MY 8INXP Experience FIXED!!!

[jdogg707]

Well, I like so many others went out and spent to much on my Gigabyte 8INXP because the promise of high overclocks and Dual Channel DDR were almost to good to be true! So far I have had good luck, but have run into a snag or two along the way...so here is what I have observed!

1. Where do you adjust RAM timings??? I can't find it anywhere in the BIOS and I'd like to run very agressive RAM timings especially since I've got XMS DDR 400 running at
around 330MHZ!

2. The board overclocks quite well...I have a 2.26GHZ P4 with Swiftech MCX478 that is sitting at 2.77GHZ or 163MHZ FSB at default voltages...will try going higher later!

3. At those speeds here are a few bench results:

System Specs:

Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.26GHZ@2.77GHZ (FSB:163)
Gigabyte 8INXP
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200 DDR RAM
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB DDR Video Card
Western Digital 120GB SE Hard Drive
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum
Windows XP Professional

-PC Mark 2002:

CPU: 6663
Memory: 7880
Hard Drive: 1048

-SiSoft Sandra 2002 SP1:

CPU Arithemtic: ALU: 5334, FPU/SSE2: 1433/3355
CPU Multimedia: Integer SSE2: 10752, Floating Point SSE2: 13473
Memory Benchmark: 3890/3895

-3DMark 2001SE:

Default: 15,055

Well...I'm off to try and hit a higher bar with these things, will update with better scores!

 

[dmhinz]

I also just got the board. It is very nice.

1) To access the memory timings, you have to press ctrl+F1 at the same time and it bring up a hidden menu.

2) I got my 2.8 to do 150x21 = 3.16 GHz and I'm sure it would have gone higher....

I am having serious problems w/ my Radeon 9700 Pro at any FSB past 133 - the system drops into 256 color and a pop-up flashes warning of a device failure. The computer locks up in PC Mark so I know it's video related.

What version catalyst drivers are you using? Someone else mentioned that my problem might be a result of a low revision Radeon - what revision is your card, it is stamped next to the serial number. I know that my problem isn't power related so it has to be video.

-D

 

[pape]

You should be able to lock the PCI/AGP bus in the bios. Then it won't use the FSB to determine the speed of the AGP

 

[dmhinz]

The video is crashing even w/ the AGP/PCI locked at stock tried that right off the bat....

-D

 

[Kowan]

dmhinz
On Asusboards, some have stated locking the PCI/AGP to 34/68 has cured their problems with the GA-8INXP.

 

[dmhinz]

Thanks, I'll try anything to get this baby to run past 133 - your tip is much appreciated!

-D

 

[jdogg707]

I am using the new Catalyst 3.0's and am having the same difficulties with my 9700, hopefully the trick stated below will fix the problem.
Going to update benches tonight...Fresh Install with all updates...

 

[jdogg707]

Tried upping the PCI/AGP to 34/68, still got the same problem, trying 34/69...hopefully this will work...

 

[dmhinz]

I also upped the AGP voltage by one and that seed to help.

-D

 

[jdogg707]

thanks, I'll try that too, because it crashed yet again

 

[Ajaykay]

I've been running the 8INXP now for 3 weeks and had the problem with the 9700pro. What worked for me was raising the AGP/PCI lock as you've done (just one increment) and turning off Fast Writes in the ATI Control Panel.

Running rock stable now at 165 FSB -- Corsair XMS3200C2 @ 2-2-2-5.

Still using the F2 BIOS that came with the board. I'll update to F3 when Gigabyte sees fit to put the new BIOS on their site for d/l. And I'll hope that a new BIOS or ATI driver update will solve the FastWrite issue.

But for now, I am content at 165FSB -- certainly quick enough for my needs!

 

[jdogg707]

I will try upping the fast writes thing...hopefully I'll get some results...I'll post something tonight...thanks!

 

[jdogg707]

Ok, this has moved past ultra crap...I have tried every solution, go to 34/68, go to 34/68 and disable fast writes, go to 34/68 and up voltage by .1, and still nothing...why is this not working!!!!!!!!! Does anyone else have a solution? I am getting ticked here!

 

[Kowan]

jdogg707
Try this tip posted by bigtoe33,

Originally posted by: bigtoe33
Try setting your fsb...then reboot and go back to bios...set the pci lock to anything BUT 33/66 and reboot again.This should set the lock.

 

[jdogg707]

Tried that, no go. AHHHH, I'm very close to sending this back for an 845PE board.

 

[dmhinz]

I'd sell it on Ebay before you send it back - I saw one sell last week for over $500.....think of it as compensation for pain & suffering

-D

 

[jdogg707]

Now that my Granite Bay is broken, what would be a good replacement for it? Which 845PE board will give me a good overclock and a great features?

 

[jdogg707]

IT WORKS!!!!! Just switched out for a new card and the Radeon 9700 Pro works at any setting I can throw at it with 34/68 fixed!!!! Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[ShoNuff]

Originally posted by: jdogg707
IT WORKS!!!!! Just switched out for a new card and the Radeon 9700 Pro works at any setting I can throw at it with 34/68 fixed!!!! Thanks for everyone's help!

I was reading this thread and I was wondering what you were going to do next if you did not find a solution to your problem.

 

[poMONKey]

sorry... you switched out for a new radeon 9700 card???

it was a defective vid card the whole time?!

 

[jdogg707]

Yes, apparently something was wrong with the card...it's a little crazy to think that, but I guess in hardware anything is possible

 

[poMONKey]

excellent news! youd be waiting until spring before you got another 8inxp

 

[jdogg707]

I know, it's crazy, I feel a little stupid for spending as much as I did on this board, but man is it worth it...my whole setup flies with Unreal Tournmanet 2K3 at 1280x1024 with everything on and 6x AA and 16X AF, awesome I must say. I tried it at 166, it seemed to work great and then failed on me after a few Prime95 tests. I also must admit that the extra boost in memory performance is definately nice when doing video editing, my renders seem much quicker and compiling everything is a snap...Photoshop 7 and Premiere both love this board!!!