Review: ASUS P5E3 Deluxe - fully-loaded and ready to fly

by Tarinder Sandhu on 19 October 2007, 14:25

Tags: ASUSTeK (TPE:2357), Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qaj4v

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BIOS



Item Specifications
CPU FSB 200-800MHz (1MHz increments)
CPU multiplier CPU Min. (6x) – 31x (1x increments)
Clock overcharging mode +700/800/900/1000mV
PCI-E clock 100-150MHz (1MHz increments)
Memory clock 533/639/667/709/800/852/887/1067 MHz (1066FSB setting)
667/800/835/887/1002/1066/1111/1333 MHz (1333FSB setting)
CPU voltage 0.85000-1.7000V (0.00625V increments)
CPU voltage reference 0.57/0.59/0.61/0.63x
CPU PLL voltage 1.50-2.78V (0.02V increments)
Memory VDIMM 1.50-2.78V (0.02V increments)
Northbridge voltage 1.25-1.91V (0.02v increments)
Northbridge reference voltage 0.61/0.67x
Southbridge voltage 1.05/1.20V
FSB termination voltage 1.20-1.50V (0.02V increments)


Discussion

An impressive range of BIOS adjustments that are squarely aimed at the enthusiast. We'd caution against anyone putting 2.78V through DDR3, no matter how good the cooling, and the maximum CPU voltage will see your shiny LGA775 processor fry within seconds.

The X38 chipset offers some performance tweaking over and above the P35, but memory ratios are still dictated by the CPU's FSB. The 1:1 setting is such that you would need an 1800MHz+ FSB to run the latest dual-channel DDR3 memory up to specification, albeit with twice the bandwidth available to the processor via the FSB.

ASUS EPU

Linked in with the BIOS settings somewhat - especially power - is ASUS' EPU. Our testing found that, once employed via the AIGear GUI, EPU effectively reduces the idle speed and voltage in maximum power-saving mode. The inbuilt 'auto' function, however, actually overclocks the processor - in our case, leading to an Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 (2933MHz/266MHz FSB) operating at 3085MHz/280.5MHz.

Gallery

Have a looksie at some of the options.