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

[Sparx]

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.

I did vdroop with pencil - where to get conductive pen?
Do you get 100% set voltage reading with your mod, I get about a .04v drop as read in the ASUS utility or set 1.40 read 1.36.
sparx

[Brahmzy]

Just trying lowering your NB volts as a test. Radio Shack has conductive pens. That is one small resistor lemme tell ya - had to use my 7MP camera on macro to check my work. To be honest, I haven't really checked the VCore other than monitoring them during idle and then hammering it with Orthos - no change whatsoever.

[Sparx]

Just trying lowering your NB volts as a test. Radio Shack has conductive pens. That is one small resistor lemme tell ya - had to use my 7MP camera on macro to check my work. To be honest, I haven't really checked the VCore other than monitoring them during idle and then hammering it with Orthos - no change whatsoever.

Ok Radio Shack
I set my Vcore at 1.400 reads out at 1.36 with the utility.
Question is does yours read as set in BIOS?

[kup]

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.

You did the vDroop mod with a conductive pen? Just a blob of ink on the SMD? How is your vDroop now? Usually people stay away from conductive pens/paint for mods because they allow too much through the circuit...but if this works better?

[Sparx]

You did the vDroop mod with a conductive pen? Just a blob of ink on the SMD? How is your vDroop now? Usually people stay away from conductive pens/paint for mods because they allow too much through the circuit...but if this works better?

I used to use window defroster fix-it liquid to close bridges on AMD cpus that were cut to prevent overclocking. Had younger eyes then.

[Brahmzy]

You did the vDroop mod with a conductive pen? Just a blob of ink on the SMD? How is your vDroop now? Usually people stay away from conductive pens/paint for mods because they allow too much through the circuit...but if this works better?

I have no VDroop now. I didn't have a 2B pencil on hand (only HB), so I decided to try my conductive pen and it's been rock solid. I of course disabled LoadLine option in BIOS. I haven't checked it with a mulitmeter (I have one, just don't know where to check it on the mobo )


Sparx - I have BIOS set to 1.425VCore and ProbeII shows 1.42VCore (can't display 3 after the decimal). I'd say things are right on.

Supposedly the dangers of the conductive pen are that a small overvoltage can occur, but at only 1.425 VCore, I'm far enough away from any danger zone. I usually never run more than 1.5VCore ever 24/7.

[kup]

I have no VDroop now. I didn't have a 2B pencil on hand (only HB), so I decided to try my conductive pen and it's been rock solid. I of course disabled LoadLine option in BIOS. I haven't checked it with a mulitmeter (I have one, just don't know where to check it on the mobo )


Sparx - I have BIOS set to 1.425VCore and ProbeII shows 1.42VCore (can't display 3 after the decimal). I'd say things are right on.

Did the pen ink cover the SMD from one end to the other? Use CPU-Z latest version, that'll read your vCore to 3 decimal places just fine...

[OrgnlPrankster7]

is Vdroop really that big of a problem on the p5e? i should have mine up and running tomorow and i would rather not use a pencil to fix it, maybee ill wait for asus to get there act together and fix the bios issues.

[Sparx]

I have no VDroop now. I didn't have a 2B pencil on hand (only HB), so I decided to try my conductive pen and it's been rock solid. I of course disabled LoadLine option in BIOS. I haven't checked it with a mulitmeter (I have one, just don't know where to check it on the mobo )


Sparx - I have BIOS set to 1.425VCore and ProbeII shows 1.42VCore (can't display 3 after the decimal). I'd say things are right on.

Supposedly the dangers of the conductive pen are that a small overvoltage can occur, but at only 1.425 VCore, I'm far enough away from any danger zone. I usually never run more than 1.5VCore ever 24/7.

Yes my graphite application is not as good a conductor as your pen, no surprise to me.
I am lowering FSB now and testing with 3d01 looping and things are not looking good.
I put a small fan on the NB, (i have one on my p5W Dh) to cool it better.
I have little patience with this board left.
I guess the P5wdh spoiled me.
IMO that conductive pen is the way to close a circuit.
sparx

[Brahmzy]

Yes my graphite application is not as good a conductor as your pen, no surprise to me.
I am lowering FSB now and testing with 3d01 looping and things are not looking good.
I put a small fan on the NB, (i have one on my p5W Dh) to cool it better.
I have little patience with this board left.
I guess the P5wdh spoiled me.
IMO that conductive pen is the way to close a circuit.
sparx

Yes - it does close the circuit. I don't know if that's a bad thing though quite yet.

CPU-Z shows 1.416V with BIOS set @ 1.425V

Sparx - I'm serious about disassembling the NB sink and lapping it all. It'd be a shame to give up on the board if that was the cause of some of the issues.

I really wish I would've taken a picture dangit! The P5W didn't have this issue really because the tiny die itself contacted the sink as you know. That said, I'll take the X38's heatspreader over that dang tiny ass 975X die. I remember being able to just barely touch the sink on my P5W andlock up my box completely. And that was with a lapped stock sink and/or an aftrmarket lapped NB cooler.

[Sparx]

Things are getting worse!
I have been trying to loop 3d01 as I mentioned. Dropped the speed to 350 and got a black screen. Would not run more than 10 minutes, normally have to get 12 hours to pass my test. A couple of days ago I ran Ortho for 12 hours!

So I cleared the CMOS and reset all bios and tried 350 x 9 again got a black screen

So I set it to 333 x9 tried again and now I have a bright frozen screen.
I wonder if the 8800gtx is causing this?
What PITA $550.00 for a video card $230.00 for a MB and it cannot run one pass of 3d01 @2996 or 3.0 let's call it.

sparx

[Brahmzy]

Yikes - something defintely doesn't sound right at all there.

I'd RMA your board if you still can, get a brand new one and mod it like I did. I still have faith in this board.

Either that or swap for an Maximus Formula - just stick with the X38 though.

Kinda wish I went with Max Form, but I'm not having issues here so I'll wait it out.

[DJBUDDY]

can somebody plz tell me which bios is the most stable and has least amount of problems, currently running 203 and have few cold boots and few lock up issues and few errors on memtest

[Sparx]

Yikes - something defintely doesn't sound right at all there.

I'd RMA your board if you still can, get a brand new one and mod it like I did. I still have faith in this board.

Either that or swap for an Maximus Formula - just stick with the X38 though.

Kinda wish I went with Max Form, but I'm not having issues here so I'll wait it out.

It is getting worse.
I cannot run 2 loops of 3dMarks01 with it set 333 x 9. I have set everything conservative and even put a fan blowing on the video card.
The graphics card temps are 72C load 66C idle I think that is within spec.

I don't know what the heck is up here, motherboard, video card or both.
I doubt it is the RAM.

I guess I could put my 8800 gtS in there and test again, think I would have to replace the drivers.
I was going to try 300 x 9 but there is no need at this point.

This stinks for sure.
sparx

[WeldZilla]

Well I just got it put together today!! It took some time to figure some things out and it was a bit of a pain in the ass but, I am getting it now. I was to used to my P5W. With my old P5W my q6600 topped out at 3600 and after just a little tweeking my Q6600 is at 3807mhz. That was just part of the getting to know you phase. Now I'm can start to get after it!!
Here is a shot of where I am at now. I am using the bios that was on the board. the107 I believe.


I will tweek away as soon as possible!!

WZ

[Brahmzy]

Very nice indeed. That's why I dumped my P5W - great board, but memory management and high FSB aren't it's strength. Still a faster board, clock for clock than anything out yet.

Great work!

[eyes.only]

It is getting worse.
I cannot run 2 loops of 3dMarks01 with it set 333 x 9. I have set everything conservative and even put a fan blowing on the video card.
The graphics card temps are 72C load 66C idle I think that is within spec.

I don't know what the heck is up here, motherboard, video card or both.
I doubt it is the RAM.

I guess I could put my 8800 gtS in there and test again, think I would have to replace the drivers.
I was going to try 300 x 9 but there is no need at this point.

This stinks for sure.
sparx

Maybe same bios problem that I have?
Flash back to 0107 or do a memtest86 in dos.
You see errors allmost instantly.

[Skyline GT-R]

Dunno if it's posted already, but a new BIOS is out for P5E.


Version 0405 2007/11/30 update
Description P5E BIOS 0405
1. Fix system freezes if been interrupted by USB devices before entering S3
2. Enable support for N/2 Ratio option
3. Fix system may not boot with total of 4GB of ECC DIMM when enabling Memory Remapping option in BIOS

[eyes.only]

Dunno if it's posted already, but a new BIOS is out for P5E.


Version 0405 2007/11/30 update
Description P5E BIOS 0405
1. Fix system freezes if been interrupted by USB devices before entering S3
2. Enable support for N/2 Ratio option
3. Fix system may not boot with total of 4GB of ECC DIMM when enabling Memory Remapping option in BIOS

Yeah, but vcore voltage is F*ked.
Starts with 2.6 volts

[Skyline GT-R]

Hmm then i'm staying with 0107

[eyes.only]

Hmm then i'm staying with 0107

Did you try any other bioses yet?
Got the same mem as mine!

[Skyline GT-R]

Did you try any other bioses yet?
Got the same mem as mine!

Nope, as long as they say 0107 is the most stable BIOS, why should I try another? My pc is very stable atm and soon I'm going to find out what's the max of my old Conroe (stupid stock cooler atm, still need to mount my Zalman, but I have exams atm )

[Brahmzy]

One of these weeks I think ASUS will give a great BIOS!

[Brama]

Yeah, but vcore voltage is F*ked.
Starts with 2.6 volts

....and any voltage you type as DDR2 voltage, you lock your keyboard and only CTRL-ALT-DEL is working.

I am astonished....do they check the BIOS in a real MB or what?

[Brama]

One of these weeks I think ASUS will give a great BIOS!

Yes, it will be out on December 25th, January or April 1st