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

[adit]

Got my Xeon X3550 yesterday. Board is X38-DQ6 .The board posted with original BIOS , F3 (it was sitting around for some time now waiting for the 45 nm quads). First thing was to check the temperature in BIOS as the CPU fan was moving very slowly like 300 RPM . ( using a PWM fan with an aftermarket cooler). Was showing 31 C. I updated the BIOS to F8, no problems here (reset the CMOS imediatelly after). Check the settings in BIOS all seems OK.Vcore at stock, default settings. I'm using Mushkin 2x4 GB modules, set the voltage to 2.0 V and the timings to 4-4-4-12 as per specs. Run Memtest86 for 30 minutes all ok. Changed the FSB to 400 MHz lock PCI to 100 and change the memory strap to be 1:1 (800 MHz). Run Memtest for about 1 hour and half all Ok. Check BIOS temeperature shows 35C for CPU. Fan now moving at about 1800 RPM. Went to sleep, more tests and installing the OS (go for Vista x64) today an in weekend. If all stability test are ok may try go to 3.4 GHz, but my main goal is stable 24/7 without trying to push the limits as I keep computers for about 4 years between upgrades so my next system will be some post-Nehalem 16 core most likely...

[Richard Dower]

Got my Xeon X3550 yesterday. Board is X38-DQ6 .The board posted with original BIOS , F3 (it was sitting around for some time now waiting for the 45 nm quads). First thing was to check the temperature in BIOS as the CPU fan was moving very slowly like 300 RPM . ( using a PWM fan with an aftermarket cooler). Was showing 31 C. I updated the BIOS to F8, no problems here (reset the CMOS imediatelly after). Check the settings in BIOS all seems OK.Vcore at stock, default settings. I'm using Mushkin 2x4 GB modules, set the voltage to 2.0 V and the timings to 4-4-4-12 as per specs. Run Memtest86 for 30 minutes all ok. Changed the FSB to 400 MHz lock PCI to 100 and change the memory strap to be 1:1 (800 MHz). Run Memtest for about 1 hour and half all Ok. Check BIOS temeperature shows 35C for CPU. Fan now moving at about 1800 RPM. Went to sleep, more tests and installing the OS (go for Vista x64) today an in weekend. If all stability test are ok may try go to 3.4 GHz, but my main goal is stable 24/7 without trying to push the limits as I keep computers for about 4 years between upgrades so my next system will be some post-Nehalem 16 core most likely...

Good to know the new Xeon models boot ok, even with F3.
Throw up a CPU-Z pic please, whats the CPUs default Vcore?

[adit]

I did not have much time to play yesterday, so I speak from memory.. I'm at work can not check now .(CPU-Z after I install the OS in weekend most likely... ).Vcore is left to Auto , and if I remember well was set to 1.18 V (on 3.2 GHz) and it was 1.14 V on 2.66 GHz. Looks like on "Auto" the BIOS increased the Vcore automatically , but the values look correct for 45 nm quads from what I read on another forum. In fact the only changes I did are for FSB (400MHz), PCI (100 MHz from Auto) and memory timings and voltage. The rest is untouched (yet).