Quote Originally Posted by merlin76 View Post
Might be also due to RAM settings. I had a few USB issues with wrong clock fine delays. But with a 45nm quad BIOS 1/11 has a poor RAM performance, 3/14 or the beta are way better.
I have always wondered how you guys find the best fine delays. BTW I think someone mentioned the 01/09 beta has the best fine delay settings (when coupled with the 01/11 BIOS). I've just tried the 01/11 alone without importing 01/09 fine delays, but it's got no better FSB than the 06/03 beta (with which I can reach 470 FSB for my Q6600 in memtest).

The beta BIOS is not that bad, but 333/800 divider is buggy. I have to admit that I did not see any real improvement when replacing my X3230 with a X3350. With the X3230 I could lower tRD etc.. But now running the new CPU every improvement is gone. I think that the 45nm quads put an extreme high load on the NB and that eats up everything.
Is that why Intel sees the value of binning off the X48 chips (assuming X48 plays better with tRD, that is), or must DFI improve on their X38's BIOS. Also do you think if the P35 NB is able to push tRD lower with the 45nm quads?