ASUS Maximus Formula SE

[Scope666]

That sounds very much like the problem I have.
I sent in both the RAM and the motherboard for RMA.
I'm using the same Ballistix and got errors for all of them (Memtest86+).

Strange thing is when I tried some OCZ PC2-8500, it worked just fine with no errors at all.

I'm getting them back today and I will see how it goes.
The Ballistix I have are PC2-8500 5-5-5-15 and I have 4x1GB but I tried just two at a time and still got errors.

THANK YOU, at least I'm not the only one, I thought I had the worst luck in the world. I have 2 new sticks to try tonight, as long as 1 is ok I'll be in decent shape until the Ballistix come back. (I have 1 good stick from the last batch that tests ok, it just needs a friend now)

Anyone else with weird Memtest errors? Does your RAM like more / less volts than they're rated for at stock speeds?

Maybe this BIOS is just too immature...

[sonicsallen]

That sounds very much like the problem I have.
I sent in both the RAM and the motherboard for RMA.
I'm using the same Ballistix and got errors for all of them (Memtest86+).

Strange thing is when I tried some OCZ PC2-8500, it worked just fine with no errors at all.

I'm getting them back today and I will see how it goes.
The Ballistix I have are PC2-8500 5-5-5-15 and I have 4x1GB but I tried just two at a time and still got errors.

I am having trouble overclocking my Ballsitix 8500 too.

[ChaosMinionX]

Went back to 0505 no problems with that one, other than some bugs....BIOS is still very immature imo.

[kup]

I get the Prime95 not loading the CPU fully issue now, but I don't get it with OCCT, just Prime...?

[GAR]

I get the Prime95 not loading the CPU fully issue now, but I don't get it with OCCT, just Prime...?

OK, so this could be a board issue, anyone with a board could test this????

[kup]

I've double tested this, OCCT loads 99% but Prime95 hovers around 75-85% mark...?

Ok, what is the best way to test the northbridge for stability? Same as ram, Memtest86+? Or is there something I can specifically use to stress it? I seem to need 1.85v on the northbridge (bios max, actual is nearer 1.9v) to get 475MHz stable with 4 sticks of ram... THAT IS INSANE!!!!

[Majoram]

THANK YOU, at least I'm not the only one, I thought I had the worst luck in the world. I have 2 new sticks to try tonight, as long as 1 is ok I'll be in decent shape until the Ballistix come back. (I have 1 good stick from the last batch that tests ok, it just needs a friend now)

Anyone else with weird Memtest errors? Does your RAM like more / less volts than they're rated for at stock speeds?

Maybe this BIOS is just too immature...

I didn't bother testing one stick at a time since my sticks came in pairs and to RMA I would have to return both anyway.

Just FYI, I would get errors in tests 5, 6, 7, 8.
Sometimes it was just one or two of those tests or all of them.

I didn't try upping the voltage though. All I did was leave the BIOS at it's default settings and then try the RAM.

I don't see why the voltage would cause a problem as both the OCZ and Ballistix I have are the same timings and same PC2 8500 yet OCZ pair works just fine.

I am having trouble overclocking my Ballsitix 8500 too.

I wasn't overclocking though. I just reset the BIOS and Cleared all the settings and then tried the RAM. No changes except to boot from CD first.

[Scope666]

I didn't bother testing one stick at a time since my sticks came in pairs and to RMA I would have to return both anyway.

Just FYI, I would get errors in tests 5, 6, 7, 8.
Sometimes it was just one or two of those tests or all of them.

I didn't try upping the voltage though. All I did was leave the BIOS at it's default settings and then try the RAM.

I don't see why the voltage would cause a problem as both the OCZ and Ballistix I have are the same timings and same PC2 8500 yet OCZ pair works just fine.



I wasn't overclocking though. I just reset the BIOS and Cleared all the settings and then tried the RAM. No changes except to boot from CD first.

Same here, usually between tests 4 and 5, although one stick was bad enough to show an error immediately. It just seems weird to me that this many sticks are actually bad. I think this board is just REALLY picky about what chips and SPD data are on the sticks.

[kup]

Where are you guys getting your errors on the sticks? I've got 4x1GB sticks in, so 4096MB of ram, but Memtest86+ is reporting errors within the 4200MB-4350MB range? Is that why I'm getting those errors? Because Memtest is attempting to address a location that isn't actually ram? It seems to be the "reserved" area?

[TouGe]

It seems depending on your settings for tranaction booster and static read control the voltages for the NB vary enormously... Most users here are at 1.6 NB voltage... I'm at 1.32 for 400FSB with my Q6600@3200 but I disabled the transaction booster and set level 1 ( static read control is enabled and jields for me slightly higher bandwith at 400FSB/1003 ram speeds )... can you try that if it helps to improve ya stability... those are pretty tight timings you are running there... by the way running 2 x 2 Gskills PC8000 ram ( so not 4 dimms )

I'll give your suggestion a try. This is frustrating though, I had no problems running these settings w/ less voltages on my P5K-D.

@TheSamurai

you're running a multiplier of 11 with the maximus formula se??? how?

What do you mean? The x6800 runs default at 11x.

[TouGe]

@ Leeghoofd
Well, you were right. I upped NB voltage to 1.59V and disabled transaction booster and set it to level 1 and so far so good. I've been running OCCT CPU test for almost 15 minutes so far w/o any issues, whereas before I couldn't even get into Windows. Thanks for your help.

[cadaveca]

this has got to be something with the different batches... when did you get your G0??

I get this with a B3...actually with 2 B3's, one L644G, one L725A. This info about OCCT loading tho...that's some good info. will check that out later!

[Creek Tha Gray]

Version 0602 2007/10/31 update



OS DOS / All OS



Description Maximus Formula BIOS 0602
1. Support new CPUs. Please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com.tw/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx
2. Update EIST control code
3. Enhance PCIE card compatibility
4. Enhance memory compatibility



File Size 822.99 (KBytes)

http global

http USA

ftp asus

[Maglin]

Ok, what is the best way to test the northbridge for stability? Same as ram, Memtest86+? Or is there something I can specifically use to stress it? I seem to need 1.85v on the northbridge (bios max, actual is nearer 1.9v) to get 475MHz stable with 4 sticks of ram... THAT IS INSANE!!!!

Wow you are one risky guy Kup. I've read multipule reports of running over 1.7v on the NB on the X38 causing the NB to burn out. I would definitly bring that down and find a stable FSB running like 1.65v max. I hope you are running the NB hooked to a water loop with those kinds of volts.

[kup]

Wow you are one risky guy Kup. I've read multipule reports of running over 1.7v on the NB on the X38 causing the NB to burn out. I would definitly bring that down and find a stable FSB running like 1.65v max. I hope you are running the NB hooked to a water loop with those kinds of volts.

It was only for about 5minutes, just to find out what it would take for 475MHz to not crash OCCT the second it loaded. It lasted 5mins, I stopped it, powered down and changed volts back to 1.49v for normal operation.

I just thought the X38 was supposed to be a good overclocker (it was the only reason I upgraded over my Striker Extreme!!!) and it seems I could run better clocks on the Striker!!!!

[Budwise]

im guessing the Maximus Formula and the Maximus Formula Special Edition use the same bios?

[JoeBar]

Yes they are using the same.

[Scope666]

I didn't bother testing one stick at a time since my sticks came in pairs and to RMA I would have to return both anyway.

Just FYI, I would get errors in tests 5, 6, 7, 8.
Sometimes it was just one or two of those tests or all of them.

I didn't try upping the voltage though. All I did was leave the BIOS at it's default settings and then try the RAM.

I don't see why the voltage would cause a problem as both the OCZ and Ballistix I have are the same timings and same PC2 8500 yet OCZ pair works just fine.



I wasn't overclocking though. I just reset the BIOS and Cleared all the settings and then tried the RAM. No changes except to boot from CD first.

UPDATE: got home and BOTH SETS of the Corsair XMS2's are failing Memtest
So that's 1 stick out of 6 So either this board HATES this brand of RAM (even
though it's on the QVL) I have incredible bad luck, or there is some setting somewhere that I'm missing. I've tried pretty much everything on auto except for DRAM volts and vCore. I also have transaction booster off from what I've read here. These sticks say 1.9 volts, is that right, my Ballistix were 2.2. Anyone have these, what do you run them at. This is getting nuts!!!

[krifosjen]

Corsair XMS2 Pro 1.9v 6400 working fine here with Maximus.

Ran memtest 2 times - no errors.

Just FYI.

[Scope666]

Corsair XMS2 Pro 1.9v 6400 working fine here with Maximus.

Ran memtest 2 times - no errors.

Just FYI.

maybe my board is bad, either that or this is one hell of a bad batch of RAM. MY board also does this thing sometimes when I hit SAVE AND EXIT from the BIOS, it doesn't restart. It shuts down, than flashes for sec and turns back off. I always have to flip the switch on the power supply to turn it back on.

[Talonman]

When I get up and running, I will report back.

I do have Corsair XMS2 DHX 4GB: 2 X 2GB Modules (DDR2)
XMS2-6400 2048MB 800MHz 5-5-5-18 1.80V ver1.2
(CM2X2048-6400C5DHX)

I baught one 4GB kit. I hope it works ok on my Maximus SE...

I will only have 1 stick in during the initial OS install, until I can apply the Vista 4GB hot fix.
I currently have it in slot 1 (blue).

I hope we find the answer for you too.

[Scope666]

When I get up and running, I will report back.

I do have Corsair XMS2 DHX 4GB: 2 X 2GB Modules (DDR2)
XMS2-6400 2048MB 800MHz 5-5-5-18 1.80V ver1.2
(CM2X2048-6400C5DHX)

I baught one 4GB kit. I hope it works ok on my Maximus SE...

I will only have 1 stick in during the initial OS install, until I can apply the Vista 4GB hot fix.
I currently have it in slot 1 (blue).

I hope we find the answer for you too.

It's going to be a BIG pain in the a$$ but I'm going to bench test with my old 680i board and go through all 5 of the sticks that are testing bad on the Maximus to figure out whether it's the board or just a REALLY bad batch of RAM. I'll report back...

[Talonman]

Thanks for your efforts, and I will be watching.

Keep us posted buddy!

[Scope666]

On a happier note, my 8800 GT showed up today, all I can say is WOW. This thing rocks! Here's some Crysis benchies:

8800 GTS 320MB:
------------
!TimeDemo Run 2 Finished.
Play Time: 75.20s, Average FPS: 26.59
Min FPS: 0.14 at frame 1530, Max FPS: 43.33 at frame 1011
Average Tri/Sec: 23566438, Tri/Frame: 886154
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: 1.03

8800 GT 512MB:
----------------
!TimeDemo Run 2 Finished.
Play Time: 37.19s, Average FPS: 53.77
Min FPS: 34.14 at frame 1966, Max FPS: 74.21 at frame 87
Average Tri/Sec: 47746740, Tri/Frame: 887905
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: 1.03

[ShawnTRD]

Thats alittle of topic but it's good to know. I hope to see G92 GTS come out on the 15th of this month. With a better cooling system.