ASUS P5Q-E (P45) pre-view

[Dee]

WOW. I need at least 1.48v on the NB for 460MHz FSB and 333 strap. I think your vNB is way too low for 430MHz FSB, just crank it to 1.4 then test and you can tweak it if you want to conserve on the volts later once its stable.

More than likely this is your problem.

It's all good, think I might have 4.3GHz stable. Ran small FFT's in Orthos for 3 hours with no errors this time. Upped the vCore a notch (1.4v) and bumped up NB and VTT +0.02v. Something somewhere did the trick.

Thanks for your help.

Next stop, 4.4GHz... hopefully. I really don't want to keep pushing the vCore up, so maybe I'll mess with the NB as you suggested. It's at 1.14 now.

[Dee]

Got my E8500 up and running it's at 3.16 but is ideling at 33 to 35 c

I love water cooling

Is that a good temp? My cores for the E8600 @ 4.3GHz are 24 / 28 when surfing XS. This is just air (Ultima-90 with Scythe 92mm fan on PWN mode). Speedstep is enabled, so maybe this is why? On the other hand, when not on PWM, the fan runs very fast and cools it down very much anyway. I am quite pleased with the temps. Although the weather here is quite cool at the moment, so maybe this helps.

[Dee]

Sorry for all the posts. The extra vNB is looking promising (currently 1.20v). I just ran Pi 32M and Aquamark 3, both of which crashed the machine before, but now they run great. Ahmad, you were probably right -- the NB voltage was too low before. At least now I know it can do at least 430 FSB on 1.14v. I'll Prime this and hopefully return with good results from what I thought was a dog of a chip.

[Quad-Damage]

I used some of your settings and got to 4.1. I'll post a screen shot. I might be able to do less Vcore, this is the on the bios that came with the board

Core temp and Real temps gives me off, and I notice my cores are about 5c apart? Is that normal with water cooling?



Look ok, for a newbie?

[I34z1k]

What strap and what vNB? Those are important.

Also I think you need mega high PLL for an E6850 at 450fsb. I mean 1.60v+ at least.

Get leeghoofd's template and fill that or take a screen shot of your bios..

400mhz strap, vNb is at 1.3v, vPll is at 1.7v I think.

I'll fill the template in sometime

[Dee]

Quad, you need the latest Core Temp, it's accurate now.

Yes, the OC looks OK man, well done. Keep tweaking!

[Quad-Damage]

This is what i set mine 2, boots up fine and works great. I think i can do 455 easy with these settings, i want to do it under 1.4 v core. If it won't boot ill up the v core more, Think the memory is set to high? I have PC8500, i bought it so it should be more stable then my coasir PC6400 800mhz

Ai Tweaker

Ai Overclock Tuner ................. [Manual]
CPU Ratio Setting .................. [Auto]
FSB Frequency ...................... [435]
PCIE Frequency ..................... [100]
FSB Strap to North Bridge .......... [Auto]
DRAM Frequency ..................... [1133]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A1 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A2 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B1 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B2 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Timing Control ................ [Manual]
1st Information : 5-5-5-15-3-52-6-3
CAS# Latency ..................... [5 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay .......... [5 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# Precharge .............. [5 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# Activate to Precha ..... [15 DRAM Clocks]
RAS# to RAS# Delay ............... [Auto]
Row Refresh Cycle Time ........... [Auto]
Write Recovery Time .............. [Auto]
Read to Precharge Time ........... [Auto]
2nd Information : 8-3-5-4-6-4-6
READ to WRITE Delay (S/D) ........ [Auto]
WRITE to READ Delay (S) .......... [Auto]
WRITE to READ Delay (D) .......... [Auto]
READ to READ Delay (S) ........... [Auto]
READ to READ Delay (D)............ [Auto]
WRITE to WRITE Delay (S) ......... [Auto]
WRITE to WRITE Delay (D) ......... [Auto]
3rd Information : 14-5-1-6-6
WRITE to PRE Delay ............... [Auto]
READ to PRE Delay ................ [Auto]
PRE to PRE Delay ................. [Auto]
ALL PRE to ACT Delay ............. [Auto]
ALL PRE to REF Delay ............. [Auto]
DRAM Static Read Control ........... [Disabled]
DRAM Read Training ................. [Disabled]
MEM. OC Charger .................... [Enabled]
Ai Clock Twister ................... [Moderate]
Ai Transaction Booster ............. [Manual]
Common Performance Level ......... [08]
Pull-In of CHA PH1 ................. [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHA PH2 ................. [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHA PH3 ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHA PH4 ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHA PH5 ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH1 ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH2 ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH3 ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH4 ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH5 ................ [Disabled]
____________________________________

CPU Voltage ........................ [1.376] * Actual = 1.9V under load) *
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2) .... [0.640]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3) .... [0.650]
CPU PLL Voltage .................... [1.52]
DRAM Voltage ....................... [1.84]
NB Voltage ......................... [1.12]
NB GTL Reference ................... [Auto]
SB Voltage ......................... [Auto]
PCIE Voltage ....................... [Auto]
____________________________________

Load-Line Calibration .............. [Enabled]
CPU Spread Spectrum ................ [Disabled]
PCIE Spread Spectrum ............... [Disabled]
CPU Clock Skew ..................... [Auto]
NB Clock Skew ...................... [Auto]
CPU Margin Enhancement ............. [Performance Mode]
____________________________________

Advanced > CPU Configuration

CPU Ratio Setting .................. [Auto]
C1E Support ........................ [Disabled]
Max CPUID Limit .................... [Disabled]
Intel® Virtualization Tech ......... [Disabled]
CPU TM Function .................... [Enabled]
Execute Disable Bit ................ [Enabled]
Intel® Speedstep(TM) Tech .......... [Disabled]
Intel® C-STATE Tech ................ [Disabled]

[Dee]

Test memory with Memtest. There's a Windows version. I just did 4+ hours in this with no errors today. I'm not sure if it's as good as the bootable ISO version, but then again I've been stable in Memtest for hours with that, only to not be able to boot into Windows. I now prefer the Windows version because you have the load of the OS plus the overclock of the RAM. Works well for me.

http://hcidesign.com/memtest/

You'll need to open 2 instances of it.

Otherwise you can run Orthos / Prime set to BLEND. This stresses the CPU and RAM. If you get rounding errors with Orthos, it's most likely a memory error and you'll have to clock it down a little, bump up DRAM Voltage, or both. Also try setting Common Performance Level to a higher number (maybe 09, 10).

http://sp2004.fre3.com/download.htm

Super PI 32M test is OK for quick testing of RAM too.


EDIT: I'm wondering why you disabled Speedstep and C1E? I love Speedstep! Can't stand not using it.

PS: If you post my BIOS template, set the font to Courier, then you'll have it looking neater as the characters are evenly spaced.

[Quad-Damage]

I like having 4.1ghz at all times

[ahmad]

FWIW, my E7200/P5Q-E will do 533fsb all day at 1.36v on NB. 550fsb wants 1.40v but running 2x2GB ram w/XP64 may be a slight part of the extra volts needed.

478fsb / 1.28vNB / 333strap here.

Sorry for all the posts. The extra vNB is looking promising (currently 1.20v). I just ran Pi 32M and Aquamark 3, both of which crashed the machine before, but now they run great. Ahmad, you were probably right -- the NB voltage was too low before. At least now I know it can do at least 430 FSB on 1.14v. I'll Prime this and hopefully return with good results from what I thought was a dog of a chip.

I'll test at lower vnb later, right now I have two 120 blowing on that thing so it stays nice and cool even at 1.50v.

Glad to here you finally made it over that wall. 4.3GHz is a great result.

[ahmad]

I like having 4.1ghz at all times

Quad I don't know about your mem frequency.. it looks like you have the powerchips and I don't think you can get them to 1133 with those settings (trfc 52 gives it away). You might want to use a lower divider initially until you figure out what is stopping you.

[Quad-Damage]

Nothing is stopping me, I just was happy to get 4.1 i stopped there for now.

4.1 was my goal for a silent 24/7 PC, but I need to find a way to quite my hard drives for not alot of $$

[Dee]

I'll test at lower vnb later, right now I have two 120 blowing on that thing so it stays nice and cool even at 1.50v.

Glad to here you finally made it over that wall. 4.3GHz is a great result.

Thanks, you've been a good help. 4.33GHz is not too bad, I'm quite happy with it. Can't seem to get anything over 4.33 stable though. Tried upping vNB as far as 1.36v and it doesn't seem to help. PLL is at 1.20, VTT at 1.54v. Also messed with clock skew settings for NB and CPU but I don't really know much about those.

So, if this CPU has been taken as far as it can go without using excessive voltage I'll be happy to live with it. The current speed will probably be used 24/7, too.

[Dee]

Damn, this board is really starting to scare me. To check if I had a problem running high FSB, I tried booting at 450 x 6 plus and upped the vNB to 1.36. I ended up clearing CMOS twice. I honestly thought my system was screwed! First time I cleared it and powered back up, all fans started running but I got black screen. Second time I got it working. I'm in two minds about this board. Sometimes I love it, other times I don't. It'd help if I didn't have to apply extra pressure to one of my DIMM slot clips just to get it to boot with more than one module installed. Then if I move the case around sometimes it freezes up the whole system, forcing me to reset manually. It's like the RAM stick in channel B2 isn't holding in properly. Problem is I can't use the yellow slots because the PC boots only to a black screen. So, now I gotta buy new RAM.

So many problems in the past month, it's crazy! LOL. First I get a below-average high VID E8600 from the worst batch released to date, a board with dodgy DIMM clips, my RAM is most likely incompatible, DVD drive has been running ultra slow when reading discs, mouse has gone crazy and double-clicks all the time, had to modify the backplate of my Ultima-90 with a drill to make it fit, gfx card went super slow when I replaced the TIM... WTF is next!?

I have to laugh though.

[ahmad]

Damn, this board is really starting to scare me. To check if I had a problem running high FSB, I tried booting at 450 x 6 plus and upped the vNB to 1.36. I ended up clearing CMOS twice. I honestly thought my system was screwed! First time I cleared it and powered back up, all fans started running but I got black screen. Second time I got it working. I'm in two minds about this board. Sometimes I love it, other times I don't. It'd help if I didn't have to apply extra pressure to one of my DIMM slot clips just to get it to boot with more than one module installed. Then if I move the case around sometimes it freezes up the whole system, forcing me to reset manually. It's like the RAM stick in channel B2 isn't holding in properly. Problem is I can't use the yellow slots because the PC boots only to a black screen. So, now I gotta buy new RAM.

So many problems in the past month, it's crazy! LOL. First I get a below-average high VID E8600 from the worst batch released to date, a board with dodgy DIMM clips, my RAM is most likely incompatible, DVD drive has been running ultra slow when reading discs, mouse has gone crazy and double-clicks all the time, had to modify the backplate of my Ultima-90 with a drill to make it fit, gfx card went super slow when I replaced the TIM... WTF is next!?

I have to laugh though.

lol sounds like lots of fun

Have you cleaned that ram slot just to make sure nothing has ended up in there, cause this is a strange problem. Weird why the yellow slots won't work for you, maybe i have a different revision board. When I get home I'll check the rev.

[Dee]

I looked as close as I could and there is nothing obvious in the slot. Not sure why the yellows won't work either, but maybe it's down to the RAM I'm using? 2GB CellShock is on it's way next week so we'll see how that works out. If it won't work in the yellow slots either I might have to RMA this board.

Where do I find the rev.# of the board, Ahmad?

[Quad-Damage]

Dee my old setup was not stable at all, I changed everything back to auto and left the ram at 5 5 5 15 and the ram volts to auto and put the v core at 1.35 and the fsb to 420

and it's a stable 4.2 now, and prime stable for 4 hours
About time


It's with the 1201 board as well ket's.

[ahmad]

I looked as close as I could and there is nothing obvious in the slot. Not sure why the yellows won't work either, but maybe it's down to the RAM I'm using? 2GB CellShock is on it's way next week so we'll see how that works out. If it won't work in the yellow slots either I might have to RMA this board.

Where do I find the rev.# of the board, Ahmad?

Above the first pci slot, beside the name in small print. I just checked mine 1.01g. I got it pretty recent.

Dee my old setup was not stable at all, I changed everything back to auto and left the ram at 5 5 5 15 and the ram volts to auto and put the v core at 1.35 and the fsb to 420

and it's a stable 4.2 now, and prime stable for 4 hours
About time


It's with the 1201 board as well ket's.

Well I told you your ram cannot handle that speed you didnt believe me

[Dee]

Above the first pci slot, beside the name in small print. I just checked mine 1.01g. I got it pretty recent.

Ah, OK thanks. I'll check it tomorrow when I take the case side off.

Dee my old setup was not stable at all, I changed everything back to auto and left the ram at 5 5 5 15 and the ram volts to auto and put the v core at 1.35 and the fsb to 420

and it's a stable 4.2 now, and prime stable for 4 hours
About time


It's with the 1201 board as well ket's.

Glad to hear you got it stable. Mine is Prime (small FFT) stable at 4.3x GHz but it just won't boot at high FSB's + low multi's. The more I think about it the more I wanna get rid of this board and try a Deluxe. I think I got a flaky board, it hasn't been right since day 1.

[Quad-Damage]

Questions

I got my sound to work with my other version of Xp Stripped now i have Legit XP Sp3
and My sound will not work at all

I got the drivers off the Asus Site and the Cd, they look to be the same. I have everything install and it think it's working fine, but i get no sound
What do you guys have installed under your sound, so i can compare?

[Dee]

I have a separate sound card so I can't really say.

[thehinge1]

After playing with an E0 E8400 and various BIOS I am starting to think this board is not all it could be It actually seems happiest with ol' 1103 unmodified with E0, whereas it killed with the Ket's m1306/E7200 M0 setup

When it is playing nice E0 is fast as hell... then sporadically it doesn't want to boot at times.

If I decide to keep the 4Ghz E7200 I've been blessed with I will get another P45 board, roll the dice, and RMA this P5Q-E. The one I have is just not as consistent as all my other ASUS boards have been.

[I34z1k]

So yea, this is more or less what my pc is at now. I can't even post @ 450fsb :\ Quite lame. Running a G0 6850.

Ai Overclock Tuner ................. [Manual]
CPU Ratio Setting .................. [9]
FSB Frequency ...................... [420]
PCIE Frequency ..................... [100]
FSB Strap to North Bridge .......... [400]
DRAM Frequency ..................... [840]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A1 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A2 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B1 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B2 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Timing Control ................ [Auto]
DRAM Static Read Control ........... [Disabled]
DRAM Read Training ................. [Disabled]
MEM. OC Charger .................... [Enabled]
Ai Clock Twister ................... [Lighter]
Ai Transaction Booster ............. [Auto]
____________________________________

CPU Voltage ........................ [1.475]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2) .... [Auto]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3) .... [Auto]
CPU PLL Voltage .................... [1.7]
DRAM Voltage ....................... [2.3]
NB Voltage ......................... [1.3]
NB GTL Reference ................... [Auto]
SB Voltage ......................... [1.2]
PCIE Voltage ....................... [Auto]
____________________________________

Load-Line Calibration .............. [Disabled]
CPU Spread Spectrum ................ [Disabled]
PCIE Spread Spectrum ............... [Disabled]
CPU Clock Skew ..................... [Auto]
NB Clock Skew ...................... [Auto]
CPU Margin Enhancement ............. [Optimized Mode]

[ahmad]

Well I see some problems, that pll is disgustingly high for a 6850, drop it to 1.52v. Set DRAM read training to AUTO, and Ai Clock Twister to moderate.

Next, set your strap to 333MHz and check the ram freq before you save and reboot (make sure its still 840).

Set your Transaction Booster to manual, and change the performance level to 11 if you are running 1:1, 8 if you are running a divider.

If you have the ket modded bios, you can enable all the pullins under transaction booster.

Also when testing higher fsb, always use low multi (try 6 or 7). Once you get it stable work on the CPU.

So yea, this is more or less what my pc is at now. I can't even post @ 450fsb :\ Quite lame. Running a G0 6850.

Ai Overclock Tuner ................. [Manual]
CPU Ratio Setting .................. [9]
FSB Frequency ...................... [420]
PCIE Frequency ..................... [100]
FSB Strap to North Bridge .......... [400]
DRAM Frequency ..................... [840]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A1 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A2 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B1 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B2 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Timing Control ................ [Auto]
DRAM Static Read Control ........... [Disabled]
DRAM Read Training ................. [Disabled]
MEM. OC Charger .................... [Enabled]
Ai Clock Twister ................... [Lighter]
Ai Transaction Booster ............. [Auto]
____________________________________

CPU Voltage ........................ [1.475]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2) .... [Auto]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3) .... [Auto]
CPU PLL Voltage .................... [1.7]
DRAM Voltage ....................... [2.3]
NB Voltage ......................... [1.3]
NB GTL Reference ................... [Auto]
SB Voltage ......................... [1.2]
PCIE Voltage ....................... [Auto]
____________________________________

Load-Line Calibration .............. [Disabled]
CPU Spread Spectrum ................ [Disabled]
PCIE Spread Spectrum ............... [Disabled]
CPU Clock Skew ..................... [Auto]
NB Clock Skew ...................... [Auto]
CPU Margin Enhancement ............. [Optimized Mode]

[Dee]

After playing with an E0 E8400 and various BIOS I am starting to think this board is not all it could be It actually seems happiest with ol' 1103 unmodified with E0, whereas it killed with the Ket's m1306/E7200 M0 setup

When it is playing nice E0 is fast as hell... then sporadically it doesn't want to boot at times.

If I decide to keep the 4Ghz E7200 I've been blessed with I will get another P45 board, roll the dice, and RMA this P5Q-E. The one I have is just not as consistent as all my other ASUS boards have been.

Yeah, "inconsistent" is the perfect description. I love this board when it works. Had to flash back to modified BIOS 1306 because 1402 wasn't working out. I just don't "get" this board at all. I've been nice to it all along and it treats me like it's beyatch!