Gigabyte MA790FX DS5

[dehx]

Ok, I'm starting this thread because I know there are quite a few DS5 users out there, but all I ever see is attention given to the DQ6.

Right now the latest BIOS is rev F2 (downloadable off Gigabyte's website)


TIPS:

One thing I noticed is that the Motherboard manual for this board is wrong. You do NOT put the memory in TWO seperate colored memory banks.

I was unable to run dual channel until I put the DIMM sticks on BOTH YELLOW or BOTH ORANGE slots.

Here's what I'm running on:

Gigabyte MA790FX-DS5
OCZ Sli Ready 1066 DDR2
Crossfire HD 3870
Phenom 9500 Rev b2

Here are some screens:










My bios settings are as follows in the MIT menu (Hit CTRL+F1 to show advanced)

CPU FSB: 220
HT LINK: 1.2 Ghz
DDR MEMCLOCK: 1066
Dram mode: Unganged -64 bit
Dram Timings: Auto


I am running the vDimm voltage at +.40 which is 2.2v

[Lechuck1]

Did you try dual chanel with both RAM sticks on orange slots. I suppose using ninja HS would block yellow slots for tall RAM.

[dehx]

Ya, I did. The yellow slots give me slightly more performance and headroom for tight timings tho. But yes, the orange works.

I use the zalman CPNS 9700 and its pretty damn big. Keeps memory cool as hell tho.

[Morais]

I was lookin for this board to buy, but too bad its overpriced... Do you mind to post some pictures of the rig mate?

[dehx]

[Jaivan]

Here is F3a:

Have you tried this one? - http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/...MA79XDS5AT.rar

I don't really like it though found it unstable.

[justapost]

Can you increase the ref HT over 220?

[dehx]

I can get the HTT to 230, unfortunately without a newer bios cant go much higher.

[dehx]

Here is F3a:


I don't really like it though found it unstable.

Ok, I'm running F3a, have been for about a day or two. It allows some extra voltage options. And that is about it.

Stability seems fine.

[Jaivan]

Yeah i think it was the cool and quiet that was messing with my stability lol.

[dehx]

Yes, Cool N Quiet is 140% detrimental to Overclocks.

[dehx]

Got this from Gigabyte today.

Question :
I see that the MA790FX-DQ6 has a F3C bios that addresses all the issues that us DS5 users are experiencing also. When can we expect a new bios that fixes these issues for the DS5??
Thanks.

Answer :
We will check with our bios team to see if the DS5 can have an similiar bios
Check back our website shortly

So fellow DS5 users, keep your fingers crossed.

We are probably looking at NB multi adjustments and TLB error fix.

[Jaivan]

Nice

[Jaivan]

F3B is up on the gigabyte page, but seems like only the europe mirror works.
Linky: http://tw.giga-byte.com/Support/Moth...ProductID=2694

[dehx]

Here you go boys. F3B Revision BIOS. I'm flashing it now.


http://america.giga-byte.com/FileLis...fx-ds5_f3b.exe

[tictac]

Any 3D Mark 2005 Score?

[dehx]

Nope, but I can get over 250HTT

Which is a first as far as I know.

[informal]

How's the scaling goes with such a low NB clock?Does the new OC speeds scale well compared to previous results?

Nice work dehx!

[dehx]

Well, I need to get a good speed set with my ram. Right now Super Pi does ab out 28-29 secs. at 2750. But my ram bandwith is only 7,000 so I need to do some more tweaking.

One thing I noticed. I had to set NB Mutli to 6x250 to even boot. 1500 Mhz?

Thats odd. These Phenoms are supposed to support 1800 Mhz NB/HTT

Once I get above 2750, I'll post benchies.

Edit:

Confirmed, I cannot get over 250 HTT. I've exhausted multipliers/voltage combinations.
I can post and start booting at 300x10 (3 Ghz) but even with an extra .125 volts (1.4 v) its a no go into windows.

Of course, I am doing all of this without enabling the stupid TLB patch. I did run a test and it cut my memory bandwith almost in half. And I was still unable to get higher than 250 HTT.

[dehx]

I have found out that the motherboard likes the HT Link to be between 1500-2000 and the NB link to be 1500-1800.

[dehx]

Ok, now this is getting down right creepy. It seems this Phenom does not want to do 2.8 Ghz or more. I can raise the FSB to 254x11 = 2795 Mhz.

0 Memory errors, solid stability.

@ 255x11 = 2805 Mhz

Instants memory errors, blue screen. Go figure.

EDIT: SuperPI does get 28s tho

[muzz]

Ok, now this is getting down right creepy. It seems this Phenom does not want to do 2.8 Ghz or more. I can raise the FSB to 254x11 = 2795 Mhz.

0 Memory errors, solid stability.

@ 255x11 = 2805 Mhz

Instants memory errors, blue screen. Go figure.

EDIT: SuperPI does get 28s tho

Maybe try that Wprime instead?
It uses multiple cores.

Sandra supposedly has an update to their new build (SP1) for the Phenom, because of the way it was running the tests.

[tictac]

Ok, now this is getting down right creepy. It seems this Phenom does not want to do 2.8 Ghz or more. I can raise the FSB to 254x11 = 2795 Mhz.

0 Memory errors, solid stability.

@ 255x11 = 2805 Mhz

Instants memory errors, blue screen. Go figure.

EDIT: SuperPI does get 28s tho

Can you upgrade your catalyst driver to version 7.12 and do some crossfire benchmark!

Download Link: http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_ca...=xp/radeonx-xp

[dehx]

Hoply crap.. I've been checking ATI's website all week and now when I go out to eat they update. What bastards.

Rofl

[KTE]

Vista? It seems performance is worse in Vista then in XP then because those scores are still very low for the clocks. Lightman got around 3900 2k6 CPU score IIRC at 2.6GHz. The bandwidth is especially bad, like single channel.

This is Sandra with the support patch at around DRR2-840 4-4-4-4 with apps in background (WCG) running:



Yours should be much higher.