GA-X48-DS5 Overclock problem --- Malfunction of Fine CPU Clock ratio

[Crazy-PC]

I was disappointed by the overclock performance of Gigabyte X48 motherboard, my system information are as following:

CPU: Intel Q9450 (Default 333Mhz x 8 = 2.66GHZ)
Main board: GA-X48-DS5 revision 1.1 BIOS F5 & F6b
BIOS setting For 3.4Ghz overclocking
In the MB Intelligent Tweaker screen, set:
Robus graphics booster: standard
CPU clock ratio: 8x
Fine CPU Clock ratio: +0.5x
cpu host clock control: enable
cpu host clock frequency: 400
PCI Express frequency: 100
C.I.A.2: disable
Performance Enhance: standard
System memory multiplier: [2.00D]
Dram Timing Selectable: Manual
Standard Timing control:
6
6
6
18
System voltage control: manual
DDR2
Overvoltage: +0.2V from original 1.8volts.
Loadline Calibration: Enable
CPU Voltage Control: 1.25V
All others remain at default / normal.

Stress Test by Super Pi 32M and 16M together are OK.

Everything looks good but after I boot into the Windows XP SP2, I found the CPU speed is only 3.2GHZ where it is 400Mhz x 8, in other word it means the Fine CPU clock ration [+0.5] is malfunction. Right now I use HD3870 of 3DMark06 with 12992 at default setting (1280x1024) and 10215 for resolution 1920x1200, however I concerned Q9450 of only 3.2GHZ maybe a bit of bottleneck if I change my display card to HD4870 once it is available in market.

Is there any hardware expert can help me. Thanks for a lot.

 

[dagger]

There is no problem. The 0.5x does not work that way. Q9450 multiplier is locked at 8x or below, not 8.5x. The multiplier ceiling is absolute. The motherboard can't go 0.5x above.

It means you can downclock by 0.5x, but not going over the limit.

 

[Crazy-PC]

Thanks Dagger, I just wonder if this function is same as the ASUS's CPU leveling function to simulate the CPU to higher grade processor while it won't.

 

[dagger]

Thanks Dagger, I just wonder if this function is same as the ASUS's CPU leveling function to simulate the CPU to higher grade processor while it won't.

I don't see how it's possible, on any motherboard. The multiplier ceiling is hardware locked within the cpu itself.

 

[Crazy-PC]

I don't see how it's possible, on any motherboard. The multiplier ceiling is hardware locked within the cpu itself.

No, you are right that it is quite impossible but just imagined BIOS could did something like helping the fixing of hardware bug but this time is overrule the CPU internal lock even though not really possible :lol:
Actually Gigayte shall automatically disable the Fine CPU clock control if the ratio already set to maximum clock ratio. Thanks again.