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

[Kilyin]

So the general consensus with this board is to enable DRAM Static Read Control for better performance? I've left the Transaction Booster on auto. The one time I tried tweaking it my board wouldn't post.

That matrix RAID stuff is sick. I read about it awhile ago briefly, and it sounded complicated to setup vs. traditional RAID. But now that I've done more research it seems fairly simple. Just wish I could implement it without doing a complete reinstall.

[jakku]

Hello,

My mashine is:

Intel E8400
Corsair Dominator DDR1066 2GB
Corsair Dominator AirFlow Extra Cooling.
Asus 8800GT TOP
Seagate Baracuda 500GB 7200.11 32MB
Corsair HX620W PSU.

So I don't know which one take motherboard. I think about ASUS P5K-E/WiFi or P5K Premium/WiFi-AP BP. I use this PC for overclocking...

[ReverendMaynard]

Strap 266 at 9x423 CAS4 and CAS5 + strap 266 at 8x475 CAS5 are there in the table of my post. You maybe missed them
I used 9x423 instead of 425FSB beacause all tests are at 3.8GHz for same processor speed comparisions

I saw it in the table but the info wasn't filled in, sorry if I overlooked it.

Where my results close to what you got?

[ReverendMaynard]

Good name I am off to Val d'isere for a week to try and break a leg - when I get back I expect to see posts about your incredibly fast matrix RAID setup.

Have fun

Hopefully by the time you get back, I'll have grown a sack and killed my current perfectly functional operating system in the name of retarded performance.

[jonny_ftm]

I saw it in the table but the info wasn't filled in, sorry if I overlooked it.

Where my results close to what you got?

They are very close to the last column of my table. The memory Read performance is a bit better in your case, but with 25MHz better clocks on the quadcore it could help, as the difference is small. On the other hand, I got a much worst latency than yours that could not be explained by the overclocked CPU.

I don't really plan to test again though, as the 8x475 is stable for me

Hello,

My mashine is:

Intel E8400
Corsair Dominator DDR1066 4GB
Corsair Dominator AirFlow Extra Cooling.
Asus 8800GT TOP
Seagate Baracuda 500GB 7200.11 32MB
Corsair HX620W PSU.

So I don't know which one take motherboard. I think about ASUS P5K-E/WiFi or P5K Premium/WiFi-AP BP. I use this PC for overclocking...

On a C2D, the P5K-E will be more than enough, and less expensive. If you plan to move to a quadcore and OC it, it could limit you

[ReverendMaynard]

They are very close to the last column of my table. The memory Read performance is a bit better in your case, but with 25MHz better clocks on the quadcore it could help, as the difference is small. On the other hand, I got a much worst latency than yours that could not be explained by the overclocked CPU.

In fact, my 425x9 1066 looks quite similar to your 475x8 1187 tests albeit with marginally lower read performance. Interesting...

Maybe it's not really worth pushing the FSB and creating that extra heat for nothing.

[jonny_ftm]

In fact, my 425x9 1066 looks quite similar to your 475x8 1187 tests albeit with marginally lower read performance. Interesting...

Maybe it's not really worth pushing the FSB and creating that extra heat for nothing.

It's a real debate. In most tests, low multi/high FSB has in fact no real world application improvement over high multi/lowFSB. The memory latency does have, though, depending on applications.
That's why I preferred a lower memory frequency with a CAS4 (8x475, 950MHz memory)
I'm lucky I can push the FSB without extra heat (9x425 and 8x475 give me same temperatures on the CPU and system) nor extra voltage. Maybe having active cooling on the NB and RAM helps, so I go for the 475 FSB

[ReverendMaynard]

ahh mine is completely passive except for the cpu loop, probably holding me back big time.

[zoob]

EDIT: Looks like CPU is a goner..nevermind..

[Shocky]

One thing is buggng after upgrading to this motherboard is my 8800GTX makes a constant buzz and the pitch increases when I play games, very irritating.

[ReverendMaynard]

it's the card problem...not the motherboard. My card does the same thing and from what I've seen it's not rare. My 2 3870's never did it, nor did my old 8800GTS 640. I think it's a loose coil that vibrates when it gets hot.

[Shocky]

it's the card problem...not the motherboard. My card does the same thing and from what I've seen it's not rare. My 2 3870's never did it, nor did my old 8800GTS

640. I think it's a loose coil that vibrates when it gets hot.

Interesting, but why do I hear only after installing this motherboard? did it loosen during install ??

EDIT, new problem, removed card to tidy up some cables but now after reinstalling the 8800GTX I just noticed theres a red light next to it? what is this for? I tried a few games and everything seems fine other then the persistant buzzing of course.

[ReverendMaynard]

Interesting, but why do I hear only after installing this motherboard? did it loosen during install ??

EDIT, new problem, removed card to tidy up some cables but now after reinstalling the 8800GTX I just noticed theres a red light next to it? what is this for? I tried a few games and everything seems fine other then the persistant buzzing of course.

on the motherboard itself? I'm not sure, but if it plays games fine then it's not a problem. The sound is a piss off though, but I game with head phones on so I don't hear it.

[Tarowah]

I am really pissed at Asus right now, I sent my board back because of the SATA issues and because I get a nasty buzz on my headphones when I plug them into the USB for power, I used 3 PSU's with this board and it still makes the noise, I can plug the headphones into any of the other 5 computers in my house and they work fine but not with this board.


So after 10 days sitting with no gaming rig I get a box with the board wrapped in an anti static bag with nothing else, no word as to what they did to it or if they even did anything at all so I call Asus and the guy tells me "you had a bad bios flash, so they reflashed the bios" umm WTF!!?!?!??!!!??! 10 days for you to reflash the bios when I wasnt having any bios issues??? The board still has SATA issues, no other HD's but Seagates will work with it and the buzz is still is there, OUTSTANDING !!! Asus.

[Shocky]

on the motherboard itself? I'm not sure, but if it plays games fine then it's not a problem. The sound is a piss off though, but I game with head phones on so I don't hear it.

Yep, just above the PCIE slot, only thing which comes to mind is the Asus slot selector, but i've tried installing it a few times now and manual suggests the cards not installed currectly yet I can run games fine.

Anyone know a way to turn this thing off? it'sslghtly hard to ignore when the system is right next to me with window.

[wilson]

Here`s a quick one for ya.
Is it better to run @ 400 x 9 or 450 x 8 ??.
I seem to get better benchmarks in everest with my ram as my fsb is higher but is dropping the multi not causing the cpu to run slower !!!

[w2richwood]

bench it both ways and see which gives you a better score
Rich

[antsh]

Interesting, but why do I hear only after installing this motherboard? did it loosen during install ??

EDIT, new problem, removed card to tidy up some cables but now after reinstalling the 8800GTX I just noticed theres a red light next to it? what is this for? I tried a few games and everything seems fine other then the persistant buzzing of course.

Red light means that the card in that slot is not properly seated. Take another look at the card and make sure its all the way in the slot. This happened to me before with a 8800GTS, didn't affect anything, but sure enough it wasn't seated properly.

[Shocky]

Red light means that the card in that slot is not properly seated. Take another look at the card and make sure its all the way in the slot. This happened to me before with a 8800GTS, didn't affect anything, but sure enough it wasn't seated properly.

8800GTX has been RMA'ed, the high pitched buzz was too much for me, red lights gone with my old 7800GTX though, hopefully replacement will be buzz free.

[jonny_ftm]

Here`s a quick one for ya.
Is it better to run @ 400 x 9 or 450 x 8 ??.
I seem to get better benchmarks in everest with my ram as my fsb is higher but is dropping the multi not causing the cpu to run slower !!!

Will depend on the memory devider you use
CPU performance won't decrease, but the intercore communication increases in benchmarks on higher FSB. Again, this is benchmarking things...

FSB 400 will maybe give you better memory timings and lower vDDR, so really better to try both

[fng77]

Hi Guys!

I orderd a e8400 the other day. Anybody experienced any issues with P5k Premium and 45nm cpu:s?

I´ve heard that the latest bios (504) should work fine, am I right?

[bradpit999]

Mine had the 302 BIOS and would not fire up with a 45nm CPU

had to put an older E6420 in and flash it to 504 for the E8400 to be recognised



P5k Premium
E8400

[fng77]

[QUOTE=bradpit999;2827705]Mine had the 302 BIOS and would not fire up with a 45nm CPU

had to put an older E6420 in and flash it to 504 for the E8400 to be recognised


Yes, I heard thats a problem. Experienced any other issuses since you migrated to 504 and 8400?

[bradpit999]

had 3 asus boards last one was P5B Delux and that one was flakey and unstable no matter what i did at 400FSB this on the

P5K Premium seems buletproof and just accepts whatever setting i put in and it boots up

extremly impressed

[w2richwood]

this has been a very solid board from day one guess i'll try 0504 when i get a e8400 dont want to push my luck
Rich