Gigabyte MA790FX DQ6

[G0ldBr1ck]

Did you mean memory controller frequency cannot be higher than Hypertransport frequency with this motherboard??
I think that I read somewhere that some AM2+ motherboards prevent you setting them at different frequencies. I did not realise that this was one of them.
If that is not what you meant then you have it the wrong way around. The Hypertransport frequency/multiplier cannot be higher than the CPU Northbridge(memory controller) frequency/multiplier.

Sorry about that, you are correct. I rattled that off with it reversed in my head

Im guessing that the part replaced must be a PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) a clock generator as you suspected wich may have somthing to do with your Mem controller problem.

The Ram voltage is realy sounding like another faulty component like i mention above.

It seems like you have covered all the bases as far as I can think of. There just realy isnt anything else it can be but a faulty board.

[Phenomenalspeed]

Don't worry about it.
Yeah I think I have covered all the bases. I have been exchanging messages with Gigabyte for the past 4/5 days. They have no idea about the RAM voltage problem and dragging it out and making me jump through hoops and now starting to go round in circles.
What's bugging me about the RAM is that I specifically chose this RAM as it is rated for 4-4-4-12 timings. Corsair have other PC2-6400 RAM at CL5 and PC2-8500 at CL5. I can't run it at EPP timings without an increase in voltage.
About the memory controller mutiplier. Gigabyte tried to increase theirs and they encountered the same problem. It stays at 2000Mhz regardless. They said they would get back to me after further testing. They got back to me today got and have given me beta Bios F6b which fixes this. I am very surprised nobody on here noticed this problem on their motherboard. I don't know if this BIOS has other changes.
The beta BIOS does seem to work.I was able to get the memory controller/CPU northbridge to 2200Mhz. I tried changing the multiplier to 12 for 2400Mhz and I could not get to Windows. Maybe the memory controller needs more voltage. It's a shame we can only decrease its voltage.

If anyone wants the F6b for the DQ6 BIOS just say so.

[Lightman]

Don't worry about it.
Yeah I think I have covered all the bases. I have been exchanging messages with Gigabyte for the past 4/5 days. They have no idea about the RAM voltage problem and dragging it out and making me jump through hoops and now starting to go round in circles.
What's bugging me about the RAM is that I specifically chose this RAM as it is rated for 4-4-4-12 timings. Corsair have other PC2-6400 RAM at CL5 and PC2-8500 at CL5. I can't run it at EPP timings without an increase in voltage.
About the memory controller mutiplier. Gigabyte tried to increase theirs and they encountered the same problem. It stays at 2000Mhz regardless. They said they would get back to me after further testing. They got back to me today got and have given me beta Bios F6b which fixes this. I am very surprised nobody on here noticed this problem on their motherboard. I don't know if this BIOS has other changes.
The beta BIOS does seem to work.I was able to get the memory controller/CPU northbridge to 2200Mhz. I tried changing the multiplier to 12 for 2400Mhz and I could not get to Windows. Maybe the memory controller needs more voltage. It's a shame we can only decrease its voltage.

If anyone wants the F6b for the DQ6 BIOS just say so.

Hey!

I've noticed it today

The thing is, NB multi was working perfectly fine till I've put my new 2x2GB OCZ Reaper 1066 set. Then it stuck at 10x! (looks like 2x2GB is triggering this behavior, could also be related to 1066 mode - need more time to investigate, but today is F1 quali at the top priority)
I'm glad you have beta BIOS. Can you share it with me? My NB is happy at 2.4GHz and 1.25V but I need 11x NB multi for that

Thanks!

BTW so far quick testing took me up to 1180MHz 5-5-5-15 2T at default settings (Auto timings, EPP voltage=2.1V)

PS. Regarding your memory voltage problem, I can only say it is working for me fine....

[Phenomenalspeed]

Hey!

I've noticed it today

The thing is, NB multi was working perfectly fine till I've put my new 2x2GB OCZ Reaper 1066 set. Then it stuck at 10x! (looks like 2x2GB is triggering this behaviour, could also be related to 1066 mode - need more time to investigate, but today is F1 quali at the top priority)
I'm glad you have beta BIOS. Can you share it with me? My NB is happy at 2.4GHz and 1.25V but I need 11x NB multi for that

Thanks!

BTW so far quick testing took me up to 1180MHz 5-5-5-15 2T at default settings (Auto timings, EPP voltage=2.1V)

PS. Regarding your memory voltage problem, I can only say it is working for me fine....

Yes it could be that 4GB RAM was causing the problem. I didn't think of that I was using 4x1GB.

So you undervolted your northbridge and you were still able to get it stable at 2.4Ghz? Interesting. Maybe overclocking northbridge is more stable by raising HTT reference clock rather than multiplier. I will try it when I get my motherboard back.


I have sent you the BIOS. Check your private messages.
I would appreciate some feedback. Please try Northbridge @ 2400Mhz (200 X 12) Also try and change the Hypertranport frequency in BIOS. I discovered another bug when I raised Northbridge multiplier to 11 and set Hypertransport frequency at 2.2Ghz to match it. I saved it to CMOS but when I went to Windows Hypertransport remained at 2Ghz.

As for my motherboard I don't know what's going on. I got a phone call Gigabyte on Wednesday. The man said it must be my RAM or CPU memory controller causing the voltage problem even though I have already ruled both of them out. When he called back later he seemed to have backtracked from this. He said he would talk to the technicians who are investigating.
Hopefully all will be resolved soon.

[Lightman]

Many thanks for a BIOS Phenomenalspeed

It works perfectly for me! Memory controller x11 and 220HTT = 2.42GHz NB (and 1172MHz RAM )

Quick Everest test.


PS. I had 12240MB/s in L3 cache test on lower HTT and higher (13x) CPU multi.

[Phenomenalspeed]

Many thanks for a BIOS Phenomenalspeed

You're welcome.

It works perfectly for me! Memory controller x11 and 220HTT = 2.42GHz NB

What about 200x12?? I couldn't get to windows at all when I tried it. I am wondering whether it's my CPU's northbridge or the BIOS/motherboard itself.
I never doubted that higher northbridge frequencies would be possible when you raise the HTT reference clock. F6b seemed to fix the multiplier but it's no bloody good if all it did was fix x11 and not all of them.

How about Hypertransport? I couldn't get it higher. It stayed at 2000Mhz regardless of what I set in the BIOS.

PS. I had 12240MB/s in L3 cache test on lower HTT and higher (13x) CPU multi

Interesting and strange. So you lowered HTT reference clock and by extension the northbridge and the level 3 cache increased?
I would have thought that the opposite would have happened. What did you lower HTT reference clock to?

Oh and your screenshot was that just to show the settings? Were you altering voltages/multipliers/frequencies using AMD Overdrive or BIOS?

[Lightman]

You're welcome.

What about 200x12?? I couldn't get to windows at all when I tried it. I am wondering whether it's my CPU's northbridge or the BIOS/motherboard itself.
I never doubted that higher northbridge frequencies would be possible when you raise the HTT reference clock. F6b seemed to fix the multiplier but it's no bloody good if all it did was fix x11 and not all of them.



How about Hypertransport? I couldn't get it higher. It stayed at 2000Mhz regardless of what I set in the BIOS.

Here it is:

All setup from BIOS and booted to Vista x64.

Regarding Hypertransport - it did not work for me either. 2000MHz or less regardless of BIOS multi.

PS. Look at the L3 cache copy test. Wired!!

Interesting and strange. So you lowered HTT reference clock and by extension the northbridge and the level 3 cache increased?
I would have thought that the opposite would have happened. What did you lower HTT reference clock to?

NB 11x, HTT 212MHz but CPU multi 13x which resulted in 2.76GHz/2.33GHzNB

Oh and your screenshot was that just to show the settings? Were you altering voltages/multipliers/frequencies using AMD Overdrive or BIOS?

Both
I've booted with HTT212 CPU multi 12.5x and then after quick check if NB multi works I've upped HTT to 220MHz. No voltages adjustment...

I will tweak this system tonight a bit more