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

[zicada]

Ive noticed instability after going up to the 8* bios'es aswell. Itll be stable for 24 hours or so, and then all of a sudden become VERY unstable, and go into the typical boot-loops after dying from a BSOD.
My theory is that they have realized that there is a heatissue with the coolingsolution and set the actual voltages of the MCH and FSB way down, requiring you to up them manually alot higher to be stable again. Anyone with a DMM able to test this ?

[OM DUST]

Hello. Long time (mostly to read through 74 pages) first time poster. I am building this w/e my first Intel build (been going AMD for 20+ years). I purchased a Q6600 G0 and the X38 DQ6, as they seem to be paired well with great success. Majority of users appear to have this set at either 9X400 or 8X450.
It appears that higher FSB is more favorable - is that correct.
I also noticed a really HUGE disparity in voltage settings from 1.38 all the way to 1.55 to achieve this overclock - is this a result of various BIOS differences or do the G0s really have that much disparity?
I also noticed a large disparity (and again I am only looking at the q6600 and DQ6 setup) in FSB and Nbbridge voltages and strapping. From what I can gather the F3 bios allows for higher FSB and lower strapping than the new F8 using lower voltages. Is this correct?
Finally - strapping relates only to the FSB v. Northbridge relationship; much like memory speed v. timings relationship - is this correct? Is this the reason for the large difference in voltages - people going high FSB and low strapping need to push the MCH and FSB voltages higher?

Much appreciate any response.

If it makes a difference I am water cooling.

[ChrissTi]

Ive noticed instability after going up to the 8* bios'es aswell. Itll be stable for 24 hours or so, and then all of a sudden become VERY unstable, and go into the typical boot-loops after dying from a BSOD.
My theory is that they have realized that there is a heatissue with the coolingsolution and set the actual voltages of the MCH and FSB way down, requiring you to up them manually alot higher to be stable again. Anyone with a DMM able to test this ?

Well, I use F8C bios version and is the most stable 24/7, for now, for me.

[ToyTen]

Hi,
I would like to know what are the stock values for vFSB/vNB/vSB on the GA-38T-dq6 version mobo. If some one had a link or if one could tell that to me, it would be great.

Thx in advance

[OM DUST]

Hey guys,

I've had instability troubles lately. I've isolated the issues to come from my Memory...
Then I've read just a few minutes ago on another discussion forum that usually increasing both the PCI-E frequency from 100Mhz to 105Mhz, and its voltage by around +0.20v to +0.30v will help increase the overall system stability and should also impact the Memory stability.

My question is simple: Is it true?

My secondary question is: Would increasing the PCI-E frequency and voltage potentially and in the long-term permanently damage my Graphics Card?....

Thanks.

Did you ever get an answer?

[kevinali]

I have my X38-DQ6 set to F6 and it seems stable and i have decided that the load line calibration can wait for the mature F8 BIOS

F6 is fine for entering and exiting sleep mode

I do wish thought that there is a way of turning off the DMI POOL screen in the startup

Kevin

[Richard Dower]

Any bios updates guys?...i also noticed that Intel updated theier ACHI bios ROm code for there own X38 board, December 2007....sadly GB refuse to update the AHCI and RAID bios ROM's for there own boards.

[Zenoth]

Did you ever get an answer?

No, but since then situation has changed for me.

I've got myself some new memory, because my Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 ended up not being compatible (not "faulty" per se, just not compatible after many tests were done at my local store's tech department). I've changed for a 4GB kit (2x 2048MB) of OCZ Reaper HPC, at PC2-6400. I've overclocked the memory from 400Mhz to 499.20Mhz exactly with 2.192V (that's an added +0.35V in the BIOS), and it is rock stable (fully Memtest86+ 2.00-tested and stable).

Right now, as I type this, Orthos is running under Small FFT's test for the CPU. I've isolated the memory already, so no need to run a Blend test (although I might do it anyway for peace of mind's sake). I've overclocked the CPU/FSB at 416x9 (3744Mhz), at 1.35625V vCore in the BIOS (giving me 1.328V in CPU-z), and after two hours it's still green... but two hours is nothing, I'm aiming for a solid 12 to 18 hours test. The FSB voltage is augmented by +0.25V, and the MCH (Northbridge) by +0.200V. The temperatures are 27ºC at idle and around 54ºC on load.

My days of instability issues are behind me now. It was my Crucial memory which was causing me bad problems (even the BIOS got struck by a Bad Checksum issue). Now that I'm back with OCZ (I've had OCZ during the DDR1 days) I feel comfortable and reassured, all is good, for now of course. I don't think that I'll go higher than 3.74Ghz, it's a sweet spot for me.

[p2501]

[snip]
My days of instability issues are behind me now. It was my Crucial memory which was causing me bad problems (even the BIOS got struck by a Bad Checksum issue).[/snip]

Crucial. I've had Ballistix in my setup and i even had to RMA the board because it was completely dead. The thing is that i had exactly those sticks running on a 965-ds3 and they were completely ok, even with this board they memtested OK. Are my problems maybe still connected with the memory? (in the end it didn't even boot with a standard 512 mb mdt 667 stick, but hey at this time it was dead already.. )

[Zenoth]

Crucial. I've had Ballistix in my setup and i even had to RMA the board because it was completely dead. The thing is that i had exactly those sticks running on a 965-ds3 and they were completely ok, even with this board they memtested OK. Are my problems maybe still connected with the memory? (in the end it didn't even boot with a standard 512 mb mdt 667 stick, but hey at this time it was dead already.. )

For me, the conclusion was clear (and according to the tests done by the technician at my local store's tech department) that it was an incompatibility issue, and not an actual faulty memory kit. They worked fine on an ABIT motherboard, but the X38-DQ6 just don't like them (by the way I tried with BIOS F4, F6b, F7 and F8c, usually I never update a BIOS unless something is very wrong, and I updated three times because I thought that it might have been the BIOS itself which did not recognized the memory properly, but apparently it's not a BIOS problem).

And, after all, the actual Crucial brand itself isn't listed at all on the Gigabyte's official memory support list for the GA-X38-DQ6, it's not surprising (or, in fact, it is surprising, depending on how you see it) that it didn't worked properly. Now I'm with OCZ and, oh... it all magically works fine and everything it stable, I wouldn't call that a coincidence.

[ToyTen]

If you guys could help me finding the stock values for vNB, vSB, vFSB and vPCI-E on the X38T DQ6 mobo.

[REVHEAD]

I finnaly have moved entirely away from Nvidia today ,I just gotta sell my last remaining 8800gtx then thats the end haha.

I have gone and added 2 ATI 3870s to my GA X38 dq6 mobo today, the funny thing is they are just edging out my old 680i 8800gtx sli combo, I am excited

here are a few screenshots ,this aint no hot x2 cards but they are still darn fine.

Rest in peace Nvidia , no more heat issues for me .













Allmost 17000 06 3dmarks with no GPU overclocking or driver adjusments..

[Hornet331]

If you guys could help me finding the stock values for vNB, vSB, vFSB and vPCI-E on the X38T DQ6 mobo.

vMHC (vNB) = 1,25V
vSB = 1.05V (but cant be adjusted)
vFSB = 1,2V
vPCI-E= 1,2V for pci-e 1.0 / 1,1V for pci-e 2.0

[ToyTen]

vMHC (vNB) = 1,25V
vSB = 1.05V (but cant be adjusted)
vFSB = 1,2V
vPCI-E= 1,2V for pci-e 1.0 / 1,1V for pci-e 2.0

un grand merci Tanks a lot Hornet331

[ToyTen]

is it normal that from 1,6 of Vcore we can't adjust voltages LIKE under 1,6 ??

[idiotekniQues]

i just ordered the ex38-ds4 - anybody else got this mobo?

maybe i should start a new thread for us trailblazers!

[Anruce]

Crucial. I've had Ballistix in my setup and i even had to RMA the board because it was completely dead. The thing is that i had exactly those sticks running on a 965-ds3 and they were completely ok, even with this board they memtested OK. Are my problems maybe still connected with the memory? (in the end it didn't even boot with a standard 512 mb mdt 667 stick, but hey at this time it was dead already.. )

For me, the conclusion was clear (and according to the tests done by the technician at my local store's tech department) that it was an incompatibility issue, and not an actual faulty memory kit. They worked fine on an ABIT motherboard, but the X38-DQ6 just don't like them (by the way I tried with BIOS F4, F6b, F7 and F8c, usually I never update a BIOS unless something is very wrong, and I updated three times because I thought that it might have been the BIOS itself which did not recognized the memory properly, but apparently it's not a BIOS problem).

And, after all, the actual Crucial brand itself isn't listed at all on the Gigabyte's official memory support list for the GA-X38-DQ6, it's not surprising (or, in fact, it is surprising, depending on how you see it) that it didn't worked properly. Now I'm with OCZ and, oh... it all magically works fine and everything it stable, I wouldn't call that a coincidence.

Another with Crucial Ballistix PC6400 4gb!! and don´t work fine with the DQ6.


What kit 2x2Gb pc6400 CL4 work´s 100% fine with this board?

Maybe G.Skill F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK or OCZ2T800C44GK, XTC Titanium?

Thx

[REVHEAD]

Any one running this driver? Intel® Turbo Memory http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filt...0&submit=Go%21

Its for Vista only, its not included in any chipset driver package or the Driver cd from what I could gather, I just installed it , but have no idea if it does much haha. I think it could have something to do with ready boost but not shure, I got a Corsair GT 4gb thumb drive in just in case.

[TheKarmakazi]

I created a slipstream disc. I followed these instructions and used the drivers he links to on that page.

It wasn't that hard and didn't take that long, but it is not truly an unattended install. The OS asks for a time zone and language. After that it is completely unattended. Worked great for me both with the Abit IP35 Pro and the GA X38 DQ6. I used the same exact disc for install Windows on both mobos. I used the same WD 80GB drives also and in between mobos I used the WD diagnostic disc to write zeroes to both discs.

Thanks a ton man, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

[TheKarmakazi]

i just ordered the ex38-ds4 - anybody else got this mobo?

maybe i should start a new thread for us trailblazers!

Yeah start it up man :P

[jimmsch]

Thanks a ton man, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

I guess the only difference is that before I did anything I flashed to F7 BIOS.

[PerGuLa]

Another with Crucial Ballistix PC6400 4gb!! and don´t work fine with the DQ6.


What kit 2x2Gb pc6400 CL4 work´s 100% fine with this board?

Maybe G.Skill F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK or OCZ2T800C44GK, XTC Titanium?

Thx

I have 4x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC6400, they run great.

[PerGuLa]

Any one running this driver? Intel® Turbo Memory http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filt...0&submit=Go%21

Its for Vista only, its not included in any chipset driver package or the Driver cd from what I could gather, I just installed it , but have no idea if it does much haha. I think it could have something to do with ready boost but not shure, I got a Corsair GT 4gb thumb drive in just in case.

Doesn't the readme indicate that you must be running the Matrix driver (your ICH9R SATA) in AHCI mode in order to use this? That being the case, I don't think that this has anything to do with Readyboost.

[Hornet331]

Any one running this driver? Intel® Turbo Memory http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filt...0&submit=Go%21

Its for Vista only, its not included in any chipset driver package or the Driver cd from what I could gather, I just installed it , but have no idea if it does much haha. I think it could have something to do with ready boost but not shure, I got a Corsair GT 4gb thumb drive in just in case.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Turbo_Memory

why install that drivers, if you dont have any flash memory on board...

[REVHEAD]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Turbo_Memory

why install that drivers, if you dont have any flash memory on board...

4gb thumb drive.