*** Official Albatron PX865PE Pro/II (865PE) Thread ***

Page 5 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
W

Woz

Senior member
Feb 26, 2000
374
0
0
Originally posted by: tcebigt
Hey Woz,

When you get a chance, I would be most appreciative if you could check out the pro II's onboard sound (see my post above). Thanks.
Click to expand...


tcebigt, I would not be able to offer the type of critical evaluation you seem to want. However, I will offer what I can. First, I am using only the stereo front out at the moment. I have a miniplug adapter connected to RCA to my amp. I'm driving a pair of Bose bookshelf speakers in one room and a pair of Wharfedale Emerald 97's in another.

I fired up some uberquality mp3s to test. The sound is nice and clean. I was troubled by some weird noise during one song until I realized that I was hearing an effect that I had previously never noticed. Honest. I thought it was some distortion that I should not be hearing, but it was distortion that I should have heard the many times I listened to this track before. I was previously using the onboard C-Media 8738 on my Asus P4S533.

The audio output I am getting now is definitely better, with a fuller range of high and low.


 
W

Woz

Senior member
Feb 26, 2000
374
0
0
I adjusted my RAM settings manually to DDR 400 2.5, 3, 3, 6 and booted into Windows just fine. Apparently, the board was trying to run it too tight at SPD. I expect my new RAM will take faster timings.

BTW, all is at default voltage. BIOS 1.02b.
 
eva2000

eva2000

Member
Jun 21, 2003
126
0
76
Originally posted by: 2hotP3s
eva2000,
Seems that undervolting is gonna hurt OCing the CPU, as for the RAM I havent't seen any apps that can measure the voltage. I saw your image link with your settings, nice setup! :)
...a few more fans and that bad boy will hover ;)
Click to expand...

LOL ... the first flying Albatron :D

yeah i can only do 270-277FSB max at 5:4 with my 2.4C
 
eva2000

eva2000

Member
Jun 21, 2003
126
0
76
Originally posted by: 2hotP3s
eva2000,
Seems that undervolting is gonna hurt OCing the CPU, as for the RAM I havent't seen any apps that can measure the voltage. I saw your image link with your settings, nice setup! :)
...a few more fans and that bad boy will hover ;)
Click to expand...

LOL ... the first flying Albatron :D

yeah i can only do 270-277FSB max at 5:4 with my 2.4C
 
T

TomHrv

Junior Member
Jun 23, 2003
4
0
0
Hi guys,
here're my findings (and few questions :) on Albatron PX865PE Pro...

1. Stability and OC - I'm very pleased. 2.4 @ 3.0 (FSB 1GHz, DDR 400MHz) system perfectly stable. Didn't go further for now (I'm using standard P4 cooler). With latest BIOS (1.08a) CPU and board temps seems rather high (CPU - 2.4 @ 59 C, 3.0 @ 66 C and MBO 49 C during Sandra Burn-In). Any of you have similar temperatures?

2. On-board sound quality - okay, but I expected more. My old Diamond MX400 was more clear and crisp.

3. ICH5 southbridge - something is strange here... After IDE device detection WinXP SP1 starts to load, but there is 15 sec delay before boot screen appears. Can I get rid of this delay somehow?
Also, in Enhanced mode, BIOS shows two new IDE channels to map two S-ATA devices, and WinXP also installs additional IDE controller (S-ATA disk is visible as IDE device). Does this affects S-ATA performance (I know HDD cannot reach ATA-100 anyway, but I wonder)?

Overall, PX865PE Pro is nice board.

P.S. And final question - you're still here? :))


Albatron PX865PE Pro (1.08a)
P4 2.4C
2x256 DDR400 (Samsung 2.5-5-3-3)
Manli Radeon 9700
Seagate S-ATA 80GB (ch 3 master)
Pioneer DVD-120 (ch 0 master)
Teac CDRW 52x (ch 1 master)
 
T

tydas

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
1,284
0
76
For Pro II board, can you use the promise raid ide for just a non-raid single har drive?
 
eva2000

eva2000

Member
Jun 21, 2003
126
0
76
Originally posted by: tydas
For Pro II board, can you use the promise raid ide for just a non-raid single har drive?
Click to expand...

yup you should be able to although i haven't tried yet

i have 5 x 80GB WD 800JB i'm going to use on this PRO2 board once i get them out of my P4G8X system :)
 
W

Woz

Senior member
Feb 26, 2000
374
0
0
Originally posted by: tydas
For Pro II board, can you use the promise raid ide for just a non-raid single har drive?
Click to expand...


Yes you can; one on each channel.
 
T

tydas

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
1,284
0
76
OK, got the board but i have a couple of issues/ questions:

1. Can't install windows when my HD is on the raid controller IDE. Everything is enabled and i hit F6 during windows XP install to load promise drivers but it still does not see the HD. I am just going to put the HD on primary IDE and load promise drivers from windows and then switch the ide cable of HD to promise controller. Hopefully that will work.

2. Unlike my previous audio solutions (live, soundstorm) there is no dedicated control panel for audio on this board. they tell you to use windows built in audio properties. Am i missing something? I would like a more feature rich driver set to test my speakers and fiddle with settings, anyone comments?

Thanks
 
eva2000

eva2000

Member
Jun 21, 2003
126
0
76
Originally posted by: tydas
OK, got the board but i have a couple of issues/ questions:

1. Can't install windows when my HD is on the raid controller IDE. Everything is enabled and i hit F6 during windows XP install to load promise drivers but it still does not see the HD. I am just going to put the HD on primary IDE and load promise drivers from windows and then switch the ide cable of HD to promise controller. Hopefully that will work.

2. Unlike my previous audio solutions (live, soundstorm) there is no dedicated control panel for audio on this board. they tell you to use windows built in audio properties. Am i missing something? I would like a more feature rich driver set to test my speakers and fiddle with settings, anyone comments?

Thanks
Click to expand...
make sure the os drive is only drive connected to the raid ide when install xp.. also try updating to latest 1.02 beta bios
 
T

tydas

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
1,284
0
76
I'm thinking of using via's vinyl stlus drivers since it seems it is the same hardware..Anyone try this?
 
C

Chris A

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,431
1
76
I wanted this board real bad after reading the review... After weeks of trying to find a pro 2 for sale anyware I gave up and bought another...

It might be a while before I ever consider buying from Albatron..:brokenheart:

It is pretty sad that they can supply a sample for review but not stock a shelf at any store...
 
T

tydas

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
1,284
0
76
For pro 2 board

Anyone notice a discrepancy in cpu temp between the bios and MBM? For me the bios was showing a cpu temp of 122 F while mbm showed 91 F...quite a difference! I'm pretty sure that mbm is accurate cuz when I rin prime the temp goes up to 95 f or so...
 
2

2hotP3s

Senior member
Jan 12, 2001
564
0
0
i noticed that MBM shows the CPU temp lower than mobo temp at idle, same as the albatron 845 pro 2.


 
D

DBrock

Junior Member
Jun 15, 2003
3
0
0
Originally posted by: InverseOfNeo
Originally posted by: KevinF
I emailed Albatron and asked about the SPDIF out. I got a response in two hours, which was pretty good, but unfortunately, I got bad news from them.

"Dear Kevin,


How are you? Thank you for your interest in Albatron's PX865PE PRO
motherboard. The SPDIF bracket does not come together with PX865PE PRO
motherboard package. You can check and purchase from your vendor or you can
purchase this SPDIF connector with Additional Audio Connection from Albatron
that works with the PX865PE PRO for $20 plus shipping.


Please contact Kristi ( kristi@albatronusa.com ) if you want to purchase
one. Please see the attachment for your reference.


Please feel free to contact us if you have any question. Thank you very
much.


Sincerely,


Ken
714-893-8113 Ext. 105"
Click to expand...



Quite honestly, IMO, if you dont need the extras that the Pro II has but you want the SPDIF output then its worth getting the Pro non-II then spending an extra 25 bucks or so to get the SPDIF. Thanks for finding out.:)
Click to expand...


I've been trolling everything I could find about the PX865865PE PRO since I picked one up at a local (nothern New Jersey) computer show on May 3rd (I know.. the dealer sold it prematurely). I'm currently using average memory (Spectek and Sasmsung pairs) and getting over 3.1GHz 1100 MHZ FSB in my P4 2.4C. Maybe someday I'll splurge for PC3500 pairs, but what will I gain- 400MHz?

I saw your reference to the PRO II board's SPDIF being offered and thought you may try this on the PE PRO.

I just picked up an Asus SPDIF bracket with a 4-pin header connector (key at pin 2) for $4.00 at a local computer show.

This corresponds exactly with the upper 4 pins of the 5-pin SPDIF header on my PROII board (check out the SPDIF header connector drawing on page 21 of the User PX865PE/P Series User Manual): +5V on pin 1, NC pin 2, SPDIF OUT pin 3, GND pin 4.

The bracket lacks SPDIF IN, but has both RCA plug AND optical TOSLINK conector SPDIF output.

The part is just labeled ASUS SPDIF, with no actual part number. I have been unable to find the part listed on any web sites. I saw one reference to such a audio bracket on the Asus P4B.

I hope this helps. I don't intend to give up my Audigy for the built-in audio capabilities of the PE PRO, but I think it's an insult for a company offering an inexpensive motherboard line to screw you out of $20 for a bracket with an RCA jack and a short cable assembly.
 
W

Woz

Senior member
Feb 26, 2000
374
0
0
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've updated, twice, to the 1.02b BIOS on my Pro II and there is NO Memory Performance option to enable/disable.

What's the freakin' deal?
 
T

tydas

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
1,284
0
76
Just so everyone knows, the drivers for the onboard sound are awful. As a matter of fact when i went to update XP prompted me to download the latest drivers from windows Update. I gave up on the sound and am buying a audigy 2. kinda sux cuz one of the reasons i got this board was onboard sound.

 
T

tcebigt

Junior Member
Jun 21, 2003
5
0
0
I have a question/problem. I just bought the pro 2, 2x512M GeIL PC3500 CL2 kit, and 2.4C and I can't even post at 240 FSB, and that's with the memory divider at 1.6x and ram voltage of 2.75 and cpu voltage of 1.550. I have already updated my bios to 1.02b. I set the agp/pci/scr to fixed at 66/33/100. BTW, what is SCR? Also, I highest I can post with my ram is DDR420 at SPD (same settings as above). One more thing, the Hardcano monitor thing is showing my CPU temp to be hovering around 48 C at idle at stock voltages, speed, and cooling. Any help would be most appreciated.
 
W

Woz

Senior member
Feb 26, 2000
374
0
0
New BIOS is for Pro ONLY, not Pro II. Still waiting for that one....
 
K

kaizersose

Golden Member
May 15, 2003
1,196
0
76
what kind/level of improvement can be expected from the "performance enhancement"? is it worth screwing with a computer and bios that have provided zero problems?
 
C

cwalker2000

Senior member
Apr 22, 2003
794
0
0
I e-mailed Albatron Tech Support about the PEM and here is the response:

Albatron has implemented the PEM function which is similar to Intel's PAT on the 875 chipset. You can download the latest bios version for your PX865PE PRO or PRO II and go to the bios setup to enable it. Please see attached pix for reference. Thank you very much.


They claim 5-10% gain. There are 2 modes: PEM1, and PEM2. They sent me a .jpg of the BIOS setting, but I do not know how to post it here.

Let me know if I can post a .jpg here so everyone can see!!
 
eva2000

eva2000

Member
Jun 21, 2003
126
0
76
Originally posted by: cwalker2000
I e-mailed Albatron Tech Support about the PEM and here is the response:

Albatron has implemented the PEM function which is similar to Intel's PAT on the 875 chipset. You can download the latest bios version for your PX865PE PRO or PRO II and go to the bios setup to enable it. Please see attached pix for reference. Thank you very much.


They claim 5-10% gain. There are 2 modes: PEM1, and PEM2. They sent me a .jpg of the BIOS setting, but I do not know how to post it here.

Let me know if I can post a .jpg here so everyone can see!!
Click to expand...

i'm using PRO2 and 1.02 beta bios with PEM support and it gives an extra 300MB/s sandra bandwidth with PEM1 if i assume PEM1 is without extreme timings enabled and PEM2 is with extreme timings enabled which gives a further 300-400MB/s sandra bandwidth

unfortunately not memory i've used to date can handle extreme timings mode on PRO2

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom