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

[WannaGoFast]

Heres the 801 bios off ASUS FTP dated 07/11/07.
ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...LIPLUS0801.zip
Not sure what is new as there is not any release notes with it.
Havent tried it as I wont be able to test it until I get home from work.

[12Iceman]

Heres the 801 bios off ASUS FTP dated 07/11/07.
ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...LIPLUS0801.zip
Not sure what is new as there is not any release notes with it.
Havent tried it as I wont be able to test it until til I get home from work.

It would be nice if Asus would post a changelog, or at least link to it from their BIOS page. It also looks like they removed the 0602 BIOS from the page though (but its still on the FTP).

[WannaGoFast]

Yup that would be nice

[Cranox]

602 is now also removed from ftp ???!
Dunno why they did that bios 602 is very stable here, i also notice a bios 1201 in here ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...;20SLI%20Plus/

[WannaGoFast]

602 is now also removed from ftp ???!
Dunno why they did that bios 602 is very stable here, i also notice a bios 1201 in here ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...;20SLI%20Plus/

Hmm.....that wasnt there earlier when I posted the 801 link.

*Now 402 and 602 are back as well?

[12Iceman]

602 is now also removed from ftp ???!
Dunno why they did that bios 602 is very stable here, i also notice a bios 1201 in here ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...%20SLI%20Plus/

Someone on the ASUS forums was saying that the 1201 BIOS is supposed to be for the non-Plus version of the board. At least one person also reported trying the 801 BIOS and says it fixed some of their issues. I am waiting for ASUS to post a change log before I try it myself (or at least until a few more people post good results).

[WannaGoFast]

The person at ASUS is named Shamino....and if it is "the" Shamino I would say his word is golden.

But Im not 100% sure its the same guy

[12Iceman]

Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus - Bios 0801 Changelog (taken from ASUS forums)

P5N32-E SLI Plus BIOS version 0801

1. Update CPU uCode to support new processors
2. Enhance memory compatibility under full load (4 DIMM)
3. Revise Q-Fan control code
4. Fix system fail to resume from S3 mode via PS/2 keyboard
5. Update NV RAID ROM to 6.9802.
6. Add microcode not found & update fail message support
7. Finetune CPU fan speed too low warning range
8. Use new French translation
9. Modify General Help string.
10.Fixed floppy item value error.
11.Use new Simplified Chinese translation.
12.Use new Japanese translation.
13.Support post message in Japanese
14.Use new German translation.
15.Fixed incorrect CPU Vcore when set to above 1.60V

I went ahead and flashed my BIOS to the 0801 and my system still boots which is a good sign. Next, I am going to try for 9x400 again on my E6600 and see if the BIOS changed helped at all.

[safan80]

hey
12Iceman got any links to those threads?

wow new bioses
here's direct links.
ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...LIPLUS0801.zip
ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...0Plus/1201.zip
I wondered why the thread was bumped I hope it supports penryn!

[12Iceman]

hey
12Iceman got any links to those threads?

ASUS Forums for P5N32-E SLI Plus
Forum Thread for the 0801 BIOS

wow new bioses
ftp://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/s...0Plus/1201.zip

That ones for the P5N32-E SLI (Non-Plus) Board.

After about 15 minutes of quick testing, 3.6GHz is still a no go (at least with 1.5V, which is probably my CPU fault). However, 3.3GHz (up from 3.2Ghz) seems like it is a possibility (6 minutes into orthos).

[Leeghoofd]

Drop your multi to 8 and see if the board does 400fsb with your current chipset settings... then it could be just a matter of voltage for the CPU...

How are ya temps for the CPU

and it's exactly the same changelog as they did for the Striker Extreme

[12Iceman]

Drop your multi to 8 and see if the board does 400fsb with your current chipset settings... then it could be just a matter of voltage for the CPU...

How are ya temps for the CPU

and it's exactly the same changelog as they did for the Striker Extreme

Thanks for the tip, I can run fine at 8x400 but I think 9x400 is just too much for my CPU to take at 1.5V (which is as much as I feel comfortable giving it). My CPU takes 1.30V for 3.0GHz, 1.375V for 3.2GHz, and 1.425 for 3.3GHz so I am guessing it would take around 1.60V to be stable at 3.6GHz.

Also, do you have any tips for getting my RAM to work at 1T while maintaining stability?

[Leeghoofd]

You can try these mate , but not sure if the corsairs will go 1T, Gskill HZ/HK do, OCZ 8500 SLI too till 880Mhz... good luck and keep that Nb cool !!! These ram timings are based on EVA200's findings ( George ROCKS !!) to be most stable for overclocking...

I presume you have these : http://www.corsairmicro.com/_datashe...X2048-6400.pdf

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

FSB - Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
x FSB - Memory Raio: 8
FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1600 (means 400FSB)
Actual FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1600
MEM (DDR), Mhz: 800 (means 400mhz speeds)
Actual MEM (DDR), Mhz: 800

Vcore Voltage:1.4250 (will drop to 1.39 under load)
Memory Voltage:1.95 (will be around 2volts)
1.2v HT Voltage:1.35 (will be 1.4 read out)
NB Core Voltage:1.4 (will be 1.45 read out)
SB Core Voltage:1.55
CPU VTT Voltage:1.45
DDRII Controller Ref Voltage:auto
DDRII Channel A Ref Voltage:auto
DDRII Channel B Ref Voltage:auto

tCL (CAS Latency): 5
tRCD: 5
tRP: 5
tRAS: 12
Command Per Clock (CMD): 1 clock (1T)

Advance Memory Settings
tRRD: AUTO
tRC: 22
tWR: AUTO
tWTR: AUTO
tREF: AUTO
tRD: AUTO
tRFC: 45
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: Disabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Tech: Disabled
LDT Frequency: 5x

PCIEX16_1 Frequency (Mhz): 100
PCIEX16_2 Frequency (Mhz): 100
PCIEX16_3 Frequency (Mhz): 100
SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, Mhz: 200

[Overgloc]

Thanks for the setting Lee!

[WannaGoFast]

I was away for a few days so I didnt get to try 0801 until today.
Flashed it with no issues and am running Orthos on it at stocks sets now.
Will give it more thorough testing today and tommorow to see if it is any
better or any worse then 0602 bios for overclocking.

[Radical_53]

Tried 801, very nice bios so far

I'm running 4 1GB sticks at 4-4-4-15 1T right now, ~850MHz with 2.1V. Very sweet

Also, I found some final settings for the board voltages.
At higher clocks, for me 3.85GHz right now, I only raised NB to 1.5V and CPU VTT to 1.25V. Everything else is running at stock setting (not auto!) and is perfectly stable.
I really don't have a clue why I needed to raise that for lower clocks before, but I guess a re-test of those clocks should tell me something.

[12Iceman]

Still doing some testing, but it looks like this board does have somewhat of a FSB hole from 370-410. Once you go up to 415 you can run at a lot lower MB voltages than what is needed for what is in between that range.

On a related topic, does anyone know a Fix for programs misreporting clockspeed when using a multiplier that is lower than the default one. Windows Vista, Orthos, memtest86 all report my clockspeed as whatever FSB I am running x the stock 9X multiplier instead of x the multiplier I am using.

Credit for the idea goes to palms over on the ASUS forums who posted this:

Just jump straight to 415(1660)FSB. There is a HUGE hole ~370-410. I used these settings after T8RR8R posted on this site with this issue. I am now stable at bus speed 415 1660FSB=3.32 running Orthos for 9 hours. I have increased it now to 3.4gigs-1700FSB=3.4gigs with bus speed 425 to see if it's stable.

Over Voltage set in bios
vcore 1.4-pc probe reports 1.39
memory voltage 2.1-pc probe reports 2.16
1.2 V HT 1.20-pc probe reports 1.25
NB 1.35-pc probe reports 1.38
SB 1.5-pc probe reports 1.54
CPU VTT 1.25-pc probe reports 1.30
CPU room temp 32c/load using Othos 52c

Overclocking
LDT 4
Memory Timing
4-4-4-12-T2
Unlinked 1700
Memory 800

palms

Posted here

P.S. Thanks for the settings you posted Leeghoofd, I haven't got around to messing with them yet though, because I am still tinkering with what speed I want to run my RAM/FSB at.

edit: An update. I quickly tested with orthos for about 5 minutes at 415MHz with my NB at only 1.35V. Previously, I had needed 1.45V on the northbridge just to be stable at 400MHz. I am currently trying for 8x425 = 3.4GHz.

edit #2: Another update. Looks like 8x425 = 3.4GHz is stable!!! I am using a vcore of 1.475 but only 1.35V on the NB. It passed a 45min Orthos Small FFT run (57 C max temp) and I am going to let it run Orthos blend overnight.

[Radical_53]

What you're saying about voltages does totally make sense when I compare it to my own results.
I needed to raise all the voltages, like CPU VTT and 1.2V HT to really high values to achieve stability between 3.4 and 3.6GHz on a 9x multiplier. Above that, I only needed CPU VTT raised to 1.25V and it's perfectly stable.

Btw., did anyone try to run the Ntune optimization for PCI-e? I tried it out yesterday...
PCI-e now is raised from 100MHz to an incredible 172MHz Raised bandwidth from 2.5GHz to 4.3GHz, giving me a performance increase of ~5&#37; avg. and ~8% min. fps

[12Iceman]

Here is my final overclock settings for this board in case anyone is interested
E6600 @ 3.4GHz (8 x 425 1.46875V) 9+ Hours Dual Orthos Stable
CPU Temps: 30-34C (Idle), 54C (Orthos Small FFT Load)

Extreme Tweaker

AI Tuning - Manual
Overclock Options - Disabled
N.O.S. Option - Disabled

System Clocks
All @ default

FSB & Memory Config
FSB - Memory Clock Mode - Linked
FSB - Memory Ratio - Sync Mode
FSB (QDR), MHz - 1700
Actual FSB (QDR), MHz - 1700
x MEM (DDR), MHz - Linked
Actual MEM (DDR), MHz - 850MHz

Overclocking
CPU Multiplier - 8

Memory Timing Setting
tCL (CAS Latency) - 4
tRCD - 4
tRP - 4
tRAS - 12
Command Per Clock (CMD) - 2 clock
The rest @ Auto

Over Voltage
Vcore Voltage - 1.46875V
Memory Voltage - 1.950V
1.2V HT Voltage - 1.20V
NB Core Voltage - 1.35V
SB Core Voltage - 1.50V
CPU VTT VOltage - 1.25V
DDRII Controller Ref Voltage - Auto
DDRII Channel A Ref Voltage - Auto
DDRII Channel B Ref Voltage - Auto

SLI Broadcast Aperature - Disabled
NVIDIA GPU Ex - Disabled

[The Viper]

I finally got around to flashing to this new Bios: 1st flash, through windows (I know I know, really dangerous) system froze@the very end of the flash, where it asks you if u want to restart the system. I thought I was good, but I started getting freezing and system lockups. On a bright note I was able to run my memory past DDR2 1000 speeds, which I couldnt do on any previous Bios. I decided to flash again, due to me thinking I didnt get through the flast last time completely??? Everything seems good so far, so if no more lockups this new Bios seems pretty darn stable and good

[Jultsu]

I also updated to 0801, and got a 226W peltier from a friend. I'm currently double testing, with variable success. My crappy loan memory is holding me back, since this MB wont go anywhere async. I need the corsairs! 1659MHz fsb with mem 533 :/

CPU 3,73GHz, trying to run it under 1.5 volts. Peltier got about 15 degrees off my regular temps, with better radiators it would benefit even more. I'll keep benching, gotta get 4GHz

[The Viper]

well I think my freezes with the 08 bios were due to an incomplete flash, cause now everything is running great

[Jultsu]

OK guys, something I've noticed:

I've been running with some CRAP ddr2 sticks (533 only) and thus, i've had to run async. 9x400 works great, since the divider 3:2 gives me 266,66MHz to memory. If I try to bump it to 9x410 it wont boot, no matter what voltage. I tried 8x456,5, which also gives 266,66MHz to memory with 12:7 divider. Now I'm running 8x466,7 with 7:4 divider, memory at 266,66MHz.

bios voltages:
NB voltage 1.5, VTT 1.45, HT 1.3, SB 1.5, vcore 1.500 (needs to be raised, since only one core is running flawlessly @ prime95)

so, try to run async with the memory running at default!

[Jultsu]

480 fsb seems to be max. for me ATM, my watercooling setup is at its limit, the liquid is 40 degrees celcius so the NB isn't getting much help from there. But still, nice going. 500fsb would just not boot to windows, even if i upped the voltage from 1.5 -> 1.6. Well, at least it posted every time.

[shimmishim]

480 fsb seems to be max. for me ATM, my watercooling setup is at its limit, the liquid is 40 degrees celcius so the NB isn't getting much help from there. But still, nice going. 500fsb would just not boot to windows, even if i upped the voltage from 1.5 -> 1.6. Well, at least it posted every time.

that sounds about right.

i maxed out around 490-497 bootable.

mine boots at 500 but i only have enough time to get a screenshot of cpu-z.

i was quite disappointed and hence why i got a p5b to bench with.