| ASUS P6X58D-E Motherboard Performance |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Motherboards | |
| Written by Olin Coles | |
| Thursday, 17 June 2010 | |
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Page 8 of 17
BIOS and OverclockingLet's face it: X58 is the platform of choice for enthusiast overclockers and extreme gamers. This is why Intel offers the Core i7-965EE and Core i7-975 Extreme Edition processors exclusively for the LGA1366 socket on X58-Express motherboards. It's also a safe bet that ASUS understands what it takes to deliver the premier overclocking platform, which is what they've attempted to create on the P6X58D-Premium motherboard. First and foremost, every chip is different. Despite close production tolerances and identical architecture, not all same-model computer hardware will perform the same. For example, the Intel Core i7-920 processor used for testing on the ASUS P6X58D-Premium motherboard may overclock better on a different P6X58D-Premium. Likewise, a different Core i7-920 CPU might overclock better than the processor we've used. To avoid an unfair evaluation of overclocking performance, we will instead concentrate on the overclocking features available within the BIOS. The ASUS P6X58D-E motherboard makes use of the American Megatrends (AMI) BIOS, similar to most other ASUS motherboards. Our test sample received firmware 0303, released in mid-June 2010. Future firmware releases may offer different options than those we illustrate in this section.
The 'Ai Tweaker' section of the BIOS offers a myriad of settings for the experienced overclocker. The Ai Overclock Tuner is the easiest method to achieve an instant overclock by offering four options: manual user-defined settings, automatic system optimized settings, DOCP (DRAM OC Profile) memory overclock via BCLK, or pre-set eXtreme Memory Profiles. Most experienced overclockers will choose to define their own settings using the Manual option. While CPU overclock settings run moderately deep depending on your end-goal, system memory configurations become highly complex with options that travel well-beyond CAS latency, CAS-RAS delay, RAS pre-time, RAS act-time, and RAS delay. In fact, with over 26 different configuration options, it might be easier to keep within the first set of variable to avoid spoiling the overclock. The real problems begin when you work with component voltages. Not everyone has committed their system hardware power requirements to memory, which seems necessary to choose from either 'Auto' voltage or either +/- 0.00625 volt increments. While I personally feel that having the current voltage displayed beside the new setting would be optimal, the Hardware Monitor → Power section will deliver some basic component voltage readings so long as you don't mind moving between pages.
In summary, the ASUS P6X58D-E and P6X58D-Premium motherboards offers some basic entry-level overclocking options for novice hardware enthusiasts, as well as some very complex BIOS options for fine tuning minutia hardware settings. The current and default power variables would be more helpful if they were displayed near the voltage options, a la Award BIOS designs, but patient overclockers still have them available with some minor navigation.
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Comments
the pcie bandwith used to support usb3 and sata 3 comes from the ICH10R southbridge, which support up to6 pcie links.
In this case x4 is used for bandwith for usb3 and sata3, and the remaining x2 are used as 2 x1 pcie connectors on the motherboard.
Meanwhile the northbridge supports 32 pcie links used for graphics.
In essence sata3 and usb 3 DOES NOT STEAL BANDWITH FROM GRAPHICS.
If the author of this article does not fix this serious lapse of knowledge in this review and the P6x58D review I WILL LOSE FAITH IN BENCHMARKREVIEWS.COM AND CEASE TO FREQUENT THIS SITE.
I agree, do not spread deceit and do not generalize. I agree with everyone that posted in response to your post. Got the facts, lay them out for us to see. As far as my 2 cents about the SATA bandwidth, I can provide links if need be or direct. Show us your hand........
I've got a solid midi tower with HDDs in internal enclosures. When running the P6X58D-E with a i7 930 I hear a high pitch whistleing noise. Similar to distortion in speakers - but none are connected. It's definitely the motherboard, I tried 3(!) P6X58D-E which had all the same noise. It's not very loud but quite annoying if you're sitting in a quiet office.
I eventually could fix it by disabeling the C1E support which means the motherboard is always in full throttle mode but that's not acceptable for me at that price! So if you want a quiet board, look somewhere else.
Cheers.
When I load up CoreTemp and CPUZ, CoreTemp will tell me what multiplier it's currently running at while it's making the noise, but CPUZ stays locked at one multiplier. I'm not sure why it doesn't fluctuate. It does for the older laptop.
As Steve said, I disabled the C1E and Speedstep and that did stop the noise, but yeah, this will drive me crazy. Needless to say if a client heard this noise. Ugh.
Thanks for posting this info gang. You helped the future!
I think some people are talking about a physical noise rather than one that comes from their speaker.
cheers,
Mark.
I tried 2 different PSUs (the Antec Earthwatts 500W I got with my Sonata III case and a Corsair TX650 I replaced it with) but it was still squealing away horrendously, even during idle.
(Tip: I made sure it was PSU by rolling up a sheet of paper into a tube, putting it in my ear and then then listening close up to the mobo, PSU and other parts. Great trick for isolating the source of such noises!)
Then I read about how somebody disabling C1E stopped squealing, and it worked for me. I like my PC to run 100% power ;)
All C states, turbo, and other bios tweaks have been done, core parking has been done, noise still present.
Thanks to anyone who offers any words of advice.
I use the EPU-6 Engine program and have to set it to 'Max Power Saving Mode' or 'Medium Power Saving Mode', otherwise I get this horrible high pitch whistleing noise and can't work peacefully any more in the same room as my pc. Jesus, what a depressing thing to discover after spending quite a lot of money on this computer.
Bios > Advanced > CPU Configuration > C1E Support
reading a few more posts, it seems the noise being talked about here is a physical noise from some component on the mobo. The noise I have been very concerned about is only audible if I plug in my speakers, and the horrid high pitched sound is there regardless of whether I use my (crappy) onboard audio or my brand new USB IO device... so there is something screwed that is giving this noise to sound output on the motherboard.
GRRRR!!!!! I just bought the USB IO to overcome this noise issue!
I found it is a little loud but it a good trade off for how multi use the system is..
I am a web designer and use lots active programs at the same time, that tends to grind my older computers but i find it very smooth. and the gaming ability is top as well
I found the cooling system to be my only issue ( I live in tropical area, very hot / humid )