*** Official ASUS P5B / P5B Deluxe Thread ***

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: dwillingm
my zalman cnps9500 AT heatsink and fan has a PWM fan control. from what I have read it looks like the p5b will not support this pwm functionality, and the fan is going to have to run at 100% all the time.. does anyone know if this is true, or how to get around it?

I haven't read about it yet. The PWM is the fourth wire on the fan connector?
Well if it is this feature, I really didn't like it. Because to set this feature on Windows the system reboots every time you change the setting, and change it in the BIOS.
It is not like on the Abit with uGuru.
So I do not bother.
But if it is something that worries you, I think the Zalman HSF comes with a device that reduces the speed of it. And Zalman is already a quiet solution.

BTW, nice ram you chose. I haven't seen ppl with compatibility problems.
About the SATA I agree with skarkar. Just use the JMicron for the IDE, and put all the SATA devices on the ICH8R.

Rafael

 

[Archivist]

Help please, having trouble with P5B MB.

Crashes w/IE6/7 (IE 7 uninstalled) consistently but intermittently upon loading images, going back to prior page displays. Games - DVDShrink etc. cause same problem w/totally blank screen followed by re-boot back into windows.

2nd MB w/multiple WinXP SP2 & updates installed.

Configuration - Mother Board: P5b Deluxe BIOS P5WDH 1004
Processor: E6600 Retail
Memory: 2 GiG of Crucial (TY2Kit12864AA663) {2 x 1GB DDR2 5300}
New 500GB Sata - Maxtor (7h500F0)
Powersupply: 550 Watt Zumax (ZU550W)

Not Overclocked - not stable enough

Event log does not provide much info as to cause or what is occurring. Thinking it might be a memory "dump" but nothing recorded, so unable to track.

Suggestions and Help Please, no response from ASUS Memory is listed at Crucial but not can not find again.

Dave & Grant

 

[dwillingm]

i talked to asus and they said the board supports the pwm fan. we will see tomorrow when the powersupply arrives.

i installed the zalman cnps9500 at heatsink. it is making a flush fit against the cpu heatspreader, but it comes with only 1 bracket, which goes across the heatsink. the entire heatsink can rotate left and right a few degrees, but it cant lift off of the cpu surface. this worries me some... has anyone else used this heatsink before? is this normal? waiting to hear back from zalman.

 

[zenith1]

I just have a question about the revision 1.03G (plain P5B, not deluxe) of this motherboard. Is it equipped with the C2 stepping of the P965 chipset?

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: Archivist
Help please, having trouble with P5B MB.

Crashes w/IE6/7 (IE 7 uninstalled) consistently but intermittently upon loading images, going back to prior page displays. Games - DVDShrink etc. cause same problem w/totally blank screen followed by re-boot back into windows.

2nd MB w/multiple WinXP SP2 & updates installed.

Configuration - Mother Board: P5b Deluxe BIOS P5WDH 1004
Processor: E6600 Retail
Memory: 2 GiG of Crucial (TY2Kit12864AA663) {2 x 1GB DDR2 5300}
New 500GB Sata - Maxtor (7h500F0)
Powersupply: 550 Watt Zumax (ZU550W)

Not Overclocked - not stable enough

Event log does not provide much info as to cause or what is occurring. Thinking it might be a memory "dump" but nothing recorded, so unable to track.

Suggestions and Help Please, no response from ASUS Memory is listed at Crucial but not can not find again.

Dave & Grant

Have you ran memtest? Something like that?
It is random reboot? Or every time you do these things you said the system reboots?
Everything is stock? Have you tried to raise the vcore? Are the voltages stable?
If the memtest pass and raise the vcore don't help.
I would say that you getting HDD error. Something like that.

Try those things and answer those questions. And we might have a solution for you.

Rafael

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: dwillingm
i talked to asus and they said the board supports the pwm fan. we will see tomorrow when the powersupply arrives.

i installed the zalman cnps9500 at heatsink. it is making a flush fit against the cpu heatspreader, but it comes with only 1 bracket, which goes across the heatsink. the entire heatsink can rotate left and right a few degrees, but it cant lift off of the cpu surface. this worries me some... has anyone else used this heatsink before? is this normal? waiting to hear back from zalman.

I never installed it. Because I use stock now, and I am going watercooler in a few weeks.
But I think as long as you follow the instructions you are OK.
It is strange that you can move it, the stock cooler here sits very tight to the CPU that can't be moved.

Rafael

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: zenith1
I just have a question about the revision 1.03G (plain P5B, not deluxe) of this motherboard. Is it equipped with the C2 stepping of the P965 chipset?

I think so, and even supports the 1333 Mhz FSB I think.
I read a post from Gary Key saying something about that.
Because on the review of AT they said the 1.02g was the C2 stepping.
So I think the 1.03g is the C2 also.

 

[dwillingm]

my power supply has two 4 pin 12 volt connectors. one is labeled cpu1 and the other is cpu2.

i am assumming I should only hook up the 4 pin connector labeled cpu1, and not take off the black cap on the motherboard to hookup the second 4 pin connector. is this correct?

thanks!!

 

[Blouge]

my zalman cnps9500 AT heatsink and fan has a PWM fan control. from what I have read it looks like the p5b will not support this pwm functionality, and the fan is going to have to run at 100% all the time.. does anyone know if this is true, or how to get around it?

There are five 3-pin fan headers (the CPU fan header actually has a 4th pin) on the MB. The CPU fan header and 1 of the other headers cannot be controlled. The other 3 headers are controlled all by one PWM setting. So this mobo is not very flexible

I don't understand the "Q-Control" feature which is supposed to be PWM for the CPU fan. It doesn't seem to work at all so I just left it off in the BIOS.

I think each P5B Deluxe fan header supports a beefy 2.0 A (24 W), so you might be able to safely plug your CPU fan into one of the chassis fan headers and then use PWM on it. Check your mobo and fan specs to make sure the max current is not too large; you do not want to fry your mobo.

i am assumming I should only hook up the 4 pin connector labeled cpu1, and not take off the black cap on the motherboard to hookup the second 4 pin connector. is this correct?

Sounds right. The only reason for using CPU2 would be if you had multiple rails, and were trying to balance the rail usage (assuming the PSU manufacturer even told you how they are distributed). I'm not sure, but maybe you could use CPU2 for another fan.

 

[sandman21]

I was hoping to get some help with the P5B deluxe. The specs can be found here (http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wis...cWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=4394187]Link to Newegg[/url] The basics are PSU http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817194003]ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT[/url], CPU is a C2D 6600, ram http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146565]Crucial Ballistix 2GB[/url]. I ordered an after-market heatsink, it took longer to arrive than the rest of the computer. So I installed the stock fan that came with the C2D, when the heatsink arrived I removed the stock fan, and placed the new heatsink on. I unfortunately installed it wrong and it could not properly cool the CPU. I shut down the computer, re-installed the stock heatsink, and booted the computer, it booted right up and was running at 30C. The next day I removed the motherboard to properly install the heatsink, I did so. Go to boot the computer and it will not POST, I check all connections, but still wont post. It does not beep, or send anything to the monitor, the fans, HDD, and DVD-RW, will spin up, but that?s it. It sounds like the problem is with the RAM volts, but I was able to load Windows, and use it for several days with no problems. Do you think the problem is with the motherboard? Or something else? I think I am going to RMA the board and get a new one. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ghoti]

To start, I confess my profound ignorance.

I am trying to understand the differences among the various P5B boards. I see that AT recently published the Intel P695 Roundup Recap. As I look at the charts on the second page, I see reference to the P5B-E and to a 'P5B-E Deluxe WiFi/AP' (which I can't find in NewEgg's on-line catalogue -- only an ASUS P5B-Deluxe WiFi-AP). In the 'Awards' section of the Roundup Recap, AT gives the 'gold' to the 'ASUS P5B-Deluxe WiFi-AP.' I look on the ASUS site and I see a P5B-E, a P5B-E Deluxe, and, of course, the ASUS P5B-Deluxe WiFi-AP. What is the distinction of the '-E' suffix? Is the ASUS P5B-Deluxe WiFi-AP a board like those (in significant respect) with the '-E' suffix? Exactly which board did AT test and give the 'gold' to?

I am intending to use an 8800GTX card, and of course, I want it to run in X16 mode. I realize I can never run two of the cards in any P965 board, but will the 8800GTX run in X16 mode on any of these boards?

Can someone educate me on these points?

Thanks much!

 

[dwillingm]

I read that the blue pcie slot on the top is 16x, but the black one on the bottom is 4x. But the manual also says the board has two 16x pcie slots? Can someone explain? Does this mean I have to install my video card on the top pcie slot to get 16x?

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: sandman21
I was hoping to get some help with the P5B deluxe. The specs can be found here (http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wis...cWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=4394187]Link to Newegg[/url] The basics are PSU http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817194003]ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT[/url], CPU is a C2D 6600, ram http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146565]Crucial Ballistix 2GB[/url]. I ordered an after-market heatsink, it took longer to arrive than the rest of the computer. So I installed the stock fan that came with the C2D, when the heatsink arrived I removed the stock fan, and placed the new heatsink on. I unfortunately installed it wrong and it could not properly cool the CPU. I shut down the computer, re-installed the stock heatsink, and booted the computer, it booted right up and was running at 30C. The next day I removed the motherboard to properly install the heatsink, I did so. Go to boot the computer and it will not POST, I check all connections, but still wont post. It does not beep, or send anything to the monitor, the fans, HDD, and DVD-RW, will spin up, but that?s it. It sounds like the problem is with the RAM volts, but I was able to load Windows, and use it for several days with no problems. Do you think the problem is with the motherboard? Or something else? I think I am going to RMA the board and get a new one. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

First of all, welcome to AT!

I think a good test if you didn't RMA your mb would be trying to boot with just one stick of memory, and try all slots.
Take all the card off, except of VGA.
Try to boot with less devices as possible.
Like just VGA, memory, CPU and your main HDD.
Then once you boot into Windows, you turn it off and start to put one device by one and turn on the computer. So you can find out what is your problem.

Rafael

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: ghoti
To start, I confess my profound ignorance.

I am trying to understand the differences among the various P5B boards. I see that AT recently published the Intel P695 Roundup Recap. As I look at the charts on the second page, I see reference to the P5B-E and to a 'P5B-E Deluxe WiFi/AP' (which I can't find in NewEgg's on-line catalogue -- only an ASUS P5B-Deluxe WiFi-AP). In the 'Awards' section of the Roundup Recap, AT gives the 'gold' to the 'ASUS P5B-Deluxe WiFi-AP.' I look on the ASUS site and I see a P5B-E, a P5B-E Deluxe, and, of course, the ASUS P5B-Deluxe WiFi-AP. What is the distinction of the '-E' suffix? Is the ASUS P5B-Deluxe WiFi-AP a board like those (in significant respect) with the '-E' suffix? Exactly which board did AT test and give the 'gold' to?

I am intending to use an 8800GTX card, and of course, I want it to run in X16 mode. I realize I can never run two of the cards in any P965 board, but will the 8800GTX run in X16 mode on any of these boards?

Can someone educate me on these points?

Thanks much!

Yeah in the tables that show the scores of the mobos there is a typo.
It is the Asus P5B Deluxe. Not the P5B-E Deluxe.
Asus has several flavors for the i965P chipset starting with the P5B (Vanilla), P5B TeleSky, then the P5B-E(rev 1.01g, 1.02g, 1.03g), P5B-E Plus (only available in Europe I think, and it has 100% solid capacitors), P5B Deluxe, P5B Deluxe WiFi, Commando, and they announced the models P5B-Plus Vista Edition and the P5B Premium Vista Edition. Also you can check the models here.
And yours and dwillingm doubt about the 16x PCI-ex lanes, the P5B Deluxe has 2 physical PCI-ex 16x lanes, that one works in 16x and the other 4x.
And if the black PCI-ex works as a 16x lane, I don't know for sure. You might check it.
But my VGA is running on the blue slot.

Rafael

 

[dwillingm]

My P5B_deluxe is up and running thanks to everyones help. Thank you to everyone, especially Rafael for the help.

How do I tell what revision board I have? I have looked in several places and cant locate it.

If I was to switch my video card to the lower (black) PCIe slot, how would I be able to tell if it was running at 4x or 16x?

 

[sandman21]

Originally posted by: Rafael

First of all, welcome to AT!

I think a good test if you didn't RMA your mb would be trying to boot with just one stick of memory, and try all slots.
Take all the card off, except of VGA.
Try to boot with less devices as possible.
Like just VGA, memory, CPU and your main HDD.
Then once you boot into Windows, you turn it off and start to put one device by one and turn on the computer. So you can find out what is your problem.

Rafael

I did as you suggested and still nothing. So I RMA the board. Thanks for the help

 

[dwillingm]

I was able to Overclock to 335 FSB, with 838 DDR2. I cant post any higher then 335 though. I tried the 400 and 401 FSB that were supposed to be more stable but no luck.

My cpu voltage is at 1.45, and I turned spectrum off. Are there any other voltages or settings that I am forgetting?

Those links to bios screen shots are not up right now.

Thanks!

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: dwillingm
My P5B_deluxe is up and running thanks to everyones help. Thank you to everyone, especially Rafael for the help.

How do I tell what revision board I have? I have looked in several places and cant locate it.

If I was to switch my video card to the lower (black) PCIe slot, how would I be able to tell if it was running at 4x or 16x?

You are welcome! Anything you need just ask.

The revision of the mb can be found with the model name silk screened by the dimm slots.

I have no idea. But there must be some software that would tell you that.

 

[dwillingm]

Thanks.. I have the 1.03g

I tried setting pcie frequency to 100, and pci freqency to 33, as well as using some higher voltages on some of the other components, but i still cant post past 335 FSB.

I am using the Kingston value RAM DDR2-800, but I dont see how this could be the problem, becasue at 335, it is isnt even at 800 yet when I am using 1:1. Maybe the Crucial Ballistix RAM will help somehow. Would the slower RAM timings on the Kingston value RAM have an impact on the FSB overclocking?

Any ideas on what I can try to get in the 400 FSB range?

 

[ghoti]

Thanks Rafael; you are a prince.

I had looked at the list you linked to on the Asus site. I am dense, I admit, but I still cannot understand the essential differences between the P5B Deluxe (+- WiFi-AP) and the P5B-E (and any of its iterations).

I read somewhere (can't recall re which mobo) about capacitor failures. Wouldn't it be good to have the better capacitors?

Gonna pull the trigger Monday or Tuesday -- guess I'm going to go for the P5B.

I'm still trying to make up my mind among (a) 4GB DDR2-667 CL3 Crucial Ballistix; (b) 4GB DDR2-533 CL4 Kingston; and (c) 4 GB DDR2-800 CL4 Supertalent. The 533 CL4 Kingston is $135 cheaper than the 800 CL4 Supertalent, which is $20 cheaper than the 667 CL3 Crucial Ballistix.

I am leaning toward the 667 CL3 Crucial Ballistix. While $20 means nothing, $135 does; I think though, the extra performance with the 667 CL3 Ballistix may be worth the extra $. I considered the 800 CL4 Crucial Ballistix, but that is $200 more than the 667 CL3 Crucial Ballistix, the next most expensive option. (Not only the $200, but also CL4 vs. CL3.) I'm interested in real world performance difference. 5% faster in some limited circumstances (e.g., some particular application which I hardly ever use) is not worth much money to me. (I like games, but not much FPS stuff; I expect to get and enjoy Oblivion.)

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: dwillingm
Thanks.. I have the 1.03g

I tried setting pcie frequency to 100, and pci freqency to 33, as well as using some higher voltages on some of the other components, but i still cant post past 335 FSB.

I am using the Kingston value RAM DDR2-800, but I dont see how this could be the problem, becasue at 335, it is isnt even at 800 yet when I am using 1:1. Maybe the Crucial Ballistix RAM will help somehow. Would the slower RAM timings on the Kingston value RAM have an impact on the FSB overclocking?

Any ideas on what I can try to get in the 400 FSB range?

Try to go straight to 400 FSB. And set the timings manually and the vdimm as the specs of the memory.

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: ghoti
Thanks Rafael; you are a prince.

I had looked at the list you linked to on the Asus site. I am dense, I admit, but I still cannot understand the essential differences between the P5B Deluxe (+- WiFi-AP) and the P5B-E (and any of its iterations).

I read somewhere (can't recall re which mobo) about capacitor failures. Wouldn't it be good to have the better capacitors?

Gonna pull the trigger Monday or Tuesday -- guess I'm going to go for the P5B.

I'm still trying to make up my mind among (a) 4GB DDR2-667 CL3 Crucial Ballistix; (b) 4GB DDR2-533 CL4 Kingston; and (c) 4 GB DDR2-800 CL4 Supertalent. The 533 CL4 Kingston is $135 cheaper than the 800 CL4 Supertalent, which is $20 cheaper than the 667 CL3 Crucial Ballistix.

I am leaning toward the 667 CL3 Crucial Ballistix. While $20 means nothing, $135 does; I think though, the extra performance with the 667 CL3 Ballistix may be worth the extra $. I considered the 800 CL4 Crucial Ballistix, but that is $200 more than the 667 CL3 Crucial Ballistix, the next most expensive option. (Not only the $200, but also CL4 vs. CL3.) I'm interested in real world performance difference. 5% faster in some limited circumstances (e.g., some particular application which I hardly ever use) is not worth much money to me. (I like games, but not much FPS stuff; I expect to get and enjoy Oblivion.)

Well I think the P5B-E has only one PCI-ex 16x lane. Has a 4 phase voltage regulator.
And other minor things that change, the goodies that are packed with it, and etc.

About the capacitors, it does help in the voltage regulation having solid caps. But the main point is to have good quality capacitors, the best one are japanese's Rubycom. My Abit NF7-S rev. 2.0 has it, and I have it for over 4 years, and it never got stuffed or exploded.
I have read a few incidents with P5Bs that had some bad caps. But I guess you got to be unlucky. And keep in mind that only the P5B-E Plus, the Commando and the P5B Vista Edition has the solid caps.
I don't know where you live at, but the P5B-E Plus only can be found in Europe I think.
Also the Gigabyte DS3, DS4, DQ6 has solid caps, and so the Universal abit AB9 QuadGT.

ANd about the memory, I have SuperTalent DDR2-800 4-4-3-8 bought when it was shipped with Micron D9 chips. I don't know with what chips they are shipping their memory. The Crucial Ballistix uses the Micron D9 chips on it. Even the 667 Mhz CL3.
You will be able to achieve 800 Mhz with 4-4-4-12 timings on the Crucial Ballistix. I haven't read about how it does perform with 4 Gb though.
I tell you for sure that choosing the memory is always a tough decision. You might check some threads in the CPU/Overclocking section. I think Buffalo Firestix 800 Mhz is shipped with Micron D9 also.
But if you intend to OC and squeeze the perform of the memory. It does worth spending the extra with memo.
BTW, what CPU are you getting to pair with the Asus P5B and this memory?

Rafael

 

[ghoti]

Thanks again Rafael.

I'm in the US. Looks like NewEgg has the P5B-E Text, but not P5B-E Plus

I'm going for the E6600. I was most interested in stability. Will start out with XP and switch to Vista in a few months, or when it's clear MS has its s#*t together on that OS.

I thought I might OC the processor up to something shy of 3.0GHz; I had no plans to do anything with the memory. I am a newb at this, so I'm looking forward to a REAL adventure!

By the way (and I apologize for the off-topic), I was first thinking about a 74G Raptor for the OS and games and such, and a second HD, a Seagate 320 Gb (SATA-II 16mb Cache) for vids, etc., but am now leaning toward omitting the Raptor on the theory that it's not really going to be THAT MUCH faster to justify the extra expense. What you think on this?

 

[imported_buc]

I send the MB and Video card to replace and the computer still don't post.I can't belive that two MB and Video card can be defective.What can be wrong the cpu and the memory are left.

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: buc
I send the MB and Video card to replace and the computer still don't post.I can't belive that two MB and Video card can be defective.What can be wrong the cpu and the memory are left.

Buc,

Do you have a friend that has DDR2 memory? Try that out.
Most of the time that I see this error, that the system does not POST, it is memory related.
Try one stick, different slots, all the combinations that are possible.

Good luck!

Any news or doubt just ask!

Rafael