ASRock 990FX Extreme9

[Dr_Swizz]

I'm testing a X6 1100T with 990FX Extreme 9 and found a weird bug.
The NB frequency multiplier works until 14x. If set 15x or higher the NB speed will be set to 2000 ( 10x200 ).
It shows the correct value at bios ( 15x, 16x etc ) but 10x in cpu-z and the performance at the tests is comparable to 2GHz NB frequency.

Anyone suffer from the same problem ?

The high CPU/NB multipliers does not work with all HT link multipliers; You need to find the right combination.
15x for CPU/NB and 10x for HT link works for me with my 965.

[zhadoom]

The high CPU/NB multipliers does not work with all HT link multipliers; You need to find the right combination.
15x for CPU/NB and 10x for HT link works for me with my 965.

Thanks. I'm using HT at 2.4GHz. Reducing to 2GHz solved the problem.

[Daveburt714]

Hey zhadoom,

I've only been testing this board with an 8350, and to be honest, I had pretty much given up on it until the 1.40 bios (HUGE Improvement)....
I can't really speak for it's capability using Thuban(X6), but I can say the new bios made a big difference with Vishera cores!
At least enough to get me playing with it again...

I'm not sure how much this will help with your chip, but here are a few things I've noticed with 1.4 bios on an 8350.

1) Thuban definitely has a stronger IMC compared to Vishera. They're both sensitive to voltage though, so go easy on that.
2) I've had the best luck disabling LLC (25% is an option when pushing), APM and CnQ. Disabled LLC still overvolts a little, but it's manageable compared to bios 1.0!
3) If your going to OC using the HTRef clock you'll probably need to increase the voltage on that too...
I'm only running the HTRef @205, but it still required me to bump the v's to 1.23v for stability.

I get the feeling the ASRock Bios team is watching XS threads, and paying more attention to these than service requests.

If they are, I have to say THANK YOU!
Bios 1.40 is a huge improvement... The hardware of the EX9 has a lot more potential. Keep working and make us all happy!

[MacClipper]

I directed them to TheStilt's comments in this subforum - heheh, probably that and the new FX-9590 joted them into action, really nice isn't it?

[AMDforME]

IME Vishera has a better IMC than Thuban. If you set HT@ 1.25v things seem to work best, IME. Too much voltage is not necessarily better for HT, NB or Vcore. Asrock has some how FUBAR'ed the labeling of LLC on both the E9 and AM3+ Fatality. This must be a language deal as it is labeled backwards on the Fatality and still is not correct on the E9. "Disabled" LLC can cause excessive Vcore rise when OC'ing, IME. Asrock has been getting input from those of us doing extensive mobo testing and they respond accordingly, unlike many mobo makers.

[zhadoom]

Hey zhadoom,

I've only been testing this board with an 8350, and to be honest, I had pretty much given up on it until the 1.40 bios (HUGE Improvement)....
I can't really speak for it's capability using Thuban(X6), but I can say the new bios made a big difference with Vishera cores!
At least enough to get me playing with it again...

I'm not sure how much this will help with your chip, but here are a few things I've noticed with 1.4 bios on an 8350.

1) Thuban definitely has a stronger IMC compared to Vishera. They're both sensitive to voltage though, so go easy on that.
2) I've had the best luck disabling LLC (25% is an option when pushing), APM and CnQ. Disabled LLC still overvolts a little, but it's manageable compared to bios 1.0!
3) If your going to OC using the HTRef clock you'll probably need to increase the voltage on that too...
I'm only running the HTRef @205, but it still required me to bump the v's to 1.23v for stability.

I get the feeling the ASRock Bios team is watching XS threads, and paying more attention to these than service requests.

If they are, I have to say THANK YOU!
Bios 1.40 is a huge improvement... The hardware of the EX9 has a lot more potential. Keep working and make us all happy!

Thanks for your advices.
My X6 1100T needs 1.2125 Volts to NB operates stable at 2.8GHz and 1.3 Volts at 3GHz. It works stable with 1.4volts vcore at 4.2GHz with a decent cooling ( CNPS 9700 ).
The LLC is set to auto and I see a very scary volt increase in vcore during stress. 1.4volts became 1.47 volts.
I tested increasing HTref to 220, 225 and 250 but not change the voltage... Maybe this explain the instable behavior ( crashes ).

Next week I will test this board with FX8320.

[Daveburt714]

IME Vishera has a better IMC than Thuban.

Yeah... Vishera's IMC has much better throughput. I was talking about clock speeds, so my statement was mis-interpreted.
Most Thuban IMC's can easily hit 3Ghz+ though, while most Vishera's can't! I was referring to clock speeds.

Anyway... The 1.4 bios made the EX9 a lot more fun to play with! I decided to do some CB11.5 testing with it tonight and the new bios made things a lot more interesting. It's still not up to the caliber of the C5F (imho), but it has some really nice features! I would have hesitated to recommend this board before, now I wouldn't hesitate, especially considering the price...

Here are the results from my CineBench testing (LLC was set @ 25%, disabled over-volted a a little too much):
Even with LLC @ 25% CPU-z showed voltages up to 1.52 during the run. Not a big deal under water, temps never really got out of control...



Here's a SS of the Windows OC app. It accurately shows the voltages set in bios:


This board is really starting to grow on me...
Glad I bought it!

[MacClipper]

The latest BIOS updates have added on quite a few new Extreme9 buyers over at OCN forums too, Asrock AMD BIOS team have been doing a real fine job recently after the long initial inertia.

[Daveburt714]

I have to say, the 1.4 bios has gotten me interested in playing with the EX9 again....

Here's a SS of my best CB11.5 using the ASRock board:


I had a 9.26 with the C5F using the same WC gear. But that was done using winter air at -2c
These clocks were done inside with ambient temps ~78f (25c)

These clocks weren't 24/7 stable by any means, but at least tweaking the EX9 is manageable now, and it makes more sense when OC'ing!
LLC still seems backward (compared to the C5F), but "disabled" or 25% are the best options even though they both overvolt quite a bit...

At least things are manageable now.

[zhadoom]

Bios 1.50 for Extreme9.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/990FX%2...wnload&os=BIOS

Anyone already tested this bios ?

[DedEmbryonicCe1]

I have no use for Secure Boot. Are you expecting undocumented changes in that BIOS?