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

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: 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?

Hi Ghoti!

Yeah, if you are going to 4 Gb of RAM, you might pick the 64 bit edition of the OS. Otherwise you will not get all the advantage of the 4 Gb. Specially with the XP.
I don't know if the P5B would be the best choice for the E6600. Normally ppl use the i975x chipset or even the nvidia 680i. Since the processor does not hit high FSB and the i975x has a better performance when compared to i965P @ the same clock.
But if you have your reasons to stick with the P5B, go ahead.
Yeah in the US you only get the P5B-E not the Plus.
About the Raptor, it would give you some gain in performance for sure. Better reading access timing, etc.
But I would buy 2 320 Gb and put in RAID 0 instead of buying one Raptor. But that is my 2 cents.
You might read the article about the new Raptor.

Rafael

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: 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?

Just found that in CPU-Z program you have this information.
Just download the 1.38 version or later.
And it says the speed of the Graphical Interface under the MOTHERBOARD tab.

 

[keithabbott]

I'm looking to purchase the P5B Deluxe, but I'm hearing all kinds of stories about how sometimes the Scythe Ninja B HS requires modification and sometimes it doesn't. I'm also hearing it's running a bit hotter than it should be.

I like to find out what kind of heat sinks you all are using and the kinds of installation problems or lackthereof.

I'm extremely interested in hearing if any of you own and are using the Noctua heat sinks and which models you might be using in your P5B Deluxe. And for me, the less noise the better.

 

[russellp]

Well, paint me pink and call me crusty if I can't get Windows XP SP2 to recognise these SATA drives in AHCI mode! I have the Asus P5B (not deluxe) and two WD SATA drives that ARE seen by the BIOS and also by my Linux install. I also have two "Unknown PCI devices". Despite installing all of the drivers from the CD (apart from the JMicron ones), and then updating them from the ASUS and Intel webites, I still have only IDE?

If I try to install iata621_enu.exe (which looks like it SHOULD add support for SATA), it tells me:

"The computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing this software".

My guess is because I only have the ICH8 chipset, not the ICH8R? Strange, since when I go here:

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-022768.htm

And then here

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts...nal/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101

For the Intel Storage Matrix Manager, that is the download it gives me!

Any ideas?

EDIT: OK, Just found out that Windows doesn't support AHCI unless you re-install.

EDIT: Turns out my guess was correct. Intel don't support AHCI on the ICH8 chipset. The hacked drivers can be downloaded from here:

http://www.devilhood.com/private/ich8_ahci.rar

These work with Windows XP and Vista and support AHCI on the Asus P5B ICH8 chipset w00t!

 

[3NF]

Originally posted by: russellp
Well, paint me pink and call me crusty if I can't get Windows XP SP2 to recognise these SATA drives in AHCI mode! I have the Asus P5B (not deluxe) and two WD SATA drives that ARE seen by the BIOS and also by my Linux install. I also have two "Unknown PCI devices". Despite installing all of the drivers from the CD (apart from the JMicron ones), and then updating them from the ASUS and Intel webites, I still have only IDE?

If I try to install iata621_enu.exe (which looks like it SHOULD add support for SATA), it tells me:

"The computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing this software".

My guess is because I only have the ICH8 chipset, not the ICH8R? Strange, since when I go here:

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-022768.htm

And then here

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts...nal/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101

For the Intel Storage Matrix Manager, that is the download it gives me!

Any ideas?

EDIT: OK, Just found out that Windows doesn't support AHCI unless you re-install.

Not true - you don't have to reinstall. The reason for,

"The computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing this software".

is because you probably had the BIOS set to IDE mode for the Intel controller. You need to set it to AHCI. However, doing that usually will blue screen because you don't have the drivers installed

So, what you can do is connect your hard drive to the Jmicron controller, set the Intel controller to ACHI and boot into windows. Then, install iata621. Shutdown, move the hard drive over to the Intel controller and reboot. You should be good to go then

 

[3NF]

Originally posted by: 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!

What multiplier are you using? I have Vcore set to 1.4 in the BIOS (reads 1.35 in CPU-Z), at 425 x 8.

 

[Xvys]

I got to say I am pretty pleased with my new P5B setup. I cranked the FSB to 350 and it runs perfectly at all stock settings, no voltage increases. With the previous ram I had it was not stable at any higher FSB, even with all the voltages increased to near max.

Then I borrowed a 512mb stick of Buffalo Firestix DDR2-800 ram and it worked pefectly at 390FSB with the ram at 4:5 985mhz @ 4-4-4-12 and only stock 1.8 voltage, I think it is the Micron D9GMH ram. It also was stable at 430FSB, so obviously my original ram was suspect and it is already long gone.

I am currently running a 512 stick of Infenion PC4200 ram I bought for $9.99 which runs great at 350FSB = 700Mhz, 4-4-4-12 timings.

I have just bought some Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 ram on EBay, so I hope they will be able to o/c better.

I had bought a medium-priced heatsink but I realize it's limitations. I think I will pay the restocking fee and trade it in on a Skythe Ninja on sale at NCIX for $C39. Or are there better coolers around the same price?

I had a Gigabyte DS3 for one day that I traded in on the vanilla P5B. This is a pillar of stability in comparison and I am very pleased with it. If you want a computer that actually works, Asus makes the best motherboards.

 

[dwillingm]

Originally posted by: 3NF

Originally posted by: 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!

What multiplier are you using? I have Vcore set to 1.4 in the BIOS (reads 1.35 in CPU-Z), at 425 x 8.

my multiplier is at 9.

 

[DNyholm]

Hello all,
I just hooked up my computer last night:

P5B Deluxe
E6400
Patriot DDR2800
ATI 1950XT
WD SATA HD
Samsung SATA DVD

I was extremely worried about getting it running after reading these threads but it POSTed right as I turned it on and I went into the BOIS and disabled the floppy and told it where to boot from. I was able to install XP with no problems and all of the drivers( soundmax has no crackles and LAN works). currently running at 36*C idle and 50*C running orthos with a AC Freezer 7.

I noticed that I do have version 0507 BIOS and I would like to OC a little (maybe up to 350 FSB). Since everything is running fine, do you think I should upgrade the BOIS to 1004 or just leave well enough alone? Of course i've read about the nightmares when people flashed their BOIS and also that 1004 wasn't much of an upgrade either. Any suggestions??

 

[dwillingm]

Can anyone tell me why the ram speed I select in the bios is not the ram time reported when the computer boots up?

I have ddr2-800 ram, but the only time it reports as pc2-6400 during bootup is if the system is not overclocked (FSB = 266) and i set the speed to ddr2-800.

for example, right now i am at 425 FSB x 8, and am setting the ram to ddr2 850, however when I boot up, it reports the ram as pc-4200. I have selected many different FSB frequencies and DDR2 ram speeds greater then ddr2-800, but the ram always posts as less then pc-6400 when I boot up.. I have even set the ram to ddr2-800 using other FSB speeds greater then 266, but the ram still reports as less then pc2-6400. The only way I can get it to boot saying pc2-6400 is when the system is not overclocked, and I select ddr2-800.

any ideas on what is going on?

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: dwillingm
Can anyone tell me why the ram speed I select in the bios is not the ram time reported when the computer boots up?

I have ddr2-800 ram, but the only time it reports as pc2-6400 during bootup is if the system is not overclocked (FSB = 266) and i set the speed to ddr2-800.

for example, right now i am at 425 FSB x 8, and am setting the ram to ddr2 850, however when I boot up, it reports the ram as pc-4200. I have selected many different FSB frequencies and DDR2 ram speeds greater then ddr2-800, but the ram always posts as less then pc-6400 when I boot up.. I have even set the ram to ddr2-800 using other FSB speeds greater then 266, but the ram still reports as less then pc2-6400. The only way I can get it to boot saying pc2-6400 is when the system is not overclocked, and I select ddr2-800.

any ideas on what is going on?

What is your CPU? 6600? Or 4300?
It might be the NBCC.

 

[dwillingm]

i have the 6600.

 

[dwillingm]

i have the 6600. Can the NBCC be adjusted to correct for this ram discrepancy?

 

[Rafael]

I posted a reply while ago with a link to XS guide how to OC.
Basically is the ratio (Default Multi/Set Multi) x FSB.
When you use the default multi it works? Set the FSB and the DRAM frequency? It works 1:1?

 

[dwillingm]

I am leaving the multi at default (9)

at stock speeds (266 FSB), the ram posts as pc2-6400

the higher i set the FSB, the lower the PC2 ram speed gets. at 400FSB, 1:1, 800 DDR-2, it posts at pc2-4300

 

[3NF]

Originally posted by: dwillingm
I am leaving the multi at default (9)

at stock speeds (266 FSB), the ram posts as pc2-6400

the higher i set the FSB, the lower the PC2 ram speed gets. at 400FSB, 1:1, 800 DDR-2, it posts at pc2-4300

I would ignore what is being said when it posts. For me, it says pc2-4300, even though in the BIOS I have it set to 425 FSB (1:1).

 

[dwillingm]

Originally posted by: 3NF

Originally posted by: dwillingm
I am leaving the multi at default (9)

at stock speeds (266 FSB), the ram posts as pc2-6400

the higher i set the FSB, the lower the PC2 ram speed gets. at 400FSB, 1:1, 800 DDR-2, it posts at pc2-4300

I would ignore what is being said when it posts. For me, it says pc2-4300, even though in the BIOS I have it set to 425 FSB (1:1).

ok, thanks for the info. is there any program that can confirm what speed the ram is actually at?

thanks for the patience and all the help everyone.

 

[Rafael]

Try CPU-Z 1.38 or later version.

Rafael

 

[3NF]

Yup, just what Rafael said. The memory tab of CPU-Z will tell you what speed your RAM is running at.

 

[Rafael]

Yeah I never noticed what you said dwillingm, because I leave that Ai screen. So I don't get to see the info.
But it does recognize wrong the memory bandwidth.
Well but on CPU-Z it says right for me.

What I noticed looking on CPU-Z that started to bothering me, was that on MOTHERBOARD tab I am getting the info that my Graphical width is x1 instead of x16.
I checked on the BIOS it is set right, and when I use the stock speeds it does recognize right the x16.
Now I wonder if it is a CPU-Z bug or it is running x1. I gonna run some benchmarks and check.
So basically it only happens when OC my system.
Could someone check and report back?

TIA!

Rafael

 

[DNyholm]

Originally posted by: Rafael
Yeah I never noticed what you said dwillingm, because I leave that Ai screen. So I don't get to see the info.
But it does recognize wrong the memory bandwidth.
Well but on CPU-Z it says right for me.

What I noticed looking on CPU-Z that started to bothering me, was that on MOTHERBOARD tab I am getting the info that my Graphical width is x1 instead of x16.
I checked on the BIOS it is set right, and when I use the stock speeds it does recognize right the x16.
Now I wonder if it is a CPU-Z bug or it is running x1. I gonna run some benchmarks and check.
So basically it only happens when OC my system.
Could someone check and report back?

TIA!

Rafael

On CPUz mine is stating that the Graphic Interface Link Width is x16 and max. Supported is x16 (version PCI-Express).

 

[Rafael]

DNyholm do you have your system overclocked?

 

[DNyholm]

Originally posted by: Rafael
DNyholm do you have your system overclocked?

Yes, but VERY, VERY little...FSB up to 285.

 

[Rafael]

hhhmmm...
I gonna try that too.

Thanks!!!!

 

[3NF]

Originally posted by: Rafael
Yeah I never noticed what you said dwillingm, because I leave that Ai screen. So I don't get to see the info.
But it does recognize wrong the memory bandwidth.
Well but on CPU-Z it says right for me.

What I noticed looking on CPU-Z that started to bothering me, was that on MOTHERBOARD tab I am getting the info that my Graphical width is x1 instead of x16.
I checked on the BIOS it is set right, and when I use the stock speeds it does recognize right the x16.
Now I wonder if it is a CPU-Z bug or it is running x1. I gonna run some benchmarks and check.
So basically it only happens when OC my system.
Could someone check and report back?

TIA!

Rafael

Yup, that's an issue with the P5B-Deluxe. The only way I was able to get it to change from x1 to x16 when overclocking was sto manually set the Northbridge and Southbridge voltages. Leaving either one on Auto (when overclocking) would always cause it to be at x1.