Got an Asus P5B-VM

[Hikari]

Well, I got the board last night, but it seems rather finicky.

To start, the only memory I had laying around was 2x1GB Patriot CAS4 PC2-6400 rated at like 2.1-2.2v. So, it won't even turn on with more than one in, although that one stick does run at CAS5 and PC2-6400 speeds. Anyone have a recommendation for something that will run well at 1.8-1.95v, memory-wise? (google P5V-VM QVL if curious). I really want to get some more memory in it.

Otherwise, I can't figure out how you overclock this thing. It has FSB and memory speed options, as well as PCI-e options. But so far, anything I do just makes the computer not turn on at all (E6600).

Oh, have a 7950 GX2 for video which seems to be working fine.

Looking at this memory:
KVR800D2N5K2/2G Kingston
CT2KIT12864AA80E Crucial (this isn't on their QVL, but it has a lower voltage req. than the Ballistix on theirs, which is like 2.2 and the board can't even do that)

Edit: QVL here - http://www.asus.com.tw/999/download/products/1312/1312_10.pdf

 

[Hikari]

An updated BIOS came out yesterday. No change for me, although the FSB can now be set to 500. Mine won't even boot at anything over 266, however.

Here are the BIOS settings you can choose that are OC-related I guess:
CPU Frequency (100-500)
DRAM Frequency (533,667,800,889,1067)
PCI-Express Frequency (90-104)
Spread Spectrum
Memory Volage (1.8-1.95v)
CPU VCore (1.225-1.6v)

Then you can enable or disable things on the CPU like C1E, CPU TM, PECI, Speedstep, etc.

Finally, some memory settings for CAS, RAS, etc.

 

[deathwalker]

I feel for ya bud..still wondering if you had 1.8vlt rated memory from the start if you would be having any of these problems.

 

[Trey22]

Any headway in overclocking on that board?

I'm waiting for results so I can pick up one up.

 

[Hikari]

I don't have the right memory. It won't turn on no matter what I do if I set CPU Frequency above 266. Obviously there is something majorly wrong if I can't even go up 1MHz...

Fry's had no 1.8-1.9v DDR2-800 memory at the store I went to, so I'll have to order some online this weekend I guess.

 

[CupCak3]

whenever you get new memory, please post your overclocking results

 

[pygo]

Got the same board...haven't bought memory yet...may just go for cheaper stuff till the prices come down...memory that can do 800MHz at >1.95v is not easy to come by without breaking the bank. Why in the world would they release a BIOS that would up the FSB from 400 - 500 without uping the memory voltage.

Another thing with this board is that i don't think it does raid unless you use the external sata and run a cable back into the case. This is what i make of it but have actually never done RAID before so i could be wrong. Anyone want to confirm this?

Glad to see that at least the cpu voltage goes to 1.6v

 

[Delphi99]

I bought this board and put 2gb of Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C4 in it. That's on the list of approved memory.

I installed the new BIOS, too.

That memory boots fine (even with the old bios) and is Prime95 stable.

However, the memory is not running at the advertised 4-4-4-12, but rather at 5-5-5-18.

I think that's because the memory is supposed to be fed 2.1v, but the most this P5B-VM board can provide is 1.95v. That's what I'm giving it.

I've never overclocked before, so don't know what to tweak to try to speed it up.

 

[deathwalker]

Originally posted by: Delphi99
I bought this board and put 2gb of Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C4 in it. That's on the list of approved memory.

I installed the new BIOS, too.

That memory boots fine (even with the old bios) and is Prime95 stable.

However, the memory is not running at the advertised 4-4-4-12, but rather at 5-5-5-18.

I think that's because the memory is supposed to be fed 2.1v, but the most this P5B-VM board can provide is 1.95v. That's what I'm giving it.

I've never overclocked before, so don't know what to tweak to try to speed it up.

I wonder if your experience would have been different if you had put in some DDR2 rated at 1.8 vlts.

 

[Hikari]

Another problem with it is I can run a 7950 GX2 in Multi GPU mode. It just crashes hard (ie, have to push reset) when I run anything 3D. Fine if I turn off Multi-GPU. But, my other 965 board (AB9 Pro) does the same thing...

No 1.8v memory at Fry's, so I'll have to order some next week from somewhere. I have yet to see any CAS4 memory that runs PC2-6400 at 1.8v.

 

[xbassman]

Been looking for reviews on this board as well....

So far the Asus forum has only 4 posts. LOL

Hopefully they will update the bios to support >2V!
I see pygo has requested it.

Asus Forum link

 

[Hikari]

Yeah, 2V support and on the compatibility list for the 7950 would be nice.

Thanks for the link, I have posted in that thread and the 7950 one...

 

[Hikari]

Solved the 7950 problem, but my Seasonic S12-500 isn't strong enough on the 12V rails (using just the SLI connector) for it. I tried it in an AB9 Pro which has an auxilliary connector to plug power into on the motherboard for the PCIe slot and now it works.

Still no more info on the memory front, though.

 

[pygo]

Apparently the memory voltage is not the only problem...someone else on the Asus forum was nice enough to point out that there is no PCI lock on this mobo. If i didn't feel screwed before now i definitely do.

I mean offering a board with an adjustable fsb of 500 max is the same as offering a board touted with a 10000 max fsb, what use is it if the board cannot get past 300? From the post below, sleepeeg3 captured the situation so succinctly when s/he wrote "That's as cool as putting a naked Playmate in front of a blind eunuch..."

Some relevent threads:

http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60909

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?p=4698323#post4698323

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1098362&page=2

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1029949761#post1029949761

http://www.chip.de/c1_forum/thread.html?bwthreadid=995372

If you are an owner of one of these boards then please make a post in the Asus forums and hope they remedy the situation.

As for me...i am off to shop for another motherboard, this one is going back.

 

[CupCak3]

any luck w/ new bioses? i still have *some* hope for this board...

 

[highwei]

Yeah, I am building a new system and I also plan on ordering the exact memory. In the default setting, did it run fine for you in the end?

 

[Aquapussy]

Hi. I also have this board.. and I am having the same issues. This is rediculous, I cant even overclock it to 277 no matter what the RAM is set at.

Ug what a pain, I thought I had foudn the perfect MATX board.

I am trying to figure if I should purchase RAM with 1.8-1.9 rating or if I should return the board and try something else.

 

[Hikari]

What RAM did you use? I'd definitely not try to use anything not rated for 1.8-1.9v...

 

[Aquapussy]

I'm using OCZ Gold DDR-800 which is rated for 2.1v :-/.

Isn't there a good mATX conroe board out there?

 

[Aquapussy]

Originally posted by: pygo
Apparently the memory voltage is not the only problem...someone else on the Asus forum was nice enough to point out that there is no PCI lock on this mobo. If i didn't feel screwed before now i definitely do.

I mean offering a board with an adjustable fsb of 500 max is the same as offering a board touted with a 10000 max fsb, what use is it if the board cannot get past 300? From the post below, sleepeeg3 captured the situation so succinctly when s/he wrote "That's as cool as putting a naked Playmate in front of a blind eunuch..."

Some relevent threads:

http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60909

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?p=4698323#post4698323

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1098362&page=2

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1029949761#post1029949761

http://www.chip.de/c1_forum/thread.html?bwthreadid=995372

If you are an owner of one of these boards then please make a post in the Asus forums and hope they remedy the situation.

As for me...i am off to shop for another motherboard, this one is going back.

Pygo... could you report back which board you went with... I would like to find a good board I can actually overclock a bit. This is making me reconsider even going mATX . I've searched every forum, every list, and theres nothing available. If only theyd update this bios

I posted a bunch of "hatemail" on the ASUS site.. god their boards are sooo slow.. I wonder if that is on purpose to make people looking for help frusterated and give up lol.

 

[Aquapussy]

UPDATE

I've just purchased some MUSHKIN EM ram that is rated at 1.9v. According to OCZ, their ram should be running fine at the proper timings even at 1.95v so I probably have bad OCZ ram. Anyways I just bought it to test it and see what happens. If I have the same probs Ima RMA the mobo/OCZ ram. I guess i should have known there was a reason the OCZ gold ram is 70-80 bucks cheaper then the rest.

Also, there is a PCI Lock on the mobo apparently so that shouldn't be the problem.

Once I recieve the MUSHKIN ram I'll post an update

 

[Trey22]

Any update?

I see Asus still hasn't released a newer BIOS than the 0307.

I read on another forum there WAS a way to lock the PCI bus... ???

 

[KBM]

You have to increase the PCIe freq to have a good over clock. In other forums,
setting PCIe to 125 MHz has allowed to go to 335 FSB

 

[Trey22]

What's the multiplier on a E6300? That's what I would buy, so I'd like to see what my OC would be at until (I hope) a new BIOS for this board comes out.

 

[pygo]

Sorry for the late reply...been busy building my new rig. I actually decided to get the Shuttle SD37P. It's a barebones with a 975 chipset. This little guy is not the best OC'er but compared to the P5B-VM it is a heaven sent (running 330 currently). There are reports of a few minor issues with the system since it is a brand new system but overall i am quite pleased with my results.

I think if you are going ATX then it seems the best boards to play with presently are P5B'S AND GS3'S.

I have been following a couple threads on the P5B still and it seems the board will hit 320's with the PCI set higher. Not sure if it is wise to do so.

Cheers.