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

[Tyke]

is anyone trying a qx9770 on this board yet? I wonder how it likes the native 1600FSB...

Got one arriving tomorrow. However I am not hopeful as I cannot get my memory to pass Memtest at 1600MHz irrespective of what I set the FSB, linked or unlinked. Got the new V2 DTek Fuzion coming tomorrow with Quad Core insert as well, so I'll be giving it a run.

[Broly]

Got one arriving tomorrow. However I am not hopeful as I cannot get my memory to pass Memtest at 1600MHz irrespective of what I set the FSB, linked or unlinked. Got the new V2 DTek Fuzion coming tomorrow with Quad Core insert as well, so I'll be giving it a run.

Are you running the C9s?

[Roger_D25]

is anyone trying a qx9770 on this board yet? I wonder how it likes the native 1600FSB...

I'm about to install mine within the next couple hours (as soon as I'm finished testing my E8400 on it). I will post back with initial results if you want regarding FSB?

[Broly]

please do Roger, also please try making your ram run 1600 1:1 instead of 1800. I'm curious to see if this is something that needs a bios patch

[Roger_D25]

No problems Broly, with that said however I have a quick question regarding running 1:1? At the moment I've currently got my E8400 installed and I'm using BIOS 0511. I've tried to get my board to run 1:1 but no matter what CPU-Z always reads it as 1:2 even though I'm running Linked/Synced with FSB & 1800Mhz and RAM & 1800Mhz. With that said how can I set it up so that I'm running 1:1 instead of 1:2? Thanks for any help you can give!

[3oh6]

No problems Broly, with that said however I have a quick question regarding running 1:1? At the moment I've currently got my E8400 installed and I'm using BIOS 0511. I've tried to get my board to run 1:1 but no matter what CPU-Z always reads it as 1:2 even though I'm running Linked/Synced with FSB & 1800Mhz and RAM & 1800Mhz. With that said how can I set it up so that I'm running 1:1 instead of 1:2? Thanks for any help you can give!

running at 1800/1800 is 1:2.

1800FSB = 450MHz FSB
1800RAM = 900MHz RAM

so it is a 1:2 ratio. for 1:1, you would need 1800FSB/900RAM. so then you would be at 450MHz FSB and 450MHz RAM (which would be DDR3-900). HTH

[Gunslinger]

is anyone trying a qx9770 on this board yet? I wonder how it likes the native 1600FSB...

I've got one, but I suck at OC'ing.

Not to mention I think my 790i is a dud.

When I removed my QX9650 and installed my QX9770, I expected to get the bios message that the CPU had been changed and needed a reboot, but it booted straight up, but only with a FSB of 1333.

[Broly]

yeah gunslinger, getting the quads capable of hitting 1600+ on any board is tough on the s2e.. .It just doesn't like it.

[Gunslinger]

Well I tried the following today when I got home, wouldn't boot under these settings:

P1/P2 enabled
FSB 1800 linked/synced also tried unlinked and auto
CPU 1.35V 3.6Ghz and also tried 3.1
FSB 1.3V
SPP 1.4V
MCP 1.55V
hung on C3 post error

P1 enabled/P2 auto hung on 86 post error

Booted up at 1800FSB linked and synced with the following:
CPU 1.35V 3.6Ghz
FSB 1.3V
SPP 1.4V
MCP 1.55V
P1/P2 in auto

Ok downloaded Everest Ultimate version, trial package. I've never used this program before so please be patient with me. Not sure how my results stack up, but here they are.
Memory read: 8094mb/s
Memory write: 9525 mb/s
Memory copy: 7577 mb/s
Mem. latency: 76.5ns

[slim142]

WHY! WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grrr, Im so pissed right now I dont want to know about my build anymore! Freakin IFX-14 is not freakin compatible with the board! im really mad right now. I had to order a Thermalright 120 Extreme with another lapping kit from svc.com with Next day air so I can lap it for saturdays arrivel of my case. Wow... ASUS you really got me mad this time... knowing how people buy the best cooling systems in the market, you make the SIIE incompatible with the IFX-14, amazing.

[Gunslinger]

Crashed at the above settings after about 20 minutes of COD4, like a display driver crash, looked heavy on LOD, could still hear the sound, but screen was hardlocked.

@ slim142, you should be looking in this thread instead I think. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=175399

[5010]

Crashed at the above settings after about 20 minutes of COD4, like a display driver crash, looked heavy on LOD, could still hear the sound, but screen was hardlocked.

@ slim142, you should be looking in this thread instead I think. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=175399

C3 is a RAM related error.

You didn't post it up but I bet your RAM voltage needs a bump and/or your SPP voltage aswell.

[golfjam]

WHY! WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grrr, Im so pissed right now I dont want to know about my build anymore! Freakin IFX-14 is not freakin compatible with the board! im really mad right now. I had to order a Thermalright 120 Extreme with another lapping kit from svc.com with Next day air so I can lap it for saturdays arrivel of my case. Wow... ASUS you really got me mad this time... knowing how people buy the best cooling systems in the market, you make the SIIE incompatible with the IFX-14, amazing.

I don't want to be rude but I think that was obvious, just look at the picture of that thing. My Thermalright 120 X is a tight fit already.

[Gunslinger]

C3 is a RAM related error.

You didn't post it up but I bet your RAM voltage needs a bump and/or your SPP voltage aswell.

Bump voltage for boot problem? or bump due to driver hardlock?

[Coupa]

Bump voltage for boot problem? or bump due to driver hardlock?

If your talking about the freeze that everyone else with a 790i (except a lucky few) gets, then its not a driver problem, its the board. Ive tried all types of voltage for my RAM and N/S bridges, but it still freezes, so i can only assume your bumping voltages so you can boot.

[Roger_D25]

running at 1800/1800 is 1:2.

1800FSB = 450MHz FSB
1800RAM = 900MHz RAM

so it is a 1:2 ratio. for 1:1, you would need 1800FSB/900RAM. so then you would be at 450MHz FSB and 450MHz RAM (which would be DDR3-900). HTH

I have no excuse! However thank you very much for taking the time to explain that 3oh6, it is greatly apprecaited!

[slim142]

Crashed at the above settings after about 20 minutes of COD4, like a display driver crash, looked heavy on LOD, could still hear the sound, but screen was hardlocked.

@ slim142, you should be looking in this thread instead I think. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=175399

Might give it a look someday, too many pages! I just want to build my system now and test it asap.

I don't want to be rude but I think that was obvious, just look at the picture of that thing. My Thermalright 120 X is a tight fit already.

Well, that "thing" is not the problem. The problem is the retention mechanism. The bar that goes in the holes next to the NB heatsink dont make it all the way through because they hit the NB heatsink by 1/2cm. So I tried to just go through but then the bar that secures the IFX-14 to the retention mechanisms wouldnt get in place because of the small space between the VRM heatsink and the NB heatsink. I got really pissed because I heard this is the best of the best in heatsinks and I have already bought 2 fans for it (Scythe 1600rpm) and now this...

But since you have a 120 X, can you tell me, does it fit good? No mods needed or strength? I dont want to break anything.
Also, can the 120 X hold 2 fans? or only 1 in the front?

[5010]

If your talking about the freeze that everyone else with a 790i (except a lucky few) gets, then its not a driver problem, its the board. Ive tried all types of voltage for my RAM and N/S bridges, but it still freezes, so i can only assume your bumping voltages so you can boot.

I had those freezes for a short while after I got my EVGA 790iU up and going but I carefully tweaked through a plethora of VTT/GTL combinations to find some regions of highest stability then I refined those to what I have now... +2.3% - +2.6% on all GTLVREF lanes... havent had a freeze up in..........Thinking*.......

...Must be around 3 weeks now.

[Coupa]

I had those freezes for a short while after I got my EVGA 790iU up and going but I carefully tweaked through a plethora of VTT/GTL combinations to find some regions of highest stability then I refined those to what I have now... +2.3% - +2.6% on all GTLVREF lanes... havent had a freeze up in..........Thinking*.......

...Must be around 3 weeks now.

Believe me i am so jealous. Although i think im getting closer, tweaking the PCIe Mhz to 103/104 seems to help alot. Im thinking i need a combination of the right settings for PCIe, RAM and VTT/GTL to actually get stable.

I suppose i AM learning a bit, but it would be nice to learn AND game at the same time.

[5010]

Believe me i am so jealous. Although i think im getting closer, tweaking the PCIe Mhz to 103/104 seems to help alot. Im thinking i need a combination of the right settings for PCIe, RAM and VTT/GTL to actually get stable.

I suppose i AM learning a bit, but it would be nice to learn AND game at the same time.

I locked my PCIEs to 100 and my HT to 200, your results may vary.(specs in sig btw)

[Roger_D25]

please do Roger, also please try making your ram run 1600 1:1 instead of 1800. I'm curious to see if this is something that needs a bios patch

Broly - Sorry the update took so long but I have no IHS on my QX9770 so it takes some care to properly install with my waterblock (plus I had to modify the socket a bit). After getting things somewhat stable at stock settings I left the FSB at 1600Mhz and upped the multi to 9.0x (decided to begin stability testing here). So for the past 3hrs I've been running various benchmarks and also just got finished a 2hr gaming session (Vegas 2) and had no issues what-so-ever! I'm about to hit the sack so I'm gonna fire up Prime to run overnight (fingers crossed)! If you want to know my specific BIOS settings just drop me a PM and I'll send them to you.

[golfjam]

Might give it a look someday, too many pages! I just want to build my system now and test it asap.



Well, that "thing" is not the problem. The problem is the retention mechanism. The bar that goes in the holes next to the NB heatsink dont make it all the way through because they hit the NB heatsink by 1/2cm. So I tried to just go through but then the bar that secures the IFX-14 to the retention mechanisms wouldnt get in place because of the small space between the VRM heatsink and the NB heatsink. I got really pissed because I heard this is the best of the best in heatsinks and I have already bought 2 fans for it (Scythe 1600rpm) and now this...

But since you have a 120 X, can you tell me, does it fit good? No mods needed or strength? I dont want to break anything.
Also, can the 120 X hold 2 fans? or only 1 in the front?

Like I said it's a tight fit but it sits ok in any direction. I've put mine pointing to the video card and it helped cool my MCP temps by 7~10. I use the same Scythe but 1800rpm. 2 fans didn't make any difference, I use only 1 and it keeps my E8400 (4.27Ghz 1900FSB 1.372v LL Disabled) @ 32~53C.

[GAR]

OK fellas, ive been running for 2 weeks without ANY issues on my eVGA at 475fsb, i dont wanna jinks myself LOL, everytime i post my stable settings, the next day i get a failure or some sort, anyway here it goes.........

Voltages used are as follows in the bios for other people with similar setup to help you out with 475fsb............Following settings is what i use, my computer sometimes stays on for days, i have played crysis for over 2 hours to test, played team fortress 2 for hours, every game i have thrown at it, handles with no problems, passes prime95 for hours, blend and small....good luck

FSB = 475x8, all spread spectrums disabled, cpu features disabled, P1/P2 enables.
cpu = 1.4250 in windows 1.39 idle, 1.33 load
memory = 1.900
fsb = 1.400
spp = 1.500
mcp = 1.600

[Guacamole]

Hmm I'm still tweaking my GTL1 and GTL3 refs but it seems core4 is my slouch and is always dying in prime.
Anyone know some good VTT settings for the qx9650? Right now I'm running 1.36 VTT and 1.3625 Vcore.. I'm just trying to tune the GTLs so that I get a solid prime and then I'll bring down the volts.

So far I've tried +3 percent (so 70 percent, but 70-67 percent requires a +3percent*vtt*1000 = x mV increase) and I've tried negative values too.
Anyone else have any experience with the GTLs, have negatives worked well for anyone on quads? Not duals? Does more GTLn ref ruin stability or just feed excess volts and not affect stability? Really trying to fine tune here and seeing how far off I am to get the right values.

Broly I have had the SIIE for about a week and althought I still have nagging issues with data corruption or the appearance of such I can tell you this..

After reading techjunkies post I have had great success with overclocking my QX9650 Stable rock solid at 1780, 1640, 1680, 1800 and a few others

Here are the settings I have used to great succes prime stable for hours
QDR/RAM=1780 Unlinked
PCIE1/PCIE2 = 100
SPP<-> MCP= Auto
vCORE=1.375(1.344 in windows per cpuz)
Loadline =Enabled
vTT = 1.28
PLL=Auto
vDIMM=1.9
vSPP =1.46
vMCP = 1.55
CPU GTL_REF0 = -29mV
CPU GTL_REF1=-32mV
This is at a muli of 9 but I am also rock solid at 9.5 with 1.425 vcore set in bios memory unlinked at 1600 or as close as I can get it.. Try these settings they work.. My other buddy has this board and we are both having great success...

P.S. Ignore my signature I just haven't updated it yet....

[tekjunkie]

Broly I have had the SIIE for about a week and althought I still have nagging issues with data corruption or the appearance of such I can tell you this..

After reading techjunkies post I have had great success with overclocking my QX9650 Stable rock solid at 1780, 1640, 1680, 1800 and a few others

Here are the settings I have used to great succes prime stable for hours
QDR/RAM=1780 Unlinked
PCIE1/PCIE2 = 100
SPP<-> MCP= Auto
vCORE=1.375(1.344 in windows per cpuz)
Loadline =Enabled
vTT = 1.28
PLL=Auto
vDIMM=1.9
vSPP =1.46
vMCP = 1.55
CPU GTL_REF0 = -29mV
CPU GTL_REF1=-32mV
This is at a muli of 9 but I am also rock solid at 9.5 with 1.425 vcore set in bios memory unlinked at 1600 or as close as I can get it.. Try these settings they work.. My other buddy has this board and we are both having great success...

P.S. Ignore my signature I just haven't updated it yet....

Good to hear that I could of help. LOL, the irony here is that I am having problems with my OCZ 2x2GB kits getting it stable, even passing memtest without any errors is a struggle @ 1333QDR/1600 RAM. Go figure. I got it Monday and haven't had time to play around much with it.


For the people who have been asking for a matrix for VTT/GTL, I have made one. Here it is