Asus P4B266-LM - Breakthrough?

[CPU182]

New thread started:

Hi guys. I'm new here so I'll give you a brief intro: I'm a 23 yr old college student majoring in Biochemistry. My computer knowledge comes from years of trial & error & personal experience. My interest in computers began when I was very young, back when the 486's where the fastest thing available. I now tinker with computers as a hobby.

So on to the thread. I know this thread is old but it pertains directly to what I am working on. I have a Sony PCV-RX660 with the AsusTek P4B266-LM (Rev 1.02) board. The chipset is an Intel i845D (Rev 04). BIOS is Sony newest for this board (1004).

I have been trying to upgrade this board as cheaply as possible and so far its been going great. I purchased a Sapphire 256MB X1650 Pro new for $60 (after rebate) from NewEgg. This alone has improved the graphics & gameplay capability immensely. Now on to the interesting part:

Everything I've read has said that this board supports a MAX of 400mhz FSB and 2.4ghz P4. I have a 533mhz FSB 2.8ghz Northwood that I put in it, just to test it out. Expecting the computer to downclock the processor I open CPU-Z and see that it is operating at 533FSB and 2.8ghz! I couldn't believe it! I used Sandra Lite's processor benchmark and AquaMark3 to comfirm that it was actually operating at that speed, and it was!

Now my question is, how much higher can I go? Should I find a cheap Prescott off eBay? Could this MB also support 800mhz FSB? I'm also wondering what speed of DDR memory this board actually supports, I have a PC2100 512MB and PC3200 256MB in it right now. I'd like to put two PC3200 1GB modules in it. So far I've spent $60 on this computer and it is 100 times better than I ever thought it would be. Oh yea and I have a separate PSU powering the X1650, I got it from an old Compaq that didn't work.

Thanks guys!

[CPU182]

Originally Posted by flanzig1

CPU182: Should have started a new thread for your question.
But, on to your question. More than likely that Sony won't support a Prescott CPU. Could check with Sony support to see if the BIOS can do Prescotts.
As for ram, just add more of what is in the machine to get you up to 1 gig. 3200 probably isn't supported and would downclock to match the FSB.

I'm pretty sure there is no way to find out if the BIOS supports Prescotts or not, Sony doesn't provide any information like that. It might, I thought it only supported up to 2.4ghz processors at 400FSB but its running the 2.8ghz at 533FSB flawlessly. Also, the BIOS is completely locked by Sony, I can't change anything relating to performance. The system just automatically adapted to the new CPU. I'm pretty sure the MB supports greater than PC2100 memory. I ran Sandra's memory bandwidth test with the PC2100 and then the PC3200 module, and the PC3200 module was faster, altough it may be operating at PC2700, I'm not sure.

Since I definitely won't be overclocking the CPU would it be smarter to use a Northwood or a Prescott. I haven't read too many good things about Prescotts and as flanzig1 said I'm not even sure my MB would support it. Do you think this MB could support 800mhz FSB also?

[CPU182]

A little more information I found reading manuals on Asus's website.
It states that their P4B266 motherboards have these overclocking abilities via the BIOS:
Adjustable FSB from 100mhz to 200mhz in 1mhz increments
Adjustable FSB/PCI frequency ratio
Adjustable CPU Vcore

Vcore adjustments are set to automatic in unlocked BIOSs.
I believe the CPU speed is also set to automatic by default in unlocked BIOSs.
This leads me to believe that this board has the capability to use up to a 800mhz FSB processor, it will just automatically adjust the BIOS as it did to support the 533mhz FSB CPU I'm now using. It looks like the multiplier can go up to 24x on these boards as well.

Any thoughts? A 3 - 3.2ghz Northwood with an 800mhz FSB is looking pretty good...

[CPU182]

Any ideas guys? I'm basically trying to find out what the fastest processor my MB can support is. I'm assuming it will support all Northwood processors, up to 3.4ghz (that would be nice), and possibly 800mhz FSB.
Would there be any reason for my MB to not support Prescotts?
On that note, does the amount of processor cache the computer can utilize depend on the MB, or just the processor? I ask this because if my MB can only support up to 512K L2 there is really no reason for me to look into a Prescott core.

[kamikazi_tom]

Ok, this is my adivice to you. If your stock FSB you have now is 533, then see how high it will allow you to overclock it in bios. If it allows you to go up 200mhz to 733mhz, then it will MOST LIKELY support 800mhz CPU's. As for as Presscots, thats entirely dependant on the boards functions. I know that your trying to the get the best you can out of an old rig but it may be time to upgrade =[

Good Luck!

Tom =]

[pdeepak]

Hi,

I have the PCV-RX650 with the exact same board & I updated the bios to 1004 but it does not recognize the 2.6 GHz/400 FSB processor at all. I ran the Asus probe utility that says that it can go to a max speed of 2.4 GHz.

Did you do anything special ?
Can you send me your bios file ?


Thanks.

[CPU182]

Originally Posted by pdeepak

Hi,

I have the PCV-RX650 with the exact same board & I updated the bios to 1004 but it does not recognize the 2.6 GHz/400 FSB processor at all. I ran the Asus probe utility that says that it can go to a max speed of 2.4 GHz.

Did you do anything special ?
Can you send me your bios file ?


Thanks.

What revison is your MB? Mine is 1.02. I didn't do anything special, just used the 1004 BIOS update I got from Sony's site. I think I downloaded it from the PCV-RX670 section, although I'm almost certain they are all the exact same file. I can definitely send you the BIOS if noting else works for you. Whenever I start up the computer I always see some BIOS error text but it starts right up.
After some research I'm almost positive a Prescott will NOT work on this MB. It requires all these new voltage regulations and things and considering I had this computer before I'd even heard of Prescott CPUs I don't think my MB has those specs.
I have no adjustment options available in the BIOS as it is a Sony BIOS. All P4B266 boards made by Asus have options in the BIOS allowing for adjustment of FSB from 100 to 200mhz. This leads me to believe that these functions are just hidden in my BIOS and my BIOS/Motherboard are automatically adapting these settings. I'm planning on purchasing a 3.2ghz 800FSB Northwood, I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Processors that have worked on my MB:
SL5VJ - 1.8ghz 400FSB
SL6RZ - 2.4ghz 533FSB
SL6PF - 2.8ghz 533FSB

Info taken directly off my chipset:
RG82845
SL5YQ
L150A277

[pdeepak]

Originally Posted by CPU182

What revison is your MB? Mine is 1.02. I didn't do anything special, just used the 1004 BIOS update I got from Sony's site. I think I downloaded it from the PCV-RX670 section, although I'm almost certain they are all the exact same file. I can definitely send you the BIOS if noting else works for you. Whenever I start up the computer I always see some BIOS error text but it starts right up.
After some research I'm almost positive a Prescott will NOT work on this MB. It requires all these new voltage regulations and things and considering I had this computer before I'd even heard of Prescott CPUs I don't think my MB has those specs.
I have no adjustment options available in the BIOS as it is a Sony BIOS. All P4B266 boards made by Asus have options in the BIOS allowing for adjustment of FSB from 100 to 200mhz. This leads me to believe that these functions are just hidden in my BIOS and my BIOS/Motherboard are automatically adapting these settings. I'm planning on purchasing a 3.2ghz 800FSB Northwood, I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Processors that have worked on my MB:
SL5VJ - 1.8ghz 400FSB
SL6RZ - 2.4ghz 533FSB
SL6PF - 2.8ghz 533FSB

Info taken directly off my chipset:
RG82845
SL5YQ
L150A277

I have the same revision 1.02, also I downloaded the BIOS from Sony for PCV-RX650 & its 1004 revision. I had 1.6 GHz processor, but I bought this 2.6 GHz SL6SB hoping that it will work but it didn't so I bought another 2 GHz which works fine.

Can you try installing the Asus PC probe & capture the information, like Max processor etc.

Thanks.

[CPU182]

Yea bro. I have Sandra Lite and CPU-Z. I'll get PC Probe and post some screen shots. The original processor was the 1.8ghz I posted above. Getting a 3.2ghz/800FSB processor soon.

[glc]

It will definitely NOT support a Prescott. It does not have the required voltage regulator. It also will not support anything faster than 533 FSB and it will not support hyperthreading. The highest you can go is a 2.8 GHz 533 FSB Northwood. If you put a 800 FSB Northwood in it, it will downclock itself to 533 FSB. It will also not support the higher speed 400 FSB Northwoods due to multiplier issues.

[CPU182]

Originally Posted by glc

It will definitely NOT support a Prescott. It does not have the required voltage regulator. It also will not support anything faster than 533 FSB and it will not support hyperthreading. The highest you can go is a 2.8 GHz 533 FSB Northwood. If you put a 800 FSB Northwood in it, it will downclock itself to 533 FSB. It will also not support the higher speed 400 FSB Northwoods due to multiplier issues.

Thanks for shedding some light on the issue. Are you sure it will not support 800FSB? It seems all the Asus boards of this series have the ability in the BIOS to increase the FSB from 100 to 200. If it absolutely won't work then I'm fine with what I have now, its worlds faster than it used to be. I really wanted a 3+ghz processor though...
I guess now I'll focus on upgrading the memory.

[CPU182]

Update on this thread if anyone cares, I'm still working on it! Highest multiplier this board supports is 24x. I tried a 800FSB 3.2Ghz processor (SL6WG) and it worked but was downclocked to 1.6ghz (400FSB x 16x).
So now I know this maximum FSB this board supports is 533. I found a 533FSB 3.06Ghz processor (SL6S5) that I am going to try. It has a multiplier of 23x which is winthin the board's supported multiplier range so hopefully it works.
And to support glc, the 2.6ghz 400FSB SL6SB processor that pdeepak tried didn't work because it requires a multiplier of 26x, which is not supported by this board.

[CPU182]

3.06 Ghz 533 FSB processor WORKS! I'm pretty sure this is the fastest 533 FSB socket 478 processor available so my processor speed is maxed out. I'm now working on putting 2 gigs of memory into the board.
Am looking at either Patriot w/ CAS 2.5 or ADATA w/ CAS 3. Any suggesstions? Any other ideas of how to squeeze any more performance out of this system?