Tom's Hardware > All Reviews > Components > Motherboards > X48 Motherboard Comparison, Part 2

BIOS and Overclocking

06:40 - Friday 30 May 2008 by Thomas Soderstrom

BIOS Frequency and Voltage settings (for overclocking)
FSB Frequency	200 - 700 MHz (1 MHz)
Clock Multiplier Adjustment	Yes
DRAM Frequency	All Intel Ratios (by boot strap)
PCIe Clock	100 - 250MHz (1 MHz)
CPU Vcore	0.44375 - 1.6000 Volts (0.00625 Volts)
CPU FSB Voltage	1.211 - 1.601 Volts (0.005 Volts)
Northbridge (MCH)	1.211 - 1.601 Volts (0.005 Volts)
Southbridge (ICH)	1.51 - 2.38 Volts (0.13 Volts)
DRAM Voltage	1.71 - 3.04 Volts (Various Steps)
CAS Latency Range	tCAS: 3-9; tRCD: 3-10; tRP: 3-9; tRAS: 1-31

DFI provides an excellent range of voltage and timing adjustments in small increments, allowing each overclocker to shoot for the best possible performance his or her components can achieve. The CPU core voltage range does look a little conservative compared to other settings, but DFI also provides a “CPU VID Add” setting to increase the core up to 30% beyond the set voltage, in 0.23% increments.

DFI calls its overclocking menus “Genie BIOS.” The main menu includes basic clock and ratio settings for the CPU and RAM.

The voltage submenu includes VID control, the previously mentioned “VID Add” percentage; DRAM, chipset and per-die GTL reference voltage settings.

The DRAM timings menu has every setting that even the most avid overclocker could want, and those less interested in the more advanced settings will find individual “automatic” options.