Where Are The Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6 Motherboards?

[rt182]

Oh wow so i guess this means stick to F5b sounds like loads of RAM issues and stuff with the Final ??? what do u guys say

 

[Blazer7]

Mr raisinjack,

I haven't noticed anything abnormal with the voltage yet but that's probably because of my DIMMs having different SPD timings. This must have confused the BIOS to the point that it would not tamper with my mems voltage. This is great news because I was testing my mem with memtest86 and this utility is executed via an OS of its own. If the voltage was somehow increased because of the BIOS then I wouldn't have known about it and as I've used additional voltage of +0.6 the actual voltage could have reached the boards max of 2.575V !!! That would have been the end of my ultra-fast ultra-expensive RAM, cooling or no cooling.

So far Gigabyte's Easytune5 utility will accurately report my mems voltage based on my BIOS settings. I expect that later today when I'll be testing with individual dual channel kits I'll be in a position to verify this voltage thing.

Mr Beagle,

Once more I agree with you. This new BIOS sucks. It is clearly inferior to the earlier betas. I hope that the folks at Gigabyte stop jerking off and either do some work or tell us to our face that we've had it and we should cut our losses and move on.

*** To everybody ***

If anyone knows anything about this voltage issue please post. This is extremely important as this issue may result in expensive hardware getting toast and an RMA may not be an option.


PS
Hopefully I will be able to post news on the voltage thing within the next 4 hours.

 

[justinburton]

My memory voltage is the same as it used to be with the old bios, +.45v. That puts my RAM at 2.25v. My memory is made to handle at least 2.3V so it is working perfect. I have no idia what problems you are talking about. This board has been perfect in every aspect except the fact it can't support the new 1333 FSB CPU's like the other 680i motherboards. I hope this motherboard will support 3-way SLI. 3 8800GTX's in SLi would be tight.

 

[Blazer7]

Mr justinburton,

I'm glad that you do not experience any of this. Currently I'm running my new pair linked at 5:4 for 1066 MHz. Voltage is set to normal and everything else is set to Auto. CPUz give me 524.8 with 5-7-7-19-30-2T. Gigabyte's Easytune5 reports my mem running @1045 with 1.8V. This cannot be possible with just 1.8V. Since you do not experience any of this, this means that not all boards/mem combos are affected. However I would advise extreme caution with this beta crap.

 

[yass101]

Mr Linezilla

My PCSetting

at Q6600(G0) VID1.275

FSB 400
Mem 800(4-4-4-12)



VCORE 1.55 @1.48(cpu-z)
DDR2 +.30
NB/PCIE +.20
SB/PCIE +.20
HT-L +.20
SBSt +.20

PCIE×16Sl1 100
PCIE×8 100
PCIE×16Sl2 100

(It occasionally becomes an error when returning from the standby.)


FSB334

Mem 800(4-4-4-12)



VCORE 1.40 @1.36(cpu-z)
DDR2 +.20
NB/PCIE +.10
SB/PCIE +.10
HT-L +.15
SBSt +.10

PCIE×16Sl1 auto
PCIE×8 auto
PCIE×16Sl2 auto

(This setting is steady. )



It has been raised only up to 320 in "F4&F5b".

The value of Vcore is amusing as Strangeness.
It was the ..striker(asus).. same.
However, it solved it with vdroop Mod in "striker".

 

[raisinjack]

I have just experienced someyhing that I have not before encountered.

I had a bsod (of which I know and it isn't a problem) and when my computer was restarted upon boot up I noticed that I was on my backup bios as I loaded it with F4. Never have had that happen,but may be "normal".


Reflashed main with F5f and reset all my settings to what I want and lo and behold, dimm voltage is back to 2.1 without any action from me. So this just isn't a one or two time occurence it is happening ALL the time. Granted I am setting the freq higher but I ain't manually changing the voltage it is left in AUTO. Plus I can't get the freq to run any higher than 1000 Period. I can't even select it higher, ie I punch in 1142 in the little red box and it gives me 1000. Punch in 1200 and it gives me 1066 but on reboot it reverts back to 800.


One more revert back to the backup bios and I am going back to F5b.:thumbsdown:

 

[Blazer7]

*** update ***

I've started testing again with all 4 DIMMs. Mem voltage is still set to normal and all mem settings are still in Auto. I'm getting exactly the same CPUz & Easytune readings as earlier when I was using 1 pair only. Everest reports mem voltage to be 2.02V !?! This time however and for the first time with this BIOS I was able to complete Memtest with no errors. I used a couple of benchmarks and it is more than sure that the DIMMs are running @1066. It is also sure that the actual mem voltage has nothing to do with what's set in the BIOS !! I can't really say what the actual VDIMM is but it's not 1.8V for sure.

I do not know if this BIOS works for most of you guys but since I can't find out what my VDIMM is, I sure can't recommend it to anyone. I consider this beta to be quite dangerous so be careful with it, or as mobo manufacturers say for the betas, use at your own risk.

I've reverted back to the F5b also.

 

[raisinjack]

Well, I am nolonger using F5f and did the battery removal flash procedure listed elsewhere and went back to F4. And my dimm voltage still shows up as 2.10 on Everest and PC wizard 2008 NOT the 1.8 default I thought was supposed to be there. right now I am using F5b as I can attain a better ram oc than F5f ever thought about doing. Still don't know what has happened Since the F5f install as the only way now to run 1066 on my rig is to set the voltage selection to manual instead of auto even though I am not changing it at all.:Q

 

[justinburton]

I think you guys should stop stressing about what "voltages" windows says your RAM is at. Probes are never very accurate. Except maybe the new CPU diodes. I have never had a motherboard probe be accurate with the voltage readings. I would just trust what you put in the original bios. Stock bios is 1.8V. Just do the math to whatever voltage you want. If you select +.45, 1.8V becomes 2.25V, which is where my memory is at. Never trust a motherboard probe. This is common sense. Asus has the worst history of this in their Pentium 4 motherboards. I never had an accurate CPU temperature reading. Just my 2cents.

 

[mjrtoo]

I'm about ready to give up on this board....I have the REV2 version and while it runs ok stock, what's the point. I can get the same or better performance from another chipset that HAS SOME KIND OF SUPPORT...

I may say goodbye to Gigabyte altogether...

 

[justinburton]

Agreed. Last 2 Gigabyte motherboards I got had 2 or 3 revisions. Bull shit. Why can't they just get it right the first time? And then just update the Bios' not the hardware and bios'

 

[Blazer7]

We are all pissed and tired with all this. No question about it. We?ve been waiting for the F5 official for quite some time now (since late July-early August). We?ve also seen some interesting betas along the way (F5b, F5e, F5f). Since the only person that gave us some support, and you all know to whom I?m referring, says that Gigabyte is close to releasing the F5 I think that it makes sense for all of us to wait until then.

This does not make Gigabyte?s support good, it still sucks bigtime and the F5 is literally their last chance with this mobo. If they fix this mem voltage/performance problem and provide support for the upcoming Yorkfields then everything should be fine. If they fail it won?t matter if they will be doing an F6 in the future because none of us will be around to actually give a damn.

 

[Warpx9]

Talk about pissed, I've been having problems with shorting in my system, happened after about two months of use. Where if I closed the drive bay door or hit my desk a little too hard the whole computer would turn off. So, I finally deceided to take apart my system and examine every part of the motherboard. Sure enough a friggin chip on the back of the motherboard has dislogged itself from the board dangling from some tiny wires.
(seen here in the picture)Damaged Chip
No doubt deffective, since the sod joints just popped off the motherboard on one side. Man, brand new motherboard from box to my case one time. Well as I am waiting for my RMA, many things are running thru my head. Like if they can't repair it then they will replace it, but the N680SLI-DQ6 cannot be purchased anywhere. So, what are they going to replace it with??

The really odd thing with this whole problem is even without the chip properly connected my system runs fine and is very fast. I wonder what the chip is for??

 

[jaggerwild]

Hello all!
Figured I'd post as I haven't in a while, well my RMA returned from vacation yesterday. It has the original serial numbers, so it's the same board. I'll swap it out tomorrow or sooner , I got a EVGA 680i LT in the mean time to hold me over gonna clock the snot out of it as one PCI slot is gone already and it's going back to wench it came from. Can't beleave it number one slot gone, brand new board?
Any who, been reading along keeping up. Glade you guys got your bios, sorry it isn't what most waited for!
I'll post back after I'm up and running, think my spec's are in my sig. If not I'll post them again next post but before this RMA I had a 3Dmark 06 score of 11801, gonna try it as soon as I get it up If I can and see what happens. I still have head room, didn't want to kill it first try. Also waiting for my 8800 to comeback from step up to a 640 from a 320 GTS.
Also I'm gonna try the bios that gary left on page 60 something just for chits and giggles too. I really have no issues so far with this unit as I got a punny E6750 C2D, so we shall see what kinda services they give on RMA real soon!
Take care all , and TTYS(talk to you soon)

 

[cdfire]

BAH! This dang BIOS does the building DMI pool about 50 % of my boot ups. Times up Gigabyte, I had enough. Will start my search for a new Motherboard and pass this one on to my old machine. No more Gigabyte for me. They have had more then enough time to fix the BIOS on this board, I am done waiting. See Ya Giga-Junk.

 

[evanscnce]

So I ran into a new problem yesterday.

I was having major video driver issues in Vista.

So I read around and heard that changing the memory to linked, sync helps the problem.

OK no big deal went and did that and BAM computer doesn't do much.

It lights up, fans go, hard drives spin, dvdcd reads. and the GPU fan is going 100%

However, nothing shows up on the screen. I tried resetting cmos via jumper and via the battery.

Any ideas what I should do? Anyone have similar issues? Is an RMA in order?

Thanks!

 

[mjrtoo]

Originally posted by: cdfire
BAH! This dang BIOS does the building DMI pool about 50 % of my boot ups. Times up Gigabyte, I had enough. Will start my search for a new Motherboard and pass this one on to my old machine. No more Gigabyte for me. They have had more then enough time to fix the BIOS on this board, I am done waiting. See Ya Giga-Junk.

I'm with ya here, if you find something that looks interesting, I would appreciate a private message if you remember.

Thanks!

 

[Blazer7]

Ok. I understand anger and frustration. Mostly anger but right now there are no sane alternatives for us. X38 mobos do have their problems, X48 mobos are on the way to replace X38 mobos, Wolfdale & Yorkfield cpus are on the way too, so are 780 mobos, 8800GT cards and so on. None of this is here yet and when these arrive it will take a couple of months to get something that's mature enough. If anyone jumps gun then this anyone may find himself/herself in a new land of pain.

So if somebody dumps this mobo what are the choices ? Another 680 ? I don't think so. A P35 maybe ? Not if you want/need SLI. If anyone knows of any other mobo that will give us the same benefits as this one without all these horrible problems I would really be interested.

I don't trust Gigabyte a bit. This is only my 2nd Gigabyte board and like my 1st all It's giving me is hell. Yet, and meaning no offense to anyone, I'm not a quitter and I won't give up so easily. Especially when there is still hope (and Gary).

So here are the news of the day. MSI updated their cpu support list for their P6N Diamond 680 based board. The QX6850 is still being tested and it is the only cpu so far that is not officially supported. This is about the same situation we are facing. What's really interesting though is that MSI lists 2 Wolfdale and 1 Yorkrfield as being compatible and all this with only a BIOS update (ver 1.3).

 

[Blazer7]

This board is not dead yet. Gigabyte released new audio drivers (ver R1.80) for both rev 1 & rev 2 boards. The file is the same for both revs.

 

[rt182]

HELP!!!!

hey guys im running Corsair Dominator PC 8500 C5D.... i tried booting up today and it just wouldnt start so i took one stick out and now its running again but.... only at 800 mhz... if i try run at 1066 it says safe mode and it gives me the revert back to last know good...default... ect...... also ive had a quick reply from corsair forums saying that my ram is rated at 2.2V and to run properly i have to up the voltage by 0.4...one thing is that 0.4 is in the red zone and when i tried it i just got one long singular beep......???? how do i know what my rams voltage is now...???? is there a way to check please help im desperate.

 

[Blazer7]

Mr rt182,

If you are not using the F5f then it is safe to use +0.4V regardless of this voltage being in the red. Use 1 DIMM only and leave it running @800. Dl memtest86 1.70. Create a bootable floppy or USB flash disk and test your mem with it. Report back after testing.

Regards

Blazer

 

[raisinjack]

Mr Blazer7

I,too,am experiencing all sorts of weirdness with my bios settings now. Even though I am using F5b and tried f4 when I try to change my dimm voltage now the +.3 volts is in red and it won't let me apply it it reverts to the failsafe screen when I do apply it and reverts back to 800.

When I first started using this board i could set in overvoltages and all sorts of freqs and it would or would not be stable so I would set it lower,can't do that now. And no matter what memory voltage checking app I use it still shows me as applying 2.1 volts even though it should be at the stock setting of I believe 1.8. And as suggested above that we are fretting too much about this I have close to 800 bucks in this 4 gigs of memory here and I sure as hell don't want to fry it.

If I can't accurately map the voltages what is the sense in trying to safely oc it?isgust;

 

[raisinjack]

Can anybody here tell me why I can't oc 4 gigs of mem with this board the same as I can with 2 gigs?

I've searched and for the life of me cannot seem to find an answer other than it just does

Sorry for bein' stoopid

 

[TheBeagle]

Good Afternoon Mr. RaisinMan.

OCing memory is a bit different than OCing a CPU. As a general proposition, memory OCing is a rather elusive science; indeed, some say it's an ancient art form. In any event, my experience in these matters has yielded results that are, quite frankly, all over the lot. One would think that if you can accomplish a good, or even a modest overclock on 2 sticks of memory (2x1GB), then you ought to be able to do the same with 4 sticks - and sometimes you can.

However, some memory seems to take on a completely different "personality" when it is increased from 2 sticks to 4 sticks. I really don't know why, except that it seems to interact with the motherboard and its timings in sometimes completely different ways when it's increased.

I've not experienced that problem with the Crucial Ballistix sticks that I have been using on the N680i board. However, I also have a GA-X38-DQ6 board and I just ordered 4 sticks of G.Skill DDR2 1000 2GB memory for that board = 8GB, and I sure hope that I don't run into that same type of problem with that new memory. I'll keep you posted.

Best regards to everyone. TheBeagle :beer:

 

[evanscnce]

Does anyone have any idea as to my problem described mid page?