DS3P and Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2-6400

RifRaf · 26 Apr 2007 at 22:05

Hi all

Started off last weekend looking for a graphics card for my ageing skt939 system and after advice have ended up building a new system.

I have purchased a 2GB kit (1GBx2) of Ballistix Tracer 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-6400 and wondered if anyone else was using this on a DS3P Mobo as it's not listed on the Gigabyte site as compatable.

I did think about the MSI P965-PLATINUM iP965 MoBo as I have used MSI in my systems for the last few years without issue, but the general opinion is the DS3P is the way to go.

kirbrot · 26 Apr 2007 at 22:10

RifRaf said:
Hi all

Started off last weekend looking for a graphics card for my ageing skt939 system and after advice have ended up building a new system.

I have purchased a 2GB kit (1GBx2) of Ballistix Tracer 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-6400 and wondered if anyone else was using this on a DS3P Mobo as it's not listed on the Gigabyte site as compatable.

I did think about the MSI P965-PLATINUM iP965 MoBo as I have used MSI in my systems for the last few years without issue, but the general opinion is the DS3P is the way to go.

Built a system using 2gb (2*1gb) of Ballistic Tracer and a DS3P last night and it has been working fine (and fingers crossed) still will be after I finish writing this post

RifRaf · 26 Apr 2007 at 22:12

Cheers looks like this is the way I will go then.

I have a voucer for another retailer meaning I will get the board for £68 + delivery but the site states the FSB @ 1066. Is this correct as OCUK has it down as 1333 ?

kingo30 · 26 Apr 2007 at 22:50

its the rev 3.3 that is 1333 but i believe this is just a bios upgrade, i didnt get my board from ocuk but when it arrived it stated rev 3.3 1333mhz on the box, u may be lucky but even if it is not it should be just a bios upgrade.

anyone know if iam wrong please correct me.

Cob · 26 Apr 2007 at 23:12

Yip just a BIOS upgrade. All DS3's can hit a 2000mhz FSB anyway.

IAmATeaf · 27 Apr 2007 at 11:16

According to Gigabyte only the v3.3 have official support for 1333 as they've had to do some layout/track changes to the mobo to provide 1333MHz support although the BIOSes do seem to be the same for v2 and v3.3 mobos.

EDIT: Forgot to add that I'm use the normal Ballistix 6400 with my DS3P no probs, had to set the timings manually but am running the RAM at 1.8v with no probs.

ethan · 27 Apr 2007 at 20:00

IAmATeaf said:
According to Gigabyte only the v3.3 have official support for 1333 as they've had to do some layout/track changes to the mobo to provide 1333MHz support although the BIOSes do seem to be the same for v2 and v3.3 mobos.

EDIT: Forgot to add that I'm use the normal Ballistix 6400 with my DS3P no probs, had to set the timings manually but am running the RAM at 1.8v with no probs.

Same with the ocz rev 2 as well

Cob · 27 Apr 2007 at 20:47

IAmATeaf said:
According to Gigabyte only the v3.3 have official support for 1333 as they've had to do some layout/track changes to the mobo to provide 1333MHz support although the BIOSes do seem to be the same for v2 and v3.3 mobos.

Possibly only the v2 and v3.3 will boot a 1333mhz CPU at 1333mhz first time, but the original v1.0 can be manually set in excess of 1333mhz.

RifRaf · 27 Apr 2007 at 23:30

Cheers for the respsonses lads. Ended up with:

Core 2 Duo E6600
Gigabyte DS3P
BFG 320Mb 8800 GTS OC2
2Gb Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC6400
Enermax 600w Noisetaker PSU
320Gb SATAII Hitachi for the O/S

Hopefully be left with a nice little system for a couple of months at least.

RifRaf · 30 Apr 2007 at 10:32

Back again with another question.

My DS3P turned up this morning and I just wondered if there are any markings on the board that indicate the revision ?

IAmATeaf · 30 Apr 2007 at 15:35

RifRaf said:
Back again with another question.

My DS3P turned up this morning and I just wondered if there are any markings on the board that indicate the revision ?

Oh God - here we go again.

The revision should be marked on the mobo itself, have a look on the edge where the last PCI/PCI-E connector is. Also if the box has a big supports 1333MHz sticker on it then you've got a v3.3 mobo.

RifRaf · 30 Apr 2007 at 15:43

Thanks Teaf.

IAmATeaf · 1 May 2007 at 15:26

RifRaf said:
Thanks Teaf.

So which version did you end up with?

I myself was all set for a v3.3 but got a v2.0 but the boards been rock solid for me but I'm only using a crappy P4 641 at the mo and am not overclocking it.

RifRaf · 1 May 2007 at 22:41

IAmATeaf said:
So which version did you end up with?

I myself was all set for a v3.3 but got a v2.0 but the boards been rock solid for me but I'm only using a crappy P4 641 at the mo and am not overclocking it.

Ended up with a V3.3.

Unfortunately the Enermax Noisetaker I ordered from OC turned up in an unsealed box which I thought was strange. Box was a little battered and I opened it to find that there was no packaging or manual, the PSU has a scratch on the top and the fan blades are covered in dust.

Paid £88 plus delivery and obviously called OC to complain and request an RMA but now I have to return the PSU which is going to cost me another £9 and I had to pay delivery on the replacement which is on the way, so all in all it's cost me about £27 in postage to get this power supply and I still haven't got my new set-up running. :mad:

Hopefully I'll be up and running again tomorrow.

IAmATeaf · 2 May 2007 at 10:16

RifRaf said:
Ended up with a V3.3.

Unfortunately the Enermax Noisetaker I ordered from OC turned up in an unsealed box which I thought was strange. Box was a little battered and I opened it to find that there was no packaging or manual, the PSU has a scratch on the top and the fan blades are covered in dust.

Paid £88 plus delivery and obviously called OC to complain and request an RMA but now I have to return the PSU which is going to cost me another £9 and I had to pay delivery on the replacement which is on the way, so all in all it's cost me about £27 in postage to get this power supply and I still haven't got my new set-up running.

Hopefully I'll be up and running again tomorrow.

That's freaking terrible, are they going to give you a full refund inc postage for the item you're sending back?

RifRaf · 2 May 2007 at 21:57

IAmATeaf said:
That's freaking terrible, are they going to give you a full refund inc postage for the item you're sending back?

The lad I spoke with said he would offer a full refund and I asked about the postage and he said he would refund the postage for the replacement supply. Didn't want to leave it to chance so it looks like I'll be in Warrington tomorrow / Friday so I'm going to pop in and make sure I get a full refund.

To be fair I have used them a few times and never had any problems but when something like this happens and your not spending peanuts it does make you think whether to use them on the next upgrade.