DFI UT P35-T2R: Tweakers Rejoice!
by Rajinder Gill on October 18, 2007 2:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Even More BIOS Settings
PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Leaving this function set to Auto works very well within the FSB limits of the board for normal everyday use. For maximum performance and benchmark runs, we took a look at possible manual setting ranges.
Performance Level settings with the 266/667 strap/divider-
Level 5 is usable up to ~ 410FSB
Level 6 up to 475FSB using 2GB of RAM with quad-core CPUs
Performance Level settings with the 333/800 strap/divider-
Use level 7, this is good up to ~ 495FSB with the quad-core CPUs. Dual-core CPUs can use this strap/divider combination for benchmarking in excess of 500FSB if the CPU is capable of these FSB rates.
TRD PHASE ADJUST-
This BIOS function is best explored by more advanced tweakers and benchmarkers; our own findings are as follows.
Options for this function are between AUTO and ENABLED
Default for all phases is AUTO (this sets the current PERFORMANCE LEVEL in the DRAM page).
AUTO is best used for all phases when using the 266 chipset strap and associated dividers. The 266 strap is generally quite aggressive and does not allow lowering of Performance Level phases. Users can safely stay at AUTO without sacrificing large amounts of performance. For crazy tweakers, read on...
There are five phases of the Performance Level (TRD) cycle per channel;
'ENABLED': Sets the corresponding phase of the TRD cycle to -1. If we set a Performance Level of 7 in the DRAM page, using ENABLED for any of the phases will set the Performance Level of the selected Phase to 6, i.e. TRD -1 for the corresponding phase and channel.
Both channels have independent phase adjustments, and the maximum advantage of setting a phase to ENABLED occurs when the same phase from both channels is set to ENABLED simultaneously. (Check the 333/800 BIOS profile for a possible usage combination).
Using the 1333 strap has an immediate impact upon memory latency, which can be overcome in part by using a higher FSB level on a lower multiplier for an equivalent CPU MHz speed (assuming we stick to using the same strap). By manipulating combinations of the TRD phases together for both channels it is possible to reclaim some of the memory latency and bandwidth loss without the need for a large increase of FSB. The lowering of TRD phases is especially useful for 4GB overclocking with the 333/800 strap/divider and benchmarking at high FSBs with dual-core CPUs, again using the 333 strap.
PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Leaving this function set to Auto works very well within the FSB limits of the board for normal everyday use. For maximum performance and benchmark runs, we took a look at possible manual setting ranges.
Performance Level settings with the 266/667 strap/divider-
Level 5 is usable up to ~ 410FSB
Level 6 up to 475FSB using 2GB of RAM with quad-core CPUs
Performance Level settings with the 333/800 strap/divider-
Use level 7, this is good up to ~ 495FSB with the quad-core CPUs. Dual-core CPUs can use this strap/divider combination for benchmarking in excess of 500FSB if the CPU is capable of these FSB rates.
TRD PHASE ADJUST-
This BIOS function is best explored by more advanced tweakers and benchmarkers; our own findings are as follows.
Options for this function are between AUTO and ENABLED
Default for all phases is AUTO (this sets the current PERFORMANCE LEVEL in the DRAM page).
AUTO is best used for all phases when using the 266 chipset strap and associated dividers. The 266 strap is generally quite aggressive and does not allow lowering of Performance Level phases. Users can safely stay at AUTO without sacrificing large amounts of performance. For crazy tweakers, read on...
There are five phases of the Performance Level (TRD) cycle per channel;
'ENABLED': Sets the corresponding phase of the TRD cycle to -1. If we set a Performance Level of 7 in the DRAM page, using ENABLED for any of the phases will set the Performance Level of the selected Phase to 6, i.e. TRD -1 for the corresponding phase and channel.
Both channels have independent phase adjustments, and the maximum advantage of setting a phase to ENABLED occurs when the same phase from both channels is set to ENABLED simultaneously. (Check the 333/800 BIOS profile for a possible usage combination).
Using the 1333 strap has an immediate impact upon memory latency, which can be overcome in part by using a higher FSB level on a lower multiplier for an equivalent CPU MHz speed (assuming we stick to using the same strap). By manipulating combinations of the TRD phases together for both channels it is possible to reclaim some of the memory latency and bandwidth loss without the need for a large increase of FSB. The lowering of TRD phases is especially useful for 4GB overclocking with the 333/800 strap/divider and benchmarking at high FSBs with dual-core CPUs, again using the 333 strap.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
30 Comments
View All Comments
Rocket321 - Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - link
I would like to see the overclocking results put into a graph or chart of some kind.I guess tweakers might like the screenshots as "proof" that the overclock ran, but personally I trust you and would rather just have one place to look rather than clicking to enlarge multiple screenshots sequentially.
It was a great review though, I look forward to the future tweaker guides & reviews.
Raja Gill - Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - link
There will be a more typical Anandtech look to future articles, with the DFI board revisited for a round up on a suite of benchmarks, this will be used to cross compare with other boards, clocked to equivalent with board maximums in the range and voltage. In terms of the screenshots, it is nice to have 1 persons trust, but there are many we have to please and not everyone is always as convinced..thanks for the suggestions..
Next up is the Asus Maximus Formula..
regards
Raja
Jodiuh - Thursday, October 25, 2007 - link
Specifically Windvd conversions from divx/xvid to DVD would be wonderful as I've found this app benefits from a solid OC.beoba - Friday, October 19, 2007 - link
It'd be great if this came with a glossary."Strap"?
retrospooty - Saturday, October 20, 2007 - link
strap is a term used for memory clocking. for example, at 266mhz bus, memory can be "strapped" to one of the following.266x(stap2)=533 or DDR 1066
266x(strap1.5)=400 or DDR 800
266x(strap1.25)=333 or DDR 666
If you are running at stock 266 there is no way to have DDR 950 because it has to be strapped to one of the above settings.
I use the 1/1 strap so my bus speed is 500x(strap1)=500 or DDR 1000, in most cases 1/1 is the most efficient, if you can utilize it with your particular hardware, do it.
Avalon - Thursday, October 18, 2007 - link
Unfortunately, DFI's asking price of admission continues to rise for each new board they release. I was mildly annoyed when they started selling boards for $200+ that had little to no tangible benefit over $100-$150 boards, but now they're at the $300 mark? No thanks.This board is for someone who likes to spend his time tweaking and not actually using his computer.
retrospooty - Saturday, October 20, 2007 - link
"This board is for someone who likes to spend his time tweaking and not actually using his computer."The article title is called "Tweakers Rejoice" after all. The idea is not to tweak forever . I did spend alot of time over the first few weeks, but now that its tweaked, I just use it as is.
Avalon - Sunday, October 21, 2007 - link
Yes, I am quite capable of reading the article title. My whole point is that you are working for diminishing returns that I feel could be better spent using your system. If you're doing it to set a record, fantastic. I support that.retrospooty - Sunday, October 21, 2007 - link
Understood... This is obviously not the motherboard for you. I personally love the BIOS options and CMOS reloaded functionality. That alone makes the extra cost well worth it to me. Asus BIOS just sucks, and I have had too many quality problems with them in the past, and Gigabyte just underperforms. I like to know I will not be held back by my motherboard for the next couple of CPU's I buy (will likely get a dual core Penryn on release for under $200, then a high end quad core Penryn a year or so later when it is under $200).I do see your point, but in spite of this article's stock speed comparison (totally pointless for a OC geared mobo), and similar results with one particular CPU, that looks as if it has an FSB limit equal on all 3 boards (meaning the CPU is holding it back) This board overclocks and performs better than any ASUS, or Gigabyte, or any other board out there. If AT tested the max FSB limits on a dozen or so CPU's, or if they had a "golden sample" that had a high FSB limit, you would see the difference. Also if they had time to test many diff RAM stocks and to tweak the memory settings you would also see the difference. Its a good article, but no reviewer has time to really dig into this mobo and all it has to offer. I do feel the article did a good job at explaining that.
JNo - Sunday, October 21, 2007 - link
"I like to know I will not be held back by my motherboard for the next couple of CPU's I buy"I don't know much about overclocking and I hold your views valid Retrospooty but surely this is still a lot of money that will still be needed to replaced in the short/medium-term if a) you want to start using DDR3 once prices come down b) if GPUs come out that take advantage of PCI-E 2 standard (as used on X38). So all that money is only paying for great OC'ing potential for *now* only... no?