Additional Materials and Supporting Docs

In our previous DFI mainboard review we mentioned that the most significant change in the supporting documents was the release of a special manual with pretty detailed description of numerous BIOS parameters related to overclocking and system performance increase. In this respect we have no more reasons for complaints. From now on the supporting documentation will not only tell you about the functionality of certain BIOS parameters (during the tests of DFI LANPARTY DK X58-T3eH6 they released the third version of this manual already). These documents will also contain general information about Intel X58 Express chipset and Nehalem processor family, reveal memory subsystem configuration specifics and provide examples of successful Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition processor overclocking.

Instead, we now have a few things to say about the common mainboard manual. DFI LANPARTY DK X58-T3eH6 is bundled with a big book, which is, however, just a brief assembly guide translated in several different languages. Among other things, it doesn’t have any information about the correct order of DIMM modules installation, which would be typical for documentation of this sort. This is extremely important info, in my opinion, because it contradicts the practical experience of those users who have been dealing only with DDR or DDR2 memory before. The recommendation for these memory modules has always been to use the DIMM slots closest to the CPU, while with DDR3 things are different: you have to start from the DIMM slots farthest to the CPU socket. It has to do with termination on the DIMMs themselves instead of the mainboard. You can find all the necessary information about proper memory modules installation in the full version of the user manual available on the DVD disk bundled with the board. It can also be downloaded from the DFI web-site. Unfortunately, the memory slots are numbered wrong on the pictures, that is why you may get the false impression that the modules should first be installed into the DIMM slots closest to the CPU socket.

There were no mistakes like that in the docs for DFI LANPARTY JR X58-T3H6 mainboard. However, the most convenient approach has been implemented in the supporting documents for Intel DX58SO mainboard. Besides a text explanation, there are also illustrations that make it absolutely clear that the memory modules must be installed into the DIMM slots farthest from the CPU. All possible installation variants are illustrated like that. The picture below is for the case when only one memory module is used.

Incorrect instructions for memory modules installation are the most serious problem of all that we noticed. This mistake may result in system instability or even complete startup failure of DFI LANPARTY DK X58-T3eH6 mainboard. As for the smaller issues, there are also quite a few of them. We have already mentioned that there is no mention of the PCB contact spots anywhere in the manual or on schematics. In the meanwhile, these contacts allow monitoring all most important voltages. I also discovered an undocumented LED next to the 24-pin power connector. Moreover, there is no mention of different operation models for PCI Express 2.0 x16 graphics card slots anywhere in the supporting documents. These are just the issues that we came across during a quick look at through the manual topics of primary interest to us. So, I suspect that I may encounter more issues if I take a real close look at it later on.

I also noticed a few strange things on the official DFI web-site. We got our DFI LANPARTY DK X58-T3eH6 mainboard sample with a very early BIO version from February 2009. Of course, I had to update the BIOS before starting any tests. I could easily find the latest available BIOS version 508, but then my eye caught a warning message telling you to update ABS before updating the BIOS.

I would like to remind you that ABS (Auto Boost System) is DFI’s brand name technology and also utility that allows saving, loading and exchanging BIOS settings profiles. No problem, let’s do what they say. We moved to the sub-section of the site with the ABS updates and come across a completely opposite requirement to update the BIOS before updating the ABS.

Well, looks like we will have to wait until DFI decide on their end in what order we are supposed to update everything. And in the meantime, let’s check out the functionality of DFI LANPARTY DK X58-T3eH6 mainboard BIOS.