Penryn and ASUS p5n32-e SLI Plus

[panfist]

Currently if you search "p5n32-e SLI Plus penryn" in google this is the first result. This is the most up to date information that I know of concerning the e8400 and the p5n32-e SLI Plus.

The most important thing you can get from this thread is that this processor does work with most of the recent BIOS versions. All you have to do is set the multiplier to 10 when you reboot and automagically the motherboard decides to assign the true value of 9. Of course if you reboot the motherboard will also failsafe the multiplier back to 6. Thanks teknomedic.

The second most important thing you need to know is that you you can comfortably overclock the processor about 10% but then you become limited by the stock cooling on the motherboard. You can most easily achieve a 10% overclock with all your voltages set to "auto" but you can probably set try to set your Vcore at 1.200 or lower, and your NB at 1.40 or lower.

According to Buickman you should not trust hardware monitoring tools that tell you that your processor is running at full speed unless that speed is confirmed when you POST. In other words, even if you think you're getting 9x you might not be unless you most likely set the multi to 10x, and saw the correct 9x rated speed when you rebooted.

ASUS website claims in these two links that this board supports 45nm dual core processors from intel. ASUS customer service is currently not acknowledging that this board supports the e8400. They referred me to a list of CPUs which you can find here if you navigate to the page for the p5n32-e. I would post the whole list, but it is very long and in short: it does NOT include any 45nm processors. Depending on what level of customer service you ask they will either blindly state "it's not supported" to maybe "we're working on it, check back later."

http://event.asus.com/mb/45nm/
http://www.asus.com/products.a...model=1567&modelmenu=1

http://support.asus.com/cpusup...t.aspx?SLanguage=en-us


01/30/2008

I'm now using BIOS 0805 and stable at 3.4 GHz with much lower voltages. Maybe I could have been stable with these voltages in 0901 if I tried them, but it seemed way too low. I do have some spare intel HS fans pointed at the northbridge and also across my RAM. Maybe that did it. CoreTemp and HWMonitor are reporting core #1 to be at 37C and core #2 to be at 24C. These temps are constant for idle and load. Is this a software error, or is there something wrong with physically with my setup? Also, I can get up to 3.6 but it's unstable after a short while. I think because the NB gets too hot. I wonder if I reseat the stock cooler if that would maybe yield a 5% increase.


01/29/2008

On the other hand I have had some limited success with the processor and motherboard already so I know that they are at least electronically compatible. I even got the processor to POST at 3.2ghz with an 8x multiplier. I'm going to continue to mess with it and if I have any more success I'll try to share. I'm looking forward to a solution, whether it be from ASUS or the community.

 

[panfist]

Actually I tried setting multipliers of 7, and 8 and those worked, so apparently if I set the multiplier to 9 something breaks, but that's supposed to be the default multiplier of the proc.

Currently I'm on a multiplier of 8 running a very mild overclock and getting 2.93GHz stable.

 

[sblake]

What BIOS are you using?

 

[panfist]

BIOS number is 0901.

I've been fiddling around since my last post. Currently I have the thing set up as 8x multiplier, 1500mhz fsb, 3.00ghz clock at 1.2300v. the memory is slightly underclocked at 750mhz, but at this setting I was able to achieve 4-4-4-12 with 1T command rate. Mostly I just wanted to see if I could get 1T but I have a feeling that I will have more success loosening to 2T and using higher clocks.

I'm hoping that with the new BIOS I will be able to set a 9x multiplier, and see how fast i can run some benchmarks based on

a.) overclock my RAM at 4-4-4-12 1T in a 2:1 ratio with the CPU
versus
b.)2T timings and ignore the cpu:ram ratio and just clock them up as far as they go.

 

[panfist]

As of right now I have flashed the 0805 BIOS onto the board and the processor is recognized as 9x multiplier 1333mhz FSB only the first time it boots after a hard reset (ie clear CMOS jumper or remove the battery for 30 seconds). Every other time I try to boot it, I cannot force a 9x multiplier. I can force 8 no problem and even achieve 3.10ghz on the processor stable. Right now I have 9x multiplier stable except for the fact that when I reboot I cannot figure out how to achieve 9x multiplier again, without performing a hard CMOS reset.

Due to the fact that if I reboot my system I can't get the 9x multiplier, I have to accept the default settings.

 

[panfist]

I got a very short reply from ASUS technical support informing me that I need to update my BIOS, and that I should consult my manual for the correct procedure!

 

[panfist]

Bump in honor of being the first result of a google search maybe? I've updated the main post.

 

[taltamir]

nm

 

[teknomedic]

Hi all... here's what I know.... ((quick note for the E8400: if you set your Multi to 10... it will put the chip at a multi of 9 and run at the correct 3Ghz... read below for full details))

I'm running an Asus P5N32-E SLI (non-plus version)... I'm also running the E8400.

I've run BIOS 1205 and 1302, both of these can NOT ID the processor correctly.

I did call Asus tech support and got the same "it's not on the list" deal... :roll: I also told them that the list isn't very correct and up to date as I was running the E4300 before the E8400 and the E4300 isn't on the list either, even though the BIOS does ID and set it correctly.

I also told them that the documentation states that this board supports the 45nm chips... and since they only released 3 chips, that were 45nm a week or two ago I would have assumed that they'd be supported. I was told, "just because it supports 45nm chips... doesn't mean it supports THOSE 45nm chips." :| Nice... okay then.

Anyway...

I've found that you can use Multipliers of 6, 7 & 8... but 9 doesn't work....

I also found (strangely ) that if you set the multiplier to 10.... it will then set the proc to a multi of 9!!! :thumbsup: .... the problem is that anytime you reset the computer, it defaults back to a multi of 6, :thumbsdown: but if you set it to 10... you will be running at 3Ghz until your next restart.

I'm not sure if using a mulit of 7 or 8... will "stick" either... and I've not tried a multi of 11 or higher.

Hope this helps a little... at least until Asus gets off their @$$ and gets us an updated BIOS that supports the new chips. :frown:

TK.

 

[panfist]

I don't know if the BIOS between the plus or non-plus versions are interchangeable--probably not.

I was running 0805 for the plus version. It did ID the processor and apply the correct settings the FIRST TIME ONLY after a hard CMOS reset. But then when I enabled speedstep, even though the processor appeared to be set at the default of 6x...CPU-Z identified the multiplier as going to 9x at load. And I managed to overclock it successfully to about 3.4GHz. I'm not sure what was limiting me but I think this board is capable of putting the FSB even higher. I'm very new at this board.

I am trying the 0901 BIOS right now and see if I get some more results.

 

[Buickman]

I've been going through the same pain with the plus board, but here are some quirks that I've found;

Bios at 6x, fsb 1333 - Boots at 2.00Ghz, CPUz reports 3000Mhz, Sandra reports 3000Mhz, Sandra Bench 18718/14463 (by comparison, the e6600 is 21685/15090) Coretemp is 38/38c
Bios at 6x, fsb 1500 - Boots at 2.25Ghz, CPUz reports 3375Mhz, Sandra reports 3380Mhz, Sandra Bench 20825/16273 (still slower than e6600), Coretemp failed to run
Bios at 8x, fsb 1500 - Boots at 3.00Ghz, CPUz reports 3375Mhz, Sandra reports 3380Mhz, Sandra Bench 27964/21677 (should be about right)
Bios at 9x, fsb 1333 - Boots at 3.00Ghz, CPUz reports 3000Mhz, Sandra reports 3000Mhz, Sandra Bench 27925/21653 (roughly the same)
Bios at 9x, fsb 1500 - Boots at 3.37Ghz, CPUz reports 3375Mhz, Sandra reports 3380Mhz, Sandra Bench 31262/24445

All of the tests were done with XP. CPUz and Sandra are assuming the multiplier is 9x and are simply applying the fsb frequency to report CPU speed. The tell-all are the benchmarks. Bottom line is you can't believe what CPUz is reporting unless you have your multiplier at 9x. Also, another quirk, CoreTemp under XP is reporting that the temps are 38-40c, while Vista reports the same as the bios, 10-15c. At this point I believe nothing as far as temps.

Hope this helps.

 

[yzedsled]

I can't seem to get the e8400 to function. I've updated from the 1205 to the 1302 BIOS. Cleared it, no output on the video. I did get into the BIOS once. Put the old e6600 it fires right up. Any ideas?

 

[Gary Key]

ASUS is working on new versions of the BIOS for all of the 650i/680i boards at the moment. The E8500 does not fair any better by the way. We expect to see a few new releases in the next week or so.

 

[panfist]

Originally posted by: Buickman
I've been going through the same pain with the plus board, but here are some quirks that I've found;

All of the tests were done with XP. CPUz and Sandra are assuming the multiplier is 9x and are simply applying the fsb frequency to report CPU speed. The tell-all are the benchmarks. Bottom line is you can't believe what CPUz is reporting unless you have your multiplier at 9x. Also, another quirk, CoreTemp under XP is reporting that the temps are 38-40c, while Vista reports the same as the bios, 10-15c. At this point I believe nothing as far as temps.

I have set the multiplier to 10x when I reboot now and now the processor will show the full operating speed when I POST. I didn't personally notice any difference in the benchmarks but who knows. I've tried so many permutations of settings I don't even remember what exactly I had set the last time I benched.

Originally posted by: yzedsled
I can't seem to get the e8400 to function. I've updated from the 1205 to the 1302 BIOS. Cleared it, no output on the video. I did get into the BIOS once. Put the old e6600 it fires right up. Any ideas?

You're using the non-plus version of the motherboard which I only know a little bit about. I know it supposedly has a more robust northbridge and southbridge chipset. I know it's supposedly a little less stable and that's why ASUS replaced your mobo with the plus version. And I think people have been getting success with your motherboard on the xtreme forums. You will have to search through their "official e8400 OC thread."

Edit: my system seems to be unstable if I set the FSB any higher than 1400. I don't know what the cause is. The NB seems very hot and I'm not sure how to tell what temp it's at, but it seems that it needs about 1.4V to boot at 3.2GHz and 1.5V to boot at 3.4GHz, but at these speeds the system is very unstable. I put a spare intel HSF balanced between my CPU cooler and vga card pointed straight down at the NB, but it still feels super-hot. I'm thinking if I want to go higher I would need better cooling on the NB but I'm not sure what would be the best and most economical complete solution to achieve something around 450MHz FSB. I hear there's a "hole" there but I'm not quite sure what that means.

I have some AS5 so I can whip that out and reseat the stock cooling but I don't know if that's worth it. I'm worried about a thick tape of goop I see between the heatpipe fins and whatever they're cooling around the CPU. BTW I'm still using BIOS 0901 because it doesn't seem to be any worse than 0801. I still have yet to try 0803 and 0805.

 

[panfist]

I'm now using BIOS 0805 and stable at 3.4 GHz with much lower voltages. Maybe I could have been stable with these voltages in 0901 if I tried them, but it seemed way too low. I do have some spare intel HS fans pointed at the northbridge and also across my RAM. Maybe that did it.

 

[yzedsled]

It doesn't appear the non plus is going to support the 45nm chips. I am returning the P5N32-e and picked up a Maximus Formula. Same components, everything worked!

 

[Nebbis]

Hey guys, just got the last piece to my new setup (a QX9850 i.e penryn) and have been working during the night on seting it up...unfortunately I apparently got this motherboard as well (non-plus version), I bought all the parts in the same store (same price as online), only I had been waiting for the last part, i.e the processor to get started building it.

So yeah I got the exact thing the other non-plus user got here earlier, i.e it boots once, says it's an unknown processor and that I should upgrade bios. Once you reboot it never boots again, except if I clear CMOS, then once again I can boot once and then the same story again. Now, I cant even upgrade the bios given I don't have any other processor to plugin and using this one it just hangs if you hit del to get into setup.

Now reading here it seems even if I had an up-to-date bios, it still wouldn't work really well, i.e it would reset itself after every boot, so naturally I'm just looking to change it. Any ideas what I should say? Only thing I've ripped is the small lastic bags around the I/O etc, the box and everything else is in mint condition, shouldn't be a problem I hope? I don't really blame them either given it's asus who have actually written that the board in question is supposed to "support 1333mhz FSB Quad processor whenever it comes out" or something like that, which is obviously not even close to true, the processor isn't even in fact something they have in their list when checking which bioses supports which processors.

Anyway, just go back and hope to get it changed I guess, but where can I direct them to not have to wait forever for them to contact ASUS etc which will be a huge hassle.

So, just asking whether anyone has got any good ideas of where to direct them so I can get this damn computer up and running

Best regards,

Johan

 

[Buickman]

I finally realized that Asus is going to show no support for this board/chip combo, so I went with the EVGA 780i. Works like it's supposed to, and better. I've had that cpu clocked up to 4.4Ghz and scored 17881 with 3dmark06.

I think I've bought my last Asus product.

 

[panfist]

Buickman I am very tempted to do the same thing you did. ASUS is really aggravating me. The worst part about it is that two different parts of their company say contradictory things, they refuse to acknowledge this, and it's clearly a marketing lie. SHAME ON YOU ASUS! Tell us what's really going on!

 

[Daelakk]

How did you even get this processor working with the P5N32-E SLI Plus board? I can't even boot up- I install processor, fans turn on, but no video or USB power. Once I stick in my my old P4 processor again it boots up and runs perfectly. I've tried pretty much everything- I've tried resetting CMOS, changing PSU cords (4pin vs 8pin), tried removing everything off my board except cpu & ram to see if it beeped, updated the bios to 0901 ... Nothing.
Even if I got it to boot up once and say it's an incompatible chip would be an improvement.
I've emailed Asus tech, but they won't get back to me until the 13th or something because of the Chinese New Year and they're all on holidays. I'll try phoning today but I don't think I'll get much luck.
I have 3 options...
1. Wait until ASUS brings out a BIOS update for this board (which may be a long time)
2. RMA this processor, get a refund and get a new one (I'd rather not...)
3. Get a new motherboard (This is the option I'd like to do but I'm a little short on cash)

Any suggestions?

 

[panfist]

Daelakk-

I would advise that you try the processor with at least one BIOS from the 08xx series. If that's what you had in the first place, then you've pretty much exhausted all your options. i would say there's a decent chance your processor might be bad and you could RMA it for replacement while you stall ASUS getting a new BIOS out there. You could even try replacing the motherboard if that is still an option for you. I would say that most people can get a 10% overclock without too much trouble, and a 20% should also be pretty easy.

I'm in the same position and I have a post looking for a trade for a P35 or similar board.