[18th Anniversary] Asus Black Pearl - P5k-Premium Testing Report

Seems my P5k-P is having some issues breaking 440+FSB. So far I've tried 3 different 2Gb kits of PC2 6400 RAM, Corsair XMS26400C4, Crucial Ballistix PC26400C4 (single sided) and Crucial Ballistix PC26400C4 older style double-sided w/ Micron chips.

All 3 sets did 435 and their respective voltages (2.1 Corsair, 2.2 Crucial) at 5-5-5-18 T2, orthos, prime, memtest stable 24hrs. Tried raising the FSB to 436-440Mhz and it won't even post, no beep, nothing. Tried raising voltage to 2.2 Corsair and 2.3 Crucial still no boot. Thought it might be an FSB hole so I tried 450,460 and 475 FSB and still, no POST.

Can this be PC6400 hitting their max OC? Because thats one hell of a coincidence that all 3 sets hit the exact same FSB wall. So I'm thinking its the MB.

BIOS Settings as follows:

Ai Overclock - Manual
CPU Ratio - Manual (6)
FSB Strap - 333
FSB Freq - 340
PCIE Freq - 101
DRAM Freq - 881
DRAM Cmd Rate - T2 (5-5-5-18) Rest are set to AUTO
DRAM Static Read Control - Enabled

Transaction Booster - Disabled
-- Relax Lvl (0)
Clock Over-Charge Mode - 0.80v


CPU Spread Spectrum - Disabled
PCED Spread Spectrum - Disabled

CPU Voltage - 1.4750
CPU vRef - 0.63x
CPU V Damper - Enabled
CPU PLL - 1.50
DRAM V- 2.1/2.2
FSB Term. Voltage - 1.50
NB Voltage - 1.55
NB Ref Voltage - 0.67x
SB Voltage - 1.05

Anyone got any ideas or suggestions? Could be a dud board?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bradpit999

had 3 asus boards last one was P5B Delux and that one was flakey and unstable no matter what i did at 400FSB this on the

P5K Premium seems buletproof and just accepts whatever setting i put in and it boots up

extremly impressed

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Good News!! :D

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Originally Posted by EightyDuce

Seems my P5k-P is having some issues breaking 440+FSB. So far I've tried 3 different 2Gb kits of PC2 6400 RAM, Corsair XMS26400C4, Crucial Ballistix PC26400C4 (single sided) and Crucial Ballistix PC26400C4 older style double-sided w/ Micron chips.

Anyone got any ideas or suggestions? Could be a dud board?

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Have you done the o/c basics to first establish what the max FSB/Speed your CPU will run at and then your max memory speed ? I use these settings quite happily for 3.6 with FSB=450 x8 with DRAM FREQ=1128 but not all q6600 are going to run higher FSB/ lower multiplier. Your memory should be good for at least 1000 especially on this MB. Set your strap to AUTO so it displays all availble dividers for all strap settings. If you look back you will see quite a few recent posts on best strap setting. Check your advanced CPU settings - I disable them all. I would also disable static to begin with and set transaction booster and clock overcharging to auto.

CPU Voltage: 1.4125
CPU Voltage Reference: AUTO
CPU Voltage Damper: Enabled
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.6
DRAM Voltage: 2.2
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.4
North Bridge Voltage: 1.40
North Bridge Voltage Reference: AUTO
South Bridge Voltage: AUTO

Advance CPU Settings
CPU Ratio Control: Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting: 9
C1E Suppport: disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Vanderpool Technology: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
PECI: Disabled

USB Configuration
USB Functions: Enabled
Legacy USB Support: Enabled

I fully agree with sesdave, you really have to sort out your maximum CPU FSB and RAM overclock before going further. I doubt the P5K is limiting you
I just don't agree to put any voltage on Auto as ASUS is known to overvolt when you OC it and there's no way to monitor what voltage they are bumping in your CPU. But, you could for sure run lower vNB and vFSB. 1.50v on the vFSB is really too much. With a bad cooling, it can limit you, also the vNB

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sesdave

CPU Voltage: 1.4125
CPU Voltage Reference: AUTO
CPU Voltage Damper: Enabled
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.6
DRAM Voltage: 2.2
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.4
North Bridge Voltage: 1.40
North Bridge Voltage Reference: AUTO
South Bridge Voltage: AUTO

Advance CPU Settings
CPU Ratio Control: Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting: 9
C1E Suppport: disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Vanderpool Technology: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
PECI: Disabled

USB Configuration
USB Functions: Enabled
Legacy USB Support: Enabled

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Well looks like mystery solved, using above settings. Used a dividier to run FSB at 400 while RAM was running 951, which it couldn't run before and it POSTed right off the bat and is now running Memtest.

Looks like its time to go shopping for a new Q6600. This one's high VID anyway, 1.325. :shakes:

Thank's for the help sesdave. :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EightyDuce

Well looks like mystery solved, using above settings. Used a dividier to run FSB at 400 while RAM was running 951, which it couldn't run before and it POSTed right off the bat and is now running Memtest.

Looks like its time to go shopping for a new Q6600. This one's high VID anyway, 1.325. :shakes:

Thank's for the help sesdave. :up:

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Glad its up and running. Dont be so quick to dump the CPU just yet. Find out what it can realy do . There are plenty with that vid get upto 3.6 or there abouts. It not really worth getting another one just for a 100 or so extra mhz unless you want to post benchies that is :) . If you want a quick test Jump in and see if it runs 3.6 on 400x9 with memory 1:1 using the other current settings.. Try it with vcore 1.45v for starters and work down if stable. You should be okay on temps for that with the Ultra 120 unless its a hotdog of a chip.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sesdave

Glad its up and running. Dont be so quick to dump the CPU just yet. Find out what it can realy do . There are plenty with that vid get upto 3.6 or there abouts. It not really worth getting another one just for a 100 or so extra mhz unless you want to post benchies that is :) . If you want a quick test Jump in and see if it runs 3.6 on 400x9 with memory 1:1 using the other current settings.. Try it with vcore 1.45v for starters and work down if stable. You should be okay on temps for that with the Ultra 120 unless its a hotdog of a chip.

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The chip can do 400x9 because I've done it in the past, though it took 1.52v in the bios to get it stable at 67 load (its kinda hot in my APT). Now I'm going to a SS vapo and wanted to see how much I can push the FSB, and 435x9 is kinda limiting for benching.

Ok now after some more tests it seems that running at 450 x 8 is better for me that 400 x 9. But this board says it supports FSB 1333 so will running it well over 1500 damage it or is it ok as it seems to be fine at any FSB i throw at it? And with running it at 450 x 8 should i put my FSB volt up to 1.3v or leave it at 1.2v.
Cheers Paul

as far as I know, speed won't kill just volts. Oh and trying to turn your P5K-Premium into a Blitz Formula...that really kills em. No worries man, the P5K-Premium loves the fsb, and can handle the volts needed to get there as long as you have sufficient case flow.

Tell me you did not just try to flash the blitz formula bios? And now it is bricked!

Why disable PECI? Everything I've managed to find about it says it gives more accurate core temps with it enabled.

try it see what happens
Rich

Quote:

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Originally Posted by w2richwood

try it see what happens
Rich

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Okay, just disabled it, doesn't really seem to have done anything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holwill

Tell me you did not just try to flash the blitz formula bios? And now it is bricked!

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I did and it is.

all in the name of science I say....and retardation.

never know tell ya try it for sure lol

thankfully, I shop at a great place and they replaced it no questions asked. Funny enough, I get the exact same overclock with the exact same volts. talk about consistency.

As far as overclocking on this board I have no complaints.

E8400 @ 4G 444x9 Memory @ 1066 5-5-5-18 (4x1GB Kingston HyperX 8500)
Transaction Booster Enabled - 3
BIOS (volts) all lowest except CPUv
CPU 1.350 (1.312 idle, 1.296 load)
PLL 1.50
MEM 1.80
FSB 1.1
NB 1.25
SB 1.025

Can run prime blend/small 24 hours no problems.

I've read various threads and posts about two issues I'm having that is not related to overclocking.

1) S3 Resume from Sleep. No matter what I try i cant get this damn board to come out of sleep, S1 works, but no S3. Can anyone say they've successfully gotten this to work?

2) AHCI or RAID using the new Samsung F1 drives, I purchased an F1 and it will not complete setup, used the latest AHCI/RAID drivers from Intel and the ones on ASUS site. Anyone get this to work?

I just want to know if this affects all P5K premiums or just some, if it's just some then I'll get an RMA, if it effects all of em then I guess I'm stuck.

I know this is an OC site but the other forums dont seem to have the educated userbase like xs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ReverendMaynard

thankfully, I shop at a great place and they replaced it no questions asked. Funny enough, I get the exact same overclock with the exact same volts. talk about consistency.

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your one lucky guy im not sure if asus would rma it ot not if so it would take a while. far as harddrives good ive only used wd raptors in this system so far
Rich

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ReverendMaynard

thankfully, I shop at a great place and they replaced it no questions asked. Funny enough, I get the exact same overclock with the exact same volts. talk about consistency.

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Now I always like a story with a happy ending, good to hear!

Running 1xWD RaptorX and 1x Seagate 7200.11 on AHCI no problems here and no noticeable benefits using it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holwill

Now I always like a story with a happy ending, good to hear!

Running 1xWD RaptorX and 1x Seagate 7200.11 on AHCI no problems here and no noticeable benefits using it.

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You want disk performance? Join the party and enter the matrix http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=467848 This certainly did it for me - -:yepp: I am waiting for reverendmaynard to get more drives and post his results.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sesdave

You want disk performance? Join the party and enter the matrix http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=467848 This certainly did it for me - -:yepp: I am waiting for reverendmaynard to get more drives and post his results.

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lol ses, I've been stoked to get this up and rolling it's just killing my ultra perfect current Vista install that's holding me back. Well.. that and my momentary lapse of reason with the whole "Blitz" fiasco lol.

What's the best free image software that works with Vista? And can I apply that image to a matrix RAID set up or do I have to start from scratch?

These are questions that I probably know the answer to, but hey what the hell it keeps the thread moving :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ReverendMaynard

lol ses, I've been stoked to get this up and rolling it's just killing my ultra perfect current Vista install that's holding me back. Well.. that and my momentary lapse of reason with the whole "Blitz" fiasco lol.

What's the best free image software that works with Vista? And can I apply that image to a matrix RAID set up or do I have to start from scratch?

These are questions that I probably know the answer to, but hey what the hell it keeps the thread moving :)

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Is your current setup RAID? If not, it'll be a little difficult to image it to RAID partitions, but not impossible. If it is, it should be fairly seamless. Vista actually has a builtin imaging utility called ImageX. Google it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ReverendMaynard

lol ses, I've been stoked to get this up and rolling it's just killing my ultra perfect current Vista install that's holding me back. Well.. that and my momentary lapse of reason with the whole "Blitz" fiasco lol.

What's the best free image software that works with Vista? And can I apply that image to a matrix RAID set up or do I have to start from scratch?

These are questions that I probably know the answer to, but hey what the hell it keeps the thread moving :)

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Fritzman recommends Acronis http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...cts/trueimage/ or you could go the free route and use BartPE with DriveXML. You have to put the ICH9R drivers into the right folder before creating the CD, but there's heaps of info on their site about how to do all that. Check hs posts in the matrix thread p44. Personally I did a reinstall but I am going to get Acronis True Image 11 as it looks a good investment - the free trial is fully operational for 15 days and it looks very good. Seems to have universal reinstall. I can always check with Fritzman for help if I get any problems as he seems to be leading the RAID way on all of this - he used to be on the P5W problems thread cos thats where I first picked this all up from.

I think I'm just going to go with a fresh install. I have a bit of reading to do now though so thanks ses for the info and the direction :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ReverendMaynard

I think I'm just going to go with a fresh install. I have a bit of reading to do now though so thanks ses for the info and the direction :)

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Give the trial copy of Acronis a go first for backing up and restoring. You have nothing to lose if you are going to reinstall anyway. I have asked Fritzman if he can post a tutorial on how he set it up - check the thread for the response which should come soon -he has all the answers :)