The Maximus Formula Thread - Help/OCing/Guide/Rampage conversion

[icecpu]

Anyone notice the rampage 219 bios no longer showing how many core during the boot up. It show speed of your proccessor only.

[Grnfinger]

just so everyone knows; it look like ASUS has password locked their FTP...

ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/mb/so...aximus_Formula

whats the deal ?

FTP works for me

[newls1]

just installed the 1004 bios, and still the damn ram dividers are broken. The only usable divider (FOR ME) is the 400 strap. So unless its my ballistix are the divider issue, the only hope I have for my 8gb's of G.skill PC8500 that is coming tomorrow is DDR1135. Damn, wish me some luck here guys. At least this bios allows tRFC up to like 150 or something, my other bios 903, would only allow for up to 42. SO I had to flash to this bios for my g.skill ram coming as I keep seeing that ram needs tRFC @ 52 minimum.....

[Grnfinger]

1:1 and 5:6 were all I ran but they did work on both 400 and 333 strap.
I have had 266 strap 1:1 but didnt like the bandwidth

[GFORCE100]

The Rampage 0219 BIOS is a lot lot better in terms of dividers and performance levels. You won't do 1200MHz RAM on the Formula (whatever BIOS) with TB/AIB enabled and > Moderate but hop onto the Rampage conversion using BIOS 0219 and 1200MHz is not only possible but with TB/AIB enabled to Strong/Moderate with a PL of 5 or 6. Gets you 9500MB/sec read bandwidth in Everest on a 9x400 setup and latency of around 52.4ns (5-5-5-15).

Now if anyone is willing to take the VDDR up then 4-4-4-12 at 1200MHz is also possible for some sub 50ns RAM access times.

Couple the above at say 10x400 using a QX9650 (newer C1 steppings are shipping SLAWN spec, not yet listed on Intel site) for 4GHz and seems to me this is heaven until Nahelm comes along.

For whatever reason the Formula BIOS is just worse than the Rampage, not to mention it has less options.

[Expat GriZ]

Anyone notice the rampage 219 bios no longer showing how many core during the boot up. It show speed of your proccessor only.

After numerous failed OC attempts today I have to say that no, it showed all 4 cores for me everytime.

[newls1]

The Rampage 0219 BIOS is a lot lot better in terms of dividers and performance levels. You won't do 1200MHz RAM on the Formula (whatever BIOS) with TB/AIB enabled and > Moderate but hop onto the Rampage conversion using BIOS 0219 and 1200MHz is not only possible but with TB/AIB enabled to Strong/Moderate with a PL of 5 or 6. Gets you 9500MB/sec read bandwidth in Everest on a 9x400 setup and latency of around 52.4ns (5-5-5-15).

Now if anyone is willing to take the VDDR up then 4-4-4-12 at 1200MHz is also possible for some sub 50ns RAM access times.

Couple the above at say 10x400 using a QX9650 (newer C1 steppings are shipping SLAWN spec, not yet listed on Intel site) for 4GHz and seems to me this is heaven until Nahelm comes along.

For whatever reason the Formula BIOS is just worse than the Rampage, not to mention it has less options.

I;ll do the rampage right now, but I dont understand how to flash to that using the instructions that guy posted in his thread. Is there a more simplier way of doing it?

[GlowingBulb]

The Rampage BIOS seems a little better with my Q6600 but still getting that issue with cores 0 & 1 not showing when I push the FSB higher than 460.

On a positive note, I've been able to shave a couple of points of both my FSB & NB voltage needed.

Come the weekend & some spare time I'll spend some time seeing how much I can fettle the settings to improve things.

[RCG_Bex]

Hey guys, I'm on an E6750 and looking to go for 4ghz. I'm using 1200mhz rated RAM - would I be better flashing it to a rampage or sticking to a go stable maximus BIOS? Also, could someone share working BIOS settings for helping me reach 4GHZ? 3.8GHZ boots but 4GHZ doesn't post with renegade's original 903 settings.

~Bex

[mazda_626]

If you find the Maximus hard to setup the bios, I would recommend not moving to the Rampage untill you learn the MF settings

It's not hard to setup the bios, just the board is not as easy and stable as the DFI board was. guess i expected more, like bios updates

I left most of the ram timings on auto since the board is more stable that way, change any of the timings and it wont pass 24 hrs prime. personally i think it was a bad bios update, i would flash it again but asus in there greatness and massive wisdom blocks the bios from being backdated or reflashed. Atleast thats my experience anyway.

I know i can now use the afudos from this site to reflash, but I may as well just install the rampage bios.

3.4Ghz isnt too bad either, so i'm not saying this board is crap, just has some annouying quirks

[newls1]

OK, just flashed to the Rampage 219 bios, and everything seems pretty much the same as the 1004 maximus BIOS. All dividers are borked BUT the 400 strap. Just like every other bios i've flashed to, on the 400 strap works. Is this a board limitation? Other then that, seems pretty damn cool. Hope it likes my 8GB coming tomorrow!

[newls1]

I have just a few questions about some of the new settings, and where about to set them at?
1. Common Performance lvl? I have it set to 7
2. pull in of CHA PH1 = enabled
pull in of cha PH2 = enabled
pull in of chb PH1 = enabled
pull in of chb ph2 = enabled
(should these be enabled or disabled????)
3. CPU PLL voltage auto sets to 1.648 IS THIS TO MUCH???

My basic settings are:
fsb 426
NB strap 400 (only 1 that works)
DDR 1135 (2gb ballistix)

Im just playing around with this new bios, but I can say that this RAMPAGE change over made a difference. Prior to this I couldn't even boot at 430FSB with my Q6600, not with the same voltage (1.432) it seems stable

[ericab]

so today i got my corsair dominator's! so far pretty awesome but i think i can do better on a few things, at least, hoping so.
here are my settings-



Extreme Tweaker:









any suggestions on improvements?? wtf is up with my WRITE speed ??
also, any suggestion on lowering voltages?

for anyone with a similar hardware setup, this seems to be a good setup so-far, @100% stable..

*edit*
the corsairs are revision 2.2's (unfortunately...)... do you think im ok w/2.12v in BIOS, & 2.22v REAL ?

[dude_500]

Great voltage ericab, I need 1.45 just to get 3.6 stable on my q6600 g0. that's amazingly low for 3760

[ericab]

Great voltage ericab, I need 1.45 just to get 3.6 stable on my q6600 g0. that's amazingly low for 3760

whats your VID ?

[Nuckin_Futs]

Looks pretty simple and str8 foward, just like modding the PSP.

However, with all the so-called benifits being RAM sub timings, where do these show actual user results in real world apps (not just games) and especially not just for synthetic apps desighned to show numbers higher by small fractions? I realize it's fun to OC for the max, but are modding such a new mobo, voiding warrenty, just to score a few more benchmark points that worth it. I mean I only tried the BETA 0907 BIOS and it messed mine up and I had to RMA, (still waiting), imagine if on RAMPAGE, I'd be eatin' that one today. I'd end up just buying the real RAMPAGE for the same I spent on Formula.

I'm just curious, cause I see only the score numbers but hear nothing about the real world Office or Adobe apps benifits.

[zlojack]

Looks pretty simple and str8 foward, just like modding the PSP.

However, with all the so-called benifits being RAM sub timings, where do these show actual user results in real world apps (not just games) and especially not just for synthetic apps desighned to show numbers higher by small fractions? I realize it's fun to OC for the max, but are modding such a new mobo, voiding warrenty, just to score a few more benchmark points that worth it. I mean I only tried the BETA 0907 BIOS and it messed mine up and I had to RMA, (still waiting), imagine if on RAMPAGE, I'd be eatin' that one today. I'd end up just buying the real RAMPAGE for the same I spent on Formula.

I'm just curious, cause I see only the score numbers but hear nothing about the real world Office or Adobe apps benifits.

Well, around here, a few extra points in benchmarks are always appreciated.

[afireinside]

What BIOS is best now? And how are they clocking with the wolfdales? Just ordered my self an e8400 and I never really spent any time with this board, been out of the computer loop.

[XtremeTiramisu]

Q6600 G0 & Ballistix Tracers OCCT Mix 2 Hrs Stable Configuration:

My OC exp tells me that RF0219 BIOS does help my Q6600 at *8 multi acheived FSB475 using 333 Strap but it wasn't fully stable enough to pass OCCT/PRIME stress tests long enough (Everest Tests or similar permittable).
Q6600 at *8 multi and high FSB460+ can means a lot more stress on the NB than equivalent clock using *9 multi. *9 multi could bring the CPU clock all the way up to 3870mhz Prime SmallFFT stable on air but at the cost of lower system bandwidth. *8 multi brings out better overall system performance but at the cost of stability due much higher NB clock speed (Using NBCC calculation: FSB * Stock Multi/Set Multi = FSB465 * 9/8 = 2093mhz vs 1860mhz). RF0219 is still a little more stable than MF bioses at high FSB configuation becouse of fewer occassions of "DET RAM" hang. Overall OC experience is a bit more smoother than the MF bioses I've tried.

Stability is my main concern and I can finally pass OCCT Mix 2 Hrs stress test using RF0219 Bios at 465FSB*8 Multi, 333 Strap. Technically speaking, RF0219 bios doesn't give me an advancement in OC but it does help my system stabilized at FSB465. No DET RAM hang and no odd problems.

The additional finer tuning options in the RF bios gives me a slightly more system bandwidth at no additional cost to system stability when you tuned the settings right. You need to have an idea of the FSB set to the corresponding FSB strap used to know how much further bandwidth can you gain from adjusting the performance level settings in Transaction Booster.


Here is the full configurations for your reference:

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 8
FSB Frequency : 465
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1116
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A : Normal
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B : Normal
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 4
RAS# Precharge : 4
RAS# ActivateTime : 8
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 35
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 : 5
ALL PRE to REF Delay : 5

DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled (Enable will gives you slightly more bandwidth at the cost of stability)
Ai Clock Twister : Stronger
Transaction Booster : Manual

C/P: A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 | B1 B2 B3 B4 B5
LVL: 07 07 07 07 07 | 07 07 07 07 07

Common Performance Level [8]

Pull-In of CHA PH1 Enabled
Pull-In of CHA PH2 Enabled
Pull-In of CHA PH3 Enabled
Pull-In of CHA PH4 Enabled
Pull-In of CHA PH5 Enabled
Pull-In of CHB PH1 Enabled
Pull-In of CHB PH2 Enabled
Pull-In of CHB PH3 Enabled
Pull-In of CHB PH4 Enabled
Pull-In of CHB PH5 Enabled

CPU Voltage : 1.48750 (1.464-1.472)
CPU PLL Voltage : AUTO (1.664-1.680)
North Bridge Voltage : 1.65 (1.680)
DRAM Voltage : 2.12 (2.208)
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.40 (1.456)
South Bridge Voltage : 1.075 (1.104)
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.63X
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.67X
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : DDR2-REF (1.104)
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.5

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

[GFORCE100]

I;ll do the rampage right now, but I dont understand how to flash to that using the instructions that guy posted in his thread. Is there a more simplier way of doing it?

Which part don't you understand? It's a pretty simple 123..etc. process. His mod files contain the 207 Rampage BIOS, flash with that then flash again with the 219 BIOS.

[ante_ante]

What voltage are you set in bios ?? I have to set my vdimms at v2.20, set lower cause hang.

I´m now running my memorys in ~1150mhz with 2.20v in bios...

[mazda_626]

I've changed to the rampage bios 219, so far it has made a change.
I am currently only stable at 3Ghz instead of 3.4Ghz due to the ram being unstable
When compaing setting with everest, it appears the Tref has dropped from 16383 to 15600 and the Write to read delay setting for same rank wont hold setting I try. for instance i set 13 and it comes up as 5, i try 15 and it comes up as 7.
I am also using the ram 1:1, which brings the ram to 756Mhz, it use to be stable at 1007Mhz. they fail in memtest and almost straight away in prime.
more playing needs to be done since i've obviuosly done things backwards by trying the original settings.

I've also noticed the auto settings tighten certian settings, yes i have tried to manually set the timings.
At FSB 333Mhz 1:1 all seems stable, bump up the ram above 667Mhz and it will fail.

I have also noticed the are less choices in ram dividers, not that it really matters, but with MF 907 i had 4 choices in ram speed, with 219, i have 3. again, no big concern, just a difference.

I cant figure out how to change the Tref and the Write to read delay setting for same rank not holding the setting i set in the bios is alittle concerning but then i am only trying to mirror the 907 settings which was 13 and that may be way overkill.

I know the CPU is stable at 378Mhz x9 so i'll atleast all i need to do is play with the ram tll its stable and bump it up slowly.
probably doesnt help i have 4 sticks installed and they are not matching sets, but the MF 907 didnt have an issue with this.

more playing with timings needed

is there a program (other than everest) that i can use which will report the ram timings?

[[timko]]

I have just a few questions about some of the new settings, and where about to set them at?

Here is my own observation of Performance level and Pull-In. When performance level is set to x and all pull in are enabled my bandwidth scores are the same as PL X - 1 with all Pull In disabled. Therefore PL7 Enabled performs like PL6 Disabled. (Or you could almost view it as Pull In Enabled = 0.5 lower PL, in the above example PL7 Enabled would be PL6.5).

In any case my sticks of RAM ran at a certain speed with PL7 on the MF1004 BIOS. In order to achieve the same speed stable on the Rampage I had to use PL8 Enabled. Even though I went up (relaxed) a Performance Level I still got the same scores in the Everest cache and mem benchmark.

As for your dividers issue, I suspect that you may need to relax a few settings for now to test things out. Try PL7, Pull in disabled, Twister to Moderate and run a lower FSB with a divider pushing the RAM higher. Also give your NB a touch more voltage. I can get all dividers working with no problems, assuming it doesn't push my RAM over a known limit to which I've previously tested stable to. Dividers were fine for me on the MF bioses as well.

[Nuckin_Futs]

Well, around here, a few extra points in benchmarks are always appreciated.

Totolly understood, just curious if anybody has actually run real media creation or editing apps to see if it pays off. Like I keep saying, I go for high end test too, but it usually never hold in real world day to day.

I'd do more sub RAM tweaking if I knew more of what the actual setting was doing for my OC other then report a higher score in benchmark. So I usually leave them to auto or nominal for stability during editing.

[XtremeTiramisu]

I've made a post about a simplier way to flash to Rampage:
Read
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...postcount=2484