Asus P5Q Pro,auto voltages - Are all voltages increased when overclocking? - Some are,& I've now created a partial table

[Assimilator1]

[update]Confirmed yes - Vcore, CPU PLL, NBv & vFSB term., possibly not vDIMM (to be confirmed).

I know the vcore is automatically bumped up as FSB speed is increased, I can see that in the bios & CPU-Z etc.
Does the bios do the same thing to the chipset voltages?. Annoyingly the bios does not show actual chipset voltages etc, unlike the ROG version.

[update] All my voltages on manual now.

Anyone know for sure?
TIA

Btw this mbrd is running a Q6600 G0, currently @3.35GHz, 372 MHz FSB.

[update] So far I have found out that not just on auto, but also on the lowest (base) manual setting for the CPU PLL & vFSB that this mbrd heavily over volts these 2 settings above a certain (unknown) FSB.
This article originally linked by n7, shows that at 400MHz FSB the CPU PLL is at 1.83v on the 1.5v setting & the vFSB is at 1.43v on the 1.2v setting!:Q. They latter found out that with a 45nm CPU the vFSB over-volts far less on auto or the lowest setting but it's still worth chosing at least the 2nd lowest manual setting. (Checkout their thread related to the article for numbers).

My rig is at 372MHz FSB & I found (using a Digital Multi Meter & measuring points from the linked article above) that the CPU PLL was at 1.81v for the 1.5v setting! & the vFSB was at 1.31v for the 1.2v setting, not as bad but still significant.
Setting the CPU PLL voltage to 1.52v brought it inline to 1.54v.

For my Q6600 G0 (65nm), vcore setting 1.40625v
At all the tested FSB speeds I noted the following :-
CPU PLL 1.52v setting = 1.545v
vFSB Term. 1.22v setting = 1.229v.

At 362,372 & 392 FSB CPU PLL & vFSB Term at base manual settings of 1.5v & 1.2v was exactly the same as auto (& probably is for all FSB speeds).
'Actual' voltages are measured using my digital multi meter.

FSB _ CPU PLL setting _ actual _ FSB Term. setting _ actual
333 ______ auto ______ 1.722 ______ auto _______ 1.315
342 ______ auto ______ 1.820 ______ auto _______ 1.315
352 ______ auto ______ 1.820 ______ auto _______ 1.315
362 ______ auto ______ 1.820 ______ auto _______ 1.315
372 ______ auto ______ 1.820 ______ auto _______ 1.315
382 ______ auto ______ 1.820 ______ auto _______ 1.315
392 ______ auto ______ 1.820 ______ auto _______ 1.424 (x8 multiplier)

Hardware Canucks readings for E6400 (65nm)
400 ______ auto ______ 1.83v ______ auto _______ 1.43v
400 ______ 1.5v ______ 1.83v ______ 1.2v _______ 1.43v
400 ______ 1.54v _____ 1.58v ______ 1.24v ______ 1.26v

Asus told me that vcore would affect auto voltages too so I choose just 2 FSBs & then altered the vcore.

372 MHz FSB
vcore setting _ CPU PLL setting _ actual _ FSB Term. setting _ actual
1.4v ________ auto & 1.5v ____ 1.82 ________ auto & 1.2 __ 1.315
1.39375v ____ auto __________ 1.82 ________ auto _______ 1.315

I had to drop the multiplier & FSB so I was sure my CPU would boot (does not effect auto voltages at these speeds, see above).

342 MHz FSB (x8 multiplier)
1.35v _______ auto __________ 1.82 ________ auto _______ 1.315
1.3v ________ auto __________ 1.82 ________ auto _______ 1.315
1.25v _______ auto __________ 1.82 ________ auto _______ 1.315

No change for those 2 settings then, maybe it alters the NBv etc? but I can't easily test those .

So to avoid heavy over-volting of the CPU PLL & FSB Term. set to the 2nd lowest manual setting. Clever Asus! :roll:

 

[ghost recon88]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2248312&enterthread=y

I meant yes, it does auto-ramp up other voltages besides vcore.

 

[jjmIII]

same cpu/board....interested to hear more.

 

[Assimilator1]

Originally posted by: ghost recon88
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2248312&enterthread=y

I meant yes, it does auto-ramp up other voltages besides vcore.

Ah ok ,thanks

Does anyone know what the voltages are set to at set points?

 

[walk2k]

How can you even tell, is there a program that measure those voltages? They are not reported by the Winbond chip, or in the BIOS anywhere I can tell.

I use auto voltage for all that stuff, except CPU and DRAM of course. No crashes or errors, but I guess it would be good to try lower voltage for the other parts.

Update: I changed most of the other voltages to the "standard" level - most were 1.10, some 1.50, I just used whatever it said was "standard".

No differences noticed so far. Same performance, same heat, no crashes, etc... Guess I will leave it that way.

 

[Tullphan]

I had my P5Q Pro set to "Auto" when initially overclocking my Q6700 (coupled with 2x2GB Mushking DDR2-800 @ 5-4-4-12 @ 1.8V & a HD4850).
I loaded up CPU-Z & it was showing 1.4x volts. I restarted, went into the bios & set the voltage to 1.3 on the CPU, 1.12 on the NB & 1.0 on the SB.
So far, it's running stable in Prime 95. Temps are 49,49,47,47 w/an ambient of 19c.

 

[Assimilator1]

So what speed is your CPU & FSB at?
Btw your rig link is wrong (it just directs me to my own 'edit' page).

Originally posted by: walk2k
How can you even tell, is there a program that measure those voltages? They are not reported by the Winbond chip, or in the BIOS anywhere I can tell.

This is the trouble, I was hoping that maybe someone had got readings from a multimeter, or information from Asus stating xxx voltage at xxx FSB, or that someone had found out that the X48 mbrd (which does have full voltage monitoring) gives the same level of voltage boost as the P5Qs & had recorded them at different FSB speeds, but I guess not.

I'm going to see if Asus can tell me.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
So what speed is your CPU & FSB at?
Btw your rig link is wrong (it just directs me to my own 'edit' page).

Originally posted by: walk2k
How can you even tell, is there a program that measure those voltages? They are not reported by the Winbond chip, or in the BIOS anywhere I can tell.

This is the trouble, I was hoping that maybe someone had got readings from a multimeter, or information from Asus stating xxx voltage at xxx FSB, or that someone had found out that the X48 mbrd (which does have full voltage monitoring) gives the same level of voltage boost as the P5Qs & had recorded them at different FSB speeds, but I guess not.

I'm going to see if Asus can tell me.

OK...I think I got the link to "My Rig" fixed.
Anyhow, it's a Q6700 running @ 3.2GHz (400x8), 1.288V.

 

[Assimilator1]

Yep your rig link is fixed :thumbsup:.

Nice o/c, especially at the low vcore you have .
My vcore is set 1.40625, loaded it's 1.344v running SETI & DPAD.

I'm currently mid conversation with Asus about the auto voltage levels.

 

[Tullphan]

Thanks. I think i'm happy with that overclock. It'll do 3.6, but at a ridiculous voltage. I don't think i'll miss those few extra nano-seconds...hehehe.
I'm kinda curious about what Asus tells you. Keep me posted!

 

[Assimilator1]

So far they seemed to of totally mis-understood what I've been asking!:roll: ,they seemed to think I've been asking about CPU voltage & that I should contact Intel!
Time for another email!

 

[Tullphan]

Hehehe...sounds about right.

 

[Assimilator1]

So far they claim that yes the voltage does go up with FSB on auto but they can't tell me what voltage, or when it increases because it's determined by the chipset which is made by Intel, so I should ask them! Wth??

Isn't the chipset voltage control done by the m/brd & therefore set by Asus???

 

[Tullphan]

That's what I would think, but i'm no engineer.
Kinda sounds like they're "spinning" you!

 

[Assimilator1]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking too, I'm not letting her off the hook yet .

 

[walk2k]

I was reading a review of the P5Q Pro where they overclocked some C2Q (a penryn, not sure which) to 4.2 or 4.4Ghz or so, they said they overvolted the NB/etc to pretty high levels. I don't know why they did that, or if they needed to (they were only running the FSB at 450, I can do that easily with my E8400 (4.05Ghz) though the heat isn't tolerable with stock HSF) but it was interesting.

But to reiterate, I went thru all the voltages and set them to the "standard" level instead of auto and it didn't affect much, so I think as long as you're not trying some insane FSB overclock (500mhz+ ?) that seems like a good starting point, then bump it up if you get crashes...

 

[n7]

Look here: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com...erboard-review-14.html

You can see how much higher than needed AUTO usually sets, as they measured it in detail.

Basically, don't use AUTO.

There are tons of templates in the P5Q thread @ XS, or even in the thread here in motherboard's, if you don't know what values to start with.

 

[Assimilator1]

Wow that's some useful info there!, thanks , I have my own DMM so I might try measuring some of the voltages myself. Particularly the PLL & VTT voltages which worringly were over-volting rather a lot on the base manual setting on there mbrd!:Q
If that page is anything to go by that's one detailed review .

walk2k
Yea fair enough, that's actually what I've done, although I did have to up NBv 1 step.

However I did really just want to know what the voltages go to at certain FSB points etc., it should be documented really!
Btw I didn't notice any real power draw difference from the wall when I went from auto to manual settings.

 

[Assimilator1]

Well hardwarecanucks weren't wrong! (Nice one on them finding those voltage reading points ).

CPU PLL voltage on my mbrd on the 1.5v setting is actually 1.81v!!!:Q:frown:, that's a serious over-volt that I wouldn't of known about if n7 hadn't given me that link! (thanks again ).
I'm not at all happy with Asus about that & I'm going to let that tech woman I'm in contact with know (so much for her 'all auto voltages will be safe' too!).

Oh & my vFSB voltage is 1.31v on the 1.2v setting, which is more than it needs to be :frown:.
vDIMM is 1.94v on the 1.9v setting so that's not too bad.

I'm going to lower those voltages with higher settings latter on.

Oh btw my FSB is 372MHz, vcore setting is 1.40625 on a Q6600 G0.

 

[DMF]

I sure wish they'd added another axis: AutoV vs. FSB. vCore is pretty easy to track, but I have no idea what vNB etc. increase to as the FSB goes up. (or if they do at all)


Btw, according to the articles here, you should never enable Loadline Calibration.

 

[Assimilator1]

Yea as I mentioned earlier the other voltages do go up as FSB goes up at certain points, at what points & by how much I don't really know. The article linked by n7 gives a few clues.
It's a pitty the bios of the P5Qs doesn't give the voltage readings like the Asus X48/ROG version does.

And roger that about LLC.

 

[n7]

I use LLC, as although there may be risks, it won't be an issue as long as you are keeping voltage reasonable.

I'm not saying everyone should, but it makes OCing easier IMO, not to mention you get lower idle temps & less voltage thru the CPU most of the time, as with it off, you end up with a lot higher idle voltage than is ideal IMO.

 

[Assimilator1]

True about the idle voltage, however my PC never idles, I'm always running a DC project of one sort or another (atm it's SETI & DPAD). And that's true for any other DCer too. If it's not at or near 100% CPU useage then cpu cycles are being wasted! .

No problem with overclocking as I just raise the vcore (within reason) until the CPU is stable, which you do with LLC as well of course .

I'm not vehemently against LLC myself, but I feel happier not using it because that's the way Intel intended it.
Am I right in saying the risk of using LLC are high voltage spikes when going on/off load? (which ironically would affect you & not me ).

Back to topic, I'm going to report on more mbrd voltages latter, & I'll try to pin down at which FSB speed the CPU PLL & vFSB voltage leaps up.

[update] added more voltage info to 1st post.

 

[Assimilator1]

I've created my own partial table for FSB speeds & auto voltage levels now, that long with Hardware Canucks table pretty much answers my question now .

Guess I'd better educate Asus tech support now!.

 

[Tullphan]

While playing more with my Q6700 overclock, I got my voltage down as low as 1.2875 in the bios. CPU-z reported it as 1.256 at idle, but when running Prime95 it jumped to 1.27. I set my NB to 1.12 in the bios. What it actually is, I have no idea. Is there a program that shows the NB voltage?
Right now, my Q6700 is running at 3.3 (413x8, 1.3125V set in bios...CPU-z is reporting it at 1.288, and it jumped to 1.296 when stress testing).