Turn your Maximus Formula into Rampage Formula
Most of the people who dwell at Xtremesystems probably have already noticed that Asus Maximus Formula has a bit of family looks with the brand new Rampage Formula.
Actually they seem to be exactly the same board with few very minor differences.
Thats why I wanted to try what happens when Maximus Formula is modified to Rampage Formula ;)
Let´s just say that I modified certain things in Rampage bios to make it work on Maximus. Thanks to the bug I found in Asus EZ-Flash ;)
http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_R...page_CPU-Z.png
http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_R...mpage_ECMB.png
CPU-Z Validation
First of all I have to explain few things.
This modification will not have any effect to the functionality of your motherboard.
There are few things related to this modification and most of them can be considered good.
Good things
Many new memory related timings:
DRAM CMD Skew on Channel A
DRAM CMD Skew on Channel B
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B
Write to Precharge Delay (tWTPD)
Read to Precharge Delay (tRTPD)
Precharge to Precharge Delay (tPTPD)
All Precharge to Activate Delay (tAPTAD)
All Precharge to Refresh Delay (tAPTRD)
More precise performance level adjust:
Common performance level
Pull-In of CHA PH1
Pull-In of CHA PH2
Pull-In of CHB PH1
Pull-In of CHB PH2
Not so good things
With my current knowledge and tools this mod cannot be reverted without replacing the soldered bios chip or programming the chip thru SPI interface with a programmer.
The 3 year warranty will be void.
Asus Rampage Formula bios versions are still in beta stage.
If you find some problems in them you need to wait for a new release.
How to do it then?
For starters you should get a usb memorystick or a cardreader with a memorycard. All of the data on the stick / card will be destroyed, so backup the data first if necessary.
This mod requires accessing the bios chip several times so make sure that your computer is running with settings you have found to be stable.
Plug in the memorystick / card and download following files:
Bootable USB Stick Creator
Boot Files
Extract both of the archives to desired location.
Open HPUSBFW folder and start the program.
http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_R...de_HPUSBFT.png
Select the correct USB device from the drop-down menu, set filesystem to FAT32 and tick Create a DOS startup disk.
Then browse for the extracted boot files.
Press Start.
After few seconds your media is formatted and bootable.
Then download following files:
Mod files
AFUDOS 2.36
Extract the archives to desired location and copy all of the files (6pcs) to the root of your usb stick / card.
Keep the stick plugged in and restart.
Enter bios set your usb stick / card as the primary booting device.
When DOS has loaded and you see C:\ type in AFU236U /iLOADER.rom and press enter.
Once programming has finished reboot.
Turn the system on again and enter EZ-Flash menu in bios (you will see the Rampage post screen already).
Select RAMPAGE.ROM and flash it in.
When the programming has finished, power off and clear cmos.
Turn the system on and enter bios.
Set your usb stick / card as the primary booting device.
Save the settings and restart.
When DOS has loaded and you see C:\ type in WR1.bat and press enter.
A screen will splash and then it will return to C:\ again.
Type in WR2.bat this time and press enter.
Reset boot priority to default.
Enjoy your Rampage Formula :D
btw. In case something goes wrong and your board is killed in action, I should not be held as responsible.