Need a good, overclockable, G31 mobo

[VirtualLarry]

Currently trying to decide between the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L link
and the Biostar G31-M7 TE link
Edit: Add the Foxconn G31 link

Can someone that owns one or both of these boards comment on the overclocking options, vcore, FSBRAM ratios, and max stable OCs with an E5200?

Looking to purchase tomorrow. Any other good G31s will be considered as well; please list them.

Apparently, the Biostar lacks VDIMM adjust. Does the Gigabyte have that?

Does either one of these boards require a BSEL mod to OC an E5200 to 300FSB?

 

[daveybrat]

Hey Larry,

I just checked my Gigabyte G31M-ES2L board for you. I have DRAM ratios of Auto, 2.66, 3.33, and 4.0+.

I have Ram Overvoltage control of +.01, +.02, +.03, +.04

I have a ton of CPU voltages to choose from and i also have FSB overvoltage as well.

There are also some other tweaks like multiplier and small things.

I haven't tried to overclock my E5200 yet. It runs pretty well at stock for what i do with the machine.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Could you check the FSB overclocking for me? Set your CPU multi to 6x, and then try setting your FSB up from 200 to 266, 300, and 333. See if all three of those work. Your CPU will actually be underclocked, when running at the 6x multi at those speeds. Hmm, actually, with a 2.66 ratio for the DRAM, at 333 FSB, the RAM will be running at DDR2-900, so you don't have to test that if you only have DDR2-800. At 300FSB, and 2.66 ratio, your dram will be running at DDR2-800 exactly. That's the FSB that I'm most interested in, as with a 12.5x multi, that's 3.75Ghz, which is how high I got my friend's E5200 in an IP35-E.
I want to know if the E5200 will run at that FSB in this board, without a BSEL mod.

Edit: Oh well, I ordered the Gigabyte board. Seemed to have more overclocking options, I hope it works out.

 

[Doublejr]

I have the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L, and I cannot get the FSB over 270. I think a BSEL mod is needed to unlock the other ram ratios. I haven't had much time to tweak it and have stock cooling so that could be limiting my OC. 3.375 is all I can get out of my e5200 on this board so far, I will update if I can break the 270 barrier without a BSEL mod.

Running at 1.3v in CPUz

 

[Doublejr]

With a little more voltage and jumping to 333 fsb I have broken the 270 barrier, booted into windows at 3.66ghz but was too hot, need to get a new cooler.

I haven't tried over 337 or my ram will be way outta spec lol


GL with yours Larry.

 

[tcsenter]

G31 is hard-limited to 4GB RAM and does not support memory remapping. Which means there would not be much point in running 64-bit OS on this board, in case it matters.