ASUS P5W DH - Problems + Fixes Thread

[tomcug]

Can't say why it wouldn't be stable with E8600. I'm running my board at 400MHz with E7200 and I've never experienced any problems. My board was stable even at 450MHz, but I can't say the same about CPU It's still fast and great board. I want to buy second HD 4850 and CrossFireX both cards. What do you think about it? I usually play at 1600x1200.

[MaximumPig]

Yolanda I have a question, I did the math on your FSB and CPU speeds and it sure looks like you are using a 9.5 multiplier on your e8500. I too have an E8500 in a P5W DH, and under CPU ratio I can't go above 9. I am using BIOS 2801 and thus far have only OCed to 367 FSB = 3.3 gHz CPU @ 9x. Did I miss something in the BIOS or do I need 2704 like you have?

PS: I have 1.04g and I can set vCore to < 1.45 (I think as low as 1.8v but not sure at the moment, low enough though)

[tomcug]

Just disable CPU ratio modification in BIOS and you'll get the 9.5 multiplier.

[Yolanda]

Sure, disable CPU ratio modification or simply load setup defaults, and E8500 will work on it's nominal 333FSB * 9.5 = 3.16GHz.

But how you can change CPU ratio on non-extreme 45nm CPU? P5W doesn't support EIST on them and so CPU ratio modification can't work. If I choose anything from 6 to 9, system even can't boot to BIOS, and I should reset board by CMOS clear jumper.

[MaximumPig]

hmmm i have ratio modification disabled and it still shows up as 9x. also, the POST message is misreporting my cpu freq as "432mHz" (but CPU-z reports it correctly, or at least what I was expecting) so I'm going to reset my CMOS and try again . . .


I thought you couldn't unlock the multis on non-X cpus and in any event Asus won't support different multis on this board at the FSB speeds needed to run the 45nm CPUs ??

[esuyengh]

I searched and could not find an answer to this (on other sites too), so I apologize in advance if someone has answered this.

I recently replaced an e6600 with a q6600. My old e6600 was able to do 400x8 with a little extra juice (1.4v). The q6600 shows potential, currently running rock solid at 333x9 at stock (1.28v) with my 4gb dual channel sticks at tight 4,4,4,12 timings at 1:1. Unfortunately, I cannot even get close to 400 fsb because I cannot get the multiplier to change, meaning my DDR2-800 RAM is running at DDR2-667 instead.

I can set it down to 8 and save the changes to the bios, but as soon as it reboots, it resets back to 9. I strongly suspect it as an issue with the bios because I AM able to drop the multiplier to 8 if I leave the fsb at 266 (i.e. I can boot at 266x8 and have it stick), proving my CPU can accept a lower multiplier. As soon as I raise the fsb past 266, I get the multiplier issue where it self-resets to 9.

After doing a lot of research for a week and seeing some sites where members claim that any bios versions past 1707 have issues with dropping the multiplier, I tried flashing to 1707. Unfortunately, since I have a more recent rev. g0 of the q6600, 1707 does not recognize the CPU and gives me a microcode violation. I can go past that, but that issue is annoying itself.

So I tried bios versions past that included 2206, 2704 and 2801, with no luck.

I have all the fix settings suggested throughout this thread otherwise (i.e. look on the very first post, and it is a mirror image of what my bios are set to). So I am not sure what else could be the issue other than bios itself.

Am I out of luck?

[tomcug]

I don't know why you want to go down with multiplier. If you don't want to overclock your CPU to higher frequencies, then simply leave it at 9x. You can set your memories to run at 834MHz.

[esuyengh]

I am trying to overclock to clarify.

If I go down to 8x, I might be able to run at 400x8 at a relative low vCore, at least that is the goal. Then I have greater fsb bandwidth, a higher overall clock of 3.2 GHz, and can run my memory at 1:1 at 800MHz. Right now I am stuck at 333x9 (3.0 GHz) with memory at 667MHz (I know my 9x multiplier wall is somewhere around 350 fsb as I could boot into windows at 360 but was not prime stable).

I highly doubt my memory can go too far past its 800MHz rating as it is a set of Corsair 2x2GB CL4 DHX, which are known to be a bit sensitive.

[lawrywild]

8x multi is likely to hit a worse fsb than default multi..

[Yolanda]

Our board overclocks with dual cores upto ~400+ and something more by FSB, but with quad cores overclock is much lower. So 333*9=3GHz is rather nice. Tried to set memory to 834MHz with your FSB333? Сan it work? Or can work with lower timings? because usually higher memory frequirency is better than timings.

After it, you can overclock from 333FSB to ~340-360, and get extra MHz, and also get extra MHz to your memory. If memory can run only at 667MHz with 333FSB higher overclocking will also overclock memory to 680-720MHz, not so bad.

[esuyengh]

Lawrywild, why do you say that? Just curious? I mean from what I have done with my old dual core e6600, 400x8 was way better than the 350(ish)x9 that I could get both in terms of final frequency and in terms of the few benchmarks I ran at that time. I know I am working with a quad now, but I just find my problem odd. My issue is not with the chip itself, but why on earth does the motherboard reset my multiplier. It gives me the option to lower it, but then it won't stick.

Yolanda, thanks for the suggestions. That is my plan if I cannot figure out what is with the multiplier. As just stated, I am confused why it allows me to lower the multiplier but won't stick unless the fsb stays at stock. To me that is a bios flaw, not a board or chip flaw, which is frustrating, since that means Asus dropped the ball somewhere and is probably not going to fix it.

Anyone here have experience with the p35 based Asus P5K-EPU (or alternatively the P5K-Deluxe)? Do those have the same multiplier issue? I might be able to get an EPU for cheap or even free, or a Deluxe for just a few bucks. But I am reluctant to replace an otherwise great board over a bios issue.

[mikepaul]

OK, I was reading about Real Temp 2.70 today and decided to try it. It reads 10C lower than Core Temp with no tweaks, and I never tweaked Core Temp either.

I like it saying 39C instead of 49C, but is that valid?...

[ntvh]

Please help, System won't post because turn the OC too high after upgrade BIOS (2801). Please help me to resolve this without to use CLRTC...because I don't want to remove my Video card GTX 8800. Is there any ontherway to bring back the system?

In the Menu book's ASUS, it said I can use C.P.R ( CPU Parameter Recall) But I don't know how to use that function. Please Please help me. Thanks very much. I'm killing myself.

[tomcug]

Ntvh, load BIOS default setting by using CMOS jumper. You'll find instructions in your motherboard's manual.

[ntvh]

Thank, IS there otherway by not remove that jumper CMOS because to do that I have to remove the Graphic card on the its way. Is there easy way than to remove CMOS? Thank again. and this is for what I read from the user guide on page 2-26
" You do not need to clear the RTC when the system hangs due to OC. For system fail due to OC, use the C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall) feature. Shut down and reboot the system so the BIOS can AOtu reset parameter setting to default values "

How, where???

Thanks

[tomcug]

If you overclock too much and your system doesn't boot up, then you have to simply cut the power. After few minutes you turn on your computer and it'll run at stock settings.

[Yolanda]

If it can't help, you should reset BIOS by CMOS clear jumper. Why you can't do it? You don't need to remove your 8800GTX from the case to make it.

[ntvh]

i tried not to remove but it on the way. I could not touch it..so have to remove the card. Anyway, it is done, now it is running 3.5 @ 390 with the DDR at 983. Will try to push it to 400. Thank you for all of your help

BTW: never can set the Multi to 9.5. Any suggestion. THX

[MaximumPig]

yeah i cleared my CMOS and set CPU ratio modify to disabled and don't have the 9.5 multi
i am running at 367 FSB with 9x and 734mHz DDR and things seem to be running ok otherwise

my BIOS is 2801, i am wondering if I should try 2704 since I think that is what Yolanda is using to get 9.5x, unless there is some other trick I'm missing

[tomcug]

MaximumPig, I've got E7200 which has 9.5x multiplier too and I don't have any problems with it and BIOS 2801. Post a CPU-Z screenshot.

[ntvh]

here is my picture of CPU- Z. Thanks

[tomcug]

Ntvh, you won't set 9.5x multiplier with E8400. Your CPU has its multiplier locked at 9x.

[ntvh]

Thank you SIR.

[ntvh]

Yolanda, What can I do to OC the CPU to 4.GHZ? Please help.

Here is my set
Bios 2801 ( should I go back to 2701?
MAX CPU Freq: 378
DDram: 978
Perform Mode: Auto
PCI Express: Auto
PCI Clock Syn Auto
Mem Voltage: 2.00v
CPU Volt : AUto
FSB Term : Auto
MCH Chips Set: 1.64v
ICH : Auto
Digital...: Disable
C1E: Disable
EIST: Disable

If you need any info please ask. Thanks

[Yolanda]

You need FSB 445MHz to get 4GHz with E8400. Try to set MCH voltage first to 1.75V, then if it can't help, to 1.85V. CPU voltage to ~1.4-1.45V. Later add FSB voltage if nothing is help. RAM speed to lowest mode, because it can limit overclock at first tryes. However 1.85V on MCH is rather dangerous for 24/7 without extra cooling.

First, I advice you not to try such high overclocking, but to test only FSB 400MHz with memory at 800MHz (FSB:RAM = 1:1). Your CPU will work at 3.6GHz, it's rather fast. This frequirency needs only to add CPU voltage a bit.
After test something with FSB ~410-420. There setups are ready for 24/7.