ASUS P4B266, P4B266-C, P4B266-E, P4B266-SE differences and availability?

[JimmyJoe]

Here is what I have been able to determine from my searches...

These are the 'optional features' of the ASUS P4B266 series motherboard:
USB 2.0 (NEC)
6CH Audio (C-Media)
10/100 LAN (Intel)
Promise ATA133 RAID (0 or 1)

P4B266 3 DIMM*, 6CH Audio, USB2.0
P4B266-C 2 DIMM
P4B266-E 3 DIMM*, 6CH Audio, USB2.0, ATA133 RAID, LAN
P4B266-SE 3 DIMM*, ???

* Can only use 2 DIMMs with Double Sided Memory (most DIMMS are double sided)

I have seen the P4B266 and P4B266-C for sale by many vendors. I have not been able to find the P4B266-E for sale yet, anybody else? Also, does anyone know anything about the Special Edition (P4B266-SE) model?

 

[subhuman]

Good question.

 

[JOSEPHLB]

I believe the P4B266-E was just put into production, and its due any time now....

correct me if I'm wrong? or right? Or what? oh well

 

[JimmyJoe]

The manuals for the different P4B266 models are available here:
P4B266
P4B266-C
P4B266-E
P4b266-SE

According to the Asus manual for P4B266-SE, it's a P4B266 "minus some onboard features including USB 2.0, LAN, POST Reporter, and Memory Stick/Secure Digital interfaces." Hmmmm.... does not sound very "Special Edition" to me.

 

[JOSEPHLB]

looks like the "SE" version of this board, is marketed toward the computer enthusiast that doesn't want all the onboard stuff, and prefers to use their own periphreals.

 

[JimmyJoe]

I am trying to determine what happens to the AGP bus, PCI bus, and Memory speed when overclocking the FSB.

The P4B266 will run memory at either 1:1 or 3:4 ratios, however 133FSB+ will only allow 1:1. At 133FSB you can set the AGP to 1/2 (66Mhz), PCI to 1/4 (33Mhz) and memory 1:1 (133x2=266DDR=PC2100). So with the FSB at 150Mhz memory would be 300Mhz.

Does anyone know what the AGP/PCI speeds would be for running a Asus P4B266 at 150Mhz FSB? I know that the P4B266 can run with 66/33 at 133FSB. So based on 1/2 and 1/4 that would make it 75/37.5 at 150FSB. Or does the P4B266 do something similar to the Abit BD7 over 133FSB? Does it lock to 66/33?

 

[BadThad]

I've been doing a bit of research on this too lately. From what I've read, the Abit board is the only one that locks down the cpi/agp speeds. The problem with the Abit is cpu core voltage, it only allows upto 1.65v (i think). So your calulations of 75/37.5 MHz is accurate for 150 fsb. I want to get to 166 fsb because I have Corsair XMS2700 ram, so it seems my speeds will be 83/41.5 MHz. That shouldn't be a problem. I currently have a n Asus CUBX-E BX system running 89/44 with no problems anyway. Right now, I'm leaning toward Asus with 845.

 

[BadThad]

Back to the topic...could Asus do a more confusing job?

It seems that even though it says "optional", those are in fact options included with that particular model. I think you're right, the "SE" is a trimmed down version with no "options".

My problem is I only want on-board LAN...nothing else. None of those boards offer that option.:|

 

[JimmyJoe]

Based on what I have been able to find, 133FSB and above will use 1/2 for AGP, 1/4 for PCI, and 1/1 for MEM. Assuming that is correct we would have the following values:
FSB AGP PCI MEM
133 66 33 133
134 67 34 134
135 68 34 135
136 68 34 136
137 69 34 137
138 69 35 138
139 70 35 139
140 70 35 140
141 71 35 141
142 71 36 142
143 72 36 143
144 72 36 144
145 73 36 145
146 73 37 146
147 74 37 147
148 74 37 148
149 75 37 149
150 75 38 150
151 76 38 151
152 76 38 152
153 77 38 153
154 77 39 154
155 78 39 155
156 78 39 156
157 79 39 157
158 79 40 158
159 80 40 159
160 80 40 160
161 81 40 161
162 81 41 162
163 82 41 163
164 82 41 164
165 83 41 165
166 83 42 166

Anybody know if this is correct or incorrect?

Thanks!

 

[JimmyJoe]

<< Back to the topic...could Asus do a more confusing job? >>


I think that would be extremely difficult. It is hard to tell which models have which 'options'

 

[JJordan]

Come On, Give ASUS a Break, they are just trying to compete with NVidia for the "Most Confusing Array of Product Selections" Award

 

[Uclagamer_99]

at least they give you multiple variations, or would you like everyone to just make one mobo

 

[ruel24]

I just want to know when the P4B266-E will be released! I saw the news of it's pending release a month ago. I've checked every online retailer on a regular basis and no one has this board. The articles about it said it would be released at the end of January - it's now Feb 10th. Anyone have a clue??? :disgust:

 

[Kanly]

Yeah, that E revision looks sweet.

Sent an email to Mwave and NewEgg asking if they are going to carry it -- after fruitless online seaching to see if annyone carries it.

 

[Duvie]

Had they had the e version out now I may have gone the asus route as well...However nobody could tell me arrical dates and I had a feeling this board was going to be 160-180 range so I just stuck with the msi ultra ARu which I goit for 144 shipped and has all the features minus a few oc tricks...though sites have shown it to be one of the best ocers for dependability and stability...

 

[Kanly]

Yeah Duvie, trying to maske up my mind to wait for the "E" or go with the MSI, or maybe regularr P4B266 and use a 133 card.

Reason being I have a Maxtor 160GB drive.

 

[ruel24]

Have you checked out the Gigabyte GA-8IRXP?

 

[Strawberrymom]

<< Have you checked out the Gigabyte GA-8IRXP? >>



its got a glitch, wont reboot or power up after shutting down unless you unplug the power cord for 5 sec.

I was looking at the soyo but not sure if it does the same thing or not

I think its time to get a board with support shoulda stuck with the Epox based series at leas their tech support is smart and fast

 

[Kanly]

I was all set to pull the trigger on the Gigabyte, then that rebooting issue cropped up.

The Soyo (and Gigabyte) are damned expensive.

Edit

Looke like you can win a Soyo board here

 

[ruel24]

DukeLeto, have you heard from NewEgg or Mwave yet?

 

[Kanly]

Why yes I have -- not good though.

MWave: "We currently do not have a listed ETA for this paticular board. Please keep posted to our site for further availability. Thanks for the email, Multiwave Technology."

NewEgg: "We do not have an ETA or pricing estimate on this item at this time. If the item is on our website, and out of stock, there is the ?Auto-Notify? button, which you can use, and we will let you know as soon as we have the item. Otherwise, watch our site closely as in demand items tend to fly off the virtual shelf pretty fast."

Drat.
:frown:

 

[Strawberrymom]

the -e is so far only availiable to germany

 

[ruel24]

This sucks! I've determined that this board is exactly what I want and I have faith, it being an Asus, that it will be rock solid. I looked at both the MSI 845 Ultra ARU and the Gigabyte GA-8IRXP, but for various reasons, they don't seem to be everything I want in a board. If only Asus will release the darn thing in the US! If they wait long enough, Intel will release the 533 MHz FSB and the thing will be outdated by the time it's released! Drats! :frown:

I have my GeForce 4 Ti4600 board pre-ordered and it'll be here at the end of the month and I'm short only the motherboard and CPU to put it all together! :disgust:

 

[Strawberrymom]

find a site in germany that will ship to you

 

[ruel24]

Tried...can't read german... Would BIOS be in german?