Nice to see EFI finally being used, no more wall of bright blue! Took their time though, Apple have been using EFI since 2006, and even HP were using it back 2002 for Itanium 2.
Plus that's a tasty OC. Hope the rest of SB is this good, or is this the standout CPU?
with i7 860, it's horrible and very unreliable. it sustains voltage at what you've set in the BIOS, however, due to Intel's design spec, voltage drop should be expected. so, when try to overclock the 860 with turbo mode v2 enabled, you will get random crashes when running single or multiple threaded applications. end of the day, disabling LLC and sticking to Intel spec is the best way forward.
other useful piece of information you could have included in this great article is how to test turbo mode stability. i found running overnight loops of CPC benchmark works great, because it have a lot of different processor load levels to test all possible cases.
I have differing understandings of Vdrop and Vdroop...
Vdrop = The difference between voltage set in the bios and the actual voltage - loadline calibration makes the actual voltage match that set in the bios.
Vdroop = the amount the voltage drops as the processor comes on to load.
These are definately two different things, as i have done hard mods for both of them in the past.
With your Overclock, is "Turbo-boost" still enabled?
(In other words, doe the CPU still ramp down when idling, and Up when needed, just to a higher level?)
Secondly, if I look for an Overclock WITHOUT touching the Voltages...I might probably just as well go with the on-motherboard-auto-overclocking-features, such as the Turbo-Key-II on the Asus, right?
If not, what would be a recommended stable overclock without touching the voltages?
Originally Posted by Margo Baggins I have differing understandings of Vdrop and Vdroop...
Vdrop = The difference between voltage set in the bios and the actual voltage - loadline calibration makes the actual voltage match that set in the bios.
In my experience, loadline calibration also reduces Vdroop and eliminates Vdrop. What I don't understand is that both are pretty much constant for each motherboard, so why can't people simply set a higher VCore in BIOS?
Intel spec does allow for some Vdrop and Vdroop, if those motherboards are outside that spec, then they will not be on the shelves.
Not following design spec by eliminating Vdroop when the processor is underload will result in unstable half or lightly loaded processor, Due to turbo boosts.
In my experience, loadline calibration also reduces Vdroop and eliminates Vdrop. What I don't understand is that both are pretty much constant for each motherboard, so why can't people simply set a higher VCore in BIOS?
Intel spec does allow for some Vdrop and Vdroop, if those motherboards are outside that spec, then they will not be on the shelves.
Not following design spec by eliminating Vdroop when the processor is underload will result in unstable half or lightly loaded processor, Due to turbo boosts.
I completely agree :) I was refering to the article where it states some people wrongly refer to it as Vdroop - when in my experience, that is Vdroop. I think i misread it or the article is slightly misleading there in terminology - but is no biggy :)
Originally Posted by REVIEW As such, much more acute 10KHz (0.1MHz) adjustments
10KHz isnt equal to 0.1 MHz :P good review though, glad to see the premium boards arent as expensive as I feared. Come payday its a 2500k and a asus mobo for me :D
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ReplyPlus that's a tasty OC. Hope the rest of SB is this good, or is this the standout CPU?
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2011/01/03/intel-sandy-bridge-review/1
with i7 860, it's horrible and very unreliable. it sustains voltage at what you've set in the BIOS, however, due to Intel's design spec, voltage drop should be expected. so, when try to overclock the 860 with turbo mode v2 enabled, you will get random crashes when running single or multiple threaded applications. end of the day, disabling LLC and sticking to Intel spec is the best way forward.
other useful piece of information you could have included in this great article is how to test turbo mode stability. i found running overnight loops of CPC benchmark works great, because it have a lot of different processor load levels to test all possible cases.
Vdrop = The difference between voltage set in the bios and the actual voltage - loadline calibration makes the actual voltage match that set in the bios.
Vdroop = the amount the voltage drops as the processor comes on to load.
These are definately two different things, as i have done hard mods for both of them in the past.
(In other words, doe the CPU still ramp down when idling, and Up when needed, just to a higher level?)
Secondly, if I look for an Overclock WITHOUT touching the Voltages...I might probably just as well go with the on-motherboard-auto-overclocking-features, such as the Turbo-Key-II on the Asus, right?
If not, what would be a recommended stable overclock without touching the voltages?
In my experience, loadline calibration also reduces Vdroop and eliminates Vdrop. What I don't understand is that both are pretty much constant for each motherboard, so why can't people simply set a higher VCore in BIOS?
Intel spec does allow for some Vdrop and Vdroop, if those motherboards are outside that spec, then they will not be on the shelves.
Not following design spec by eliminating Vdroop when the processor is underload will result in unstable half or lightly loaded processor, Due to turbo boosts.
I completely agree :) I was refering to the article where it states some people wrongly refer to it as Vdroop - when in my experience, that is Vdroop. I think i misread it or the article is slightly misleading there in terminology - but is no biggy :)
Everywhere. Monday.
:D
To elaborate, try the following places on Monday...
CCL Online
Scan
Overclockers
Aria
Novatech
Yoyotech
Ebuyer
...and compare the prices. Don't forget to include the delivery options when comparing.
Not at dabs.com then? :)
10KHz isnt equal to 0.1 MHz :P good review though, glad to see the premium boards arent as expensive as I feared. Come payday its a 2500k and a asus mobo for me :D
You could always slum it and go to Portsmouth...
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/hdoutlets.html#portsmouth
I used to buy a lot from Dabs but since they got bought by BT in 2006, their prices haven't been the best.
I still compare their prices but I haven't found a reason to buy from them for a few years.
Why Monday. Aria already have them listed and in stock
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