Pentium 4 3.46 Extreme Edition and 925XE: 1066MHz FSB Support is Here
by Anand Lal Shimpi on October 31, 2004 3:00 PM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
Intel D925XECV2: Enthusiast Options
The new Intel 925XE includes adjustments for memory timings, memory speeds, memory voltage, and CPU FSB adjustments. These options are well-hidden in the Intel BIOS, but they are much more complete than you might expect on an Intel board.
The Main menu provides system information, but there is little indication of what is lurking inside the Intel BIOS. The real action for the Enthusiast is in the Advanced menu.
In the Advanced menu are the options to adjust PCI, Boot, Peripheral, Drive, Floppy, Video, USB, etc. The main controls for the Enthusiast are found in the Chipset Configuration menu
Chipset Configuration includes two important sub-menus - Burn-In Mode and memory
Continue and Extended Burn-In Mode should be enabled. You can then select Host Burn-In Mode.
Host Burn-In Mode now reveals an adjustment range of -2% to 10% in 1% increments. With a base frequency of 266 or 1066FSB, this is an adjustment range of 1045 FSB to 1173 FSB in 10.66MHz increments. While this is a very limited range compared to the average Enthusiast board, it is certainly a beginning for Enthusiast controls on an Intel board.
PCI speed can be adjusted form the default 33.33 to 36.36 and 40.0.
PCI Express also has an adjustment range from the default 100 to around 110 in 1.32Mhz increments.
Returning to Chipset Configuration, the Memory sub-menu has a wide range of memory adjustments.
After selecting Manual-User Defined you can select memory timings. This includes CAS Latency (tCL), RAS-to-CAS Delay, tRP., and tRAS.
DDR2 Memory Speed can be adjusted to base frequencies of 266, 333, 400, 533, and 667.
It was particularly surprising to find a reasonable range of memory voltage adjustments in the Intel BIOS. The available range is from default 1.8V to 2.1V. this is wide enough to allow many DDR533 rated DDR2 dimms to run at DDR667 or faster.
There are just two major controls missing for the Enthusiast. There is no option in the BIOS that we could find to adjust the base CPU frequency. If this could be forced to lower standard speeds such as 200 (800), there would be much more flexibility available for controlling the CPU. There is also no provision for CPU voltage, which is becoming less important as processor operating voltages have decreased. Our test CPU did have limited multiplier adjustments of 12X-13X but we do not know if shipping 1066 processors will also have this feature.
We could wish for wider ranges on several options, but the good news is this Intel board does contain the kind of tweaking controls Enthusiasts have been asking for from Intel.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
63 Comments
View All Comments
GhandiInstinct - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
Come on Dell, cheaper, faster..give in to the grown up taste!!!I still can't fathom Dell being the top computer seller worldwide, are soccer moms buying at record highs?
Tides - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
i'd say ddr2 does suck when intel gets less performance with it vs an amd 939 with ddr1. what a waste of cash to have the intel branding.jimmy43 - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
Most people dont care whats in their computer. Intel is a brand name people trust, but if they can get a computer for less money which can do all they need, then they will. And guess what? Theyl be blown away, and theyl realize AMD slays Intel and theyl laugh at their friends who got an Intel. The reason Intel is able to hold on so well to the market is because of conservative companies like DELL and other such multi-billion dollar partnerships. I say once DELL gives in, its over for Intel. But seriosly they really need to pick it up...Zebo - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
Those gaming benchmarks are embarresing.A "budget" athlon 64 3400 with the "old" socket 754 single channel mem controller is putting a whoppin' on Intels top chip.Zebo - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
SLIMYou're forgetting DDR2 price which this needs in your so called Intel is "cheaper" comparison. If you want the same price setup you can get a FX-55 and really bring the wood.
AnonymouseUser - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
"why didn't anyone try to overclock this thing and see how far it'll go?"They didn't want to melt the motherboard?
knitecrow - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
why didn't anyone try to overclock this thing and see how far it'll go?Determinant - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
There is a graph missing in the "Business/General Use Performance" page.The graph for "Ahead Software Nero Express 6.0.0.3" is replaced by a duplicate of the preceding graph.
I was surprised to see the big difference when burning CDs/DVDs with different CPUs until I realized that it was the wrong graph.
I'm really interested to see how much of an impact faster CPUs make for burning CDs/DVDs because I didn't think that there would be a difference outside of the benchmark variance but since this was benchmarked it must have been noticable.
Thanks
MMORPGOD - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
None of you are aware of the situation Intel has over the world computing market. Yes evryone here on Anand forum is hardcore or enthusiast of computer tech and gaming for PC. But one thing none of you have a grasp on is that Intel has millions of people who do not define themselfs as ever being knowledgable to computing performance or benchmarks. Basicly all of intel is going to be on top no matter what, unless something big happens where the community who purchases these computer systems from the retail stores either sees whats going on beforehand or just wises up and reads about there current technology. Its something thats proven and works, Intel is leading the world in publications of its product more then AMD, thus they have a hand on being on the top. I am a diehard AMD fan, and there isnt to many of us out there who have been since AMD came out, but I can tell you, with all this media coverage on Intel over the past years, its engraved into evry consumers head that the next PC they get they will most likely purchase retail INtel equiped PC. AMD needs to market a little more because average people dont give a damn about benchmarks. Just my opinion about evryone who I see post above who says man Intel is toast or Intel is gone, those are benchmark comments and dont disolve the real world consumers thoughts on a PC with Intel name. How many people go into a Circuit City or Best Buy and see more AMD products then Intel? Intel leads advertisements and in store showcasing, so until someone actually gives the word to the public that AMD is better, Intel will always lead but not in performace. Cant wait for my FX-55Pythias - Sunday, October 31, 2004 - link
I really hope intel can get it back together, or we're gonna be looking at sky high processor pricing again. We need healthy competition.