ASUS P5B: New BIOS Adds Unlocking & Improved Overclocking
by Wesley Fink on August 24, 2006 3:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
E6700
The 0507 BIOS adds a new feature in the BIOS under the "Advanced", "CPU Configuration" tab. Where there was no means to adjust CPU ratios in earlier BIOS versions, with 0507 you now have an adjustment range from 6X to 10X.
Some Conroe chips also unlock at the top, allowing ranges to about 14x. None of our Conroe chips unlocked up, but you may be one of the lucky ones who have a Conroe that unlocks both down and up.
The E6700, which runs at 2.67GHz, is very interesting because of the large headroom we consistently find at stock voltage. Once again, on the P5B Deluxe at stock voltage, the combo could run day and night at 3.4GHz (340x10) with no issues at all. At the stock multiplier of 10x, at 1.4875V the highest stable speed was 360x10 or 3.6GHz, At a reduced 9x the highest speed was 400x9, which is also 3.6GHz. With the new BIOS unlocking multipliers down, we reached 440 at 8x, or 3.52Ghz, as you can see in this screen capture.
7x allowed a further increase to a FSB speed of 494, which is where the 6700/P5B maxed out. Even at a 6X multiplier 494 seems the limit of the FSB with this CPU and board. Comparing this to our highest FSB overclock of 362 with this board in the Conroe Buying Guide we would conclude that ASUS has significantly improved the overclocking of the P5B. The ability to choose and hold lower multipliers allowed the bus speed to increase from 360 to 494.
E6600
The E6600 unlocked down with the new BIOS and allowed a new range of FSB adjustments of 405x9 (stock), 460x8, 495x7, and 495x6. Below is a screen capture at 495x7 or 3.465GHz.
While the new BIOS on the P5B adds enormous flexibility to the 965P motherboard, it should still be pointed out that on average the 965 still does not overclock as well as the Intel 975X if you compare clock to clock. You might want to look back at the 975X overclocking results in Conroe Buying Guide: Feeding the Monster for a comparison.
The 0507 BIOS adds a new feature in the BIOS under the "Advanced", "CPU Configuration" tab. Where there was no means to adjust CPU ratios in earlier BIOS versions, with 0507 you now have an adjustment range from 6X to 10X.
Some Conroe chips also unlock at the top, allowing ranges to about 14x. None of our Conroe chips unlocked up, but you may be one of the lucky ones who have a Conroe that unlocks both down and up.
The E6700, which runs at 2.67GHz, is very interesting because of the large headroom we consistently find at stock voltage. Once again, on the P5B Deluxe at stock voltage, the combo could run day and night at 3.4GHz (340x10) with no issues at all. At the stock multiplier of 10x, at 1.4875V the highest stable speed was 360x10 or 3.6GHz, At a reduced 9x the highest speed was 400x9, which is also 3.6GHz. With the new BIOS unlocking multipliers down, we reached 440 at 8x, or 3.52Ghz, as you can see in this screen capture.
7x allowed a further increase to a FSB speed of 494, which is where the 6700/P5B maxed out. Even at a 6X multiplier 494 seems the limit of the FSB with this CPU and board. Comparing this to our highest FSB overclock of 362 with this board in the Conroe Buying Guide we would conclude that ASUS has significantly improved the overclocking of the P5B. The ability to choose and hold lower multipliers allowed the bus speed to increase from 360 to 494.
E6600
The E6600 unlocked down with the new BIOS and allowed a new range of FSB adjustments of 405x9 (stock), 460x8, 495x7, and 495x6. Below is a screen capture at 495x7 or 3.465GHz.
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| Click to enlarge |
While the new BIOS on the P5B adds enormous flexibility to the 965P motherboard, it should still be pointed out that on average the 965 still does not overclock as well as the Intel 975X if you compare clock to clock. You might want to look back at the 975X overclocking results in Conroe Buying Guide: Feeding the Monster for a comparison.
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ZachSaw - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
If you're in my position, knowing so much without the liberty of sharing the knowledge, you'll know how I feel. So it's not arrogance. I simply am not allowed to disclose too much. And do feel free to continue speculating. I've allowed you guys to go on for years without intervention, but this simply crosses the line. Anyhow, you probably won't be hearing much from me any more. If I've appeared to you as an arrogant prick trying to guide the authors to the correct path, then so be it.
atenza - Friday, August 25, 2006 - link
I agree with you. I'm sure there is absolutely no way to change the multiplier UPWARDS on a stock E6300-E6700. Given the overclocking potential of any of these CPUs, everyone could simply make his cheaper CPU a X6800 (or X6800 with 2MB cache :) And this really is the last thing Intel wants.Anemone - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
The article wasn't really so bad as the criticisms seem to tell, imo. Abusing IST has been around a while I admit but the basis of a stronger memory controller bios still stands and this board is significantly stronger than Gigabyte's in that regard alone.There were B1 steppings that made it to retail, at least according to a few of the recording threads I've seen.
I think the only thing truly sad is that the bios's have been abhorrently buggy on the 975's the 965's and the 590's. People have started to measure which is the "least buggy" which is kind of crazy at the prices these boards are commanding. People need to let these things cool a bit, and mature a LOT, before they're going to be worth what's being asked for them. Only after things have matured and are tested are we really going to see which of all is worthy of the money. And sadly, from what I'm hearing, the 590 is definitely NOT going to be it, so better keep an eye on the other two.
ZachSaw - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
Nope.
It's true that Gigabyte sucks when it comes to memory compatibility. But this article is not about that, is it?
If Gigabyte fixes the issues on memory compatibility, and the author writes about it saying that it's the first manufacturer to come out with a bios that is highly compatible with a lot of memory modules, I'll still be ranting about it.
People should own up to their mistakes.
ZachSaw - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
Well, perhaps the author shouldn't jump at the very first chance to suck the toe of ASUS' BIOS programmer... check around forums to find out if other manufacturers have this feature as well. A little research is always required before you start writing an article that will be read by thousands of people. It's the author's obligation.Madellga - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
Specially when Gary knows that. A coffee chat would do it.bob661 - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
Give me SLI on this chipset and I'll kick the upcoming 590 to the curb!Atty - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
If ASUS has added this feature for the P5B does that mean that the other boards for Core 2 (most importantly for me the nForce 500's) will have this feature?ZachSaw - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
Why's everyone so worried about other boards not having it?It's a very simple addition. Gimme the BIOS source, I'll add it in for u. It's a default 'feature' of the CPU, so whether or not you get it in your board will depend on how diligent your mobo's BIOS programmer is. Shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes to implement and test (internally of course). It's the process of complete validation of a new release that most BIOS programmers fear.
mpc7488 - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - link
Great results, very exciting.