My New Rig: K8NXP-SLI is up and running!

[pmrdij]

I am still running the original bios that came with the board. I believe it is F4. I haven't had any issues with the current bios yet, so i'm just going to leave it for now. You are certainly having some strange behavior.

No guarantee this will work but here is something to try. Set your OC to stock in bios. Boot up and open the OC utility Easy Tune 5. Set your HTT to 201 and lock it there. Close the program and shut down windows. Go back into bios and set your overclock from there. There is no logical reason for this to work, but my reasoning is it acts like a "HTT lock" for the OS. I did this long ago at the suggestion of some thread I read somewhere (sounds cryptic, but I can't remember where I read it) I have not even opened Easy Tune since then. I would not recommend using it to overclock, except to try this.

Since you are out of options, you may as well give this a try. Let me know if it helps.

Skeetman

it's something thrown out there which is appreciated as i've been up pretty much past 2am nightly goofing around with this trying everything i could think of. we'll see what comes of this and if not then the beta BIOS. atleast being a yearly buyer of $$$$ worth of hardware from Newegg since their early days has me in a position of being able to return things with ease as they know me well enough - i exhaust all my options before returning anything for any reason. i'll post the outcome of everything asap.

,
(PmR)DeathInJune

 

[Cisco Kid]

what is the big difference b/w these 2 GB boards

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241795


http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241789

is it just the dual gigabit lan and sata II support for the newer sata drives?

I expect the boards should perform equally well as far as overclocking correct?

CK

 

[Skeetman]

what is the big difference b/w these 2 GB boards

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241795


http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241789

is it just the dual gigabit lan and sata II support for the newer sata drives?

I expect the boards should perform equally well as far as overclocking correct?

CK

I looked at the comparison sheet for both MBs on the gigabyte website. They have the same specs, but it looks like the K8N Ultra board does not come bundled with the DPS board or the wireless pci card. There is a slot for the DPS but it doesn't come with the MB, which seems odd.

I don't know how that would effect OCing with the Ultra. The board does draw a lot of power because ALL of the power for your RAM, CPU, and both video cards is supplied by the MB. You would definitely need a 24 pin PS for the Ultra. It would seem the DPS card should help with supplying better power to the MB, but I have heard of plenty of people that don't use the DPS. Also, I have never seen any proof that the DPS provides for a higher OC/stability.

I guess it comes down to the $20 difference. For me, I would pay the extra amount for the DPS. If I had problems OCing the Ultra, I would never know if it was due to the lack of the DPS and that would drive me nuts. But if you are really looking for the budget SLI system, it looks like a good deal.

Skeetman

 

[Cisco Kid]

Yeah I hear you Skeet, I will prolly do the full meal deal, I have also been tempted by the 3D1 combo and just hold onto my 6600GT pci-e or sell it, too bad the card must be used with GB board, other wise I would buy the 3D1 to play

CK

 

[pmrdij]

well neither the Easy Tune idea or the Beta BIOS solved the problems as still once over 210FSB issues begin to mount. full refund RMA has been setup and i am going back to Chaintech whom hasn't once goofed up a board i've used (17 and counting). appears that going with a Radeon x850 XT would have been a smarter move initially as it rivals a SLI 6600GT/6800GT setup in the games where it doesn't completely smash a SLI 6800 Ultra system at 4xAA by 8xAF (Doom III/UT 2004). course then you look at everything else and that card is eating the SLI 6800 Ultra alive and at several hundred dollars less in overall cost.

 

[autoMATTic]

I'm going to get this gigabyte board soon also and I was wondering how you think this board stacks up against the Asus A8n SLI Deluxe? ALso who has this board for 155 shipped?

 

[OldOne]

Skeetman, do you know where to get the raid drivers from.I went to the Gigabyte web site and all they have is self installing drivers and I need just two.Thanks

 

[Skeetman]

Skeetman, do you know where to get the raid drivers from.I went to the Gigabyte web site and all they have is self installing drivers and I need just two.Thanks

Sorry OldOne, I don't know where to find them. I only use 1 HD in this rig because I only use it for gaming and surfing. I'll try to look around when I get some time.

Skeetman

 

[slyon]

pmrdij, you said you have returned the gigabyte motherboard, is that true ? meaning that the board do no good at overclocking yea ? hmm,,, then i might just go for dfi then...

btw, anyone here know either ocz, corsair and geil , which one is the best in overclocking which can run very high speed at 1:1 memory speed ? from reviews, i can see that the corsair 4400c25 perform the best so far, which no problem running at 610.. i hope i am right ... ..

 

[pmrdij]

pmrdij, you said you have returned the gigabyte motherboard, is that true ? meaning that the board do no good at overclocking yea ? hmm,,, then i might just go for dfi then...

btw, anyone here know either ocz, corsair and geil , which one is the best in overclocking which can run very high speed at 1:1 memory speed ? from reviews, i can see that the corsair 4400c25 perform the best so far, which no problem running at 610.. i hope i am right ... ..

in all honesty the board is likely fine provided that you are not using BIOS ver. F6. this BIOS was released to add support for the GV-3D1 Dual 6600 GT Video Card and is 1. riddled with misspellings and 2. buggy (you disable the IDE Channels and when you do CTRL+F1 to access the Memory Timings - or Timmings as Gigabyte calls it - it resets such changes amongst other issues). that said F7 is in beta and has been for months, however, Gigabyte responded to me and said an updated final BIOS won't be out anytime soon.

so far everything i've read from around the block in which this board performs stellar the F6 BIOS is not in use. i decided to return it and go to another solution as i really don't have any further patience after weeks of trial and error and i can't go backwards on the BIOS due to the fact that their Video solution will cease to function..

get the Corsair 4400c25!

 

[Swatdog]

pmrdij, you said you have returned the gigabyte motherboard, is that true ? meaning that the board do no good at overclocking yea ? hmm,,, then i might just go for dfi then...

btw, anyone here know either ocz, corsair and geil , which one is the best in overclocking which can run very high speed at 1:1 memory speed ? from reviews, i can see that the corsair 4400c25 perform the best so far, which no problem running at 610.. i hope i am right ... ..

You might consider G.Skill PC-4400

 

[Cisco Kid]

can I get a quick reply , will the zalman 7000 fit on this board and not have issues with the DSP.

Second the board is at newegg now for $142.50 plus $1 shipping. I called they said it comes with everything as well.

I am looking strongly at the MSI or a used Asus SLI board. thoughts, I see many reports that the GB running SLI is not that grat of an overclocker and the MSI running stock is much better?

feedback, I gotta buy today

CK

 

[Swatdog]

I would get the MSI!! It OCs better than the GB. Or if you wanted to, you could get the DFI Ultra-D.

 

[Cisco Kid]

I would get the MSI!! It OCs better than the GB. Or if you wanted to, you could get the DFI Ultra-D.

yeah thats what I have been thinking but I can get the GB at a good price for the Deluxe version, $144 new , well refurbed is damn good.

Some reviews I have read showed the MSI doing better at stock and the GB better at overclocking. I know the DFI is the best by reviews but I do not want to spend that kind of cash. I also have an offer on a 1 mth old Asus SLI Deluxe for $145 shipped.

I am sick of reading reviews I just need to buy a board the MSI is 173 shipped new. I also see by reading that overclocking when you are running SLI becomes a bit tuffer, is this the case, if so I will settle for a mild overclock versus stability issues

Do those that own the GB recommend it or would you choose something else now?

CK

 

[OldOne]

Sorry OldOne, I don't know where to find them. I only use 1 HD in this rig because I only use it for gaming and surfing. I'll try to look around when I get some time.

Skeetman

Thanks, I am looking too but no luck.I ordered another cd from Gigabyte so dont go out of your way to look.I was just wondering if you had them handy.Thanks again.

 

[Swatdog]

yeah thats what I have been thinking but I can get the GB at a good price for the Deluxe version, $144 new , well refurbed is damn good.

Some reviews I have read showed the MSI doing better at stock and the GB better at overclocking. I know the DFI is the best by reviews but I do not want to spend that kind of cash. I also have an offer on a 1 mth old Asus SLI Deluxe for $145 shipped.

I am sick of reading reviews I just need to buy a board the MSI is 173 shipped new. I also see by reading that overclocking when you are running SLI becomes a bit tuffer, is this the case, if so I will settle for a mild overclock versus stability issues

Do those that own the GB recommend it or would you choose something else now?

CK

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE GB, it was the first motherboard I ever bought. It's awesome... but just not at OCing (atleast this K8NS Pro isn't). But then again, I think you will be happy with whatever you choose.

 

[Cisco Kid]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE GB, it was the first motherboard I ever bought. It's awesome... but just not at OCing (atleast this K8NS Pro isn't). But then again, I think you will be happy with whatever you choose.

I am gonna go with the MSI board. Newegg now sent me an email saying they do not guarantee the refurb will come with the accessories.

CK

 

[Swatdog]

I am gonna go with the MSI board. Newegg now sent me an email saying they do not guarantee the refurb will come with the accessories.

CK

Good choice....Let me know how it OC!

 

[Cisco Kid]

Good choice....Let me know how it OC!

Will fill you in once it is up n running. I imagine my OCZ PC3500EL 2x512 will be my limiting factor but will have to do for a while


I am ending the computer madness after this SLI upgrade hping to stick with this stuff for a year that will be a record double my best LOL

CK

 

[pmrdij]

Will fill you in once it is up n running. I imagine my OCZ PC3500EL 2x512 will be my limiting factor but will have to do for a while


I am ending the computer madness after this SLI upgrade hping to stick with this stuff for a year that will be a record double my best LOL

CK

Cisco just to cover this with you i am not the only person to have troubles with the Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-SLI and GV-3D1 combo as Kyle and Morry at [H]ard|OCP ran into similar problems running such out of spec. read the review here. i figured i wouldn't be the only one seeing issues beyond 210FSB:

I encountered some severe stability issues with the command rate set to 1T in the BIOS. Furthermore, something seems to be holding the overclocking potential of this board to a bare minimum. While many of the quality nForce4 boards can easily surpass the 300MHz FSB mark, this board struggled to keep it together with a 250MHz FSB.