ASUS P5Q-E (P45) pre-view

[Wiggy McShades]

i haven't tired for max fsb yet but will eventually. how's your E7200 paired with this board?

Ill be getting my board and cpu Monday I'm hoping to get at least near the results you got 3.8ghz would be sick in my opinion. Coming from a phenom almost any half decent overclock will probably seem fast to me.

[mathewgx]

What is the maximum safe value for the cpu pll voltage , for a q6600 ?

[Leeghoofd]

I would say 1.6 mate, some mention 1.7 for 65nm but that's too scary for me for 24/7

[Etihtsarom]

P5Q-E 1003 bios works fine here :

P5Q-E-ASUS-1003.rar

Thanks Will try it out today. My P35 MSI Platinum was able to do 4.2Ghz with the 8400+4Ghz Ballistix. This board better be able to do that as well.

[wongnog]

Hey everyone. I am having trouble running my 2x2gb OCZ Platinum XTC memory (OCZ2P10004GK) past its rated DDR2-1000 speed. My setup is a Q6600 (G0 stepping) using beta bios 1101 on the P5Q-E motherboard, and can run 24hr prime95 stable at 9x380. On a 4:5 divider, I am memtest stable running at DDR2-950. But on a 3:4 divider, I get constant errors on Test 5 running at DDR2-1013. Here are some of my bios settings:

FSB Strap to North Bridge: Auto
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Timing: 5-5-5-18, row refresh cycle time 55

DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
DRAM Read Training: Auto
MEM. OC Charger: Auto
AI Clock Twister: Auto
AI Transaction Booster: Manual
Common Performance Level: 10
All Pull-Ins: Disabled

CPU Voltage: 1.38750 V
All CPU GTL Voltage Reference: Auto
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.60
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.20 (default)
DRAM Voltage: 2.10
NB Voltage: 1.10 (default)
NB GTL Reference: Auto
SBridge Voltage: Auto
PCIE SATA Voltage: Auto

Load Lice Calibration: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
CPU Clock Skew: Normal
NB Clock Skew: Normal

Advanced CPU Settings: All Disabled except SpeedStep

[Leeghoofd]

Hey everyone. I am having trouble running my 2x2gb OCZ Platinum XTC memory (OCZ2P10004GK) past its rated DDR2-1000 speed. My setup is a Q6600 (G0 stepping) using beta bios 1101 on the P5Q-E motherboard, and can run 24hr prime95 stable at 9x380. On a 4:5 divider, I am memtest stable running at DDR2-950. But on a 3:4 divider, I get constant errors on Test 5 running at DDR2-1013. Here are some of my bios settings:

FSB Strap to North Bridge: Auto
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Timing: 5-5-5-18, row refresh cycle time 55

DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
DRAM Read Training: Auto
MEM. OC Charger: Auto
AI Clock Twister: Auto --> Try lighter
AI Transaction Booster: Manual
Common Performance Level: 10
All Pull-Ins: Disabled

CPU Voltage: 1.38750 V
All CPU GTL Voltage Reference: Auto
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.60
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.20 (default) --> up to 1.3
DRAM Voltage: 2.10 --> Lower 2.0
NB Voltage: 1.10 (default) --> up to 1.26
NB GTL Reference: Auto
SBridge Voltage: Auto
PCIE SATA Voltage: Auto

Load Lice Calibration: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
CPU Clock Skew: Normal --> AUTO
NB Clock Skew: Normal --> AUTO

Advanced CPU Settings: All Disabled except SpeedStep

try these plz... if no go up Vcore to 1.4 or even 1.42 to test... it doesn't always have to be the ram that's faulty...

[NBF]

3:4 divider don't work well with my Q6600 too.

I have this:
400fsb - DDR1066 (3:4) not stable
425fsb - DDR1066 (4:5) stable

Try Leeghoofd tips, if it doesn't work you may try to use 8 multiplier and higher fsb to avoid the 3:4 divider.

[wongnog]

Thanks for the tips guys. I tried Leeghoofd's settings, also increased VCore to 1.4 and 1.425 V but memtest would still fail test 5 within the first pass or two. I'll try your suggestion NBF, although I did try 400x8 once but got immediate Prime95 failures so decided to stick with 380x9. I'll try again with Leeghoofd's voltage suggestions next. Right now I'm running memtest at DDR2-950 again to confirm it might be the divider.

[wongnog]

Okay so now when I underclock my ram to DDR2-950, I get memtest errors in Test 7. I'm going to raise Vdimm back to 2.10 V and test, since that's what my RAM is rated at.

[Zeus]

It could be your NB being not stable as well, not just the mem.

Try increasing NB voltage a tad or lowering PL (tRD).

[JH_man]

Any more info on the 'Raptor boot'-problem?..

JH_man

[Seanie's Show]

Recently got one of these boards myself too, first thing I did was falsh the bios to the lastest offical one, 0802, just downloaded it to my lappy, and stuck it on a USB stick, then flashed using the bios tool easyflash, thats one tool I do love about ASUS boards.

Anyway I know roughly my CPU will max out around the 4.25ghz mark, so im currently running this board at 500fsb, on a 333mhz strap, with Mem sitting comfy at 1000mhz and the CPU divider on 8.5, all voltages are on stock/auto, except the CPU voltage (1.4375v) and my Mem voltage (2.0v), temp wise, the board/NB is nice and cool, RAM is a bit toasty and prolly will need a fan over it (thats Crucial Ballistix for you) and the CPU, well its priming at the mo, but you can see from the screenie the temps.

[wongnog]

It could be your NB being not stable as well, not just the mem.

Try increasing NB voltage a tad or lowering PL (tRD).

I have increased NB to 1.40V, also increased VCore to 1.40V but fail memtest test #5 at DDR2-950 (4:5 divider). I'll try testing each stick separately next I couldn't find PL (tRD) in the bios anywhere though.

[NBF]

I have increased NB to 1.40V, also increased VCore to 1.40V but fail memtest test #5 at DDR2-950 (4:5 divider). I'll try testing each stick separately next I couldn't find PL (tRD) in the bios anywhere though.

There are this lines in BIOS

AI Transaction Booster: Manual
Common Performance Level: 10
All Pull-Ins: Disabled

Common Performance Level stands for PL(tRD)

With 4:5 divider and ~400fsb, you should be able to set 7 or 8 (try 8 first)

[wongnog]

Thanks I'll give that a try. Some of these settings like PL I have never heard of before getting this mobo so I don't know how to interpret them. All I know is the manual says higher Performance Level = higher compatability, so how does lowering PL from 10 help?

[Seanie's Show]

Thanks I'll give that a try. Some of these settings like PL I have never heard of before getting this mobo so I don't know how to interpret them. All I know is the manual says higher Performance Level = higher compatability, so how does lowering PL from 10 help?

Higher Performance Level = higher compatability / Better Stability yes, ie like if your having trouble get your mem stable, set the PL higher than 10, Lower Performance Level = Higher Performance, like 7, 8 or 9. only trouble I find with the lower PL's is you have to literaly whack all your voltages up alot higher to keep things stable, a few years back I would of proceeded to do that, but now I just want a semi overclocked machine, 100% stable, without having to test 24/7/365, and loads of noisey fans inside my case alternatly trying to cool everything from the extra voltage, currently im at PL 12.

[wongnog]

Higher Performance Level = higher compatability / Better Stability yes, ie like if your having trouble get your mem stable, set the PL higher than 10, Lower Performance Level = Higher Performance, like 7, 8 or 9. only trouble I find with the lower PL's is you have to literaly whack all your voltages up alot higher to keep things stable, a few years back I would of proceeded to do that, but now I just want a semi overclocked machine, 100% stable, without having to test 24/7/365, and loads of noisey fans inside my case alternatly trying to cool everything from the extra voltage, currently im at PL 12.

Okay I'll try raising my PL then above 10. Not sure why Zeus said to lower it though...

[whatever]

Compared to a P35 board how this P5Q-E compares ?
I`m puzzled to see that most E8400/E8*00 need some pretty high voltages for 500FSB.
I`m doing 500 with +0.125V (E8200, VID=1.0625) on my Blood Iron, and I`m a bit afraid that I wont see this on a P45. Are my fears true?

[NBF]

Okay I'll try raising my PL then above 10. Not sure why Zeus said to lower it though...

Seanie's Show is running 1:1 memory, that requires higher PL.

I'm your case you can let it on auto to start search for stability, latter you may try to lower to 7 or 8 for better performance.


In fact, you could try let almost all on auto, just set Vcore, Vmem and divider. Disable all Advanced CPU Settings.

[Loser777]

I'm probably getting my new HSF + P5Q-E on Tuesday/Wednesday.

VID of my Q6600 is 1.2125v...
I'll post results

Hopefully better than my last board...

[Zeus]

Seanie's Show is running 1:1 memory, that requires higher PL.

I'm your case you can let it on auto to start search for stability, latter you may try to lower to 7 or 8 for better performance.


In fact, you could try let almost all on auto, just set Vcore, Vmem and divider. Disable all Advanced CPU Settings.

My mistake, i actually meant higher, sorry.

You say you keep getting errors in memtest 86 test 5?

That is for sure your mem that's instable, not your chipset or cpu.

[wongnog]

My mistake, i actually meant higher, sorry.

You say you keep getting errors in memtest 86 test 5?

That is for sure your mem that's instable, not your chipset or cpu.

Yes I ran a test overnight and found multiple errors in test 5 and 7, so now I just do a loop on test 5 because it seems to pick up the errors the quickest. So I set everything to auto except VCore I set to 1.30V (my chip's VID) VDimm to 2.1V (chip's rating) and brought my CPU back to stock speed (9x266). Memory is on a 3:5 divider and clocked at DDR2-890, but I STILL got memtest errors on test 5. I'm testing each stick individually now but getting a little impatient and deterred!!! I do have my dimms in the yellow slots as per mobo manual, maybe I'll try black slots next.

Already wrote a message on the OCZ support forum but likely won't hear back from them until Monday. Should I underclock my cpu to 9x250 so I can run my ram at 1:1 and DDR2-1000? Or maybe 9x333 on a 2:3 ratio and DDR2-1000? Ugggh this is so annoying.

Please keep your suggestions coming guys, I want to rule out all possibilities before I send these back for RMA.

Update: Got test 5 errors within 5 minutes with 9x250 (ram running DDR2-1000). Switched to black slots and got the same. Testing dimms individually now. Is it possible it is a problem with the motherboard memory controller?

[Seanie's Show]

Yes I ran a test overnight and found multiple errors in test 5 and 7, so now I just do a loop on test 5 because it seems to pick up the errors the quickest. So I set everything to auto except VCore I set to 1.30V (my chip's VID) VDimm to 2.1V (chip's rating) and brought my CPU back to stock speed (9x266). Memory is on a 3:5 divider and clocked at DDR2-890, but I STILL got memtest errors on test 5. I'm testing each stick individually now but getting a little impatient and deterred!!! I do have my dimms in the yellow slots as per mobo manual, maybe I'll try black slots next.

Already wrote a message on the OCZ support forum but likely won't hear back from them until Monday. Should I underclock my cpu to 9x250 so I can run my ram at 1:1 and DDR2-1000? Or maybe 9x333 on a 2:3 ratio and DDR2-1000? Ugggh this is so annoying.

Please keep your suggestions coming guys, I want to rule out all possibilities before I send these back for RMA.

Update: Got test 5 errors within 5 minutes with 9x250 (ram running DDR2-1000). Switched to black slots and got the same. Testing dimms individually now. Is it possible it is a problem with the motherboard memory controller?

If your chasing for 1000mhz on your RAM, try 1:1 but there is no need to underclock you CPU to achieve this, just drop the divider to x8 and raise the FSB, just look at it this way, anything upto 500fsb on this board and you dont have to touch the board voltages, auto set them all does just fine.

I am doing 500fsb on board stock voltages, well sorry they are set to auto in the bios, the only ones I have manually set is the MAIN memory timings 5-5-5-15, the MEM voltage and the CPU voltage, I am now playing and testing with the PL, just to see if I can tighten that up a couple of notches.

There are a couple of other basic options I have manually set like load-line=enabled, both spread spectrums set to disabled, I have also set MEM OC Charger, and Ai Clock Twister to moderate, middle of the road.

1 thing I do have to ask is have you tried testing your RAM at stocks ?
Maybe its time to think about if your RAM is knackered.

[wongnog]

1 thing I do have to ask is have you tried testing your RAM at stocks ?
Maybe its time to think about if your RAM is knackered, or if you just have a bad clocking set.

Well by underclocking my CPU (9x250), I am running my RAM at stock. I have PC2-8000 memory which is rated for DDR2-1000 at 2.1V. Here is what I own (link).

In dual channel mode, the RAM fails test 5 after 2 passes. In single channel, one stick fails test 5 after 5 passes, the other is going through 13 passes and counting. This is almost conclusively telling me one of my sticks is bad, right?

[Seanie's Show]

Well by underclocking my CPU (9x250), I am running my RAM at stock. I have PC2-8000 memory which is rated for DDR2-1000 at 2.1V. Here is what I own (link).

In dual channel mode, the RAM fails test 5 after 2 passes. In single channel, one stick fails test 5 after 5 passes, the other is going through 13 passes and counting. This is almost conclusively telling me one of my sticks is bad, right?

Yup, 1 of your sticks is dead, get in touch with OCZ and get them RMA'ed, your sticks should beable to do their rated speed at the rated voltage on any board divider, its not the board.