Overclocking : ULi M1695/M1567 Reference 2

ULi tells us that they have improved overclocking on the Reference 2. Our OC tests confirm that claim.

ULi M1695/M1567 Reference 2
Clock Speed Overclocking
Processor: Athlon 64 FX57
(2.8GHz, 1MB Cache)
Athlon 64 4000+
(2.4GHz, 1MB Cache)
CPU Voltage: 1.55V (default 1.40V)
Cooling: Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 Heat sink/Fan
Power Supply: OCZ Power Stream 520W
Memory: OCZ PC3200 EL Platinum Rev. 2
(Samsung TCCD Memory Chips)
Hard Drive: Seagate 120GB 7200RPM SATA 8MB Cache
Maximum OC:
(Standard Ratio)
242x12 (4x HT, 2.5-3-3-10)
2904MHz (+21%)
Maximum FSB:
(Lower Ratio)
400 x 7 (2800MHz) (3x HT)
(2 DIMMs in DC mode)
(+100% Bus Overclock)

In the first OC testing with the Reference 2, we really did no better with our 4000+ than our last efforts, which reached 300 in FIRST LOOK: ULi M1695 PCIe/AGP Socket 939 for Athlon 64. ULi suggested that we test with the FX57 for the 400 Clock Frequency, and this indeed worked for an incredible 400x7 clock speed.

There are several potential reasons why the FX57 achieved what the 4000+ could not. First, the 4000+ has a stock voltage of 1.5V, while the FX57 is specified as 1.35V-1.4V. This means that the 1.55V available on the ULi is a more significant increase on the FX57 than the 4000+. ULi really needs to provide a wider range of vCore adjustments to accommodate the wide range of Athlon 64 processors in the market.

The second possibility is the memory controller, with the FX57 having a much better Rev. E+. The memory controller for Rev.E is much improved, according to AMD, and the FX57 is the latest in the Rev. E memory controller family.

Regardless of the reasons why FX57 worked at 400, we are still left with the severe overclocking limitation of no voltages for memory in the ULi Reference 2 BIOS. We had to toss our normal overclock procedures out the window to bring you a better idea of the overclocking capabilities of this board. Without memory voltage, the only way that this can be tested is by lowering memory ratios to those that can run at default voltage. In this case, that would be a 100 setting on memory, so the 400 clock setting would yield a 200 base or DDR400 at the fixed memory voltage. ULi needs to correct this and provide memory voltage adjustments to 3.2V or more in production boards.

Due to the improved performance of the FX57 in overclocking, we plan to use the FX57 or another Rev. E Athlon 64, in future overclocking tests.

It is also worth noting that ULi is another board that supports the new Athlon 64 high memory ratios with a Rev. E chip. As you can see, 433, 466, and 500 (216, 233, and 250) are new options when a Rev. E chip is installed.

Basic Features: ULi M1695/M1567 Reference 2 SLI and Dual Video
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  • Kinesis - Thursday, August 18, 2005 - link

    Someone may have asked this, but I didn't see it, my apologies if this is a duplicate. But will these boards support AMD's dual core chips?
  • ElJefe - Saturday, August 20, 2005 - link

    Not only will it support it... it is the only one out that DOES support it truly. It needs no bios revision, it is built into the original bios to support it. asus, gigabyte and abit all warned me that it is highly likely that if you purchase any of their boards and put a dual core cold on them as a new system, the computer wont "post" and just sit there. youll need to buy a 939 chip or borrow someones if it isnt this m1695 asrock board. really, there hasnt been much growth since this has been reviewed in boards, so none have put the dual core bios as their official starter/tested/stable bios yet.

    and from reading 100's of legitimate forum entries from all 3 of those main companies, i can say that I would never do dual core without going for a board that is brand new. the problems and conflicts are rather universal and rather pathetic.

    I am not sure why there isnt talk of this much in forums around here, but if you read the forums of those places you will see obvious problems (abit is the worst at the moment though, which is most unfortunate as they were my favorite company for many years)
  • bozilla - Friday, August 12, 2005 - link

    I'm not sure if someone asked this...but is it possible to use existing AGP card and PCI-e card on the same board with Crossfire for example with this chipset? Let's look at this like this. I have an AGP X800XT PE now and I want to buy a X850XT PE Crossfire edition in PCI-E and put both in the motherboard that comes out with this chipset. Possible?
  • Wesley Fink - Saturday, August 6, 2005 - link

    nVidia has sent us the following information:

    "The ULI board isn't certified for SLI. It hasn't been submitted."

    nVidia added that modified nVidia drivers generally indicate a board that is not certified.
  • nserra - Monday, August 8, 2005 - link

    Well it isn't selling any way, why certify it?
  • ElJefe - Tuesday, August 9, 2005 - link

    just a tip:
    someone said that Asrock usa isnt going to sell this mobo in the US of A, that is not true, i called today and it definitely is going to be sold here very soon.

  • mino - Saturday, August 6, 2005 - link

    Actually this is understandable. Why bother to certify an preview board ? For a company like Uli this would be a waste of time and money.
  • deathwalker - Saturday, August 6, 2005 - link

    I'm looking forward to the release of Mobo's on this chipset. I want to upgrade to a socket 939 system and at the same time be able to keep costly components that I have(6800gt agp card for one)for use in it. I hope we se a micro ATX version that I can drop in a Aspire X-Qpack case. Good job Anandtech for picking up on this upcoming release and covering it for your dedicated subscribers. I don't think Tom's Hardware even knows this exists..not a whisper on there site about this chipset.
  • Zebo - Friday, August 5, 2005 - link

    Not really because I already bought a AN8 Utlra.. A, as in Abit. That's really what ULi needs for wide-spread adoption.. ABIT/DFI/ASUS/Gigabyte/MSI branded boards with wild OC options.. not Asrock/tul/ECS. I waited and waited for a decent SiS755 board which was also very promising.. which never came. I'm betting the same will happen here, especially so now that board makers have to make room in their stable for ATI based chipsets.
  • nserra - Monday, August 8, 2005 - link

    But Uli offers AGP 8X, no one does this, so they will be “forced” to support it.

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