What happens when you push things too much? A GA-P35-DS3L review

Overclocking can be something very gratifying, that can save you some huge bucks or give you the performance you cannot yet get with stock parts, but ssometimes things can go wrong.

While reviewing the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard, my colleagues at Xbitlabs had a surprise when they tried to push a QX6700 too far on a 4-phase design.
The continuous increase in processor amperage requirements, we see in each new process shrink, keeps pushing the PWM module to new levels and even 4-phase almost isn't enough for the standard QX6700, let alone when pushing 1.45v, which further pushes wattage requirements.

While the board is more than fine for Core 2 Duo overclocking, this could've been caused by a problem between the psu and the board, not a problem of either the components. It's not likely but I've seen it happen - there is a change it isn't Gigabyte's fault - even if you think the board can handle this kind of stress.
Once I had a computer running tests in stock and the ATX connector got so hot it melted a bit. Nothing was damaged, but I noticed something was wrong when I accidentally touched it. I switched the PSU and all was fine. The PSU didn't exhibit the same symptoms in a board from a different brand, sometimes it just comes down to incompatibilities.

However, it's by no means sensible to push things this far. The board hasn't got a PWM module able to handle an overclocked "Kentsfield" quad-core, and doesn't even have the 8-pin ATX12v connector.
Since only one of the two 12v pins was burned, the board probably was pushing all the current through only one pin, while by standard it should have been doing it not only by two but by the four yellow cables the 8-pin connector was made made for. A problem in the design isn't out of the equation because of this fact though.

If you are going to try and go ahead with this kind of overclocking in this type of low-end components, be prepared for problems. While the 4-pin plug can be enough for stock applications and even some quad overclocking. The 8-pin was made to avoid this kind of problems and becomes increasingly important when overclocking becomes a completely insane practice.

The move to ATX12v instead of providing power through the 5V wires in the standard ATX connection was also done to prevent this situation, since it's easier to pass less current at an higher voltage to the board, than pass low voltage at high current, leaving an harder conversion job to the board's PWM module.
Keywords: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L review problems overclocking