GIGABYTE 9xx AM3+ thread

[Allubz]

Am reviewing the UD7 atm.

The 990FX-series from Gigabyte supposedly have trouble with unlocking too. I'm running an PII X2 555 on X4 B55 3.8GHz usually. UD7 doesn't accept X4 (but any combination of X3, 123 // 124) under load. Prime95 and LinX on X4 stock freq is insta-freeze, whilst any X3 runs 3.8GHz+ no probs.

Also in on the massive vdroop / vdrop.

[sin0822]

Finnally finished up my review here

[Chainlink]

Great review sin! The results from the vdroop mod is very interesting. It would be great if they had worked in a bios option for that instead of requiring a hard mod. I guess we'll see what happens with zambezi (at least before modding myself). But post mod the board does perform exactly how you'd want, increasing voltage based on increased load. Right now the board does the exact opposite!

So to keep idle vcore down, but keep 3D stable (tested w/ SC2, vantage, 06) I'm using these settings: CnQ Enabled, Turbo Core Off, Bios V Core: +.125 (base 1.4) = idle 1.4v, 3D 1.545v, prime 1.477v (fail immediately, BSOD), max under light load 1.573v. This isn't ideal but it seems a lot better than running 1.6v+ 99% of the time. Also, CnQ is adjusting multipliers (4x-14x) without issue. Maybe others will have similar... success?

[sin0822]

Hey thanks, but honestly i run without the mod, as its pretty harsh on the increase voltage. Its the exact opposite of the vdroop, so you gain what you would lose under droop. When I did my max OCes i did all that with vdroop and with the vrise instead i had no luck in increasing the OC.

I honestly recommend not doing the mod and waiting for a better BIOS or somthing.

[Allubz]

Currently in contact with Gigabyte engineer via PR.

Issues:
- Full unlock of X2 to X4 gives instant freeze at load
- Voltage issues

New BIOS:
https://rapidshare.com/files/841281666/99FXAUD7.F4g

Fixed: Nothing

See for yourself.

PS: I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post these BIOSes, so as long as I don't hear otherwise I'll keep 'm coming. Please do report back!

[m411b]

Currently in contact with Gigabyte engineer via PR.

Issues:
- Full unlock of X2 to X4 gives instant freeze at load
- Voltage issues

New BIOS:
https://rapidshare.com/files/841281666/99FXAUD7.F4g

Fixed: Nothing

See for yourself.

PS: I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post these BIOSes, so as long as I don't hear otherwise I'll keep 'm coming. Please do report back!

Well there's got to be something different, I'm sure of it! I'll give this a go this evening and report back.
Whenever you get a new BIOS for the UD7, you can PM me if you like and I will be a test pig for ya.

Thanks,
Lee

[m_jones_]

Currently in contact with Gigabyte engineer via PR.

Issues:
- Full unlock of X2 to X4 gives instant freeze at load
- Voltage issues

New BIOS:
https://rapidshare.com/files/841281666/99FXAUD7.F4g

Fixed: Nothing

See for yourself.

PS: I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post these BIOSes, so as long as I don't hear otherwise I'll keep 'm coming. Please do report back!

Nice to see they are trying to fix the issues, i hope they improve the core unlocking on the ud3 too.

[crazydiamond]

so whats the deal with the vcore fluctuations? is this something that can even be fixed with bios updates? are they planning on fixing it?

i am ready to buy a mobo, leaning toward the ud5 but if they arent going to fix it probably just go with chV. so anyone know what their plan is?

[Allubz]

I'm sure there's 'something' different to it, but in the future I'll be asking for changelogs or so, because the F4g didn't do anything voltage- nor unlocking-wise.

I don't know whether they can fix the droops through BIOS changes, but if they can't they simply delivered a badly designed piece of hardware. In regard to the unlocking, the engineer responded that they use the method as with any previous models with the same option, so it should work. To that I replied it still doesn't, so something must be different

I'm willing to give Gigabyte a good while on optimizing the board, as there won't be many early-adopters (due to Zambezi not being released) and many that obtain a board of this calibre won't have a petty X2 that happens to unlock to X4.

Whenever you get a new BIOS for the UD7, you can PM me if you like and I will be a test pig for ya.

Noted

[m411b]

Allbuz, PM answered! I also want to note that I have a 550 that I can work with as well. I will test it tonight and see if my UD7 will unlock it, proly won't, but it's worth a shot. I'll report back!

[VIP3R]

I had the same locking up issues with a 550 on my ud3 which ran unlocked all its life in a previous board.

[m_jones_]

I had the same locking up issues with a 550 on my ud3 which ran unlocked all its life in a previous board.

+1
Quite annoying since bc2 does not run smooth even at low. ( have a 5850 gpu) at least it gives me a good reason to upgrade to bulldozer soon as possible.

[Praz]

The unlock issue is because of the changes AMD made to the AGESA code. It can be fixed with some BIOS rework though. I had the same issue on the C5F and ASUS had a fix to me within 3 days of me reporting it.

[possessed]

Currently in contact with Gigabyte engineer via PR.

Issues:
- Full unlock of X2 to X4 gives instant freeze at load
- Voltage issues

New BIOS:
https://rapidshare.com/files/841281666/99FXAUD7.F4g

Fixed: Nothing

See for yourself.

PS: I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post these BIOSes, so as long as I don't hear otherwise I'll keep 'm coming. Please do report back!

I've also updated to this bios to see how it feels in terms of general stability and oc.
If you keep posting them I will update to see how it there's any improvement.

vcore.jpg
This is how vcore performs in my system during prime95 latest version 64 bit torture test, in idle goes up to 1.456v

[VIP3R]

i have bios F3f for the UD3 if anyone is interested.

Not sure on the changelog but its fresh out the kitchen, have not had a chance to try improve my overclock.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26440660/99fxaud3.zip

[m_jones_]

i have bios F3f for the UD3 if anyone is interested.

Not sure on the changelog but its fresh out the kitchen, have not had a chance to try improve my overclock.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26440660/99fxaud3.zip

Thank you!

[crazydiamond]

here is what gigabyte said about the vcore issues on ud5/ud7..

"GIGABYTE 990 series motherboards strictly follow the AMD AM3+ load line calibration design guide, and so CPU V-core voltage will drop according to loading. Such calibrations are built into the platform to protect the user’s purchase and prevent damage to the PC system"

it appears that the higher you set the vcore the more droop there will be. also the move vboost you will have at idle.

ex. lets say you set vcore in bios to 1.4v, in idle it may be at something like 1.43v but at load it will drop down to 1.35v. now if you bump up your vcore in bios to 1.55v then there will be bigger boost at idle and bigger droop at load so if you set 1.55v in bios idle may sit around 1.62v but load will drop all the way to 1.45v.

i am not positive on all this but from the research i have been doing about boards this the conclusion i have come to. i picked up a ud3 since it does not use the new driver mosfets so it does not experience the vcore issues. hopefully giga will release a rev.2 or something, i may switch to ud5 if they do.

just thought i would post what i have been finding in case anyone is still interested.

[PatRaceTin]

^
^
^
^
yes 3-4 of my friends sell UD7 (VCore issue)

[enzoR]

im having no luck unlocking any core at all with my UD3. Got a xII 555Be and the cores dont even show up. Enabling core unlock freezes after saving changes and restarting. I was able to unlock this chip on my previous board. I think Gigabyte has a broken unlock feature. Has anyone been able to unlock anything with a gigabyte 9xx board?

[m_jones_]

im having no luck unlocking any core at all with my UD3. Got a xII 555Be and the cores dont even show up. Enabling core unlock freezes after saving changes and restarting. I was able to unlock this chip on my previous board. I think Gigabyte has a broken unlock feature. Has anyone been able to unlock anything with a gigabyte 9xx board?

It's a common problem even with the new F3G bios but i'm slowly finding stability improving like my 550 unlocked to 3 cores will last for hours on load but then randomly crash.

[Barr3l Rid3r]

f3G where?

[Barr3l Rid3r]

f3G where?

[Augustus]

f3G where?

Here: http://www.overclock.net/attachments...s-99fxaud3.rar

[Barr3l Rid3r]

Here: http://www.overclock.net/attachments...s-99fxaud3.rar

any improovement over f3f or f3b?

[Augustus]

any improovement over f3f or f3b?

When i got my board i went straight to F3f and then onto F3g so i can't comment on the changes to F3b.

I don't see anything different between F3f and F3g with both having some sort of HTT wall at 275. I have one of the CPU that unlocks to FX-5200 so with a multiplier that is stuck at 11.5 i need high HTT clocks and this board won't give me them.

The board still unlocks the CPU to quad (from dual) and the wall is on quad enabled - haven't tried HTT performance on locked (dual) yet.

Previously i had a GA-890GPA-UD3H that reached 4GHz on the same cpu so i'm a bit disappointed in Gigabyte here as they have regressed somewhat.

I remember reading that someone on another forum mentioned that F3f performs well on the x5.33 memory divider whereas F3g performs well on the x6.66 divider - haven't tried that myself yet but it's my next step to see if it's RAM that's limiting HTT clocks.

I also have the searingly hot northbridge and get annoying clicks out of my speakers (realtek and HDMI). It's unfortunate that the 990FX board with the best slot layout is really a POS for the CPU we have available.....i'm just hoping it's completely geared to bulldozer so K10 is suffering a bit.