The Unofficial ASUS P5N-E SLI 650i Board Thread

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: c2beast
this is the best that i could get http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=212812
any help on this subject would be most appreciated
thank you

I see that you have accomplished some overclock already, so I do not see a need to rush into anything.

I would recommend getting the machine working stable first, testing with Memtest 1.7 and Orthos, installing games and software that you are going to use, etc.

Watch your temperatures very closely, and read, read, read! Page 92 of this forum would be a good start...

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...AR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

ASUS Forum:
http://vip.asus.com/forum/topi...-E+SLI&SLanguage=en-us

All that assuming that you have fixed your audio problem (make sure the On Board Audio is enabled in the BIOS!), and make sure that everything is working fine before you try to upgrade the BIOS! It is very easy to get it corrupted if the machine is not stable. All the instructions for the BIOS upgrades can be found in the MOBO manual.

Install the latest chipset drivers from NVidia Web Site - just be careful not to allow the Network Manager to install! It causes all sorts of problems - you do need a driver, but when the message pops up in the end if you want to install the Network Manager, click NO.
And I would recommend to do the install three times, separate for each one of the three drivers. Just uncheck the two and leave just one at a time.

Hope this helps.

 

[JustaGeek]

I just looked at the Topic Rating and discovered that it was... poor, as rated by 6 people.

Hmm, I am sure it is poor... the whole 189 pages are oh... so poor LOL.

 

[Shampoo]

Poor rating? Strange. I found many helpful things in this thread.

The nvidia ide driver problem is (and was found by you) probably caused by something else.

The logitech setpoint software doesn't seem to be so great. I ran into problems as well here and there, but seem to have ironed things out after getting my ram stable (I think it's stable...).

So far so good. Been running the past 24 hours without any hiccups or blue screens.

Been trying to cause my system to become unstable by running multiple applications and stress testers at the same time.

Everything is kosher so far.

Just watched Shooter finally as well.

Freakin' awesome movie. Kate Mara is absolutely fine.

Sorry for the off topic discussion.

Keep the oc'ing going guys~!

Oh yeah I'm using bios 0505. Was on 0401 until I got my E6420, which has official support starting from 0505. Tried 0602 and that was horrible. I kept getting really slow post and boot times and I couldn't get things stable.

STAY AWAY.

Still haven't tried the new 0607 bios someone reported above since I"m still not 100% sure I'm stable on my current setup.

Going to attempt 1066MHz on my ram right now.

Hey Tuvoc, keep us updated on your overclocking attempts.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Shampoo]

So far 20 mins into a cpu only orthos stress test with 1.5vcore @ 3.6GHz.

Ran Sisoft Sandra benchmarks at the same time trying to make things unstable...opening programs while running these tests to try to crash the system and yet she's still going.

Temps getting warm, 58-60 celsius with my front door open (Antec P182) and 62-64 with my front door closed.

I hope this stays stable, because I've always wanted to hit 3.6GHz, which is plenty satisfying for me.

I knew that if I hit 3.4GHz I'd be just fine, since majority of the people out there are hitting 3.4GHz as a moderate overclock, but I just always wanted to hit 3.6GHz since a lot of the E6600's were doing so.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Oh yeah I have my ram at 1050MHz now.

Dunno if anyone else has noticed this, but running your ram at a certain speed to run a certain ratio between it and the cpu's fsb seems to affect stability.

I try to get the numbers EVEN, as WHOLE numbers in the BIOS before I set it.

I set my FSB to 1800MHz and then noticed my ram, which was at 1020MHz, changed from 1020MHz to something like 1018.6 or something. So I kept changing it until it was a whole number.

I noticed 1000 was even, so I punched in 1050MHz and it too stayed even, so I stuck with it and so far no hiccups, but still too early to tell.

So 3.6GHz (450MHz FSB) with 1050MHz ram speeds...hope it works out.

Cheers,
Mike

UPDATE:: Well it just failed at 32mins 4 seconds.

DANG IT~!

 

[c2beast]

hey thank you for your postivity the audio situation has not been resolved if you have any advice i am willing to try somthing new. other than that whan i play with the settings i think that the problem is a memory setting. if some one can please give me advise it would help

 

[c2beast]

and also i do not know how to update my bios. if some one can help me with that i would be thankful

 

[Tuvoc]

Originally posted by: Shampoo
After much testing I've realized, like many others, that there is a fsb hole between 700-800 something MHz when using 4GB of ram on this board.

OCZ reps have confirmed this on their forums for the 650i chipset.

I couldn't for the life of me get it stable at 800MHz, so I got fed up and just went for it and punched in 1066MHz and everything worked perfectly, of course until I ran stress tests.

I'm happily running my E6420 @ 3.4GHz (425FSB) with 1.44vcore with pencil vdroop mod and my ram with 5-5-5-15-2T @ 1020MHz with default voltages of 2.1volts with an OCZ XTC Memory cooler over my four modules.

Anyone else stuck at 700 or 667MHz on this board should give higher clocks a try, because you never know until you try.

Staggering !!

I set the memory to 860, and it booted right up !!!!!!!! Actual speed 853
Good god, this is so incredibly exciting it's hard to put it into words.

I've always been annoyed that it would not run at it's stated 800. OK I was happy that the difference between 711 and 800 would have been negligible, but you always feel that you're missing out on something, you know the feeling...

I ran some benchmarks at 711 first so I'd get a before and after picture. Now I'm running memtest 1.70 first to ensure stability before booting back into windows and re-running them
A couple of passes initally will be fine before I go back and re-run those benchmarks, but then I'll go stratight back out and let memtest run overnight, as I always do to be certain

I left the settings at 4-4-4-12 2T so it's now running beyond spec (853 vs 800) but hopefully there is a bit of headroom and that will be fine

That OCZ guy is a god !!!

 

[JustaGeek]

Great job, Shampoo! I am sure you'll find the setting, or a combination of settings that will work.

For the RAM dividers, try to find a setting that can be translated into a simple fraction, like 13/16. For 800MHz RAM, the number to aim at is 400 (DDR - Double Data Rate, 2x400=800MHz). In my case, I figured that 325/400 is 13/16, and as such must exist in BIOS. Works perfectly.

My next try would be 27/32 (have not tried that!), if I want to keep the RAM at 800, for 337.5 FSB = 1350 QDR, and so on...

And I think that you should concentrate on getting a stable OC of the CPU first, leaving RAM at stock (or the lowest working frequency, if it can take the increased bandwidth!), cause when the machine fails the OC, you don't know if it was the RAM or the processor.

That's how I understand it...

BTW, try lowering the LDT multiplier (in BIOS) from 5x to 4x - it lowers the Hyper-Transport frequency from ~1000 to ~800, and lowering it has been recommended on some forums. Apparently you should do it before increasing the FSB frequency.

And... Happy Canada Day! I have lived in Toronto, and later Mississauga for ~13 years!

 

[Tuvoc]

Well, I've tried various memory settings now - 533,667,711,860
Timings manually set at 4-4-4-12 2T but with sub-timings at auto

The performance differences are absolutely minimal, and in fact the fastest speed is not always the best. I can see that the board is altering the sub-timings at different speeds (e.g. Trc in particular) , so this is making comparison difficult. So I'm back at 711 for now which is a linked setting and actually seems to be a sweet-spot.

I also tried 333 x 8 which is of course the same CPU speed, at 667 memory, and only minor differences there too

Maybe further experimentation at another time, but frankly increases < 10% I'm not interested in, and the only way I'll get those of course is to overclock the CPU. Which I'm happy to do at a later time

 

[JustaGeek]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Tuvoc
Well, I've tried various memory settings now - 533,667,711,860
Timings manually set at 4-4-4-12 2T but with sub-timings at auto

The performance differences are absolutely minimal, and in fact the fastest speed is not always the best. I can see that the board is altering the sub-timings at different speeds (e.g. Trc in particular) , so this is making comparison difficult. So I'm back at 711 for now which is a linked setting and actually seems to be a sweet-spot.

I also tried 333 x 8 which is of course the same CPU speed, at 667 memory, and only minor differences there too

Maybe further experimentation at another time, but frankly increases < 10% I'm not interested in, and the only way I'll get those of course is to overclock the CPU. Which I'm happy to do at a later time
</end quote></div>
__________________________________________________________________________


These are exactly my findings, too.

I run my memory at the specified 800MHz, and am lucky enough to be able to accomplish that. But G.Skill HZ memory is really fantastic, rated to run at 2.0 - 2.1 Volts! It's got Micron chips, but most of the Crucial or Patriot memory is rated for 2.2V at these speeds. I think it is easier on the chipset at lower voltage.

But, as you said, the performance differences are minimal. To get the memory bandwidth significantly increased, you must increase the FSB and the CPU clock. Mine went from ~5400MB/s to ~6500MB/s, only by increasing the FSB to 325, leaving the memory at 800MHz.

When you raise the FSB and OC the CPU, your memory might need the higher frequency to accomodate the demand for higher bandwidth though - am glad yours works at >860MHz.

 

[Tuvoc]

Yes - having done some research, it seems the GEIL memory will do 4-4-4-12 at as high as 900 at 2.1v, and goes much further at looser timings. So eventually I may be at 333FSB, then whatever memory speed and timings are are best 667-900+ and of course the multiplier is fully adjustable. 333 x 9 is bang on 3Ghz and probably only requires a small vcore boost. 266 x 12 = 3.2GHz is incredibly easy but may need +.05v and may be difficult to keep cool enough. With a fully unlocked multiplier the possibilities are endless.

 

[JustaGeek]

Great! At least you know that you can do it, especially now that the memory can go higher.

An increased memory frequency does not push more data through the system, it is the job of the CPU - the memory, through the FSB, just must be able to take it!

And with the unlocked multiplier, the possibilities are... endless, as you've mentioned LOL.

Good luck!

 

[bigmunkey]

just to lwet you guys know...
BIOS 0608 is online now..
goto

ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS...socket775/P5N-E%20SLI/

enjoy.. iv got it installed now.. 0607 fooked my system up.. but this seems fine

 

[marcoswecker]

hey, did you guys noticed that asus took off the support for the e4300? you prove that on the cpu compatibility list of the p5n-sli:

http://support.asus.com/cpusup...n-us&model=P5N-E%20SLI

 

[bigmunkey]

yup, just had a look at that.. not to worry though. im using the 4300 with the 0608 BIOS and everything seems great.. i did use the 0607 BIOS, but it just kept crasing my system, giving BSODS and loads of other problems. i think my system has been so much more stable since 0608, not tried to see if i can OC more yet.. but maybe sooon..

 

[Shampoo]

Hey Tuvoc, the thing with DDR2 ram is that below 1000MHz it isn't very fast without low timings.

Try setting your ram to 5-5-5-15 or 12 with 2T timings at frequencies above 1000MHz and you will see a big gain.

With regards to the new bios. I will give it a shot over the weekend after I check to see if my overclock was successful.

Cheers,
Mike

Edit:: Also, regarding the LDT multiplier...I don't know how it works on Intel boards, but back on my Nforce 4 board for a 939 AMD platform it was very important to keep the LDT speeds between 1700-2200MHz.

To my knowledge the way Intel boards work, you don't have to worry about the LDT speeds. I will look into this, because if it does indeed work just like the AMD platform boards then this will definitely help our overclocks on Intel boards.

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: Shampoo
Hey Tuvoc, the thing with DDR2 ram is that below 1000MHz it isn't very fast without low timings.

Try setting your ram to 5-5-5-15 or 12 with 2T timings at frequencies above 1000MHz and you will see a big gain.

With regards to the new bios. I will give it a shot over the weekend after I check to see if my overclock was successful.

Cheers,
Mike

Edit:: Also, regarding the LDT multiplier...I don't know how it works on Intel boards, but back on my Nforce 4 board for a 939 AMD platform it was very important to keep the LDT speeds between 1700-2200MHz.

To my knowledge the way Intel boards work, you don't have to worry about the LDT speeds. I will look into this, because if it does indeed work just like the AMD platform boards then this will definitely help our overclocks on Intel boards.

Have you had a chance to check the memory bandwidth with SANDRA with different memory frequencies?

I am getting ~6500 MB/s with the 800MHz, and my G.Skill is apparently very "overclockable". The system is perfectly stable though (besides the SetPoint fiasco...), and I do not want to "tinker" with it for just few hundred MB/s.

Unless, of course, the gain is more substantial...

 

[Shampoo]

WOW justageek...that's pretty good for 800MHz ram.
My kit at 1050MHz is hitting 7600 something or so, I forget.

I'm at work right now.

If it's very overclockable you should overclock it~!!!

You should see high 7000's in sisoft since I'm in the 7000 range.

Oh and Happy Long Weekend and Canada Day~!

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: Shampoo
WOW justageek...that's pretty good for 800MHz ram.
My kit at 1050MHz is hitting 7600 something or so, I forget.

I'm at work right now.

If it's very overclockable you should overclock it~!!!

You should see high 7000's in sisoft since I'm in the 7000 range.

Oh and Happy Long Weekend and Canada Day~!

My Canada Day is on the 4th of July LOL. Happy celebrations at the Harbourfront, or at the Wonderland!

Your CPU is clocked at 3.4GHz vs mine at 2.925. I just don't want to "push my luck" with the stock HSF. I wonder how your bandwidth compares at, say 800MHz RAM, and 1020MHz, with the same 3.4GHz CPU.

If, obviously, your RAM can take the bandwidth with the lower frequency... Perhaps you have to keep it at 1020 to maintain the throughput. Let me know, please...

 

[Shampoo]

Hey justageek, my bandwidth before was in the 5000 range, mid to high.

With 2GB and 1Tcmd rate @ 800MHz it was in the high 5000 and low 6000 range or so, I believe.

With 4GB and 2Tcmd rate @ 1050MHz it is in the mid to high 7000 range.

Both with my cpu at 3.4GHz. I'll report back with some exact numbers after I'm done priming my current setup. (1800MHz fsb, 1050MHz ram)

These are just estimates, as I don't recall the exact numbers.

Just got home and orthos is still running~!!!! WOO HOO~!

15 hours and 36 minutes and counting.

my cpu is pegged at 54 degrees celsius (speedfan) and both cores are pegged at 62 (Core Temp Beta 0.94).

I'm well within operating temps, but would like to lower that by a bit. I'm gonna run it and let the AS5 settle and see if it drops below 60 degrees.

If not I'm gonna reapply some AS5 or get me some MX-1 and reseat the heatsink.

Maybe I just need to get myself another fan, since the one I'm using with my ultra-120 extreme is a low cfm (52cfm) Vantec Stealth 120mm.

This is again with the front door of my P182 open and the lower two 5.25" bays open for direct airflow to my heatsink and internals.

If I close the front door temperatures go up about 5 degrees on the cores and some 3 degrees on the cpu.

One thing I should mention for anyone with a P180 series case...DO add the optional fan to the upper harddrive mount to blow directly onto your videocard, because it also seems to cool the northbridge extremely well. My northbridge temps dropped from the high 50's to a cool 46 degrees steady at full load.

I never would have thought it would cool the northbridge as well.

Oh man I can't believe I'm holding steady at 3.6GHz. WICKED~!

Cheers,
Mike

 

[JustaGeek]

Great numbers! Love it!

Believe it or not, but my NB temp is about 46 deg C too, but my FSB is only 325MHz, and gets a steady airflow from the Intel stock HSF. I also have a Side Panel fan blowing onto the CPU, delivering a steady flow of air to the CPU fan.

If I decide to go higher on the overclock, I will have to get an aftermarket CPU HSF. And you know what... there are different opinions about it, but I strongly believe in HSF's directed towards the processor. It might compromise the cooling of the CPU a bit, but at least all the components around it get a constant airflow, too. And that helps the longevity of the board as a whole.

Well, your numbers are really impressive! Way to go, Shampoo!

 

[JustaGeek]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: c2beast
and also i do not know how to update my bios. if some one can help me with that i would be thankful</end quote></div>
________________________________________________________________________

c2beast,

Please don't get me wrong, but you have to read the motherboard manual - it is all explained there.

There are 3 ways to do it, and although some do not recommend using the Windows version, I have used the Windows BIOS update on another board (AsRock 775Dual-VSTA - the process is oh so much simpler with their update, no CMOS resets, just load the Setup Defaults after the update and you're ready to go!).

If you choose that method, make sure that your Anti Virus is disabled, and you turn off all the USER (your log-in name) background processes EXCEPT explorer.exe and the taskmgr.exe in the Task Manager.
DO NOT teminate processes that are marked "Network", "System" or "Local Service"!!!!!

Get your system running stable, make sure the memory and FSB timings are set properly, you do not get the hardlocks or BSOD's, and again... read, read, read. A failed BIOS update most often means... RMA.

I did not have to update the BIOS yet, have not had any problems - hope it continues...

 

[Sylvanas]

Good results guys keep em coming

Well being me, I guess I am never content with my PC's performance- which prompted me into adjusting the Sub-timings...

Here is what I am running now which is stable enough for an hour of UT2k4 I will run Orthos later. I would be very interested in what everyone else is running in terms of tight memory sub-timings as what I am at now seems to be near the tightest I can go! I am still not finished verifying the tightest I can possibly do at DDR1120, so more testing to go...

Oh and on another note has anyone had any luck raising the NB PCI-E frequency? It seems I crash when it is set to anything but the default 100. Granted, the performance benefits of a higher PCI-E frequency is only really seen when running SLI (especially in 8x8 like the 650i) but after reading a few posts at XS on the topic, some people have achieved higher overclocks' on their graphics cards' core and memory when running a higher PCI-E frequency. I figure that if the 680i automatically OC's the PCI-E bus, when linkboost is enabled, to 125mhz, the 650i SLI should be capable of similar things being within the same family and architecture.

 

[Shampoo]

Okay after over 18 hours of orthos small ffts, I ran 3dmark06 while it was running and I bluescreened.

Ran memtest and realized I wasn't stable. My cpu is stable, but not my memory.

After some testing I've come across 975 with 5-4-4-15, 2T, memtest stable for 3 hours or so.

So now I believe I am stable.

Kinda stinks because I thought I could keep my memory above 1000MHz.

Oh well...


Still happy since I got my cpu to 3.6GHz.

I'm gonna keep this as my 24/7 overclock.

New 3dmark06 score of 11526 http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=2350733

 

[Tuvoc]

I tried to set my memory at 1000 5-5-5-15 and got the dreaded long beep meaning a memory error. Of course then the BIOS defaulted back to 800, which is in the "hole" area and it wouldn't boot at all again until I removed 1 stick of memory. It then booted I set it at 711, put the 4th stick back in, and all is well. That's the trouble with the 4 x 1GB memory hole, when you're experimenting it is a total pain to have to remove and refit the 4th stick when you hit a problem. I guess 5-5-5-18 or a little more viltage may have helped.

Anyway - running at 853 at the moment. When I increase memory speed I see a *tiny* increase in Sandra bandwidth, like 1-2%. Must be the board doing something with the sub-timings ? My numbers in outright terms are quite low - 4-4-4-12 2T at 711 was 5445 and at 853 is 5571. So a 20% increase in memory speed led to a 2% increase in bandwidth. And of course this is why my real applications see no benefit from the 2%.... I may as well go back to 711 and remain in spec. Could be this behaviour is specific to the quad cores

EDIT: rebooted a couple of times and re-ran Sandra, and got 5600 one time and 5700+ the other. It seems Sandras results aren't entirely repeatable