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

[tipes]

your doing all the right things - switch out components to isolate which one is the problem. think back to what all you have changed since the problem appeared - or is this a new build?

Hi Steve,

No thios is not a new build, but problem started when I changed the psu, but now changed back again - no dice. But I also remember I tweaked the screws of the backplate as I thought they might be a smidgeon loose - thi9s was with the cpu still in place so may have shifted some of the pins per chance - so I think I will take the cpu out and check as Palmeasus suggests.

Palmeasus

Going to check the socket pins - see above and reseat etc.

Thanks for the help and suggestions guys - much appreciated. Will keep you posted.

Edit update:

Just to let you all know although it is most weird.
I took out my graphics card which I had doubts about and replaced it with my old 4870 known working card and rebooted. Ati popped up and complained about the card
being the wrong one so uninstalled the ATI driver package and re booted upon which windows recognised the 4870 and installed the WDM drivers for the 4870 and low and behold
I could now get into sleep mode and things seemed ok.
I then shut down and swapped my 5870 back in, but windows did not detect it and change driver so I manually installed drivers via device manager and all now seems ok.
Will monitor and test for a while. The other thing I did was left the bios battery out this afternoon for several hours and re set the bios before installing the 4870 etc.
Sorry for the long post - but needed to get it off my chest especially as it has caused me two days of grief.

Mark

Mark

[Bodar]

I like easyfreezer 6! It happens every now and then, just depends on what your bios settings are..

[Lsdmeasap]

Yo LSD,
is does freeze all the time when I try to apply something. I will use the
EasyTuneFreezer6

only for reading the voltages in future. Anything else seams to be senseless

This is the latest one you mention right? I thought someone said they fixed it but I had my doubts. I'll have to see if Gigabyte is aware of the issues, surely they are, but I personally have not mentioned it to them for a long time because I been using the same old version.

See below

Lol!! Totally useless program that Easyfreeze 6

I like easyfreezer 6! It happens every now and then, just depends on what your bios settings are..

Hey guys! No problems at all with this version, at 240+ Bclk or 5Ghz

Use this one, I have been using it for the longest time since it has been the only version that will apply any settings for me since the last 10 versions.

Works every time for me, with any changes, In Vista x64 anyway
http://www.mediafire.com/?idi2vezyhcm

[lawtq]

Thanks, will try it!

[newhit]

Hi Steve,


Edit update:

Just to let you all know although it is most weird.
I took out my graphics card which I had doubts about and replaced it with my old 4870 known working card and rebooted. Ati popped up and complained about the card
being the wrong one so uninstalled the ATI driver package and re booted upon which windows recognised the 4870 and installed the WDM drivers for the 4870 and low and behold
I could now get into sleep mode and things seemed ok.
I then shut down and swapped my 5870 back in, but windows did not detect it and change driver so I manually installed drivers via device manager and all now seems ok.
Will monitor and test for a while. The other thing I did was left the bios battery out this afternoon for several hours and re set the bios before installing the 4870 etc.
Sorry for the long post - but needed to get it off my chest especially as it has caused me two days of grief.

Mark

Mark

Palmeasus' check is definitely most important but if the problem persists could you have a problem with the PCI-e slot that the Graphics sits in. Slightly misaligned maybe or if there is some crud in there or a very faint strand of wire then supplies or a signal to the slot could be failing and, by inference, other areas that use the same supply or signal could fail in many areas of the mbd masking the true fault location.


Errr........Or not

[Sam_oslo]

The new Ratio in ET6 can set the multi of X5650 to x23 without freezing.

Intel's new turbo boost actually pushes 3 cores of X5650 to x23, but the rest runs at x22. New ET6 sets all cores to x23, but the rest of system seams not to catch the point. CPU-z is still reporting x22, probably it is locked on HW-level, but x23 on all cores would be a great option.

[Junksu]

Hi, Also had EasyTune freezing problems in W7x64, but then uninstalled the newer ones and nstalled the 9.11... version from Utility DVD and that rocks.
If you have problems unsinstalling then run the same version installer and select from there the option Uninstall - works every time.

[Mastakilla]

Quick question (hope i can get a quick answer too )

I'm currently installing my i7 920 on my UD7 mobo with the stock Intel cooler (temporary solution)

The UD7 manual explains how to install the Intel stock cooler, but it sais to apply thermal paste on the CPU
The thing is, there already is thermal paste on the heatsink?

I know too much thermal paste is bad, so I wonder is the thermal paste on the heatsink sufficient? or should i really add extra thermal paste on the CPU as well?

[Mastakilla]

i couldnt stand the waiting any longer and installed without extra thermal paste

if i'm wrong, please tell me before i turn it on

[Sam_oslo]

i couldnt stand the waiting any longer and installed without extra thermal paste

if i'm wrong, please tell me before i turn it on

Do not add anything on top of that.

You can use it as it is, but if is it is crappy, you have to remove (and clean) it before adding your own.

[tipes]

Palmeasus' check is definitely most important but if the problem persists could you have a problem with the PCI-e slot that the Graphics sits in. Slightly misaligned maybe or if there is some crud in there or a very faint strand of wire then supplies or a signal to the slot could be failing and, by inference, other areas that use the same supply or signal could fail in many areas of the mbd masking the true fault location.


Errr........Or not

Hi newhit,

I will check the cpu socket just to make sure - will also get the magnifying glass on the Pci-e slots as well, but I did blow them out with compressed air can, but wortwhile to double check these things.

Cheers for the input.

Mark

[Mastakilla]

Do not add anything on top of that.

You can use it as it is, but if is it is crappy, you have to remove (and clean) it before adding your own.

ok thanks

i'll leave it like it is now

the real OC will only start once i get my watercooling anyway

small status update: installing win7 on a basic system atm (mobo, cpu, ram, gpu, 1hd, 1dvdrom)
so far so good
too bad i have to work tomorrow...

I also noticed that chipset waterblock comes of easy and leaves quite a nice surface area with space around it
i might try to re-use my old maze 4 block anyway if i can get it attached somehow

[Clue69Less]

Off topic, but...

The X58a UD5 has three available SATA interfaces. My plan is to run a RAID 1 on the MARVEL 9128 SATA 6.0 ports for data backup but I wish I could find a comparison of performance running the OS on the other two choices (ICH10R [6 ports] and Gigabyte SATA-2 [2 ports]). I'm assuming that the ICH10R is the best bet since it doesn't share bandwidth with the PCI slots. Any ideas?

[mbreslin]

I don't have any links to comparisons but ich is currently the best performing. Drivers for the marvell chip are getting better, still not there yet.

[Sam_oslo]

Off topic, but...

The X58a UD5 has three available SATA interfaces. My plan is to run a RAID 1 on the MARVEL 9128 SATA 6.0 ports for data backup but I wish I could find a comparison of performance running the OS on the other two choices (ICH10R [6 ports] and Gigabyte SATA-2 [2 ports]). I'm assuming that the ICH10R is the best bet since it doesn't share bandwidth with the PCI slots. Any ideas?

You need a drive with SATA3 controller to take adavantage of 6GB/s.
I've done a few quiek tests with my single Vertx on SATA3, but got better results on ICH10R. This a while ago and it may have changed, tho.

[Hooti3]

Here are some pics of 4.5Ghz LinX stable overclock.

Bios: F7e

Did some more tweaking today, lowered my VTT voltage by 0.05V which was nice

Load Temps and Voltage


Click to view full size!

Idle Temps and Voltage after completion


Click to view full size!

Enjoy

[Sam_oslo]

After trying F7e on a fresh W7-install, I went back to F4, and W7 found new devices:



Does it means Intel's microcode patch had changed IOH?

[Fritz_the_germ]

Here are some pics of 4.5Ghz LinX stable overclock.

Bios: F7e

Did some more tweaking today, low

Good work mate!
How much VTT do you set on the QPI right now?

[tipes]

I thought my problems as posted just recently were over - but checked the pins on the mobo and corrected a few, but now it looks as though the board is dead as all I get is one long beep and stuck at C1 on post. Have tried new cpu, known good memory and also known good GPU - so maybe time to RMA the board.

Back to using my old trusty UD5 for the moment on air cooling with the 980X so no o clocking for me at the moment.

Just thought I would update you all, and hope gigabytes turnaround for swapping my board does not take too long??????

Mark

[Fritz_the_germ]

Yoh guys,
I read a lot about that VTT issue in the last days. But there is still one question left for me. What is the real chip killer? Just the high VTT only (<1,45v) or the difference between the VDimm and the VTT greater than 0.5v (if the cooling is o.k. and the VDimm isn´t greater than 1.65v) ?

[Sam_oslo]

Yoh guys,
I read a lot about that VTT issue in the last days. But there is still one question left for me. What is the real chip killer? Just the high VTT only (<1,45v) or the difference between the VDimm and the VTT greater than 0.5v (if the cooling is o.k. and the VDimm isn´t greater than 1.65v) ?

keep the VVT whiting the 0.5v of the vDimm, not matter what.

Even if high VVT may be safe, it will generate extra heat in your CPU and VRM. If you are using high Uncore then you'll needs more VVT, try using x8 RAM and x16 Uncore to reduce it.

[Lsdmeasap]

Just thought I would post up my latest quick stability testing, and settings @ 4.2Ghz, for anyone using 980X with this board.

1.344 Idle/Load = Zero Vdroop (Using LLC Level 1) Could go lower likely, no time to test right now though.

BIOS F7e

Click to Enlarge

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [25x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech .................. [Disabled]
CPU Cores Enabled ............................ [All]
CPU Multi Threading .......................... [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ................... [Disabled]
C3/C6/C7 State Support .................... [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor ......................... [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function ............................ [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology ................... [Enabled]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ..................... [Enabled]


Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed .............................. x44
Uncore Frequency ..........................  x22
Isonchronous Frequency ..................[Enabled]


Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control ................ [Enabled]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ..................... 168
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ........... [100]

C.I.A.2 [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive ................... [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]


Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [Extreme]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ......... [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........ [x10]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) .......... [Manual - Expert]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ...................... 7
tRCD ....................................... 8
tRP ......................................... 7 
tRAS ....................................... 20


* No time to tweak advanced settings yet, all Auto except tRFC, and B2B CAS Delay *

##Channel A Advanced Timing Control##
tRC ........................................Auto
tRRD ....................................... Auto
tWTR ...................................... Auto
tWR ........................................ Auto
tWTP ....................................... Auto
tWL ........................................ Auto
tRFC ....................................... 88
tRTP ....................................... Auto
tFAW ...................................... Auto
Command Rate (CMD) ................ 1T

##Channel A Misc Timing Control##
Round Trip Latency ................... Auto

B2B CAS Delay .......................... 4



Advanced Voltage Control:

CPU
Load Line Calibration ................. [Enabled - Level 1]
CPU Vcore ............................... 1.375
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v ............ 1.355
CPU PLL 1.800v ....................... 1.8

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ........................... 1.5
QPI PLL 1.100v ....................... 1.2
IOH Core 1.100v ..................... 1.16
ICH I/O 1.500v ....................... 1.5
ICH Core 1.1v ........................ 1.14

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v .............. 1.66
DRAM Termination 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]

[newhit]

Good stuff for me "Lsdmeasap" and thanx for the reminder "Sam_Oslo". I've just installed my own 980X and whacked it straight to 4.6 with HT off. Got straight into windows 7 with about 1.38v, vdroop at 1, but no stability checks yet. Temps are way lower than my 950.

On with the testing

[Fritz_the_germ]

Just thought I would post up my latest quick stability testing, and settings @ 4.2Ghz, for anyone using 980X with this board.

1.344 Idle/Load = Zero Vdroop (Using LLC Level 1) Could go lower likely, no time to test right now though.

BIOS F7e


VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO][/code]

Yo LSD,
really great work!
It looks like even the NASA computers won´t come close to your system.

@all,
could anybody explain what an "ES chip" is?
I am not sure about a retail chip- in Germany we have different trade names so excuse the noob question

[newhit]

Yo LSD,
really great work!
It looks like even the NASA computers won´t come close to your system.

@all,
could anybody explain what an "ES chip" is?
I am not sure about a retail chip- in Germany we have different trade names so excuse the noob question

Me first!!.............."Engineering Sample"...............I hope