Rampage Formula - weird voltages and BIOS setup

Hello all!

1st PART

Before I get to the point, here's my rig:

Q6600 G0 @ 3.6GHz (1.5V)
Asus Rampage Formula
2x2GB Transcend JetRam PC800 5-5-5-15 (1.98V)
2x 4850 (Crossfire)

Been experiencing some issues with games - after few hours of paying they'd either crash or get frozen. So I tried to up the Vcore to 1.51V for start. Booted up, started 3DMark06 and Asus PC Probe II. Shortly after, PC Probe's alarm went on and I got a surprise:

SB............4.08V
SB2..........4.08V
FSBT........4.08V
DRAM........4.08V
DRAM Ref...4.08V
NB............4.08V

I know Rampage Formula likes to overvolt, but :brick:
Anyone experienced something like this before?

2nd PART

Any suggestions on what things I should change in BIOS settings? My current settings are:

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner: Manual
OC From CPU Level Up: AUTO
CPU Ratio Setting: AUTO
FSB Frequency: 400
FSB Strap to North Bridge: AUTO
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: AUTO
DRAM Command Rate: AUTO
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# ActivateTime: 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay: AUTO
Row Refresh Cycle Time: AUTO
Write Recovery Time: AUTO
Read to Precharge Time: AUTO
Read to Write Delay (S/D): AUTO
Write to Read Delay (S): AUTO
Write to Read Delay (D): AUTO
Read to Read Delay (S): AUTO
Read to Read Delay (D): AUTO
Write to Write Delay (S): AUTO
Write to Write Delay (D): AUTO
DRAM Static Read Control: AUTO
Ai Clock Twister: AUTO
Ai Transaction Booster: AUTO

CPU Voltage: 1.5v
CPU PLL Voltage: AUTO
North Bridge Voltage: 1.25v
DRAM Voltage: 1.94v
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.20v
South Bridge Voltage: AUTO
Loadline Calibration: AUTO
CPU GTL Reference: AUTO
North Bridge GTL Reference: AUTO
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage: AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage: AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage: AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage: AUTO
NB LED Selection: NB Volt
SB LED Selection: SB Volt
CPU LED Selection: CPU Volt
Voltimeter LED: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: AUTO
PCIE Spread Spectrum: AUTO


Thanks!

:wave:

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner: Manual
OC From CPU Level Up: AUTO
CPU Ratio Setting: 9
FSB Frequency: 400
FSB Strap to North Bridge: 333
PCI-E Frequency: 105
DRAM Frequency: 800
DRAM Command Rate: 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# ActivateTime: 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay: 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time: 45
Write Recovery Time: 6
Read to Precharge Time: 3
Read to Write Delay (S/D): 8
Write to Read Delay (S): 3
Write to Read Delay (D): 5
Read to Read Delay (S): 4
Read to Read Delay (D): 6
Write to Write Delay (S): 4
Write to Write Delay (D): 6
DRAM Static Read Control: Enalbed
Ai Clock Twister: STRONG
Ai Transaction Booster: enabled(0)

CPU Voltage: 1.475
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.7v
North Bridge Voltage: 1.4v(required for transaction booster, you can also try "disabled" and (0) for trans boost for lower chipset volts)
DRAM Voltage: 1.94v
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.20v
South Bridge Voltage: 1.050v
Loadline Calibration: Enabled
CPU GTL Reference: .067
North Bridge GTL Reference: .067
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage: AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage: AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage: AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage: 1.5v
NB LED Selection: NB Volt
SB LED Selection: SB Volt
CPU LED Selection: CPU Volt
Voltimeter LED: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: DISABLED
PCIE Spread Spectrum: DISABLED


DO some testing with loadline calibration enabled. You should be able to lower cpu volts this way, and is fine for 65nm, not so for 45nm(although I use it without problems, but on low volts for my QX)

if those were running 4V then u would have everythng dead in your computer, i would assume that u need a software update

IM about 100% sure those are not your real voltages.

yeah it's prolly only sensing your 5v rail or something.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by philbrown23

yeah it's prolly only sensing your 5v rail or something.

---

....in which case the PC would not be functioning with the 5v rail at 4.08v :)

Worst case scenario- voltage readings are busted. Try checking with a multimeter. Your hardware wouldn't survive 5 seconds at 4.08v.

Thanx guys!

I'll try out some suggested bios settings.
As for the voltages, all went back to normal as soon as I put vcore to 1.5V again.

One more thing... what's the max allowed temp for the NB? PC Probe's alarm goes on even on idle after some time when NB temp reaches 45C.

:wave:

DRAM Command Rate is @AUTO. Should I put 2N?

Tried some of your BIOS suggestions and for the 1st time it passed cpu tests @3.7GHz. Got 3DMark06 score 20,011 :) While it was running I had PC Probe monitoring voltages/temps in the background. Alarm went on again in the middle of 3DMark test. Same thing again with 4.08V for SB, FSBT, DRAM, NB... but I let it finish. Must be that PC Probe is messed up.

Will try some more settings and will get back with the results/questions later.

Thanx again all! :)


P.S. Just hit 20,490 in 3DMark06 @3.8GHz :)

P.P.S. Is FSBT voltage of 1.4V too much?

This is a known issue with Asus monitoring software. I have PC probe installed too, but I've learned not to freak out when I get those alarms. They're quite recurrent when you're stressing your system.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aca

Same thing again with 4.08V for SB, FSBT, DRAM, NB... but I let it finish. Must be that PC Probe is messed up.

---

Must be a Bios problem,what Bios version have you?

Have a look at this may you want to update to 0408:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?...Language=en-us

stealth

Bios version says Rev 0219 when booting (in BIOS it says v02.61).

When I tried settings which looked like cadaveca's it wouldn't boot (ram problem), so I'm using these BIOS settings atm:

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner: Manual
OC From CPU Level Up: AUTO
CPU Ratio Setting: 09.0
FSB Frequency: 423
FSB Strap to North Bridge: 400
PCI-E Frequency: 105
DRAM Frequency: 846
DRAM Command Rate: AUTO
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# ActivateTime: 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay: 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time: 45
Write Recovery Time: 6
Read to Precharge Time: 3
Read to Write Delay (S/D): AUTO
Write to Read Delay (S): AUTO
Write to Read Delay (D): AUTO
Read to Read Delay (S): AUTO
Read to Read Delay (D): AUTO
Write to Write Delay (S): AUTO
Write to Write Delay (D): AUTO
DRAM Static Read Control: AUTO
Ai Clock Twister: AUTO
Ai Transaction Booster: AUTO

CPU Voltage: 1.500v
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.5v
North Bridge Voltage: 1.49v
DRAM Voltage: 2.02v
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.4v
South Bridge Voltage: 1.050v
Loadline Calibration: Enabled
CPU GTL Reference: .067
North Bridge GTL Reference: .067
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage: AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage: AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage: AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage: 1.5v
NB LED Selection: NB Volt
SB LED Selection: SB Volt
CPU LED Selection: CPU Volt
Voltimeter LED: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: DISABLED
PCIE Spread Spectrum: DISABLED

Should I change something, please say so... and in which order. :)

Thanx again!
:wave:

adjust chipset volts lower if possible, without transaction booster set to PL6, there's no point in such high voltages. It's the transaction booster that created no boot for you, please try the secondary timings I posted as well.

1.5v should be OK for VTT, but don't go over cpu voltage, IMHO.

I tried with PL5 and PL7 before and it wouldn't boot.

Now I put like this:

DRAM Command Rate : Auto
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 45
Write Recovery Time : 6
Read to Precharge Time : 3

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : 8
Write to Read Delay (S) : 3
Write to Read Delay (D) : 5
Read to Read Delay (S) : 4
Read to Read Delay (D) : 6
Write to Write Delay (S) : 4
Write to Write Delay (D) : 6

Write to PRE Delay : 14
Read to PRE Delay : 5
PRE to PRE Delay : 1
ALL PRE to ACT Delay : 6
ALL PRE to REF Delay : 6

DRAM Static Read Control: Auto
Ai Clock Twister : Auto
Transaction Booster : Auto


Testing in progress...

You might even get all pre delays @ 5, or maybe even 4, dependant on the ram. Write to pre dealy can go to 16 most likely, without affecting bandwidth too much...I'd run 16-5-1-5-5 myself.

PL @ low setting requires increase in chipset volts. 6 required 1.45-1.5 for me(dependant on whether I was running 2 or 4gb), 5 would not boot, 7 required 1.35. That's a big jump in volts from 7 to 6. If your ram will run CAS 4, 7 and 6 may be a bit easier, but I was running 400FSB/1066 mem @ PL6 24/7.

My mem is 2x2GB Transcend JetRam PC800 with Elpida chips.
If my current tests fail, I'll try your suggestions from last post. :)

Wasn't stable @ 423 FSB so I put 412... I'll mess with it tomorrow.

For now it's stable with these settings:

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner: Manual
OC From CPU Level Up: AUTO
CPU Ratio Setting: 09.0
FSB Frequency: 412
FSB Strap to North Bridge: 400
PCI-E Frequency: 105
DRAM Frequency: 824
DRAM Command Rate: 2N
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# ActivateTime: 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay: 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time: 45
Write Recovery Time: 6
Read to Precharge Time: 3
Read to Write Delay (S/D) : 8
Write to Read Delay (S) : 3
Write to Read Delay (D) : 5
Read to Read Delay (S) : 4
Read to Read Delay (D) : 6
Write to Write Delay (S) : 4
Write to Write Delay (D) : 6

Write to PRE Delay : 14
Read to PRE Delay : 5
PRE to PRE Delay : 1
ALL PRE to ACT Delay : 6
ALL PRE to REF Delay : 6

DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
Ai Clock Twister: Strong
Ai Transaction Booster: AUTO

CPU Voltage: 1.500v
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.5v
North Bridge Voltage: 1.41v
DRAM Voltage: 2.12v
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.4v
South Bridge Voltage: 1.050v
Loadline Calibration: Enabled
CPU GTL Reference: .067
North Bridge GTL Reference: .067
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage: AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage: AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage: AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage: 1.5v
NB LED Selection: NB Volt
SB LED Selection: SB Volt
CPU LED Selection: CPU Volt
Voltimeter LED: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: DISABLED
PCIE Spread Spectrum: DISABLED


I bolded out the changes. BTW latencies aren't that important to me as cpu speed.

:wave:

It passes all 3dmark tests, crysis tests,... lots of consecutive loops - no problem. But if I try to loop cpu tests in 3dmark it crashes/resets after 10-15th run.

What should I try to change now?

How do I make sure whether it's the CPU or memory that's keeping me from hitting 3.8GHz stable?

At 3.7GHz everything's fine. But @3.8GHz when I stress only the cpu it crashes to desktop sooner or later with that error message

I tried increasing the voltages:
NB: 1.53V
PLL: 1.6-1.66V
DRAM: 2.1V

still not stable. :(