Asus P5Q P45: an option to unlock the 1:1 fsb:dram ratio?

Cronos18 · November 9th, 2009, 02:02 PM

Hey just wondering if the standard P5Q has an option to unlock the FSB

ram ratio? I'm not sure how to post a screenshot of the bios from outside of the operating system but my problem lies within Overclocking my stock fsb to a higher value without overclocking my ram to a frequency it isn't stable as.

I'm running a E8400 C2D stock 3ghz stepping A, Revsion E0

Trying to get it to 4ghz stable. Highest I've got it is 3.8 with 9x and 425fsb which with the 1:1 ratio set my ram at 850mhz. Using 1.25 cpu volts. Tryed 1.3-1.4 volts to get 4.0ghz with 445fsb but that sets my ram at 890mhz and it auto crashes.

My guess is the problem lies within my 800mhz 2x2gb ddr2 Kingston value ram not wanting to be overclocked and or maybe not increasing the volts for it. I think it's set on auto because I never touched it only the cpu volt which I set to 1.25.

Under all the bios settings though I can't find a way to change the ratio or just set the dram frequency to be 800mhz. It's directly based off the fsb (of course because the ratio is 1:1 reported by cpuz not exactly the bios) but when I change the northbridge fsb strap the lowest I can get from any of those timings is 850mhz with like 400fsb on the northbridge instead of auto which results in 851mhz being my lowest setting possible. If I have no way of changing this the only way I can realisitcally get a higher processor speed from OC'ing is to get 1066mhz stock ram is what I'm guessing (if indeed the problem is a result of the ram not being able to be overclocked to 890mhz).

Anyone got any good insight on this motherboard and if there is a way to enable more settings? I have the latest bios v2102

Aaron_8015 · November 9th, 2009, 02:26 PM

Is there no option to unlink? Thats what I find it is normaly on the mobo's I have, then again they are all nvidia chipsets...

Cronos18 · November 9th, 2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_8015

Is there no option to unlink? Thats what I find it is normaly on the mobo's I have, then again they are all nvidia chipsets...

yeah there is no option I can see, I've heard of some people talk about other motherboards having hidden advanced options but I'm not sure if that's the case.

I don't really want to have to buy 1066 stock speed ram just so I can clock it at 900 or something just to OC the processor higher. I plan to convert to I7 920 OC'd to 3.0-3.5ghz with 1600ddr3mhz ram probably within the next few monthes anyways. So it doesn't really seem worth it to spend 100 dollars on the ram, but I do notice the performance from even 3-3.6 stable with 400 fsb and ram at 800mhz as it should be or even 3.8ghz with 425fsb and 850mhz ram seems to be stable. Got the Cpu at 1.3V actually.

Aaron_8015 · November 9th, 2009, 02:51 PM

Yea, you cant unlink the RAM on intel chipset boards.... nvidia only....

Cronos18 · November 9th, 2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_8015

Yea, you cant unlink the RAM on intel chipset boards.... nvidia only....

Hmmm well, how about this?

OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
Newegg.ca - OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2F10664GK - Desktop Memory

Would I be able to run 4ghz @ 9x multiplier/ 445fsb/ CPU 1.3-1.4v

and then the Fsb:dram would be 1:1, so what options would my motherboard give me to run the dram frequency at with the 1066 OCZ?

In the bios it says that the ram can't be clocked under 800mhz or it may cause a crash or not be stable. even when I change the fsb it says 800mhz is the lowest. I'm assuming it detects my ram to be set around 800 as default stock. But when I change the fsb it wants to bring it up because of the ratio and since I can't go any lower than 800 I'm essentially fucked because I only can go 850+ and then shit hits the fan above that because its valuebrand kingston ram lol. I read the OCZ im looking at here is set to run at 800 but produced to run at 1066. So when I socket it and go into bios and OC the processor to 4ghz with 445 fsb, I'm just wondering what options my motherboard will let me choose for a dram frequency. Since the default of the OCZ is 800 I should be fine no matter what even if I have to go under the 1066 which I really don't mind.

Does this seem like a reasonable idea to purchase the 1066 ram just for this cause? I've noticed a pretty big increase in performance just from the 3-3.6/3.8 OC, I wouldn't mind getting a stable 4.0ghz

Aaron_8015 · November 9th, 2009, 03:18 PM

Its up to you realy..... you can get the RAM and it will give you the option of overclocking higher.... You don't want to find that it is the limit of your cpu you have hit (although im betting its the RAM especialy kingstons value range). Not to mention DDR2 is quite expensive now also,you can pick up DDR3 for next to the same price....

Cronos18 · November 9th, 2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_8015

Its up to you realy..... you can get the RAM and it will give you the option of overclocking higher.... You don't want to find that it is the limit of your cpu you have hit (although im betting its the RAM especialy kingstons value range). Not to mention DDR2 is quite expensive now also,you can pick up DDR3 for next to the same price....

I think imma try it for the hell of it, really do think it is the memory hitting the peak but I've no more than a guess really. The upgrade to Core I7 can wait.

JLK03F150 · November 9th, 2009, 07:52 PM

This is a better deal on DDR2 RAM than the OCZ. The Corsair is cheaper, has better timings, and has a rebate.
Newegg.ca - CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-8500C5C G - Desktop Memory

Can you post a screenshot with 3 instances of CPUz open? One of the CPU tab, the Memory tab and the SPD tab. You might be able to tweak some settings on the value ram & push it to 445MHz/DDR890.

Cronos18 · November 9th, 2009, 09:22 PM

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4876/cpuzpq.png

In the bios everything is defaulted and set to auto aside from the multiplier of 9x (max it can be set to with my e8400) fsb is set at 425 (giving me 3.8ghz proc and 850mhz dram) stable it seems (definitly stable with 3.6ghz at 400fsb which runs my ram at 800mhz default which would make sense). and the core voltage is currently being reported as 1.28v but I have it set to 1.3v in the bios.

I also have set the timings to both manual or auto which probably use the same values, as well as the dram or other voltages still remaining on auto.

The dram frequency I have set on 851mhz (lowest I can choose with 425fsb) Only way to lower it is by changing the northbridge fsb strap to 400mhz instead of auto and then I can select 850mhz dram frequency but that 1 mhz difference must mean the values are close or are the same.

Ask for any other bios settings if you need be it but I'd definitly like to take the advice of someone has an idea about this because I'm hoping they can tell if it most likely is my valueram failing me, personally I think the proc can go higher many other people have easily got 4gb stable on my model and the cooling seems ample.

JLK03F150 · November 9th, 2009, 10:25 PM

Try setting your four primary timings to 6-6-6-18 and increase the RAM voltage to 1.90v (1.80v is default). You might be able to get it to 445/DDR890 with those settings.

BTW, my E8600 E0 can run 9x450 with somewhere around 1.30v on the CPU, but I had to increase the NB voltage to get it stable. I have an Asus Maximus Formula (X38) flashed to a Rampage Formula (X48). The P45 might need a little bump too, but not as much as my board.