Official ASUS X38 Boards: P5E, P5E3 - Info/BIOS Thread

[Bigchrome]

Get a new CPU yet?

No.. I did 4.4ghz valid (on water) with it last night so it can stay for now.. But I can't get 4ghz stable for my life!
Can someone post a config for 4ghz PRETTY PLEASE??

[Sparx]

Has nothing to do with the cpu.
Tried it with a q6600 and a e6400, both same problems.

Even with 2 different sets of memory sticks:
2 x 1024 xms2 corsair c5
2 x 1024 xms2dhx corsair c4

All same problems.

Are you using 1.70 version of MemoryTest?
sparx

[eyes.only]

Are you using 1.70 version of MemoryTest?
sparx

Yep, 1.7 in dos.
Works only with bios 0107.

[Sparx]

Yep, 1.7 in dos.
Works only with bios 0107.

Try one stick at a time.
sparx

[eyes.only]

Try one stick at a time.
sparx

did that too.
problem is purely bios related.
Strange that not everyone is having these problems.

[Sparx]

did that too.
problem is purely bios related.
Strange that not everyone is having these problems.

Maybe you could list your parts and critical BIOS settings?
And BIOS version
I have mine 393 x 9 RAM @ 2.2v 1.3875vcore and RAM ratio 5:6

Others are doing better than I.
Have to retest with Ortho again since I increased the speeds.
sparx

[Sparx]

Yep, 1.7 in dos.
Works only with bios 0107.

Explain "works only with Bios 0107"
I don't follow, I am using 0401 bios and 1.7 memtest86 runs fine.
sparx

[DJBUDDY]

Hey guys, im running the p5e wit a q6600 and 4 gigs of crucial ballstix 6400 with 203 bios, is there a better version i should upgrade too?dono if its me but mine benchmarks dont seem right for my pc

3dmark06 i got 12496
Everest Memory Benchmark i got
For Memory Read = 6624 mb/s
For Memory Write = 4871 mb/s
For Memory Copy = 5535 mb/s
For Memory Latency = 74.3 ns


The only reason i upgrade my bios from 107 was because on the asus site it said if im running a quad i should have 201 or later,the pc seems to run ok but not great any other bios worth upgradin to, i dont plan to overclock run just stock settings for now

[Brahmzy]

From the sounds of i, you should stick to the working BIOS you have. Lot of folks are having issues with all of the newer ones...

[eyes.only]

Explain "works only with Bios 0107"
I don't follow, I am using 0401 bios and 1.7 memtest86 runs fine.
sparx

Yes, but you are using different memory?

Whatever I do inside the bios, standard, light overclock, all manual settings, the only bios that doesn't give memory errors with memtest86 1.7 in dos, is the 0107 version. One set of sticks operates at 1.8 volt on my p5b, putting them in my p5e with 1.8~2.3 volts doesn't matter a thing, errors, errors, errors.

[Sparx]

Yes, but you are using different memory?

Whatever I do inside the bios, standard, light overclock, all manual settings, the only bios that doesn't give memory errors with memtest86 1.7 in dos, is the 0107 version. One set of sticks operates at 1.8 volt on my p5b, putting them in my p5e with 1.8~2.3 volts doesn't matter a thing, errors, errors, errors.

This is the 2nd board for you correct? I forget the problems with the original. Who is the vendor?
Maybe you hit another bad one, rare but Murphy's Law is still in effect.

Can you list parts you are using?
sparx

[eyes.only]

This is the 2nd board for you correct? I forget the problems with the original. Who is the vendor?
Maybe you hit another bad one, rare but Murphy's Law is still in effect.

Can you list parts you are using?
sparx

p5e
q6600 g0
corsair xms2dhx 2x1024c4
corsair550 power supply

Don't think it's a board problem.
As stated: bios 0107, no errors but from at least 0303 up i've got memory errors.
Reflashed the board to 0107 and 12 hour prime stable.

[DJBUDDY]

So should i stay with 203 or flash back to 107 since everybody here seems to like it?

[Bigchrome]

Ok, last time asking so PLEASE help... Could someone post their config for 4ghz (with a dual preferably)?? It's killing me as this chip boots 4ghz fine with 1.4v and will run any bench but even 1.55v in orthos it just restarts overnight...temps don't break 55c and the chip can do 3.8ghz with 1.38v.

[sauria]

Ok, last time asking so PLEASE help... Could someone post their config for 4ghz (with a dual preferably)?? It's killing me as this chip boots 4ghz fine with 1.4v and will run any bench but even 1.55v in orthos it just restarts overnight...temps don't break 55c and the chip can do 3.8ghz with 1.38v.

I'd love to know too. Orthos crashed immeadiately at 4 GHz with my E6850 -- I think the later production CPU is not as good.

[sauria]

Yep, 1.7 in dos.
Works only with bios 0107.

Mine memtest86+ 1.70 works fine with 0303

[Sparx]

p5e
q6600 g0
corsair xms2dhx 2x1024c4
corsair550 power supply

Don't think it's a board problem.
As stated: bios 0107, no errors but from at least 0303 up i've got memory errors.
Reflashed the board to 0107 and 12 hour prime stable.

A guy over on AMD.mb.com (PC Perspective) had problems as he flashed up into newer bios with this board. He is very experienced in building as was not overclocked.
He tried 3 different sets of RAM and kept getting random blue screens.

I am not getting the OC I have with my P5W DH nor the smoothness either.

I am thinking about dumping this board myself, due to the extensive issues I read on here plus my experience.

EYES I don't know what else to tell you to try, but the earlier BIOS works so stay there.

[Brahmzy]

A guy over on AMD.mb.com (PC Perspective) had problems as he flashed up into newer bios with this board. He is very experienced in building as was not overclocked.
He tried 3 different sets of RAM and kept getting random blue screens.

I am not getting the OC I have with my P5W DH nor the smoothness either.

I am thinking about dumping this board myself, due to the extensive issues I read on here plus my experience.

EYES I don't know what else to tell you to try, but the earlier BIOS works so stay there.

Wow - I JUST dumped my P5W DH for this board and I love this board SO much more. Higher OC, more stable, etc...

I'm wondering where all of this inconsistency is coming from? Maybe I had a crappy P5W? Maybe you have a crappy P5E?

I don't know.

C'mon ASUS! Help us out here.

[Brahmzy]

IMPORTANT:

Guys I don't know if you've taken your heatpipe setup off yet to reapply some real TIM, but I did as soon as I got mine. The board was freezing when I got it (15 degrees outside). I pulled the 4 screws off and the SB pins and the thing came right off - very cool (I've heard of people detroying their P5E's trying to "unstick" the heatpipe/heatsinkn stuff - stick it in the freezer for an hour before you try.

Anyway what I found was AWFUL - the NB only has slight contact on the 4 corners with the heatsink. There's NO WAY there could ever be adequate cooling of the NB on my board. So, I quickly lapped the NB and SB and the copper heatsink/heatpipe. I then applied some very good paste.

I wonder if this might be your issue - I wish I would have taken pictures of at least the NB contact - your jaws would hit the floor.

So far my P5E has been rock solid (granted my FSB isn't real high (only 378x9)) but this board has been real solid and I'm running my mem at 3:4.

Do me a favor and FIX the NB heatsink contact. LAP that S.O.B.

[Sparx]

Wow - I JUST dumped my P5W DH for this board and I love this board SO much more. Higher OC, more stable, etc...

I'm wondering where all of this inconsistency is coming from? Maybe I had a crappy P5W? Maybe you have a crappy P5E?

I don't know.

C'mon ASUS! Help us out here.

I don't know maybe you have a better P5E than I.
I can't fault the P5w DH for sure! Best board I ever had.

I just ran 3d01 at a reduced OC that it ran at fine yesterday and it froze. Who knows why- but I am getting tired.

When I see others having a variety of issues it does not set well with me.

Problem is where do I go from here gigabyte x38, ASUS P5K????
Maybe the x38 is a loser chipset???????????????????????????????
sparx

[Sparx]

IMPORTANT:

Guys I don't know if you've taken your heatpipe setup off yet to reapply some real TIM, but I did as soon as I got mine. The board was freezing when I got it (15 degrees outside). I pulled the 4 screws off and the SB pins and the thing came right off - very cool (I've heard of people detroying their P5E's trying to "unstick" the heatpipe/heatsinkn stuff - stick it in the freezer for an hour before you try.

Anyway what I found was AWFUL - the NB only has slight contact on the 4 corners with the heatsink. There's NO WAY there could ever be adequate cooling of the NB on my board. So, I quickly lapped the NB and SB and the copper heatsink/heatpipe. I then applied some very good paste.

I wonder if this might be your issue - I wish I would have taken pictures of at least the NB contact - your jaws would hit the floor.

So far my P5E has been rock solid (granted my FSB isn't real high (only 378x9)) but this board has been real solid and I'm running my mem at 3:4.

Do me a favor and FIX the NB heatsink contact. LAP that S.O.B.

I started to remove mine and quit when I saw so many traces near those PITA plastic toggle bolts for a lack of a better name. POS holders- how's that?

Anyway I got 56 year old eyes and still read the paper without specs, but those pins are small with traces so close and hard to release. I redid the TIM on my PH5 and your description does not shock me at all.

Why the heck do they go thru all the trouble to put these sinks on these boards with making poor contact with the components?

Your freezer comment is consistant with what I have heard in the past.
Maybe I run the puter in the freezer for a test?
sparx

[Brahmzy]

I started to remove mine and quit when I saw so many traces near those PITA plastic toggle bolts for a lack of a better name. POS holders- how's that?

Anyway I got 56 year old eyes and still read the paper without specs, but those pins are small with traces so close and hard to release. I redid the TIM on my PH5 and your description does not shock me at all.

Why the heck do they go thru all the trouble to put these sinks on these boards with making poor contact with the components?

Your freezer comment is consistant with what I have heard in the past.
Maybe I run the puter in the freezer for a test?
sparx

Haha!

As afar as the traces go, just get a small pair of needle nose and be gentle - pull hard on the pin, while you're squeezing the catches together with the pliers and they just pop out without any work.

I think the X38 is a great chipset, so far for me... I will find out what the thing is really capable of when my E8500 gets here and I have to go into high FSB territory. I hope I won't be disappointed, because I won't be able to return the board in January.

We'll see. Give it a shot so to speak.

[Sparx]

Haha!

As afar as the traces go, just get a small pair of needle nose and be gentle - pull hard on the pin, while you're squeezing the catches together with the pliers and they just pop out without any work.

I think the X38 is a great chipset, so far for me... I will find out what the thing is really capable of when my E8500 gets here and I have to go into high FSB territory. I hope I won't be disappointed, because I won't be able to return the board in January.

We'll see. Give it a shot so to speak.

Yes I have removed them in the past but not with so many traces around them, one slip and you have a bunch of open circuits.

Just got 3d01 to run and the scores are lower. I use 3d01 as a vcore test, if the vcore is too low 3d01 will let you know- an fail to complete.

I have about had it with this thing.
sparx

[Brahmzy]

I'm amazed you're only running 1.4Vcore. My (good) week27 E6600 takes 1.425V for 3.4GHz.
Also, what's you're NB voltage set at? I've heard the X38 barely needs any voltage compared to the 975x/P965 - I think I have mine on the first statically set option (1.20V?)

I also did the VDroop mod with a conductive pen - that may be a huge difference too.

[Sparx]

nb is 1.50