Gigabyte X38-DQ6 (Intel X38)
Overclocking and stability
Prior to moving to overclocking, let's look into the power converter. It uses a 12-phase(!) power scheme, in which there are four 330 mkF and fourteen 561 mkF capacitors.
To facilitate the thermal mode of the power supply module, there is quite a massive radiator on the power components.
Now on to the overclocking features.
First off, Gigabyte X38-DQ6 allows adjusting the system bus speed within 100 to 700 MHz in 1 MHz increments.
Of convenience is that you can enter the desired FSB value from the keyboard.
Secondly, Gigabyte X38-DQ6 allows adjusting the CPU voltage (Vcore) within a very wide range: within 0.5 V to 2.35 V in 0.00625-0.05 V increments.
The advanced user can raise the Vmem by 1.55V (in 0.05V increments).
The programmers at Gigabyte have implemented a multi-colored highlighting of values. Safe values are highlighted in customary yellow, with those relatively safe highlighted in pink. Also, voltage values which may result in a damage to the system components are displayed in red and blinking as a warning.
We get a feature for raising voltage on the north bridge (by 0.375V in 0.025V increments).
Additionally, the user can raise the FSB voltage
and that on the PCI Express bus.
Both the parameters have similar ranges and allow for the minimum raise = 0.35 V in 0.05 V increments.
It is also possible to adjust the PCI Express bus speed within 90 MHz to 150 MHz:
Also worth noting is the feature for adjusting the multiplier:
Now let's try the overclocking features in practice. So, Gigabyte X38-DQ6 has demonstrated superb results: a stable operation at FSB =556 MHz with a E6550 CPU.
Now a few words on the mode of dynamic overclocking (C.I.A. 2) which increases the CPU clock speed by the time of launching a "hard" application and reduces it to the nominal once the application is closed.
In conclusion, we note that overclocking fanciers can use the Windows utility EasyTune Center which offers features for raising the clock speeds of the CPU and the memory. However, the utility is of restricted functionality, therefore is of little interest for overclocking enthusiasts.
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