1st Test

In our first test, all tested motherboards must achieve the highest CPU speed with all BIOS settings left to Auto. This allows each motherboard to determine how much voltage the CPU requires for stable operation . Memory dividers and memory/FSB/MCH voltages are also left to Auto. in other words, this is the simplest overclocking method.

Keeping the CPU multiplier at 12x, Biostar TA770-A2+ reached the 2600MHz, while the Gigabyte GA-790FX-DQ6 reached the 2640MHz.

2nd Test

Except from the maximum CPU speed, we need to define the the maximum possible FSB frequency we can get with the specific CPU. Again all BIOS settings are left to Auto and the CPU multiplier was dropped down to 5x. The HT dropped d to 200MHz. Both memory timings and dividers were also left to auto.

With Auto voltage settings we got a top roof of 270MHz, with Gigabyte GA-790FX-DQ6 to be much better with a 310MHz FSB.

- Overclocking stability

Biostar TA770 A2+ motherboard proved to be fairy stable during our overclocking attempts. In most cases the system posted a warning message prompting us to set the correct cpu host clock after a failed post. However there were several cases, where the system didn't post, even at safe mode, so we had to manually perform CMOS reset.