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- Feb 17, 2007
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Processor | AMD Phenom II 1055T @ 3.6ghz 1.3V |
---|---|
Motherboard | Asus M5A97 EVO |
Cooling | Xigmatek SD1284 |
Memory | 2x4GB Patriot Sector 5 PC3-12800 @ 7-8-7-24-1T 1.7V |
Video Card(s) | XFX Radeon HD 7950 DD @ 1100/1350 1.185V |
Storage | OCZ Agility 3 120GB + 2x7200.12 500GB Raid1 |
Display(s) | QNIX QX2710 27" LCD 1440p @ 120hz |
Case | Cooler Master 690M |
Audio Device(s) | Realtek ALC892 |
Power Supply | Enermax Liberty 620W Eco Edition |
Software | Windows 7 Professional x64 / Ubuntu 12.04 x64 |
Thought I'd start a thread for all those who have/are interested in this board. Here: is the link at Newegg.
Pros: 790X chipset, which is the 790GX everyone is familiar with, but without the unnecessary (well... for most of us enthusiats!) onboard video and dual PCIe 2.0 slots (dual x8 when in crossfire). It has heatpipe northbridge/mosfet cooling, and has the "newer" SB750. Also, it has 4 right angle SATA ports, plus two upward facing ones. Also, this thing has USB ports GALORE; 8 on the backplate (no 790GX video connectors here), plus two more USB connectors on the motherboard! Lots of overclocking options!
Cons: Even though it has the ALC889A onboard chipset, this does NOT support DTS: Connect, which was a huge (and unpleasant) surprise to me. Southbridge not heatpipe connected with the northbridge/mosfets (not really a big deal given that the heatsink doesn't really get that hot, but I'm only using AHCI and not RAID5). Unfunctional ACC, but see below.
Attached is a testament of about 3 hours working with this board to try to find the sweet spot. I did only manage to get to 3.6Ghz stable with under 1.5V on a 720BE, which is kinda disappointing, but take a look at the Northbridge/HTT frequencies! I never got over 2.1Ghz stable on either one of those with the Phenom I X3, and this has a huge impact on memory intensive programs. I gave the northbridge VID an extra .2V and the northbridge/HTT clock (thing) and extra .1V, neither of which really heats up anything. And a big WOOT for my first processor to get under 20s in 1M superPi!
Temperatures are at a max of 47C LOAD under a Zalman 9700LED running at fairly slow speeds (I can easily hear my GPU fan over the Zalman). I did manage to get the PC to boot at 267x15= 4005mhz, but it was only Memtest86+ stable at 1.55V and I couldn't even boot windows. I believe I can get this chip to 3.75Ghz if I up the voltage to 1.53V, but that is a lot of voltage for only 125 more mhz, so I probably won't bother.
ACC seems completely broken with this board as none of the BIOS options seems to do anything (or unlock my fourth core). Also, check in my AMD Overdrive picture where the ACC control is greyed out, as if I didn't have an SB750. However, I just proposed this dilemma to Gigabyte...
...and here is the response:
I can hardly wait!
Post if you have any experience with this board, or have any general inquiries/things you'd like me to try.
Pros: 790X chipset, which is the 790GX everyone is familiar with, but without the unnecessary (well... for most of us enthusiats!) onboard video and dual PCIe 2.0 slots (dual x8 when in crossfire). It has heatpipe northbridge/mosfet cooling, and has the "newer" SB750. Also, it has 4 right angle SATA ports, plus two upward facing ones. Also, this thing has USB ports GALORE; 8 on the backplate (no 790GX video connectors here), plus two more USB connectors on the motherboard! Lots of overclocking options!
Cons: Even though it has the ALC889A onboard chipset, this does NOT support DTS: Connect, which was a huge (and unpleasant) surprise to me. Southbridge not heatpipe connected with the northbridge/mosfets (not really a big deal given that the heatsink doesn't really get that hot, but I'm only using AHCI and not RAID5). Unfunctional ACC, but see below.
Attached is a testament of about 3 hours working with this board to try to find the sweet spot. I did only manage to get to 3.6Ghz stable with under 1.5V on a 720BE, which is kinda disappointing, but take a look at the Northbridge/HTT frequencies! I never got over 2.1Ghz stable on either one of those with the Phenom I X3, and this has a huge impact on memory intensive programs. I gave the northbridge VID an extra .2V and the northbridge/HTT clock (thing) and extra .1V, neither of which really heats up anything. And a big WOOT for my first processor to get under 20s in 1M superPi!
Temperatures are at a max of 47C LOAD under a Zalman 9700LED running at fairly slow speeds (I can easily hear my GPU fan over the Zalman). I did manage to get the PC to boot at 267x15= 4005mhz, but it was only Memtest86+ stable at 1.55V and I couldn't even boot windows. I believe I can get this chip to 3.75Ghz if I up the voltage to 1.53V, but that is a lot of voltage for only 125 more mhz, so I probably won't bother.
ACC seems completely broken with this board as none of the BIOS options seems to do anything (or unlock my fourth core). Also, check in my AMD Overdrive picture where the ACC control is greyed out, as if I didn't have an SB750. However, I just proposed this dilemma to Gigabyte...
Hello, I recently purchased your GA-MA790X-UD4 motherboard for my Phenom II x3. This may be a strange question, but is there something wrong with the Advanced Clock Calibration on this board? The reason I ask, is that no difference is made at all when enabling it in the BIOS, as in no difference in overclocking stability (which is to be expected with the Phenom II), but more importantly, my fourth core does not unlock on one of the batches that has a good fourth core (0904, stepping RB-C2). I've tried using the setting, "Auto", "All Cores" (adjusting the values), and "Per Core" (also adjusting the values). And it isn't just my chip, many others across the web have tested their Phenom X3 in other boards and the fourth core unlocks stably, but the same chip does not allow it with this board. Furthermore, using the two latest builds of AMD Overdrive, the ACC section is completely greyed out, as if I did not have an SB750...?
I understand that the ACC at least works as expected with your GA-MA790GP-DS4H board. I wonder if you could try and compare the BIOS code with my new motherboard and release a BIOS that allows for the same adjustments. Judging from AMD Overdrive having a greyed out section for ACC, I'm sure you'll have some Phenom I owners very upset, as ACC is supposed to be the savior for Phenom I overclocking.
And keep in mind that ASUS has silently released a beta BIOS for their AM2+ 790FX boards with SB750, allowing users to unlock the fourth core of an X3 720, so please do not say their is no motive for you to do this.
Thanks!
...and here is the response:
Dear Customer,
A new BIOS will be available soon. Thank your for your patience.
Thank you for choosing Gigabyte products
I can hardly wait!
Post if you have any experience with this board, or have any general inquiries/things you'd like me to try.