ASUS P5N-E SLI 650i Thread

[BecraCh]

Hi all...Recently have gotten really into the PC thing. Decided to try and build my own rig and it worked out great (Wanted something that would play Crysis at decent settings and 30 FPS). Now I want to take a shot at overclocking and have been trying to read everything I can; specifically for my motherboard/CPU combo. I tried the NVidia nTune software, knowing that it was pry a waste of time, but wanted to see if it would bump anything up...which it did (2.55 GHZ). But when I load that profile and it will bump up to the "tuned" setting and revert right back to stock. I really didn't want to mess with the bios settings..I have 0703 revision. So...1. Do I update to the 0803 revision? 2. I only want to push the CPU to 2.7-2.9 GHZ (Is there a utility out there that I can use?) 3. Several options within the bios (realated to overclocking) seemed to be locked, is that because of the nTune or the bios version? Where do I go from here?

Any help would be appreciated!

[scottk]

So I was in the process of backing down my voltage on a 3.0 overclock and I at one point went back to "Auto" on vcore. I quickly realized that it automaticly bumps up voltage if you OC the FSB, I saw like 1.47 volts so I went back in and set 1.3500 manually and the system appears stable after a couple days and a couple 2-3 hours orthos runs.

My question is on the NB volts - does anyone know if Auto behaves the same way? There isn't much choice in NB voltage granularity, so I left it on auto but now I'm left wondering if it's going to cook the NB with like 1.7 volts or something? MB temp after a couple hours of orthos never went over 38, but since no one seems to know where the MB temp sensor really is I don't know if that is good or not.

What is the consensus on NB voltage? I had I think 1.39 NB set before, but was unstable (blue screen during an orthos after being left on all day) at 3.0Ghz and 1.375ish Vcore. Now with stock 1.35Vcore and auto NB I seem "fully" stable. Does anyone know what the max rated voltage for the 650i is, or if the Auto setting is safe to use? 'Spose I could just set NB at 1.563, but then again I don't really know if that is more or less than what I'm getting on auto.

[AMDCAMARO]

Originally Posted by scottk

So I was in the process of backing down my voltage on a 3.0 overclock and I at one point went back to "Auto" on vcore. I quickly realized that it automaticly bumps up voltage if you OC the FSB, I saw like 1.47 volts so I went back in and set 1.3500 manually and the system appears stable after a couple days and a couple 2-3 hours orthos runs.

My question is on the NB volts - does anyone know if Auto behaves the same way? There isn't much choice in NB voltage granularity, so I left it on auto but now I'm left wondering if it's going to cook the NB with like 1.7 volts or something? MB temp after a couple hours of orthos never went over 38, but since no one seems to know where the MB temp sensor really is I don't know if that is good or not.

What is the consensus on NB voltage? I had I think 1.39 NB set before, but was unstable (blue screen during an orthos after being left on all day) at 3.0Ghz and 1.375ish Vcore. Now with stock 1.35Vcore and auto NB I seem "fully" stable. Does anyone know what the max rated voltage for the 650i is, or if the Auto setting is safe to use? 'Spose I could just set NB at 1.563, but then again I don't really know if that is more or less than what I'm getting on auto.

1.56 should be safe, but you should remove it and apply AS5, or at least stick a fan ( 2 40mm's fit nice BTW) on it. One way you could check is to watch your MB temp using ASUS probe with it set on 1.393, then turn it to 1.56 and see what each ones temp is at idle. Then turn it to auto and check the temp again.

I think stock is the 1.393. Pook recommended in a earlier post (like page 108) to not run it all the time at 1.74

[Blizzie]

Originally Posted by AMDCAMARO

1.56 should be safe, but you should remove it and apply AS5, or at least stick a fan ( 2 40mm's fit nice BTW) on it. One way you could check is to watch your MB temp using ASUS probe with it set on 1.393, then turn it to 1.56 and see what each ones temp is at idle. Then turn it to auto and check the temp again.

I think stock is the 1.393. Pook recommended in a earlier post (like page 108) to not run it all the time at 1.74

Just to let you know, Motherboard temperature does not mean Northbridge. The motherboard temp in a different sensor; I think it's located in between the PCI slots.

This is one of the cons of the motherboard; not being able ot know your NB temps.. Can't tell if it's overheating or what.

[Ravin]

Originally Posted by Blizzie

Just to let you know, Motherboard temperature does not mean Northbridge. The motherboard temp in a different sensor; I think it's located in between the PCI slots.

This is one of the cons of the motherboard; not being able ot know your NB temps.. Can't tell if it's overheating or what.

I can assure you that the "Motherboard" sensor is not between the PCI slots. Not only can a sensor not be physically observed there, there is no way that its 40-50C betwewn the slots- just touch it with your finger there, its not hot.

The most likely scenario is the "Motherboard" temp is an average of the NB and SB temps. From my observations with an IR gun this is the most likely hypothesis. Surface temp of my bare SB is 34-38C and the IHS on my NB 44-48C. "Motherboard" sensor reports a rock solid 42C.

[Blizzie]

Originally Posted by Ravin

I can assure you that the "Motherboard" sensor is not between the PCI slots. Not only can a sensor not be physically observed there, there is no way that its 40-50C betwewn the slots- just touch it with your finger there, its not hot.

The most likely scenario is the "Motherboard" temp is an average of the NB and SB temps. From my observations with an IR gun this is the most likely hypothesis. Surface temp of my bare SB is 34-38C and the IHS on my NB 44-48C. "Motherboard" sensor reports a rock solid 42C.

I was reading around the ASUS forums and several people mentioned that it is not the NB/SB temps. I'm not saying that you're wrong but it's just from what I've read.

Everest Ultimate and ASUS Probe reports my "Motherboard" temperature at 32C. It normally idles at 31C and never gets above 33C, even after playing COD4.. What's up with that? Since I know some people here have idles of around 38-40C.

Stock heatsink on NB with AS5; 40 mm fan. Southbridge has a Zalman heatsink, also AS5. What do you have on yours Ravin and everyone else. Trying to gather some data.

[Ravin]

Originally Posted by Blizzie

I was reading around the ASUS forums and several people mentioned that it is not the NB/SB temps. I'm not saying that you're wrong but it's just from what I've read.

Everest Ultimate and ASUS Probe reports my "Motherboard" temperature at 32C. It normally idles at 31C and never gets above 33C, even after playing COD4.. What's up with that? Since I know some people here have idles of around 38-40C.

Stock heatsink on NB with AS5; 40 mm fan. Southbridge has a Zalman heatsink, also AS5. What do you have on yours Ravin and everyone else. Trying to gather some data.

Stock heat sink w/AS5 reseat. I have a massive case with killer air flow. The MB loads 42C...my rig does not know what idle is lol. Before the AS5 it ran 58-60C load, down to 48C after AS5, then down to 42C when I installed the Zalman9700 on my CPU. My SB is naked.

[Blizzie]

Originally Posted by Ravin

Stock heat sink w/AS5 reseat. I have a massive case with killer air flow. The MB loads 42C...my rig does not know what idle is lol. Before the AS5 it ran 58-60C load, down to 48C after AS5, then down to 42C when I installed the Zalman9700 on my CPU. My SB is naked.

Could it be that the SB is raising your "Motherboard" temps if it is average then?

Before and after I threw the 40 mm fan on my NB, I saw no change on "MB" temps. Bad sensor?

[Ravin]

Originally Posted by Blizzie

Could it be that the SB is raising your "Motherboard" temps if it is average then?

Before and after I threw the 40 mm fan on my NB, I saw no change on "MB" temps. Bad sensor?

Mmmm possible. Someone noted their MB temp dropped after they added a HS to the SB. I think my SB keeps my MB temp artificially low if it is part of an average- my SB is about body temp to the touch, and confirmed with IR surface temp, while the NB is pretty hot.

I think the only other possibility is the MB sensor is strictly just the NB temp. This is actually the most logical model- it does not make sense to have 2 sensors that average, and don't forget this is a budget board- sensors cost money.

Could be a bad sensor, but doubtful. The 650i chipset can take quite a bit of temperature abuse-about 70C if i remember correctly. Definitely at least 60C. At any rate, if you were already in the 30-35C under load i'd say thats about as low as you can expect, even with fans going on the HS.

Also....idle MB temp for me is 36C

[Blizzie]

Originally Posted by Ravin

Mmmm possible. Someone noted their MB temp dropped after they added a HS to the SB. I think my SB keeps my MB temp artificially low if it is part of an average- my SB is about body temp to the touch, and confirmed with IR surface temp, while the NB is pretty hot.

I think the only other possibility is the MB sensor is strictly just the NB temp. This is actually the most logical model- it does not make sense to have 2 sensors that average, and don't forget this is a budget board- sensors cost money.

Could be a bad sensor, but doubtful. The 650i chipset can take quite a bit of temperature abuse-about 70C if i remember correctly. Definitely at least 60C. At any rate, if you were already in the 30-35C under load i'd say thats about as low as you can expect, even with fans going on the HS.

Also....idle MB temp for me is 36C

I kind of want to see my NB temps go up after gaming like others say.


*takes NB heatsink off while compy is on* I'm kidding..