Official GIGABYTE X38-DQ6/X38T-DQ6 Info/BIOS Thread

[Kondik]

Ooooookay, that makes you the second to recommend it.
But what makes me think is that crazy-cool-whatever-backplate. I wonder if it'll be possible to get this thing off the board for installing backplates like the one for the u120e...

Crazy cool removal

[p2501]

There's a section in the manual outlining how to remove it.

Crazy cool removal

Thanks alot guys. So it's not possible to get the backplate off without removing the actual cooling too. Well, i ordered it now anyway, i was lucky to get one because the stores here in germany are running out of stock. Let's see what it can do..

I really hope it arrives tomorrow.. i hate it when my system is not folding.

[ChrissTi]

Thanks alot guys. So it's not possible to get the backplate off without removing the actual cooling too.

It is possible . CrazyCool is the backplate only. Just wait and read the manual . The Termalright's CrazyCool removal is not correct and the link is not even for X38-DQ6 or X38T-DQ6 ...

[Kondik]

It is possible . CrazyCool is the backplate only. Just wait and read the manual . The Termalright's CrazyCool removal is not correct and the link is not even for X38-DQ6 or X38T-DQ6 ...

+/- Is the same
Loose the 3 back screws , then 2 spring screws on NB, 2 on SB and two plastic white asses on MOSFETs and voila

[jimmsch]

Is there a NOOB friendly step-by-step guide on how to flash BIOS using USB stick? If not, can somebody write one?

Thanks -Jim

[strenkp]

Is there a NOOB friendly step-by-step guide on how to flash BIOS using USB stick? If not, can somebody write one?

Thanks -Jim

why use usb stick when you can update bios in win with "@BIOS"

[jimmsch]

why use usb stick when you can update bios in win with "@BIOS"

I hear alot of horror stories about BIOS flashing with Windows tools. Has it worked for you?

[ChrissTi]

+/- Is the same
Loose the 3 back screws , then 2 spring screws on NB, 2 on SB and two plastic white asses on MOSFETs and voila

He doesn't want to remove all heatsink. He wants only the crazycool backplate removed. So all he needs is to remove the 3 screws around CPU socket, that suports the backplate, and to unfasten the 2 NB spring bolts and to mount the screws that came with the mobo, especially for this.

[ChrissTi]

Is there a NOOB friendly step-by-step guide on how to flash BIOS using USB stick? If not, can somebody write one?

Thanks -Jim

All you need is the flash to be formated FAT32, and the bios on it. When in bios press F8 and yes. Then flash the bios it's not so hard. You can flash it also from an FAT 32 HDD. Intel ICH9R must be in IDE mode, if you have the hdd on it.

[p2501]

It is possible . CrazyCool is the backplate only. Just wait and read the manual . The Termalright's CrazyCool removal is not correct and the link is not even for X38-DQ6 or X38T-DQ6 ...

Oookay, sounds wonderful!
It would be pretty insane to mount an u120e without the backplate and then be carrying the box around, so it's good to hear that it is removable. I was worrying that it might be glued to the back, lol..

Is there a NOOB friendly step-by-step guide on how to flash BIOS using USB stick? If not, can somebody write one?

Just put the BIOS file on an FAT32 formatted stick, then reboot and follow the instructions, it's really easy and safe. I never updated any BIOS via Windoze tools, only floppy/usb, works like a charm. Nowadays at least, that is.

[Caped Crusader]

All you need is the flash to be formated FAT32, and the bios on it. When in bios press F8 and yes. Then flash the bios it's not so hard. You can flash it also from an FAT 32 HDD. Intel ICH9R must be in IDE mode, if you have the hdd on it.

You mean FAT16, right? FAT32 never worked for me. BIOS program doesn't recognize any files if the flash drive is in FAT32 format...

[p2501]

You mean FAT16, right? FAT32 never worked for me. BIOS program doesn't recognize any files if the flash drive is in FAT32 format...

On my 965p-ds3 i always flashed directly from my ReadyBoost-stick, wich is FAT32 formatted, with no problems at all.

[Kondik]

Guys seriously this blows out the lungs out of my sad body ... the Releaser said the Gigabyte X38 DQ6 is End of Life product and won't be RMAe'd piece for piece ... is nowhere to get it and i don't like the DS5 Phase System [ Btw we found out that X38 DQ6 doesn't have 12 phase system but just a 6 phase one with doubled ways ] so i'm really cranky about it ... i bought Maximus Formula instead of it .. but every single board has some terrible flaws ... screw this .. i hate you gigabyte

[zsamz_]

Guys seriously this blows out the lungs out of my sad body ... the Releaser said the Gigabyte X38 DQ6 is End of Life product and won't be RMAe'd piece for piece ... is nowhere to get it and i don't like the DS5 Phase System [ Btw we found out that X38 DQ6 doesn't have 12 phase system but just a 6 phase one with doubled ways ] so i'm really cranky about it ... i bought Maximus Formula instead of it .. but every single board has some terrible flaws ... screw this .. i hate you gigabyte

happy i'm off that sinking boat
gl to u guys

[Dakkahun]

End Of Life allready?

[BigDK]

That's no surprise, it has been almost non existant on every retailers for several weeks now.
Just in time for the replacement X48 board to take its place.

[ChrissTi]

[ Btw we found out that X38 DQ6 doesn't have 12 phase system but just a 6 phase one with doubled ways ]

If you look to a DQ4 and DQ6 you will see the difference. Everyone of these phases is doubled, not just one. That gives more stability to the CPU.
There is a replacement for X38-DQ6, ... X48-DQ6 . Well let us know how is your Asus. Me I hate it.

[Kondik]

If you look to a DQ4 and DQ6 you will see the difference. Everyone of these phases is doubled, not just one. That gives more stability to the CPU.
There is a replacement for X38-DQ6, ... X48-DQ6 . Well let us know how is your Asus. Me I hate it.

Well i didn't had a choice .. i didnt want the DS5 and the DQ6 is nowhere to get what should i do ? And the DFI is much more expensive .. more money for no additional music the only board available was the Maximus so i took it for about 210 Euros.

[Hornet331]

haha funny how the x38 its eol, and intel delayed x48 to march... so availability is april...

[zicada]

Seeing how well these boards have clocked for pretty much everyone, i don't really see any reason to wait for x48. They're just binned parts of the same exact chip. I mean, other parts, like the CPU are going to be the bottleneck anyway, and the straps you need to get memory decent at those speeds suck. Also, what would anybody need more than 550 FSB for anyway. Any FSB above 450, or atleast 500 is going to give you worse and worse memoryperformance in terms of TRD. I'd get a decent x38 and spend my money on an unlocked CPU instead,- but thats me. Honestly dont see what the big deal is about insane FSB's in terms of actual performance.

[Dakkahun]

Bios F8d is available for download from www.jzelectronic.de
Apparently it "fixes" the LLC bug:
14.02.2008 New Beta BIOS
GA-X38-DQ6 - F8d (S3 bug with LLC on fixed)

[Richard Dower]

I flashed to F8d beta, no changes from the previous betas...it's become VERY obvious to me now that i can NO LONGER reach a FSB of 425MHz witout an increase of (G)MCH and FSB voltages.

Clearly Gigabyte have altered the bios since F6b beta and up, so much so a voltage increase is nesscary. I have found through trial and error i need to increase (G)MCH voltage by 0.150V in order to not only POST but to boot in Windows.

The problem is that my overclock lasts for a few shutdowns and reboots...but then fails and the bios disables my overclock. So now i am trying to also increase the FSB voltage by 0.15V...hopefully this will hold my OC and increase stability.

See screenies for the OC and settings.

http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=313533

[Richard Dower]

As a side note, i have just ordered two new WD Rattors...my drives have the original 00NLR1 firmware. Hoping the new drives come with 00NLR5 and later, i've seen 150GB Raptors with a 00NLR7 firmware...i'll report what i get.

[jbloggs]

I have 2 x 36GB Raptors (16MB cache) in RAID0 on the ICH9R cont. using the 00NLR4 firmware, Average read in HDTach just over 156MB/s...

[strenkp]

Bios F8d is available for download from www.jzelectronic.de
Apparently it "fixes" the LLC bug:
14.02.2008 New Beta BIOS
GA-X38-DQ6 - F8d (S3 bug with LLC on fixed)

where is link on that page? I cant find it
EDIT: never mind. found it (bottom of the page)