Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R - weird problems

[imported_halobender]

I'm about to RMA this board because I'm completely at a loss, but if you think I've missed anything, please let me know.

My GA-EP35-DS3R doesn't detect the correct clock multiplier for my CPU in BIOS (not overclocked), and will not save the correct setting I input manually past the next boot. Random video performance, from very bad to OK depending on strange factors such as where RAM is seated or after unplugging/replugging power to the video card. 3Dmark06 scores around 2500 when working like crap, and 9500 when working OK - it should be around 11000, which I did get when testing my hardware on another machine with the same mobo.

Hardware:

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R
CPU - Intel e8400 Core 2 Duo
RAM - A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800
GPU - EVGA 8800GT
PSU - 650w Antec Earthwatts
SATA HD and DVD drive

Stuff I did already:

Updated mobo drivers
Updated video card drivers
Orthos stress testing (overnight, no errors)
Changed the PSU from a 500w to 650w Antec Earthwatts
Tested all hardware on near-identical machine with same mobo - all of it is fine. Incidentally, the other mobo had no problems detecting the correct CPU speed and retaining that setting.
Tested different RAM (mushkin) and video card (same model) in my machine - same results
Updated BIOS to new version + cleared CMOS

 

[toadeater]

I have found this EP35 board to be very picky at cold boots. My board does the same thing as your's over ~3.56GHz, even though it is stable in Windows @ 3.8GHz. I think it's not settings the RAM timings properly or something, I'm still trying to track down what it might be.

Try overclocking it slightly, that will force the board to use different Auto timings. Also try raising all the voltages in MIT to +1v for a start. Make sure all the turbo-type stuff is disabled in the BIOS, everything should be set to standard/normal and set PCIe speed to 100 manually. Compare the RAM timings to the other machine, see if they are the same. If you have any USB drives or a USB hub connected, try booting without them.


Robust Graphics Booster: Auto (or fast, not turbo)
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz): 100
C.I.A.2: disabled
Performance Enhance: Standard

System Voltage Control: Manual
DDR2 OverVoltage Control : +0.1-0.3 (check RAM specs)
PCI-E OverVoltage Control : +.01
FSB OverVoltage Control : +0.1
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control :+0.1

CPU Enhanced Halt (CIE): Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor 2: Enabled
CPU EIST Function: Disabled

 

[imported_halobender]

Thanks for the reply, toadeater.

Feels like I've tried everything possible in BIOS. It detects my RAM timings just fine, and there's no reason it should be detecting my CPU speed at 2.0 GHz when my friend has the identical MB and CPU which got detected correctly by default. Keeping in mind that we're talking about stock settings, no overclocking.

Considering this, and the video problems, I'm just going to RMA it. Good luck with your issue though, hope it works out.

 

[WobbleWobble]

I also had issues with my EP35-DS3R forgetting settings. The problems creeps up from time to time when I'm twaking my overclock settings, but clearing the CMOS using the jumper fixed it. But it seems you already tried it

 

[jcc5169]

Thats weird ... I have had the same set of problems with my P35C-DS3R v1.x. It has gotten down to the point now where it just has problems booting ... so much for the quality thing they are trying to market. I have been trying to explain these problems to chinese tech support guys who don't seem to understand my problem in english ... and they keep asking the same stupid questions over and over.