• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

MSI X58 Platinum - $80 cheaper then most X58 boards

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Originally posted by: aleek2die
Nice, I really like the layout of the eclipse, how stable is the bios? Have you tried to overclock it?

Zap, please post your impressions
Click to expand...

I spent several hours on my two x58 setups today.

Step #1 swap out ES chips with retail chips (all are Core i7 965)

Step #2 break out with some fresh Patriot Viper 1600MHz RAM (3x 2GB)

(step #2.5 swap out one PSU because of a fan issue)

I must be doing something wrong because my two setups (one MSI Eclipse, one Intel DX58SO) won't go very high on the system bus. The MSI is also a bit flakey on the turbo mode implementation, with multipliers bouncing around a bit. The Intel is pretty stable when overclocking using the turbo mode. Got it up to a 29x multiplier (3.87GHz-ish) on stock cooler and it was fine using Prime95 until the CPU heated up (might be getting water cooler tomorrow).

Having a bit of problem with the memory. At stock speeds (1600MHz 9-9-9-24 1.65v) the MSI board was pretty unstable while the Intel board a lot more stable. Both boards, enabling XMP magically made it a wee bit more stable, the MSI much more so. Makes me wonder if the MSI board just throws more VDIMM into the mix. The Intel board has REALLY short traces for memory slots, unlike all other boards on the market. I'm betting that people will consistently get better memory clocks, lower memory voltages or lower latencies on the Intel board.

MSI board is on latest BIOS which enables 3 way SLI. I'll have to test that again tomorrow to see if it works properly and stably. Last time I tried it, machine kept crashing in 3D apps. However, found out later that memory was really unstable so that may have caused it.

Intel board will be flashed to latest BIOS tomorrow (right now says "evaluation" when POSTing 😛 ). Board does not support SLI. Strangely, Velocity Micro sells their "Edge" systems with the Intel board and has SLI as an option. Makes me wonder if 1) they use hacked drivers 2) they use hacked BIOS 3) they don't know that it doesn't work on Intel boards and will have unhappy customers.

So, can anyone give me a 2 minute explanation of how best to overclock Core i7 chips? 😕 Am I just being too conservative with voltages? Most I've gone is about 200mv over stock.
 
If going for two way SLI or a single card configuration and overclocking I would pick up the Asus P6T. It's a very solid looking board and it's been the most widely used by reviewers since the i7 launch so Asus will be on the ball fixing issues. Asus just released a new BIOS update that's suppose to be a nice improvement over the previous. Another good board that I may end up getting is the eVGA x58. I had support for three way SLI and should be a good overclocker as well.
 
Originally posted by: Zap
So, can anyone give me a 2 minute explanation of how best to overclock Core i7 chips? 😕 Am I just being too conservative with voltages? Most I've gone is about 200mv over stock.
Click to expand...
I sure can't, having yet to even see one of these boards (although hopefully that will change in a week). But I just skimmed a Neoseeker review of the Eclipse, and found this on the last page:
  • __________________________

    The MSI Eclipse X58 is a great overclocker.

    All I had to do in the end is make sure that the memory was happy, and the LED2 display was very helpful in showing where (usually DDR) the system was hanging during post.

    To get to the maximum stable overclock, 4.095GHz, all I had to do was:
    • Set the memory multiplier to "3" (actually 6)
    • Set memory timing to 7-7-7-20-1T
    • Fix PCI at 37.3MHz
    • disable spread spectrum
    • Enable EIST
    • disable C-state
    • Enable "Turbo" boost
    • set base clock to 195MHz
    • set QPI to Full-Speed
    • leave it at 4.8GT
    • use a Noctua NH-U12P with their new Socket 1366 adapter
    I did not have to change the voltages at all!

    The maximum temperature I observed under PovRAY was 89'C, and the Vcore was at 1.448V

    I was very pleased, as the DX58SO was only able to handle a 174MHz FSB with this same Core i7 920 processor.
    ___________________________
http://www.neoseeker.com/Artic...si_x58_eclipse/20.html


 
Originally posted by: cyburzaki
Fix PCI at 37.3MHz
Click to expand...

Huh, wonder why they did that, and how much a role it has? In theory you should NOT have to touch PCI bus speeds, as PCI locks have worked since the 845 chipset.
 
Originally posted by: cyburzaki
a possible harbinger of imminent X58 price reductions:

MSI is now offering a $30 rebate on the Eclipse--and the board's only been out about three weeks.
Click to expand...

Newegg's also offering that rebate. Perhaps not overall price reductions, but just too few people choosing to pay $350 for a motherboard when there are plenty of cheaper x58 boards on the market.

MSI should just toss the bundled X-Fi card, Dr LED and that ATX power thingy and drop the price permanently to $250. I bet it will become really popular.
 
the evga looks like it can overclock well. I believe an employee posted his experience under a 'tacked' thread.
It's the lower end gigabyte or evga for me.
 
While the "P6T" in the op's title obviously refers to the P6T Deluxe, there actually is a cheaper P6T that Asus will soon be pumping into the channel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top