GA-X58A-UD3R Onboard LEDs

[MadMopar]

I have just purchased a GA-X58A-UD3R.

I'm trying to figure out the onboard LED status lights.

I don't know if I'm just being dense or what, but the manual seems to be very vague about it's descriptions of what they are and their exact location.

I get the impression that there are different LEDs next to each other, but not marked as too exact location or meaning.

I'm assuming the following:

Green is good.
Yellow is caution
Red is bad.

Does anyone have a better explanation of the layout/meaning?

I tried to look on the Gigabyte site but couldn't find anything better than the manual.

Thanks

[UnFleshedOne]

For voltage leds, groups of them are circled in the manual, one on top is CPU, one below on the other side of memory is DDR, one immediately below that is SB voltage and the leftmost is NB voltage. If you didn't overclock anything, all leds should be off. Sometimes motherboard decides to overvolt something if left on auto, so watch out if those light up.

Frequency leds are freaking bright blue, you will not mistake it for anything. All of them light up when bclock is above 170 or so.

CPU temp leds are the lower 2 leds in CPU group (circled on top). NB temp are lower 2 in the NB group (I think, they are covered with heatsink so can't really tell).

Phase led (CPU load) is lower group of 4 just below frequency led.

NB and DDR phase leds are middle and lower 2 leds in DDR group (I think...).

[jaicigy]

it is all described in the manual, page 22

[MadMopar]

For voltage leds, groups of them are circled in the manual, one on top is CPU, one below on the other side of memory is DDR, one immediately below that is SB voltage and the leftmost is NB voltage. If you didn't overclock anything, all leds should be off. Sometimes motherboard decides to overvolt something if left on auto, so watch out if those light up.

Frequency leds are freaking bright blue, you will not mistake it for anything. All of them light up when bclock is above 170 or so.

CPU temp leds are the lower 2 leds in CPU group (circled on top). NB temp are lower 2 in the NB group (I think, they are covered with heatsink so can't really tell).

Phase led (CPU load) is lower group of 4 just below frequency led.

NB and DDR phase leds are middle and lower 2 leds in DDR group (I think...).

Thanks for the info on the colors and locations.

I was looking at the book and it's almost useless to understand.

I actually bought a second one of these boards and as I was installing the CPU I noticed that the board actually is labeled with a lot better description of which LEDs are what.

Between your info, the new MB and the book, I think I have it figured out.

Too bad they couldn't have just put it in the book with the appropriate descriptions.

Again, thanks.

[dkslim]

If you read page 22 & 23 together with page 7 of the manual (which has a picture of where the LEDs are), it will make sense

[MadMopar]

If you read page 22 & 23 together with page 7 of the manual (which has a picture of where the LEDs are), it will make sense

I missed that.  Page 7 tells it all.  Thanks.  I guess I can disregard all the pictures that I took  of the MB now.

This is what they mean by "familiarity breeds contempt".  I've been doing hardware so long that I hardly ever need to look at a MB layout now-a-days.

Guess I'd better start looking better.

Again, Thanks

[Mhz]

Hi all,
I have an almost similar question regarding this thread (so i decided not to create new one). It seems that this is my case (read the quotation below).

Sometimes motherboard decides to overvolt something if left on auto, so watch out if those light up.

The issue is that when i switch my memory to XMP-profile1, to make it work in optimal performance level at 1600 Mhz (not at 1066, when its disabled) the leds turns to:
CPU Voltage - green/yellow
NB Voltage - green
When XMP is disabled - all LEDs are off.
I didn't change any voltage settings manually. All is set on AUTO default (as it was mentioned before in this thread).
My hardware seems to be in QVL for my MB. I have no temperature, performance or stability problems.

The question is:
- What are the actual meaning of each LEDs colors ? (which state is safe and which state user should avoid)
- What  actions should i take to avoid any problems with my MB (I still want to run my memory at 1600)

I would appreciate any qualified or expert advice
Tnx

My specs:

GA-X58A-UD5 (rev. 1.0)
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3304#ov
Bios ver F5
Intel® Core™ i7-960
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=37151
G.Skill DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 7-8-7-24 < F3-12800CL7T-6GBPI > PI series
http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=252

[Dark Mantis]

The reason for the change of colours is that you are basically overclocking your memory when you use the XMP settings instead of just allowing the SPD to govern the speed automatically. The colours just follow the normal traffic light scheme. Red=danger, yellow=carefull, green =ok

[geronimo]

From what I understand, Intel core i7's are rated for 2000, 1333, and 1066Mhz. and you always have to overclock any memory over 1333MHz to get it to run at its' rated speed.

[Dark Mantis]

Quite correct. The JEDEC spec is 1333 and anything over that is an overclock of sorts.

[Mhz]

Ok, thanks for the info.
What about my second question:
Is it acceptable/safe for my hardware to run at current state (overvoltage) 

[Dark Mantis]

Your hardware should be fine. Even though the lights come on whennot using XMP they are still showing "safe". I would just advise using the XMP anyway as it give a speed boost to your memory. Don't worry there are people on the forum who would run them on red if they could get a bit more speed out of it.

[Mhz]

Dark Mantis, thanks for the advise and the info.

Best regards,
Mhz

[Dark Mantis]

Just glad to help. Come back if you have any more problems.

[tuna]

Thanx guys!I thought the LEDs on my board were bad running default BIOS. Was gleaning more info before investing too much time setting up a bad board.