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Gigabyte GA-SINXP1394 Motherboard Review - PAGE 1
Howard Ha, Peter Judson- Tuesday, March 25th, 2003 Like Share
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Many of you were impressed by the performance of Intel's 7205 "Granite Bay" chipset when we reviewed the MSI GNB Max-FIR - and rightly so, since the GNB combined high performance with a wealth of features. Unfortunately, the GNB, and the 7205 in general, is limited because it really only supports up to DDR266 in Dual Channel Mode. This is why when Sis announced their Sis655 chipset, with full Dual Channel AND DDR400 support, our eyebrows rose up a knotch.
Now we've already seen how much greater performance Intel's 7205 chipset can leverage with Dual Channel mode, compared to the AMD/Nvidia Nforce2 platform, in terms of percentage boost in performance, and conventional wisdom would suggest that higher speed memory in Dual Channel mode would yield even more impressive results. Afterall, those fancy memory speed ratings are all about theoretical bandwidth, and if you double the bandwidth of PC2100 memory for 4.2GB/sec bandwidth on the GNB and get PC1066 RDRAM-like performance, what would happen on an Intel platform Dual Channel board capable of using PC3200 memory?
Without giving away too many details, suffice it to say that the SINXP1394, with a pair of Corsair PC3200 in our benchmarks, churned out some really impressive numbers. But before we go into those details, let's look at some of the other features that make up what could potentially be a killer board.
Specs and Features
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Chipset: CPU: Memory: Audio: Realtek ALC650 5.1 Channel Codec Onboard LAN: Intel Integrated Intel® Kenai 82540EM controller (Gigabit capable) Expansion: Interanal I/O Rear I/O |
What's not as apparent from the specs is the marketing aspect of much of what Gigabyte has added to the board. One addition which is likely to spark some initial interest is the DPS or "Dual Power System" (shown below):
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In Gigabyte's own words:
In a Dual Power System (DPS) designed motherboard, an additional 3-phase power circuit DPVRM daughter card is added on the motherboard. This effectively provides a more durable and stable power circuit for intensifying the stability of current system and for future processors.
Now you will see the DPS as an added card with a "magic light" cooler. Aside from looking pretty and having a fancy description, DPS has absolutely nothing to do with performance, additional features, or any other tangible perks for the user. Some users might be lead to believe that this DPS system will enable the board to be more "future safe" because it will provide additional power necessary by future Intel CPU's, but this is clearly not possible. If and when Intel's CPUs have significant architectural differences and power requirements, something like the DPS simply will not fit the bill... whole motherboard architectures and chipsets will be required for those CPUs. The DPS system itself cannot offer "more" stability than SIS655 motherboards without this "technology". The merit of a board's stability can only be judged by hands-on evalution by websites and users... you can't count on the DPS to provide better stability in the face of ever more powerful chips.
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Supposedly the SPD on the memory uses timings that are slightly too tight for the SINXP and the CMOS ships to read the SPD in auto mode. Somehow you need to get to the BIOS, however the system would not post with both sticks of memory installed. Strangely, they would not post with just one 256mb stick -- When it would start to go through the system checks, the display would go crazy and lock up after seconds. Somehow I managed to boot up and switch the bios Cas from SPD(AUTO) to 2.5 and booted no problem.
Now the system has been working great for a week.
It seems to run fastest for me using an Intel 2.4B C1-step on a 160 FSB, mem Dual-Ch DDR 366 Cas 2.5-7-3-3 But I know my memory can run faster. Has anyone had success with the Corsair Twin XMS in cas2?
That really sucks i said to my self, i guess im going to have to be returning somethings...
However, it seems a big shame to use CAS2.5 on RAM that can go down to CAS2 - have you tried just loosening the rest of the timings and keeping CAS2?
After some tweaking I am getting SCORCHING benchmarks off the chart. This board handled just about everything I threw at it but I liked this setting best because the CPU stays cool using my retail fan:
FSB - 150
Mem - 430 Dual-Ch, 2.5-7-3-3
(using two 256mb-Corsair LL 3200s)
Using this setting, my SiSanSoft Memory Benchmarks are literally off the chart. Shows that my system overtakes a 3.0Ghz with Rambus mem by a good 10%. At this spead I don't mind running Cas 2.5. However, I'd like to hear some results from people that HAVE run this board successfulyl at Cas2.
The Corsair 3200LL should be able to take something like 2-2-5-2T though I think the SINXP1394 can't quite do it - at least I couldn't get it to work like that. Still, with your RAM speed @ 430 I think it might have an advantage over stock speeds @ CAS2.
One 20 minute online session of UT2003 without anything but defaults loaded, and I'm averaging over 90fps in 1280x1024 with all the details cranked up to their highest settings. Haven't touched the video settings yet, so I assume they're at the ATI defaults (2x AA and AF I think, I could be wrong). The framerate never dropped below the mid 80's at any time. So far, I couldn't be happier.
i just bought this motherboard from ebay, for a very good deal imo. it seemed a lot of people overlooked this board because of the 533mhz fsb limitations. it seems like a well-received mobo overall from what i've read.
i'm trying to decide what ram to use with the GA-SINXP1394, as it seems a lot of people have had issue with their ram. for now, i'm planning on one stick of 512mb, and i hope to upgrade to dual-channel with an identical stick later on.
i'm thinking about Kingston Valueram, any suggestions as too DDR333 or DDR400?
as well, anyone suspect that the 3.06ghz HT P4 533fsb chip will come down drastically in the near future? until it does, i plan on using the 2.66ghz chip.
any "first things first" help about setting this board up etc is MUCH appreciated.
ajackson1@sasktel.net or r3s3t_063@hotmail.com (occasionally on msn)
Firstly I had some non-descript RAM that I couoldn't get working reliably at all. Then I bought some Corsair TwinX5122700LLPT which worked fine.
Then I tried to upgrade the memory by adding some more TwinX. I RMA'd two sets because the machine wouldn't POST with them in and then bought some from somewhere else. That didn't work either so then I found this thread and manually relaxed the timings (2 7 5 5) and it works fine.
I've tried overclocking my CPU (P4 2.66 GHZ) and got it running quite reliably at over 3GHz but applications will start to crash after a day or so. I'll try this again though now that I've relaxed the timings a bit.
I also had a problem with running my ATI9700 at AGP8x. I had to RMA that and now it works fine.
and i mean not 2x512 i mean just 1 module from 1024
and if its brand specific which one works