![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Wednesday, October 10, 2007
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
GIGABYTE X38-DQ6
Supporting the latest Intel X38 chipset and DDR2 memory, GIGABYTE’s latest addition to their DQ6 line of boards, the X38-DQ6, seems to hold a lot of promise.
BIOS
The X38-DQ6 uses a Phoenix AwardBIOS style template for presenting the BIOS options to the user. The BIOS used for testing and shown below is version F4.
The Advanced BIOS Features menu contains various settings for configuring system initialization, including CPU specific settings. The CPU settings available include limit CPUID value, Execute Disable Bit, C1E support, CPU thermal shutdown control, CPU EIST, and Vanderpool virtualization technology. A properly connected and detected USB device shows as a valid list item within the Hard Disk Boot Priority submenu. The priority of specific items in this menu can be changed using either the + and – keys or the PageUp and PageDown keys.
The Integrated Peripherals menu contains configuration options for the board integrated devices, including al RAID ports, the USB ports, IEEE 1394 ports, LAN ports, and audio subsystem. The operational state of the ICH9R RAID controller and SATA 2 ports is controlled via the SATA RAID/AHCI Mode and SATA Port0-3 Native Mode options, with the RAID boot BIOS active on startup with the SATA RAID/AHCI Mode option set to RAID contains numerous submenus for configuring the system integrated devices. The GIGABYTE controller is configured via the Onboard SATA/IDE Device and Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode options, with its RAID boot BIOS active with the Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode option set to RAID/IDE.
The PnP/PCI Configurations menu contains configuration settings for the system IRQ ports, with PCI devices able to be set to an integer value between 3 and 15. If the option is left set to Auto, the system automatically configures the IRQ assignment.
The PC Health Status menu contains real-time status output of all BIOS monitored voltages, temperatures and fan header speeds, as well as system monitored event configuration. A warning beep is emitted via the internal speaker when the CPU temperature exceeds the setting in the CPU Warning Temperature option, when enabled. The CPU Smart Fan Control option enables the ability to set the CPU fan header for 3-pin or 4-pin operating mode.
The MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.) menu contains all system overclocking related options, including speed, voltage, and memory timing related settings. The Robust Graphics Booster option controls the aggressiveness of the graphics card bus settings, with the Turbo option giving the best overall performance. The CPU Clock Ratio option controls the CPU multiplier, while the CPU Host Frequency(MHz) option determines the CPU FSB speed up to a maximum of 700MHz. The CPU operating speed is determined by multiplying these two settings together. The PCI Express slot speed is controlled through the PCI Express Frequency(MHz) option, with a 150MHz maximum allowed. The C.I.A.2 option controls the GIGABYTE dynamic overclocking engine, with several pre-configured levels of overclocking available. The Performance Enhance option controls how aggressively the internal chipset timing settings are configured. The system memory speed is configured via a series of multipliers listed under the System Memory Multiplier (SPD) option. Note that the memory speed based on the currently selected FSB and memory multiplier setting is listed within the read-only Memory Frequency option.
With the DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) option set to Manual, all memory timing related options become user configurable, which include the following: CAS latency; RAS to CAS delay; RAS precharge delay; active to precharge delay (Precharge Delay (tRAS)); RAS to RAS delay (ACT to ACT Time (tRRD)); write to read delay; write to precharge delay; active refresh delay (Refresh to ACT Delay); read to precharge delay; row precharge delay (tRD); and row precharge phase adjustment (tRD Phase Adjustment); and command rate (Command to #CS Timing). Note that on the memory timings listed, the numerically lower setting forces more aggressive memory operation.
The system voltage settings become user accessible with the System Voltage Control option set to Manual. The memory voltage, configured via the DDR2 OverVoltage Control option, can be set to a maximum of +1.55V over their default setting. The PCI-E OverVoltage Control option controls the PCI Express slot voltage setting, with a maximum of +0.35V settable. The Northbridge voltage is controlled via the FSB OverVoltage Control option, again allowing a +0.35V maximum. The Southbridge voltage is set via the (G)MCH OverVoltage Control setting, with a reasonable +0.375V setting allowed. The CPU voltage is controlled via the CPU Voltage Control option, with this setting allowing a more than reasonable 2.35V maximum equating to a full 1V over the default core voltage.
From within the BIOS main menu, you have the option of saving up to 10 BIOS profiles to backup memory by pressing the F11 key, or loading previously saved BIOS profiles via the F12 key.
Pressing F8 loads the Q-Flash BIOS updater, which allows for BIOS file loading and saving to any currently connected devices including USB drives.