![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Wednesday, January 30, 2008
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
ASUS P5E3 Premium
The newest member in ASUS’ Intel lineup seems to finally deliver the performance that DDR3 has been promising. Paired up with the newly introduced Intel X48 chipset, this board packs a performance punch that few others boards can compete.
BIOS
The P5E3 Premium’s BIOS is based on the AMIBIOS template, with version 0126 used for testing.
The SATA Configuration submenu from within the Main menu contains configuration settings for the SATA ports tied to the ICH9R chipset. The SATA Configuration option controls how the system accesses the ports themselves. There are a total of 2 modes of operation, Compatible mode and Enhanced mode. The Compatible mode option allows for a total of 4 active ports in IDE emulation mode, while the Enhanced mode setting allows for use of all 6 ports. The Configure SATA as option becomes accessible with the SATA Configuration set to Enhanced mode. This option sets the base SATA port configuration, including the AHCI and RAID functionality of the chipset. Note that the RAID boot BIOS will only show with drives connected to the onboard ICH9R’s SATA 2 ports.
The System Information submenu contains read-only options detailing the current BIOS, CPU, and memory related default speed and type configuration settings.
The Ai Tweaker screen is a central location for all voltage, speed, and memory timing related settings. The Ai Overclock Tuner option controls how board overclocking works, allowing for both system automated and manual control. The CPU Ratio Setting option controls the base CPU Multiplier setting, with selections displayed determined by the CPU in use. The FSB Frequency setting allows for a maximum CPU FSB speed of 800MHz. The physical CPU operating speed is calculated by multiplying the CPU Ratio Control and FSB Frequency setting together. The PCIE Frequency option controls the PCI Express bus speed, with a maximum 150MHz setting. The system memory speed is configured through the FSB Strap to North Bridge and DRAM Command Rate options. The FSB Strap to North Bridge option gives access to various memory ratio settings based on the selected CPU FSB, with the DRAM Frequency option controlling the physical speed of the memory modules.
With the DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) option set to Manual, most memory timing related options become user configurable. The memory timing options available in the BIOS include the following: command rate; CAS latency; RAS to CAS delay; RAS precharge delay; active to precharge delay (RAS# Active Time); RAS to RAS delay; row refresh cycle delay; write recovery delay; read to precharge delay; read to write delay; write to read delay; read to read delay; write to write delay; write to precharge delay; and row cycle time (PRE to PRE Delay). Note that on the memory timings listed, the numerically lower setting forces more aggressive memory operation. The static read control and dynamic write control settings can be enabled or disabled only.
The Ai Clock Twister option sets how aggressively the BIOS sets the internal chipset memory related settings , while the Ai Transaction Booster option regulates how aggressively the BIOS attempts to overclock the system via pre-configured settings. The CPU voltage is set through the CPU Voltage options, with a maximum voltage of 1.70V, or 2.10V with the CPU overvoltage jumper enabled. The CPU PLL Voltage setting controls the power fed to the CPU power regulation circuitry, with a maximum of 2.78V allowed. The CPU Vtt voltage, listed as FSB Termination Voltage, can be set to a 1.50V maximum. The DRAM Voltage setting allows for a massive 2.78V through you DDR3 modules. The Northbridge chipset voltage can be set as high as 1.91V, or 2.21V with the Northbridge overvoltage jumper enabled. The Southbridge chipset voltage, set via the SB Voltage option, has a settable maximum of 1.20V. The Clock Over-Charging Voltage option sets the additional voltage supplied to the board clock regulation circuitry, with a maximum setting of 1.00V.
The Advanced screen contains a series of submenus containing options for onboard device and chipset related configuration.
The CPU Configuration submenu contains internal CPU related function settings, which include the following: CPU multiplier ratio, C1E support, CPU Thermal Monitor function (CPU TM Function), Vanderpool virtualization technology, Execute Disable Bit, and CPUID value limit.
The Onboard Device Configuration submenu contains settings for configuring the integrated system devices, including the JMicron RAID controller, all LAN controllers, the IEEE 1394 ports, and the HD audio device. When the JMicron eSATA/PATA Controller setting is enabled, the Controller Mode option becomes user accessible. This setting controls the operational mode for the JMicron controlled e-SATA ports, allowing for IDE, RAID, or AHCI based operation. Note that the devices connected to the JMicron controlled IDE port are not configurable for RAID or AHCI operation.
The USB Configuration submenu contains USB related configuration settings, with a submenu containing configuration options for individual USB device emulation. The USB Mass Storage Device Configuration submenu, used for configuring these emulation options, becomes user accessible with a properly detected USB device connected to the system. The Emulation Type option within this submenu allows for configuring device specific emulation modes for the system detected USB devices.
The Advanced PCI/PnP Settings submenu contains all system PnP configuration related settings. Unfortunately, the version of the BIOS tested did not allow direct control of the IRQ interrupt or pool assignment related settings.
The Hardware Monitor submenu can be accessed via the Hardware Monitor link within the main Power screen. The Hardware Monitor screen contains BIOS monitored statistics on system temperature, fan speed, and voltages. The CPU and chassis fan speeds can be manually configured for temperature based control or fixed control through the Fan Control options.
The Hard Disk Drives submenu, located from within the Boot screen, displays of all detected hard drive type devices connected to the system at boot time. A USB 2.0 type device will show as a viable device in this menu as well.
The Tools screen contains links to the various integrated ASUS designed BIOS utilities, including include a BIOS flashing applet and a profile load and save applet. The ASUS EZ Flash 2 submenu runs the proprietary ASUS EZFlash2 BIOS update applet. This application allows for flashing the board from BIOS update files from any connected system device, including properly detected USB 2.0 devices. The ASUS O.C. Profile submenu allows for creation, storage, and loading of up to 2 BIOS profiles. The Start O.C. Profile option allows file based storage of BIOS profiles. The interface is very similar in design to the EZ Flash 2 interface, with access to all attached system storage devices for save and load operations, including attached USB 2.0 devices.