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

[down8]

Anybody runnin a full 8gb on this board??? I've got 2 kits of the Gskill DDR2/1000 coming, and would like to be able to keep my 3.4 overclock on my quad, so i'm just lookin for some pointers......

It's not 8GB, but I do run 4x1GB w/o issue. I actually brought my timings down to 4-4-3-7 from 4-4-3-8 after going to 4GB. Might try 4-3-3-7 later.

-bZj

[audiofreak]

Got tired of waiting. Picked up an 8400 at my local Microcenter on the way home today ($189). It posted fine in my XBX2. What tool can I use to see if I'm supplying it with the proper voltages?

There is a new BIOS with Penryn microcode inside and I have been told earlier by Intel that Penryn will be officially supported on D975XBX2 (i.e. the board was validated).

If you still can, you should try 2809 version, it also has microcode for Penryn (release notes say "update CPU support") but it has two of them for platform id 01 and 10. 2813 has only for platform 10.

[fdisker]

I've heard there were Penryn updates to the latest bios but until the Intel website lists the XBX2 as having official support for 45nm procs (or any proc running 1333MHz) I'm not putting it back in. I like to live on the edge just as much as the next guy but I have no desire to ruin a perfectly good cpu.

[syl]

Looks like it's a NO GO for Wolfdale and XBX2 rev 505. Multiplier is locked at x6 for both 2809 and 2813 bios, and I can not boot into Maintenance mode with the E8400 installed

Maybe Intel will release a compatible bios in the future but for now the E8400 can't wait, so...hello P35!

[down8]

Looks like it's a NO GO for Wolfdale and XBX2 rev 505. Multiplier is locked at x6 for both 2809 and 2813 bios, and I can not boot into Maintenance mode with the E8400 installed

Maybe Intel will release a compatible bios in the future but for now the E8400 can't wait, so...hello P35!

Seems to go completely against fdisker's findings:

Got tired of waiting. Picked up an 8400 at my local Microcenter on the way home today ($189). It posted fine in my XBX2. What tool can I use to see if I'm supplying it with the proper voltages?

-bZj

[fdisker]

Yes, it does go against my findings. I have a rev 505 board and the e8400 posted fine with the latest bios. I booted straight to the Vista x64 desktop with no errors, cruised around the operating system for a few minutes, fired up MCE and watched some tv ... everything just worked.

[screwtech02]

Anybody got any tips on gettin 8gb stable??? Runnin 266/677, 378fsb, 2.1vmem, 1.4125 proc, 1.650, on nb.... Getting outstanding bandwidth compaired to my old ocz stuff, but 8gb isnt stable, 4gb is, also, with the 8gb, my bandwidth drops....

[syl]

Yes, it does go against my findings. I have a rev 505 board and the e8400 posted fine with the latest bios. I booted straight to the Vista x64 desktop with no errors, cruised around the operating system for a few minutes, fired up MCE and watched some tv ... everything just worked.

Yes, it will POST and boot Windows just fine...and it's even Orthos stable. But fire up CPU-Z and Core Temp and you'll see the multiplier does not move from x6. Well, at least not in my case - let me know if your findings are different

[fragmasterMax]

Yes, it will POST and boot Windows just fine...and it's even Orthos stable. But fire up CPU-Z and Core Temp and you'll see the multiplier does not move from x6. Well, at least not in my case - let me know if your findings are different

It seems like it's not coming out of c1e thats one problem that intel never solved. luckily, there's a fix for that problem, try it out.

[fragmasterMax]

Anybody got any tips on gettin 8gb stable??? Runnin 266/677, 378fsb, 2.1vmem, 1.4125 proc, 1.650, on nb.... Getting outstanding bandwidth compaired to my old ocz stuff, but 8gb isnt stable, 4gb is, also, with the 8gb, my bandwidth drops....

You probably just have a bad stick.
What are you using 4x2gb or 2x4gb or 4x1gb?
just test each one with orthos large ftt's. Seriously i went along time thinking that my g0 q6600 was to blame for my instability and crap overclocks, on;y to find out it was a stick of super talent ram.

[screwtech02]

Actually its 4x2gb, and i had top bump the northbridge to 1.65, and lower my fsb to 356. May try bumping the volts to 1.7, and return my 378fsb, and see what happens... Played BF2 for 2 hours straight, so i'm thinkin its gonna be ok.....

[LaMpiR]

I have one problem.In bios EIST is off but still it isn't. Cpuz shows cpu speed variations from 1,6Ghz to 2.66Ghz. Btw, cpu is e6700. Can anyone help me with this?

And what should i set for default voltages?

[fragmasterMax]

I have one problem.In bios EIST is off but still it isn't. Cpuz shows cpu speed variations from 1,6Ghz to 2.66Ghz. Btw, cpu is e6700. Can anyone help me with this?

And what should i set for default voltages?

dude use the file i linked to above, it will solve all your problems.

[screwtech02]

Well, 3.2 is fine with 8gb, but anything over is a no-go..... Anybody have good luck with the "memory tweeker" and this board??? I have yet to try it, is there any more performance from using it???

[syl]

It seems like it's not coming out of c1e thats one problem that intel never solved. luckily, there's a fix for that problem, try it out.

Thanks for the suggestion...unfortunately the C1E fix did not fix the multiplier problem. But after tinkering around a bit more, I found that Enabling EIST, of all things, actually allow Windows to run under the x9 multiplier. The BIOS, OTOH, always reads x6. Ther are just too many problems (screwed up voltage and FSB adjustments, no maintenance mode, etc.) with the current BIOS that I do not feel comfortable running a Wolfdale with this board. SHAME on Intel for not being the first out of the gate with a working BIOS for their latest processor.

Your effort though, is greatly appreciated

[fdisker]

>> SHAME on Intel for not being the first out of the gate with a working BIOS for their latest processor.

I agree completely. This was Intel's top of the line board just one year ago. I understand they want folks to buy the DX38BT and as an enthusiast I have no problem upgrading CPUs every year or so but I was hoping to get at least two years out of the BadAxe.

[fragmasterMax]

Hey Syl, before you order another board, can you test out overclocking with the wolfdale+bx2? As for helping out, my pleasure, i tried

[syl]

Hey Syl, before you order another board, can you test out overclocking with the wolfdale+bx2? As for helping out, my pleasure, i tried

Funny you should ask, because I actually did try overclocking, albeit briefly, before giving up in frustration. The max OC I was able to achieve was a semi-stable 360x9 using SetFSB after booting into Windows. Trying to work around a fubar'ed BIOS where almost nothing worked as they should was simply NO FUN.

IMHO, it would be wise to wait for a BIOS update before running a Wolfdale with this board.

[edjrwinnt]

Has anyone had any problem running dual PCI-E 16X video cards on this board? I plan on running two ati x1650 cards on this board and I understand that they both will only run at 8x since the 2nd one has to go in the 8x PCI-e slot. I use my computer for business applications and not games so I'm not worried about the performance hit going down to 8x.

Originally I was told that my dual GPU video card would handle all four monitors that I would have connected to the card including one that requires a Dual-DVI connection. Now the video card manufacture is telling me their dual GPU card doesn't have a Dual-Dvi connection so I have buy a 2nd card that does.

[fragmasterMax]

Has anyone had any problem running dual PCI-E 16X video cards on this board? I plan on running two ati x1650 cards on this board and I understand that they both will only run at 8x since the 2nd one has to go in the 8x PCI-e slot. I use my computer for business applications and not games so I'm not worried about the performance hit going down to 8x.

Originally I was told that my dual GPU video card would handle all four monitors that I would have connected to the card including one that requires a Dual-DVI connection. Now the video card manufacture is telling me their dual GPU card doesn't have a Dual-Dvi connection so I have buy a 2nd card that does.

x1650's won't get close to bottlenecking an 8x pcie bus.
But edjrwiint, why not just wait for nvidia to release the 9series of cards?
the 9600gt is a 65nm 8800gts (basically), which should oc to at least 800mhz, for instance. (oh yeah, it's msrp is arround 150)

[edjrwinnt]

Thanks for the reply fragmasterMax. I'm not a overclock junkie on the video card like I am on the cpu. This computer is my work workstation where I don't play games. I just want to make sure what I have will work after I beat my head against the wall on Friday trying to figure out why my 30" monitor wouldn't work.

Now I have to worry about my 550 Watt power supply having enough juice to support 2 video cards, a SAS Controller, two SAS hard drives, two DVD Drives, 4 sticks of ram, a modem, my overclock, all 4 USB Devices connected to it, and a floppy drive.

[Woland]

Any good tips for running a Xeon 3060 + 4 sticks of Crucial 8500 Ram past 3GHz?

Currently at 334FSB 1,3625v on cpu, 266/667 ratio with RAM @ 835MHz 4.4.4.12 2.16v. As of now as soon as I try to go for 340fsb with slightly higher volts I get reboots in prime95 almost immediately.

I guess my real question is if this is due to 4 sticks of ram or do I just need to up the volts even more?

[down8]

I have 4x1GB DDR2-800 SuperTalent in my BA2, and run my X3210 at 333 (RAM at 416). RAM is spec'ed at 4-4-3-8@2.2V, and I run 4-4-3-7@2.16V. No problems for me running 4 DIMMs. The next time I reboot, I'll try for 340.

-bZj

[Kewjoe]

Any conclusion if the D975XBX2 will support Yorkfield CPU's? I have a QX9650 that I'd love to be able to use with the D975XBX2 .. but obviously don't want to cause harm to the little guy.

[down8]

I'd love to know, too.

-bZj