Asus P5B (vanilla) Overview

[Vric]

______________________________________
For the New Bios options, look starting page 3 of this thread.
______________________________________


I received the Asus P5B yesterday. I took few picture for you.






The Layout is nicely done, very simple but effective. A bit more space around than the DS3 (the board is wider)

The only thing I really hate in the layout is the eSATA port Asus used on the back I/O. This is nice if you want an external SATA HD, but they use a SATA port on the Raid controller. So there is NO RAID on this board, unless you want to use 1 internal and 1 external drive to do so.. (or maybe IDE drive, I don't know I have none) This thing piss me off a bit.






Here something people won't like. FSB up to 400Mhz max and 2.1V Vdim max !!! I personally don't mind about the 400Mhz max (anyway, most board have a wall at 400Mhz and I don't plan to go that high with my E6600) but the VDimm is bad.. I use OCZ Memory that NEED 2.1V and OCZ warranty them up to 2.2V... but I can't even use that voltage.. If someone know an Asus contact, that would be nice if they could change that to 2.2V at least !

Also note, the Vdrop is about 0.06V and difference between Bios and Windows is 0.04V (if you set 1.4V, you get 1.36V.. 1.30 under load)



The Chipset is quite hot. 130F on load.. Idle, it's about 120F.

And just for fun, it's my setup. With the tunel, the chipset temp drop by 10F (122F load, 109F idle) My Celeron 2.9Ghz running at 3.7Ghz is 38C idle and 46C load. (and yes, I do use a case )


Hope you enjoy.

[Shpoon]

Thanks for the overview and pictures

At least I know a board not to buy.

[Discipuli]

Finally! i'v been looking at this board for a long time.. the DS3 seems to have lots of issues , and i'm an Asus fan...
How does the onboard sound bode vs an on card solution? Support for EAX , cpu usage etc.? Tried using the ''AI NOS'' feature? multipliers? ... i'v been looking for a review for so long..
I don't need high fsb.... live in a tropical climate and no plans for anything other than stock cooler, so i'm not gonna hit anything higher than 3ghz anyway...

[Charloz24]

Well this one was a good read thanks! Great info! :thumbsup:

Now I know wich board not to get:

1)This one, because lack of overclocking option and the RAID think is a no go for me

2) The P5B deluxe: same price as the P5W DH..so P5W DH is better option.


This lead me now for 2 options:

1) P5W DH
2) Gigabyte DS3

So still need to choose between 2........I think I will take the one that will work well with a 7950 GX2 that is tempting me very much.

[eva2000]

dam 2.1v vdimm

[Kunaak]

definatly not for me.
even the gigabyte DS3 costs less, and has better quality parts, and better OC options...

seems a let down, for a board from Asus to be so stripped down from its bigger brother.

[burningrave101]

This lead me now for 2 options:

1) P5W DH
2) Gigabyte DS3

So still need to choose between 2........I think I will take the one that will work well with a 7950 GX2 that is tempting me very much.

I would throw the Abit AB9 Pro in there as well. It has more on-board features then the DS3, especially in the RAID department, and should prove to overclock good as well. It supports up to 10 SATA devices. I'll have one in my hands next week and i'll post a little mini review when i have the chance.

[Charloz24]

I would throw the Abit AB9 Pro in there as well. It has more on-board features then the DS3, especially in the RAID department, and should prove to overclock good as well. It supports up to 10 SATA devices. I'll have one in my hands next week and i'll post a little mini review when i have the chance.

Waiting for your results :thumbsup:

[DeToNaToR.cl]

Really a poor board

I was hoping for more

[ocZZZ]

nice review, think I'm going to stick with teh ds3 though

[realsmasher]

nice. what did you pay ?

[cupholder2.0]

definatly not for me.
even the gigabyte DS3 costs less, and has better quality parts, and better OC options...

seems a let down, for a board from Asus to be so stripped down from its bigger brother.

QFT

[Vric]

I don't know about the onboard sound, I use a X-Fi. (I always hate onboard)

Didn't tried thr AI Nos either.. Playing a bit with manual setting for now (I'm at 4ghz out of this cheap Celeron 341.. Spi pass, but prime don't like that)

In the bios, I see the option to choose lower divider. I will try it in few minutes.

I paid $199CND. about the same price as the DS3.

For someone that look for a medium overclock with a 4mb Conroe (Most board, if not all. hit a wall at 400Mhz anyway) and don't look to break record, it's a good board. It is rock stable and trouble free (I can't make it crash and I tried some stupid thing...).

Now if they could give a bit more VDimm voltage, it would be perfect for me.

I think the DS3 offer more for the same price, but I can't comment on the stability.

Edit: Ratio are locked on the Celeron, even if the bios say Unlocked and give me the option to choose 14-22. Probably an EE or Conroe only option.

[Supertim0r]

the DS3 is cheaper

[bobdelt]

The ds3 has issues. I get my p5b on monday. I mailed my ds3 back to the egg on friday.

[Supertim0r]

The ds3 has issues. I get my p5b on monday. I mailed my ds3 back to the egg on friday.

You'll have issue with the Asus too... they just need bios

[darkandlong]

Vric, what case is that? Lian-Li?

[Vric]

Case is Silverstone Tj06.

Seriously, so far this P5B is very stable. Mine was shipped with 170 Bios (first bios is 162)

But again, I don't have a Conroe yet. I still managed to get 4.18Ghz out of this cheap Celeron 341..

Asus Update software don't work and the AI tune offer some incompatible setting.. It's the only bugs I have seen.

[FunkyRider]

this board is better coupled with >= E6600, otherwise FSB is a real problem when ocing

[Vric]

this board is better coupled with >= E6600, otherwise FSB is a real problem when ocing

True.. I knew it was limited to 400Mhz before ordering. Didn't mind. When I will hit 3.6Ghz, I will be more than happy

But the 2.1V max VDimm is bad for everyone.

[FunkyRider]

easy, MOD it man!

you can't mod FSB, but you can mod vDimm in a snap isn't it

[Vric]

yea probably.. I will wait to get a CPU is more than than 200Mhz fsb.. Currently, my memory is very happy at 680Mhz, 1.9V CL 3-4-4-10 (rated at 2.1V 800Mhz CL 4-5-4-15)

[PcCI2iminal]

Here something people won't like. FSB up to 400Mhz max and 2.1V Vdim max !!! I personally don't mind about the 400Mhz max (anyway, most board have a wall at 400Mhz and I don't plan to go that high with my E6600) but the VDimm is bad.. I use OCZ Memory that NEED 2.1V and OCZ warranty them up to 2.2V... but I can't even use that voltage.. If someone know an Asus contact, that would be nice if they could change that to 2.2V at least !

Also note, the Vdrop is about 0.06V and difference between Bios and Windows is 0.04V (if you set 1.4V, you get 1.36V.. 1.30 under load)

its bad to hear

anyway thanks for sharing and enjoy your new MB

[DeToNaToR.cl]

Just for curiosity, does that "Patent bla bla bla" thing came with your case or you bought it appart? looks like a nice accesory if you are using fanless heatsink like Noctua NH-U12...

[Supertim0r]

it's included with the case