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

[OC Nub]

Getting the most out of what you got is the fun part

That is easy to say when you are sitting on a golden chip lol.

[Sam_oslo]

LOL, it is not acting so golden tonight.

I could be wrong Sam, but I dont think 1.36v will be enough at 4.6.

Here's mine, 1.3875 in bios, 1.34vtt. I can get it to run at lower vcore, but then GFlops will also go lower.

http://img.techpowerup.org/100113/4600_lix.jpg[/IMG]

http://img.techpowerup.org/100113/4600_linx_done.jpg[/IMG]

WC, DDC, HK 3.0, 2x360 rads.


gl

Yeah, I'm afraid you may be right, because I've eliminated almost all other possibilities.
I've Installed the last working Nvidia driver (at least the last one i know about) 191.07 and the problem remains.

It is not acting like it needs Vcore, but I have never tried this chip in these speeds before. and going to take a closer look into Vcore.

My new cooler is really good, but not that good. I can't push 1.4v on air, I know you have been telling water water .
I can live with 1.36v or maybe push (and rub) it up to 1.37v for 24/7, but not over. I'll see how high OC i can push without burning the house, LOL.

[LarsMarkelson]

What do you guys use for quick stability testing?

Right now I'm doing 2 passes Linx and 4 minutes of OCCT... is this sufficient to see if a certain voltage is good?

I'm possibly running "stable" right now 211x19 4ghz with 1.2v vcore / 1.2v vtt / 1.2v ich and ioh / 1.14v qpi pll.

What do you guys think? What's your method for quick stability testing? I mainly use the 2 passes Linx and 4 minutes OCCT to see around where I should I tweak for a serious 24/7 OC.

[Sam_oslo]

Stability for you own 24/7 use would depend on how demanding application you use.
But Primestable is a term, that the good old school OCing has been referring to minimum 8 hours of Prime stability.
Other stability tests are somehow new and unclear, but 1 hour OCCT, and 20 pass LinX have been used widely.

---------------------------
I have been playing with the 24/7 stability on x21 multi, and BCLK216 seams to be a major jump, at least for my CPU.

My CPU (which i really know it's normal behavior), acts like it has enough Vcore for 21x216, but adding other voltages won't stabilize the system.
Adding Vcore (within the expectations) doesn't help either. It seams to need much more Vcore from this point, but acts like it is missing something else.


I experienced the same behavior from BCLK226 with x19 multi too. I tried to get it stable @4.31GHZ (227x19), but never could stabilize it for 24/7, and couldn't figure what was wrong.

Both runs SuprPi32M and more .., feels fine and stable for light load, but gives BSOD 30 sec. into prime, LinX, or OCCT.

I think the MB plays a role in this behavior too, because the same CPU (and RAM) have been showing the same behavior on my good old DFI UT too, but on other BCLKS. I remember it was showing similar behavior when i was trying 19x216 (if i remember right). I never tried over 210x21 on that MB, and can't say much abut x21 behavior.

These BCLKs may change with new BIOSes too, I guess. I suspect some tweak on the MB would affects these BCLKs too, but I don't know what on this MB, yet.

[LarsMarkelson]

Err I mean not testing for 24/7 stability, just quick stability testing to see how much juice you need to run like 4.3GHz or something. I use this method to scale up and see where the max clock is and at the lowest voltage for quick stable. When I see a point where I need much more voltage just to get it stable for the short tests, then I know that I should go back to the other speed and try for 24/7 stability.

So when doing this quick testing, what's the best for these chips? In my previous life/AMD Phenom II days, 3 passes of Linx and 4 minutes of OCCT was good for this quick stability testing.

[Sam_oslo]

I see.
It usually BSOD in the first minute when it needs VVT or IMC related tweaks. It may run fine up to 20 minutes and BSOD if it is missing Vcore, usually, is my experience.
I use 30 min Prime small FFT or OCCT for quick tests.

I use hyperPi32M for quick RAM/IMC test, and it tests the Core too. I have "almost" always had 24/7 stable system if i could pass HYPerPi32M.

[LarsMarkelson]

Ah, awesome! Thanks for the info, just what I was looking for. Never heard of HyperPi before, just got it. Thanks again

[LarsMarkelson]

I gotta say I love the Level 2 Load Line Calibration. I have no vdroop, actually my idle voltage is lower than my load voltage, as some have reported earlier. Just sooo nice, makes the overclocking very easy. Sexy mobo indeed.

[LarsMarkelson]

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 ...

Hey Sam are you still running 1.4v on the CPU PLL? I just realized that's a significant undervolt from the default setting. I've read that it works good actually to do this... just wondering if you still have it at 1.4 for your 4.5ghz 24/7 oc?

[Sam_oslo]

Yep, and everything else is relatively low for 215x21, too.

@4.51GHZ (215x21)
Vcore=1.34v
VVT=1.34v
IOH Core=1.14v
ICH Core=1.14v
QPI PLL=1.14v
CPU PPL=1.40v
RAM @ x8, 8-9-8-20 1.61v (ET6-read)

This has passed 10 Run LinX and have been behaving really smooth under stress in 24/7 use in past few days. So smooth that I wanted to try higher OC, but it is not going as smooth, yet .. .

[LarsMarkelson]

Interesting. I just lowered my CPU PLL to 1.4v from 1.8v and it's lowered the voltage that the LLC Level 2 was raising the processor to. I have it bios set to 1.325 and now under load it goes 1.328... before it was going to ~1.34 IIRC.

Also, at 4.3ghz lowered the CPU PLL to 1.4v didn't cause any instability, so at this point I'd definitely recommend doing it.

[OC Nub]

Decided to try out the 5870's on this board. Had put them away because of the problems with locking up and stripes, but wanted to try some 3d benching with this board. I think 30k is doable, just need to add some voltage to the cards to get the clocks up higher.

I need to read up on how to use an Nvidia card for PhysX , that should boost my score a little also.

[sRHunt3r]

Nice 3dmark Vantage score OC Nub

I think my temps are still holding back my oc, even with the additional pressure on the mount, but I should have a new Thermalright Venomous X tomorrow.

[stasio]

New BIOS:
GA-X58A-UD7 - F3k
-released 12.Jan 10
Link

[xzulu]

Hi guys! I finally got the UD7. And sold my UD5. LOL!

Weird, I noticed that the UD7 needs less vcore than on the UD5?

UD7 CPU-Z


UD5


http://www.ocxph.com/forum/index.php...=76.msg403#new

Cheers!

[xzulu]

Damn, I left it running for 20/20 tests in LinX, when i came back black screen. :Sigh:

I noticed that I forgot to set LLC. It was at standard. Now testing it at Level1.

[LarsMarkelson]

I never tried Level 1, but I use Level 2 and love it. It actually makes idle lower than load, negative vDroop if you will.

[Andrea deluxe]

Bios : 15.01.10


GA-EX58 - Previous Final/BetaBIOS


GA-EX58A-UD7 - F2 : http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList...58a-ud7_f2.exe
GA-EX58A-UD7 - F3k: http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...58AUD7.F3k.zip

GA-EX58-Extreme - F8 : http://download1.gigabyte.ru/bios/mo...extreme_f8.exe
GA-EX58-Extreme - F9r: http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...EX58EX.F9r.zip

GA-EX58A-UD5 - F1 : http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList...58a-ud5_f1.exe
GA-EX58A-UD5 - F2c : http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...os/X58AUD5.zip

GA-EX58-UD5 - F8 :http://download1.gigabyte.ru/bios/mo...x58-ud5_f8.exe
GA-EX58-UD5 - F9p: http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...X58UD5.F9p.zip

GA-EX58-UD4 - F6 : http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList...x58-ud4_f6.exe
GA-EX58-UD4 - F7l : http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...X58UD4.F7l.zip

GA-EX58-UD4P - F9 :http://download1.gigabyte.ru/bios/mo...58-ud4p_f9.exe
GA-EX58-UD4P - F10m : http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...8UD4P.F10m.zip

GA-EX58A-UD3R - F1 : http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList...8a-ud3r_f1.exe
GA-EX58A-UD3R - F2c :http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...s/X58AUD3R.zip

GA-EX58-UD3R - F7 :http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/...x58ud3r.F7.zip
GA-EX58-UD3R - F8k : http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...58UD3R.F8k.zip

GA-EX58-UD3R (1.6) - Fc :http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/...x58ud3r.Fc.zip
GA-EX58-UD3R (1.6) - Fde :http://america.giga-byte.com/FileLis...d3r_1.x_fe.exe

GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI - F5 :http://download1.gigabyte.ru/bios/mo...d3r-sli_f5.exe
GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI - F6k : http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/12...D3RSLI.F6k.zip

GA-EX58-DS4 - F7 : http://download1.gigabyte.ru/bios/mo...x58-ds4_f7.exe
GA-EX58-DS4 - F8j : http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...X58DS4.F8j.zip

__________________


GA-EX58A-UD7 - F3k
GA-EX58-Extreme - F9r
GA-EX58-UD5 - F9p
GA-EX58-UD4 - F7l
GA-EX58-UD4P - F10m
GA-EX58-UD3R - F8k
GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI - F6k
GA-EX58-DS4 - F8j

[OC Nub]

Nice 3dmark Vantage score OC Nub

I think my temps are still holding back my oc, even with the additional pressure on the mount, but I should have a new Thermalright Venomous X tomorrow.

Thank you.

[Sam_oslo]

Black screen at first boot after flashing to F3k.

But ... because it was going to update the SATAIII firmware .. and rebooted by itself and everything was back to the normal.
It was a scary black screen, you are warned.

[OC Nub]

I got the black screen also, but it was very quick and fine upon reboot like you mentioned.

This platform is a pita for overclocking memory, I kind of miss the UD6 board.

[Sam_oslo]

It was quick here too, but ... the theory of relativity ... it felt long.

I'm still running @1768MHZ 8-9-8-20 1.64v (BIOS set), but it is giving "almost" the same performance (based on Everest bench-numbers), as ~1700MHZ 7-8-7-20 1.65v on DFI UT.

I'm still wondering about the DMM-read value of Vdimm=1.66v.
I haven't played much with RAM on this MB yet. It seams to need more tweaks than just 1.66v to stabilize at 7-8-7-20, but It's running at hinger BCLK/frequencies now, and it may play a role too.

[Thefish1680]

I build a system with the UD7 and a 920 D0. I have not done any overclocking yet but CPU-Z is displaying my core speed as 1995 MHz (15 x 133). EIST, turbo, and C1e are already disabled. Is something wrong with my CPU? I have not touched the multiplier.

Thanks,
Rob

[xzulu]

I never tried Level 1, but I use Level 2 and love it. It actually makes idle lower than load, negative vDroop if you will.

Hmmm, will do more testing, hopefully i have more time this weekend.

Cheers!

[sRHunt3r]

Well I received my new Thermalright VX and at first I was a bit disappointed, the idle temps compared to my pressure modded Mega Shadow were very close but the difference showed more under load. The VX is about 3-4 degree's c better than my Mega Shadow under load which helped me get 4.4 more stable, now I can work on 4.5

Here is the 10 LinX run with Cpu-Z and Real Temp screenshot