Asus Maximus Formula

Hello All,

I've searched the net and cannot find an answer to this problem. I've been told that this board has the most knowledgeable people out there and thus I come to you in a time of need.

Here is the parts list:
ASUS Maximus Formula LGA775 X38 ATX DDR2 2PCI-E16 3PCI-E1 2PCI 2GBLAN SATA RAID 1394 Motherboard
Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 DDR2 4GB 4X1GB DDR2-1066
2 x Diamond Viper Radeon HD 3850 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDCP HDMI HDTV Out Video Card
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor LGA775 Kentsfield 2.40GHZ 1066FSB 8MB Retail Box

I installed everything no problem and was able to boot up. However, everytime I change something in the BIOS and then 'Exit and Save Changes' the computer attempts to restart and then hangs. At this point, I need to clear CMOS and then power on and it boots back up.

I had tried to set the ram frequency to DDR2-1066 but when I save it hangs and then it sets the default settings. The same thing happened even when trying to disable the 2nd Ethernet port.

I've run Memtest86 v1.7.0 and it has passed 4 times in 3hrs 15mins. I kept it running all night and it still passed.

I also tried flashing the BIOS to the new 907 version but the problem was still there.

The board tends to hang at EN SETUP when it tries to reboot.

I contacted Asus and they felt it was a corrupt BIOS chip so they suggested I RMA the board. I RMAed the board through NCIX (place of purchase) and received a new board today.

I added all the parts and guess what, still can't boot after saving changes in the BIOS.

I've never come across this problem in all my years and I'm nothing short of puzzled. Any ideas on how to proceed?

Help is much appreciated.

KaMoo

1. Are you sure you got a different motherboard?
2. Sounds like a bad cmos battery (if for some reason you got the same board twice).
3. Is it possible you have something on the motherboard tray that's grounding the motherboard itself? IE an extra stand off?

take 2GB out and test again

Hello All,

Thanks for the quick replies. I just got off the phone with L2 support and they felt it was either the CMOS battery or the grounding issue. I tested it outside the case and same problem.

On my way to Radioshack to pick up a new battery.

The S/N on this board is different so I'm assuming its a new board. I RMAed through the vendor not Asus.

Side note: Should I be using the 4 pin or 6 pin secondary power connector?

KaM

You need to share a little bit more info:

1. strap?
2. mem divider
3. voltage

What BIOS menu are those in?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tony

take 2GB out and test again

---

x2 ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kamoo

What BIOS menu are those in?

---

Extreme Tweaker (Manual).

Replaced the CMOS battery but after setting the date/time it wouldn't reboot after saving changes

The FSB Strap to Northbridge is set to Auto, so are the voltages. Didn't see anything called Mem Divider.

KaM

Just got off the phone with L3 support and they feel its the board again. Going to try and send away for an RMA with NCIX seeing as they'll pay for shipping within the next few days before I try the Asus RMA route.

The board doesn't want to give Ballistix 1066 enough voltage. Mine defaults to 1.8 when the ram needs 2.2 to 2.4. You might have to set it to 800, reboot, then up the voltage and set to 1066.

U mean u get that annoying 'DET RAM' hang? I found out this is related to Dividers, so changing strap can help this or Disable Transaction booster relax level: 0 or 1. I found out that after 450FSB, transaction booster enabled wont work with 400 strap on my board, no matter how much NBv u bump it just get that DET RAM hang. However 333 strap works very nice for high fsb, thus I use 333 strap if I want to use 450FSB+ but u have to disable Transaction booster for using 333 strap, and I found the odd thing when using 333 strap, 1:1 set in BIOS doesnt work , but u have to set AUTO then it POST np at all, or the 5:6 divider works aswell.

*edit and the BIOS I am using is 0907.

The only thing is that these are all BIOS changes which likely won't be able to be saved right?

Do you think its a corrupt board? Every ounce of me is telling me that the odds of two corrupt boards is slim to none.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kamoo

The only thing is that these are all BIOS changes which likely won't be able to be saved right?

Do you think its a corrupt board? Every ounce of me is telling me that the odds of two corrupt boards is slim to none.

---

An Idea:
Set AI Overclock Tuner:MANUAL
Scroll down and set Dram Voltage to 2.20V (only do this if you can confirm that your ram is rated at 2.20V)
Save settings and reboot and see if that helps with 4 1gig sticks of ram
If not, remove 2 of the 4 sticks of ram and see what happens.

For me I need 2.10V just to get it to boot but your problem is a bit different from mine so I cannot guarantee this will work.

If I read your ram correctly your ram is rated for 2.2V. Is this correct?
Ballistix
Ballistix Tracer

Ballistix Single
Ballistix Tracer Single

The saga continues...

I sent the board to NCIX and they were able to get it to boot/save/etc after changing the memory timings and voltages. I received the board back today but none of the settings remained!

I reinstalled everything but still am having the same issues! What can I do?!?

KaMoo

thry it outside of case, plug just the 24 ATX and the 8pin if you have it put the minumum amout of components to it [ CPU + VGA + RAM ] without an HDD or whatsoever.
The less components the better
And add / witch components ... rinse and repeat

Can it be a CPU problem ? look at the back side if you accidentaly didn't soil it with the thermal compoud or something like that. There must be something wrong you just need tho find what

Btw .. is it the same series of MOBO as your old one was or a newer / older one. It can be proppably a board one series problem ..

Who knows

Try like Tony suggested with one dimm at a time, try to boot then... and test that stick with programs like OCCT ram test, then swap it for another stick... if they got it to boot at ya shop with the same hardware you must be doing something wrong... or did they use other ram ? I suspect a bad stick or setting...

I suspect it's either a issue concerning the ram. or a issue concerning power.

I browsed slowly through each message and did not find what wattage power supply he is currently using.

That's a good one .. what PSU you're using

Hi Guys,

Checked the CPU no issues there.

I've MEMTESTED the ram and didnt have any problems.

Coolermaster Real Power 750W ATX 12V V2.2 SLI Active PFC 80PLUS Power Supply 120MM Fan

When I asked the guy who RMAed the board, he said he changed the timings and voltage but when I try to change the voltage and save, it won't come back.

I've heard that the Maximus is very fussy with Ballistix ram and I've been given other Mushkin and Corsair options from some friends but I want to avoid purchasing new RAM.

I had nothing but problems with my D9's in this board. Very iffy with that ram. My Maximus even killed two of them. Switched to the ram in my sig and not a problem since. :)

Hello All,

So I'll update the situation and see if anyone can think of what to do next.

NCIX (vendor) was apparently able to get the board to save so likely the problem is on my end (assuming they weren't lying)

I called Crucial and we tried just 2 of the 4 sticks and adjusted the timing but the BIOS continues to hang after you try and save changes. Apparently Crucial and Asus both know about the issue with Ballistix and both are 'actively trying to resolve the issue'. I convinced the vendor to allow me to return the sticks and decided to purchase the Mushkin XP2 Redline PC2-8500 DDR 1000 RAM after hearing from a few people that this RAM worked well for them.

I received them today, popped them in and got the computer loaded up. I went into the BIOS, changed the date, and attempted to Exit/Save. Same problems.

I called Asus and they said that the 1000mhz RAM is a 'weird number' and that I should go out and purchase an 800 or 667 mhz stick instead. I wonder if its a voltages/timing issue but I can't change them to get the BIOS to boot.

They also suggested it could be the power supply, which I replaced with an older Antec one and had the same problem.

I'm running out of ideas on how to remedy this. Any suggestions?

KaM