Asus P5N-E SLI small review

Here is something I posted on another forum. I know its about the P5B but, it looks like Asus is probably doing it with all its boards. If this topic has been discussed before please excuse my post.

Here is proof of what I was talking about last night about your Multiplier Default vs the Multiplier Set. Both screenshots are at 300FSB now if you multiply the FSB x 4 it should be 1200. Right? Well here is what you get Notice the FSB speed I have underlined in red

Multiplier Default http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ra8x300la9.jpg

Multiplier Set http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ra7x300td0.jpg

Here is the Formula Default Multiplier / Multiplier Set X FSB = FSB speed


Here is the link to that Article http://www.thetechrepository.com/sho...hp?p=32#post32
Scroll down aways till he talks about the Multiplier Default vs the Multiplier Set

I recieved my P5N-E SLI last night. At first I was having nothing but problems with the thing. It was failing over stock everything. Haven't done much for CPU clocking yet. Have the ram running stable @ 4-3-3-3-2T @ 400 so far though.

I've finally got my P5N-E / e6600 / Ballistix DDR2-1000 built. Let me first say that I'm not much interested in wringing out every ounce of performance out of the machine, instead looking for a solid gaming system I don't have fight on a regular basis. That said, I was out to achieve a modest overclock of 3.0 GHz (which ought to satisfy me enough... for now).

I've added a 60mm Vantec Stealth fan to the NB, and a Zalman heatsink to the SB. I've got a Thermalright Ultra-90 w/ Panaflo 92mm fan on the CPU, and I've got good cooling through my case. It took a few tweaks but here's what I ended up with. Thought I'd get some opinions on whether you guys (likely more experienced w/ overclocking) think it looks OK for 24/7 use or if there's anything that needs attention.

FSB @ 1333
CPU @ 9x multiplier
NB @ 1.39v
Vcore @ 1.35 (1.36 in Windows, 1.296-1.312 at load - stupid vdroop)
= 2.999 GHz

Ballistix set at DDR2-800 @ 4-4-4-12-2T
Vdimm @ 2.178
(will likely try to push these up to rated DDR2-1000 @ 5-5-5-15-2T soon, although I'll be interested to see if there's any real performance difference)

I ran Orthos small FFT against the CPU for over an hour and then the blend for another hour. Temps stay under 40* for CPU, and MB shows around 33-34*.

My only concerns are the vdroop (although I don't want to perform the physical mod to the board to overcome it), and I didn't think it'd take 1.35v vcore to get to 3.0 GHz (1.325v fails Orthos almost immediately on Core1, so I probably need to try the voltages between 1.325 and 1.35). Everything else seems to be running okay. I'm pretty pleased with a 1M SuperPi time of ~17 sec.; my last PC took > 45 sec.! :woot:

Any thoughts? Certainly appreciate all the friendly help and info here!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John44

Here is something I posted on another forum. I know its about the P5B but, it looks like Asus is probably doing it with all its boards. If this topic has been discussed before please excuse my post.

Here is proof of what I was talking about last night about your Multiplier Default vs the Multiplier Set. Both screenshots are at 300FSB now if you multiply the FSB x 4 it should be 1200. Right? Well here is what you get Notice the FSB speed I have underlined in red

Multiplier Default http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ra8x300la9.jpg

Multiplier Set http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ra7x300td0.jpg

Here is the Formula Default Multiplier / Multiplier Set X FSB = FSB speed


Here is the link to that Article http://www.thetechrepository.com/sho...hp?p=32#post32
Scroll down aways till he talks about the Multiplier Default vs the Multiplier Set

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I think that the general consensus now is that that's just a problem with the way most apps measure CPU speed.

CPUZ is always right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by couppi

I think that the general consensus now is that that's just a problem with the way most apps measure CPU speed.

CPUZ is always right.

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my thoughts too. Same thing happened with my 630 & P5LD2 when i lowered the multi too.

So far I've been about to hit 3.3GHz with an E4300,367FSB and about 3.4GHz with an E6400, 425FSB. Still testing though.

im still chugging along 24/7 at the speeds in my sig.
:devil:

Can someone recommend a better northbridge cooler for this board? I'm getting one on tuesday and have no desire to kill it thru a cooked northbridge... I'm in England so would rather it be from an English retailer...

Many thanks

Dubz

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John44

Here is something I posted on another forum. I know its about the P5B but, it looks like Asus is probably doing it with all its boards. If this topic has been discussed before please excuse my post.

Here is proof of what I was talking about last night about your Multiplier Default vs the Multiplier Set. Both screenshots are at 300FSB now if you multiply the FSB x 4 it should be 1200. Right? Well here is what you get Notice the FSB speed I have underlined in red

Multiplier Default http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ra8x300la9.jpg

Multiplier Set http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ra7x300td0.jpg

Here is the Formula Default Multiplier / Multiplier Set X FSB = FSB speed


Here is the link to that Article http://www.thetechrepository.com/sho...hp?p=32#post32
Scroll down aways till he talks about the Multiplier Default vs the Multiplier Set

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This is only the case for Intel chipset shod boards (ie 965 and 975). Pretty sure this doesn't affect the Nvidia boards.
It's also ALL 965/975 boards, not just asus ones :)

Regarding chipset cooler, the stock sinks fine if you add a fan over it :) See how you get on with clocking first, if you find you need more FSB and you've maxed the chipset voltage then maybe look to a new cooler :)

Where abouts in Leeds are you Highlander? Might be able to meet up for a beer.... :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by P-Dub

Can someone recommend a better northbridge cooler for this board? I'm getting one on tuesday and have no desire to kill it thru a cooked northbridge... I'm in England so would rather it be from an English retailer...

Many thanks

Dubz

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I am using a Noctua NH-06, well i think that is what it is called :). It seems to do the job quite nicely.


Anyways the highest FSB i was able to pull was 520 with this board, not to bad for the price :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by P-Dub

Where abouts in Leeds are you Highlander? Might be able to meet up for a beer.... :P

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Near City center mate, LS6 :)

is there anyone using team 4-4-4-10 on the P5N-E SLI ? if yes could you tell me what speeds u are getting.

thanks

I am using Team Group PC2-6400 4-4-4-10 with mine. Haven't done max FSB testing yet. But 400Mhz 4-3-3-3-2T was stable. Currently trying 500MHz 5-4-5-10-2T. I am sure it will do more but won't take the ram over 2.2V.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lowfat

I am using Team Group PC2-6400 4-4-4-10 with mine. Haven't done max FSB testing yet. But 400Mhz 4-3-3-3-2T was stable. Currently trying 500MHz 5-4-5-10-2T. I am sure it will do more but won't take the ram over 2.2V.

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i have mine running @ 453 4-4-4-10 with 2.2volts

e6400@3.4 with 1.38volts

I am up to 5-4-4-4 @ 500MHz, 2.2V 1:1 32M stable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lowfat

I am up to 5-4-4-4 @ 500MHz, 2.2V 1:1 32M stable.

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nice! how about your E6400? are you clocking through the bios or windows? if windows what program are u using

I only clock through bioses. as for CPU speed I can go to 3.6GHz, but with a little too much voltage than i'd like. 3.5GHz is pretty stable with 1.5Vcore set in bios. That is what i will likely use for 24/7.

Ok, i finally got the mem over 365 in 1T, had to push the FSB over 425mhz to get the next strap, but still. well, seems like 400 is doable, goes up to 405 but thats its.

http://bandwidth.se/imgs/16/27/3e2bbf16-1t_cpu3700.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zeeke

Ok, i finally got the mem over 365 in 1T, had to push the FSB over 425mhz to get the next strap, but still. well, seems like 400 is doable, goes up to 405 but thats its.

http://bandwidth.se/imgs/16/27/3e2bbf16-1t_cpu3700.jpg

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Try 412 I had good luck there and its before the strap change

1648 rated FSB that is, and mem over 400 I guess?

You guys are going to think I'm nuts. Last night for the heck of it I put my new ram PC8500C5 DDR2 1066 in the yellow slots I had been running them in the black slots thinking I would have the best performance there. The best I was doing was 1020 -1030MHz and 1040 would crash. After changing them to the yellow slots I can easily run 1066MHz on Auto or manual in the bios. Temps and voltages were lower across the board too. Now, I have always been able to use the yellow slots from day one and have had all four slots filled ( 512x4 ) till I received this new ram ( 1024x2 ) so this my not apply to you. I am just wondering if any one else has switched back to the yellow slots since upgrading to 0401. There seems there could be a little better voltage control or a remedy to this yellow slot syndrome.

This I posted in another forum

Update: SLI Memory Option in the bios For all of you lucky enough to have SLI Certified Memory its worth giving it a try. The bios will read the information on the chip and will set your ram to run at its optimal performance. I said the other day that if you choose to enable this you would not have full control of the FSB and Memory speed. I was wrong ( I am learning this too. )all you have to do is select EXPERT in that option and you can change settings as you please. Experiment with full auto and manual settings for your ram and let me know if this improves performance

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zeeke

1648 rated FSB that is, and mem over 400 I guess?

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Sorry, Zeeke

Yes, 1648. You can try your memory over 400. The best I could do so far was this http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?i...555151tgr2.jpg but, all I was getting is errors if I try to run Super Pi. 1648/824 might be doable. If you have problems loosen up on the timings a little

That is a total nogo for me.. the best bandwidth is 3-3-3-5-1T @ 365 anyhow. My rams wont go higher with cl3 @2.4V. I havent really tried harder, that is for another day of benchin :)

this looks like the "best bang for the buck"