DFI UT P35-T2R: Tweakers Rejoice!
by Rajinder Gill on October 18, 2007 2:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
All Other Sub-Timings-
Using AUTO for all sub-timings is generally acceptable until we start pushing for every last MHz of bandwidth and latency. The BIOS defaults are generally tight enough for very good performance on 24/7 PCs. The BIOS profiles we are including in this article have been tuned for maximum performance while retaining full system stability. We used Memset 3.3 while running Microsoft XP to check where the AUTO DRAM timing defaults set the memory parameters. The timings shown by Memset were noted by us and entered manually into the relevant BIOS functions. We then began to tighten these values one at a time, noting the effects of any changes on bandwidth, latency, and stability.
For benchmarking we tend to use Memset once the XP operating system has loaded rather than entering overly tight settings directly in the BIOS. We can then begin to tighten the sub-timings far beyond 24/7 settings. We have attached Memset screenshots for both our 24/7 stable and sub-zero benchmarking so that users can see how far we were able to push for maximum scores.
Additional Setting Ranges:
MCH ODT Latency: ODT (On Die Termination) is used to match the MCH output impedance to the termination resistance of the RAM. Use of 1-2 is fine in most cases. Even for 4GB overclocking we did not find that more than a setting of 1 was required.
Write to PRE Delay (tWR): Range is from 10-13. For high RAM speed, use 12 and above for stability; for benchmarking 10-12 will be faster. Lower is faster.
Rank Write to Read (tWTR): Range is 9-11. Use 11 for stability and 10 or 9 for benchmarking. Lower is faster.
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD): Range is 2-5. 3 is a good setting that allows high enough FSBs for most users. Higher numbers result in less memory read performance.
Read to Write Delay (tRDWR): Range is 8-9. 8 is ideal for most users; higher values are slower.
Ranks Write to Write (tWRWR): AUTO
Ranks Read to Read (tRDRD): AUTO
Ranks Write to Read (tWRRD): AUTO
The ranges for all these settings are quite well manipulated by SPD and BIOS. For those wishing to experiment, 4 is the lowest and most aggressive setting. 5-4-5 may work for SuperPi type benching. There is a slight write/copy speed increase with tighter settings, but this is only useful for the extracting the last ounce of performance. For stability these are best left on AUTO
Read CAS# Precharge (tRTP): 2-3 works well on this board for most users. 2 is used for benchmarking while 3 and upwards are best for stability.
ALL PRE to Refresh: Range is 4-5. 4 works fine with quad-core CPUs all the way to 475 FSB. A setting of 4 is fine for most benchmarking, unless shooting high over 500FSB.
Using AUTO for all sub-timings is generally acceptable until we start pushing for every last MHz of bandwidth and latency. The BIOS defaults are generally tight enough for very good performance on 24/7 PCs. The BIOS profiles we are including in this article have been tuned for maximum performance while retaining full system stability. We used Memset 3.3 while running Microsoft XP to check where the AUTO DRAM timing defaults set the memory parameters. The timings shown by Memset were noted by us and entered manually into the relevant BIOS functions. We then began to tighten these values one at a time, noting the effects of any changes on bandwidth, latency, and stability.
For benchmarking we tend to use Memset once the XP operating system has loaded rather than entering overly tight settings directly in the BIOS. We can then begin to tighten the sub-timings far beyond 24/7 settings. We have attached Memset screenshots for both our 24/7 stable and sub-zero benchmarking so that users can see how far we were able to push for maximum scores.
Additional Setting Ranges:
MCH ODT Latency: ODT (On Die Termination) is used to match the MCH output impedance to the termination resistance of the RAM. Use of 1-2 is fine in most cases. Even for 4GB overclocking we did not find that more than a setting of 1 was required.
Write to PRE Delay (tWR): Range is from 10-13. For high RAM speed, use 12 and above for stability; for benchmarking 10-12 will be faster. Lower is faster.
Rank Write to Read (tWTR): Range is 9-11. Use 11 for stability and 10 or 9 for benchmarking. Lower is faster.
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD): Range is 2-5. 3 is a good setting that allows high enough FSBs for most users. Higher numbers result in less memory read performance.
Read to Write Delay (tRDWR): Range is 8-9. 8 is ideal for most users; higher values are slower.
Ranks Write to Write (tWRWR): AUTO
Ranks Read to Read (tRDRD): AUTO
Ranks Write to Read (tWRRD): AUTO
The ranges for all these settings are quite well manipulated by SPD and BIOS. For those wishing to experiment, 4 is the lowest and most aggressive setting. 5-4-5 may work for SuperPi type benching. There is a slight write/copy speed increase with tighter settings, but this is only useful for the extracting the last ounce of performance. For stability these are best left on AUTO
Read CAS# Precharge (tRTP): 2-3 works well on this board for most users. 2 is used for benchmarking while 3 and upwards are best for stability.
ALL PRE to Refresh: Range is 4-5. 4 works fine with quad-core CPUs all the way to 475 FSB. A setting of 4 is fine for most benchmarking, unless shooting high over 500FSB.
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Acanthus - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
Although all of the tweaking options provided are nice, it literally does no better than Asus P5K Deluxe or the Gigabyte P35-DQ6.Furthermore with X38 boards on the way, im not seeing a whole lot of incentive for this $300 motherboard.
Just my $.02
retrospooty - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
This board has hit 672mhz FSB, far FAR higher than any other other board ever, including early samples of X38. Not likely to be matched until the DFI X38 comes out.http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php...">http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php...
This link shows it at 666mhz, I cant find the 672mhz one at the moment, but its on the same forum, by the same guy with the same golden CPU.
cmdrdredd - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
Not usable 24/7WHO CARES!?
retrospooty - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
Well, it still goes alot higher than the others you mentioned, it is absolutely the best overclocking motherboard available. - that was what I responded too, obviously its not the one for you.Acanthus - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
That is from the DFI labs... with a beta board... on supercooling...and volt mods... on a dual core CPU that doesnt stress the PWMs...Anandtechs results even using phase dont approach those results.
retrospooty - Friday, October 19, 2007 - link
No, that is not from DFI labs, that is an independant dood, and CPU's that hit that high FSB are pretty rare.Whatever man, you can poo poo it all you want. It is the best OC mobo out there, and goes higher and takes it farther than any other. It may not be the one for you though.
Raja Gill - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
You need to remember that this board was compared at stock settings, not OC'ed, things change up top...;), not to mention we could not get the board to crash..regards
Raja
Acanthus - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
Its the same chipset, its not going magically increase in a non-linear fashion.The P5K and DQ6 hit the same maximum overclock.
MadBoris - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
It makes sense that article takes a different approach, customers of this board or tweakers in general, will really appreciate the fine details.Personally, in the last ten years I have gotten to a place where I am very comfortable not pushing for the last 100 - 300 mhz. The meager tangible return is not worth all the extra voltage or potential stability issues that often come up later in the life of the HW due to creep, dust, aging paste, etc. I get a nice stress test capable OC, then back it up a notch. I won't win any 3dmark awards that way though but am very satisfied with stability when a new product stresses HW in ways not stressed before.
One thing for sure with this board, I wouldn't want to lose the CMOS, then have to remember all my settings after a year.
Nice board and good article, $300 is too much though for a MB for me. It's definitely elite.
retrospooty - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
Its alot of reading, but that is because the DFI is alot of motherboard. I have had it since it was first released and loving every minute of it. I have a C2D 6750 running at 8x500 fsb for a sweet 4 ghz on water at DDR2 1000 4-4-4-10 timing, man is it sweet.There are sooooo many bios tweaks to get better performance, or stability at high overclock - its definitely not for beginners... worth every penny of the $300 I spent.