ASUS P5B-Deluxe; Problems & Fixes

[B2K24]

@unclewebb, I very much appreciate your advice and wisdom relating to my problem. Thanks so much for taking the time to post

My problems all started when I upgraded my GPU 7950 GT to a 9800 GT because I wanted to folding@home GPU client running.
Then the problems started and could not get my 2X1GB BL12864AL804.16FD3 Ballistix tracers and 2X1GB F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ to post.

The board always post with crap generic 1.8 1 GB stick EVERYTIME but entering BIOS and setting 2.1 or 2.2 vdimm and replacing with my good sticks still no post.

I have tried many different combinations weather it be just the set of gskill or other even mix and match different slots everything possible
then somehow got lucky with 1 gskill and 1 BT stick LOL until I had to shutdown again like 3 months later blah.

I will try removing the GPU power on then reseat and other things as you suggest and maybe I will get lucky plus my 2X2GB reapers will be arriving
in a few days so hopefully I can shutdown or remove power and NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NO POST

I would very much like someone to hack the bios and change default vdimm to 2.1 volts that would be awesome but I won't count on it.
I would like to try your SPD settings but can't get this board to read my Gskill or Ballistixs at this time and I don't have any knowledge using the SPD program or how it works but am willing to give ANYTHING a shot which is better then these sticks just lying around my workstation.

Thank you again for explaining and giving advice very much appreciated.

[unclewebb]

B2K24: I thought I was the only one with memory issues with this board.

I pulled out my Reapers and put in a 1GB DDR2-800 Ballistix module. I pulled out the battery to clear the CMOS and tried to boot up but only got the black screen and couldn't get into the bios. There goes my theory that my custom SPD was helping things. I spent an hour or so playing with this module but no luck. I'd boot up using a single Reaper in the first yellow slot and then after booting up I'd shove in the Ballistix and I'd reprogram the SPD data, re-boot, clear the CMOS but each time there would be no booting with this module.

This module is 100%. A couple of pages ago I posted a screen shot with this same module and my Team running at DDR2-1066 CL5 for about 5 hours of Prime. Absolutely maddening why neither of them can boot up this board after the CMOS is cleared.

With my Reapers after the CMOS is cleared, it will boot up with either one of them or both of them in dual channel without a complaint. It tells you the CMOS is messed up and lets you push F1 to head into the bios to fix things up. No issues whatsoever with the Reapers. I hope your new 2x2GB Reapers are just as good.

Are you still using your E6420? I can't remember having this issue when I had my E6400 in this board but there have been a few bios changes and different CPUs since then. I might do some more testing this weekend to try to figure out a fix for this but it doesn't look good. Most of the information in the SPD data in memory modules is ignored by the P5B so coming up with some magic settings isn't likely to fix anything. I tried the original Ballistix SPD data and even cloned the Reaper SPD data and burnt it to my Ballistix but that didn't help either.

The only thing about this Ballistix memory on this board is that it makes you want to go out and go Ballistix.

[B2K24]

Yes I have only used a E6420 with this board it's a REV 1.10G and just like the situation with you and the ballistix stick I am experiencing the same thing with 4 different 1GB sticks at present. This weekend as well I plan on doing some major testing with removing the GPU and changing FSB speeds as you suggested but I'm really fearing even if i get a lucky boot a shutdown command in windows will put me back in the same boat.

I always run 24/7 but I want this rig setup to where if the power goes out or if someone shutdowns it will restart without any problems at all.
I may just have to buy some 1.8V sticks and simply keep this as a HTPC and move on to a newer board that supports decent memory.
I really hope the 2X2GB Reapers solve all the problems but it will be a few days before they arrive so I will plan on testing until then.
I will post here after more experimenting and also after the Reapers arrive. Thanks for the reply and best of luck to all of us fighting with this damn board.

[unclewebb]

Once I finally get booted up with my Ballistix / Team combo, everything is good. I can power down without any problems. It's just that initial boot up after a clear CMOS that is causing a big problem. I'll play some more later to see if I can find out what works reliably to go from no boot to boot with DDR2-667 junk memory to boot with good memory. I thought today that you might have to do two boots with the junk memory and get all the voltages right and then switch in one stick of the good stuff and hope it doesn't dump your settings. I've been very happy since the Reapers arrived and I'm glad I don't have to go through this maddening trial and error except when I'm testing. For me, when the FSB starts going way beyond 500MHz, it's all worth while.

[B2K24]

Well after a couple hours of trying different things all 4 of my high performance sticks refuse to boot with my P5B.
Going to 7X multi with 450 or 500 FSB = no boot still with my good sticks.

My junk 1.8 Adata will boot everytime. What I do is with my junk memory inserted I enter bios and set 2.1 voltage then F10 saves and exits then when the blue splash screens appears I hold down the power button on tower so it shuts off. I then put in my good sticks and no go. I have tried all different slot combos even just 2X1GB or mix and match and still no post unless it's a 1.8 volt module. Even mixing good memory with the 1.8 module is still no boot. I hope the reapers fix this or im gonna retire this rig and run it with junk memory.

When I first built this damn thing I only had the 2X1GB Gskill and it booted off the bat so maybe this beta bios was a mistake but I was always having these issues anyway since I owned this board if I shutdown or power got cut off.

Is there something else I could be doing? I even tried each of the 4 sticks individually after booting with junk stick and putting bios settings.

[B2K24]

Good news unclewebb my OCZ reapers arrived and the 2X2GB sticks booted right up !!!
I have not yet cut power but even a shutdown in windows and my PC boots right up.
You are awesome for posting the link to those reapers and just now I checked newegg they are back up to $80+ USD
I paid $66 LOL. They run awesome at 4-4-4-12-4-42-3-9-6-9 DDR2800 with my E6420 @ 3200 8X400
THANKS SO MUCH !!!!!!!

[unclewebb]

B2K24: That's great news. I thought I got a sweet deal on my 2x1GB Reapers but looks like I should have waited a couple of more weeks. The 2x2GB Reapers will be at the top of my list next time I'm looking for a memory upgrade. You should try doing some benches at CL5-5-5-15 at DDR2-1000. You might get a little better performance that way. I think some will even do CL4 at DDR2-1000 but you might need too much mem voltage to maintain stability with those timings. I have no idea why this board hates some memory / CPU combinations at boot up but it runs great with OCZ Reapers.

[jgree32]

Well, I RMA'ed my board and i'm back in business. Booted up first try. They didn't even tell me what they did but I believe it was a bios issue since when I booted it I had a very old bios on it. I have some questions regarding strap changes on the P5b deluxe. With an e6600 stock mult x9, With a 400FSB I know that lowering the mult to x8 OC's the nbcc to (9/8)*400 = 450. So with ram at 1:1, does this mean my RAM is at 450*2 or 400*2? Also I was having stability issues at 8x400 and became more stable at 401. I know strap loosens at 401 so does that mean it's a north bridge issue at 8x400 or does the strap change also make ram more stable? Thanks

[unclewebb]

CPU-z will show you what speed your ram is running at. If your CPU is at 9.0 x 400 MHz and your memory is at 1:1 then it is also at 400 MHz or DDR2-800 speed. Your memory speed is tied to your FSB speed.

jgree32: Did you update to a recent bios? Which one if you did?

Going to 401 puts less strain on your northbridge. You might want to try 8.0 x 450 MHz and then use the P965StrapTweaker to see if you can regain the lost performance by getting back on the faster strap. This tweak seems to let you run on the fast strap at a much higher FSB speed without losing stability. I used to boot up at FSB 400 and then try to SetFSB higher but the most I could get to was about 450 on the fast strap. With the tweaker I can go over 500 FSB without any issues. Prime stable at 533 MHz FSB on the fast strap made me smile. Max out your NB voltage when testing so that doesn't hold you back. The Asus Commando with the 965 chipset lets you set the northbridge voltage to over 2.00 volts in the bios so 1.65 volts isn't going to hurt anything.

With a 400FSB I know that lowering the mult to x8 OC's the nbcc to (9/8)*400 = 450.

I heard this a long time ago but is it actually true? At a FSB of 530 to 540 MHz with a 7.5 multi instead of the E8400 default of 9.0, I must be putting a hell of a load on the NB. No wonder it likes all that extra voltage.

[jgree32]

CPU-z will show you what speed your ram is running at. If your CPU is at 9.0 x 400 MHz and your memory is at 1:1 then it is also at 400 MHz or DDR2-800 speed. Your memory speed is tied to your FSB speed.

jgree32: Did you update to a recent bios? Which one if you did?

Going to 401 puts less strain on your northbridge. You might want to try 8.0 x 450 MHz and then use the P965StrapTweaker to see if you can regain the lost performance by getting back on the faster strap. This tweak seems to let you run on the fast strap at a much higher FSB speed without losing stability. I used to boot up at FSB 400 and then try to SetFSB higher but the most I could get to was about 450 on the fast strap. With the tweaker I can go over 500 FSB without any issues. Prime stable at 533 MHz FSB on the fast strap made me smile. Max out your NB voltage when testing so that doesn't hold you back. The Asus Commando with the 965 chipset lets you set the northbridge voltage to over 2.00 volts in the bios so 1.65 volts isn't going to hurt anything.

Thought you'd get a kick out of this. Couldn't get it stable for anything at 9x355 so decided to try 1.65V Northbridge......Result is one smoked northbridge. Smelled it shortly after boot then it froze at post. Took off northbridge heat sink and confirmed it is the source of the smell. Looks like another RMA i guess........

[unclewebb]

... so decided to try 1.65V Northbridge......Result is one smoked northbridge.

Not good. I've been running my P5B for a while now at a bios setting of 1.65 volts without any issues. Temps measured with an IR thermometer at idle or load aren't bad either. My NB heatsink was originally making poor contact so I pulled it off, cleaned it, squared it up and replaced it with AS5. The heatpipe was preventing it from sitting flat on the chip so I had to bend it a little. It sounds like the heatsink was making poor contact on your board as well.

[jgree32]

Not good. I've been running my P5B for a while now at a bios setting of 1.65 volts without any issues. Temps measured with an IR thermometer at idle or load aren't bad either. My NB heatsink was originally making poor contact so I pulled it off, cleaned it, squared it up and replaced it with AS5. The heatpipe was preventing it from sitting flat on the chip so I had to bend it a little. It sounds like the heatsink was making poor contact on your board as well.

It could very well have been loose. Though I'm not really sure if it was a heat issue because it died immediately after applying the 1.65V so there wouldn't have been much time to get hot. I think there was an issue with the board for it to die that quick. I already spoke with ASUS RMA and they are going to ship me out a replacement board with a pre-paid label to return my old one so at least the turnaround time for RMA will be much quicker this time. Not sure what the difference in board revisions are but I had a 1.0 so maybe I'll get a newer revision.

[Leeghoofd]

Tomorrow I'll build in the E8600 on my friends P5B Dlx, will flash straight to 1237 then... hopefully having some control over Vcore...

[Agail]

Hi again guys, I've got another problem.
I upgraded my P5B dlx about a week ago, since then it was just lying around, so I sold/gave it to a friend who asked me to build him a pc.
So I ordered a new e8400 and 2 gigs of DDR2 800 ram and transplanted his old 8600gt, hdd's and psu which were all working fine in his old pc.

Now before I gave him the motherboard, I removed some extra small heat sinks that I put on the mosfets (I think...) and whilst removing the 8 that I put on, I chipped a small piece off the surface as per pic below(Sorry for the bad cell pics), but I assumed that this was a non critical part.

My north bridge also used to be watercooled, so put the original heat pipe back with some thermal paste and a couple of nuts and bolts as the original plastic pins broke when I removed it.



Also, when I installed the cpu, I noticed that somehow some of the pins were bent (Probably from lying around for a week), so I tried to line them up with help from a needle and a magnifying glass, I think I lined them up pretty good.


Now when everything was installed, I tried to boot up, everything (Fans and hdd's ect) would come on, but the screen would stay off, also, it doesn't wouldn't beep.
If I remove the ram and leave it empty, it would give a lot of beeps.
I tried swapping out the ram with a friends, no difference - it would just stay blank.
I've tried another gpu, nothing.
I've tried removing everything but the cpu, gfx and the ram - still nothing.

I've removed the cpu again and tried to fiddle with the pins, I still dont get a response.

What would you guys think:
1. Does the chip off the mosfet (or what ever it is) play any role with this?
2. Could the way I replaced the heat pipe have anything to do with this?
3. Or is it the pins that have been bent?
4. What else could it be?

[DOM.]

Tomorrow I'll build in the E8600 on my friends P5B Dlx, will flash straight to 1237 then... hopefully having some control over Vcore...

I found an way where you dont have to boot twice to get the option to set the volts save one of the oc profies to the settings then when you want to change them but its on auto reload the profile and it well let you pick the volts

Hi again guys, I've got another problem.
I upgraded my P5B dlx about a week ago, since then it was just lying around, so I sold/gave it to a friend who asked me to build him a pc.
So I ordered a new e8400 and 2 gigs of DDR2 800 ram and transplanted his old 8600gt, hdd's and psu which were all working fine in his old pc.

Now before I gave him the motherboard, I removed some extra small heat sinks that I put on the mosfets (I think...) and whilst removing the 8 that I put on, I chipped a small piece off the surface as per pic below(Sorry for the bad cell pics), but I assumed that this was a non critical part.

My north bridge also used to be watercooled, so put the original heat pipe back with some thermal paste and a couple of nuts and bolts as the original plastic pins broke when I removed it.


Also, when I installed the cpu, I noticed that somehow some of the pins were bent (Probably from lying around for a week), so I tried to line them up with help from a needle and a magnifying glass, I think I lined them up pretty good.


Now when everything was installed, I tried to boot up, everything (Fans and hdd's ect) would come on, but the screen would stay off, also, it doesn't wouldn't beep.
If I remove the ram and leave it empty, it would give a lot of beeps.
I tried swapping out the ram with a friends, no difference - it would just stay blank.
I've tried another gpu, nothing.
I've tried removing everything but the cpu, gfx and the ram - still nothing.

I've removed the cpu again and tried to fiddle with the pins, I still dont get a response.

What would you guys think:
1. Does the chip off the mosfet (or what ever it is) play any role with this?
2. Could the way I replaced the heat pipe have anything to do with this?
3. Or is it the pins that have been bent?
4. What else could it be?

well cant see much by the pics but did you update the bios ?

and on the NB did you use some plastic spacers ?

[alitayyab]

I posted this issue sometime back, here and at various other places on the net and looked up asus's forum for a solution.

I have had this board (Asus P5b-Deluxe Rev 1.03G) for about 2 years. the problem i am going to describe has been there for about 8 months.


At times the system would just stop responding at all. that means that nothing short of turning the psu switch to off works. pressing the 'reset' button does nothing, neither does the 'power' button. no blue screen of death, nothing. the machine just stops responding to everything.

turning off the power, turning it on usually gets the system up and running and the chances of the samething happening are extremely varied. at times it boots up okay and the problem doesnt come back for what seems like an age, other times it would do the same thing again immediately.

The event viewer shows up nothing (no errors what so ever).

Things that i've noticed:

1. There is no guaranteed way to reproduce the error, however one way that occasionally does this is to change any bit of hardware in my system (be it a HDD, a DVD drive etc). specifically any hardware that need a wire to connect to the mobo. most commonly happens when using a Sata cable.

2. Everytime this happens, the system clock sorta goes to sleep. when the computer starts to run normally, the clock picks up EXACTLY where it left off when the problem began


Things that i've done:

0. Bios updates. no difference

1. Checked Power supply: using a volt meter. all voltages are pretty okay. checked psu in another rig (p5k-vm + 8800gtx) works great

2. Checked Processor in another board (again a p5k-vm) no problems

3. Chekced RAM (memcheck) no errors. checked ram in another system, no problems

4. Undo my oc settings. the problem still strikes if i run my system at default

5. checked gfx cards (4870, 8800gtx). get similar issues with both cards.

6. checked multiple hdds in the system (greatest stability with IDE HDD)


The problem is that if i am to RMA this board i have to write in exactly what goes wrong and how to reproduce it (that is the way things go here ) . as this error seems to just come on its own, i have no sure way of reproducing it.

I checked asus's forums and came up with this:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?...Language=en-us

this describes the problem EXACTLY. but the solution doesnt work for me atleast. i've tried 4 different sets and i get problems with all of em. the last set i tried i pulled out from another system where they were working fine.


I really am running out of ideas as what to do. the simplest to me is to get another board and try my luck with an RMA (takes upto 3 months to process one).

I really dont want to go the new board way as i am tempted by the core i7.

Please if anyone has any ideas please lemme know!


sys specs:

1. Asus p5b-d rev 1.03G (bios 1236) + Intel Q6600 @3.0Ghz + Tuniq Tower 120
2. Corsair 2x1Gig DHX XMS2 RAM
3. HIS HD4870-512
4. Corsair HX620 PSU
5. Seagate 80GB Sata-2 drive
6. Sony DVD writer S-ata
7. Logitech CCT (single Blue)

NOTHING worked! volts, battery, cables, psu, cpu, gpu, ram. u name it i changed it and nothing ever got rid of the issue. TILL about a week ago.


i got so fed up with the problem that i decided to get a new board. just as i was pulling stuff out of this board, i thought why not try it without a video card.
so i take the video card out (already tried the mobo with 3 different cards so i ruled out the GPU being faulty), and it worked okay.
So i figured it has to be either power to the video card OR the pci-e slot itself. As i had already tried another power source, it was highly unlikely that 2 psu's would have extactly the same problem.
Trial and error put it down to the pci-e slot.
I put the video card back and volia the problem came back! Now i tinkered and the problem turned out to be how the card is held in the slot.
if i "nudge" the card upwards it would work okay. if i let it go, the problem would come back!

My solution: Put a lolly stick to help the card in its place! cheap and very effective. havent had ONE single issue in a week, where as i had many in a day!

Apologies for the long post, but if anyone ever finds themselves in a sticky situation like this, the solution is to buy a lolly and save the stick!

Picture's worth a 1000 words:



@Agail: Try another cpu (like "6" series core2 or p4). u might need to update the bios to allow the mobo to work with ur cpu

[unclewebb]

My OCZ Reapers continue to work great on the P5B Deluxe. It went from being a cranky, at times miserable board to a fantastic board. Some fresh memory is cheaper than a new motherboard.

The Egg has your choice of Reaper on at a great price so if you want to get the most out of your computer, I highly recommend that you pick some up.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...reaper&x=0&y=0

B2K24 was a happy camper the day his Reapers arrived.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...postcount=5020

Now all I have to do is see if the Egg carries OCZ Popsicle sticks. Nice fix.

[B2K24]

My OCZ Reapers continue to work great on the P5B Deluxe. It went from being a cranky, at times miserable board to a fantastic board. Some fresh memory is cheaper than a new motherboard.

The Egg has your choice of Reaper on at a great price so if you want to get the most out of your computer, I highly recommend that you pick some up.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...reaper&x=0&y=0

B2K24 was a happy camper the day his Reapers arrived.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...postcount=5020

Now all I have to do is see if the Egg carries OCZ Popsicle sticks. Nice fix.

Thanks to you UW everything is great.
I can shutdown or even cut power and the board boots rights up. No issues at all with the OCZ reapers.
I can even bring my PC out to the livingroom and connect it to 42" plasma when we wanna have a movie night. No more worrying when I shutdown any longer.
Listen to Unclewebb's advice it's golden.
Many thank you's yet again.

[jcniest5]

Does anyone know where to get BIOS 1237? The latest I have is 1236. Checking on Asus' site shows no sign of 1237. Is it a mod BIOS or something?

[Leeghoofd]

P5B-DLX_1237.ROM

[jcniest5]

Thanks for the file...will try it out.

[unclewebb]

I've been using 12.37 for a while now with no issues whatsoever.

My E8400 is very happy, even when the FSB is over 500 MHz.
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/590/fsb533mhzig9.png

The memory might be holding me back above 533 MHz but no complaints.
I just wish I had a better CPU to throw at it.

[Stx]

What is supposed to be new in 1237?

[DOM.]

fix some memory problems with 2X2GB sticks in think

they still havent fixed the v-core being on auto in yellow where you cant change it you have to reboot and go back again but its at 1.5v when you have the fsb oced

[Tom|Nbk]

1238 BIOS direct from ASUS Support

http://rapidshare.com/files/18553101...eluxe_1238.rar

Adds support for :

Pentium Dual Core E5300 (2.70GHz,800FSB,L2:2MB,rev.R0) A

Unsure of any other fixes

Disclaimer : Obviously this is a beta bios so try it at your own risk, etc etc