ASUS Maximus Formula SE

[icon57]

Check CPU-z, there is a tab that shows you the PCI-e link speed, should be 16x. I know on my P5B-e, it would go to 2x until I up'd I think the NB voltage.

really? ok i will check it.....but why would it run at 2x until the NB volts are raised? shouldnt it run at 16x at stock volts?

[icon57]

says 16x in cpu-z
just ran 3d05 and got another crappy score 5708
whats going on???

[safan80]

I had some trouble with my WC. The trouble was that the capacitators north of the CPU socket. I had to bend them a little upwards to fit my cpublock. Maybe its worth a try ?

lol you don't have to bend anything to fit a waterblock on this board. T2k just needs to get with the times and get a D-tek. the storm is not good for quads.

[Darkstormz]

lol you don't have to bend anything to fit a waterblock. T2k just needs to get with the times and get a D-tek. the storm is not good for quads.

Oh well ok I didnt mean bend. I just pushed them about 1mm upwards because my waterblock was too big to make 100% contact with the CPU without pushing the capacitators.
And I didnt know Storm was bad for quads. But now I now

[T2k]

lol you don't have to bend anything to fit a waterblock.

Except when you have to...

T2k just needs to get with the times and get a D-tek.

Or perhaps just remove some compound...?

the storm is not good for quads.

Jesus, what kind of an uneducated urban legend BS is this... since when "storm is not good for quads"? BTW since when Storm knows which CPU it is on...?

[T2k]

And I didnt know Storm was bad for quads. But now I now

Yeah, sure.

[MoogyMonster]

Anyone have any ideas? From my previous post...

Wow. This makes NO sense. I just lowered my CPU voltage to 1.48, and the PLL to 1.5, and it didn't change the temp at all - it's still 54C at idle @ 3.6GHz and 28C at idle @ 2.4GHz.

Temps are confirmed by Core and Speedfan.

I'm running BIOS 901. Is it possible the BIOS temps are off by 10-15C for the OC?

[safan80]

Jesus, what kind of an uneducated urban legend BS is this... since when "storm is not good for quads"? BTW since when Storm knows which CPU it is on...?

there are many threads on it go look.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...torm+quad+core

the surface area of the storm is the difference.

[DeViTTo]

Oh I forgot to mention this, after changing to 602, my CPU temp looks normal but the NB, SB, DRAM voltages are ridiculously high for some reasons. Do you have the same problem?

No I dont my volts in windows via asus probe not accurate but.

vcore 1.47
NB 1.63
memory is 2.10 in bios 2.16 in probe
SB 1.06

Temps are
cpu 43
mb36
nb 47
sb 43

on load with OCCT hit 60 +

Try setting 450 x 8 and 400mhz strap @1200
just set volts for mem at 2.10v leave others auto
but change loadline enabled
Should be fine from there on in @3.6 on air or water
Try it and see good luck

[Talonman]

I think you'll find they won't fit mate. They are the Type 1 versions and the same as the ones I had. Its definately the Type 2 versions you need but as I have already said I can't get them in the UK. I have since refitted the original Asus mosfet cooler and its running cooler than it was before anyway! I can only assume this is because the rest of the board is better cooled and the mosfets aren't linked up to the NB via the heatpipe...

Ouch!!

Thanks for the info.

What did you use to remount the stock sinks with? Thurmal pads?

[T2k]

there are many threads on it go look.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...torm+quad+core

the surface area of the storm is the difference.

Uhhh are you aware that was an original Storm, not a v2...?

[safan80]

Uhhh are you aware that was an original Storm, not a v2...?

I have a rev2 storm there's not much difference, if you want to keep on using it that's your choice. The information about the D-tek vs the storm is on this forum you can do a search yourself.

[T2k]

I have a rev2 storm there's not much difference, if you want to keep on using it that's your choice. The information about the D-tek vs the storm is on this forum you can do a search yourself.

I DID ask others before I decided to hold on my v2 - most people said the difference is rather subtle, in the single-digit Celsius range which is nothing compared to the problems I am having right now. My current CPU temp is WORSE than it was WITH STOCK AIR COOLING which is clearly not about Storm v2 vs Fuzion, don't you think?
Other than some bored or extreme OC'er noone gives a about 6-8C extra, I think.

PS: my main reason many years ago for going WC was to get a silent machine AND great OC performance.

[safan80]

I My current CPU temp is WORSE than it was WITH STOCK AIR COOLING which is clearly not about Storm v2 vs Fuzion, don't you think?

have you taken the storm apart and cleaned it?
take a picture of your setup.

[T2k]

have you taken the storm apart and cleaned it?

No. Should I? Only 2-3 weeks ago my old Opteron setup was running fine at ~3.0GHz...

take a picture of your setup.

First I have to find my XT for that...

[chocobo15]

i had a temp problem with my waterblock as well. I got the swiftech h20 220 ultra kit and i pulled off the mobo and seated the waterblocked and looked at it from 360 degrees to make sure the copper plate was actually in full contact with the processor.

I then applied thermal grease, and seated the waterblock again and securely mounted it to the mobo before mounting the mobo back into the case.

Before, i was seeing 80*C with water cooling which was ridiculous. I pulled everything off, cleaned the old thermal grease, did the aforementioned procedure, and now i'm running a cool 40*C on a 9x400 OC profile.

While under prime95 or everest, temps will go up to mid 60's to low 70's while at 100% load.

hope that helps some people

[MoogyMonster]

I think the grease is fine on my system given my ambient temp (in the office) is 80-81F and at idle I'm ~32C @ 2.4GHz. When it's cooler (in the mid 70's) the idle temp is ~28C.

AFAIK that's what it should be; would you agree?

What doesn't make sense is the massive spike and the fact that I had the same (above) mentioned Idle temps with my 680i, yet when I was @ 3.6GHz my idle was, perhaps 48C. With this board, it's ~56C - nearly 10C higher...

BTW what's the safe max operating temp for my 3060? Anyone know?

[DMight]

Hi all, I've posted a very little here about my Maximus Formula woes and it turns out it may not be the Maximus at all.

3 Video Cards and 2 Maximus Formulas have all had the same problem, so that narrowed it down the RAM and the power supply. I took out one of my 2GB G.Skill pc2-8000 sticks and viola, the system is stable again. So, it appears it was a RAM issue all along.

I see that many here on the forums are running the new G.Skill 4GB 2x2 kit without issues. What's the best test to see if this Ram is really bad? Am I simply missing some setting in the BIOS that will fix this problem without an RMA? Am I better off with another brand? The ASUS QVL list is pretty restrictive...and pretty expensive. I'd hoped to use 2x2048 so that I can expand in the future.

Thanks for the assistance.

Intel Q6600 G0
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme
Maximus Formula BIOS 901
G.Skill DDR2-1000 2048x2
Thermaltake ToughPower 700W
BFG 8800GT OC

[kimandsally]

Jesus, what kind of an uneducated urban legend BS is this... since when "storm is not good for quads"? BTW since when Storm knows which CPU it is on...?

Of course the Storm doesn't know, it was designed when single core processors were the norm it is an impingement design where all the cooling is directed at where the single core would be, so on a quad a core of 2 cpu's is not having and coolant put over it so therefore 2 cores run much higher temps than the other.

Also it doesn't work properly on a dual core cpu for the same reason.

[ElEctric_EyE]

Hi all, I've posted a very little here about my Maximus Formula woes and it turns out it may not be the Maximus at all.

3 Video Cards and 2 Maximus Formulas have all had the same problem, so that narrowed it down the RAM and the power supply. I took out one of my 2GB G.Skill pc2-8000 sticks and viola, the system is stable again. So, it appears it was a RAM issue all along.

I see that many here on the forums are running the new G.Skill 4GB 2x2 kit without issues. What's the best test to see if this Ram is really bad? Am I simply missing some setting in the BIOS that will fix this problem without an RMA? Am I better off with another brand? The ASUS QVL list is pretty restrictive...and pretty expensive. I'd hoped to use 2x2048 so that I can expand in the future.

Thanks for the assistance.

Intel Q6600 G0
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme
Maximus Formula BIOS 901
G.Skill DDR2-1000 2048x2
Thermaltake ToughPower 700W
BFG 8800GT OC

I have read 0 complaints about Corsair PC8500. They perform well for me also with FSB very close to 1800FSB w/1.9V. I paid $220 for 2 sticks of 1GB each. Price is down to $160 (@Newegg) now, 2 months later!

[ElEctric_EyE]

Any thoughts on how to make this stable. I'm on the verge here. Boots up fine and sometimes will be OCCT stable after 1 test, sometimes itll reboot, sometimes BSOD. Anyone have some advice? So far just testing CPU..

[jonny_ftm]

Finally had time to put my WC on... and I'm pissed: board is bending but it's still overheating (~90C) in idle if I give it ~1.5V... obviously the Storm somehow doesn't work.... what should be the normal idle temperature at stock speed?
I got some ridiculous, 50+ Celsius with water...

I fully agree with what was told to you
- The Storm s**ks with quads, take it or leave it, it is a fact. The difference won't be 20°C though, of course, but it could be, depending on your setup, up to 10°C. remember, most tests used a 150W heat output. A high overclocked Q6600 will reach 220-240W... The new GTX for example was optimized for quad core CPUs

- Your Eheim 1048 is a low end competitor for the LPDC circuit you have. Coupled with your restrictive Storm WB and very restrictive BlackIce Pro, plus a MCW30 and MCW60 like it or not, you have a rather low-mid range WB circuit. Only high end watercooling can outperform high end air cooling. Even your two Eiheim in series won't make it. You'll rather need two MCP655 in series

- Finally, your BlackIce Pro will never handle massive OC, even with two Eiheim in serial, from a Q6600, MCW30 and MCW60

Many people here, with a MCP655 pump, and a PA120.3 fight with heat above 3.6GHz, so don't expect a miracle from your watercooling unless you change the pumps and the WB

Finally, suerely reseating can give you some headroom if the problem is there

I think you'll find they won't fit mate. They are the Type 1 versions and the same as the ones I had. Its definately the Type 2 versions you need but as I have already said I can't get them in the UK. I have since refitted the original Asus mosfet cooler and its running cooler than it was before anyway! I can only assume this is because the rest of the board is better cooled and the mosfets aren't linked up to the NB via the heatpipe...

Here's where you can order type 2:
http://www.pc-cooling.de/VGA-Chipset...9S+Type+2.html

They are in stock and they ship in Europe

[thelawns]

Here's where you can order type 2:
http://www.pc-cooling.de/VGA-Chipset...9S+Type+2.html

They are in stock and they ship in Europe

Thanks... I'm not taking this thing apart again to fit them now though to be honest. I'm happy with the results I have so far!

[newls1]

I will be getting this board soon, and was HOPING someone can answer just 2 Q's for me...... What does "OC FROM CPU LEVEL UP" mean? and "FSB STRAP TO NB" where to set this if your only aiming for a 430FSB using PC8500 ballistix ram. Many thanks....

[WFO]

Any thoughts on how to make this stable. I'm on the verge here. Boots up fine and sometimes will be OCCT stable after 1 test, sometimes itll reboot, sometimes BSOD. Anyone have some advice? So far just testing CPU..

I'd start by comparing your setting to Renegade's.

Extreme Tweaker 
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 : 400
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2- 1199
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual 
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay : Auto
Row Refresh Cycle Time : Auto
Write Recovery Time : Auto
Read to Precharge Time : Auto

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : Auto
Write to Read Delay (S) : Auto
Write to Read Delay (D) : Auto
Read to Read Delay (S) : Auto
Read to Read Delay (D) : Auto
Write to Write Delay (S) : Auto
Write to Write Delay (D) : Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
Ai Clock Twister : Strong
Transaction Booster : Disabled
Relax: 0

CPU Voltage : Set to 1.57 for 1.54 Real
CPU PLL Voltage : Set to 1.6 for 1.71 Real
North Bridge Voltage : Set to 1.55 for 1.57 Real
DRAM Voltage : Set to 2.22 for 2.32 Real
FSB Termination Voltage : Set to 1.53 (?) for 1.55 Real
South Bridge Voltage : Set to 1.1 for 1.12 Real
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : Auto
North Bridge GTL Reference : Auto
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : DDR2_REF
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : DDR2_REF
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : DDR2_REF
SB 1.5V Voltage : Set to 1.5 for 1.55 Real

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 
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled 
Execute Disable Bit : Enabled 
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled 


USB Configuration 
USB Functions: Enabled 
Legacy USB Support : Disabled

Yes, first I ran it set to CPU to max out temps and get an idea where the CPU was stable. Then ran it on "blend" (the middle setting) to get an idea of where the NB volts should be. Finally ran it on RAM to really stress the NB<=>RAM and this yielded a reboot. This is how I knew I needed more NB volts. Ended up at 1.57 Real (1.55 BIOS). Requested BIOS settings above.

2nd, based on other's reports in this thread, reseating the fusion block and adding water will provide much better stability with over 10C drops in NB temp. There are also plenty of links to the TR heat sinks in this thread if you must stay on air.