GA-X58A-UD3R (rev 2.0): Is it possible to find actual voltages being used?

[kelendral]

GA-X58A-UD3R (rev 2.0): Is it possible to find actual voltages being used?

So I've got the following configuration:
GA-X58A-UD3R (rev 2.0) BIOS FB
Intel I7-950
Patriot Viper II Sector 7 Edition DDR3 12 GB (3 x 4 GB) PC3-12800 1600MHz 9-9-9-24
EVGA GeForce GTX 470 SuperClocked

I boot the system with almost everything on stock/auto and check and the values are listed very oddly.  I do have the memory set for Profile1 which is the XMP-1600 profile on the RAM.
I've done a temp install of windows and confirmed one of the voltage values as it is displayed in BIOS, but it is odd.

On the bottom of the first page in the MB Intelligent Tweaker I see the following values listed:

Code: [Select]

Vcore               1.360 V
DRAM Voltage        1.632 V

NOTE: I have confirmed that CPU-Z reports 1.360 as the core voltage when Windows 7 is booted and idle.

However when I go to the Advanced Voltages Settings page this does not make sense:

Code: [Select]

  ****** Mother Board Voltage Control ******
  Voltage Types        Normal    Current
  ---------------------------------------
  >>> CPU
  Load-Line Calibration          [Auto]
  CPU Vcore            1.00000V  [Auto]
x Dynamic Vcode(DVID) +0.00000V   Auto
  QPI/Vtt Voltage      1.175V    [Auto]
  CPU PLL              1.800V    [Auto]
  >>> MCH/ICH
  PCIE                 1.500V    [Auto]
  QPI PLL              1.100V    [Auto]
  IOH Core             1.100V    [Auto]
  IOH I/O              1.500V    [Auto]
  ICH Core             1.100V    [Auto]
  >>> DRAM
  DRAM Voltage         1.500V    [Auto]
  DRAM Termination     0.750V    [Auto]
  Ch-A Data VRef.      0.750V    [Auto]
  Ch-B Data VRef.      0.750V    [Auto]
  Ch-C Data VRef.      0.750V    [Auto]
  Ch-A Address VRef.   0.750V    [Auto]
  Ch-B Address VRef.   0.750V    [Auto]
  Ch-C Address VRef.   0.750V    [Auto]

Clearly the system is not using the values it lists in the Normal column on this page.  So the question becomes is there any way to determine the values this board is using?  It seems like a serious flaw that the board would report "Normal" values that are not values it is using and would most likely result in an unstable or unbootable system.

I gather the DRAM voltage of 1.632 (should be 1.65 according to the package) came from the profile for 1600 speed, but what of the Vcore and other voltages?

So really I suppose this can be summarized with:

• Is it possible to find the actual values that the system is using for voltages since clearly the "Normal" values are not correct?
• Why does the mother board list "Normal" values it is not using and are clearly incorrect?
• What would be the correct values given the above hardware for the items listed on 'Auto'?

Thank you very much in advance for your time.
Kel.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

Well it is probably just a BIOS issue and as you quite rightly point out these could not be the settings that are being used. I would advise flashing the BIOS to the latest which is FC5 which is a beta BIOS but is stable and on the website. Make sure that you use QFlash for the update and NOT @BIOS.

http://www.giga-byte.co.uk/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3449&dl=1#bios

If you want to know the actual voltages the only way to be 100% sure is to use a meter.

[kelendral]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

Well it is probably just a BIOS issue and as you quite roightly point out these could not be the settings that are being used. I would advise flashing the BIOS to the latest which is FC5 which is a beta BIOS but is stable and on the website. Make sure that you use QFlash for the update and NOT @BIOS.

http://www.giga-byte.co.uk/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3449&dl=1#bios

If you want to know the actual voltages the only way to be 100% sure is to use a meter.

Thanks for the link.  I'll give it a shot.  Hopefully that'll display the voltages it is actually setting as Normal.  I do know the exact voltages would only be able to be gather via measurements but it certainly would be nice to at least have it report what it thinks the correct values should be since it is using different values than the ones it currently reports.  I'll try it out and let you know how it goes.

[Dark Mantis]

Yes I think that is the best course of action for you at this point. Please post back with the results. Good luck.

[Lsdmeasap]

You can use Easytune in windows, to check actual set/applied voltages against what the BIOS sets if you use normal/auto.

[kelendral]

Just wanted to report back that with FC5 installed (had to clear CMOS to get it to boot after updating) it now reports Normal for vCore as 1.2000 which is more along the lines of what I expected and CPU-Z confirmed it running at 1.215 so pretty close match.

Now my only complaint is that numlock setting doesn't apply before going into BIOS setup.  (Yes, I did CTRL+F1 to make sure numlock option was ON {it goes on before getting to the OS so good there}).  Just a minor thing really.  

[Dark Mantis]

Well at least we have managed to sort out your main problem and that looks alright now.

[kelendral]

Yep, and I see FC final came out today.

[Dark Mantis]

Yes so I noticed earlier too.

[Lsdmeasap]

I always have to enable Num-Lock when enter the BIOS if needed, I thought this was normal?

If you find out how to make it always on let me know, thanks!

[Dark Mantis]

As you say Numlock is turned off by default and then enabled if selected in the BIOS. It has to be off to begin with.

[kelendral]

Yep, I just miss my old system's BIOS.  My old PC if the option was set to Numlock ON would actually enable it immediately after POST so it was set as on even when entering the BIOS setup screens.  The Gigabyte BIOS seems to enable it even later in the chain and thus it is not turned on when entering setup even if the option has been set to on.  Minor thing really.  System is working great now though so I am happy.  Fully stable everything running cool and happy otherwise.  Loved the overclock recovery functions, made finding a nice stable configuration easy as pie.