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

[quake6]

What is your VTT? That helps me at high FSB...

[Solarfall]

What is your VTT? That helps me at high FSB...

all volts expect the cpu volts were set to MAX.. im pretty sure im limited by the cpu and not the board

[cantankerous]

Hmmm, that has me very worried. Praz just talked about this very thing not 2 weeks ago about leaving vcore at auto and using only special % to control your vcore. Now a new beta bios comes out rectifying this? Are those who are following Praz's info going to end up with a dead board? I am worried something is not right with us doing what we are doing and that is why this beta bios no longer allows you to do this. Praz, care to chime in on this?

As well, can anyone post here what the RAID rom bios version is? I am still hoping for the latest to be included from DFI. 7.5.0.1017 is still being used though 7.6.0.1011 has been out since last November.

[mad_skills]

Hmmm, that has me very worried. Praz just talked about this very thing not 2 weeks ago about leaving vcore at auto and using only special % to control your vcore. Now a new beta bios comes out rectifying this? Are those who are following Praz's info going to end up with a dead board? I am worried something is not right with us doing what we are doing and that is why this beta bios no longer allows you to do this. Praz, care to chime in on this?

Exactly what i've said just a few post up :

Why did they do that? Does that thing that Praz was talking about still work, with special add and vdroop control which makes vcore drops in idle?
I think he left vcore on auto and set it via special add...

[Praz]

The only thing readily apparent is some users have to be told that they are overvolting the CPU. Since all VID Special Add voltages are in red to indicate overvoltage this setting would need to be locked out below the default voltage for the red indication to be true.

Selecting any voltage between Auto and what the board considers default in VID Control results in VID Special Add being locked out. This would indicate there isn't a specific issue with Auto itself and VID Special Add being used together. I can only think of a couple of reasons besides the one above why this has been done.

The advantage of using Auto in VID Control in combination with VID Special Add was overlooked.

There is an issue when using VID Special Add with any voltage below default. Of the boards I have here, both P35 and X38, I have seen no issue with this combination. The voltages have been monitored using a 350MHz scope with glitch capture which would show any voltage spike.

Will try to get clarification on this. Being the weekend it might be a day or so though.

[nzbleach]

how crippled is crossfire performance on this board? I dont want to have to buy the X38 or X48 board if I dont have to. Im not too concerned about 3d mark, just games.

[C-N]

how crippled is crossfire performance on this board? I dont want to have to buy the X38 or X48 board if I dont have to. Im not too concerned about 3d mark, just games.

Is there much point in doing CF ATM when you got some decent single cards from ATI & nVidia around?

8800's & 3870 / x2's can run everything thats out there atm cant they?

Out of interest what res do you play at & what cards are you thinking of using in CF on this board?

CN

[nzbleach]

my monitor runs 1680 x 1050 natively. Got a good deal on 2 x 3870's.

[mad_skills]

I think even 8800GTS G92 is enough for 1680x1050 apart from Crysis.

[cantankerous]

The only thing readily apparent is some users have to be told that they are overvolting the CPU. Since all VID Special Add voltages are in red to indicate overvoltage this setting would need to be locked out below the default voltage for the red indication to be true.

Selecting any voltage between Auto and what the board considers default in VID Control results in VID Special Add being locked out. This would indicate there isn't a specific issue with Auto itself and VID Special Add being used together. I can only think of a couple of reasons besides the one above why this has been done.

The advantage of using Auto in VID Control in combination with VID Special Add was overlooked.

There is an issue when using VID Special Add with any voltage below default. Of the boards I have here, both P35 and X38, I have seen no issue with this combination. The voltages have been monitored using a 350MHz scope with glitch capture which would show any voltage spike.

Will try to get clarification on this. Being the weekend it might be a day or so though.

Thanks for your input. I am relieved that there is nothing I should be concerned about in terms of my board/cpu going belly up from using this. I have noticed no issues at all, all is running great and I am loving the option to have lower voltage going around when the system is just sitting there. What I don't like is the thought that I won't be able to update to any bios newer than 2/14 if I wish to keep these settings intact and chances are all bios started from 3/11 are going to disable this from occuring.

[C-N]

my monitor runs 1680 x 1050 natively. Got a good deal on 2 x 3870's.

You are kinda doing the same thing I just done, I was going to get 2 x 3870's until I looked hard & found I could get a new 3870x2 for the same money.

The way I look at it is 1 x 3870x2 runs about the same as 2 3870's & a bit later on when I swap out to an x48 board I will be able to slip another 3870x2 in along with this one.

The other thing with CF is you can mix & match the cards up & a 3870 will run along side a 3870x2 etc so any way you go will still give you an upgrade path rather than a bin & start again deal.

I think I remember Campbell aka Brother Esau http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/member.php?u=44051 running 2 x 256mb 3870's on this board perhaps give him a nudge & see what he reckons to it all.

CN

[sofarfrome]

how crippled is crossfire performance on this board? I dont want to have to buy the X38 or X48 board if I dont have to. Im not too concerned about 3d mark, just games.

Since 1 slot runs 16x and the other runs 4x I would say crossfire sucks compared to an x38 with 2 functional 16x slots.

[~aoe~]

Small problem I hope someone can help me with.

I've finally got everything installed but the system will not POST. I suspect that the BIOS revision delivered with the motherboard doesn't recognise the E8400. Problem is, I'm not sure how to identify which BIOS revision the board came with.

Is there any way to identify from the markings on the BIOS chip which BIOS revision it is? Here's a photo:



Board revision is AA0 if this is useful.

As far as I can tell, BIOS DB07 released on 7th November updated microcode for Yorkfield and Wolfdale. Whilst I purchased this board in February, it may be old stock.

Thanks in advance

[Praz]

Boot with a 65nm CPU and flash to the newest official BIOS.

[~aoe~]

Yeah - I was planning on doing that. I was wondering whether it was possible to confirm this BIOS revision beforehand as it's not an easy task to swap out the CPU on this system (water-cooled dual-loop).

I remember some Asus boards with removable BIOS chips used to have a sticker on them identifying the BIOS revision - I guess that's not the case with this board.

Anyway, I've managed to drop in an E6600 and it has posted. It seems the BIOS revision is older and so does require an update.

Is anyone using the latest UT BIOS (D214) as it's still not listed on the LT page. I'll use DC24 for now, but would prefer to use the latest if it's definitely compatible.

Thanks again.

[soundx98]

Is anyone using the latest UT BIOS (D214) as it's still not listed on the LT page.

I've been using the 214 on my LT version without issue.
Tried all sorts of multis/FSBs with C1E/EIST enanbled and disabled.
Great Bios.
Great Board
Great CPU

http://premium1.uploadit.org/soundx98//Praz-266-667.JPG

http://premium1.uploadit.org/soundx98//48-hr-Prime.JPG

http://premium1.uploadit.org/soundx98//Benchmark.JPG

http://premium1.uploadit.org/soundx98//538x8.JPG

http://premium1.uploadit.org/soundx98//538x8.JPG

[mrcape]

I'm using 2/14 for a month. Seems exact same as 01/09 - very good.

[mrcape]

I think even 8800GTS G92 is enough for 1680x1050 apart from Crysis.

I just threw a BFG GTS 512 in over the weekend and it's pretty great so far. The stock cooler sucks balls, but I put a HR-03GT on it last night, and my load while checking artifacts went from 76c with stock cooler to 36c with the HR-03.

As usual, this board plays fine with the card and it fits the card/sink/fan no problem. I think it's a pretty sick deal at $220 after rebate. It has the Samsung ICs, instead of the Quimoda.

After first night's tests, it runs 808c/1111m/1920s with no artifacts and 3dm05/26,039 3dm06/15,633 (dual core cpu, not maxed out). GPU load tits 41c max. I'll see what Crysis does later. I run 1680x1050 natively too.

[~aoe~]

Well, finally managed to get it up and running. Even managed to boot straight to Vista - and this after changing CPU (Q6600 to E8400), memory (4x1GB Ballistix 8500 to 4x2GB Mushkin 8000), and motherboard (Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 to DFI LT-P35-T2R). Both RAIDs were recognised too .

May reinstall anyway just so it's nice and clean.

Well, time for a break. I'll wait until tomorrow before I start playing with it.

Thx for the replies regarding the latest BIOS. I'll see what this CPU can do with the DC24 BIOS first before deciding whether to update. Always hate flashing from floppy.

[mad_skills]

I just threw a BFG GTS 512 in over the weekend and it's pretty great so far. The stock cooler sucks balls, but I put a HR-03GT on it last night, and my load while checking artifacts went from 76c with stock cooler to 36c with the HR-03.

As usual, this board plays fine with the card and it fits the card/sink/fan no problem. I think it's a pretty sick deal at $220 after rebate. It has the Samsung ICs, instead of the Quimoda.

After first night's tests, it runs 808c/1111m/1920s with no artifacts and 3dm05/26,039 3dm06/15,633 (dual core cpu, not maxed out). GPU load tits 41c max. I'll see what Crysis does later. I run 1680x1050 natively too.

Nice scores and a nice card.
What was the frequency of the cpu in the tests?
Here in my country GTS 512 is about 250 euros so i will probably have to settle with a 9600GT or get a used card in warranty..

[fireice2]

I love this board!

[mrcape]

Nice scores and a nice card.
What was the frequency of the cpu in the tests?
Here in my country GTS 512 is about 250 euros so i will probably have to settle with a 9600GT or get a used card in warranty..

Thx dude. The cpu is my 24/7 clock - 4.25ghz (8.5 x 500). I'm tempted to oc the cpu more to get some hwboints but I also want to start some games.

Maybe the gts prices will come down some more with the 9800gtx launch?

[emoners]

@Matt: how you doing?

@cantankerous: how's the 3/11 bios doing? i haven't tried OCing with it coz i've been too busy lately

[M3kk]

Not sure, but for me the 3/11 seems more stable..

With 2/14 i cant run Pi 32M with E8400 @ 5G with vapo, and with 3/11 i could, and this with higher temps.

[cantankerous]

@Matt: how you doing?

@cantankerous: how's the 3/11 bios doing? i haven't tried OCing with it coz i've been too busy lately

hey bud, to be honest I am not using it. The fact that I can no longer keep my vcore on AUTO and strictly use Special % to adjust my vcore means the bios is a no go. Total deal breaker for me as it is working so well this way on 2/14. The reduced heat and power usage is quite nice while still maintaining stability. Will really come in handy in the hot summer months. If a way around this is found out I will surely jump as I always like to have the latest software.

I am still hoping someone who is using 3/11 can let me know the RAID ROM bios version as I am hoping that gets updated soon. I have odd issues with my drives at home on this much older RAID ROM bios that I hope the latest remedies.

If anyone is skilled and confident enough to mod the 2/14 bios with the latest RAID ROM please do let me know.