[18th Anniversary] Asus Black Pearl - P5k-Premium Testing Report

[Biker]

Anything to report on the new bios? Has anybody flashed to it yet?

Yes!

.... check my progress here

Samsung F1 drives working in ACHI, anyone?

[OverCloke]

How i can downgrade?

The AFUDOS and EZFLASH say me the 404 bios is old than 504 and cant flash...

Thanks!

[TinTin]

For 504 BIOS,

Added N/2 divider, I checked with my 8400ES, it works
400Strap added, it works and I boot into windows, but I want opening memset, but bluescreen
CPU voltage damper becomes Loadline calibration, still works
ram timings summary showing on top looks like P5E series style

now blending with 500X8.5, DDR1200 CL5-5-5-9, seems still work good!!!

need to push it more higher to see it would still be good!?

[OverCloke]

With the new bios i have memory problems. Without overclock and memory with factoty voltaje(2V for Gskill 2x2Gb PC8000) in memtest for windows have errors... In bios 404 i dont have any problem...

What is the problem?

[TinTin]

With the new bios i have memory problems. Without overclock and memory with factoty voltaje(2V for Gskill 2x2Gb PC8000) in memtest for windows have errors... In bios 404 i dont have any problem...

What is the problem?

It seems that BIOS overclocks ram poor than 402 and 404, when my ram overclocked over DDR1350, before booting in windows, it said window corrupted, but it did DDR1400 at BIOS 402.

[OverCloke]

It seems that BIOS overclocks ram poor than 402 and 404, when my ram overclocked over DDR1350, before booting in windows, it said window corrupted, but it did DDR1400 at BIOS 402.

P35 have a problem with rams XDD.

I need flash to 404 version... Anyone know how i can do it? i try afudos 2.09 version and frezze in advanced check...other versions say me is older than system bios...

HELP! xD

[TinTin]

P35 have a problem with rams XDD.

I need flash to 404 version... Anyone know how i can do it? i try afudos 2.09 version and frezze in advanced check...other versions say me is older than system bios...

HELP! xD

successfully reverted back to 404, using this together with Asus Liveupdate
(1) load the BIOS with Asus Update as usual, remember click "downgrade" option in Asus Update Option
(2) Load the file I uploaded
(3) click the leftmost button
(4) the update button should be un-greyed, then click update, otherwise, repeat Step (3)
(5) after update successfuly, switch off the computer and clear the CMOS as usual

[OverCloke]

successfully reverted back to 404, using this together with Asus Liveupdate
(1) load the BIOS with Asus Update as usual, remember click "downgrade" option in Asus Update Option
(2) Load the file I uploaded
(3) click the leftmost button
(4) the update button should be un-greyed, then click update, otherwise, repeat Step (3)
(5) after update successfuly, switch off the computer and clear the CMOS as usual

OMG!! Thanks! I love you! :P I do it successfully! With this bios and the same bios config i dont have any error with memtest for windows(This--> http://hcidesign.com/memtest/ ) with oc and without oc....

My memory is Gskill PC8000 2x2Gb ("oced" 950 Mhz 5-5-5-15 2V-->with 404 4 complete past 0 error----> with 504 2 seconds of test ...error...)

Sorry about my english men,im spanish....

[Fearlessleader]

I am getting ready to flash my bios now on my P5K P. I have been
following this thread for a bit and I was wondering now should I flash
to 404 now or go right to 504. I am using raid cards for all my arrays
so the raid issues don't mean a whole lota to me at this time
I just need the bios that overclocks the best with the least troubles
and seems to have the best stability. I want to do some testing with a e6850 ES also if that matters.
Your opinions would be greatly appreciated

TIA

[holwill]

Well I saw no benefit going to 402 from 202 and as I am still running a Q6600 there is no need to upgrade as everything works fine for me. No AHCI problems etc!

[sesdave]

I am getting ready to flash my bios now on my P5K P. I have been
following this thread for a bit and I was wondering now should I flash
to 404 now or go right to 504. I am using raid cards for all my arrays
so the raid issues don't mean a whole lota to me at this time
I just need the bios that overclocks the best with the least troubles
and seems to have the best stability. I want to do some testing with a e6850 ES also if that matters.
Your opinions would be greatly appreciated

TIA

0404 very stable for me with my q6600.- some extra volt setting on PPL from 0202. I never had any SATA disk issues and still dont. Also ran it with an e6850 at 3.6 on stock volts - not ES. Would boot upto 495x8 with more volts but not prime stable although I didnt try very hard. Make sure u use ezflash and a usb drive - I would avoid Asus update as there are loads of MB that flashes have failed on using it. It did for my P5K deluxe but probably because I hadnt reset the overclocks to default. Always safest to flash outside of the operating system. Following this set of instructions may look like overkill but should keep you safe http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=314

[Fearlessleader]

0404 very stable for me with my q6600.- some extra volt setting on PPL from 0202. I never had any SATA disk issues and still dont. Also ran it with an e6850 at 3.6 on stock volts - not ES. Would boot upto 495x8 with more volts but not prime stable although I didnt try very hard. Make sure u use ezflash and a usb drive - I would avoid Asus update as there are loads of MB that flashes have failed on using it. It did for my P5K deluxe but probably because I hadnt reset the overclocks to default. Always safest to flash outside of the operating system. Following this set of instructions may look like overkill but should keep you safe http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=314

Well I had a long night last night till 6am this morning, Phuuu!! Flashing this bios was a drag to say the least!!! and to tell the truth not worth it for me. I could NOT use a AFUDOS because the bios was to big for a floppy and I could not get my bios to see my flash drive as bootable or see it at all to use ezFlash. So here was where I did my first hail mary, and pulled my cmos bat. cleared it gave the beer break wait and did a minimal set up just to get back into Vista 64. and flashed from there from file.
I still have a long way to go because I did a hail mary boot after I finally got the bios in and back to the settings I thought were close to my old setting as my OC profile was not working with the new bios. Here was where it really started to s*ck!! I corrupted my OS. That was enough for me and to BED I went.
Now today, I have my OS back on and have been trying to dial this thing back to normal with little luck I may add I seemed to have gained 10c on my CPU temp and lost some performance in benchmark test too. I have not added any Vcore just added my Memory timmings and voltage back to 2.2 and it seems stable in prime @FSB350 X9 cpu Multi giving 3.15 GHZ. I have had little luck getting my memory up to speed yet but I am still working on it.
I know my water cooling system is not up to par but I have been looking for a replacement, I would think I could see my e6600@3.6 on even a poor water cool setup? But its fighting me tooth and nail. I also would think a few volts here and there and I should see a good clock but somehow not with CPU temps pushing 65C with nothing added yet. I must be missing something? I just have to get the temp back down before I can think about a overnight prime test yet.

Any advice would be great.
Thanks again

[sesdave]

Well I had a long night last night till 6am this morning, Phuuu!! Flashing this bios was a drag to say the least!!! and to tell the truth not worth it for me. I could NOT use a AFUDOS because the bios was to big for a floppy and I could not get my bios to see my flash drive as bootable or see it at all to use ezFlash.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks again

I also noticed that my CPU temp reported 10c higher than 0402 did with 0404 but I am only concerned with Copretemps which were reported the same - running 33c on my Q6600 idle air 60c load. Using PC Wizard to report temps. My old E6600 on a P5W DH used to need BIOS settings of vcore 1.5v (vdroop was higher than premium) FSB =1.3, NB=1.55,SB=1.2 to run 400x9. That idled 46c load 60c lapped with an Arctic Freezer Pro with AS5. I now use MX-2 as no cure time. Check your HS seating - if 65c is the Core load temp that seems high for water cooling at the speed your running at. A lot of the E6600 weren't capable of 3.6 whatever the volts - from what I remember they did run pretty hot as you pumped the volts up!. I would also run T2 until you get your o/c stable .

[mrQQ]

has anyone noticed that when set to "auto" cpu voltage jumped from 1.312 to 1.368 from 0404 to 0504??!

[Fearlessleader]

This utility to make you USB bootable for future flashes should help ease the pain http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...X-UNITY-I23839
I also noticed that my CPU temp reported 10c higher than 0402 did with 0404 but I am only concerned with Copretemps which were reported the same - running 33c on my Q6600 idle air 60c load. Using PC Wizard to report temps. My old E6600 on a P5W DH used to need BIOS settings of vcore 1.5v (vdroop was higher than premium) FSB =1.3, NB=1.55,SB=1.2 to run 400x9. That idled 46c load 60c lapped with an Arctic Freezer Pro with AS5. I now use MX-2 as no cure time. Check your HS seating - if 65c is the Core load temp that seems high for water cooling at the speed your running at. A lot of the E6600 weren't capable of 3.6 whatever the volts - from what I remember they did run pretty hot as you pumped the volts up!. I would also run T2 until you get your o/c stable .

Thanks For the link (Sesdave) I installed coretemp now also as I am using vista 64 I did not really want to deal with that F8 option boot to disable driver signing thing, but I did it anyway so I could prime test last night. WAAHHH HOOO ! STABLE!! My temp with core temp fully loaded was about 60C and Idle temp is at about 32C.

Oh ya PCmark 6 did 10900 I am not reall sure yet if thats good and I have not done softside sandra bandwith test yet but when I get all the test in and finish up tweaking I will post them.

The one thing is I am sure, the TT tribe unit is a childs toy not a real water system the pump is one of the slowest units TT ever made and the rad is no great thing either the only reason I bought it was I got it last year when I was OC,ing my AMD sandy core and it was on closeout for $40 after a rebate. Since the unit served me well but its days are numbered and the water block is OK but again 1/4 lines? Yuck !

I am using Zalman grease and did reset the water block on the cpu once and did see that helped. I think the grease had somehow settled over the year since I used it, so I gave it a stir with a toothpick, re-applyed and it seemed to work much better after that. I want to try The liqiud metal stuff next when I set up my new cooling and lap the CPU.

I have not been using T1 timings yet in this bios and have added no voltage and feel sure with good cooling and some added voltage here and there I should see some great results with this chip revision B2 Stepping 6 . I believe B2 chips have done pretty well. My CPU Voltage seems right dead @1.3 on auto. I am sure that a 1 GHZ overclock is sure with nothing more to do but a bump more in FSB but I will withhold from that untill better cooling is installed.

P5K p Vdroop whats that? *lol* the best thing about this board is thats all but history it may be a pain in the arse to work the bugs out on this thing but its the king of Vcore damping.


Again Thanks big time for your help!!!
This Forum Rocks I mostly sandbagged here in the past because my last system was not so Extreme.

[sesdave]

Thanks For the link (Sesdave) I installed coretemp now also as I am using vista 64 I did not really want to deal with that F8 option boot to disable driver signing thing, but I did it anyway so I could prime test last night. WAAHHH HOOO ! STABLE!! My temp with core temp fully loaded was about 60C and Idle temp is at about 32C.

Again Thanks big time for your help!!!
This Forum Rocks I mostly sandbagged here in the past because my last system was not so Extreme.

Glad you made progress. The MB really shows its stuff best with a Q6600 though. Be suprised if you make 3.6 on an E6600 with less than 1.45v - things must have improved since I had one-lol! I wouldnt bother with the liquid pro - really messy to get on and off for little gain if any over latest non conductive pastes. Check them out instead - especially with a water block. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...postcount=1831. Do a razor check on the CPU before you consider lapping - if its not concave and flat already its probably not worth the effort lapping . Try PCwizard for displaying temps - no F8 driversigning problems. Its neat and displays more than coretemps on screen when minimised. http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

[Fearlessleader]

Glad you made progress. The MB really shows its stuff best with a Q6600 though. Be suprised if you make 3.6 on an E6600 with less than 1.45v - things must have improved since I had one-lol! I wouldnt bother with the liquid pro - really messy to get on and off for little gain if any over latest non conductive pastes. Check them out instead - especially with a water block. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...postcount=1831. Do a razor check on the CPU before you consider lapping - if its not concave and flat already its probably not worth the effort lapping . Try PCwizard for displaying temps - no F8 driversigning problems. Its neat and displays more than coretemps on screen when minimised. http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

I think this board and chip still have a bit more to offer and as I test I will glad to give my findings. I don't really think the Q6600 can bring anything more to the table because it's really the same core, just 2 more of them on one die. Which means more heat!! and I need to do some testing with the E6850 chip first but I think the same will hold true faster cores often have less headroom or little more to gain. I at least saw this with this board already with a e6700 that I have tested too. It seemed to me both where being limited only by my cooling solution not the board or memory. Heat has been the only reason I did not push any one of the chips more that I have so far.


I will give that Grease a try. The price is cheap enough, the Zalman I am using is real good but I have a feeling that it just got old and seperated and settled. So I thought to give something else a try, so this sounds good.

I really liked Coretemp they just need to get the driver signed to make it great. I like real simple program for simple tasks. Speedfan was nice and I still use it now for just every day use and keep in mind how much its off. I will try the PCwizard too.

I will check the cpu with a straight edge for flat but I just thought that the polished surface helped too. Also it don't cost much but a bit of time and every little bit helps. That was why I thought lap the block the cpu and use the liquid pro, If I get 2C for each thing I just get 6c cooler. Just my 2 cents

[sesdave]

I think this board and chip still have a bit more to offer and as I test I will glad to give my findings. I will check the cpu with a straight edge for flat but I just thought that the polished surface helped too. Also it don't cost much but a bit of time and every little bit helps. That was why I thought lap the block the cpu and use the liquid pro, If I get 2C for each thing I just get 6c cooler. Just my 2 cents

Dont disagree and the MB will be good for some time yet - I still have an E6850 but 4 cores better than 2 going forward - it wont just be for video rendering/editing - future games are going to be designed around multithreading. They give out a fair bit of heat when o/c but not any more than the E6600 from my experience. They need less volts for higher o/c and thats with 4 cores. The GO's are achieving 3.6 on air as the norm with around 1.4v or less with some going to 4.0GHz with later batches of GO SLACRs. Check out this thread for overclocking experiences if you are tempted cos they are cheap http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=152603
If you are going to lap heres a nice guide - http://www.thetechrepository.com/sho...hlight=lapping
but I am sure you must have done it on the opterons unless you were popping the IHS . Flat not shiny is the primary objective -its just looks prettier after all that elbow grease as I found out -lol! Worth reading the rest of www.thetechrepository.com as it has alot of useful info - like running MBM5 under vista x64. If you have nothing else to do this is fun for improving disk resilience/performance http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=467848 . A lot of people discovered they had a AHCI/RAID problem on the premium with the ICH9 controller - I was lucky as my board doesnt. If you are already running AHCI it should be fine to try this.

[Fearlessleader]

. A lot of people discovered they had a AHCI/RAID problem on the premium with the ICH9 controller - I was lucky as my board doesnt. If you are already running AHCI it should be fine to try this.

I don't have the raid problem. I just use my one lonley Raptor for my OS and 2 arrays wit PCI Cards. Hardware is getting to the point you can not depend on it and onboard raid is useless when the board goes down or you want to make a change most time your raid data will be a loss. The way I do it, no problem take the card the raid and put it where ever you go. I whould not for any reason ever be use onboard raid. I would like to see them do away with all that onboard junk they put on nowdays, its all low quality stuff anyway losy sound cards. If onboard video was never any good what make anyone think onboard raid is any better or onboard sound. All that onboard stuff does is work the southbridge and northbidge to death I never thought I would see a day I would think to add cooling to my south bridge *ROFL*

Hay Sesdave gotta Run man if I don't get my wifes PC back up today she will kick my backside Just got her RMA'ed MSI P35 Back the Fedex guy was just here.
I finish this when I get some time She"s cracking the whip

Later
Peace Out

[situman]

Is this board PCI-E 2.0 compliant? Anybody know? Thanks.

[sesdave]

I don't have the raid problem.
Hay Sesdave gotta Run man if I don't get my wifes PC back up today she will kick my backside Just got her RMA'ed MSI P35 Back the Fedex guy was just here.
I finish this when I get some time She"s cracking the whip

Later
Peace Out

Forgot you had RAID cards - rock on! I also know who runs this house and it aint me-lol!

[sesdave]

Is this board PCI-E 2.0 compliant? Anybody know? Thanks.

Unless I am mistaken I believe all P35 chipset MB are PCI-E 1.1 - you have to go X38 for PCI-E 2.0. Should be nothing to stop u using a 2.0 card you just wont get the benefit of the increased transfer bandwidth for what its worth..

[Supertim0r]

I killed my board trying to downgrade my bios

[Fearlessleader]

I killed my board trying to downgrade my bios

I think thats a RMA too last I knew the Bios is soldered in on ASUS boards.
I did see some great tips. Did you pull the bios Bat. and wait 15 Min. and put the bat back in to see if it would boot? What happen a bit more detail and ,maybe someone can help?

Sorry to hear it.

[Supertim0r]

I've tried everything

The fans are spinning for 5-6sec, no post, computer shut off and repeat (5-6sec fans spinning no post, switch off...)

(crappy asus) RMA time