X48 Rampage Formula Preview.

[mitra-]

Then why people buy rampage but using 9800gtx if it cannot SLI?

MAybe people think that 1 gfx is enough :P

[GoldiClocks]

Then why people buy rampage but using 9800gtx if it cannot SLI?

Well, I'm pretty sure you can run 9800 GTX having just one of them as well.
(but yeah, I know what you mean, too bad ATI doesn't have any really kickass cards atm... though I guess 3870x2 is actually a pretty nice card, for anything except Crysis..)

I'm really battling over myself what graphics card to buy tbh, as I got rid of the 8800 GT in the sig.

[mr2sw21]

by the way is all the rampage is made in China?

[fordf250]

by the way is all the rampage is made in China?

Why not , the max formula is. Do you have a motherboard or gfx card that is not?

[MikeMK]

I am seriously contemplating grabbing myself one of these. They are a pretty decent price here for what they are... will be interested to see how it clocks with quads.

[RealTelstar]

No problem, I have to wait till May for AOC now? It was due last Nov.

I'm skeptical of the may release.
Cant say more (very stict funcom NDA).

[RealTelstar]

Have you already looked at your northbridge temps, I'd be interested in hearing about them as my board runs quite hot there.

I second this question. I'm looking for a board that has COOL chipset temps.
The copper sinks around the NB seems quite good to me, with a few fan on them.

Which is your board? Same rampage or another x38/48?

[Waymon3X6]

Hey all, sorry to barge in here but is there any advantage to flashing the Maximus's Bios with the one of a Rampage? I have flashed my 3870s many times, but I am not sure if it is worth the risk.

Any advantages?

[mr2sw21]

mine P5kc is not it is made in Taiwan but I think the HD3850 is from China

[xman111]

I upped my FSB to 450 and with a couple voltage settings in the bios am running 4ghz on air (ultra 120 exteme). Totally stable, quite easy too, im pretty happy with this board and a Xeon E3110.

[3lfk1ng]

3lfk1ng, where was your board made, I can't make it out from the pictures?

Sorry to get back to you so late. It too is made in China. It surprised me when I noticed it because normally I would think Taiwan, glad I'm not the only one surprised by this.

@deepsilver

Nice pictures, I'll have to try and trump them once I get my E8400 . Ill have my TRUE in two more days; ordered it last week. E8400 still on backorder

[NIZ]

would it be worth me upgrading to the rampage formula from a p5k premium? I am having trouble running my setup (CPU/RAM see below) @ 450fsb 1:1. At the moment I have settled on 400fsb 4:5 which is rock solid. CPU has been tested upto 460fsb & ram has been tested upto PC2 1100 individually. Its just getting both to run @ a decent speed is impossible. I'm thinking maybe its my motherboard holding me back, so I'm considering upgrading to the rampage formula, any comments?

[Zopie]

i m going buy this Asus Rampage Formula board, but is was wondering

can i put this DDR2-1200 sims into this board ?

(OCZ Technology FlexXLC Edition 2GB PC2-9600 DDR2 DIMM Memory Kit)

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=640

i´m not sure, because i´ve read in the manual i downloaded from the asus site of this mainboard:

Dual-channel memory architecture
- 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbuffered ECC /
non-ECC DDR2 1200*/1066/800/667MHz memory
modules
- Supports up to 8 GB system memory
*The DDR2 frequency reaches 1200 MHz after overclocking.

and

Intel® X48 Chipset
The Intel® X48 Express Chipset is the latest chipset designed to support dualchannel
DDR3 1600/1333/1066/800 and DDR2 1066/800/667 architecture

and

This chipset officially supports DDR2-800 MHz. With the ASUS Super
Memspeed Technology, this motherboard natively supports up to
DDR2-1066 MHz.

So im not sure this DDR2-1200Mhz could be used in this mainboard, but since this is a very new mainboard and also the DDR2-1200 is very new, i was hoping to put those into this board to improve the performance of this board.

[3lfk1ng]

It will support DDR2-1200 speeds just fine, you just need to change the settings in BIOS since it natively supports 1066. The board will naturally recognize 1066 speed memory, if you go any higher the settings are controlled by the user; you.

[Zopie]

Hi 3lfk1ng,

thx for your reply and information

greetz

[Edro Davis]

From what I read its best to do N/B S/B removal before first firing up board.

I did it this way and it was easy except I always find the pushpins such a ^&%$*% in the *^%$#.

Apparently the cement hardens to the point you risk pulling chip off the board when removing cooling if you wait and do it later.

My last component will be here this week. (The CPU) So it is time to build..

I've read about OC-ing and even lapping. (I may try to do that for the first time if it is needed.) But I haven't read anything about NB or SB removal process.

Looking at the Rampage Formula, well, there is the heat pipe from the NB, and all the fins over the SB which extend all over the place. I'm not very confident about this.

Is it difficult? Any tips? Is it the same as cleaning off old material from a CPU to reseat it?

Edro

[Edro Davis]

Uh, I think I have the description of my NB and SB all backwards. Fins all over the NB, I think, and the ROG logo and heatpipe from the SB. Correct?

[LostHawk]

My last component will be here this week. (The CPU) So it is time to build..

I've read about OC-ing and even lapping. (I may try to do that for the first time if it is needed.) But I haven't read anything about NB or SB removal process.

Looking at the Rampage Formula, well, there is the heat pipe from the NB, and all the fins over the SB which extend all over the place. I'm not very confident about this.

Is it difficult? Any tips? Is it the same as cleaning off old material from a CPU to reseat it?

Edro

It's not difficult but not as easy as for your CPU.
Be sure to read that thread on how to do it before starting (it's described with pictures at the end of the first post) :
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=162085
Yes, Asus Maximus Formula X38 SE board has same cooling than our Rampage.

In my case I used heat to remove the cooling but I read it's even easier with a freezer spray and less risky for the board.

I am putting an Aqua Twinplex XT di-Design water block made for the Maximus board on the N/B and using an old Asus S/B original cooler from one of my previous cards.

For the mofsets, I just leave the original Rampage pieces. That doesn't really get hot.

I'll try to post temperature results once I finish mounting that back...

Uh, I think I have the description of my NB and SB all backwards. Fins all over the NB, I think, and the ROG logo and heatpipe from the SB. Correct?

That's correct.

[Grnfinger]

Hey all, sorry to barge in here but is there any advantage to flashing the Maximus's Bios with the one of a Rampage? I have flashed my 3870s many times, but I am not sure if it is worth the risk.

Any advantages?

Not to wander off topic here but....

I would recommend anyone who is not happy with there Maximus board to atleast try the conversion, ( yes you can flash back )
With bios 219 (Rampage) I was able to gain 100MHz on my overclock, dropped volts on my CPU and can run my ram higher than on the Maximus bios.

Hop over to the maximus to Rampage conversion thread if you need more information
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=179580

[ericab]

Not to wander off topic here but....

I would recommend anyone who is not happy with there Maximus board to atleast try the conversion, ( yes you can flash back )
With bios 219 (Rampage) I was able to gain 100MHz on my overclock, dropped volts on my CPU and can run my ram higher than on the Maximus bios.

Hop over to the maximus to Rampage conversion thread if you need more information
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=179580

hell yeah

[Waymon3X6]

Ahh, thank you two very much! I will try that now that I know you can flash it back.

Thanks again!

EDIT: Btw, I am very happy with my Maximus SE, working great! I guess I could use the extra 100Mhz and a lower CPU voltage... What was limiting you in the first place? Temps? I've had mine to 4.2Ghz so far... Will hopefully be 4.3Ghz by the time I get this new BIOS up.

[swiftex]

It's not difficult but not as easy as for your CPU.
Be sure to read that thread on how to do it before starting (it's described with pictures at the end of the first post) :
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=162085
Yes, Asus Maximus Formula X38 SE board has same cooling than our Rampage.

In my case I used heat to remove the cooling but I read it's even easier with a freezer spray and less risky for the board.

I am putting an Aqua Twinplex XT di-Design water block made for the Maximus board on the N/B and using an old Asus S/B original cooler from one of my previous cards.

For the mofsets, I just leave the original Rampage pieces. That doesn't really get hot.

I'll try to post temperature results once I finish mounting that back...


That's correct.

Do the NB/SB paste mod before using board is the easiest, just wiggle gently

If you do it after using a bit then you have to resort to the freeze etc., principles - and will risk pulling a chip ...yikes!

[mngdew]

I found something very odd with my RF.
When I set the NB voltage to auto in the bios, the NB voltage reading according the the Probe is 1.63V. Can you guys confirm the same with your board?

[safan80]

I found something very odd with my RF.
When I set the NB voltage to auto in the bios, the NB voltage reading according the the Probe is 1.63V. Can you guys confirm the same with your board?

I don't use Asus probe anymore. please try everest

here's a link to version 4.50.1330
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...oad-30373.html

[Edro Davis]

Do the NB/SB paste mod before using board is the easiest, just wiggle gently

If you do it after using a bit then you have to resort to the freeze etc., principles - and will risk pulling a chip ...yikes!

Thank you. Yep, the freeze thing had me worried. I put it on my list to get from radio shack..

Another question: There are 3 things cooled by the large fin heatsink: sb, nb, and I guess it is the power zeniers or something, the silver fins on the edge.

Just how do I get 3 very sticky things to release all at the same time without breaking the heatpipe between the sb-nb? It just seems like it would be tricky.

Sorry to be such a wimp. Between what I spent on the Rampage and other parts of this build, well, I would really be bummed out if I broke it even before first post!

Edro