680i SLI is too expensive? Asus as the solution : P5N32-E SLI PLUS

[cyberspyder]

This is wrong. The fact is:

• The Plus and the non-plus are functionally completely identical, the same number of PCIe x16 slots and speeds, the same audio codec, LAN PHY, IEEE 1394 controller. The two manuals are also completely identical except for the motherboard and chipset names (I checked with Acrobat's "Compare Documents" feature).
• The same chipset drivers (680i SLI Drivers) for both.
• 100% solid capacitors in the Plus vs. only partial solid capacitors in the non-Plus.
• NB is C55 for the Plus and C55XE for the non-Plus. They are functionally identical. There is no official statement about the difference between them.

In the US market, the Plus is cheaper and comes with all solid capacitors, then why not buy the Plus?

Yea, I am aiming for the Plus, seeing that it's $199 at the 'egg vs. $269.

Brendan

[Merc14]

Great thread! I had a P5N-E SLI and it refused to go past 1095 QDR so I am RMAing it. Ordered a P5N32-E SLI Plus in the meantime with very little research. Reading this thread has justified that decision and under $200 is a pretty sweet deal for what you get. System should be up Saturday. renethx you have a PM.

[H0RM0NE]

The changes included in 0402 BIOS update .txt:

1. Enhance memory compatibility
2. Fixed power Fan can't work after S3.
3. Set DDR2 Termination Max default Votlage to 1.25V (Memory Voltage is 2.5V)
4. Add patch to support Creative X-FI sound Card
5. Speed up S3 resume time.
6. Change CopyRight year from 2006 to 2007.

[easypanic]

ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socke...E%20SLI%20Plus

new BIOS 05.01

[Naughtyboy]

Yeeaaah baby...bios flash time....

EDIT: Never mind this one guys...vcore is even worse, at least for me. It wont go above 1.31 no matter what I do.

[nvteleskier]

A long time overclocker (X2 3800@2.9GHz the last), I recently decided to try the Intel thing.

Setting up my new P5N32-E SLI plus, I reset the memory to SPD settings, which are 4-4-4-12 2T @ 400Mhz, 2.2 v. Using initial bios, I believe 0301,
using the newest version of CPU-Z, it shows actual 4-5-5-14 2T? Anyone else experience this? Also, how accurate is the PC Probe II software? When I set the vdimm voltage to 2.2v (as an example), Probe reads 2.3v. Also, can anyone tell what the DDR2 Termination voltage is? It alarms constantly, but I don't see anywhere to change it in the BIOs.

Anyone who overclocks a E6600 on this board, could you please share your settings. I've played around a little with this, at anything above stock, it goes into Windows and locks up. Linked and unlinked.

I also decided on a Tuniq Tower 120 instead of re using my old Zalman 9500, I can't believe how low the temperatures are. Running ORTHOs 24hrs, the CPU temp never exceeds 30C! In Probe that is.

[fasttruck860]

I just got this board up and running yesterday and I'm having some odd problems. I'm having the voltage issues above 400fsb, but that's really not bad for my, my chip can do 3.68Ghz with the 1.44vcore it's supplying. The really annoying problem is the one I included the screen shot for. After 400fsb I can get into windows, but I keep getting two errors seem below and another one that says something about my multiplier (8) not being valid. Is this a result of a buggy bios or some other problem. Even with those errors I've completed 7+ hour orthos at 3.5Ghz and 5 minutes after I closed orthos down the system BSOD. BTW, vdrop and vdroop is pretty good on this board. 1.44 in bios, 1.436 DMM idle, 1.4 DMM load.

[safan80]

new 501 bios
ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socke...LIPlus0501.zip

[cyberspyder]

new 501 bios
ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socke...LIPlus0501.zip

ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socke...E%20SLI%20Plus

new BIOS 05.01

look above

[Naughtyboy]

new 501 bios
ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socke...LIPlus0501.zip

Pleas don´t take this wrong...very good that you are helpful and such...but if you hade looked just a couple of posts above before you posted


I wish people would read the thread befor posting...I see this every no and then...dubble posting info and linkage and asking questions that have already been asked and answered e.t.c

[safan80]

I posted a direct link to the file because the server was taking too long to respond, so rather than having to make 2 steps to get the file it's just and right click and save option. Sorry I should of been clear on that. It took 2 minutes total just to get to the point where I could actually start downloading it. I should of stated that sorry. I just got home when I posted that, so I didn't have much energy or brain power at the time. Thanks for jumping on me guys.

[Merc14]

Thx for the link safan80. Asus servers suck and i got my download in seconds rather than minutes or hours.

[Naughtyboy]

I posted a direct link to the file because the server was taking too long to respond, so rather than having to make 2 steps to get the file it's just and right click and save option. Sorry I should of been clear on that. It took 2 minutes total just to get to the point where I could actually start downloading it. I should of stated that sorry. I just got home when I posted that, so I didn't have much energy or brain power at the time. Thanks for jumping on me guys.

I said don´t take this wrong...and yet you are dude. I honostly think your helping is absolutely wonderful...more people shuld do that.
However it so comon that people don´t take the time to read thru the threads before posting...so double posting and asking the same questions over and over agian is happening very often.

I now understand why you posted the linked..and appreciate it.
And I apologise if I ofended you...that wasn´t my intention.

[Naughtyboy]

Setting up my new P5N32-E SLI plus, I reset the memory to SPD settings, which are 4-4-4-12 2T @ 400Mhz, 2.2 v. Using initial bios, I believe 0301,
using the newest version of CPU-Z, it shows actual 4-5-5-14 2T? Anyone else experience this?

Mine does that to when using SPD...no biggie really. Just sett your timigns maually.

Also, how accurate is the PC Probe II software?

I don´t depend on it entirely, but good enough to use as a guidence.
Volt rails are off about 3% ..my temps compared to Core Temp differ about 4-5 degree. As for the vcore and vdimm ha haven´t measured it with multimeter yet.

can anyone tell what the DDR2 Termination voltage is? It alarms constantly, but I don't see anywhere to change it in the BIOs.

Haven´t yet figured out exactly what it does...and it hasn´t been given me any increas either. I belive the setting in bios would be "DDR2 Controller Ref. Voltage"

Anyone who overclocks a E6600 on this board, could you please share your settings. I've played around a little with this, at anything above stock, it goes into Windows and locks up. Linked and unlinked..

Well...for 3.6ghz theese are the settings I´m using:

AI Tuning: Manual
Nvidia GPU Ex: Disabled
LinkBoost: Disabled

FSB - Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
FSB - Memory Raio: If unlinked used above...then this should default to AUTO.
FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1600mhz
MEM (DDR), Mhz: 1000mhz


Vcore Voltage: Depends on your cpu really...but mine is stable at 1.36
Memory Voltage: Depends on your memory...mine is at 2.2v
1.2v HT Voltage: 1.4v
NB Core Voltage: 1.45v
SB Core Voltage: 1.5v
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.45v
DDRII Controller Ref Voltage: AUTO
DDRII Channel A Ref Voltage: AUTO
DDRII Channel B Ref Voltage: AUTO

(these settings is totaly up to your memory...start with slack timings and work your way down.)
tCL (CAS Latency): 4
tRCD: 4
tRP: 4
tRAS: 10
Command Per Clock (CMD): 2 clock (2T)

Advance Memory Settings
tRRD: AUTO
tRC: AUTO
tWR: AUTO
tWTR: AUTO
tREF: AUTO
Async Latency: AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
MCP PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled
LDT Spread Spectrum: Disabled

CPU Internal Thermal Control: Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
Enhanced C1 (C1E): Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Enabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Tech: Disabled
LDT Frequency: 4x

(you can gain som performance if you got an "NVIDIA" card buy tweaking these)
PCIEX16_1 Frequency (Mhz): 115-120
PCIEX16_2 Frequency (Mhz): 115-120
PCIEX16_3 Frequency (Mhz): 115-120
SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, Mhz: 205

Hope this could give you atleast some help.

[Sem]

is the vcore stable with the latest bios

[Naughtyboy]

is the vcore stable with the latest bios

As it didn´t let me over 1.31...I didn´t bother testing it any further.
But with 0402 atleast my vcores are stable...no droops big enough worying about.

[Naughtyboy]

Seemse like Asus is busy with bios releases.....yet another bios out, this time it´s v.0602...linkage below:

1.Fix incorrect display of Vcore value when above 1.80V.
2.Fixed CPU Vcore cannot be set by user when Overclocking at some frequency.
3.Support new CPUs, please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/c...E%20SLI%20Plus

ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...0Plus/0602.zip

[easypanic]

Thanx for the direct link .

[nvteleskier]

Naughtyboy, thanks very much for your help. I flashed to the new 501BIOs last night and will try to oc tomorrow. I'll let you know the results.

After flashing to the new BIOS, the termination voltage has changed to 1.25v and the warning (red highlight) has gone away.

Keep up the good work!

[MuttonFlanks]

I think this is the board for me... very interesting and seems like a solid board. I saw that nvteleskier was able to get the Tuniq mounted, anyone else? I have a Tuniq ordered already and just want to make double sure it fits. Any modifications needed? Thanks and keep up with the good info!

[H0RM0NE]

Naughty, thanks!!! I'll try 0602 out this weekend. Also, I did try your setting you posted #123; they worked great.

Edit: From BIOS update 0602.txt:

1.Fix incorrect display of Vcore value when above 1.80V.
2.Fixed CPU Vcore cannot be set by user when Overclocking at some frequency.
3.Support new CPUs, please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/c...E%20SLI%20Plus

[Naughtyboy]

Naughty, thanks!!! I'll try 0602 out this weekend. Also, I did try your setting you posted #123; they worked great.

Very nice...glad I could be of any help.



And guys....guess what. As of bios 0602 vcore bugg is gone....vcore actually works now.
However I get some severe droop at certain FSB frequensies...but rather that then not be able to set vcore at all.

[Sem]

how is the vcore now at 400FSB
my E6600 needs 1.47 actual

[Merc14]

I'll be installing mine tonight and will flash to 0602 I guess.

[sdumper]

I have the issue here, USB mouse cures it.

Yep same problem and solution for the keyboard for me...