Testing / comparing : Intel D975XBX2 / Asus P5B DX ***56K WARNING***

[down8]

Quite the interesting list of fixes....

-bZj

[DeepThought86]

Here`s one for all you BadAss2 fan`s out there.. A brand new BIOS for all of yah` Digg it..

BIOS Version 2836
About This BIOS:
• July 28, 2008
...
• Added AMD Phenom™ CPU support (NOTE! some soldering work required)

..go grab it here: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...%2064&lang=eng

Could somebody post any results with the latest version of Overdrive and a 9950 BE with this BIOS update? Thanks

[ArcticOC]

Quite the interesting list of fixes....

-bZj

Only boring fixes and boring tech terms, so added some of the famous "Arctic touch" to spice it up some

• Fixed a problem where USB devices causing fuсkup's during POST.

..now thats how my style would be if I worked at the Intel BIOS tech team

[LaMpiR]

I need help. How to i reset CMOS? I've been doing some tests on overclocking because of F@H but I totally forgot how to reset cmos. Also, how to I set different MCH and ICH voltages?

[LoneWolf]

I continue to be impressed with how Intel continues to offer updates for the BadAxe2 -many other manufacturers would have quit by now.

Off to go perform a BIOS update!

[down8]

If only they moved some of that team to working on the BoneTrail....

-bZj

[Blacklash]

I'll be on my BX2 until Nehalem hits.

[ArcticOC]

I'll be on my BX2 until Nehalem hits.

Still got my good`ol BX2 running strong, no upgrade for me before nehalem..

This board simply refuse to die on me
best buy ever...

[LazyBum]

My trusty BADASS2 is still humming away with my E6600 @3.6, as it has been for a very long time (since this thread was created!). This is the longest I have ever went between PC upgrades. Everything works so well I don't have much desire to upgrade yet. I am starting to get the itch to get a quad core, but without 45nm support I'm kinda hesitant to update; since that means ditching my trusty BX2 for a unproven board. I guess I could go with a Q6600 but I'm not convinced that it would be a worthwhile investment, especially with the newer processors dropping in price.

[Cutbait]

I'll be on my BX2 until Nehalem hits.

Still got my good`ol BX2 running strong, no upgrade for me before nehalem..

This board simply refuse to die on me
best buy ever...

I built my BX2 shortly after release and have been pushing it hard without any problems. Took out my e6600 and replaced it with a q6700 after the price drop back in May. I planned on jumping on a p45 board by now but I really don't see the point

I recently reformatted and installed XP 64, added 2G of ram (4x 1G now) and have been very pleased with the performance of my system during intensive tasks.

I might be able to get 3.8 out of my q6700 on a good p45 board and get a bit more out of my memory, but my BX2 has performed to well to justify any change untill nehalem matures. Never a crash or a BSOD is a good thing.

[ArcticOC]

Yes I know..Yet another BIOS release for this ancient treasure of a mainboard Some things just refuse to die on you..

BIOS Version 2838
About This BIOS:
• September 03, 2008
• BX97520J.86A.2838.2008.0903.1859
• SATA RAID info:
• Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
• Marvell* 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.34
• PXE UNDI: Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
• PXE Base Code: Intel(R) Boot Agent GE PXE-2.1 build 085
New Fixes/Features:
• Added workaround to remove "-" at the back of the Processor
Temperature Margin value in Hardware Monitoring.
• Fixed system hang while language is not selected after language
list message pop-out.
• Fixed issue where Language selection and language display mismatch
after press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
• Added workaround to fix language option not showing correctly.
• Fixed issue where the change in BIOS language does not take place
cleanly.
• Fixed issue where user loses control of setup browser if the setup
page shows only text.
• Fixed an issue where pressing ESC key and answering NO will cause
the highlight for the selected option to disappear.
• Fixed issue where language selection and language display are not
matched after user pressed F9/loaded default in BIOS setup.

Go grab it here

[redphil]

The bios-support is a nice thing, especially considering that the board isn't a mainstream board, don't think there are many xbx-users out there.
I bought a bt2 a few days ago, will see how it can compete to his grandfather (and a dfi x38 board, maybe I'll add the biostar i45 to the race, too).

[down8]

My board has suddenly decided it won't flash a BIOS from Windows. I've done all of my BIOS updates from the express update, and only on the last 2 has there been any issue. WTF, intel?

-bZj

[raceghost]

FYI: Complete noob to overclocking...
Help: I have read through all 181 pages of this thread, and hav yet to see a full list of the test information and settings accordingly. I did find a post on one fo the first pages that the below references. A guy listed similiar hardware setup, and was successful on both the proc and the memory... though as you read below, I am missing some of the settings.

Steps I tried in parrallel to his...
I do not however understand the "Adjust the divider", I went thruogh all my memory options and it would not let me do a Divider setting...

Adjusted FSB to 333Mhz to Q6600 9x multiplier = 2.9998Ghz Set mine to 334 = 3.0Ghz
Downgraded the memory to 667Mhz for headroom. Adjustmed mine to state 667, as well as the reference frequency to 333mhzAdjusted the divider to 4:5 (FSB:Mem), which equates to 333/416Mhz,Not a clueequaling perfect 4/5 80% ratio. Thus, not only do I now have a chip at ~3Ghz (QUAD core, mind you), the DDR2 memories are running at 2 x 416Mhz which gives me a nice 32Mhz memory boost to total 832Mhz. The latencies are still 5-5-5-18 ; I don't feel a need to tinker any more with the settings--the current speeds are quite sufficient.

Mine was unstable, infact, didnt boot at all.
I have tried less settings as well.
I did however, not mess with the voltage, as per this other thread, didnt see where he changed his....

Anything to go on here?

More attempts:

Adjusted FSB Voltage overide to 1.275
MCH/ICH Voltage overide to 1.575
Host clock frequency to 312 x 9 - 2.8 GHZ
This is stable if I do not touch anything else, and run the memory settings at default...

However, at these settings my System Bus Frequency Override becomes 1248

If I attempt to dicker with memory timings at all, it crashes, and will not post...black screen.

I am runnning Q6600, XBX2(latest bios), XMS2 corsair 2GB 800mhz x 4 sticks.
The post above refernecing the other guys settings, he is running identical setup...
He speaks about the Memory Divider. I do not see where you can adjust the memory divider in the XBX2 Bios. Im not sure what math equation would surfice to get the equivelent. And yes, i found a calculater that does it for me, but does not tell me nor point me what and where to change stuff in the bios.

Edit: At this point, I can't even raise the voltage on the FSB Voltage override to attain any more out of the processor...WTF.

HELP?

[LaMpiR]

What? I keep getting this error...

[down8]

That is the same error I was referring to above - I've always been able to use ExpressUpdate, until the last 2 BIOSes.

-bZj

[LaMpiR]

That is the same error I was referring to above - I've always been able to use ExpressUpdate, until the last 2 BIOSes.

-bZj

The same here...

[MUff1N]

FYI: Complete noob to overclocking...
Help: I have read through all 181 pages of this thread, and hav yet to see a full list of the test information and settings accordingly. I did find a post on one fo the first pages that the below references. A guy listed similiar hardware setup, and was successful on both the proc and the memory... though as you read below, I am missing some of the settings.

Steps I tried in parrallel to his...
I do not however understand the "Adjust the divider", I went thruogh all my memory options and it would not let me do a Divider setting...



Mine was unstable, infact, didnt boot at all.
I have tried less settings as well.
I did however, not mess with the voltage, as per this other thread, didnt see where he changed his....

Anything to go on here?

More attempts:

Adjusted FSB Voltage overide to 1.275
MCH/ICH Voltage overide to 1.575
Host clock frequency to 312 x 9 - 2.8 GHZ
This is stable if I do not touch anything else, and run the memory settings at default...

However, at these settings my System Bus Frequency Override becomes 1248

If I attempt to dicker with memory timings at all, it crashes, and will not post...black screen.

I am runnning Q6600, XBX2(latest bios), XMS2 corsair 2GB 800mhz x 4 sticks.
The post above refernecing the other guys settings, he is running identical setup...
He speaks about the Memory Divider. I do not see where you can adjust the memory divider in the XBX2 Bios. Im not sure what math equation would surfice to get the equivelent. And yes, i found a calculater that does it for me, but does not tell me nor point me what and where to change stuff in the bios.

Edit: At this point, I can't even raise the voltage on the FSB Voltage override to attain any more out of the processor...WTF.

HELP?

In the memory section of the bios, choosing the divider is done by choosing a different Memory Frequency. Lower frequencies = lower dividers. OK
So if you have 800Mhz memory & choose 677 frequency it will give you more "headroom" for overclocking your system higher without pushing your memory way beyond 900Mhz.

Memory Reference is your FSB Strap.
266Mhz = 1066 fsb, 333Mhz = 1333 fsb, etc.

Also if you haven't already done so...
1. Disable watchdog timer.
2. Disable C1E (Enhanced Halt State)
3. EIST (Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology)

To do this you will have to move your jumper over from default to the maint position to access this area of the bios to disable these. Once disabled, move it back to the default position and you should be good to go.

[LoneWolf]

The same here...

I've been able to use the ExpressBIOS even up to the current one. Not sure why my setups would be any different than you two, unless our board revs are different.

Wish I could offer some useful suggestions.

[LoneWolf]

Now that I've been running my Q6600 for awhile, I'd like to ask folks who have one what kind of luck they've had bumping up the FSB on the D975XBX2. I'm interested in going up to the 1333FSB (supposedly the simplest overclock for the Q6600 to handle), but I'm more concerned about the board doing it right than the CPU, as I know the D975XBX2 isn't an extreme overclocker. What kind of success rate are y'all having?

[Woland]

FSB@333 shouldnt be any problem what so ever. Been running my Xeon 3060 FSB@370 for over a year with no problems.

[Raptor.1]

Running at 340 fsb for more than 2 years and still solid as a rock!

[Woland]

What you might find though is that high(er) fsb and 4 populated RAM slots might not be to your boards liking

[Venturer]

Hi all to these bad axe guys!

I have a Bad Axe 2 rev 5.07; can someone tell me if it supports Penryn with the lastest bios 2836? Should i change something in BIOS like voltages or FSB or it's auto detected?
I would like to buy a Penryn QX.

Thanks all!

[tjelaw]

Today after 2 years my board is giving up on me.

After switching on the Intel SATA controller in BIOS it went dead. LED's light up, all fans etc. go spinning but absolutely no POST. Tested cpu, mem, psu, gpu in diffirent system, all work fine. Clear BIOS / CMOS reset did not work, still no post. Changing the jumper to config mode etc. is also non responsive.

Is anyone selling their BX2? I couldnt care less about spending money on a new board, but the data in the RAID on the Marvell controller is valueable to me. And im pretty sure the raid is intact. I cant seem to find any other (new)boards that have the same or a compatible Marvell sata/raid controller on it.