Gigabyte xs48-ds5

Hi all,

i have just aquired a Gigabyte X48-DS5 mainboard , Intel X3350 CPU, PC2-6400 corsair RAM (CM2X2048-8500C5D).
being a complete newb to the OC world i am just experimenting with very modest increases ( would be happy with a 365-400 fsb for now). Heats not a prob as cpu temp is currently 24c (has air cooler).

even the slightest increase in freq. - using the bios M.I.T. (Mungbeans inteligent tweaker)
causes the host freq. controller to default to "disabled" and return to 2.66.

i have tried various settings found on the few sites with info on this MB eg. using standard volts, timings, disabling/enabling settings that should effect it - but to no avail.

any help or direction appreciated

TY

 

The very basic of overclocking Core 2 is multiply the bus speed by the core ratio. Take your CPU for example:

1333 / 4 x 8 = 2666 or 2.7Ghz stock (FSB is quad-pumped; always divide by 4)

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAX2

On Intel chipsets, changing the bus speed will also change the ram speed. cpu & ram are linked at a ratio. i.e. 1:1, 1:2, etc. Your ram must be capable to handle high speeds. By default, your ram will be:

333 x 2 = 666Mhz (DDR2 is double-rated; always multiply by 2)

Download & write this to floppy/cd/dvd:

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

You can start at 400mhz which can be done on most new Core 2 builds. Your speeds will be:

8 x 400 = 3.2Ghz CPU
2 x 400 = 800Mhz RAM

I suggest you start fresh, clear cmos, load defaults in bios, go to MIT (I don't think you need to press CTRL F1 keys since Gigabyte has unlocked MIT in new boards), enable CPU host clock control, enter 400 in cpu host freq:

http://www.hardwareoc.at/Mainboard/Gigabyte-X48-DS5-29.jpg

Switch Sys. volt control to manual, change DDR2 overvoltage control to +0.3v (disregard the red/pink text), leave everything else at auto, press F10 to save & exit bios.

http://www.hardwareoc.at/Mainboard/Gigabyte-X48-DS5-31.jpg

If it won't post, clear cmos & start fresh like mentioned above. I don't know Gigabyte's recovery method. My DFI lets me restore bios defaults by pressing both RESET & POWER buttons at the same time. Gotta love that. I think GB's is pressing RESET a few times in quick succession. Only a few settings are restored so that your cpu & ram are back to stock and you can go to bios to play again.

Once the pc gets past post, boot up the memtest disk and wait for 1 pass. Any errors mean you need to change some settings in bios. You can keep the same settings as above, but increase the cpu voltage by a notch up to 1.45v on air, and keep FSB at around 1.55v & MCH at around 1.4v.

Once memtest passes 1 time, boot up windows, google "orthos x2", run BLEND test for 8 hours. If it stops prematurely, go back to bios & up the CPU/FSB/MCH voltages within the limits.

You have to keep trying & don't give up. You will succeed eventually, you'll get more and more adventurous & join the o/c club.

 

Thanks heaps - Love your work.

have tried with the ram timings @800 and sys locked up after a few mins.

I'll try with the Volt adjusts, thanks again, you have me on the right track probably just being too cautious and these things seem very forgiving