nForce 790i SLI/Ultra chipset mobos - Reviews/OC/Guides

[BenchZowner]

I'm just upset that you say it's just synthetic benchmarks.

Getting upset will get you nowhere.
When in doubt ( no not the known phrase ):

Play ball

I highly doubt that the ability of reading and writing speeds in memory don't affect games. How come DDR3 benchmarks of real world gaming beat DDR2?

If the benchmarks you've seen are CPU Limited of course they will show a difference ( a few FPS ).
But in real-life conditions ( gaming resolutions & settings ) [ e.g. 1280x1024 4xAA 8xAF Full Details / 1680x1050 2xAA 8xAF Full Details ] there's none to marginal difference from a real low performance DDR2 configuration and a high end DDR3 configuration.

I believe that synthetic benchmarks are crock just like you, but a certain line has to be drawn.

Thank you very much, I appreciate that

If it's hundreds of megabytes I'd agree with you, a few gigabytes, not so much man.

Every day you learn new things... here's todays:
The Everest results are Gigabits per second, not GigaBytes per second.

Hey Benchz
when you set a certain vcore, do you get THAT particular vcore? or do you get lower or higher? In my BIOS I have 1.25000 and according to NB Probe II 1.40.45 Im getting 1.29 which goes up to 1.30 and with LLC enabled this changes to 1.31 with no change on load or idle.

Is this normal? lol

I don't trust software at all, even if it's just for reference.

However I trust my multimeters :

BIOS Setting - BIOS Reading - DMM Reading - DMM Idle Windows - DMM Load Windows
CPU:
1.30V - 1.34V - 1.338Vs - 1.336Vs - 1.344Vs
1.40V - 1.44V - 1.438Vs - 1.436Vs - 1.446Vs
1.425V - 1.45V - 1.463Vs - 1.460V-1.461V - 1.47Vs
1.45V - 1.50V - 1.491Vs - 1.485Vs - 1.496Vs

RAM:
1.90V - 1.93V & 1.95V - 1.958Vs - 1.959V-1.960V - 1.963V-1.964V
1.92V - 1.95V & 1.96V - 1.978Vs - 1.978V-1.979V - 1.983V-1.984V
1.94V - 1.96V & 1.98V - 1.998Vs - 1.998V-1.999V - 2.003V-2.004V
2.10V - 2.14V & 2.16V - 2.159V-2.16V - 2.159V-2.16V - 2.163V-2.164V

[Broly]

typo on the crock thing, I meant I believe the benchmarks are crock just like you believe that, sorry

[slim142]

I don't trust software at all, even if it's just for reference.

However I trust my multimeters :

BIOS Setting - BIOS Reading - DMM Reading - DMM Idle Windows - DMM Load Windows
CPU:
1.30V - 1.34V - 1.338Vs - 1.336Vs - 1.344Vs
1.40V - 1.44V - 1.438Vs - 1.436Vs - 1.446Vs
1.425V - 1.45V - 1.463Vs - 1.460V-1.461V - 1.47Vs
1.45V - 1.50V - 1.491Vs - 1.485Vs - 1.496Vs

RAM:
1.90V - 1.93V & 1.95V - 1.958Vs - 1.959V-1.960V - 1.963V-1.964V
1.92V - 1.95V & 1.96V - 1.978Vs - 1.978V-1.979V - 1.983V-1.984V
1.94V - 1.96V & 1.98V - 1.998Vs - 1.998V-1.999V - 2.003V-2.004V
2.10V - 2.14V & 2.16V - 2.159V-2.16V - 2.159V-2.16V - 2.163V-2.164V

Nice job
However, I see that you too have the overvoltage problem Im experiencing. Just to let you know Im with 0508 so thats not something that just popped in new BIOSes.

Also, I would like to mention. I just closed Orthos after 10 hours of been blend test estable. 350Mhz FSB with 1.25000 (1.30vcore when in load) and RAM still at stock. BIOS 0508. I also ran 3dmark but 1.1.0 needs internet to show me score which I see stupid because I have the pc in the lobby in testing so I cant connect internet to it. PCmark samething but they both ran nice, smooth with no error and no BSoDs.

BUT for this to be accomplished, I HAD TO UP THE NB VOLTAGE TO 1.38v which is also giving 1.40v to the NB (same as NB1.36v) so I think that small bump did the miracle of been estable at 350Mhz FSB which is not much but Im doing my way up

Eeehhh just to mention, sfc /scannow would pop up the "insert xp cd" window every 3 secs... I heard from you BenchZ that it means corruption???

Right now I left the system running 375Mhz FSB and the vCore I had to bump it to 1.27500 which is giving me 1.33vcore at idle and load. Anything lower would make my PC freeze at windows startup, AND if I bumped the NB voltage, it would also freeze my system at startup so I left the NB at 1.38v and Vcore is now at 1.27500. Fingers crossed again...

---
BTW here is the pic with 350Mhz FSB estable

[tekjunkie]

I think I just bricked my S2E. I flashed to 0702 using awdflash and hit F1 after the flashing was done and then I did a stupid thing. I hit the "CLR CMOS" button while it was going through the POST process. I always CLR CMOS after a BIOS flash. Now the board is stuck @ "CODE INIT". I took the battery out and will keep the battery out and hope when I pop the battery in tomorrow, it magically comes back to life, like the old strikers did with the dreaded "CPU INIT" bug. If not, I guess I would have to go through Asus for RMA. Anybody here familiar with the RMA process with Asus. Thanks in advance.

[BenchZowner]

@Slim142:
Looks like system files scan ( sfc ) @ Windows XP isn't really good to tell if we have corruption or not, because it looks like it asks for the windows disc even when there's no corruption ( just tested it on my P5K3 Deluxe ). [ probably checks the files not only from the "backup repository" on the HDD, but from your windows disc as well, that's why it's asking for it every now and then ].

So, unless you're having silly crashes ( like crashing while idling in Crysis main menu ) you shall be fine.

p.s. The white memory slots are clocking higher than the blue ones.

[trt740]

Guys need help here have a EVGA 790I board in the shipping box unopened. I currently have a Maximus DRR2 board flashed to a Ramage formula and was stoked to buy a 790i ultra and have a buyer for my Maximus. I wanted to go DDR3 and since my video card is a 9800gtx wanted future SLI. With all the 790I trouble if you were me would you even open this box, because once I do newegg says non refundable only replacement and I would have to pay to shipp it back. If it remains unopened it's a auto RMA with free shipping. Would you open 790I board or keep the Maximus formula and forget the sli for now. Thx for any impute and are my chance good that I will get a corruption.

no comment on this?

[golfjam]

I think I just bricked my S2E. I flashed to 0702 using awdflash and hit F1 after the flashing was done and then I did a stupid thing. I hit the "CLR CMOS" button while it was going through the POST process. I always CLR CMOS after a BIOS flash. Now the board is stuck @ "CODE INIT". I took the battery out and will keep the battery out and hope when I pop the battery in tomorrow, it magically comes back to life, like the old strikers did with the dreaded "CPU INIT" bug. If not, I guess I would have to go through Asus for RMA. Anybody here familiar with the RMA process with Asus. Thanks in advance.

Same thing happened to me. The hard CLR CMOS didn't work and my 4th mobo died. I hope your case is different. Luckly Newegg will "gladly" (their own words) refund this time, after 5 days after their 30 day replacement/no refund policy, and also the OCZ memory that I've bought to run with. I was speechless on the phone but relieved the nightmare is over after full month of high hopes and dissapointments. I know their customer service is the best but I didn't expect such generosity. Anyway, I wish you guys good luck and really appreciated all the help.

[slim142]

I think I just bricked my S2E. I flashed to 0702 using awdflash and hit F1 after the flashing was done and then I did a stupid thing. I hit the "CLR CMOS" button while it was going through the POST process. I always CLR CMOS after a BIOS flash. Now the board is stuck @ "CODE INIT". I took the battery out and will keep the battery out and hope when I pop the battery in tomorrow, it magically comes back to life, like the old strikers did with the dreaded "CPU INIT" bug. If not, I guess I would have to go through Asus for RMA. Anybody here familiar with the RMA process with Asus. Thanks in advance.

It just happened to me. PC froze so I reset it twice and it was stuck at CODE INIT so I pressed the turn on button until I shutted down, then turn it on again and it would let me boot, however I never touched the ClearCMOS button.
Right now my vcore is 1.287xx and its been working good. 1.27500 failed within 10 mins

@Slim142:
Looks like system files scan ( sfc ) @ Windows XP isn't really good to tell if we have corruption or not, because it looks like it asks for the windows disc even when there's no corruption ( just tested it on my P5K3 Deluxe ). [ probably checks the files not only from the "backup repository" on the HDD, but from your windows disc as well, that's why it's asking for it every now and then ].

So, unless you're having silly crashes ( like crashing while idling in Crysis main menu ) you shall be fine.

p.s. The white memory slots are clocking higher than the blue ones.

Glad to hear that because I thought I had already messed XP again :P
Will try games probably tomorrow. I want to get to at least 400Mhz FSB estable and then start checking games and stuff.
BTw, around what FSB speed do you guys needed to start upping your NB voltage to more than 1.40v?

[Lu(ky]

Just got my 3rd mobo and it lasted a whole 10 minutes and DEAD.
NewEgg is defiantly the best. Got a Refund for the purchase on the 30th day, no questions asked.

Just got my 9800GX2 and would love to get this hooked up with a 790i ultra.
Besides ASUS what is the best board?

Yeah I just went through my 2nd S2E that lasted 1 day of OCing. The sad thing is it was the first time it was stable @ a 4.2GHz on everything. The only thing I did was turn it off and the next day I turned it back on and it would go through the Window Vista normal boot process and when it got to the Windows circle with the SOUND comes on it would just reboot again. So I got a FULL REFUND from the egg as well. Now I need to decide on what board to get. Maybe I will try the eVGA 790i or the Gigabyte x48, but then I would have to sell one of my 9800GTX and go with a eVGA step-up to the 9800GX2.
I still have my old setup I just finished putting together to sell on ebay. Hoping I can get some good cash for it...

Intel Q6600 @ 3.4GHz
eVGA 680i A2 mobo
(2) eVGA 8800GT SSC SLI
Crucial PC-8500 2gbs @ 1150MHz
(2) x WD Raptor 36gb raid -0-
PC & Power Cooling 750W
Custom Painted Case

[trt740]

Same thing happened to me. The hard CLR CMOS didn't work and my 4th mobo died. I hope your case is different. Luckly Newegg will "gladly" (their own words) refund this time, after 5 days after their 30 day replacement/no refund policy, and also the OCZ memory that I've bought to run with. I was speechless on the phone but relieved the nightmare is over after full month of high hopes and dissapointments. I know their customer service is the best but I didn't expect such generosity. Anyway, I wish you guys good luck and really appreciated all the help.

It just happened to me. PC froze so I reset it twice and it was stuck at CODE INIT so I pressed the turn on button until I shutted down, then turn it on again and it would let me boot, however I never touched the ClearCMOS button.
Right now my vcore is 1.287xx and its been working good. 1.27500 failed within 10 mins



Glad to hear that because I thought I had already messed XP again :P
Will try games probably tomorrow. I want to get to at least 400Mhz FSB estable and then start checking games and stuff.
BTw, around what FSB speed do you guys needed to start upping your NB voltage to more than 1.40v?

RMA time

[DR3]

Guys need help here have a EVGA 790I board in the shipping box unopened. I currently have a Maximus DRR2 board flashed to a Ramage formula and was stoked to buy a 790i ultra and have a buyer for my Maximus. I wanted to go DDR3 and since my video card is a 9800gtx wanted future SLI. With all the 790I trouble if you were me would you even open this box, because once I do newegg says non refundable only replacement and I would have to pay to shipp it back. If it remains unopened it's a auto RMA with free shipping. Would you open 790I board or keep the Maximus formula and forget the sli for now. Thx for any impute and are my chance good that I will get a corruption.

NewEgg Rocks. First S2E was DOA, second had a broken resistor and the third was lasted 5 min. Called NewEgg on the 30th day expecting a replacement and the rep asked if I wanted a refund. Hell ya I want a refund. Now just bought a EVGA 790I to see if I have a better result.
Give NewEgg a call and see what they say.

[trt740]

NewEgg Rocks. First S2E was DOA, second had a broken resistor and the third was lasted 5 min. Called NewEgg on the 30th day expecting a replacement and the rep asked if I wanted a refund. Hell ya I want a refund. Now just bought a EVGA 790I to see if I have a better result.
Give NewEgg a call and see what they say.

Wow that many boards have died holy. Check your case for a short man

[Broly]

He seems to kill his boards, look at his sig!

[OBR]

OBR - Have you made any headway with 3D applications yet? Also do you have any idea what might be causing this instability with 3D applications and even video? Do you think its more hardware or software related or are you just not sure?

Broly - How is your own progress going lately and what BIOS are you running?

I have now perfectly stable rig, in 3D Games too at 450MHz FSB ... everything is in setting of memories and GTL ...

[Warboy]

Can anyone round up overclocks of a Q9450 with the S2E. its hard finding them though this thread. I wanna read settings and such. ASUS is upgrading me from my maximus extreme to the striker II extreme.

[MateoTTR]

@Slim142:
Looks like system files scan ( sfc ) @ Windows XP isn't really good to tell if we have corruption or not, because it looks like it asks for the windows disc even when there's no corruption ( just tested it on my P5K3 Deluxe ).

= what I tried to explain multiple times in the "790i data corruption" thread.
SFC works differently in vista though.

[golfjam]

I think I just bricked my S2E. I flashed to 0702 using awdflash and hit F1 after the flashing was done and then I did a stupid thing. I hit the "CLR CMOS" button while it was going through the POST process. I always CLR CMOS after a BIOS flash. Now the board is stuck @ "CODE INIT". I took the battery out and will keep the battery out and hope when I pop the battery in tomorrow, it magically comes back to life, like the old strikers did with the dreaded "CPU INIT" bug. If not, I guess I would have to go through Asus for RMA. Anybody here familiar with the RMA process with Asus. Thanks in advance.

Did it work??

[tekjunkie]

Did it work??

Nope. I had to call Asus RMA department to get a RMA #. I had to go through Asus RMA coz I am outta the RMA period from where I bought(ncix). I hope the RMA process goes well. Also, I am also hoping to get a good OCing board hehe

[golfjam]

Nope. I had to call Asus RMA department to get a RMA #. I had to go through Asus RMA coz I am outta the RMA period from where I bought(ncix). I hope the RMA process goes well. Also, I am also hoping to get a good OCing board hehe

Sorry to hear that man. I hope everything goes fine, RMA and OC'ing. I'll buy this mobo again but only after they fix all this mess. Too bad my mobo didn't last long enough to test 702 bios. Suddenly people stopped posting here so I assume they're finally having some fun. Good luck

[tekjunkie]

I said it back on March 6th 2008, post #18 in this thread if you will:



I got the memo back with the first release of nFarce chipsets (2003? 2004?), except I didn't dare to invest in one......frankly I think everyone loves the thrill of RMA'ing.

If you look at his signature, he killed the x38 maximus too. I think as he is on phase, it could very well be beacuse of bad mobo insulation. Yes, this is the 3rd S2E I am RMAing, but I am also actually thinking of putting my E6600 on my P5N-T and my 7950GX2 and giftng it to my cousin and buying another S2E for my X3110. You would think by looking @ my signature that I am a NV fan boi but am not. I buy the product that gives me the best perfomance. I had a P5WDH also which I killed by scratching the back of the board accidently when I was removing the backplate of my ninja.


So, in short don't come to a conculsion with all the problems that were posted, these are early days for the 790i platform and the platform has a bit of a learning curve. Any new platform will have it share of problems, P35 being the only exception.

[tekjunkie]

Sorry to hear that man. I hope everything goes fine, RMA and OC'ing. I'll buy this mobo again but only after they fix all this mess. Too bad my mobo didn't last long enough to test 702 bios. Suddenly people stopped posting here so I assume they're finally having some fun. Good luck

Thanks Buddy

[BenchZowner]

I said it back on March 6th 2008, post #18 in this thread if you will:



I got the memo back with the first release of nFarce chipsets (2003? 2004?), except I didn't dare to invest in one......frankly I think everyone loves the thrill of RMA'ing.

We know you hate nFORCE chipsets so much, but don't over-exaggerate.

By the way, I'm torturing the Striker II Extreme for 3 ( or more ? ) weeks now, flashing several BIOSes multiple times a day, running extreme voltages ( even on air... how's 1.8V on air with a 45nm CPU sound to you ? ) and extremely high frequencies & tight timings.
Just like 680i this one's picky as well, but still can work nicely if you work it out.

The Striker II Extreme is way better than the first Striker Extreme ( I had multiples and multiple RMAs with those ).

[Guacamole]

Tekjunkie I am so bummed for you it was your settings that have really made all the headway for me in my OCing experience with this board. I have RMA'd a couple of boards from ASUS and they are just slow.. Sorry to hear about that....

[Coupa]

Okay...

So it seems ive bricked my board with the 0701 installation. Great.

Now im stuck with a Pentium 4 and a 6800GS.


Edit: Amazing, by some stroke of luck, i actually booted after taking the battery out for an hour, and with BIOS 0701 as well.

[Guacamole]

Okay I am in the middle of some more 702 testing and so far so good I am running prime at FSB of 1800 with my memory at 1600 (7-7-7-24) and I have since enabled P1 which makes all the difference in Mem performance (suggested by sonofander) and I am running 3 minute intervals and I seem to be rock solid.. My read, write, and copy are way up 11500=read and 52.0=latency..



I am in the middle of running sfc scan and I just did a large file tranfer at these settings so I will install a few programs and games from the transfer and keep everyone posted.. Boo as I was typing this SFC Scan finished and BAD NEWS:



Back to the drawing board