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Page 4 of 8 - BIOS
BIOS
Although the P5Q Pro isn't aimed particularly at enthusiasts, even amongst mainstream motherboard purchasers, ASUS rarely scrimp on the amount of BIOS functionality on offer. So, how does this part shape up? Let's have a look.
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Configuration for the six Serial ATA ports provided by ICH10 is available as per usual on the main page of the BIOS.
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This may not be a motherboard aimed at the hardcore overclocker, but that doesn't mean it's short of overclocking options, boasting a full set of capabilities to allow you to unless this board's potential to the full. We can also see included here ASUS' new DRAM Read Training functionality, which is available to offer up dynamic read control - Basically, this handles 'levelling out' any clock skews between parts of system memory which can normally cause instability, theoretically allowing you to push your system overclocks further without memory-related issues surfacing from skewing issues.
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As you might expect, the normal series of voltage alterations are also available to cover all your needs.
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Advanced CPU settings such as disabling SpeedStep or on-chip Virtualisation technology are available as always.
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With ASUS' ExpressGate technology available in the P5Q Pro, this can be configured and disabled within the BIOS as needed.
Let's finish this section by taking a proper look at the overclocking features and possible values available using this board.
| Feature: |
Minimum value: |
Maximum value: |
Increments: |
| FSB strap to northbridge |
200 MHz |
400 MHz |
66 MHz |
| FSB frequency |
200 MHz |
800 MHz |
1 MHz |
| PCI Express frequency |
100 MHz |
180 MHz |
1 MHz |
|
DRAM frequency |
533 MHz |
1066 MHz |
- |
| DRAM clock skew on channel A/B |
Advance 350ps |
Delay 350ps |
50ps |
| AI transaction booster |
01 |
31 |
01 |
|
CPU voltage |
0.85000 V |
2.1000 V |
0.00625 V |
| CPU GTL voltage reference (0/2) |
0.370x |
0.760x |
0.005x |
| CPU GTL voltage reference (1/3) |
0.410x |
0.800x |
0.005x |
| CPU PLL voltage |
1.50 V |
2.78 V |
0.02 V |
| FSB termination voltage |
1.20 V |
1.90 V |
0.02 V |
| DRAM voltage |
1.80 V |
3.08 V |
0.02 V |
| Northbridge voltage |
1.10 V |
2.06 V |
0.02 V |
| Northbridge GTL voltage reference |
0.61x |
0.67x |
0.06x |
| Southbridge voltage |
1.10 V |
1.40 V |
0.10 V |
| PCIe SATA voltage |
1.50 V |
1.80 V |
0.10 V |
It seems that every time we have a new motherboard from ASUS arrive in our review dungeon, the company has upped the ante with regard to the sheer wealth of overclocking functionality on offer, and that appears to be the case once again with the P5Q Pro. While much of this is related to recent discussions pointing out that overclocking Intel systems is becoming ever more complicated as FSB speeds grow ever higher, but it certainly can't be claimed that ASUS isn't giving you all the tools you need to squeeze every last drop of performance out of your system from an overclocking perspective.
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