Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H(rev 1.0) with OCZ Reaper OCZ2RPR10664GK

[notJUSTguitar]

Hi,
I am rebuilding a friends computer (his cpu fan went out...frying his CPU and MOBO, so I am replacing everything).  I built myself a system 9 months ago with a gigabyte motherboard, and has worked almost perfectly...the BIOS it came with had a bug where the image on the screen would bounce up and down...but a BIOS upgrade fixed that.

I ordered the Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H(rev 1), and an AMD Athlon II x3 3.2Ghz CPU.  Then, since this board supports DDR2 memory running at 1066Mhz, I ordered this memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289

On the details tab, it says the voltage is 2.1V-2.2V.  If I remember correctly, the gigabyte mobo I ordered can supply up to 2.1V.  Will the motherboard automatically set that voltage?  I read that for a  lot of people it automatically sets that memory to run at 800Mhz.  It is completely safe to put the voltage up at 2.1V, right?  Also, if it doesn't set the timings right, should I set it manually to what OCZ recommends (5-5-5-18)?  And, how would I do that?

Thanks for any replies!
-notJUSTguitar

[absic]

Hi there,

It's a long time since I played with this board but if memory serves me right it will default the RAM voltage to 1.8V and you will have to manually adjust the settings from within the MIT section of BIOS.

It will probably also default the RAM to 800 MHz and once again, you might have to manually set this to X5.33 from the Default X4.00.

However, if you find that the system runs at default settings you might do better leaving them alone as the difference in speed between 800MHz and 1066MHz isn't really that great in the real world and, you would actually benefit from leaving the RAM at 800MHz and overclocking the CPU.

[Tiger]

When ordering a motherboard from Newgg, you will usually receive the latest revision, 3.3 in this case.
MemoryTiming 5-5-5-18
Voltage 2.1V - 2.2V

System Voltage Control
Determines whether to manually set the system voltages. Auto lets the BIOS automatically set the system voltages as required. Manual allows all voltage control items below to be configurable

You have the option in the BIOS to increase DDR2 Voltage Control +0.1V ~ +0.3V. The +0.3V setting would be needed to increase the voltage from the default 1.8V to the desired 2.1V

DDRII Timing Items
Manual allows all DDR2 Timing items below to be configurable.
Options are: Auto (default), Manual.

CAS# latency
Options are: Auto (default), 3T~6T.  SET to 5T

RAS to CAS R/W Delay
Options are: Auto (default), 3T~6T.   SET to 5T

Row Precharge Time
Options are: Auto (default), 3T~6T.   SET to 5T

Minimum RAS Active Time
Options are: Auto (default), 5T~18T.   SET to 18T

1T/2T Command Timing
Options are: Auto (default), 1T, 2T.    SET to 2T

Memory Clock
This option is configurable only when Set Memory Clock is set to Manual.
When you use an AM3/AM2+ CPU:
X2.66 Set Memory Clock to X2.66.

DCTs Mode - Leave at default setting Unganged
Allows you to set memory control mode.
Ganged Sets memory control mode to single dual-channel.
Unganged Sets memory control mode to two single-channel. (Default)

Other settings are ok at default settings

I assume the AMD Athlon II x3 3.2Ghz CPU  is the AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz. The AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz is not a supported processor for the GA-MA785GM-US2H (all revisions). I caution you not to experiment with the use of processors that are not on the motherboard CPU Support List.

[notJUSTguitar]

Hi!  thanks for the replies!
I wil probably check to make sure the system works with the memory at default settings, and if it works right, I will try to change it to run at 1066.
Oh, I didn't check to make sure the processor was on the supported CPU list....yes, it is the AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz CPU.  I REALLY hope it works!  It is my friends computer, and I am going to La Crosse to his house for a few days from St. Paul (in the USA), so a 2 1/2 to 3 hours drive!  So it will REALLY stink if the processor doesn't work... I just assumed that since it was the right socket (AM3 on AM2/AM2+/AM3 socket mobo), it would work...there isn't a change that it will wreck the motherboard/processors, is there?  They already ordered all the stuff...totalling to over $500...(they are using their existing case and a few other things)...so I don't know what I will do if it doesn't work..or worse..wreck something.  Anyone know if this processor will work with the motherboard?
Thanks again for the replies!
-notJUSTguitar

[notJUSTguitar]

Hi everyone, just thought I would let you know how it went.
The Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H properly detected the AMD Athlon II x3 450.  And, I tried unlocking the 4th core...and it worked!
So it now shows up as an AMD Phenom II x4 B50 @ 4.5Ghz!  We overclocked it a little bit to get it up to 3.5Ghz.
It survived several hours of stress testing with Prime 95, staying at just under 60 degrees celcius.  I just left the memory at 800Mhz, and it went up a little when we overclocked, so I should probably just leave it at that???  And I think the timings are 5-5-5-15
Should I change that?  Since if I changed it to run at 1066Mhz, it would run a little faster, although the motherboard shows a sticker on the box with DDR2 1200+ with overclocking....so would it be ok to set the memory at 1066Mhz, and would I adjust the timings like Tiger said to?

One more question-
When unlocking cores, you can set the value for the cores....all 4 cores were set to -2% by default.  Should I just leave that?

Thanks for the replies!  This system is sweetly fast!

[Tiger]

Good to see it working. I see the new AMD processors are okay for the DDR3 motherboards but not on the DDR2 motherboard support lists. I couldn't tell you why, other than the new CPU's haven't been out very long. I would run the memory at 1066 if you can.

You should use AMD OverDrive
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_overdrive.aspx?p=1

You can monitor the performance with it. Read the performance tuning guide for more information on tuning the different cores.

[absic]

When unlocking cores, you can set the value for the cores....all 4 cores were set to -2% by default.  Should I just leave that?

Well, the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" springs to mind.  The -2% is a standard setting and on my own rig it is applied to my 1090T CPU too so the simple answer would be to leave it alone, if everything is running fine.