EPoX EP-9U1697-GLi: ULi M1697 Goes Mainstream

FSB Overclocking Results

Front Side Bus Overclocking Testbed
Processor:	AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego) AMD Opteron 170 (Toledo)
CPU Voltage: AMD Athlon 64 4000+ AMD Opteron 170	1.500V (1.400V default) 1.450V (1.300V default)
Memory Settings:	2.5-3-3-7 1T - (12x) 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (10x) 2.5-4-4-10 1T - (9x)
Memory Voltage:	2.9V
Chipset Voltage:	2.2V
HT Multiplier:	5x up to 260HTT, 4x up to 325HTT
Memory:	OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition
Cooling:	Zalman CNPS9500
Power Supply:	OCZ Power Stream 520
Maximum CPU OverClock: (AMD Athlon 64 4000+)	255HTT x 12 (3060MHz) +27% (4000+)
Maximum HTT OverClock: (AMD Athlon 64 4000+)	325HTT x 9 (2925MHz) +62% (4000+)
Maximum CPU OverClock: (AMD Opteron 170)	280HTT x 10 (2800MHz) +40% (O170)
Maximum HTT OverClock: (AMD Opteron 170)	315HTT x 9 (2835MHz) +57% (O170)

Our 4000+ CPU posted excellent results in the overclocking tests. We were able to run the system at a HTT setting of 260 with very good results. However, the board would not pass part of our multitasking test suite at the 260 HTT setting, but it was extremely stable and passed all of benchmark test suites at the 255HTT setting with an HT multiplier of 5x. We were able to run our memory at a 1T command rate up to the HTT setting of 325. The board actually completed our test suites at an HTT setting of 335, but it required a 2T command rate along with a voltage increase to 1.600V.

Our Opteron 170 also posted excellent results with this board. However, this CPU has reached 2.95GHz on 1.450V in past testing. At the 10x280 and 9x315 overclock settings, the system was able to complete all of our benchmark test suites three consecutive times and run Prime95 and SuperPI without issue. Overall, the board would make an excellent platform for the typical overclocker.


Memory Stress Testing

Memory stress tests look at the ability of the Epox EP-9U1697 GLi to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of DDR-400, at the best performing memory timings that the OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition will support.

EPoX EP-9U1697 GLi Stable DDR-400 Timings - 2 DIMMs (2/4 slots populated - 1 Dual-Channel Bank)
Clock Speed:	200MHz
CAS Latency:	2
RAS to CAS Delay:	2
RAS Precharge:	2
RAS Cycle Time:	5
Command Rate:	1T
Voltage:	2.7V

The EPoX EP-9U1697 GLi was extremely stable with 2 DDR modules in Dual-Channel mode at the settings of 2-2-2-5 at 2.7V. We will now install our memory into all four available memory slots, which results in more strenuous requirements on the memory subsystem than testing 2 DDR modules on a motherboard.

EPoX EP-9U1697 GLi Stable DDR-400 Timings - 4 DIMMs (4/4 slots populated - 2 Dual-Channel Banks)
Clock Speed:	200MHz (800FSB)
CAS Latency:	2
RAS to CAS Delay:	2
RAS Precharge:	2
RAS Cycle Time:	7
Command Rate:	2T
Voltage:	2.7V

The Epox EP-9U1697 GLi displayed superb stability with 4 DDR modules in Dual-Channel operation at the settings of 2-2-2-7, but it required the command rate to be increased to 2T. Note that this 2T requirement for 4 DIMMs is typical of nearly all 939 boards; only the DFI SLI-DR Expert managed 1T timings with 4 DIMMs, but overclocking beyond 205 MHz HT bus speeds once again required 2T.