E6600 + Asus 680i Striker Extreme

[slim142]

I really want to see a new BIOS release soon.

Also, I have started the New Revision thread in the ASUS forums and according to it, nobody has yet the 1.03 in their hands.

BTW, Bachus, are you testing any new BIOS? Im sorry for this question but I just want to make sure if ASUS is working on this mobo or not.

[andyr(uk)]

Hi , whats going to be different about a 1.03 version ?

[vladimir]

I'm really thinking that there is no 1.03 version of the Striker. The article that started the whole thing, compares overclocking a Striker to a reference 680i board.

Then near the end the review states;
"If overclocking to more than 4 GHz is planned, then it makes sense looking for revision 1.03 whose users state having achieved FSB=500 MHz and higher. We would recommend the same also for the case if a lower-end CPU on the Allendale core is used." And displays an image of a P5N32-E SLI Plus next to the Striker, I'm thinking that the P5N32-E SLI Plus is the rev. 1.03, and someone didn't double check their facts before posting the review.

[slim142]

Hmmm, interesting, but yes can be true, maybe thats the famous Striker (non-extreme) board which comes with many Striker Extreme features but not the bling-bling

Anyways, I want to know if Bachus knows anything about a soon new BIOS release.

[MagicMANX]

yeah me 2, a new bios release is all im waiting for, dont want to put that 1002 beta bios, im out of the states, and RMA for me will take like 2 months.

[slim142]

hope to see a new BIOS around march 15.

Im still waiting to see when ASUS is planning to release that Striker (non-extreme) board.

[ineedaname]

I find myself checking 4 a new bios everyday that's sad.

[eva2000]

i'm running happy still on 0402 bios heh

I decided to check out what the effects memory timings and memory clocks has on 8800GTS SLI performance on Asus 680i Striker Extreme motherboard. I decided to run each benchmark twice and average the results for:

• 3dmark2001
• 3dmark2003
• 3dmark05
• 3dmark06

System:

• Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 L627A872 B2 Step 6
• Swiftech Apogee/Radiical Triple Fan Single Pass Rad/MCP655 + Kayl 100W Custom PSU
• Asus 680i Striker Extreme 0402 bios
• 2x 640MB Gainward 8800GTS stock HSF SLI @513/1584 stock clocks
• 2x1GB OCZ PC2-8000 Titanium Alpha VX2
• 4x80GB Hitachi 7K80 SATAII Raid 0 on SATA3 to SATA6 ports
• Pioneer DVD Burner
• 600W OCZ EvoStream

Here's a excel table of the tallied results so far. The system specs used are all listed in the table. I limited the cpu clocks to 8x400FSB = 3200Mhz and memory voltage to 2.35v vdimm max for the memory timing/clock combinations for a more realistic idea of what to expect.

FYI, My 2x1GB OCZ PC2-8000 Titanium Alpha VX2 are capable of around 440-450mhz looser 4-3-3-4 1T at 2.5+ vdimm or 600mhz 5-3-3-4 at 2.45-2.5v vdimm or 640mhz 2T 5-4-3-4 at 2.5+ vdimm.

3200Mhz - 8x400FSB



I'll be adding other memory clock/timing configurations later on so will update the table at http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?t=3773 as I progress

[Mullet]

Vcore Voltage: 1.4 set in 1002 bios set to 1.45
Memory Voltage: 2.300v lower to 2.175
1.2v HT Voltage: 1.3v up to 1.4
NB Core Voltage: 1.4v up to 1.45
SB Core Voltage: 1.55v
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.4v
DDRII Controller Ref Voltage: AUTO
DDRII Channel A Ref Voltage: AUTO
DDRII Channel B Ref Voltage: AUTO

set it straight to 1600FSB, unlinked mode set ram 1066 manually, disable EPP profile and linkboost 2 plz, I assume you have an E6600
I also would test both ram dimms seperately with eg memtest. Thios board slightly overvolts the ram and at 1066mhz only 2.2 volts is required for these OCZ dimms (I have the same) so set to 2.1750 to get 2.2 volts. Also therea re some holes that don't work, so 1600 (400FSB works like a charm) , if you encounter a hole plz add 20mhz or so to the FSB eg 1333 should work also...

I used tha above settings.

The PC booted and got me all the way to the black windows screen (you know the one with the windows 'flag' on it). The image of this screen was a little greyed/faded...then the system restarted before I was able to get into the desktop...weird. Tried upping the cpu to 1.5v still no joy....What d'ya think would cause that??

Also, after trying to get into desktop @ 3.6Ghz I gave up and I dropped the FSB from 1600Mhz (400) down to 1550Mhz (387.5Mhz) which gave me a CPU speed of 3.48Ghz. I got back into windows and run a benchmark 3DMark06....was obviously expecting good things....

But...was shocked to find my score @3.48 was lower than the score I achieved with the cpu @2.9Ghz....why d'ya think that happened?

Help guys!!

[eva2000]

Mullet sounds like lack of NB volts and/or CPU vcore or vdimm to me.

[swiftc28]

Well, my striker is dead. I can't install XP or vista. Fri I cleared the CMOS and upgraded to 1002. Board booted up and ran vista. 30 mins later BSOD. Wonderful. After that system wouln't boot into windows at all. So i though 1 of the hard drives went bad in the raid array. Set the board up for non-raid and loaded XP. XP loaded installed all driver's. Tried installing a game and it wouldn't install. Corupt files on a good disc or a ram issue? Well after messing with it fri and sat. I went and got a BFG 680I board from COMP USA. Only board they had for a C2D. Installed it and I'm back up and running on vista. I downloaded the beta driver from nvida for the 7950 GX2 for vista, and sli is enabled and working. Boy oh joy. So now I get to call ASUS to get this thing RMA'd so the fun continues.....

[pss75]

Try upping the CPU VTT voltage, i had similar problems to u and eventually the VTT at 1.45 - 1.50 did the business for me Good Luck and lots of tweaks is what this board needs!!! I am stable at 3600mhz and only 1.375vcore, i believe i could go higher but don't feel the need. 3.6 is very fast, nice in games too! Bios 1002 is working wonders for me.... before u up the VTT lower the vcore (depending on what speed u run at) 1.4 should be plenty for most at 3600mhz.

PS I have a new e6700 up for sale on ebay FPO BATCH L 628 A 942... any good?

[Mic]

Upgraded my Stikers bios to 1002, after that It just keeps displaying "CPU INIT", tried just about everyting.. switching ram, cpu, disconnecting every, clearing cmos several times. Really seems to be a lot of problems with this board

[andyr(uk)]

Upgraded my Stikers bios to 1002, after that It just keeps displaying "CPU INIT", tried just about everyting.. switching ram, cpu, disconnecting every, clearing cmos several times. Really seems to be a lot of problems with this board

People who had similar to that before left the cmos battery out overnight , its worth a try

[Leeghoofd]

did you remove battery for half a day ? then putting it back clear cmos 15 secs and then boot ?

[Mic]

did you remove battery for half a day ? then putting it back clear cmos 15 secs and then boot ?

had it out for about 4 hours... gonna try for a little longer, even though the clear cmos switch should be enough to do it. Ill try leave it out overnight.

[ineedaname]

I had a problem like that once. It did one long beep then 3 short beeps.
Did your system beep at all?

Maybe u guys should try 0402 bios like eva has.


BTW
Nice job eva those are some great results. Some of which are a bit interesting to see.

[Mic]

only 1 beep like normal.
And having the battery out and all powercords disconneted didnt help either.. and no help from asus support either.

[adamsleath]

mine doesnt beep at me because i didnt connect the beepy speaker ; i hate beeps.

you can up the cpu vtt to max... i'm a convert to 0402...the vcore i need for stable oc is almost .1v lower than with other bioses

[Lood007]

You may have a borked BIOS. Know anyone with a eeprom programmer?

i actually just bought one, but have not used it yet.

[eva2000]

BTW
Nice job eva those are some great results. Some of which are a bit interesting to see.

yup sure are

updated

[slim142]

eva, where is the 1002 review? Im still waiting for it!!!!!

[andyr(uk)]

Hi does anyone have a link to the site where all the bios revisions were posted both beta and other , i think the site was in association with xtreme systems , i had it before but with reloading op i seem not to have saved it anywhere

[Lood007]

http://www.lejabeach.com/ASUS/Striker/

[andyr(uk)]

Many thanks for that