ASUS Maximus Formula SE

[sdumper]

Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 450
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333mhz
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR-1074
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Auto
Ai Clock Twister : Strong
Transaction Booster : Auto

CPU Voltage : 1.60000
CPU PLL Voltage : Auto
North Bridge Voltage : 1.80
DRAM Voltage : 2.25
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.86
South Bridge Voltage : 1.125
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.67x
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.67x
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : Auto
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : Auto
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : Auto
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.6

NB LED Selection : NB Volt
SB LED Selection : SB Volt
CPU LED Selection : CPU VOlt
Voltiminder LED :

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled

I just looked at your settings and have to verify that you are water cooling your chipset right? That NB and FSB termination voltage is very high. I keep my NB at 1.65 and FSB Termination a tat high at 1.58 but then again I havent started water cooling my chipset yet. What is your NB temp sitting at?

[TouGe]

I leave FSB Strap on AUTO
I only set the primary timings 5-5-5-15 rest on auto (not a ram tweaker)
Dram Static Read : enabled
Transaction Booster Disabled & Relax level 1

Gave me a decent boost in ram bandwith with 0701, gonna compare with my P5K DLx tomorrow...

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Actually, my RAM is set to Auto. I haven't had time to tweak my RAM yet. I'm on vac for 9 days so I will have more time to tweak the settings and see if I can get more out of this board.
If I set the FSB Strap to auto are there any programs I can use to find which strap my board is using?

[sdumper]

well increasing the NB and FSB termination volts to crazy settings helps but I dont like it on air so ill see what water can do for the chipset...

NB = 1.80
FSB Term 1.86

My Max FSB for superpi at these settings appears to be around 476/477 and I was rock stable at 483 on my BlackPearl so I sure hope water helps the NB with the FSB max...

[CyberDruid]

Nice OC on the Kentsfield Scott

Finally going to cave in and yoink mine out of the DFI and see what this Maximus is all about.

[Aldy402]

I tried once. I don't think it was working. CPU-Z or Everest was still showing 2T.

I can't boot into windows any speed/timings with 1t. Its just non-existent for me.

I guess x38 only does 2t..

[binormalkilla]

Hmmm, seeing as I have had no response to my last post on p63 i'll try to break it down a bit...

I have just updated my system slightly this week to include this Maximus Formula SE board, which is a 1.02g revision. Spec as follows:

Processor: C2D E6550 2.33ghz FSB1333 4mb
Memory: Kingston Hyper-X 2gb(2x1gb) 800mhz Low Latency 4-4-4-12 KHX6400D2LLK2/2G
Graphics: XFX 8800GTS 640mb
Sound: Auzentech X-Fi Prelude (in PCI slot above graphics card)
Case: Antec P182 SE
Power: Antec Neo HE 650w Blue
Drives: 2x 36gb Raptors, 1x 320mb Seagate 3gbSATA, 1x Sony SATA DVDRW

Now, its all setup and working. I have a Win XP Pro SP1 installation disk.

Despite using the Makedisk option(on another PC) so I could RAID0 my Raptors, XP setup was having none of it and kept rejecting the disk saying it couldn't create some sort of OEM file? In the end I have installed XP Pro on just one of the Raptors and I am using the other as the 'My Documents' disk. This is not ideally how I wanted it though of course.

Once I had everything installed and all the latest updates(SP2 etc) and antivirus installed I ran the 3dMark06 prog and got a score. Everything was fine and dandy.

Using the AI Suite I ran the auto system test button in the Gearbox area and then ran 3Dmark while using the Auto overclock option, which gave me about 400 extra on the score. I tried the Turbo option and this was slightly less than the Auto option. I then decided to start changing the multiplier in the manual overclock section. This was set at x7 so I simply changed it to x8 and rebooted. But it didn't reboot and the overclock failed. Fine, I thought I'd leave this manual overclocking alone for now and set about putting it on the Auto overclock option again. Now, every time I change it to that setting or re-run the system test for that option I get a BSOD. I did have Kingston KVR 667mhz memory in the system but I have just changed it yesterday to the Hyper-X 800mhz but it makes no difference, I still get the BSOD. Win32.sys seems to be the problem.

I have tried to clear the CMOS using the button at the back but I am not sure if that actually clears it? Have I corrupte my install and should I do a clean XP install, again? Have I broken something, namely my processor? If so I'll get it RMA'd asap?!?

I have now flashed to the latest official bios from the Asus webpage, 0602. Still same BSOD when changing the above settings.

Also, I am guessing its best to manually enter the timings for my memory in to the Bios as 4-4-4-12, as its showing up in grey as 5-5-5-15 on the Auto option??

Should I remove the black covers from the fusion block or not?

Lastly, every time I reboot my system since the above happened, the Wave volume is slid all the way to the bottom and the volume is Muted??

All help is greatly appreciated...

Well first of all I would input all of the BIOS settings that your memory requires (voltage and timings), then I would start by set all of your settings to default, which is 333 FSB with 8x multi. Keep your CPU voltages at auto, and the NBV to ~ 1.4V or so.
If you still can't boot, then press F8 on boot and go into safe mode.

You don't EVER want to OC using any of these auto settings or in OS overclocking, because it will cause nothing but problems.

[Leeghoofd]

1T on Intel chipset is surely a no go, only Nvidia platforms could do 1T, that's based on all the boards I owned till now...

[Leeghoofd]

Hmmm, seeing as I have had no response to my last post on p63 i'll try to break it down a bit...

I have just updated my system slightly this week to include this Maximus Formula SE board, which is a 1.02g revision. Spec as follows:

Processor: C2D E6550 2.33ghz FSB1333 4mb

Explain to me how you are trying to set 8x multi on a 7 multi CPU, plz read up first all the overclocking guides regarding Conroe and then come back, you will kill something for sure if you just go trial and error...

You bought an enthousiast mobo that has insane voltages to select , also if you leave most settings on auto and push stuff it will overvolt all stuff... plz make sure before you OC that you are well aware what you are doing !!!

Damn multiquote doesn't seem to work on the laptop at work pfffffff

[sdumper]

Nice OC on the Kentsfield Scott

Finally going to cave in and yoink mine out of the DFI and see what this Maximus is all about.

Thanks Cyber this chip is not the greatest but as always the cold helps

[thelawns]

Well first of all I would input all of the BIOS settings that your memory requires (voltage and timings), then I would start by set all of your settings to default, which is 333 FSB with 8x multi. Keep your CPU voltages at auto, and the NBV to ~ 1.4V or so.
If you still can't boot, then press F8 on boot and go into safe mode.

You don't EVER want to OC using any of these auto settings or in OS overclocking, because it will cause nothing but problems.

Thanks for your help... I'll give that a whirl.

Explain to me how you are trying to set 8x multi on a 7 multi CPU, plz read up first all the overclocking guides regarding Conroe and then come back, you will kill something for sure if you just go trial and error...

You bought an enthousiast mobo that has insane voltages to select , also if you leave most settings on auto and push stuff it will overvolt all stuff... plz make sure before you OC that you are well aware what you are doing !!!

Well we live and learn. I think i'll RMA this processor and then be more careful next time... Thanks!

[zsamz_]

1T on Intel chipset is surely a no go, only Nvidia platforms could do 1T, that's based on all the boards I owned till now...

what you talkin about
i did 4-4-4-12-1t @1000mhz with x38-dq6
maximus should do it too

[GAR]

came across something weird, while running OCCT, the fsb voltage and dram ref volttage fluctuate to a really high value, over 1.8 each, this cant be too safe, also windows vista x64 stops responding but occt is still running, after i end process for vista not responding occt is still running stable, anyone else??

EDIT: the volts fluctuate only while using OCCT, prime blend is ok.

[crazyea]

Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 450
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333mhz
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR-1074
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Auto
Ai Clock Twister : Strong
Transaction Booster : Auto

CPU Voltage : 1.60000
CPU PLL Voltage : Auto
North Bridge Voltage : 1.80
DRAM Voltage : 2.25
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.86
South Bridge Voltage : 1.125
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.67x
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.67x
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : Auto
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : Auto
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : Auto
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.6

NB LED Selection : NB Volt
SB LED Selection : SB Volt
CPU LED Selection : CPU VOlt
Voltiminder LED :

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled

Are these the settings on that screen or what the hardware monitor in bios gives after a reboot? Cause if its off as much as mine, I worry what the actual voltages may be......

[cadaveca]

I occasionally enter bios to find FSB has been set to 2.0v, instead of the 1.3 I leave it at. If the setting wasn't RED, I probably wouldn't have noticed, bu I definately know I didn't set ever it that high...but it only seems to happen when I'm pushing the obard past the limit my other boards reach...

[GAR]

came across something weird, while running OCCT, the fsb voltage and dram ref volttage fluctuate to a really high value, over 1.8 each, this cant be too safe, also windows vista x64 stops responding but occt is still running, after i end process for vista not responding occt is still running stable, anyone else??

EDIT: the volts fluctuate only while using OCCT, prime blend is ok.

^^^^ Well, if Prime blend wich uses about 1.7gb's isnt doing i, and OCCT is using 500mb is doing it, its a bit strange........

[binormalkilla]

Thanks for your help... I'll give that a whirl.



Well we live and learn. I think i'll RMA this processor and then be more careful next time... Thanks!

BTW make that 7x multi.....didn't realize your CPU used a 7x. You can only set higher mulitpliers on systems with unlocked multis. It's not the best way to OC even if it is available.
Basically you want to start off by making sure that your system is stable at stock before you start OCing.....i. e. making sure that the OS and driver installs are all correct.

[thelawns]

BTW make that 7x multi.....didn't realize your CPU used a 7x. You can only set higher mulitpliers on systems with unlocked multis. It's not the best way to OC even if it is available.
Basically you want to start off by making sure that your system is stable at stock before you start OCing.....i. e. making sure that the OS and driver installs are all correct.

I already got a telling off from Leeghoofd for doing that!

Have RMA'd my processor so while I wait for the new one to come, i'll have a tinker with this one a bit more carefully!

[cadaveca]

^^^^ Well, if Prime blend wich uses about 1.7gb's isnt doing i, and OCCT is using 500mb is doing it, its a bit strange........

Prime doesn't really monitor volts, but OCCT does. I think the bios is accessible from windows, adjustable from iwndows, and hence alot of teh issues.

[GAR]

Prime doesn't really monitor volts, but OCCT does. I think the bios is accessible from windows, adjustable from iwndows, and hence alot of teh issues.

if it passes memtest, and pases prime blend, should i even care about occt???

[cadaveca]

I say memtest is not useful. I find generally 10mhz less than 24hr memtest, due to chipset. still wondering about that one....but...

prime small FFT for at least 12hrs
Blend for 24hrs

And you'll still get an occasional crash in IE, but only if chipset volts are a bit low.

OCCT does not load up cpu like prime. It also does a varied workload...some of like small fft, some like blend. but is only half-hour, unlesss you run custom test....so useless for me. I need to know the workload teh cpu is under while it crashes to accurately adjust settings in bios, and OCCT does not give this sort of feedback to user, like prime does, and if i want to monitor voltages, I'll stuff a grabber somewhere...

[sonicsallen]

I occasionally enter bios to find FSB has been set to 2.0v, instead of the 1.3 I leave it at. If the setting wasn't RED, I probably wouldn't have noticed, bu I definately know I didn't set ever it that high...but it only seems to happen when I'm pushing the obard past the limit my other boards reach...

It happened to me before. Really scared me. I did not know whether it was really set to 2.0v or just misreading in BIOS. Anyway, after flashing to 0602 or later BIOS, this never happens again.

[cadaveca]

I still get in 0602 occasionally, but yes, not as often. Is almost rnadom, as I do not run much on this board ATM, prime95, cpu-z, coretemp, superPI, taskmanager...occt a few times....i thought maybe opening cpu-z and pcprobe at the same time caused it...but it's hard to catch it and start it at exact same momnet, when same processes are running in start-up...if i wait until fully idle, then nothing happens..

[chocobo15]

running on the 0402 bios, and my Q6600 stresses improperly. Core #4 stays at 100% after i stop the stress test after 2 hours while the other cores drop down to 1-2% load as they should. Core 4 will drop back down only after I restart the computer. Is my chip faulty?

[Leeghoofd]

what you talkin about
i did 4-4-4-12-1t @1000mhz with x38-dq6
maximus should do it too

I'll give 1 T a shot then didn't work on the P5K got a no boot then.... never bothered with Maximus as I thought it was Intel chipset related in general

[binormalkilla]

I already got a telling off from Leeghoofd for doing that!

Have RMA'd my processor so while I wait for the new one to come, i'll have a tinker with this one a bit more carefully!

Why did you have to RMA? How on earth did you change the multiplier in the first place? LAWL

Well my motherboard should be here Friday....can't wait to crack my knuckles on it. I have to install it along with a new PSU and my second 2900xt.


BTW guys if you're wanting to test your memory most accurately I use HCI Memtest. Prime95 blended is good all around test, but you can't use all of your memory. With this app you can actually specify the amount numerically. Touch your heatspreaders after running this for a while and they'll definitely feel warm to the touch.
http://hcidesign.com/memtest/