Intel P965: Mid-Range Performance Sector Roundup
by Gary Key on October 20, 2006 9:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
ASUS P5B-E 1.01G: Overclocking
FSB Overclocking Results
We were able to reach a final setting of 7x490FSB with our 1.01G board with a clock speed of 3430MHz. In previous testing with different memory this board reached 7x515MHz. Our FSB results were limited by the maximum memory voltage setting at 2.1V. Our memory voltages were set higher than normal for our CPU but this is due to the Vdroop on both boards being around .03~.05V during testing.
Our 1.02G board faired better as we could increase our memory voltage to 2.35V in order to reach the final stable setting of 7x520FSB resulting in a clock speed of 3640MHz. Both ASUS boards provided the best memory timings during overclocking although we noticed certain latency settings like tRFC were very relaxed when compared to other boards.
Memory Stress Testing
Memory Tests - ASUS P5B-E 1.01G
Memory stress tests look at the ability of the ASUS P5B-E to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of DDR2-800 at the best performing memory timings our GEIL PC2-6400 will support.
Due to the 2.1V limitation on this board we had to settle for 4-4-3-8 timings at DDR2-800 with our particular memory choice. This also held true for our G.Skill, Super Talent, Transcend, and OCZ PC2-6400 memory modules. We were able to run our Corsair PC2-6400-C3 or OCZ-8000VX modules at 3-4-3-9 at 2.1V but considering the current price of these modules we think the minor performance differences are not worth the extra cost for this board.
The ASUS 1.01G board was stable with four DIMMs at 4-4-4-10 with 2.1V. However, we were limited to an overclock of 7x445FSB, DDR2-890 4-5-4-10, with four DIMMs installed due to the 2.1V limitation. We are still very impressed with the ASUS P5B-E 1.01G board even with the 2.1V memory setting considering its ability to almost reach 500FSB with DDR2-800 memory.
FSB Overclocking Results
| ASUS P5B-E Overclocking Testbed |
|
| Processor: | Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Dual Core, 1.86GHz, 2MB Unified Cache 1066FSB, 7x Multiplier |
| CPU Voltage: | 1.4750V (default 1.3250V) |
| Cooling: | Scythe Infinity Air Cooling |
| Power Supply: | OCZ GameXStream 700W |
| Memory: | Geil PC2-6400 800MHz Plus (2x1GB- GX22GB6400PDC) (Micron Memory Chips) |
| Video Cards: | 1 x MSI X1950XTX |
| Hard Drive: | Seagate 320GB 7200RPM SATA2 16MB Buffer |
| Case: | Cooler Master CM Stacker 830 |
| Maximum CPU OC: (1.01G) |
490x7 (4-4-4-12, 1:1, 2.10V), CPU 1.4750V, C2 Stepping 3430MHz (+84%) |
| Maximum CPU OC: (1.02G) |
520x7 (4-4-4-12, 1:1, 2.35V), CPU 1.5250V, C2 Stepping 3640MHz (+96%) |
| . | |
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| Click to enlarge |
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| Click to enlarge |
We were able to reach a final setting of 7x490FSB with our 1.01G board with a clock speed of 3430MHz. In previous testing with different memory this board reached 7x515MHz. Our FSB results were limited by the maximum memory voltage setting at 2.1V. Our memory voltages were set higher than normal for our CPU but this is due to the Vdroop on both boards being around .03~.05V during testing.
Our 1.02G board faired better as we could increase our memory voltage to 2.35V in order to reach the final stable setting of 7x520FSB resulting in a clock speed of 3640MHz. Both ASUS boards provided the best memory timings during overclocking although we noticed certain latency settings like tRFC were very relaxed when compared to other boards.
Memory Stress Testing
Memory Tests - ASUS P5B-E 1.01G
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Memory stress tests look at the ability of the ASUS P5B-E to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of DDR2-800 at the best performing memory timings our GEIL PC2-6400 will support.
| ASUS P5B-E 1.01G Stable DDR2-800 Timings - 2 DIMMs (2/4 slots populated - 1 Dual-Channel Bank) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 800MHz |
| CAS Latency: | 4 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 4 |
| RAS Precharge: | 3 |
| RAS Cycle Time: | 8 |
| Voltage: | 2.10V |
Due to the 2.1V limitation on this board we had to settle for 4-4-3-8 timings at DDR2-800 with our particular memory choice. This also held true for our G.Skill, Super Talent, Transcend, and OCZ PC2-6400 memory modules. We were able to run our Corsair PC2-6400-C3 or OCZ-8000VX modules at 3-4-3-9 at 2.1V but considering the current price of these modules we think the minor performance differences are not worth the extra cost for this board.
| ASUS P5BE 1.01G Stable DDR2-800 Timings - 4 DIMMs (4/4 slots populated - 2 Dual-Channel Bank) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 800MHz |
| CAS Latency: | 4 |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 4 |
| RAS Precharge: | 4 |
| RAS Cycle Time: | 10 |
| Voltage: | 2.10V |
The ASUS 1.01G board was stable with four DIMMs at 4-4-4-10 with 2.1V. However, we were limited to an overclock of 7x445FSB, DDR2-890 4-5-4-10, with four DIMMs installed due to the 2.1V limitation. We are still very impressed with the ASUS P5B-E 1.01G board even with the 2.1V memory setting considering its ability to almost reach 500FSB with DDR2-800 memory.
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zjohnr - Tuesday, November 7, 2006 - link
In all the features tables for the motherboards in this article the PCI slots are listed as being PCI v2.3. However, looking at the pictures for the boards, the slots have PCI v2.2 keying. I think the entry in the features tables is wrong. (Is it?)Patsoe - Saturday, October 28, 2006 - link
Seeing all the trouble with the P965 - especially with the non-intel p-ata controller and with the ich8r - I'd be inclined to get a Core2-ready i945P board with ICH7R instead. Would that be a sane idea?BadThad - Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - link
Is the v1.02G Asus P5B-E using all solid capacitors? I read a press release stating that Asus was releasing the "P4B-E Plus" version with all solid caps. Rumor says the "Plus" version will not be sold in the USA.....arrgggggg. Tell me that's not true. I want the solid caps for long-term reliability. I'm wondering if our "Plus" is actually the v1.02G?Thanks
Gary Key - Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - link
The 1.01G and 1.02G boards are exactly the same except for a PLL controller. Asus stills states the P5B-Plus will not be imported into the States but you never know.keithke - Monday, October 23, 2006 - link
I was interested to hear you used this Scythe Infinity Air Cooler as I was going to do the same. Were there any issues with the Northbridge heatsink sitting so close? Or did it just plop right in with no spacing issues?Thx
Keith
Gary Key - Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - link
No issues with the Inifinity on all four corners. It is a close fit but it works fine with the enclosed fan.SniperWulf - Monday, October 23, 2006 - link
Hey guys,Did you have any strange anomolies with the X-fi on the DS3 while overclocked? When I was using that board with the F6 bios, I'd have to reboot like 3-4 times before windows would properly detect it. I eventually grew tired of it and bought a P5B-D so I haven't had a chance to try F7 with it.
Gary Key - Monday, October 23, 2006 - link
I did not have any issues with the X-FI on the DS3 when it was overclocked. The F5 and F6 BIOS releases were not X-FI friendly where F4 was perfect. F7 is working for some and not others, I did not have an issue with it. F8 will fix it for good.schlumpfi106 - Monday, October 23, 2006 - link
Im a little bit disappointed that there are so few informations about the cooling/silencing-related capabilitites of the boards. I would like to know how many fans can be connected, if the connectors are 3- or 4-pin, and if there is a way to control the fan speeds (preferably via SpeedFan). I don't care about a one-percent performance difference. My first priority is a reasonably silent system.goinginstyle - Monday, October 23, 2006 - link
He mentioned the number of fan headers on each board and even added a couple of comments on the ones that did not work right. In the features section there was a statement about whether the included utility worked or not. Sure he did not say anything about SpeedFan but how far do you want a guy to go after 26 pages? Also, if you click on the Enlarge picture on the boards you can clearly make out whether the fan headers are 3 or 4 pin.