nForce 790i SLI/Ultra chipset mobos - Reviews/OC/Guides

[tekjunkie]

did you try a dos flash of the bios?

I always use ezflash

did you increase the nb and sb voltages etc to get 1600fsb or higher?

Nope left everything on auto

[manyga]

I will buy eVga 790i ultra next week, Which is the FSBwall of Q6600 in this mobo?

Thanks!

Regards from Spain!

[tekjunkie]

after two days full of pain i think i finally beat the striker II extreme beast

There was a FSB wall @ 375. This wall was pretty strong.

Yesterday i would sell the board...
But today?
i find the key



Validationscreen:



Link: http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=340269

RAM unlinked 900 MHz

the solution for my system is little raise VTT and little raise NB. This extra voltages helps to boot with 375, 450, 500, 550.

I still not testet prime.

to break the 375 barrier is a little victory for me...

some benchmarks with 450 FSB (4050 MHz)

RAM-Timings not optimized
PCIe 110
all Boardvoltages default
VTT 1,28 Volt
NB 1,42 Volt



3DMark2001:

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=9359240

2003:



http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=5796586

2005:



http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=4161095

2006:



http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=6093915

I put my system back together and it gets really interesting. First up, I flashed to 0511 no problems. The wierd problem about the POST mesaage complaining about the NB,SB and the CPU temperature on a cold boot went away and also the voltages and temperature are showing up properly.

Test 1:

CPU-E3110
RAM-OCZ 4GB Platinum EB
Mobo- SIIE

Left everything on auto and ran memtest no problems for 3 passes.

Test 2:
CPU-E3110
RAM-OCZ 4GB Platinum EB
Mobo- SIIE

CPU@1333 QDR(default), RAM @1600 "Unliked" everything else on auto.

Memtest hangs. I tried 3 times to run memtest and all 3 times it hung on me @ various times.


Test 3:
CPU-E3110
RAM-OCZ 4GB Platinum EB
Mobo- SIIE

CPU@1333 QDR(default), RAM @1700 "Unliked" everything else on auto.

Memtest passed for 3 passes.

So, it does look like there is a hole between DDR3 1500 to DDR3 1700. I don't think it's the FSB guys, I think it's the RAM speed. I am pretty much sure if you run the FSB @ say 375(1500 QDR) and the RAM unliked @ say 1700, you won't have any problems. Will have to test my theory though.

Now, will try to run on sync mode with both QDR and RAM @ 1700 and see how it goes.

[arrakys]

what would be the best way to overclock 4Gb ram sticks (DDR3 corsair 1600mhz) ? NB voltage increase ?

Is it a real gain while using linked speeds ? (c urrently using a little fsb 1800 on q6600)

[cptkoulis]

So, it does look like there is a hole between DDR3 1500 to DDR3 1700. I don't think it's the FSB guys, I think it's the RAM speed. I am pretty much sure if you run the FSB @ say 375(1500 QDR) and the RAM unliked @ say 1700, you won't have any problems. Will have to test my theory though.

Now, will try to run on sync mode with both QDR and RAM @ 1700 and see how it goes.

i came upon a similar problem

i set memory below 1600(G.Skill 1600) and no boot
same settings and memory @1600 or more,system works fine

i also checked the SPD
667MHZ 9-10-10-25-34 1,5V
800MHZ 7-7-7-18-30 1,9V

i guess if i had used more relaxed timings,lets say 9-10-10-25-34@1400 it might have worked

[BenchZowner]

I put my system back together and it gets really interesting. First up, I flashed to 0511 no problems. The wierd problem about the POST mesaage complaining about the NB,SB and the CPU temperature on a cold boot went away and also the voltages and temperature are showing up properly.

Test 1:

CPU-E3110
RAM-OCZ 4GB Platinum EB
Mobo- SIIE

Left everything on auto and ran memtest no problems for 3 passes.

Test 2:
CPU-E3110
RAM-OCZ 4GB Platinum EB
Mobo- SIIE

CPU@1333 QDR(default), RAM @1600 "Unliked" everything else on auto.

Memtest hangs. I tried 3 times to run memtest and all 3 times it hung on me @ various times.


Test 3:
CPU-E3110
RAM-OCZ 4GB Platinum EB
Mobo- SIIE

CPU@1333 QDR(default), RAM @1700 "Unliked" everything else on auto.

Memtest passed for 3 passes.

So, it does look like there is a hole between DDR3 1500 to DDR3 1700. I don't think it's the FSB guys, I think it's the RAM speed. I am pretty much sure if you run the FSB @ say 375(1500 QDR) and the RAM unliked @ say 1700, you won't have any problems. Will have to test my theory though.

Now, will try to run on sync mode with both QDR and RAM @ 1700 and see how it goes.

Don't Quote The Images

[OBR]

i tested XFX refference board and honestly it bigest crap the Striker II Ex ... lot of problems with compatibility of RAM, only bad timings to go ... Small OC of new 45nm Quads, BSODs and issues .... i have last P03 bios, but with P02 was the same ... i cannot to reach stable 1800MHz with 45nm Quad Q9300, on Striker works great on 500MHz ...

[golfjam]

Does it still has the nvgts driver SATA issue??

[saaya]

i tested XFX refference board and honestly it bigest crap the Striker II Ex ... lot of problems with compatibility of RAM, only bad timings to go ... Small OC of new 45nm Quads, BSODs and issues .... i have last P03 bios, but with P02 was the same ... i cannot to reach stable 1800MHz with 45nm Quad Q9300, on Striker works great on 500MHz ...

hmmmm are you getting corruption issues on the xfx or its just not stable?
what settings did you try?

[Biker]

Hmmmm.

Interesting thread this.

I'm going to stay sitting on my credit card to see if the various striker problems go away over time and the price drops further....

Nvidia drivers breaking sata DVD + possible data corruption at modest overclocks does not fill me with confidence, especially after my P5KP SATA nightmare

Having said all that though, the UK price of the SIIE has dropped from £280 to £220 over the last week... hopefully that trend will continue

My BFG OC2's are getting impatient for SLI


Might also be an idea to keep an eye on the SIIE pages over at the Asus VIP Forums if you can handle the 5 minute load time

[humeyboy]

For anyone old enough to not have being in Dippers when NF2 released (in rev2).

There was Corruption back then also, it was finally fixed after a good few Silicon Image SATA Bioses and SATA Drivers.

I will assume the same will happen here, the MOBO's are new and support is immature, Nvidia will make new SATA Bioses and SATA Drivers.

REMEMBER to Lock your BUS Clocks.

[OBR]

hmmmm are you getting corruption issues on the xfx or its just not stable?
what settings did you try?

It is pretty stable at FSB 1600MHz, but nothing more with Corsair and Teamgroup mems too ... but no corruption yet

[Smirnoff9988]

Anyone know if theres any waterblocks out for this board, Or if any that will fit please ?

[slim142]

Nice, I just found out you need BIOS 0508 to support Q9450 on the SIIE...

Does anybody know if you are able to boot with Q9450 on BIOS 0401??? What about BIOS 0507?

[day187]

that p03r2 bios bricked evgas if you use a proper boot cd with sata support (I had a sata dvd drive) and type the awdflash /f/prot command.
boardis going in for repair. cpu hot red light is on doesn't post.

pissed off now.

Successful flash of the P03r2 BIOS to the EVGA 790i here using a SATA Samsung DVDRW

*DISCLAIMER*
I cannot be held resonsable for any damage that may occour

I flashed the beta BIOS using this method:

Download bios here

Burn the BIOS file to rewriteable CD/DVD, floppy, or USB flash disk (not tried)

Restart PC, and press ALT-F2 to load the built in flashing software (see MB manual)

Flash BIOS, restart, turn off, Clear CMOS
Enjoy lower latencies, and slightly improved bandwidth

[manyga]

Successful flash of the P03r2 BIOS to the EVGA 790i here using a SATA Samsung DVDRW

*DISCLAIMER*
I cannot be held resonsable for any damage that may occour

I flashed the beta BIOS using this method:

Download bios here

Burn the BIOS file to rewriteable CD/DVD, floppy, or USB flash disk (not tried)

Restart PC, and press ALT-F2 to load the built in flashing software (see MB manual)

Flash BIOS, restart, turn off, Clear CMOS
Enjoy lower latencies, and slightly improved bandwidth

Thanks for the info!

Regards from sPain

[Robilar]

Can anyone suggest as to why my network connection stays in the acquiring network address mode for as long as the computer is running. My internet conncetion works but for some reason, the icon in the task bar never leaves.

[saaya]

It is pretty stable at FSB 1600MHz, but nothing more with Corsair and Teamgroup mems too ... but no corruption yet

hmmm well you tested with memtest, saw it wasnt stable and then didnt even boot into windows at that speed right?
if you would, then youd prolly have experienced corruption like other people too... hmmm

Successful flash of the P03r2 BIOS to the EVGA 790i here using a SATA Samsung DVDRW

*DISCLAIMER*
I cannot be held resonsable for any damage that may occour

I flashed the beta BIOS using this method:

Download bios here

Burn the BIOS file to rewriteable CD/DVD, floppy, or USB flash disk (not tried)

Restart PC, and press ALT-F2 to load the built in flashing software (see MB manual)

Flash BIOS, restart, turn off, Clear CMOS
Enjoy lower latencies, and slightly improved bandwidth

cheers!

[saaya]

Can anyone suggest as to why my network connection stays in the acquiring network address mode for as long as the computer is running. My internet conncetion works but for some reason, the icon in the task bar never leaves.

hmmmm did you try to reinstall the drivers?
try a pci network card to see if its maybe your network or some windows settings?

[slim142]

Try plugging in only 1 ethernet cable if you have 2 connected.

[andymg350]

Nice, I just found out you need BIOS 0508 to support Q9450 on the SIIE...

Does anybody know if you are able to boot with Q9450 on BIOS 0401??? What about BIOS 0507?

thats wrong, i just fired up my test setup today Striker II Extreme / Q9450 / 4GB OCZ 1600 on BIOS 0402 and it booted first time.

so anyone know what the best bios is for this board yet? or is there still a lot of testing going on?

[slim142]

Well according to the ASUS site, you need BIOS 0508 Beta to support Q9450 (go to CPU support) but thanks god you prove them wrong because I wouldnt like to get another CPU just to flash BIOS. However, OC might be limited? Unknown CPU issues? Are there any problems with 0402 recognizing Q9450?

Btw, nvidia answered me about the fsb and memory clock issues



Troubleshooting
http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/n...p?p_faqid=2166

Hopefully this means something (dont know how serious NVIDIA is, but remembering 680i, we might have a solution soon). We need the fix ASAP as I have components ready to be OC!

[andymg350]

it recognised the cpu fine for me, however ive been having problems with freezes and reboots in windows but im not sure if that was to do with my 2x2gb sticks in xp 32 or if it was the cpu running on bios 0402. i just flashed to 0507 but i already took one of my memory sticks out and the problem seemed to go away, so ill put the other stick back in and see how it goes, but at least you know u dont need a flash to get it working straight up.

[manyga]

Fit Thermalright 120 extreme in eVga 790i Ultra?

Thanks so much!

[slim142]

it recognised the cpu fine for me, however ive been having problems with freezes and reboots in windows but im not sure if that was to do with my 2x2gb sticks in xp 32 or if it was the cpu running on bios 0402. i just flashed to 0507 but i already took one of my memory sticks out and the problem seemed to go away, so ill put the other stick back in and see how it goes, but at least you know u dont need a flash to get it working straight up.

Please keep me updated. If you get any BSoD related to nvgts.sys report it inmmediately since I want to know how things are going on with Windows XP SP2.