ASUS P5W DH - Problems + Fixes Thread

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Originally Posted by BenchZowner

Actually it's a bug in Asus's BIOS coding [ sigh ]
You can use any of the previously released BIOS with working upwards Multipliers [ v1602 & earlier ]
You should flash-back with EZ-Flash or AFUDOS 2.11 with the Full Flash parameter, else you'll still get locked multipliers

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I remember that with the BIOS v1602, the situation was exactly the same as with v1901; ie. the first attempt at increasing the multi seemed sucessul (it was accepted in BIOS settings), but after reboot it was reset back to 10 and any further trials were refused. With BIOS 1704, even the first attempt after the flash didn't work - when I input 12 end pressed ENTER, it was reset back to 10.

This is why I think there is a possibility of some logic behind it, and not just the Asus engineeres being unaware of the problem - but of course I'd like to know for sure if and how I can (or will be able) to increase the multi for my QX6700. After all, the open multiplier in Extreme series comes for a price, so making me unable to use it is unfair, Asus! :nono:

Megabit: exactly the same happened with me yesterday. Is there a bios that does not reset the mp after reboot?

The first time the computer boots up after a bios update all multipliers are unlocked for any chip, after you reboot then it has the proper ones, like for the e6600 6-9 and not 6-20. As for the 6700 and x6800 having problems... *shrugs*

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Originally Posted by megabit

I remember that with the BIOS v1602, the situation was exactly the same as with v1901; ie. the first attempt at increasing the multi seemed sucessul (it was accepted in BIOS settings), but after reboot it was reset back to 10 and any further trials were refused. With BIOS 1704, even the first attempt after the flash didn't work - when I input 12 end pressed ENTER, it was reset back to 10.

This is why I think there is a possibility of some logic behind it, and not just the Asus engineeres being unaware of the problem - but of course I'd like to know for sure if and how I can (or will be able) to increase the multi for my QX6700. After all, the open multiplier in Extreme series comes for a price, so making me unable to use it is unfair, Asus! :nono:

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Sorry, I meant any BIOS prior to v1602.
Editing post to avoid more confusion

Yeah any BIOS 1602 or earlier should allow you to use your upward multi's on the ES, and Extreme CPUs.

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Originally Posted by Phoenix_TT

Tried 1901 last night, appears to be no different to the recent BIOSes (180x and 170x).

Still can't boot with SPD disabled and manual memory timings for my Cosair XMS2 6400 memory at FSB 400!

Temps in TAT and Coretemp are still a few degrees different as well.

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Its your memory. Sell the memory and get some 6400 Dominator. That will work fine.

quick question, i tried to bump the fsb to 400 but memory is unstable

can you give me some starting point, the voltage? thanks

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Originally Posted by elyrly

quick question, i tried to bump the fsb to 400 but memory is unstable

can you give me some starting point, the voltage? thanks

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What kind of memory do you have?
Usually, 2.1-2.2v is the limit before you void your warranty, so try not going above that (unless of course... you want to ;))

I would suggest using 2.2v or even 2.25v if needed to maintain stability at 800mhz.
Also, if your memory can't handle cas 4 at 800mhz, then just bump it up to cas 5 and lower your voltage from 2.25v until you are still stable.

Guys, seriously, I need some help.

After updating the bios to 1901, my computer ran fine at first. My temperatures on the cpu seemed better as well. I was watching futurama when my computer suddenly shut down on monday night. I turned it back on to find lockups at windows load screen, and lockups after "detecting fourth IDE drive." and reboots if it got into windows, and lockups after trying to load "giveio.sys" at the safemode startup.

I've done what this guide said, and moved the hd to another connection on the motherboard, then post worked, then it didnt. I find its totally random if gets past POST or not, and when it does it more than likely will lock up in windows (safe mode as well) -- keep in mind its random to me. I see no pattern.

I've tried using afudos and asus ez flash, but the system locks up before I can flash to 1707. After typing "afudos /i1707.rom" it locks up. After pressing alt+F2 to get to EZ flash, it finds P5WDH.ROM but locks up.

My suspicions lean toward a bad power supply. I have a 500w Rosewill PSU powering an e6600, 2x1GB g.skill DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 (2.2v) two SATA hard drives, two DVD burners, X-Fi with front bay, and a TV tuner 550 pro.

Another suspicion is that it could be faulty RAM (although the ram was never overclocked, and never gave errors in memtest.) I would try memtest +86 but the computer simply locks up.

I've removed everything that isnt needed to post, and I've tried a working 350w psu with the same symptoms. I know it sounds stupid to test a 350w after a 500w couldnt power it, but its all i had. I'm still confused as to whether or not its the psu because of the low wattage on the second PSU.

Does this sound like 1901 is the culprit or has my PSU or RAM died?

Please please help. I'm a college student and need this thing for a few major projects I'm working on.

So I finally managed to gather all tools needed to prep this MB. I cleaned & applied AS5 to all chips & heat sinks, as well as adding a small fan to the NB. What great fun. So I turn on my pc and the BIOS post hangs right before it detects USB devices.

Wonderful.

I power cycle it, it detects USB devices, but then when it goes to initialize the ICH7 RAID (I have Vista Ultimate on a RAID 0), it stops... simply 2 black screens (2 monitors) with blinking cursors and no error messages, didn't even get to the windows loading part. No idea what's going on at this point. Another power cycle, and I set the FSB to 266, memory divider to 1:1 (from 2:3), 2.3v for memory (required by my OCZ sticks), but before I can save & exit - the BIOS menu locks up. :mad: I recall reading something about people experiencing this on this forum, but had no idea how to resolve it. I got back into the BIOS a few more times, and it locked up *IN THE BIOS* a few more times. I was able to load Vista twice, but it was unstable - my e6600 @ 2.4ghz locked up Windows when I ran Orthos, AND also when I tried the Asus Update utility! Getting pissed by that point.

So, thinking maybe the CMOS is corrupt or bios 1804 just generally sucks, I plug in my USB key with 1707 bios on it, and do the EZ flash from the BIOS (didn't lock up for once). It said it completed, but upon reboot it was STILL 1804 (probably won't allow older versions like the 1901 testers have been saying?). Anyway, I'm thinking *maybe* the process of me trying to flash the BIOS has corrected the problem? I haven't tried overclocking it yet since I've been happy just to be running Windows again.

On a side note, we had some power outages here last night, and I learned that my Opti-UPS is a *total* piece of crap. Upon the first power surge, it shut down & my PC went with it. I have a very nice professional UPS as well, but I haven't wired my loft for the larger AMP circuit yet (that's what I get for being lazy). Does anyone think this could have something to do with my MB's sudden erratic behavior?

I've read Chron's post (above) and it seems like we're having some of the same issues (except I'm on 1804). Anyone have any suggestions? Anything I should look for? It seems like the MB no longer wants to overclock at ALL.

Thanks in advance,
Sker

chron, spend some money on RAM and a good PSU from a store near you that you can return easily. Swap the parts out and test, at least you'll know if either are the problem.

That's one of the main reasons I don't update my bios or do anything major to the machine durring certain times. If I have a project working or on the horizon I leave it alone until I know I have a few weeks of down time, just in case. I'm still running 1503.

all ive got near me is compusa, and it sucks as far as availability of parts goes. I'll see what they have tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by nicepun

Is there a way you can get a hold of some D9GKX mem sticks? I've come to the conclusion that for some odd reason when it comes to higher 400+ FSB this mobo does not play nice with D9GMH regardless of the high binning. I have some high binned D9GMH and D9GKX and so far this has been my conclusion, of course I'm talking about 450x8 set in bios. Someone out there can prove me wrong. Or maybe it has something to do with the SPD timings that set in the memory itself.

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Its been a few weeks, but I have accumulated several pages of notes on what settings are working and what aren't. I have managed to get the ram to 4-3-4-8 @ 400 Mhz and 2.1v, but cannot go any further.

After looking at the DDR2 Ram List http://ramlist.ath.cx/ddr2/
I realized that I have v2.1 modules, which are not D9GMH, but rather ProMOS IC's.

Does anybody have comments on these modules? From what I keep reading, opinions are generally negative, but as always there have been some (albeit few) positive reviews. Corsair claims that with extra voltage and relaxed timings they should be able to make 900 Mhz...http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/.../t-125012.html I can successfully run Memtest for several hours at speeds up to 420 Mhz @ 5-5-5-12, but I get random freezes when I load the system. This makes me think that the memory isn't at fault...

(Current settings: fsb = 400, Vcore = 1.4375, Vdimm = 2.1, ratio = 1:1, SPD = 4-3-4-8, Vmch = 1.55 (1.65 does not affect stability over 400), all else on auto.)

So, since I was having so much trouble with stability recently (lock ups even in BIOS menu), I decided to try 1901. That was probably the wrong thing to do. Now it won't post at all. I pulled the battery & reset the CMOS, but it still won't even post. The strange thing is, when I did have it posting, it started getting worse - when it went to load Vista, it said the ntosxxx.exe was missing or corrupt, and winloader.exe was bad too, etc etc. Why would my HD's suddenly be corrupt? I dont think I believe it... seems like the BIOS had something to do with it.

Anyway, it's a doorstop at the moment. I think it may have something to do with my memory (OCZ Titanium Alpha) since it requires 2.3v. I know the board isn't giving it that voltage after a CMOS reset :( I don't know what to do.

Should I order different memory? (If so, which modules are great for this MB?)

Do I need to replace the MB? It's a rev. 1.02G.

Any ideas at all anyone?? This is horrible - I'm a developer & all my dev tools and code are on that box :( I dont even know if I can read one of my EZ-Raid mirrored HD's in another box.

ALL help is appreciated,
Sker

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Originally Posted by Skerlnik

I think it may have something to do with my memory (OCZ Titanium Alpha) since it requires 2.3v.

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Did you try booting with one stick? (didn't need that trick with OCZ Titanium Alpha on my P5W DH, but I do need it on my P5WDG2 WS Pro)

Once you get in the bios setup, try getting rid of all the "auto" settings, ASUS is havin' a ball with those settings!
(especially voltage controlling)

If you know someone with a outboard flash programmer, ask that person to flash the bios again.
Flashing a bioschip on an unstable board is not the smartest thing to do...

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Originally Posted by Skerlnik

So, since I was having so much trouble with stability recently (lock ups even in BIOS menu), I decided to try 1901. That was probably the wrong thing to do. Now it won't post at all. I pulled the battery & reset the CMOS, but it still won't even post. The strange thing is, when I did have it posting, it started getting worse - when it went to load Vista, it said the ntosxxx.exe was missing or corrupt, and winloader.exe was bad too, etc etc. Why would my HD's suddenly be corrupt? I dont think I believe it... seems like the BIOS had something to do with it.

Anyway, it's a doorstop at the moment. I think it may have something to do with my memory (OCZ Titanium Alpha) since it requires 2.3v. I know the board isn't giving it that voltage after a CMOS reset :( I don't know what to do.

Should I order different memory? (If so, which modules are great for this MB?)

Do I need to replace the MB? It's a rev. 1.02G.

Any ideas at all anyone?? This is horrible - I'm a developer & all my dev tools and code are on that box :( I dont even know if I can read one of my EZ-Raid mirrored HD's in another box.

ALL help is appreciated,
Sker

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Hey man, sorry to hear about your problems. I wanted to put in my five cents regarding a couple things:

• My Corsair requires 2.2v, but still posts fine with the piddly 1.8v that the mb gives it upon cmos reset. I don't think this would be your problem.
• Any mirror/stripe/array created in one chipset will NOT be compatible in another.

I guess I should be thankful that nothing fried with my stuff when going to 1901.

Could there be a trend with this issue related to people running Vista? Seems like it..

Hi, no issues with 1901 and Vista here, just played Halo @ 1920x1600, looks nice, for three hours....
ChrisC

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Originally Posted by nickfd

Could there be a trend with this issue related to people running Vista? Seems like it..

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Overclockers who like to play with system settings + early adopters of new Operating Systems = high likely hood of things going wrong.;)

I don't think the problems with these systems posting is due to a Vista install but i could be wrong.

OneyedK, I've tried booting with the *1* stick that used to let me post, but it's no longer posting. Makes me wonder if it really is the memory. I went ahead and overnighted some G.Skill HZ's just to be sure. It would be a shame to have 4gb of stupidly expensive OCZ Alpha's laying around collecting dust. You're totally right about flashing an unstable board - I didn't know what else to try.

Nickfd, I figured as much regarding the chipset raid arrays. I'm leaning towards a faulty MB now that you mention your chips boot ok at 1.8v. My board NEVER liked my OCZ modules, and would only boot at stock voltage when I FIRST got it. It soon decided to only boot them at their required 2.3v, of course now, not at all.

I may go out to a local store and pick up another P5W DH to try out. I just need to make sure they'll let me return it :)

Good looking out fellas,
Sker

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Once you get in the bios setup, try getting rid of all the "auto" settings, ASUS is havin' a ball with those settings!
(especially voltage controlling)

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:confused: i have just about everything set at auto so could any 1 be kind enough to tell me wot settings i should/need to use for a lil 24/7 overclock and right mem settings my specs is in my sig thanks

so nobody has had or heard of the problems I listed above? Maybe its not the 1901 bios thats :banana::banana::banana::banana:in with my :banana::banana::banana::banana: after all.

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Originally Posted by Skerlnik

OneyedK, I've tried booting with the *1* stick that used to let me post, but it's no longer posting. Makes me wonder if it really is the memory. I went ahead and overnighted some G.Skill HZ's just to be sure. It would be a shame to have 4gb of stupidly expensive OCZ Alpha's laying around collecting dust. You're totally right about flashing an unstable board - I didn't know what else to try.

Nickfd, I figured as much regarding the chipset raid arrays. I'm leaning towards a faulty MB now that you mention your chips boot ok at 1.8v. My board NEVER liked my OCZ modules, and would only boot at stock voltage when I FIRST got it. It soon decided to only boot them at their required 2.3v, of course now, not at all.

I may go out to a local store and pick up another P5W DH to try out. I just need to make sure they'll let me return it :)

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I recently changed from P5W DH to P5WDG2 WS Pro and I'm still under the impression that the P5W DH was the better board. (unmodded)
Hope I change my mind after pencilmodding the P5WDG2, otherwise I'll regret to have sold a perfectly good motherboard :eek:

Good luck with the new one! Keep us posted!

OneyedK, why did you change to the P5WDG2? Isn't that a much older board? I'd like to hear your impressions of it, as I'm considering purchasing a different board entirely. Perhaps the Intel 975 board. The P5WDH has been such an unpredictable beast. I just need to figure out how to back up my EZ-RAID mirror :( I think in future builds I'll purchase a RAID card so that I can easily move my drives to another MB/PC.

Still quite bummed. Haven't recieved my new G.Skill sticks for testing yet, but I don't think it will matter. This MB may soon be in the trash (doubt I can RMA it since I've prepped the NB & SB, it's obvious I've messed with it).

- Sker

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Originally Posted by chron

so nobody has had or heard of the problems I listed above? Maybe its not the 1901 bios thats :banana::banana::banana::banana:in with my :banana::banana::banana::banana: after all.

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I did not have any problems so far... for me this bios its like the others, I mean useless (if they only could make a real improvment with all this bios releases, whats up with the trfc/trc thing??)

monza1412, I think you get it right - I used all the BIOS releases since 15xx through 17.xx and now 1901, and I can't see a SINGLE difference! The multiplier for my QX6700 still fixed:(