Intel D975XBX: Intel brings their Bad-Axe to Market
by Gary Key on January 26, 2006 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
FSB Overclocking Results
We tried two other boards, but we did not have success in increasing the CPU multiplier past 20 or utilizing a combination of the CPU multiplier and the FSB frequency override setting past the reported numbers. Even though this particular CPU has reached 4.4GHz, we could not pass the 4.0GHz mark and maintain stability or complete our test suite. We will be receiving a retail board shortly and will re-examine the overclocking ability of the board with our 840EE, 950D, and 955EE processors.
Memory Stress Testing
Memory stress tests look at the ability of the Intel D975XBX to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of 667MHz DDR2, at the best performing memory timings that the Corsair CM2X512A-5400UL revision 1.3 will support.
The Intel D975XBX was very stable with 2 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel at the settings of 3-2-2-8 at 2.1V. We will now install all four available memory slots that are usually more strenuous on the memory subsystem than testing 2 DDR2 modules on a motherboard.
The Intel D975XBX was completely stable with 4 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel at the settings of 4-2-3-8 and needed the voltage increased to 2.2V. We tried several combinations of memory settings at the CAS Latency of 3, but the board was not stable enough to complete our test suite. This is the first i975x board that we have tested that did not allow a CAS Latency of 3 in our testing with 4 DDR2 modules.
| Front Side Bus Overclocking Testbed | |
| Processor: | Pentium 4 Smithfield LGA 775 840EE Dual Core 3.2GHz |
| CPU Voltage: | 1.5125V (1.4000V default) |
| Memory Settings: | 3-2-2-8 at 667MHz |
| Memory Voltage: | 2.2V |
| MCH Voltage: | 1.60V |
| ICH Voltage: | Default |
| Cooling: | Thermaltake Big Typhoon |
| Power Supply: | OCZ Power Stream 520 |
| Maximum CPU OverClock: | 200fsb x 20 (4000MHz) +25% |
| Maximum FSB OverClock: | 260fsb x 15 (3900MHz) +30% |
We tried two other boards, but we did not have success in increasing the CPU multiplier past 20 or utilizing a combination of the CPU multiplier and the FSB frequency override setting past the reported numbers. Even though this particular CPU has reached 4.4GHz, we could not pass the 4.0GHz mark and maintain stability or complete our test suite. We will be receiving a retail board shortly and will re-examine the overclocking ability of the board with our 840EE, 950D, and 955EE processors.
Memory Stress Testing
Memory stress tests look at the ability of the Intel D975XBX to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of 667MHz DDR2, at the best performing memory timings that the Corsair CM2X512A-5400UL revision 1.3 will support.
| Intel D975XBX Stable DDR667 Timings - 2 DIMMs (2/4 slots populated - 1 Dual-Channel Bank) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz (800FSB) |
| Timing Mode: | 667MHz - Default |
| CAS Latency: | 3 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 2 |
| RAS Precharge: | 2 |
| RAS Cycle Time: | 8 |
| Voltage: | 2.1V |
The Intel D975XBX was very stable with 2 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel at the settings of 3-2-2-8 at 2.1V. We will now install all four available memory slots that are usually more strenuous on the memory subsystem than testing 2 DDR2 modules on a motherboard.
| Intel D975XBX Stable DDR667 Timings - 4 DIMMs (4/4 slots populated - 2 Dual-Channel Banks) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz (800FSB) |
| Timing Mode: | 667MHz - Default |
| CAS Latency: | 4 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 2 |
| RAS Precharge: | 3 |
| RAS Cycle Time: | 8 |
| Voltage: | 2.2V |
The Intel D975XBX was completely stable with 4 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel at the settings of 4-2-3-8 and needed the voltage increased to 2.2V. We tried several combinations of memory settings at the CAS Latency of 3, but the board was not stable enough to complete our test suite. This is the first i975x board that we have tested that did not allow a CAS Latency of 3 in our testing with 4 DDR2 modules.
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ruprecht - Thursday, January 26, 2006 - link
What the hell is wrong with Americans? Just say bad ass, it's hardly a hard-core expletive!yacoub - Friday, January 27, 2006 - link
Professional image versus immaturity. Anandtech has a professional image and likely wants to maintain it.Griswold - Friday, January 27, 2006 - link
...land of the free. Whatever.DigitalFreak - Thursday, January 26, 2006 - link
We're prudes! Well, not me, but...Avalon - Thursday, January 26, 2006 - link
This board is pretty pitiful, IMO, when several other solutions out there can outpace it. Unless the board is offered cheaper than the competition, I see no reason to buy it.JarredWalton - Thursday, January 26, 2006 - link
Intel's proven reliability and support. Some people will happily give up 10% or more performance just for a major name like Intel. I'm not one of them, but they do exist.... :)yacoub - Friday, January 27, 2006 - link
But you pay a lot more for it...Zebo - Friday, January 27, 2006 - link
No knowledgeable computer hardware expert seriously believes that there is enough of a stability difference between the platforms to warrant a scientific comparison or research study by an objective outsider. Most "issues" stem from OE or bloated buggy SW and drivers, simple as that - not the hardware itself.Toms tries such a comparison but as you know a sample size of one is'nt very scientific so we'll discount intels 11 reboots two Asus boards, two intel boards, one gigabit board to AMD's 0 reboots in the stress test.:D:)
Zebo - Friday, January 27, 2006 - link
Or should I say where's the proof over anything else? Sounds like urban legend to me. Something the intel boys claim with almost programed resposivness then stop replying in that thread once asked for proof.Sunbird - Thursday, January 26, 2006 - link
Excuse my ignorance, is Bad Axe a new american slang word?