Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3: Lab Testing Update

Test Applications

We are utilizing an abbreviated set of benchmarks to show the impact of the overclocking improvements upon memory performance, general applications, and a couple of games. We will utilize SiSoft Sandra 2007 for the Buffered and Unbuffered memory scores; SuperPi 1.5 1M, Nero Recode 2 utilizing Office Space DVD conversion, and WinRAR 3.61 along with our custom 602MB directory test for general reference scores. Our Quake game benchmark utilizes the IdNetDemo demo recording. This includes mainly outdoor areas with numerous players trying to eliminate each other. We tested the game with High Quality settings (uncompressed normal maps), and we enabled all the advanced graphics options except for VSync. This game is sensitive to memory latency changes and is a good indicator of how memory settings can affect the performance of certain games. Our Battlefield 2 benchmark utilizes our in-house recording based on the 1.3 release. This recording includes numerous players and vehicles battling it out on the Daqing Oilfield map. We tested the game with High Quality settings enabled. We have found this game to be sensitive to both CPU and GPU changes. Since our GPU remains constant we will see the effects of our FSB overclocking along with memory latency changes on the final score.

Click to enlarge

In our memory synthetic tests we see the results at 7x266 FSB are nearly the same between the F6 and F9 BIOS releases, indicating no real changes in the internal BIOS settings. The general application and game tests follow the same path with the differences being minor. This confirms what Gigabyte told us: they have further optimized the BIOS for overclocking without affecting the stock performance adversely.

However, we do see minor differences in the benchmark results due to the relaxed memory timings when compared to the Biostar TForce P965PT running at the same 7x505 FSB settings. Although there are performance differences between the 7x455 and 7x505 settings on the DS3 we find they are very minor overall and bode well for users who have DDR2 memory that is capable of low latency settings at the 450FSB level on this board. We feel like the 450 to 470 FSB range on this board is optimal due to memory timings, the ability to use most DDR2-800 modules at these memory speeds, and the ability to run the CPU, MCH, FSB, and memory voltages at lower values when overclocking on a 24/7 basis.


Current Thoughts

Gigabyte has certainly improved the overclocking ability of the GA-965P-DS3 motherboard with the F9 BIOS. Overall, we were very pleased with performance results of the new BIOS. We were afraid the overclocking improvements would come at the expense of system stability or would not address issues such as the cold boot problems we previously encountered during overclocking - this particular glitch would result in the board returning to stock settings.

However, we did note that memory timings suffered at the new overclock levels when compared to other boards, even if the performance differences are minor and certainly not noticeable in day to day activities when using the system. While the board still does not live up to its overclocking potential in our opinion, we do commend Gigabyte on the continual improvements they have made in each BIOS - unfortunately sometimes fixing problems caused by a previous release. We have also found Gigabyte to be very sensitive to customer complaints or suggestions, and while their BIOS releases have not always been timely in addressing issues, they have been very responsive in addressing these requests. We already see further improvements in their new product releases and we will be able to share those results in the very near future.