Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3: Lab Testing Update
by Gary Key on January 4, 2007 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Test Applications
We are utilizing an abbreviated set of benchmarks to show the impact of the overclocking improvements upon memory performance, general applications, and a couple of games. We will utilize SiSoft Sandra 2007 for the Buffered and Unbuffered memory scores; SuperPi 1.5 1M, Nero Recode 2 utilizing Office Space DVD conversion, and WinRAR 3.61 along with our custom 602MB directory test for general reference scores. Our Quake game benchmark utilizes the IdNetDemo demo recording. This includes mainly outdoor areas with numerous players trying to eliminate each other. We tested the game with High Quality settings (uncompressed normal maps), and we enabled all the advanced graphics options except for VSync. This game is sensitive to memory latency changes and is a good indicator of how memory settings can affect the performance of certain games. Our Battlefield 2 benchmark utilizes our in-house recording based on the 1.3 release. This recording includes numerous players and vehicles battling it out on the Daqing Oilfield map. We tested the game with High Quality settings enabled. We have found this game to be sensitive to both CPU and GPU changes. Since our GPU remains constant we will see the effects of our FSB overclocking along with memory latency changes on the final score.
In our memory synthetic tests we see the results at 7x266 FSB are nearly the same between the F6 and F9 BIOS releases, indicating no real changes in the internal BIOS settings. The general application and game tests follow the same path with the differences being minor. This confirms what Gigabyte told us: they have further optimized the BIOS for overclocking without affecting the stock performance adversely.
However, we do see minor differences in the benchmark results due to the relaxed memory timings when compared to the Biostar TForce P965PT running at the same 7x505 FSB settings. Although there are performance differences between the 7x455 and 7x505 settings on the DS3 we find they are very minor overall and bode well for users who have DDR2 memory that is capable of low latency settings at the 450FSB level on this board. We feel like the 450 to 470 FSB range on this board is optimal due to memory timings, the ability to use most DDR2-800 modules at these memory speeds, and the ability to run the CPU, MCH, FSB, and memory voltages at lower values when overclocking on a 24/7 basis.
Current Thoughts
Gigabyte has certainly improved the overclocking ability of the GA-965P-DS3 motherboard with the F9 BIOS. Overall, we were very pleased with performance results of the new BIOS. We were afraid the overclocking improvements would come at the expense of system stability or would not address issues such as the cold boot problems we previously encountered during overclocking - this particular glitch would result in the board returning to stock settings.
However, we did note that memory timings suffered at the new overclock levels when compared to other boards, even if the performance differences are minor and certainly not noticeable in day to day activities when using the system. While the board still does not live up to its overclocking potential in our opinion, we do commend Gigabyte on the continual improvements they have made in each BIOS - unfortunately sometimes fixing problems caused by a previous release. We have also found Gigabyte to be very sensitive to customer complaints or suggestions, and while their BIOS releases have not always been timely in addressing issues, they have been very responsive in addressing these requests. We already see further improvements in their new product releases and we will be able to share those results in the very near future.
We are utilizing an abbreviated set of benchmarks to show the impact of the overclocking improvements upon memory performance, general applications, and a couple of games. We will utilize SiSoft Sandra 2007 for the Buffered and Unbuffered memory scores; SuperPi 1.5 1M, Nero Recode 2 utilizing Office Space DVD conversion, and WinRAR 3.61 along with our custom 602MB directory test for general reference scores. Our Quake game benchmark utilizes the IdNetDemo demo recording. This includes mainly outdoor areas with numerous players trying to eliminate each other. We tested the game with High Quality settings (uncompressed normal maps), and we enabled all the advanced graphics options except for VSync. This game is sensitive to memory latency changes and is a good indicator of how memory settings can affect the performance of certain games. Our Battlefield 2 benchmark utilizes our in-house recording based on the 1.3 release. This recording includes numerous players and vehicles battling it out on the Daqing Oilfield map. We tested the game with High Quality settings enabled. We have found this game to be sensitive to both CPU and GPU changes. Since our GPU remains constant we will see the effects of our FSB overclocking along with memory latency changes on the final score.
 |
| Click to enlarge |
In our memory synthetic tests we see the results at 7x266 FSB are nearly the same between the F6 and F9 BIOS releases, indicating no real changes in the internal BIOS settings. The general application and game tests follow the same path with the differences being minor. This confirms what Gigabyte told us: they have further optimized the BIOS for overclocking without affecting the stock performance adversely.
However, we do see minor differences in the benchmark results due to the relaxed memory timings when compared to the Biostar TForce P965PT running at the same 7x505 FSB settings. Although there are performance differences between the 7x455 and 7x505 settings on the DS3 we find they are very minor overall and bode well for users who have DDR2 memory that is capable of low latency settings at the 450FSB level on this board. We feel like the 450 to 470 FSB range on this board is optimal due to memory timings, the ability to use most DDR2-800 modules at these memory speeds, and the ability to run the CPU, MCH, FSB, and memory voltages at lower values when overclocking on a 24/7 basis.
Current Thoughts
Gigabyte has certainly improved the overclocking ability of the GA-965P-DS3 motherboard with the F9 BIOS. Overall, we were very pleased with performance results of the new BIOS. We were afraid the overclocking improvements would come at the expense of system stability or would not address issues such as the cold boot problems we previously encountered during overclocking - this particular glitch would result in the board returning to stock settings.
However, we did note that memory timings suffered at the new overclock levels when compared to other boards, even if the performance differences are minor and certainly not noticeable in day to day activities when using the system. While the board still does not live up to its overclocking potential in our opinion, we do commend Gigabyte on the continual improvements they have made in each BIOS - unfortunately sometimes fixing problems caused by a previous release. We have also found Gigabyte to be very sensitive to customer complaints or suggestions, and while their BIOS releases have not always been timely in addressing issues, they have been very responsive in addressing these requests. We already see further improvements in their new product releases and we will be able to share those results in the very near future.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
14 Comments
View All Comments
WooTzu - Monday, January 22, 2007 - link
Look on the overclocked boards picture on the last page of the review, what is up with that fancy mobo at the bottom. Why can't I find this board anywhere, it's number 1, it should be in a brown box being under the arm of a cute UPS girl heading to my house.Where oh where can I buy this board???
handydave - Tuesday, January 9, 2007 - link
I purchased one of these boards and I've had on and off problems. When I originally got it, it wouldn't boot. I removed everything from the system other than the memory, video card, and processor, and it still wouldn't boot. Since I didn't have any other components to test, I took it to a local tech store. Turns out, the bios wouldn't work with the 1Gig of PC2-6700 memory (1x1Gig Patriot PEP21G6400LL). It was Bios Ver 3. So I ended up purchasing 512Meg of PC2-4200 Memory (Generic) so I could atleast work on the machine. I returned the memory and picked up a different brand of PC2-6700 memory(2x1Gig Crucial Technology Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA804). That wouldn't work either. But then Gigabyte released a new BIOS which allowed the new memory to work, so I thought.That didn't solve my problem. The new memory worked, but the machine was very unstable. It would reboot 2-4 times a week with unknown driver errors. I couldn't encode any videos(Divx, PSPVideo 9 and others) as it would crash 1/2 way through the processes. I tried every bios out there with the same results. So this weekend, I picked up some PNY Optima 2x512Meg PC2-5300 and it seems to work ok. At least is hasn't bluescreened and my videos are encoding.
This was one of the worst experiences I ever had with building a system in my 20+ years and I have all this extra memory I needed to puchase to get it to work. If your going to buy this board, be very careful of the memory you use.
Zoomer - Monday, January 15, 2007 - link
That's a well documented problem. Just increase Vmem to 2.1v or so and you'll be fine.damolinx - Sunday, January 7, 2007 - link
F9 was a no go for me. I tried the same settings I have been using with F7 (which are not even the maximum I have stably achieved) and i would not work. My problem seems with te video card, as the computer seems to boot and you can "listen" to the booting process in the HDD, but no video at all; the video card fan will stay at its maximum speed.Last time I experienced this behavior was because I was not locking the PCIe speed at 100MHZ, and my ATI X1800XL seems to be very sensitive about it (not a god overclocker on its own either).
I tried setting the PCIe frequency to AUTO and to 100MHz with no luck. Have anyone tested frequency locking is working?
For the time being, is back to F7.
oldhoss - Thursday, January 4, 2007 - link
Gary, any chance on doing a follow-up of the S3? Was thinking of pulling the trigger on that one, since the DS3 is still out of stock at a certain large online retailer. Also, it was mentioned in a previous article that the Crucial 10th anniversary memory was highly recommended for the platform. It is no longer available. Could you or someone recommend a reasonably priced alternative to Geil?Thanks much!
oldhoss
Baked - Thursday, January 4, 2007 - link
Been using this mobo since its debut. I'm currently running F6 BIOS, and don't plan to update to the newer BIOS unless I run into problems. It's been rock solid for me. You can find my system spec in my profile.Let's just say if you can't get this mobo stable, you should probably go buy a pre-built. :rolleyes;
tayhimself - Thursday, January 4, 2007 - link
How much is AT being paid by Gigabyte to write glowing and gushing articles about bios releases for their boards?You say its one of your favourite boards, but forget to mention why? Why would anyone get this over an P5B Deluxe?
imaheadcase - Thursday, January 4, 2007 - link
They said in the article why its a favorite board..as why it is to lots of people.HomeChicken - Thursday, January 4, 2007 - link
Even though anandtech recommends the E6300 and E6400 chips for the DS3, does anyone know if there are any improvements for E6600 overclocking with the F9 BIOS?Right now I can't seem to reach 400x9 so I have to settle for 390x9. I have a DS3 F7, E6600, custom water cooling (keeps temps below 45C load), and OCZ 2GB PC6400 4-5-4-15. If F9 doesn't help I will try reducing the multiplier for 450x8, but I would have to do further testing to ensure my memory will hold up at 900MHz.
Spacecomber - Thursday, January 4, 2007 - link
I was under the impression that these two Gigabyte boards functionally were very similar, but the DS3 uses the better capacitors. Does this mean the issues and the current state of their resolution (or non-resolution) is about the same for these two boards?