mATX Mobos That Overclock

[Skott]

More people are getting into SFF and mATX builds now that more mATX mobos are able to overclock. We know the G33 and G35 chipset can overclock but often the manufacturers put limits on their mATX mobos to severely limit overclocking. Unsuspecting buyers buy one thinking it will overclock and find out to their disgust it wont. So I made a list of the ones that are confirmed overclockers to help people. Here are the ones that I know of that overclock decently to very good (as far as mATX goes).

ABIT F-!90 HD (Has a higher than normal death rate - Not Reccommended)
ASUS P5K-VM
ASUS P5E-VM HDMI (This new G35 is currently only availble in Europe but soon to relase elsewhere)
GA G33M DS2R (No 1:1 divider for 800MHz FSB CPU)
GA G33M-S2
MSI G33M-FI

All these mobos have different features and they all have some quirk about them. Be sure to research them thoroughly before buying. Also remember when it comes to overclocking your results may vary from other's results. Each of these mobos will do at least 333FSB and some will go 500FSB with a low multi (example: 6) chip or setting. Also take note that new BIOS often come out that alters or enhances performance of these mobs so the info above is subject to change.

 

[manimal]

I have the F-190HD, its been running an 24/7 3.2 OC for 9 months. Alot of the people who had issues had overclocked while using the onboard graphics-bad idea- Ive actually helped 3 friends build SSFs with them and none of us have had any issues.

/my 2 cents

 

[Strebor]

Another good list, still gets updated from time to time.

 

[Skott]

Originally posted by: manimal
I have the F-190HD, its been running an 24/7 3.2 OC for 9 months. Alot of the people who had issues had overclocked while using the onboard graphics-bad idea- Ive actually helped 3 friends build SSFs with them and none of us have had any issues.

/my 2 cents

The higher than normal death rates apply to both those that run it stock and overclock. There doesnt seem to be one having a less chance than the other. Its something within the mobo itself. But when it does live it overclocks nicely which is why I put it on the list anyway but with a discliamer so people know about the potential problem. Also why I suggested to readers to research them all carefully before buying.

 

[gorobei]

are we talking about e21xx and e4xxx C2D or all C2D/Q (6x00,6x50)? After all the general point of OC is to get more performance out of a cheaper cpu. If the g33 and g35 only allow say a 30% OC on a conroe and not the typically expected 50% OC on allendale, then it should be mentioned.

 

[WoodButcher]

My only gripe with the P5K is the bios. It OCs' well as is, E and Q6600, but I think more tools like NB/SB vcore would be helpful to get higher. As to the question of overclocking a lesser chip to get better performance what's wrong with OCing a good chip more? I mean if your funds are limited sure, it's a good way to go.
It seems to me that Skott has a "top dog" lanbox there as for me I like building small for the challenge involved, I'm not a gamer so the vid card is not as important. I went with the quad because I do use a design software that bogs my conroe at times so I would not consider a lesser cpu as my E6600 is also OCed.

 

[Trevante]

Originally posted by: gorobei
are we talking about e21xx and e4xxx C2D or all C2D/Q (6x00,6x50)? After all the general point of OC is to get more performance out of a cheaper cpu. If the g33 and g35 only allow say a 30% OC on a conroe and not the typically expected 50% OC on allendale, then it should be mentioned.

G33 overclocks all chips just fine. It's basically P35 but with onboard video. G35 (X38) should produce similar, if not better results. As long as you keep it cool, you shouldn't have many problems overclocking with a G33 chipset.

EDIT:

http://www.vr-zone.com/article...E-VM_HDMI/5427-10.html

Asus' G35 board did 7x540 with an E6850 on the stock cooler.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Trevante
G33 overclocks all chips just fine

It isn't the chipset itself that is the limiting factor, but the motherboard manufacturer that doesn't include enough functional BIOS settings.

 

[PClark99]

it should be noted that if the F4A beta bios is used with the Gigabyte DSR2 it does have a working 1:1 memory ratio.

 

[Trevante]

Originally posted by: PClark99
it should be noted that if the F4A beta bios is used with the Gigabyte DSR2 it does have a working 1:1 memory ratio.

Only for 1066FSB chips. No bios for the DS2R allows 1:1 for 800FSB chips.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Skott
ASUS P5E-VM HDMI (This new G35 is currently only availble in Europe but soon to relase elsewhere)

Looks like Newegg has it in stock. VR-Zone and OCWorkbench have reviewed it. VR-Zone got 540MHz FSB out of it. Looks to have just about EVERYTHING in the BIOS. Black PCB is oh so sexy!

 

[Skott]

Yes, the P5E-VM HDMI is out for USA now and someone hit 600fsb with it. It wasnt a stable 600fsb though just a max. Been a few days since I last looked what the guys over at XS are getting so maybe they have pushed past 600fsb.

 

[PClark99]

Originally posted by: Trevante

Originally posted by: PClark99
it should be noted that if the F4A beta bios is used with the Gigabyte DSR2 it does have a working 1:1 memory ratio.

Only for 1066FSB chips. No bios for the DS2R allows 1:1 for 800FSB chips.

Oops my bad....too much beer yesterday.

 

[Tenet]

OP Skott, that is a very useful post - thanks!

Whoever gave this topic a low rating, I hope they have the courage to explain why!

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: Skott
Yes, the P5E-VM HDMI is out for USA now and someone hit 600fsb with it. It wasnt a stable 600fsb though just a max. Been a few days since I last looked what the guys over at XS are getting so maybe they have pushed past 600fsb.

Yeah, I've got one sitting under my Xmas tree right now. I'm excited about the HDMI port and the 45nm support. If Intel is forced to delay the mainstream Penryn parts I might go buy an e6750 to hold me over for awhile. But I think I'm going to put in one of those nice LG BlueRay.HD-DVD combo drives as my optical drive. With that HDMI port, once I finally get an HDTV set that unit will have a lot of compelling convergence options for us.

So tell us - how has your G33-based P5E system performed since you finished your build? any issues? It looks like you had to make pretty much no compromises in building it.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: Trevante

Originally posted by: gorobei
are we talking about e21xx and e4xxx C2D or all C2D/Q (6x00,6x50)? After all the general point of OC is to get more performance out of a cheaper cpu. If the g33 and g35 only allow say a 30% OC on a conroe and not the typically expected 50% OC on allendale, then it should be mentioned.

G33 overclocks all chips just fine. It's basically P35 but with onboard video. G35 (X38) should produce similar, if not better results. As long as you keep it cool, you shouldn't have many problems overclocking with a G33 chipset.

EDIT:

http://www.vr-zone.com/article...E-VM_HDMI/5427-10.html

Asus' G35 board did 7x540 with an E6850 on the stock cooler.

Man! What a kickass link. Thank you. You have just confirmed my decision to go with the P5E-VM HDMI. Coupled with my G.Skill DDR2-1000 memory and an e6750, that thing should rip... It's good to know I made the right mobo decision for once... and a 9900 3DMark06 with integrated graphics is unheard of! Maybe I can put off buying a video card for my new box for awhile...

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Skott
ASUS P5E-VM HDMI (This new G35 is currently only availble in Europe but soon to relase elsewhere)

Looks like Newegg has it in stock. VR-Zone and OCWorkbench have reviewed it. VR-Zone got 540MHz FSB out of it. Looks to have just about EVERYTHING in the BIOS. Black PCB is oh so sexy!

Yeah man, that sucker is a beauty. The prettiest Asus board I've ever seen.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
a 9900 3DMark06 with integrated graphics is unheard of!

FAIL. They used a Radeon 3850 for that score.

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
The prettiest Asus board I've ever seen.

Actually years ago Asus made a few random Black Editions of boards. But yeah, their puke yellow PCB color is getting kinda old.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky

Man! What a kickass link. Thank you. You have just confirmed my decision to go with the P5E-VM HDMI. Coupled with my G.Skill DDR2-1000 memory and an e6750, that thing should rip... It's good to know I made the right mobo decision for once... and a 9900 3DMark06 with integrated graphics is unheard of! Maybe I can put off buying a video card for my new box for awhile...

Duh... that was with an HD 3850 board.

 

[Tenet]

Originally posted by: Skott
More people are getting into SFF and mATX builds now that more mATX mobos are able to overclock. We know the G33 and G35 chipset can overclock but often the manufacturers put limits on their mATX mobos to severely limit overclocking. Unsuspecting buyers buy one thinking it will overclock and find out to their disgust it wont. So I made a list of the ones that are confirmed overclockers to help people. Here are the ones that I know of that overclock decently to very good (as far as mATX goes).

ABIT F-!90 HD (Has a higher than normal death rate - Not Reccommended)
ASUS P5K-VM
ASUS P5E-VM HDMI (This new G35 is currently only availble in Europe but soon to relase elsewhere)
GA G33M DS2R (No 1:1 divider for 800MHz FSB CPU)
GA G33M-FI
MSI G33M-S2

Skott, while trying to do some research on these boards, I found that the brands on the last two you listed are reversed. It should be MSI G33M-FI, and GA G33M-S2, right?

Thanks again for the thread!

 

[Skott]

Yep, you are correct. Nice catch. Thanks. Corrected my post.

 

[gorobei]

posted another p5e vm hdmi review in the MB forum g35 topic.

But more interesting is the Q35 chipset on the Asus p5e vm DO.
http://www.superwarehouse.com/...P=KAC-PositionTechFeed
can't seem to find any real reviews on it. Looks like the p5k vm with a chip update(given the older gen MB gold solder resist layer). Seems to be marketed at people needing/wanting quad core uATX but no OC.