't be difficult for this board & 400 is all I'm really asking for (since I'll end up with either 3.2 or 3.6 GHz, which is more than sufficient for my needs).

[Hazzan]

How about this one ? with bios 12B06............FSB 625

[R*r]

@hazan

could you pass 3d06 on that fsb?

[mark0326]

I'm trying to run my Q6600 at 400x6 to make sure I can handle the 400FSB. (This is an attempt to follow AnandTech's quad OC'ing article.) Memory is running at 1:1 for 800 MHz, mem timing & voltages are set to spec. I can run memtest all night but I BSOD & restart within seconds of starting Prime95. No amount of MCH or DDR2 voltage will get it stable, and I tried some absurd levels (1.6 and 2.25). Lower FSB speeds (333 and 366) with ratios resulting in at or near 800MHz memory speeds prime fine.

I have the same problem on 8x400 which SuperShanks (Clunk forms) and I tried to remedie but without any success, we are not alone in this either - maybe we need to compare notes to find a possible mis-match or similar.

Merry Christmas folks!

[jcool]

Finally got a chance to do some more testing. My new video card (8800GTS 512) solves the boot problems with the top 16x slot, perhaps it was just an issue with the PCI-e 1.0 cards I had to test with before.

I also replaced all the push-pins with nylon bolts so those should all have better contact than before.

My new problem:

I'm trying to run my Q6600 at 400x6 to make sure I can handle the 400FSB. (This is an attempt to follow AnandTech's quad OC'ing article.) Memory is running at 1:1 for 800 MHz, mem timing & voltages are set to spec. I can run memtest all night but I BSOD & restart within seconds of starting Prime95. No amount of MCH or DDR2 voltage will get it stable, and I tried some absurd levels (1.6 and 2.25). Lower FSB speeds (333 and 366) with ratios resulting in at or near 800MHz memory speeds prime fine.

Any other voltages I should be looking at to successfully run 400MHz? From what I see here 400 shouldn't be difficult for this board & 400 is all I'm really asking for (since I'll end up with either 3.2 or 3.6 GHz, which is more than sufficient for my needs).

Did you try my settings for FSB 400?
In addition to higher MCH, you also need to raise ICH Voltage (try 1,20) and maybe VTT (try 1,3). Good luck!

Some news on the water-front: A user named tommi from the German hardwareluxx forums has a solution for a complete watercooling of the mobo, chek it out here

It's a Mips block on PWM, D-Tek Fuzion AM2 modified (drilled some new holes) on the NB and Swiftech MCW30 on the SB. Only problem is that it's probably not CF compatible because of the Swiftech, but IMO a smaller passive cooler is enough for the SB anyways. It's just the NB that gehts so darn hot

[Supershanks]

Happy Xmas everyone
That's interesting solution of Tommi's. Sadly I have to use google translate which loses a little.:-

There are above 2x d-tec fuzion for cpu.bei than the nordbridge I eifach the holes in the amd-halterung bored and a little abgeflext.
Below, I have nen swifttech mcw30.da but something else out because of the planned crossfire.

from Tommi's WC NB So Tommi is using a 2nd Fuzion block, but i'm not to clear how he's mounted it.

Does anyone have the measurements for the NB , I'm wondering if an old 939 block will fit. Just had xmas lunch so not fit to look in case for a while

luck

[jcool]

No need to translate, I already gave you the main points
He just used the AMD AM2 mounting for the Fuzion and drilled some new holes into it, like I said. Simple enough

Exact translation for the passage above would be:

"CPU and NB coolers are both D-Tek Fuzions, the one on the NB is equipped with the AM2 mounting which I modified by drilling some additional holes. Aditionally, I cut the edges to make it fit, using a flex (I honestly dunno how you people call that)
On the SB, I mounted the Swiftech MCW30. Gotta look for another solution though, since it won't work with Crossfire."

[Ace-a-Rue]

Happy Xmas everyone
luck

Merry Christmas to you SS!.....AND...A Happy New Year!