ASUS P5B: New BIOS (0507) Adds Unlocking & Improved Overclocking

div0 · 4 Sep 2006 at 09:41

Link - http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2822&p=1

Couldn't see this posted anywhere, but thought it might interest a few people!!

Add the ability to adjust the multiplier of most Conroe CPUs even if they are not Extreme Edition.

Anyone got this board, anyone tried the new bios??

Madwelsh · 4 Sep 2006 at 15:41

div0 said:
Link - http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2822&p=1

Couldn't see this posted anywhere, but thought it might interest a few people!!

Anyone got this board, anyone tried the new bios??

been posted quite a bit, I think people are too quick to believe what they think that article is implying. The article is merely stating that the board will now allow the clock multiplier to be set DOWNWARDS, not up (like the 6800's). This is useful for overclocking with the fsb of course, it is however NOT an instant solution to buying a 6800!!!

-Ad- · 4 Sep 2006 at 15:55

Anyone with the P5B-D should be using the 0507 BIOS anyway, as it is by fars the best one for the board, mainly because it removes the need to do voltage mods to get the fsb over 500

div0 · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:29

Madwelsh said:
I think people are too quick to believe what they think that article is implying. The article is merely stating that the board will now allow the clock multiplier to be set DOWNWARDS, not up (like the 6800's). This is useful for overclocking with the fsb of course, it is however NOT an instant solution to buying a 6800!!!

That's not quite how I read it

Even more exciting is that ASUS says they have found a way to unlock up or down most Conroe chips.

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.

First, we should note that certain Gigabyte P965 boards also allow downward unlocks with the latest BIOS releases. ASUS joins them in offering this feature, and they have broken new ground with the 0507 BIOS for the P5B Deluxe. The ability to specify multipliers - even if it's only downward unlocked - is so significant that every other manufacturer will have to follow suit or lose market share to the two motherboard giants.

At present, every Core 2 Duo chip we tried unlocked down (this included both B1 and B2 steppings); however, none of our samples unlocked both up and down. ASUS tells us that many Core 2 Duo chips also unlock upwards, but the upper limit is around a 14X multiplier with those chips that do unlock in both directions. If true, we're certain those chips that can unlock completely will be quickly figured out by enthusiasts and those models and steppings will become the most highly desired Core 2 Duo chips

.DevastatioN · 4 Sep 2006 at 18:06

Downwars would be nice, but upwards would be even nicer

Tooks · 4 Sep 2006 at 19:53

My Gigabyte DS3 and also my current P5B had this option from the start, but only to change the multiplier downwards (to x6 in my case). This is just taking advantage of the speedstep function of these chips isn't it?

I'd be amazed (but pleased!) if it really does enable you to raise the multiplier on some Conroe chips.

If it was possible, wouldn't somebody in the world have done it by now and shouted about it on the t'interweb?

Madwelsh · 4 Sep 2006 at 23:45

div0 said:
That's not quite how I read it

lol, yeah, I take it that you read a lot of o/cing forums? I read quite a few, and considering how eagerly the overclocking community has taken to conroe, don't you think we'd have heard from someone that can unlock their multiplier by now? I've not seen a single peep about it.. and lets face it, if even one person was able to do this with a locked conroe processor, it'd be all over the web no?

once again one nil to the marketing chappies at ASUS

div0 · 5 Sep 2006 at 08:58

lol, I think you are misinterpreting my post (again)

I KNOW that both anandtech and everyone else has (so far at least) not managed to unlock upwards.....if you read the article (and what I've posted) then its clear to see

The whole point of the thread is to see what people think (ie are ASUS right/wrong about some chips unlocking in both directions (in future)). And also to see how many people have used the new bios to unlock the multi, even if it is only down (at least just now anyway)

The article makes no claim that there has been any successful unlocking of the multi, other than downwards - and neither have I

And as for reading hardware/overclocking forums - if you really do READ any then you'll know that most discussions on them cover SPECULATION. People generally like to voice their opinions on things that may or may not turn out to be true... :rolleyes:

Tooks · 5 Sep 2006 at 10:51

div0,

Whilst you accuse the readers of your post of interpreting it wrongly, I think it would be fair to point out you appear to be misinterpreting our responses!

I, and certainly some others in the responses to date are saying that no, we don't believe that Asus, so far, have found a way to unlock the multi upwards on non X6800 chips. I believe it to be just marketing hype.

All you asked in your OP was if anybody had got that board, and if they'd tried the new bios, and all subsequent comment came from people READING the linked copy.

I don't think anybody is saying you were shouting it as the truth, so try not to be so sensitive?

Maybe you should be clearer about what you want people to talk about next time eh?!

div0 · 5 Sep 2006 at 11:47

Tooks said:
Whilst you accuse the readers of your post of interpreting it wrongly, I think it would be fair to point out you appear to be misinterpreting our responses!

heh, not at all

Madwelsh said:
The article is merely stating that the board will now allow the clock multiplier to be set DOWNWARDS, not up (like the 6800's).

div0 said:
That's not quite how I read it

*as in* - the article is NOT JUST stating what Madwelsh says - it also mentions that there is a POSSIBILITY that it MAY unlock upwards in future

I was merely trying to point out that there was more to the article than the board currently unlocking the multi downwards.....and hoping maybe for a discussion on the relevance of it mentioning a POSSIBLE unlock upwards too

To me, Madwalsh's last post completely missed that that is the point I was trying to make....

But I take your point that I may not have been clear - however there was no misinterpretation on my behalf. I knew (and agreed with) what he was saying - I just wanted to move the topic on to the SPECULATION about the POSSIBILITY of unlocking the multi upwards

Tooks · 5 Sep 2006 at 11:53

Ok, for the record, my comment is that it would it be great if Asus could bring out a bios/board that could move the multi up on the lower Conroe chips, but that my gut feeling is that I don't think it will ever happen!

Intel would have surely sewn this one up!

Peace Bro!

div0 · 5 Sep 2006 at 12:27

Agreed.

It would be great if it could be done - but I doubt it will happen anytime soon.

However, it does look like the next year or so is going to bring some big developments, especially in the CPU world, and so I wouldn't be totally surprised to see some "wild" speculation, turn out to be true on some occasions.

I think, as consumers, we're in for a few pleasant surprises over the next year or so

Madwelsh · 5 Sep 2006 at 13:52

div0 said:
heh, not at all

To me, Madwalsh's last post completely missed that that is the point I was trying to make....

But I take your point that I may not have been clear - however there was no misinterpretation on my behalf. I knew (and agreed with) what he was saying - I just wanted to move the topic on to the SPECULATION about the POSSIBILITY of unlocking the multi upwards

It's true I did misinterpret your response, mind, if you think intel would basically negate the impact of it's flagship processor, then I guess that is your opinion.

I'd love to dream that the multi would be unlocked on processors a quarter of the price of a 6800, but alas we all know that is never going to happen. Consequently aside from having a thread entitled 'What if...' , there's not much point in speculating on it. If we wanted a speculation thread, I'd much prefer to speculate on the things I'd do if I won the lottery

Sorry to be a party-pooper

div0 · 5 Sep 2006 at 14:06

Madwelsh said:
if you think intel would basically negate the impact of it's flagship processor, then I guess that is your opinion.

well, its not going to be the "flagship" forever

In fact, I think its fair to say (as i mentioned in my last post), that it looks like things may be developing very quickly in the cpu market over the next year or so, especially where Intel is concerned. So there's a good chance that the 6800 won't be their flagship cpu for very long. Maybe then something might happen with reards to unlocking other Conroe cpu's?!

As I've said, I can't see it happening myself - but you never know. Intel are in such a strong position just now that they don't NEED to protect the 6800 that much! Yes it makes sense to force as many top end sales as you possibly can, especialy on a new tech, where you can demand a very high markup. But with time, who knows what might happen - especially if they have a new flagship cpu out soon (Kentsfield anyone?)