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

[Leeghoofd]

4 gigs houserat ? Nope don't think so ... and you must have one lucky batch of those OCZ as I have the same and they don't go up to 1000mhz 4-4-4-12 with 2.3 volts let alone the 2.1 volts of your signature...

[HousERaT]

At the time I was benching, my chip was at 3.6. Takes 2.35v with the OCZ sticks to be stable at 984 1T. I'm actually limited by the chipset as that's as high as I can go on this mb. I can go 500Mhz easy with those sticks on my DFI Dark.

[Jultsu]

Well, this was an interesting evening. I came home from work and found my computer beeping. My 5.25" temp monitor was going crazy, showing 71,2 degrees celcius (the diode was on top of my NB, so the NB itself must have been 80+ degrees). So I immediately shut her down, and started looking around. I found that one of my hoses was completely kinked, so very little or no water at all was running through my NB. Fortunately, it seems that my precious P5N32-E SLI Plus has survived, yet another small disaster I've had a fair share of leaks and other mishaps in the past 8 months, but the board is still up and running.

Oh, btw, I tried the new 0805 bios. It's a no-go. Would not boot at all, even with lower clocks. Maybe it didn't like my new shiny RAM I tried for 30 minutes, then got fed up, and uploaded 0803 back in. Running beautifully as we speak.

[Radical_53]

I think I'll go back to 801 rather than keeping 805. It seems to limit my clocks somewhat... and I don't see what for


Edit: Seems like I mixed something up. Went back to 801 today, set to 3.83GHz VCore on auto, ran Prime. Well, errors after a minute or so. I thought that this setting had been stable before. Flashed 805 again, same settings as before on 801, and Prime worked for over an hour until I stopped it myself. Nice I think the problems I had with 805 were at 3.9GHz+, 2T timings, maybe something didn't work out perfectly there. I'll stick with it for now.

[12Iceman]

Asus Finally posted a changelog for the 0805 Bios

Beta Version 0805 2007/08/27 update
OS DOS / All OS
Description P5N32-E SLI Plus BIOS version 0805
1. Enhance CPU overclock capability of FSB1333 processors
2. Add new CPU uCode to support new processors
3. Enhance memory compatibility
4. Enhance overclocking capability
5. Enable support for ASUS SK-2690 keyboard
6. Enable support for Razer Copperhead USB Mouse
File Size 860.47 (KBytes)

Download Here

I just updated to the new version myself and there is one difference that I noticed immediately over 0803. The FSB Hole around 400MHz is finally gone! Before, I couldn't boot with my FSB set to 400MHz and my NB set to 1.35V. Now, I am 10 minutes into an Orthos Small FFT test and the board seems to be rock solid at those settings. I am considering switching over to (8x400) from (8x425) now that I am able too because it would allow me to drop my vcore by about 0.1V and my load temps by about 10 C.

[Snyxxx]

Thanks for the input on the 805 bios. I will try this as well.

[HousERaT]

time to dust off this mb and try out the new bios......

[Whizzer]

I made the move to 0805 too and it turns out it's almost completely stable for me. My CPU will run at 400FSB as will my RAM but it didn't boot with my RAM at 800MHz and stock 4-4-4-15-1T timings so it's at 5-5-5-15-2T (only thing that works right now) at 800MHz. The Razer bug is gone indeed and my system boots every single time now, no more manual rebooting. Great indeed. My Vcore now defaults to 1.36V on auto (that's what Everest reports), but I got rid of my overclock because it didn't improve performance in any of my games with a 7950GT limiting performance. It idles at 24 now at the stock 2.13GHz (E6420).

[obeseotron]

I gave the 805 BIOS a shot and really, really regret it. I flashed it, rebooted, everything looked normal, so I tried 9x350FSB on my Q6600, which is a setting that used to be stable enough to get to windows and get a 3d mark score, but too high for orthos. No POST on reboot, so I press the reset button a couple times and eventually the BIOS comes up, I try the same settings, this time linking the memory to fsb for ddr2-700. Now I have a blank screen on reboot that won't go away even after a CMOS reset with the jumper on the motherboard. I think I bricked my motherboard. I've never been pleased with this board, so maybe a forced upgrade wouldn't be the worst thing ever...

[Whizzer]

9x350 shouldn't pose much of a problem. Sorry it didn't work out for you, but you may want to try pulling the battery and resetting the CMOS for a couple of minutes. Helped me when I first flashed to 0803. If that gets it back online, try loosening your RAM timings. My RAM is specified for 8000MHz 4-4-4-15-1T but it won't run at those settings (only at 5-5-5-15-2T, 888MHz). It doesn't post and I have to reset the CMOS every time I try it. It's a big shame, I know but latencies don't make much of a performance difference with Core 2 Duo in applications and games, just in benchmarks.

[Xiphias-Gladius]

Hi guys,

I'm new here, but just wanted to tell me how I felt about this mobo.

I first ran this mobo with an E6600, worked fine, on bios 0803. I had my cpu @ 3,2 (8x400 1,4v). Then I bought an Q6600 G0 and then the troubles started.. I couldn't run an fsb higher then 378.. So I thought, maybe an older bios could bring me more luck, but now, I still couldn't reach 400 fsb without dramatically increasing the nb-voltage. So I thought, ok, then I'll try bios 0805, still no luck, also much voltage on the NB and no stable overclocks.

Then my windows started tripping and that was what made me change to another mobo. I also switched from 2 7900 GT's to a 8800 GTS, so didn't have to have SLI anymore.. So now I got a P35 DS4 and I can reach 3,6 with ease now..

So this was my first post here, and probably my last, but I just hope that people have more luck with this mobo then me, because this mobo sure was frustrating..

Good luck to you all

[Leeghoofd]

well I think for the quad users that sums it up indeed, if you want go higher than 350ish FSB it's time to go for another mobo then the current Asus Nvidia ones... I hardly think a bios update will get us up to EVGA or BFG DOO revision speeds (400FSB plus) unless some mods are done to the baord itself...

Pmp and Hipro5 got some good results on the Strikers but I don't think their boards are unmodded like most of ours...

[Whizzer]

That's some bad news. I decided to forget about the E6850 and go with a G0 stepping Q6600, but having 350FSB as a maximum means a max overclock of 3.15GHz. Not too bad but I expected better. I guess I can always try and I will probably get Penryn or Nehalem later on. For the time being it should be enough. Lots of users have reported 3.6 or 3.7 GHz and I was hoping to meet up to that.

[Metroid]

Man this board is making me crazy, my nb is around 40 degrees all the time. It is quite sad to see that because is my second P5N32 in less than 4 months. The problem is if you let your PC on for more than 15 hours the problems start to appear. I could buy a good northbridge heathsink and try it out because this one sure is not good at all, another problem is my computer crashes quite often now.

I went to the shop because I still have warranty. So the problem is they will not RMA it because of the damn hot northbirdge and if I change it it will void my warranty. I'm pissed off about it.

My next chipset X38 for sure and not come back to Nvidia.

[Leeghoofd]

Why don't you screw a 4 - 5 cm fan onto it ? that wil increase ya stability a zillion times...

[Jultsu]

My HDD watercooling mod is coming along nicely, maybe at the end of next week I'll get to assemble it all together. Some preview shots are at:

http://warez.wippiespace.com/images/...rojekti%202007

I'll upload some more photos tomorrow (monday)

[Radical_53]

13 disks? I better don't ask you what you're doing with them

[Radical_53]

I just got my hands on a Q6600. I know this board ain't close to perfect for quads, but is there anything special that I'd need to run it at a higher clockrate?
First I had to go to 2T from 1T to let my RAM work at its known speed, then I couldn't get the FSB above 300... which gave me an incredible speed of 2.7GHz...

[RaSSeaK]

Hello. Lets see if anyone can help me a bit...

Usually i run this board with an e6400 at 1600FSB (1:1) with 1stick of DDR2 800 Supertanlent 4-4-4-8 T1 . Everything was fine (even more with the new bios 805) but yesterday the other same memory module has arrived. Now, with 2gb of ram the system isn't stable at all.

I try to put auto settings on the ram (5-5-5-15 T2) but doesn't work. Try to put NB from 1.45v to 1.5v but doesn't work too. I try everything that i though but nothing. System becomes unestabe in about 5-10 minutes of running.

Now, trying to lower the FSB to 1500-1560 or so, the system doesn't start up! I have to go to 1400 or jump to 1600 (a new FSB wall????)

So, any suggestions? Which can be the problem? Isn't the northbridge able to manage 2gb at those speeds? Could be the Temp?( i guess not, but...)

Lot of Thanks!!!

[Leeghoofd]

Put soley the new dimm in and test it thoroughly... it could be that the enw dimm isn't as good as your old one.

Loosen up to 2t command rate and try again, now it's runs dual channel (single channel before) and puts more stress on the NB memory controller, what are those rams rated for ? 4-4-4-12 ? Have you tried 1700FSB ( is more easy on the NB, hard to believe yep it is hard to believe)

Also when you mention it become unstable after 5 -10 mins could more mean it is a heat related issue, do you actively cool your NB ?

[Radeon117X]

Im so sad i tried 0805 just now without reading this thread first! My nice modest settings of 3.2GHz (400X8) dont work anymore! Thank God 3.0 (333*9) still work! But i dont have my awesome 1:1 FSBRAM Ratio anymore! Damn you 0805!

One question: Ive never had to downgrade BIOSes on this board before. If i want to downgrade, will EZFLash let me off a USB key successfully? Because AsusUpdate wont let me...

[bleachigo]

Haven't posted for a while.Well got my e6600 to 3.703Ghz stable now.I'm still trying to push it a little more though.Radical 53,how did u get to 3.9Ghz?Is that a stable OC and good temps?I can get there too but with bios vcore of 1.63V.Only ran 3DMark 06 and when CPU test part comes on,Everest says 67C on temp so had to stop it.It might be stable on mine or it might not be.I'm too scared of the temps.

[Radical_53]

Yes, it's a stable setting. I had to get a new CPU waterblock to keep the temps below a certain level (below 60°C) to keep it stable, but it works out. Also I had to drop my RAM to 2T.
I'm running this with 1.45V vcore, 1.35V on the nb plus 1.2V HT / CPU VTT on 1.25V.
Yesterday I had the chance to put a QX6850 in and even this works so far. I can't run 1T on any quad I tried so far, but even this chip runs at 3.833GHz right now without problems (also with 1.45V). Even my PWMs don't have too much trouble with it

[bleachigo]

Now is that 1.45V on bios or cpu-z?I put mine at 1.63V on bios but on cpu-z it says 1.213V.But Everest says 1.6V too so i think i should trust that more.Wish i could get that high with those voltages.And what's your new CPU block?And when you said your temps were below 60C,is that loaded on Orthos or just idle?

[Radical_53]

CPU-Z only reports crap on my system, but Everest says the same as the bios I did a vdroop mod too.
Temps are loaded of course. The CPU gets unstable above 63/64°C over a time so I needed to do something there. I had the Storm Rev.2 first, lapped the IHS and so on but I coulnd't get the temps to stay low enough. Now I use the Aqua Computer Cuplex XT di (what a name...) which gave me enough improvement to run it at these clock speeds fully stable (with the Storm I could run games and benchmarks, but Orthos/Prime failed after a while). Maybe I'll try to re-lap my CPU and use liquid metal to head for 4GHz... I'll keep the DC for a while, tried two QCs and I couldn't really see a performance improvement with them.