Keep or Return?

GeezerButler · 8 Jan 2010 at 17:39

Trying to decide...

I ordered a new motherboard (Asus P5Q Deluxe) to replace my MSI P35 Neo2 as the MSI struggles for stability with PC2-8500 RAM and also continually fails Memtest86 (pc reboots just after the test starts) even at stock CPU speed and Auto SPD set RAM settings. But this is only when running more than one DIMM even down at DDR2-400 speed (and with a completely different set of DIMMS). However, the machine has always been stable in Windows until yesterday when I got a Memory Management BSOD.

So I figured maybe the board has a dodgy memory controller, and as this board has never been stable with my Q6600-G0 at anything above 3.0Ghz I thought maybe a new mobo as I don't really want to scrap my Q6600 just yet.

I have the P5Q Deluxe on the way as I saw good posts about it from RJKOneill and figure he should know a good stable board.

So should I go ahead and install the P5Q Deluxe or return it unopened and soldier on with the MSI board (it has not BSOD again since) until I can afford and i5/i7 rig? Also, if I keep the P5Q what sort of overclock might I get from the Q6600 - cooler is Titan Fenrir with Noctua fan, RAM either Crucial PC2-8500 (4x2GB) or Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 (4x1GB, is really overclocked DDR2-400)?

If RJKOneill reads this - any tips on clocking with this board and CPU?

Thanks guys - sorry for the long post

JonJ678 · 8 Jan 2010 at 18:14

You will be limited by temperatures or the cpu itself, not by the P5Q. It's an excellent motherboard.

Are you aware that bsod can reflect corrupted windows installs or failing ram? Run memtest at stock settings, preferably on each stick individually to ensure that this is not the issue. If it is, you're going to get bsod with the new board too.

P5Q + q660 with good cooling and competant overclocking should be looking upwards of 3.6ghz. If you really put effort into it and lady luck smiles at you 4ghz is possible.

Incidentally overclocking with all four slots occupied hits the northbridge pretty hard. If you're sticking with all 8gb, I'd aim for 3.6ghz from the p5q, and consider moving to 2x2gb if you don't actually use over 4gb of ram.

setter · 8 Jan 2010 at 18:38

Definitely keep the p5q deluxe, best board imho for clocking a q6600, had a reasonably easily achieved 3.8ghz on one of theese boards. Kinda regret not holding onto it for a second machine.

AMG · 8 Jan 2010 at 18:58

I think you got it the wrong way around;p he said to replace a MSI mobo

yeah i would get the P5Q board, as you are just going to keep having problems till you upgrade

GeezerButler · 8 Jan 2010 at 20:44

@JonJ678 - yeah, you're right. Just did some more '1 dimm at a time' testing and looks like I have a bad DIMM. That probably caused the BSOD. Hasn't done it since but I've been running with 4x1GB Ballistix DIMMs I had spare. However, I'm still unable to get a MemTest pass from this board with more than one dimm so still suspect this board is dying.

Thanks all for the advice - may well keep the Asus and see what I can get from the
Q6600. Any opinions on which RAM I should use for the best clock? I have 3 x working Crucial 2GB PC2-8500 'real' 1066Mhz CAS7 dimms or 4 x 1GB Ballistix which do 400MHz DDR at CAS4 or 533MHz EPP at CAS5? I don't really need 8GB of RAM, I just got it at a good price when I bought it so thought it would be rude to refuse!

Also like to hear more tips from users of this Asus board who might be passing...