Asus P4C800-E VCore Voltage Variances Revealed

[Grandpa Dan]

I saw his rigs. If those #'s are from his, could be it's a 2.6 not a 2.4c...?

 

[rogue3092]

Preliminary testing... ASUS P4C800-E

Bios Setting...........Reading fluctuation in XP (full load)
1.625------------------------1.50-1.52
1.600------------------------1.54-1.56
1.575------------------------1.53-1.54

Bios Setting...........Reading fluctuation in XP (full idle)
1.625..............................1.60-1.62
1.600..............................1.60-1.63
1.575..............................1.58-1.62

 

[Xeon]

Wow, now this is interesting data rogue3092.

Your basically only showing a .011 spread in fluctuation, at least for your 1.575 setting.

What OS are you running and what processor do you have? I'd also be interested in hearing if you have Performance mode enabled as well as PAM/PAT.

There has to be some reason that you have such tight VCore voltages and most others do not. Can you think of anything that may attribute to that?

 

[rogue3092]

Well, the voltages may seem better when compared to others but I still consider them crappy. Anyway, my OS is XP and the CPU is a 2.8C SL6WT. Performance mode and PAT are both enabled. My PSU is an Antec TruPower 550, which seems to be fine although my 12v is a bit low (11.69-11.71). I'm also running at 5:4 w/ a current fsb of 240.

 

[Xeon]

LOL, yes it is crappy when you get right down to the bottom of it, but compared to what most are seeing your doing quite well. I didn't mean to sound as if this fluctuation is ok, because it's not. If you set your VCore to 1.6, then by god it should stay there.

Unfortunately the additional information you provided didn't really lead me to any clues, although you are running a different cpu, I believe others here are as well.

Running 5:4 doesn't seem to be the answer either since others here have reported the same fluctuations I have and are also running 5:4.

I just don't get it.

BTW, what did you use to measure your VCore voltages?

 

[rogue3092]

I don't get it either! Too bad I didnt test this when I got the motherboard, or It would have gone straight to the RMA. I'm thinking of doing that resistor trick, supposedly helps the voltage stabalize out a lot. Core voltages were measured with Motherboard Monitor 5, but they are the same as in ASUS Probe.

 

[Xeon]

Yeah, I've actually looked at doing that as well, but since I've not had a problem with my machine and it's ROCK solid stable, I've put it off.

However, it's probably safe to say that if I did do the mod, I would probably be able to clock this thing further than I can today! For that reason I may do it anyway.

If you end up doing that, please let us know how it goes and what it means as far as your clockability and stability.

Thanks for your feedback rogue3092, It's been helpful and I appreciate the time you took to test this and post what you found.

 

[tio]

Here are my results, using a P4C800-E Deluxe:

Bios Setting . . . . . . . . . Actual (idle <---> 100% load)

1.625 ............................ 1.613 <---> 1.472
1.600 ............................ 1.632 <---> 1.536
1.550 ............................ 1.600 <---> 1.488
1.525 ............................ 1.568 <---> 1.472


I should note that this is using a 2.4c. Also, I noticed that these fluctuations are independant of my FSB speed (ie: I observe these fluctuations @ FSB = 200 MHz ......... FSB = 300 MHz).

I am definately going to do try out the "droop" mod and see if I can get this under control. I love this board, but this is just ridiculous!

 

[Xeon]

Here are my results, using a P4C800-E Deluxe:

Bios Setting . . . . . . . . . Actual (idle <---> 100% load)

1.625 ............................ 1.613 <---> 1.472
1.600 ............................ 1.632 <---> 1.536
1.550 ............................ 1.600 <---> 1.488
1.525 ............................ 1.568 <---> 1.472


I should note that this is using a 2.4c. Also, I noticed that these fluctuations are independant of my FSB speed (ie: I observe these fluctuations @ FSB = 200 MHz ......... FSB = 300 MHz).

I am definately going to do try out the "droop" mod and see if I can get this under control. I love this board, but this is just ridiculous!

Yes it is ridiculous!!

Let me know how the droop mod goes and if you are actually able to get it under control using that mod. I too love this MB but this problem is beyond bad. I think what's most interesting is that Asus seems to have this problem on a bunch of it's boards and it's not just a problem on the P4C800-E.

That other piece of data you provided concerning the FSB is also a good data point to know. Thanks for testing this!

 

[tio]

No problem at all. And I'll make sure I let you guys know how the mod goes, once I get around to doing it.

 

[The Interceptor]

Bios Setting . . . . . . . . . Actual (idle <---> 100% load)

1.525 ............................ max1.60V <---> min1.52V

 

[jfl91]

For me, it's completely weird!

Look at my voltage:

bios ----------------- idle -------------------------------------------- load
1.575v ---------- 1.60 - 1.616 ----------------------------- 1.504 - 1.52 - 1.536


1.60v ------------ 1.60 - 1.616 - 1.632 -------------------- 1.536 - 1.552 - 1.568


1.625v ----------- 1.60 - 1.616 ----------------------------- 1.488 - 1.504 - 1.536


1.65v ------------- 1.632 - 1.648 --------------------------- 1.502 - 1.536 - 1.552


Really weird that it's so low. Also my voltage is changing at idle and even when my cpu is full loaded. Is it possible also that my cpu is not working properly and it's creating resistance?

Here is my rig:
P4 EE OC'd @ 3.6GHz (225fsb) with Thermalright SP-94 with Delta 80mm (84CFM)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe (bios 1014)
Corsair XMS4000 PRO @ 2.5-3-4-6
R9800XT
2 X WD Raptor 74GB in Raid 0
Adaptec SCSI 39160 controller
2 X Seagate Cheetah 15K3 36GB

 

[Xeon]

For me, it's completely weird!

Look at my voltage:

bios ----------------- idle -------------------------------------------- load
1.575v ---------- 1.60 - 1.616 ----------------------------- 1.504 - 1.52 - 1.536


1.60v ------------ 1.60 - 1.616 - 1.632 -------------------- 1.536 - 1.552 - 1.568


1.625v ----------- 1.60 - 1.616 ----------------------------- 1.488 - 1.504 - 1.536


1.65v ------------- 1.632 - 1.648 --------------------------- 1.520 - 1.536 - 1.552


Really weird that it's so low. Also my voltage is changing at idle and even when my cpu is full loaded. Is it possible also that my cpu is not working properly and it's creating resistance?

Here is my rig:
P4 EE OC'd @ 3.6GHz (225fsb) with Thermalright SP-94 with Delta 80mm (84CFM)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe (bios 1014)
Corsair XMS4000 PRO @ 2.5-3-4-6
R9800XT
2 X WD Raptor 74GB in Raid 0
Adaptec SCSI 39160 controller
2 X Seagate Cheetah 15K3 36GB

Yep, these are just like the ones I posted originally here:

Fluctuations Revealed

Out of curiosity are you running with Performance Mode and Performance Acceleration Mode/PAT enabled?

Thanks for posting your results.

 

[jfl91]

Yes they are both enabled!

 

[Xeon]

OK, thanks!

The reason I ask is because there is another user I know who has a P4C800 (NON -E) who doesn't enable Performance Mode and his voltages are pretty stable compared to ours. I haven't had time to test this theory myself yet but I think it's worth trying to see if it helps stabilize these voltages.

At any rate, thanks for your help!

 

[alfmalmac]

My P4P800 goes -0.10 ~ 0.12 under load in XP. One or two inst. of prime the same thing.
I got a Antec 430.
At idle it seems stable.

 

[Jojo1971]

ive noticed terrible vcore fluctuations in both my p4p800 and p4c800-e..

 

[itizme]

I don't mean to be rude but are you guys really depending on software to get your voltages, or are you using proper test equipment
I like the thread, has me wondering if I should record my psu and my cpu via a recording meter. I know my next steps will have to involve voltage adjustments and perhaps some harware mods

 

[tio]

Can you define "proper test equipment"?

I can't be certain, but I think that for most, software monitoring is the only way to monitor Vcore. Do you know of a way to monitor it with something like a multimeter?

 

[skane]

For me, it's completely weird!

Look at my voltage:

bios ----------------- idle -------------------------------------------- load
1.575v ---------- 1.60 - 1.616 ----------------------------- 1.504 - 1.52 - 1.536


1.60v ------------ 1.60 - 1.616 - 1.632 -------------------- 1.536 - 1.552 - 1.568


1.625v ----------- 1.60 - 1.616 ----------------------------- 1.488 - 1.504 - 1.536


1.65v ------------- 1.632 - 1.648 --------------------------- 1.520 - 1.536 - 1.552

I get similar results (Asus P4C800-E Deluxe, bios 1011, 2.4C).

I also get more stability using vcore set to 1.6v in BIOS then at 1.65 - 1.675v, which is consistent with the vcore drooping more at 1.65 - 1.675 then at 1.6.