The Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 - Redefining the High End?
by Rajinder Gill on January 2, 2008 3:15 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
BIOS Guide and Information
We have picked out a few of the more important BIOS functions for a breakdown of their use. Our testing is all based upon the F3C and F3D BIOS releases, so the ability to use some of these settings may change with future releases.
Robust Graphics Booster
Available functions are Auto, Fast and Turbo. We could find no good reason to use anything other than Auto or Turbo mode. Auto seems to default to Turbo mode anyway. In the interest of performance, we did attempt to use the Fast setting, which actually prevented driver initialization during the Windows boot sequence. Sticking on Auto or Turbo is best.
CPU Clock Ratio
This function sets the CPU multiplier; please note the F3D BIOS adds half multiplier support for the QX9650.
CPU Host Clock Control
Options are Enabled and Disabled. Select Enabled to change the FSB and overclock your processor. In the event of a failed overclock this function will return to Disabled.
PCI Express Frequency
Default is Auto. We have found overclocking the PCI-E bus up to 115MHz is possible, although we could not substantiate any real performance advantages in doing so. Speeds over 115MHz are liable to cause non-recognition of SATA drives. Using an IDE drive is recommended if you wish to run over 115MHz.
C.I.A. 2
Gigabyte's automatic overclocking function senses system load and overclocks the processor automatically. There are six available options: Disabled, Cruise, Sports, Racing, Turbo, and Full Thrust. The most aggressive setting is Full Thrust, providing a small percentage CPU/memory overclock under load. Select Disabled for manual overclocking.
Performance Enhanced With
There are three functions available in this setting: Standard, Turbo, and Extreme. Changing this setting does nothing more than manipulate Performance Level (tRD). The Extreme setting selects the default tRD, while Standard and Turbo will relax tRD by 1-2 levels.
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)
Memory divider ratios can be configured by this function. The available memory dividers per Northbridge strap are shown in the table below.
| Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 Available Memory Dividers | |
| Northbridge Strap | Available Memory Dividers |
| 200 MHz | 5:3, 2:1 |
| 266 MHz | 5:4, 3:2, 2:1 |
| 333 MHz | 1:1, 6:5, 8:5, 2:1 |
| 400 MHz | 1:1, 4:3, 5:3, 2:1 |
| . | |
Leaving this function on Auto, results in the 2:1 divider being picked for overclocking by default. For manual use, we found the 333 strap 2:1 divider to be the most stable combination to use for quad-core processors. For dual-core processors, the 266 strap and 3:2 divider worked best for us.
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)
If left on Auto the BIOS will attempt to sense and adjust memory timings automatically depending on the level of FSB overclock applied. Set this to manual to obtain control of several key memory/chipset timing parameters below.
CAS
latency Time
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay
DRAM RAS# Precharge
Precharge Delay (tRAS)
These are the four primary memory options. If performance is desired, users with 1800MHz DDR3 can aim for 6-6-6-18 1N timings at DDR3-1600 (400FSB 2:1 divider). If low voltages are preferred then either CAS 7-7-6-20 at DDR3-1700 or CAS 8-8-7-21 may be used if you can find enough FSB stability with your processor.
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)
Auto will default mainly to a setting of 4 under 500 FSB, which is fine for stability and performance in most cases. Users may wish to experiment with tRRD under 4 via Memset in XP for benchmarking. For high FSB overclocking a setting of 5 may help with stability.
Rank Write to Read Delay
If using manual timings, remember that this setting is offset by -10. Setting 5 manually will give a real setting of 15. The range of interest for overclocking is between 5 and 9 in BIOS (15 to 19 actual), for Micron based modules. Memory speeds over DDR3-1800 require setting of ~9 for stability. For benchmarking, use Memset within Windows for manual tuning.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
37 Comments
View All Comments
Frumious1 - Thursday, January 3, 2008 - link
What are you, the jilted lover of Raja or something? Seriously, I can't say I blame the AT crew for taking a break. Me and my family certainly did our fair share of slacking off over the holidays.Merry Christmas, Foxy Scrooge....
8steve8 - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - link
i just got 8gb od ddr2 800 1.8v for $180 shipped from newegg.8GB of DDR3 costs $1,150 shipped from newegg...
thats not at typo.
DDR3 is irrelevant for now.
10x cost for 3% perf boost...
I'm not even going to read this review.
Kougar - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - link
This makes no sense. Gigabyte offers GTL controls on the P31-DS3L, values are: 0.636, 0.603, 0.566, 0.54. Why offer them on a $80 budget board but not a ~$300 X48T end-of-the-world board?? I was expecting them to be there when I heard about the redesign.This was a great review, and I am still reading/rereading it to absorb the info. I had a few questions though... You said FSB Overvoltage control requires 1.4v for both processors, and stock is 1.15v?? I never touched this setting by more than +1 with my Q6600, but it might explain a few things. How or where did you find out what the stock VTT value was, as I wish to be able to look up this info myself for future reference and check the P35 version.
Rajinder Gill - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - link
I used a DMM and probed both the supply mosfet and GTL transistors.Regards
Raja
Kougar - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - link
Thanks for your reply! Are there any guides or what do you recommend for novice multimeter users trying to discern which mainboard components power what. I don't mind doing the research, I just need a pointer at where to get started. I have tried before but was not sure if I was measuring the correct components.Just for proof, here is a screenie of the P31 DS3L $75 board's GTLREF menu: http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n129/Chanur64/I...">http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n129/Chanur64/I...
I can't fathom why the X48-DQ6 lacks this, could they be waiting to add it in later when the BIOS is more mature?
PLaYaHaTeD - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - link
Since nobody cares to ask, I will go ahead:When can we buy an X48 Motherboard, along with a Q9450 cpu? How can you give such a comprehensive preview, and talk about recommendations without addressing a release date?
If some of the rumors are true about X48/Wolfdale/Yorkfield being delayed to possibly march, then wouldn't it be irrelevant to speak about recommending this product 2-3 months before it will even be available?
Gary Key - Friday, January 4, 2008 - link
ETA of the X48 boards is unknown. They are ready, from a BIOS viewpoint the Gigabyte boards need some more work but the ASUS boards that will be reviewed next week are about 97% there. Boards have been manufactured by all of the majors, it is up to Intel to pull the trigger. It was going to be in December, moved to 1/7/08, moved to 1/21/08, and is now in a holding pattern waiting on X38 stocks to clear out to some degree, which is surprising as most of the suppliers will move X38 downward to replace the mid-market P35 boards.The Q9450 and others will be announced shortly and official launch dates will be available at that time. Once again, up to Intel, but after the Phenom launch, they have no real reason to hurry up. The reason for the previews is provide just that, a preview, but we were expecting (along with Gigabyte/ASUS/MSI) that boards would be launched by the 21st of this month.
minimeat - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - link
Good review on the BIOS features, i've been looking for this kind of detail for each timing number to be explained for a while, as none of this information is in the Gigabyte manual for any of their motherboards (HINT HINT).Anyways, you forgot to explain one really important number that i have been wondering about for a while, the Refresh to ACT Delay. Can someone please explain this number, either update the review or post it here, it would be much appreciated. I noticed that they had it set to 60 in the review, and there is no Auto option inherent in the motherboard's bios for this number, and i have no clue what it does. Thanks!
Glenn - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - link
Looks like Anands crew spent plenty of time with this board! Amazing that no comparison benchmarks are shown against more mainstream boards like 965s, P35s or some AMD flavors? All that work with very little usefullness outside of early adoptee's!Gary Key - Friday, January 4, 2008 - link
Hi,We will have a Intel chipset comparison roundup the week of the 28th, maybe earlier if Intel decides to launch this product according to the last timeline. We will have the ASUS X48 boards up next week with a very detailed MCH overview and the MSI X48 board the week after with some Quad CrossFire loving if the drivers make it. These previews are concentrating on getting the most out of the board, the roundup will concentrate on comparisons to other available products.