**Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 OC-Tips-Bios-Discussion Thread**

[emertX]

@Sam_oslo

Looks cool, but impossible

[Cecil]

Can i get by with 6gb? Probably. Shouldnt i be able to run atleast half of the amount ram this board says it supports? Most definitley! I was usung 8gb flawllesly on my oldschool s775, i should uprade and accept less ram?As you can see, at idle, sitting here typing this reply, im using 2500mb of ram. If i had 6gb installed then i'd only have 3500mb of ram remaining. Thats not much.

The more ram you have, the more superfetch uses. With 6gb of ram, you would be using less just web browsing. You arent actually using 2500Mb of ram.

6gb is plenty for any app aside from a few things that 95% of people do not use. Save the money from the ram for something better elsewhere in the PC.

[Sam_oslo]

@emertX
LOL, yeah it is imposable, that's why it is fun.

I have a Noctua NH-D14 on order. It was spoused to be here last week but is delayed. That picture looks kind of imposable fit for even 6GB tall-RAM (+silent pipe).
My Megahalems won't get in the way before using bank#1 (12GB RAM). But i got low-profile RAM that would sneak itself under them, anyways

[LockBreaker]

Since this also is a tips thread, I'll try to ask here. Please advise me though, if you don't think this is the thread for it. =)

How is the waterblock on this thing? I suppose I could see that when it arrives, but I was just wondering if it's safe to use? Heard some of these waterblocks tend to crack up or leak. What's it made out of btw? Copper?

How is this board in terms of overclocking for newbies? =)

[Sam_oslo]

It is easy to OC this MB for 24/7 use. Most default/stock values are good enough for a descent 24/7 setup.

I have only changed these for my current 24/7 8 hours Prime stable setup:
@4.22GHZ (222x19)
Vcore=1.20v
VVT=1.28v
IOH Core=1.2v
CPU PPL=1.40v
RAM @ x8, 8-9-8-20 1.61v

Your CPU and RAM may need other voltages/settings (specially the Vcore & VVT is dependent on your CPU-batch#), but usually you shouldn't need to change anything else (unless you want to go crazy with subzero, LOL). But it is always fun to play with other settings too, to optimize and stuff ... .
I'm looking into the SB and PCIe-stings now, to see if they are limiting the BCLK , for my next OC. But there is a lot of fun in this mess ...

[Lsdmeasap]

I have a few users at TweakTown with Easytune and UD7 issues, so I just wanted to check with you guys before I ask Gigabyte about this.

Does it install fine with F3c, and run fine?

[Sam_oslo]

I have never used Easytune to set or modify anything. I don't run it often either. But I installed it twice on w7 64Bit and F3c without any issue. It starts and acts normal too.

I don't use it much, what are people are using it for? and what kind of issue are they having, anyways?

[Lsdmeasap]

Thanks!

They were having installation and starting issues, I just wanted to verify with you guys that it worked or not because I know some versions sometimes fail to install ro start with certain BIOSes. And since I do not have UD7 I could not test myself, thanks for the heads up I will let them know it should work fine and we will continue our troubleshooting from there since I now know it works.

We use it for monitoring or checking voltages, or testing small changes.

[nugzo]

I'm starting to agree with you. Voltages never help, re-seating cpu does. But it only lasts a day for me wtf? With all the pressure on the chip, how can it possibly move?

Ok. Here we are 24hours after i reseated my CPU and now im back to 10gb of ram. I just dont understand how this keeps happening. My Tower hasnt moved. How is the CPU Moving? I mentioned earlier about going the 9GB route instead of the 12gb. I'm starting to think i may have the same problem going that way. This really pisses me off bad. This board and the EVGA classified exhibit the exact same charecteristics when it comes to 12gb of ram. Works fine for 1 day after i install CPU, then without fail, day 2 = 10gb. I want to take a hammer to this POS!

Why isnt this a bigger issue than it is? I guess populating all 6 banks isnt that common..???? even though 6 banks may not be common, there should still be enough people experiencing it, enough that i should find more about it than i do on the web.

[nugzo]

Just got of off the phone with EVGA tech support. I know this is a gigabyte thread, i'm the op....but i am experiencing the exact same issue with both boards, so this should be relevant. I dont know why i didnt think of trying this, but they suggested putting the stock cooler on to see if it still happens. They said the aftermarket fan, being too tight, causes the plastic that the cpu sits on in the socket to bow. They said when i re-seat the cpu, that gives the plastic time to cool and straighten out some. The reason it works for a day is because it takes time for the plastic to heat and bow enough to create the problem again. Makes sense. So i guess if this fixes it, then its an issue i should take up with thermalright? I see a new revision in the future....Hopefully. Before i swap coolers, i'll run this TRUE at stock CPU settings, like i'll run with the stock cooler. I guess theres a chance that at stock voltages, it wont heat up enough to make the plastic pliable enough to create the problem.. we'll see!

[Biker]

Well at least you now have a pretty good idea what the cause is

[sRHunt3r]

Nugz, why don't you try to loosen your CPU cooler a bit and lay your case on its side to see if that fixes the problem.

[nugzo]

Nugz, why don't you try to loosen your CPU cooler a bit and lay your case on its side to see if that fixes the problem.

Sup Hunter. Guess i could, but i feel like being a lil more scientific at the moment...
Maybe the back plate and its mounting to the board could be helping cause the problem. Just loosening the CPU might not be enough? I will for sure try that as a later test though. If it does not fail with the stock cooler that is. Hopefully i'll be able to adjust it enough to fix the ram issue, and not lose anything. I ordered a Megahalem just in case.. Maybe it'll work better. If not i still need it so i can build a second monster with my spare i7 parts. I've really been thinking HARD about goin back to water.. I'd do it tomorrow if there was a really good external system on the market... I wonder if the WaterKegs are still around.. I messaged newls1, waiting to see.

[LarsMarkelson]

Just got of off the phone with EVGA tech support. I know this is a gigabyte thread, i'm the op....but i am experiencing the exact same issue with both boards, so this should be relevant. I dont know why i didnt think of trying this, but they suggested putting the stock cooler on to see if it still happens. They said the aftermarket fan being too tight, causes the plastic that the cpu sits on in the socket to bow. They said when i re-seat the cpu, that gives the plastic time to cool and straighten out. The reason it works for a day is because it takes about that long for the plastic to heat and bow enough to create the problem again. Makes sense. So i guess if this fixes it, then its an issue i should take up with thermalright? I see a new revision in the future....Hopefully. Before i swap coolers, i'll run this TRUE at stock CPU settings, like i'll run with the stock cooler. I guess theres a chance that at stock voltages, it wont heat up enough to make the plastic pliable enough to create the problem.. we'll see!

Whoa, such an odd issue. I'd really like to know the answer too, keep us updated! I'm about to go X58 with 12GB but not sure how this will work with my pressure-modded TRUE! Yikes!

[nyeah]

BIOS F3G beta is out,

anyone tried it ?

[tipes]

BIOS F3G beta is out,

anyone tried it ?

Thanks for the heads up - may try it once I have my machine built !!!

I am somewhat surprised to hear that the performance of SSD drives set up in raid on the Sata 3 controller are slower in performance than the ICH10 Intel controller as surely the increased bandwidth available should have meant that the Sata 3 controller was a better performer. Oh well perhaps it is a driver issue and will be solved soon, or maybe it is because SSD drives are not recognised as a Sata 3 device and so it reverts back to Sata 2 speeds?
Anyway I suppose I would be better off using the Intel controller to set up my build.

Mark

[Sam_oslo]

BIOS F3G beta is out,

anyone tried it ?

The w7 was seeing only 2GB RAM after the flash, but the CPUz was reporting 3-channels and 6GB. Something fishy was going on with the RAM, but a reboot & reset has fixed the problem. Everything is back to normal now, and the OC is at least as good as before.


EDIT: Some progress report:
Have been playing with the BCLK (with x19 multi, for now) and getting :
Up to BCLK215 seams to be very easy with no/little need for tweaks.
I get some artifacts on my screen at BCLCK216. Randomly black screen for few sec., and comes back again. My dual-GPU may be to blame, but I'm not sure yet.

My CPU seams to scale optimal up to BCLK222, it needs 1.200v for 4.22GHZ(222x19) but needs at least 1.232v for 4.27GHZ(225x19). Will keeps testing with new BIOS ... .

[nyeah]

The w7 was seeing only 2GB RAM after the flash, but the CPUz was reporting 3-channels and 6GB. Something fishy was going on with the RAM, but a reboot & reset has fixed the problem. Everything is back to normal now, and the OC is at least as good as before.

thanks for testing,
i want to ask how many vdroop on your board ? when i set it at 1.2625V BIOS it read 1.232V at CPUZ.

[Sam_oslo]

thanks for testing,
i want to ask how many vdroop on your board ? when i set it at 1.2625V BIOS it read 1.232V at CPUZ.

NP
I'm using "Level 2", and it actually idles with less, and raises on load!
1.20625 BIOS set ends up as: 1.184v Idle and 1.200v Load (based on CPUz readings).

[Sam_oslo]

Messing around with MEM can make some RAM to disappear.

The w7 will see only 2GB RAM with RTL=53/55/57 (manually sett), but CPUz will still show 6GB , what a mess . RTL=56/58/60 will fix it all to 6GB .

[nugzo]

Well my Megahalems came in today. Maybe its mounting wont cause the same stress as the true and hopefully i wont lose 2gb of ram tomorrow. Craziest thing though... The mounting bracket for the Megahalems were packaged wrong. The single thick black bar that actually holds the cooler down is wrong. It wont line up with the mounting holes and the spring screws wont fit through the holes in the bar. I used the bar from the TRUE just to get it installed. I'll contact the manufacturer for a replacement tomorrow. It seems a few people have had the same problem. As far as temps, I'm running about 5c cooler than with the TRUE. 1.35v loaded prime 95 small fft no HT max temps so far are 75c

[LockBreaker]

Well. UD7 arrived Wednesday. Happy to say that it booted flawlessly yesterday, and that it works very well.

Haven't got the chance to overclock with it yet, since I'm running Intel stock cooler. =)

Not bad though. 2.66 ghz idles at 38-40 degrees. It's not good either, but it's actually not that bad for a stock cooler. =)

[LarsMarkelson]

How's the startup time on this thing? I've read some people saying it was abnormally long... but then again they probably didn't disable a lot of the unnecessary things in the bios.

[zalbard]

Hey kids, have you ever seen a w3520 priming @6.66GHZ?
Check it out while you can, LOL .

W3520 @6.66GHZ(222x 30 ) 1.20v

Holy man, pass Linx at that frequency and you can top my LinX club for 2-3 years easily!

[hicookie]

i need to say, sorry been very busy in heavy work;
but today i tested 2 G* , yes, my first time at EX58A UD7 and G* subzero
im very happy with results, 6GHz 12Ts Pass 3Dmark 2006
, 5.9Ghz do vantage.

hicookie,