>>> Asus P4G8X-D <<<

[Mikki]

Which coresponds to Thugsrook's results... Good info oldfart...learn something every hour...

 

[THUGSROOK]

here's a list of the bios options i settled on...

Halt On = no errors
Drives = auto (or none)
AGP/PCI Lock = 78/39
AGP Voltage = 1.5v
DDR Voltage = 2.5v
CAS = 2-2-2-5
Turbo = enabled
Idle Timer = infinite
AGP Aperture = 128mb
Video Cache Mode = UC
Delay Transaction = disabled
Printer / Serial Ports = disabled
USB, Audio, Lan, 1394, SATA = disabled
Hardware Monitor = ignore all

 

[Yozza]

I have one of these motherboards on order, but I'm concerned about the two-phase VRM. Does the voltage fluctuate very much under high current draws?

Asus' two-phase VRM solutions are usually very poor compared to 3, 4, 6 phases used by other manufacturers. People have reported 0.1v to 0.2v drops under load with the P4PE at high current draws, and similar issues with the P4G8X, not to mention over-volting.

How's the VRM in your experience? I'm hoping it'll be able to support ~3.8GHz+ HT P4 @ 1.75V, 24/7

 

[THUGSROOK]

that is an old wives tale ~ and yes p4 vcore is supposed to drop under load ~ read the intel white papers.

what you are describing is usually the result of a poor PSU.

 

[Yozza]

It may be in part, but I've read many user experiences where the CPU voltage is above Intel's Vmax spec when idling, and below Intel's specified minimum under load (taken from from Intel's P4 electrical specs)

Two-phase VRMs can be about as effective as 3, 4, + phase VRMs, but Asus' does not seem to be. There are large fluctuations under high current draw and not just transient loads; plus, switching frequency is too low to match the flat output of most 4-phase solutions.

Anyway, regardless, I guess I will find out whether the staggered differential pair, 2-phase solution used on the P4G8X will keep up with a 70A+ current draw

 

[THUGSROOK]

works fine for me

voltages @ idle and under load are posted earlier in the thread.

 

[Yozza]

I see now.

Many thanks for your wealth of information!

 

[rosco6912]

THUGS

did you go w/:
Printer / Serial Ports = disabled
USB, Audio, Lan, 1394, SATA = disabled

for a technical reason, or b/c you don't use them?

 

[THUGSROOK]

because i dont use them.

i will eventually be testing the SATA controller.

 

[THUGSROOK]

hehe ~ maybe not

lots of bad reports on those convertors ~ even the HighPoint ones are bad

 

[Mikki]

hmmm...testing a new drive as well then? hehe....

 

[dbwillis]

Nice results Thugs!

 

[jhites]

So it looks like I - We gain about:
69% increase in Memory Bandwidth
2.5-3.0% increase in CPU Arithmetic
7.5% increase in 3D (on platform - same card)
3.0% increase in 2D (on platform - same card)

And o-yes 57.7% increase when I moved
from the Radeon 8500 to the Radeon 9700 Pro
16427 - 3DMark2001 SE

All this for just a few $$$

Just for the record. There does seem to be some compatability issues with some cable modems and the Gigabit LAN. I am going to change out the Toshiba Modem from Time Warner RoadRunner with another to be sure, but my little Realtec 10/100 NIC works nice.

 

[jhites]

PS:
Thanks Thugs for all your work
testing the board. It made setup
and tweaking quick and easy.

 

[THUGSROOK]

np jhites

i had a lot of fun getting aquainted with this board.
in a lot of ways this board feels just like a p4b533 ~ extreamly solid and extreamly stable.
i havent had so much as a hiccup from this board yet :Q

ill be keeping this thread updated with any new info.
we have quite a few top notch overclockers out there playin around with this board ~ im sure well find something to talk about sooner or later.

 

[THUGSROOK]

...still running great

 

[jpetermann]

That is nice to hear... Should have nime set up this weekend. Thanks to this great post, it will be VERY easy! Thanks for all your work Thugs!



PJ

 

[jhites]

Hey Thugs

Can't seem to find any register settings to change
the DRAM Idle Timer from 16 clocks.

My old Abit board had a setting in the BIOS for DRAM = Enhanced
That changed it to 0 clocks. So it has to be there somewhere.

 

[THUGSROOK]

i havent tested these WPcredit settings yet, but here they are....

Standard ram timings register. (same register as the cas)

hex = 18>17>16

000 = infinite
001 = 0T
010 = 8T
011 = 16T
100 = 64T

 

[THUGSROOK]

im working on the sdram idle timer hack right now....
here's the wpcrset registers for those that would rather skip wpcredit.

register 7A
infinite = 00
0T = 01
8T = 02
16T = 03
64T = 04

 

[ArborBarber]

Thugs...do you think you'll be getting a GA-SINXP to mess around with? The stripped version is like $112 at NewEgg...I'd like to see what you can do with this mobo...Also, if you get a chance bigtoe over at AsusBoards put together a bios hack for it...I was hoping you might find time to check it out...the hack and the GA-SINXP...however, I realize you're not much of a Gigabyte fan correct? I was all set to get the P4G8X when someone mentioned that the GA-8INXP might be a better choice(I've been waiting for either mobo since early November...I finally gave up and settled on the GA-SINXP). I know this is somewhat "off topic"...thanks for bearing with me Thugs(and everyone). I'm not trying to be a lamer...it kinda comes naturally!

 

[THUGSROOK]

and if anyone is interested.....

here is the wpcrset register for 64us memory refresh rate - 7D 03

 

[THUGSROOK]

Originally posted by: ArborBarber
Thugs...do you think you'll be getting a GA-SINXP to mess around with? The stripped version is like $112 at NewEgg...I'd like to see what you can do with this mobo...Also, if you get a chance bigtoe over at AsusBoards put together a bios hack for it...I was hoping you might find time to check it out...the hack and the GA-SINXP...however, I realize you're not much of a Gigabyte fan correct? I was all set to get the P4G8X when someone mentioned that the GA-8INXP might be a better choice. I know this is somewhat "off topic"...thanks for bearing with me Thugs(and everyone). I'm not trying to be a lamer...it kinda comes naturally!

im so happy with this board right now, i have no plans on getting any others.
i have been keeping my eye out on the SiS655, and of course would be going with an Asus, but im not very satisfied with its performance or bios options.
compare SiS 1:1 ratio with Gbay 1:1 - Gbay wins everytime. why is that?
the SiS does look very good for its price tho.

sorry, you guys tend to lose out when im happy with a product
...ill probably be playin around with some c1 cpus insted

 

[ArborBarber]

Thugs...Thanks anyway...BTW, where did you end up getting the P4G8X...it was my original choice of mobos for the system I've been trying to assemble...and how much was it + is it still available?

 

[jpetermann]

It is at Newegg right now. I go thte last OEM tonight, but the retails are still there...

PJ