Where Are The Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6 Motherboards?

[TheBeagle]

Good Morning Mr. CD.

Did you try the temporary OS fresh install on a spare hard drive that I previously suggested? Also, I would revert to the F4e BIOS version to be sure that the last few revisions of the BIOS didn't introduce some weird problem into your rig - revert the BIOS before you temporarily reinstall the OS on a spare drive.

The fact that you can't complete a system restore, etc, seems to point to some sort of Time-Out that is occurring. It could be either hardware or software- but more likely software. However, before you go chucking out hardware items, just try the temporary fresh re-install of the OS like I suggested. That is the quickest way to know if you need to look at hardware issues vs. software problems. As always, keep us posted. Best of luck. TheBeagle

 

[Smitty1705]

I wonder if it's a strange video driver issue? Maybe set it back to VGA and re-install the video drivers? The fact that it works on some things and not another is really strange.

 

[overpowered]

I agree. If you don't have replacement parts handy, the next thing to do would be to eliminate OS corruption as a possibility by doing a fresh reinstall. You could conceivably even have a virus/worm/trojan. Maybe 4-5 years ago or so, I had a trojan that was intermittently killing my network connection. My anti-virus didn't find it. I only found it by looking up every process in task manager on the web. It did enough damage that I eventually had to do an OS reinstall to make the network reliable again.

 

[cdfire]

Ok well, I did a fresh format install with a differant hard drive. Everything looked good, installed all drivers and everything ran fine. Turned the pc off for an hour or so and on boot up same old thing, black screen but I can here windows load up. I am so at a lost right now. I guess I have no choice but to head to best buy and get a new graphics card, but if thats not it..............................................

Its been a while, how do I set it to vga?

 

[cdfire]

Well, I just got off the phone with BFG tech and they say its either the graphics card or the motherboard of which he said they have had this issue with there 680I boards. So alls I can get my hands on is a ati x300se pci card. I will test that and post back. Anyone know if Gigabyte cross ships. If not I am screwed if thats the problem.

 

[sskmercer]

Firstly @cdfire

Good luck with your V/C problems champ, hopefully it all gets sorted, it certainly is a strange problem as people have pointed out.

Just having a bit of look on the intraweb this morning(AUS) i found a couple of interesting things, relating to Penryn support (see 1333fsb BAHHH!!). Firstly on my normal site that i visit OCAU HERE, which then led to EVGA Forums, then to Xtreme Forums. Anyway the 680i is meant to able to support the upcoming Penryns and with a confimation by an Intel Employee on the Xtreme forums (Post #84 down).

The part i find interesting is in regards to VRM spec. For Penryn Support it is to be VRM 11.0 same as Conroe, so what is Gigabyte doing then in reagrds to the Rev1 board? As FLG_Poncho(Intel Guy) mentioned it's upto the Mobo makers to make it available via Bios/CPLD (to be honest I dont get the CPLD part?) as the 680 boards a meant to be compliant with VRM11.0, so if we are lucky to get 1333fsb all that SHOULD be needed is a bios update of some sort, but as has been mentioned around the WWW, some mobo makers might not do it as they want to able to sell there newer boards P35's etc. Atleast Evga are going to be supporting it, let's hope that Gigabyte as a premium brand (meant to be) will do so as well.

Edit - Hopefully once Gary has recovered, he will a few answers, would also be good to hear if anyone else knows anymore about what i just posted.

 

[TheBeagle]

Good Evening CD.

Did you swap the video card to the second SLI slot, and try it from there? The more you tell us about this, the more it sounds like a software problem, but you still have to rule in or rule out the video card. Therefore, I'd swap the card to the second video slot and see what happens. Let us know the result. TheBeagle

 

[cdfire]

Last update for now. Tried a new card, the ATI x300 se and the pc would not even boot up. Looks to be the motherboard at this point. Will try to get a RMA, but after this bologna as soon as I get the replacement I will be putting it up on e-bay and will start looking for a different board all together, that is if I get a replacement for from what I hear it can take months for a RMA to Gigabyte, by that time I will have forgotten they even exist. Good luck to you all and thanks for all the help. I hope you all fair much better then I did with this board. Peace and once again thanks for all the help, even though it did not turn out so good.

 

[sskmercer]

Originally posted by: cdfire
Will try to get a RMA, but after this bologna as soon as I get the replacement I will be putting it up on e-bay and will start looking for a different board all together, that is if I get a replacement for from what I hear it can take months for a RMA to Gigabyte, by that time I will have forgotten they even exist. Good luck to you all and thanks for all the help. I hope you all fair much better then I did with this board. Peace and once again thanks for all the help, even though it did not turn out so good.

Hopefully it does work out for you. As teh board ion general is great, besides a couple of issues (Bios F4, 1333Fsb), they really are good boards. If you RMA hopefully it isnt that long, i suppose it would also be different from Country-Country etc.. If you do get the RMA you might be lucky a get a Rev2.

Good Luck Mate.

Cheers.

 

[Ava1anche]

sskmercer,

I have a question for you. Reading your sig you say the 680i is FSB limited. Just wondering if you have played with other settings. Example @ 400x8=3.2GHz I would crash before windows would load. But when I went to 425x8=3.4GHz 1.45v I was able to load into windows. <- Not stable because of heat issues. (using a Monsoon II cooler). I am sure with better cooling I would be able to make it stable @ 425x8. Currently I am running @ 320x10=3.2GHz.

Please note I am not saying you don't know what you are doing, I am sure you do. Just would like to know if you tried different settings. I am sure the GeminII is much better than the Monsoon II. <- Wish I never purchased.

 

[bka4u2c]

Originally posted by: Ava1anche
sskmercer,

I have a question for you. Reading your sig you say the 680i is FSB limited. Just wondering if you have played with other settings. Example @ 400x8=3.2GHz I would crash before windows would load. But when I went to 425x8=3.4GHz 1.45v I was able to load into windows. <- Not stable because of heat issues. (using a Monsoon II cooler). I am sure with better cooling I would be able to make it stable @ 425x8. Currently I am running @ 320x10=3.2GHz.

Please note I am not saying you don't know what you are doing, I am sure you do. Just would like to know if you tried different settings. I am sure the GeminII is much better than the Monsoon II. <- Wish I never purchased.

I use the Monsoon II also, granted not on a quad-core. But I have found it to be very good with keeping temperature consistent with ambient temp. What problems do you have with yours?

 

[Ava1anche]

Personally I think the Monsoon II would be good on a dual core system. I really don't think it can handle quad core system. I have replaced and add a second fan to mine with this Fan so I can get the overclock that I have now.

 

[Dmudgkvddjnv]

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[TheBeagle]

Good Evening Mr. Johnny.

Your circumstances are bit unclear. You state that when you do a fresh install of either WinXP-SP2 or Vista 32 bit, your rig runs just fine, UNTIL you add some M$ updates. That would tend to indicate that this is NOT a hardware problem; but, rather, a software problem. I would try a simple experiment. Do you have access to a 64 bit version of Vista? If so, install it and then run the updates to see what happens. The 64 bit version has a significantly different kernel, and that might tell us something. Also, what settings are you using in the BIOS? I'd suggest installing the F4e BIOS version which you can find on this Thread at Page 27 (04/17/07).

You might have inadvertently set some BIOS switch to something that causes the rig to bomb out when updating. Logically, if the rig runs just fine after a clean install, it would stand to reason that it's NOT the hardware. Did you FULLY format your hard drive as part of the fresh install of the OS (Not Quick Format) so as to cause the onboard controller to synchronize with the drive and to also search for any bad sectors or clusters on the disks? That's always a very good step when you initially install any drive, especially the boot drive.

Also, do you have a truly legitimate version of the OS? I don't mean any offense by that question, but M$ is getting rather sneaky with doing disabling things to an OS that they sense is not legit. If there is any chance that you have a "questionable" copy of the OS, then when M$ goes through the update, they just might be putting some crap into your OS that is mucking up the works.

Check on those things and get back to us with some data on those items. We'll do our best to help you get that rig flying right. Best regards, and Welcome Aboard! TheBeagle

 

[sskmercer]

Originally posted by: Ava1anche
sskmercer,

I have a question for you. Reading your sig you say the 680i is FSB limited. Just wondering if you have played with other settings. Example @ 400x8=3.2GHz I would crash before windows would load. But when I went to 425x8=3.4GHz 1.45v I was able to load into windows. <- Not stable because of heat issues. (using a Monsoon II cooler). I am sure with better cooling I would be able to make it stable @ 425x8. Currently I am running @ 320x10=3.2GHz.

Please note I am not saying you don't know what you are doing, I am sure you do. Just would like to know if you tried different settings. I am sure the GeminII is much better than the Monsoon II. <- Wish I never purchased.

I have tried everything, if you have been able to go past 325fsb with a Quad on this board, you would be pretty much the first. As has been pointed out in this thread and pretty much across the NET, the only 680's that are clocking past 325fsb are the DFI LANParty NF680I LT SLI-T2R and eVGA 680 (A1 revision), which eVGA did an RMA type thing for anyone that bought the first revision. That is one of the main reasons why so many people with this board (with a QUAD) are pissed as you cant run it at the specified specs of 1333fsb, with a Quad which is what Gigabyte have Advertised on their site.

Also a few people in this thread have also emailed (myself included) Gigabyte mentioning this and all you get is a "Sorry, your CPU does not support 1333fsb" yet these little puppies can do 3.2+ghz easily on air cooling.

I have tried upping volts everywhere and in all sorts of configs as well. Tried 2 sticks of ram and not 4 etc, etc... Even some of the nut jobs on XS Forums(just jk's guys) dont get past 325fsb without some sort of Volt mod, which is why the above boards can get higher clocks.

No offence aimed at you, but i'm sure a lot of people would love to see a screen of you getting the QX6700 past 330fsb on any multi, without any volt mods done. Also why would you only run your system @320 (as per sig) when you can get higher alot higher. My Q6600 does 325fsb on 1.2v, which is not even stock volts and runs happily all day long, the best it's done is @330 and i got to desktop and then it reboots (have tried everything upto 400 also). Yet normal C2D's have been pushed to near 500fsb on this board.

 

[Dmudgkvddjnv]

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[Dmudgkvddjnv]

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[Dmudgkvddjnv]

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[Smitty1705]

That was an odd problem with the ethernet port freaking your machine out.

HEY... can someone take his post with all of the BIOS settings and modify it for me? hahaha

As I have posted, I have a strong history in PC's but not in overclocking. Can someone modify his post so I can try my e6600 at say 3.0 or 3.2? I almost hate to do it, my office is SO dang hot already and I'm not sure I want to overclock and generate more heat! hahaha Also.. I am running 4 gig of Crucial PC8500 memory as well as a Zalman 9700.

Thanks..

Smitty

 

[Ava1anche]

Originally posted by: sskmercer

Originally posted by: Ava1anche
sskmercer,

I have a question for you. Reading your sig you say the 680i is FSB limited. Just wondering if you have played with other settings. Example @ 400x8=3.2GHz I would crash before windows would load. But when I went to 425x8=3.4GHz 1.45v I was able to load into windows. <- Not stable because of heat issues. (using a Monsoon II cooler). I am sure with better cooling I would be able to make it stable @ 425x8. Currently I am running @ 320x10=3.2GHz.

Please note I am not saying you don't know what you are doing, I am sure you do. Just would like to know if you tried different settings. I am sure the GeminII is much better than the Monsoon II. <- Wish I never purchased.

I have tried everything, if you have been able to go past 325fsb with a Quad on this board, you would be pretty much the first. As has been pointed out in this thread and pretty much across the NET, the only 680's that are clocking past 325fsb are the DFI LANParty NF680I LT SLI-T2R and eVGA 680 (A1 revision), which eVGA did an RMA type thing for anyone that bought the first revision. That is one of the main reasons why so many people with this board (with a QUAD) are pissed as you cant run it at the specified specs of 1333fsb, with a Quad which is what Gigabyte have Advertised on their site.

Also a few people in this thread have also emailed (myself included) Gigabyte mentioning this and all you get is a "Sorry, your CPU does not support 1333fsb" yet these little puppies can do 3.2+ghz easily on air cooling.

I have tried upping volts everywhere and in all sorts of configs as well. Tried 2 sticks of ram and not 4 etc, etc... Even some of the nut jobs on XS Forums(just jk's guys) dont get past 325fsb without some sort of Volt mod, which is why the above boards can get higher clocks.

No offence aimed at you, but i'm sure a lot of people would love to see a screen of you getting the QX6700 past 330fsb on any multi, without any volt mods done. Also why would you only run your system @320 (as per sig) when you can get higher alot higher. My Q6600 does 325fsb on 1.2v, which is not even stock volts and runs happily all day long, the best it's done is @330 and i got to desktop and then it reboots (have tried everything upto 400 also). Yet normal C2D's have been pushed to near 500fsb on this board.

here is a screen shot @ 340 FBS.
340 FSB

I don't have time tonight but tomorrow night I will take a couple of screen shots above 400.
Now during stability test my temps get to 78º and above so I stop the test. Note: I am using Bios F3 unit the F4 is fixed.

 

[cdfire]

Can any of you confirm that the south bridge heat sink gets real hot to the touch. I still have not sent my board in for RMA. Gigabyte asked if I would try another graphics card first of which I won't have until tonight, they say the ATI card I tried sounded dead to begin with since it never made it to windows in the first place. So far the only way I can get into windows is to boot into safe mode, uninstall the graphics drivers, reboot, I get into windows and have to reinstall the graphics drivers. I can then most times reboot the pc back into windows, but if i shut the pc down, back to safe mode I go. In any event, while stripping things down and booting up one piece at a time just to make sure its not ram or something else, I noticed the south bridge gets very hot.

BTW: Just a heads up. Upon talking to the Gigabyte tech, he insisted I go back to the F3 BIOS for they have had lots of tech support calls since the F4 BIOS. F3 I still have the same issues though, but I do know that this pc ran better then any I ever had before the F4 BIOS. So IMO either some piece of hard ware, such as my graphics card is going dead, or that F4 BIOS did some major damage. I keep hopeing for a F5 Bios to try before RMA time, but we all know how slow Gigabyte is. Anyways if you could tell me if its normal for that south chip to get so hot I would much apprecaite it.

BTW: I also tried a differant power supply and no luck. So it must be either the graphics card or the motherboard at this point for I have removed all else and have also changed out the ram.

 

[sskmercer]

@Ava1anche

Thanks for that. I really didnt mean any offence, it's just that nobody else ANYWHERE seems to be able to get this board (or 680's in general) past 325fsb with a Quad. It does seem you are having to pump a hell of a lot of volts into it to get there though adn 78c is rather toasty fro these chips, but i do appreciate what youve done.

I'm also using the F3 bios myself. You must have had the volts at close to 1.45+ for it to show 1.4 in CPUZ, which is quite a bit for air. But like i mentioned earlier i'm running 320fsb @1.2v (bios) and hit 50-52c under 100% load (winter in Aus helps).

If you dont mind can you post or even PM me your settings then just so i can compare them, lastly i'm assuming you have a Rev1 board and a Rev2 one.

@smitty1705

If you want i'll be more than happy to adjust that other post for you as well, if you want. As getting to 30-3.2 on a E6600 is a breeze with these boards and even if you have a bad stepping CPU you should get it. If you can post everything you have in your rig that would be great.

Cheers

 

[justinburton]

Originally posted by: cdfire
Can any of you confirm that the south bridge heat sink gets real hot to the touch. I still have not sent my board in for RMA. Gigabyte asked if I would try another graphics card first of which I won't have until tonight, they say the ATI card I tried sounded dead to begin with since it never made it to windows in the first place. So far the only way I can get into windows is to boot into safe mode, uninstall the graphics drivers, reboot, I get into windows and have to reinstall the graphics drivers. I can then most times reboot the pc back into windows, but if i shut the pc down, back to safe mode I go. In any event, while stripping things down and booting up one piece at a time just to make sure its not ram or something else, I noticed the south bridge gets very hot.


Yes. My heatsink gets super hot too. All of the heatsinks on the motherboard do. My board hasn't had any problems except that in Cell Factor Revolution, my physics card isn't detected for some reason. It works in Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter though.

 

[sskmercer]

I found this nice little tidbit on VR-Zone regarding the revisions on the eVGA board http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=4756, it shows you what has been done and this is what is allowing people to O/C the Quad cores to similar FSB's to normal C2D's.

Hopefully this is part of what Rev2 boards for us might be, besides the change in sth bridge.

Edit - They also have a good review on the 650i version of the board and go on to say about the GTRLRef voltage mods that need to done to O/C the Quad Cores and even show you how to do it.

 

[cdfire]

Well I am now sure its the motherboard. I hope you all fair better then me. I will be sending the board in for RMA, but in the mean time I will besaving up to buy another brand and when I recieve, if ever, the replacement board it will go up for sale on EBAY. This just makes me sick to my stomach, being a Gigabyte fan for so many years, but with no cross shipping and a minimum of 3 weeks turn around time, Gigabyte is no longer the company for me. Once again good luck to you all.