ASUS Maximus II Formula - new P45 king?

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Originally Posted by nugzo

Nice work. Its crazy though having to push our memory so hard (600+Mhz) to break 10k on theses intel chipsets. I miss hitting 11k+ with nforce @ 400-450mhz. I never even tried anything any higher than link sync. I wonder what 600+mhz would have done. I think i'll order another SIIF and see. I miss SLI and playing everest.

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Thanks. Yes, the P45 doesn't produce as high a numbers in everest as chipsets like the 680i, but the superior Everest read & latency performance of the nvidia chipsets does not translate to faster SPI32M times. Clock for clock in SPI32M, the P45 is faster, so is the P35/X38/X48.

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Originally Posted by Ender3rd

Looks like the P45 more than held its own in the memory performance comparison with the X48. Interesting results, and not what I would have expected given what people have previously reported.

Nice!

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Thanks mate, I had to really push the board hard to do that, the boards MCH was as tight as it could go, the only way I could get better performance is to increase vdimm and tighten the ram timings, oh and if Asus had made pull-ins that actually work instead of being useless, perhaps I could improve on it a little.

However the X48 was doing that with relative ease, and had more in it for sure, eva just didn't have the time to fully optimize.

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Originally Posted by e.v.o

now thats impressive! :shocked: .. thanks for all your testing and information about that!
... but 1.45vNB isn't that good :eek:
Big differences when SRC/DRT is disabled?

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Thanks. Yes, SRC/DRT makes a very noticeable improvement, I would really recommend enabling them. Also Clock Twister on 'stronger' drops the latency significantly and gives a small bandwidth boost. 1.45vNB is pushing hard, I had it up to 1.49v with other testing and the NB was getting really hot.

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Originally Posted by bito

Have any of you guys played with the NB GTL Ref ??
I added +20mV to mine today and it has allowed me to lower my VFSB and VNB by a HUGE amount, with a Q9650.
If i put it back to Auto, with lower values for those two settings, the machine will BSOD.
Give it a try and post results here :)

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I have had a brief play with it, and got the best results leaving it on auto, much to my displeasure. However now I using different ram/chipset settings I will have another go.

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Originally Posted by Codeman05

Well guys, I've just about had it with this board...

I cannot prime blend for more than 30 minutes without an error.

I have tried 2 different sets of G.Skill 2x2GB F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK PC8500
As well as a set of 2x1 GB A-Data PC6400 that I know performs at 1066.
All 3 sets passed memtest but all fail at the 30-35 minute mark on prime blend.

Even stock clocks, cpu and ddr2....same story. This exact rig was 24hr prime stable on a 780i board @ 474x9.5 & 1:1

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Unless you have a dodgey board, perhaps your rams are having compatibility problems. Do you have any others, or can you even borrow a kit from a mate and try them? It should not be unstable at 453 FSB 1:1, I can get my board stable at 534 FSB 1:1 and higher, so the 'average board' can do that no problem.

Try different ram, if still a no go, perhaps swap the board.

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Originally Posted by SiGfever

I think that he got these...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231194

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I picked those up last week. I couldn't get them stable higher than 1100ish. i didn't try long. Maybe cryptik can share some timings and voltages if he gets his running any better.

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Originally Posted by CryptiK

Unless you have a dodgey board, perhaps your rams are having compatibility problems. Do you have any others, or can you even borrow a kit from a mate and try them? It should not be unstable at 453 FSB 1:1, I can get my board stable at 534 FSB 1:1 and higher, so the 'average board' can do that no problem.

Try different ram, if still a no go, perhaps swap the board.

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Actually tried 2 other sets. One was the same brand and model, just a seperate pair. The other set I tried was a different manufacture all together.

I will play more with the GTL's and see if I can find a sweet spot.
Otherwise I'll see if I can borrow a bud's 780i and try it out again.
Gonna be a long night :o

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Originally Posted by nugzo

I picked those up last week. I couldn't get them stable higher than 1100ish. i didn't try long. Maybe cryptik can share some timings and voltages if he gets his running any better.

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I have these running at 1122Mhz now, hoping for better out of the 8800's.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231166

Quick question then regarding this board.

I currently have a P5E Deluxe (X48) a set of 2x2 GB OCZ reapers (pc2-8500) and just ordered a Q9650.

Would the maximus II formula provide higher stable overclocks than the Asus X48 board (on air)?

That'd be Grnfinger with thoe G.Skill PI ram, I run Team & CellShock kits. However it seems ~1150 is the average max of those sticks, they are binning the PSC IC's very carefully so you really get what you pay for with very little overclocking headroom, the 9600's are the way to go if you want 1200+ out of the G.Skill PI series.

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Originally Posted by nugzo

Most 45nm seem to like negative #'s for GTL. Try:
CPU GTL Reference (0): Auto
CPU GTL Reference (1):-40mv
CPU GTL Reference (2): Auto
CPU GTL Reference (3):-40mv

I know some have good results with your current settings but i mostly see -'s for 45nm and +'s for 65nm.

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Da** that might have been it, 2 hours blend so far at 463x9.5 1:1 and running...beats my previous best by 1.5hrs and that was with lower clocks :up:
I'll let it wrap up over night and see what happens :D If all is well I can drop the multi and start to have some fun.

Thanks again for the advice all.

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Originally Posted by Codeman05

Da** that might have been it, 2 hours blend so far at 463x9.5 1:1 and running...beats my previous best by 1.5hrs and that was with lower clocks :up:
I'll let it wrap up over night and see what happens :D If all is well I can drop the multi and start to have some fun.

Thanks again for the advice all.

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Great! Lets go for 475!! 4512mhz is next for you! If you stay where you are, You may be able to drop your vcore and or vFSB some now that GTL's are a little more in line.

Every CPU behaves differently, and the GTL Refs required also change when you change FSB and vFSB. You do run really high vFSB so it would be a fair guess that is why you require negative GTL Refs. Glad to hear you are making progress.


New PB bandwidth and latency for 540 FSB:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...0FSB648MHz.jpg

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Originally Posted by CryptiK

New PB bandwidth and latency for 540 FSB:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...0FSB648MHz.jpg

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Awesome. Any 4gb (2x2) that you know of that'll clock that high?

Yep, G.Skill PC-9600 PI will do it, and higher. They are the best kit on the market at the moment IMO.

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Originally Posted by nugzo

If that doesnt work for you, try adjusting 1 and 3 in 10mv increments. I know its time consuming but thats what you gotta do. My sweet spot for this 9650 is +10 -45 +10 -45.

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nugzo,
Thanks for sharing your GTL's :)
Do you have a complete template to share ?

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Originally Posted by nugzo

Which gskills? I ordered these last week. should be here tomorrow

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I have the 8800's.
Seems there not a stellar kit, even running at stock I cant get them to pass memtest. Take it up to 2.0 volts and most of the errors are gone.
Was hoping to get a decent kit, guess not. Going Dominators I think if this kit needs to be rma'd

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Originally Posted by Grnfinger

I have the 8800's.
Seems there not a stellar kit, even running at stock I cant get them to pass memtest. Take it up to 2.0 volts and most of the errors are gone.
Was hoping to get a decent kit, guess not. Going Dominators I think if this kit needs to be rma'd

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And i have the G.skill 9600`s :rolleyes:

Post some overclocks if you get the chance, I have seen the 9600 kit do 675 MHz+ at almost stock volts. The IC's that dont make the grade for use in the 9600 sticks are used for the 8800 sticks, so the chance the 8800's will overclock much is slim to none, there is a thread about them here and no one really got anything special out of them, as many had trouble even running them at stock speeds. The 9600's are definitely the way to go, they far outclass the Dominators or any other 2 x 2GB kit for that matter.

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Originally Posted by CryptiK

Post some overclocks if you get the chance, I have seen the 9600 kit do 675 MHz+ at almost stock volts. The IC's that dont make the grade for use in the 9600 sticks are used for the 8800 sticks, so the chance the 8800's will overclock much is slim to none, there is a thread about them here and no one really got anything special out of them, as many had trouble even running them at stock speeds. The 9600's are definitely the way to go, they far outclass the Dominators or any other 2 x 2GB kit for that matter.

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That would explain my issues, cant run them at stock even.
I'd love to grab a set of 9600's but damn there 375 plus tax/shipping in Canada 400+ is a little much for ram imo.

Going to try to rma them in hopes of a better kit.

How about your "Part Number" and "Made in"-tag and CPU-Z screen?
On mine i read:
"PCB made in China" (on the upper left of the board) and Part No.: "90-MIB530-G0EAY00Z" (on the package). There is also a "90-MIB530-G0UAY00Z"
It's a Intel NB Rev. A2 and 1.02G Revision from Asus

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Originally Posted by CryptiK

Yep, G.Skill PC-9600 PI will do it, and higher. They are the best kit on the market at the moment IMO.

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And a kit of them is on the road toward my home together with an E8600 ;)
I'm too impatient to get them!

Nice mobo, my next purchase.

offtopic: OP never updated his post as he said he would =)

I nearly purchased this board but where I live it was the same price as the Rampage Formula so I naturally went for the X48 board. My friend got the M2F and to my surprise it behaves/performs extremely similar (kickass).

i posted this on another M2F thread but was unanswered, so i figured this thread is bigger and is more apporpriate. i read a few posts on this mobo's cooling, but i still need some clarifications

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../heatsinks.jpg

1) these circular foam pads (circled in green) next to the NB screw post can be taken off to lower the heatpipe assemble in order for the NB to fit more secure? can the circular foam pads on the mosfet sinks also be taken off also?
2) can the 4 squared rubber pads (boxed in blue) on the NB's sink be taken off to also lower the whole assembly closer to the NB chip?
3) the screw posts circled in red are missing the circular foam posts that the NB and SB post has. is anyone else missing these too or is it just my board? would i need them?
4) at area 4, should there be a big thermal pad similar to the right of the NB or am i missing it?
5) in addition to all this, add some washers to the bottom of the board for the NB screws right? i don't get how adding these washers would tighten up NB contact if the screws can still be screwed in all the way with these washers.

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Originally Posted by WhiteFireDragon

i posted this on another M2F thread but was unanswered, so i figured this thread is bigger and is more apporpriate. i read a few posts on this mobo's cooling, but i still need some clarifications


1) these circular foam pads (circled in green) next to the NB screw post can be taken off to lower the heatpipe assemble in order for the NB to fit more secure? can the circular foam pads on the mosfet sinks also be taken off also?
2) can the 4 squared rubber pads (boxed in blue) on the NB's sink be taken off to also lower the whole assembly closer to the NB chip?
3) the screw posts circled in red are missing the circular foam posts that the NB and SB post has. is anyone else missing these too or is it just my board? would i need them?
4) at area 4, should there be a big thermal pad similar to the right of the NB or am i missing it?
5) in addition to all this, add some washers to the bottom of the board for the NB screws right? i don't get how adding these washers would tighten up NB contact if the screws can still be screwed in all the way with these washers.

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I dont visit the other thread, running 2 threads imo is a bad idea as information gets lost as in your case.


Question 1,
I would leave them on, I left mine on to avoid creating a short on the mobo.

2.. Yes

3.. My board was missing them I used some nylon washers to avoid a short, paranoid perhaps but better safe than RMA.

4.. Excellent question I was "missing" one as well so cannot say for sure if one is required

5.. I did not add any washers to the back but I'm running a MCW30 on the NB so my temps are excellent, I would think the reason behind this is to create increased pressure for better contact, maybe reseat the block and then check for good contact. If your sastified then I would not bother with them

Hi, 1st ever Intel based Mobo for myself (I have recently used P45's for customers but not high end and no OC)

Im not a n00b but was always AMD then Intel on Nvidia Mobo's but the 680I and 780I are crap (owned both).

I was reading this thread for months and was aware I would need remount the Heatpipes (something I always do anyhow).

I read in the OCUK Stores Comment Section that the newer MFII Mobos were running cooler as if Asus has revised their mounting/fitting method.

I got my new Mobo, it runs so cool, the NB and SB are cooler than any Mobo I have owned and thats now at 1600FSB (400), cant remember what it was at stock 1333SFSB (333)


http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1524/captureky5.jpg



All I did was tighten the screws really tight with a small driver when it was out the box new (not a big driver that I could tighten too much due to grip/leverage) but they moved a good few half turn each time I went round in sequence.

I obv have a well contacting Heatpipe but will redo it myself in week(s) to come.

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Originally Posted by WhiteFireDragon

i posted this on another M2F thread but was unanswered, so i figured this thread is bigger and is more apporpriate. i read a few posts on this mobo's cooling, but i still need some clarifications

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../heatsinks.jpg

1) these circular foam pads (circled in green) next to the NB screw post can be taken off to lower the heatpipe assemble in order for the NB to fit more secure? can the circular foam pads on the mosfet sinks also be taken off also?
2) can the 4 squared rubber pads (boxed in blue) on the NB's sink be taken off to also lower the whole assembly closer to the NB chip?
3) the screw posts circled in red are missing the circular foam posts that the NB and SB post has. is anyone else missing these too or is it just my board? would i need them?
4) at area 4, should there be a big thermal pad similar to the right of the NB or am i missing it?
5) in addition to all this, add some washers to the bottom of the board for the NB screws right? i don't get how adding these washers would tighten up NB contact if the screws can still be screwed in all the way with these washers.

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If you were using nForce i would defiantly be as worried as you are about contact and temps. Intel chipsets do not produce a whole lot of heat. normally just replacing the stock NB and SB TIM with Arctic Silver Ceramic is all you need. I would leave the mosfet thermal pads as they are as long as you can see good indention for each contact point. Unlike nForce most intel chips do not even have a fan. All nvidias do/should, and they still run 60-80c. Just make sure the pipes are straight, good TIM, tighten the screws well and you should be just fine.

I don't know if I should buy this board or Rampage.