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

[Grnfinger]

Thing fails to post when I set the DDR speed to anything other than Auto.

halp?

Please post you current bios settings

[mazzy]

There is a new BIOS for Maximus formula, on ftp site, 1201 no info about changes.

[dimsdale]

Thanks for the tip!
ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socke...ximus_Formula/
Maybe I'll be able to get my FSB past 444 MHz with this BIOS.

There is a new BIOS for Maximus formula, on ftp site, 1201 no info about changes.

[aussie-revhead]

Thanks for the tip!
-
Maybe I'll be able to get my FSB past 444 MHz with this BIOS.

I have this problem also but I assumed it was my ram and have another set on the way (Team Extreem 1066 tested to 1200), yours should be fine I would assume so I would be interested to know what your fix is for this problem.

I don't know what's wrong with my board, i reach to FSB of 395 easy, pass all the test OCCT+PRIME95, but when i go up to 400, no mater how much voltage our options in the bios i change, the board don't pass prime test - "SAMLL FFTs".

I got this problem with my ballistix (6400) so I assumed its a ram compatibility issue and bought some Team Extreem 6400 only to hit the same problem at around 444 as above .

[Ric2L]

Lookin for help, currently @ 3.2GHz would like to go to 3.6Ghz maybe 4.0, my current set up is as follows

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting :9
FSB Frequency : 360
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 266
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2- 1066
DRAM Command Rate :
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 12
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 4
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 55
Write Recovery Time : 5
Read to Precharge Time : 9

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : 5
Write to Read Delay (S) : 5
Write to Read Delay (D) :4
Read to Read Delay (S) : 6
Read to Read Delay (D) : 4
Write to Write Delay (S) : 6
Write to Write Delay (D) : DRAM Static Read Control:disabled
Ai Clock Twister : auto
Transaction Booster :disabled

CPU Voltage : 1.2625
CPU PLL Voltage : auto
North Bridge Voltage : 1.25
DRAM Voltage : 1.90
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.22
South Bridge Voltage :
Loadline Calibration :
CPU GTL Reference :
North Bridge GTL Reference :
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage :
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage :
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage :
SB 1.5V Voltage :

NB LED Selection : NB Volt
SB LED Selection : SB Volt
CPU LED Selection : CPU VOlt
Voltiminder LED :

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting :
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled


USB Configuration
USB Functions: Enabled

when ever i bump up to 400 FSB w/9x, I cant seem to find stable voltage for cpu & N/B even if I start in auto and work back froim there, There must be something I'm missing, just not sure where to look. I if anyone has a 3.6Ghz setup on air please let me know your settings so I have a better a starting point

I will really appreciate it
thanks

[ZenEffect]

Lookin for help, currently @ 3.2GHz would like to go to 3.6Ghz maybe 4.0, my current set up is as follows

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting :9
FSB Frequency : 360
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 266
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2- 1066


when ever i bump up to 400 FSB w/9x, I cant seem to find stable voltage for cpu & N/B even if I start in auto and work back froim there, There must be something I'm missing, just not sure where to look. I if anyone has a 3.6Ghz setup on air please let me know your settings so I have a better a starting point

I will really appreciate it
thanks

my guess would be the 266 strap is what is causing instabilities. use the 333 or just put it on auto and choose the desired ram frequency for 400fsb.

[XtremeTiramisu]

Try These:

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting :9
FSB Frequency : 400
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency:
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 : 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) : DRAM Static Read Control:disabled
Ai Clock Twister : auto
Transaction Booster :disabled

CPU Voltage : 1.4v and onwards
CPU PLL Voltage : auto
North Bridge Voltage : 1.51v and onwards
DRAM Voltage : 1.90 depends on your ram. mobo overvolts by 0.8v
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.40
South Bridge Voltage : 1.050
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.63
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.67
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : DDR2-REF
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.5v

NB LED Selection : NB Volt
SB LED Selection : SB Volt
CPU LED Selection : CPU VOlt
Voltiminder LED :

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting :
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled


USB Configuration
USB Functions: Enabled

Good luck,
XT

[Ric2L]

Try These:



Good luck,
XT

Thank You, started with your suggested settings, ran prime for 2 hrs, everything good. bumped vcore & n/b volt down two notches, so far so good, will let prime overnight, maybe lower a little more if still stable.

would be nice to get ram back to 1066 or better, with 333 strap only have option of 960 or 1280, running at 960 now, 1280 is to much for my ram I think, will have to play with it after I'm sure that I'm stable at lowest possible voltages

[Sources]

Thank You, started with your suggested settings, ran prime for 2 hrs, everything good. bumped vcore & n/b volt down two notches, so far so good, will let prime overnight, maybe lower a little more if still stable.

would be nice to get ram back to 1066 or better, with 333 strap only have option of 960 or 1280, running at 960 now, 1280 is to much for my ram I think, will have to play with it after I'm sure that I'm stable at lowest possible voltages

I use the 400 strap to get 1066mhz

[MagicMan]

Hi...

I currently have My q9450 @ 3.2 with the 1201 BIOS and i've had a BSOD a few times while browsing the net and i wasen't doing anything else. Do these settings look ok??...or do i need to disable or change anything?.

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2773/img1184db5.jpg
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8617/img1185rw6.jpg
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9964/img1186rr6.jpg

I'm also running 4x1gigs of cellshock ram.

I've ran Prime95 small FFTs for over 8 hours and blend for about the same without any crashes or BSOD's and today i've had a couple of BSOD by just browsing the internet.

This is what the BSOD said...

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7235/img1191jc2.jpg


Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[Furious]

Hi.

Can i get some feedback on my voltages and temps? the board has seemed good so far, 1hr prime and 1hr OCCT.

4-4-4-12 with the RAM @ 890mhz and 1:1.
445fsb x 9
E8400 @ 4ghz

Its not stable without 1.58v for the northbridge as I have 4x1GB sticks of RAM and the CPU is not stable without 1.42V in bios. I have loadline calibration off as I heard somewhere its not worth it, I do figure with it on tho, 1.38V would be enuff. Is 44412 @ 890 better then 55515@1069?

I'm looking for a safe, fast 24/7 setup.

>> http://www.users.on.net/~remlwebb/1hr4ghz.jpg >>

[MarcusFoX]

Hey Guys I was Wondering what bios would be best to run with my Maximus Formulas SE converted to a Rampage with a q9450.

Also any advice and tip would be great.

[Grnfinger]

Hey Guys I was Wondering what bios would be best to run with my Maximus Formulas SE converted to a Rampage with a q9450.

Also any advice and tip would be great.

I would try 403 it's a very stable bios
I dont run a q9450 but is you look a few pages back you will find some settings
Please keep us posted on your results, seems the q9450 is a hard one to get a decent overclock.

[MarcusFoX]

Ok ill give 403 a try and keep you guys updated on my finding, o, waiting on some water fittings right now I should have more information in a couple of days.

[Talonman]

Running a few tests, I noticed one thing that has improved over my 4GB config.

Everest Memory Copy was reporting 7,831 MB/s with my 4GB of RAM. It was usually a consistant number that didn't vary much on my system.

Everest Memory Copy is now reporting 8,030 MB/s with my 8GB of RAM. I never was able to hit that number before...

[Talbo]

RF0403 Rocks

[dasc]

I tried removing the NB/SB heat sink by putting the mobo in the refrigerator freezer. It stayed there for about 2 hours and 45 minutes and I after that I could not remove the HS with "any real force".

What would you suggest - placing the mobo for another freeze session, buy the circuitcity freeze spray or try the hair dryer?

[zlojack]

I tried removing the NB/SB heat sink by putting the mobo in the refrigerator freezer. It stayed there for about 2 hours and 45 minutes and I after that I could not remove the HS with "any real force".

What would you suggest - placing the mobo for another freeze session, buy the circuitcity freeze spray or try the hair dryer?

Make sure all the pins are removed

I left mine in the freezer overnight. In the morning it popped off no problem.

[dasc]

Make sure all the pins are removed

I left mine in the freezer overnight. In the morning it popped off no problem.

I removed 4 pins from the NB and 2 from the SB. Are there any other?

My main cencern is that the low temperature decreases the life span of the mobo.

[chawks2]

I left mine in the freezer overnight. In the morning it popped off no problem.

You have mighty big minerals to throw the board in the freezer for a long period of time. Arbitrarily decided on 80m in the fridge and using the blue ram slot as a fulcrum, popped off with no issue. My first fridge was a disaster, resulting in the death of 1 x PCIe slot and an eventual RMA. Glad to hear of your success tho.

[leo_bsb]

I installed my mobo and it was running fine for 2 weeks.
I dialed my Q6600 to 3600 using OCCT to check for stability.
In the last two days I was running memtest to dial the RAM and today I rebooted into Windows and noticed the LAN port 1 was not showing on device manager.
LAN port 2 is working.
I checked the BIOS and both were enable. Can I call it dead and RMA the board? Could it be a BIOS problem? I updated the BIOS to the newest one, 1201, but it was working OK as I said.
Could the FSB or NB voltages fried the LAN? All voltages are in a safe zone, only the FSBT is on the "yellow" range.
Thanks in advance.

[kup]

The "460 barrier" is to do with the way the 2 separate cores interract with each other and with the northbridge/ram.

Each core is slightly different, and as such while a voltage may allow one core to work perfectly, the other core may be too high or too low. You need to find the sweetspot using a combination of vCore, vPLL, vNB and vFSBT...

The Anandtech settings took me to 470MHz stable with my Quad, but 1MHz more and it loses the stabilty! Tweaks upwards slowly of the Anandtech settings and take it in baby steps.

[dragao]

Where do I find the recommendations of memory for this card?????

[HDPC]

Hi,

Any one having issue with making the CPU heatsink tightly tied down? Mine does not and it can move. What do you do to keep it tightly tied down?

-hdpc

[RichardA]

Hi I have been checking out this informative thread and have a question or two.

I have a Maximus Formula (not the se version) that I have been using for a couple of months now and am interested in overclocking it. I have a Thermalright Ultra 120 extreme and my cpu temps seem ok, but my nb and sb temps are in the 40-45c range so I wanted to see if i could drop them. Will it be harder to remove the nb/sb heatsinks and heatpipe now that I have used the board for months now ? Also has anyone used a Thermalright HR-05 SLI/IFX on the northbrige or southbridge ? Im curious if that will fit with the Ultra 120 extreme .

Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated.