UnOfficial Asus Rampage II Extreme Thread

[Skyguy]

Heh, don't have another one laying around.

I'm gonna pop the CPU back into the P6T and see if the RAM works there. If not, then it's CPU. If it does work, then that leaves.......something with the Rampage itself I guess......?

[2chesapeakes]

Unfortunately if I populate the third slot I can not select any speed the selection gets greyed out and I can not see the video card in device manager or in Everest. I have removed the card and selected 8 x 8 however as soon as a card is installed it eaither hangs on "init rom" or boots and the card is not visible in the system device manager.

Thank you for the suggestion however at this point I will set up the RMA as I know the configuration of the setting had previously worked the way it is set up now in the bios.

Thanks again for the help and suggestions your time is appreciated.

To follow up on tis issue I called Asus tech support this was not much help and they advised I RMA the board. After some back and forth with the EGG they RMA'd the original board for a replacement. The new board arrived on Friday and it was DOA. Seems I am not having much luch with these boards. I was quite impressed with the first one for the 4 days it was working so I will try a third.

[jcniest5]

To follow up on tis issue I called Asus tech support this was not much help and they advised I RMA the board. After some back and forth with the EGG they RMA'd the original board for a replacement. The new board arrived on Friday and it was DOA. Seems I am not having much luch with these boards. I was quite impressed with the first one for the 4 days it was working so I will try a third.

Man...talking about bad luck...hope for a better third one.

[miahallen]

Disabling EIST, prevents the use of Turbo mode...right? So how do you get the multi to stick at x21 in WinXP without a load? In Vista, I can do it by setting "performance mode"...but I can't figure it out in XP. Can someone please help me out? Thanks!

[cstkl1]

[AceBaran]

Hello..

I am new to overclocking, this is my first ever to try it out..the dark side draws me to it...
I have been trying for a couple of days with all kind of settings ive seen here on the forums..
I know i am doing lots wrong since to be honoust i have no idea how to proceed, i have been reading up about it alot tho, still i am no technician, and most of this puzzles me..

I would appreciate any help..

Atm i am just running it on the crazy setting on 4.0Ghz and my memory is downclocked to 1243 automaticly..
I have a thermaltake triton 81 cpu cooler and a Lian Li pc-p80 and im on 50 degrees on idle..

Now i would like to run it at 4.2 or even 4.4 which i think must be possible on air only..(so ive read)
And for my memory which is 1333, i want to run at 1600mhz..

Now ive tried cpu multiplier on x21 and bclk on 200 and i boot fine in windows but crash while running vantage cpu test..
i got my cpu volt on 1.4350 ive raised it by 0.05 volts up to 1.58 and am to scared to go any higher..
Now do i need to raise any other volt ? like qpi/dram or ICH volt or IOH volt or Dram bus volt ?
It must be one or 2 of those but i have no clue which ones and how high..

if you need anything for me to answer please ask away for i am here all day..

Tnx

[T_Flight]

Whoa whoa whoa. Slow down some. The best thing I could recommend would be to go back to stock settings right now. After that, I'd do reading, and study lots on here, and get an idea of trends and what every single setting in your BIOS is, and why it does what it does. If I were new to OC'ing I'd say about a few weeks would be the very least I'd be reading on here.

Or, you can do it the quick way, and copy settings from another system that probably won't work well on your speciffic system (every system is a bit different and not all CPU's OC the same). The quick way is usually the more expensive way. It results in learning, but replacing alot of hardware.

Back when I started years ago, I learned the easy way, the slower more methodical route, and about the only thing I've lost hardware wise is a couple of dead HDD's that kicked the bucket on their own.

What you're talking about (up to 4.4GHz) is not easy, and very few CPU's will do that, and it's very risky unless you know exactly what those settings are, and know the physics involved.

One thing I can say without a doubt. Set that thing back to stock right now. Using Auto settings is asking for trouble. I hope that stuff has not already suffered damage. Also, you need to control the heat. You are way way too hot at idle. I hate to think what your load temps are. Please, turn that thing back down to stock and do some study. These are awesome systems and you can get alot out of them, but it takes understanding them or they live short lives when they are not OC'd properly.

[AceBaran]

The thing is, i have this system for a few months now, and want to take it to the next level.. i have been searching the net for ways to do it, as far as i have seen there arnt any clear step to step guids for overclocking a i7..
Now if there is anyone out there who could guide me through it step by step, it would sure clear up the basics for me and to anyone who wants to learn this proces..

As for setting it on auto, the crazy setting to 4.0Ghz, how could that hurt my system if it is a bios option ? it is a auto overclock right ?

tnx

[Aberration]

Auto doesnt mean it wont harm anything.

[dejanh]

The thing is, i have this system for a few months now, and want to take it to the next level.. i have been searching the net for ways to do it, as far as i have seen there arnt any clear step to step guids for overclocking a i7..
Now if there is anyone out there who could guide me through it step by step, it would sure clear up the basics for me and to anyone who wants to learn this proces..

As for setting it on auto, the crazy setting to 4.0Ghz, how could that hurt my system if it is a bios option ? it is a auto overclock right ?

tnx

Auto overclock is still an overclocks so yes, it could damage your system just like any other overclock. It is not built into the CPU, it is a motherboard feature.

Basically, here is a post that will guide you through the OC basics for Nehalem...

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...90&postcount=1

Also, some terms you may need to know on the R2E board...

BCLK - base clocks (133MHz by default), increase this to overclock based on BASE clock, but since you have the XE you are better off to OC using your multiplier (i.e., set it higher than its default setting of 24x)
DRAM - RAM memory, should be set to whatever your memory is rated at (e.g., 1600MHz)
QPI/DRAM (a.k.a. VTT, a.k.a. QPI/VTT) - QPI (VTT) voltage, do not exceed 1.35000V if you want to be sure of long term stability
DRAM Voltage - sets the voltage of your RAM, should be no more than 1.65681V on the R2E

The only other voltage you should care about is CPU voltage. All other settings you can leave on Auto. One other point you may want to adjust is DRAM timings, and to start you should be setting them to whatever is the default for your DRAM. In my case that is 8-8-8-24-2T (2T == 2N on R2E, 1T == 1N, and 3T == 3N) but in your case it may be different...

[AceBaran]

Auto overclock is still an overclocks so yes, it could damage your system just like any other overclock. It is not built into the CPU, it is a motherboard feature.

Basically, here is a post that will guide you through the OC basics for Nehalem...

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...90&postcount=1

Also, some terms you may need to know on the R2E board...

BCLK - base clocks (133MHz by default), increase this to overclock based on BASE clock, but since you have the XE you are better off to OC using your multiplier (i.e., set it higher than its default setting of 24x)
DRAM - RAM memory, should be set to whatever your memory is rated at (e.g., 1600MHz)
QPI/DRAM (a.k.a. VTT, a.k.a. QPI/VTT) - QPI (VTT) voltage, do not exceed 1.35000V if you want to be sure of long term stability
DRAM Voltage - sets the voltage of your RAM, should be no more than 1.65681V on the R2E

The only other voltage you should care about is CPU voltage. All other settings you can leave on Auto. One other point you may want to adjust is DRAM timings, and to start you should be setting them to whatever is the default for your DRAM. In my case that is 8-8-8-24-2T (2T == 2N on R2E, 1T == 1N, and 3T == 3N) but in your case it may be different...

Now there is a repley i can work with, thank you very much buddy.. ill go to work with it...

[AceBaran]

Ok now ive put my multiplier on 32x, bclk is on 133 which gives me 4200GHZ.. ive set my DRAMM timings on 9-9-9-24 volt on 1.56 (1.48 to 1.58 max says the specs)
ive started with a low CPU volt of 1.35 which didnt boot me in windows, 1.36 did tho, my temps are 45 degrees..
i have QPI/DRAMM volt on auto still couse i dont know what is the best to start off with..

What should be my next step ?

EDIT: this is with HT disabled, it wont boot with HT on at this 1.36 volt..

BTW Dejanh may i private msg you about this proces if you have the time, dont want to bother everyone here with my stuff..

[scaramonga]

Did you try the 19x multi on your 920 Scaramonga?

OK, 19 multi works great so far @ 200 BCLK (3800.06) HT ON / Turbo/EIST OFF. Stable as a rock in LinX & Prime and with a drop in vcore from 1.44 to 1.42. I'll probably try reducing vcore some more and settle for the fact, that this chip just aint gonna do anything special, when the multi is 20x coupled with BCLK's over 192. Throttling annoys me with the 21x multi also, so I'll avoid that too.

However, progress

[dejanh]

Ok now ive put my multiplier on 32x, bclk is on 133 which gives me 4200GHZ.. ive set my DRAMM timings on 9-9-9-24 volt on 1.56 (1.48 to 1.58 max says the specs)
ive started with a low CPU volt of 1.35 which didnt boot me in windows, 1.36 did tho, my temps are 45 degrees..
i have QPI/DRAMM volt on auto still couse i dont know what is the best to start off with..

What should be my next step ?

EDIT: this is with HT disabled, it wont boot with HT on at this 1.36 volt..

BTW Dejanh may i private msg you about this proces if you have the time, dont want to bother everyone here with my stuff..

Yeah you can PM me, it's fine. By the way, the best chips will do 4.2GHz with 1.38V roughly, so quite likely for 4.2GHz you need to set your voltage to at least 1.425V to start.

Decent chips will do 1.4V-1.45V for 4.2GHz, and some cannot even do 4.2GHz with reasonable voltages...

I'd start a little more conservative initially, maybe 30x multiplier with 1.35V.

[aln688]

So I have to ask and I haven't saw any reference to this, but does the Rampage II Extreme exhibit the same poor heatpipe system as the Rampage Extreme? I read a few reviews on the RIIE and nothing mentioned excessive heat on the NB and SB, I assume Asus engineered the heatpipe system much better on the RIIE.

Thanks.

[scaramonga]

I assume Asus engineered the heatpipe system much better on the RIIE.

Thanks.

You assume correct.

Needs no extra cooling really, for the little difference in temp drop, air or water on either SB/NB is not worth bothering about.

[aln688]

You assume correct.

Needs no extra cooling really, for the little difference in temp drop, air or water on either SB/NB is not worth bothering about.

Excellent news. Couple of questions:

1) With the 920 and 940 CPUs from Intel, in the US the 920 is about $300, with 940 is about $550, I assume if the 920 can be overclocked, that the 940 is a complete and utter waste of money?

2) What is the highest overclock of the 920 CPU? I see numbers of 4.0 GHz although I look in the signature of the person with an overclock that high and usually watercooling is used. I have no intention of putting water anywhere near my board, I'll be using a Noctua U12P 1366.

This cold boot issue, is it random who gets it? I see "fixes" such as using the 8-pin plug on the board, increasing the IOH value and putting fibre washers on the board where the screws are to "ground" the board.

Thanks.

[dejanh]

Excellent news. Couple of questions:

1) With the 920 and 940 CPUs from Intel, in the US the 920 is about $300, with 940 is about $550, I assume if the 920 can be overclocked, that the 940 is a complete and utter waste of money?

2) What is the highest overclock of the 920 CPU? I see numbers of 4.0 GHz although I look in the signature of the person with an overclock that high and usually watercooling is used. I have no intention of putting water anywhere near my board, I'll be using a Noctua U12P 1366.

This cold boot issue, is it random who gets it? I see "fixes" such as using the 8-pin plug on the board, increasing the IOH value and putting fibre washers on the board where the screws are to "ground" the board.

Thanks.

1. That is correct.
2. 3.8GHz to 4.0GHz is about what you can hope for in most cases. 4.2GHz is luck of the draw. With a i7 940 4.2GHz is a little easier but not worth paying $250 premium for it (trust me on this, I have a i7 940 and I am pretty pissed about the fact I bought one).

Cold boot issue is a crapshoot. You may get it, you may not. Some people fixed it by playing around with memory settings (e.g., me with voltages, timings) but some people cannot get rid of it no matter what. 8-pin plug, IOH, etc., do not seem to have any effect unless you happen to be somebody who did not plug in the 8-pin connector and is complaining about cold boot problem.

[crashmax]

@aln688

1) It has allot to do with luck. The only benefit of a 940 is you can theoretically clock it higher because the multi is higher. Unfortunately I had no luck with my 940.

2) The highest clock you can get with a 920 is luck also and the cooling is most important as this cup’s goes very hot.

I never had the cold boot issue, so I cannot tell anything about.

Greats

[dejanh]

@aln688

1) It has allot to do with luck. The only benefit of a 940 is you can theoretically clock it higher because the multi is higher. Unfortunately I had no luck with my 940.

...snip...

It is purely theoretically in case of i7. I have gone through quite a few i7 940s so far, different weeks, different lots, all clocked the same at about 4.2GHz for 24/7 use. Only difference was temperatures and voltages needed to get to the same clocks. Any higher does not seem to be practically possible for 24/7 use.

Don't create problems for yourself. I cannot get over the fact that I bought a i7 940 and that I cannot clock it higher than a i7 920. Practically threw away $300. Sure I can get uber-low voltages for say 3.8GHz (1.192V) or for 4.028GHz (1.296V), and a 222MHz BCLK at 1.47500 QPI/DRAM (VTT) but all of it is meaningless when a processor that is half the price can get the exact same overclock as mine using basically the same settings.

[crashmax]

Then I will be "happy" with my 4200GHz. This is the price for buying the latest hardware as soon as it will available...

Thank you dejanh for the verification

[dejanh]

Then I will be "happy" with my 4200GHz. This is the price for buying the latest hardware as soon as it will available...

Thank you dejanh for the verification

Yeah indeed. Not a small price either. I could have picked up another GTX 260 216 or even a 280 for that amount of money. I wish that instead of confirming it I was denying it, but sadly it is not to be

[fubarswe]

.., just a lil note.., significant differens will occur a soon as you cool these chips a lil more.. :-)

[Amuro]

What are normal NB/SB temps for this board? When not overclocked, my NB and SB temps are around 50-52C for idle/low load, and max out around 55-56C. I'm running 3-way SLI'ed GTX280s.

[dejanh]

.., just a lil note.., significant differens will occur a soon as you cool these chips a lil more.. :-)

If you are talking about Phase or LN2 then yes...but if you are talking about water/air, then I do not agree...

Water and air with these chips yield about the same overclocks.