Problems with GA-P67A-UD3-B3 is this normal

[maxzuk]

Hi built my new system a few months ago a ran like a dream, then the bf3 demo came out grrrrrr.

Decided to get better GPU and thats when I noticed I had issues.

Have formated windows & done several remove battery cmos clears as advised by Gigabyte (did not work)

1/ noticed that cpu was being overclocked by setting x16 or profile1 on memory Fixed this by going back to F4 bios from F6.

2/Could not get afterburner to either boot up or save profiles. and had also noticed that pcie lane were running @x8 not x16 and after a week of googling found this to be caused by USB3 turbo turned on which gives 10% increase and am also aware that x8 to x16 makes really no differance but switching it off allowed x16 but more importantly afterburner now saves profiles but still dont boot at startup but could live with this until noticed prob 3.

3/With usb3 turbo turned off Smart 6 or ET6 would not change cpu overclocking in windows without restart asking you to change settings in bios. And worrying when you do go to bios change in OS is active but trying to change in OS had activated change BLK settings as well. Fixed this by removing windows overclocking and just doing it in bios.

System now works great and strangely getting much better scores on tests but surely I should be able to use some of the features of a modern board in windows.

Sorry for the long post and I hope someone can help with my one question is this normal for modern mobos to be such a pain or does it sound like the board needs sending back.

Thanks Nigel
mobo is a gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3-B3

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome Nigel.

It is not altogether clear exactly what your problem is but as you have already noticed I think, it is better to remove all the bundled programs like ET6, Smart 6 and Energy Saver etc, etc. They just cause more problems than enough. Better to stick to what is absolutely necessary then your system will respond better. Use only the BIOS for overclocking if you want to do that.

The latest BIOS version should be the best but it doesn't always follow and sometimes things can go wrong and it is better to revert to a previous one.You didn't mention what memory you are using but if it is faster than 1333mhz you will either need to overclock it manually or use the Profile 1 as you mentioned. That is fine. This shouldn't affect the CPU speed at all.

As you found if Turbo is enabled on USB3 you will get a maximium of x8 on the PCIE lanes. This won't actually make any difference to todays GPUs but it is worth noting.

If you have any particular question please post again.

[maxzuk]

Thanks for the reply I think I have been extremely unlucky in that one program had a knock on effect with next and so on.

Yes do use 1600 memory so using profile1 to get this did post earlier this week  that F5 & F6 bios was OC processor when profile1 or x16 multipler so reverted to F4.

Dont know why et6 suddenly stopped working and worse was enabling blk settings and OC this since turning off USB3 turbo.

Bottom line is I have gone back to doing stuff in bios instead of windows and after 12 hours of really pushing system seems stable as a rock.

If anyone has any idea why disabling USB3 turbo would stop et6 working and also activating BLK and adjusting settings would love to know as I think that really could do harm to chip.

[Dark Mantis]

It may not have been disabling USB3 that caused ET6 to stop working it is more likely it was because of the BIOS version changing.

[maxzuk]

Sorry i'm not that clear on this,  changed bios back early last week and that fixed memory timing OC processor

Only removed USB3 turbo yesterday and that's when ET6 when haywire.

Did try removing battery on board over night , didn't fix it so uninstalled ET6

Personally don't have a problem with GPU running @ x8 but like I said earlier that was causing problems with MSI Afterburner.

Thank Nigel

[Dark Mantis]

Sorry I obviously made a mistake on the timing of what you did. It does indeed look as if ET6 is linked with the USB3 then.

[maxzuk]

No problem really appreciate any input on this I.E. is this normal for this board or have I got a problem board that needs attention.

[soarwitheagles]

Sorry i'm not that clear on this,  changed bios back early last week and that fixed memory timing OC processor

Only removed USB3 turbo yesterday and that's when ET6 when haywire.

Did try removing battery on board over night , didn't fix it so uninstalled ET6

Personally don't have a problem with GPU running @ x8 but like I said earlier that was causing problems with MSI Afterburner.

Thank Nigel

max,

on some gig mb's, i have had wonderful success using et6.  on the other hand, on some other gig mb's, et6 has caused total nightmares...it was similar to playing russian roulette.

since i am not a gambling man, i stopped using et6 altogether.  the result: total success and a full return to stable systems.

for many of us, it just was not worth the gamble.

may i suggest you use your bios for any overclocking and use a 3rd party software to monitor speeds and temps [such as cpuid and/or siw]?

tryin' to help you avoid the terrible headaches and nightmares many of us experienced while using et6...

for many of us, et6 had the same exact attributes as lazarus dead in the grave for 4 days, the neighbor's dog's poo-poo on the front lawn and cutting raw onions: they stink really bad and they make you cry!

soar

 

[maxzuk]

Sorry i'm not that clear on this,  changed bios back early last week and that fixed memory timing OC processor

Only removed USB3 turbo yesterday and that's when ET6 when haywire.

Did try removing battery on board over night , didn't fix it so uninstalled ET6

Personally don't have a problem with GPU running @ x8 but like I said earlier that was causing problems with MSI Afterburner.

Thank Nigel

max,

on some gig mb's, i have had wonderful success using et6.  on the other hand, on some other gig mb's, et6 has caused total nightmares...it was similar to playing russian roulette.

since i am not a gambling man, i stopped using et6 altogether.  the result: total success and a full return to stable systems.

for many of us, it just was not worth the gamble.

may i suggest you use your bios for any overclocking and use a 3rd party software to monitor speeds and temps [such as cpuid and/or siw]?

tryin' to help you avoid the terrible headaches and nightmares many of us experienced while using et6...

for many of us, et6 had the same exact attributes as lazarus dead in the grave for 4 days, the neighbor's dog's poo-poo on the front lawn and cutting raw onions: they stink really bad and they make you cry!

soar

 

Exactly what im now doing 

keeping it old school

Alot of people can have problems with afterburner and not seen any postings about MB utilities causing this, must spread the news.

Anyway thanks for all the replies system now seems stable as a rock.

[Dark Mantis]

Good, I am really glad that you have now got it all sorted out alright and got a stable system. Good luck and enjoy your machine.