ASUS Maximus Formula SE

[Croak in BC]

Had to use a 8 pin to 4 pin adaptor just for the extra length it gave me. After flipping my mobo tray to make room for a dual rad on the bottom the 8-pin wouldn't reach without dangling, the 1.5" adaptor let me go behind the motherboard.

That alone raised my Mobo sensor temps from 30-35c to 45-48c, and added a LOT more ripple on the 12v line. Long story short, use the 8 pin if you can. I'm looking for an 8-pin extender now.

Good news is, adding the new 220 to my single 120 loop lets me run 3.6/1.48v actual, with loads never getting above 65c...on a 1.3125 VID B3 that's not too shabby. Gonna work on getting those voltages down more today.

[MonkY]

My NB is on water and it has never seen anything above 45 celcius with room temp about 23-25 celcius. NB was reseated with AS5 using stock Fuzion block. Idle temp is a cool 32 celcius atm

The review from Anandtech on the Maximus reported instability on anything above 47, I think thats a tad off for others have run higher with stability.

I can't believe Maximus NB above 47 Celsius can be considered as instable. Just think about the fact that not everyone has a SE version (with watercooling). For example, i own the Maximus normal version (with no water blocks) and saw the NB getting even at 61 Celsius, fully stable in Prime, Orthos, Memtest, etc... So i guess Anandtech guys are beeing a little exaggerating...

[binormalkilla]

Grnfinger you are the man! I can now POST with DDR2-1015 at 3.8 GHz.......I don't know what's up with these dividers but I hope they get these lined out.

[JoeBar]

For all posting NB (and not only) temps, it's very helpful to provide ambient temp and core voltage. Otherwise it's useless...

[binormalkilla]

For all posting NB (and not only) temps, it's very helpful to provide ambient temp and core voltage. Otherwise it's useless...

I agree. For any temps that I have posted, my ambient has been 67F according to my digital thermometer in my floor heater....

[masterkaj]

Been reading around for a solution to this prob.. maybe you guys can help.

I can run Prime 95 "small FFT"/Memtest86+ for 12 hours each no errors. However, once I start up the blend test in p95 it fails everytime at fft length 896k or 50 minutes into the test. So I started messing around with volts/timings and it still failes at that 50 min mark or if I set it to custom for that fft length.

I know its not my cpu... so I figure its either the timings or voltages for NB/cpu PLL/FSB term volt.

Considering I have loosened the timings quite a bit and it still failes at the same point makes me think one of my voltages are off. Here is what I have tried so far.

NB- 1.59 to 1.63v
CPU PLL- 1.58 to 1.66v
FSB term- 1.3 to 1.54v (It used to fail after 1 min when set to 1.54 so I figure this at least helped me reach the 50 min mark.)

I have active cooling on my NB/SB/ddr (4x1 Muskin 8500 ddr 1199 in bios set at 2.28v, which is 2.32-2.34 in everest)

Temps on NB never raise above 46C
Temps on SB never raise above 37C

All my other settings I use were recommended by anandtech guide. Any ideas?

[Grnfinger]

Been reading around for a solution to this prob.. maybe you guys can help.

I can run Prime 95 "small FFT"/Memtest86+ for 12 hours each no errors. However, once I start up the blend test in p95 it fails everytime at fft length 896k or 50 minutes into the test. So I started messing around with volts/timings and it still failes at that 50 min mark or if I set it to custom for that fft length.

I know its not my cpu... so I figure its either the timings or voltages for NB/cpu PLL/FSB term volt.

Considering I have loosened the timings quite a bit and it still failes at the same point makes me think one of my voltages are off. Here is what I have tried so far.

NB- 1.59 to 1.63v
CPU PLL- 1.58 to 1.66v
FSB term- 1.3 to 1.54v (It used to fail after 1 min when set to 1.54 so I figure this at least helped me reach the 50 min mark.)

I have active cooling on my NB/SB/ddr (4x1 Muskin 8500 ddr 1199 in bios set at 2.28v, which is 2.32-2.34 in everest)

Temps on NB never raise above 46C
Temps on SB never raise above 37C

All my other settings I use were recommended by anandtech guide. Any ideas?

Your NB volts are way high, I run 450x8 and my NB volts are at 1.47 in bios.
I run my ram at 1199 with Trans Booster Enabled Level0 and Clock Twister Strong, (Corsair Dominator) and I only use 2.16volts. 2.28 seems really high to me when this board over volts like mad.
Are you getting an error on the blend test or it bsod?
your processor and settings would be helpfull

[Darkstormz]

Been reading around for a solution to this prob.. maybe you guys can help.

I can run Prime 95 "small FFT"/Memtest86+ for 12 hours each no errors. However, once I start up the blend test in p95 it fails everytime at fft length 896k or 50 minutes into the test. So I started messing around with volts/timings and it still failes at that 50 min mark or if I set it to custom for that fft length.

I know its not my cpu... so I figure its either the timings or voltages for NB/cpu PLL/FSB term volt.

Considering I have loosened the timings quite a bit and it still failes at the same point makes me think one of my voltages are off. Here is what I have tried so far.

NB- 1.59 to 1.63v
CPU PLL- 1.58 to 1.66v
FSB term- 1.3 to 1.54v (It used to fail after 1 min when set to 1.54 so I figure this at least helped me reach the 50 min mark.)

I have active cooling on my NB/SB/ddr (4x1 Muskin 8500 ddr 1199 in bios set at 2.28v, which is 2.32-2.34 in everest)

Temps on NB never raise above 46C
Temps on SB never raise above 37C

All my other settings I use were recommended by anandtech guide. Any ideas?

I´ve got exactly the same problems. I can run Prime95 @ 3.6GHz 1.32vcore Small FFT. But if I wanna run Blend I have to use around 1.34-135vcore.
Tried messing around with clock twister and CPU PLL etc but nothing seems to help...
Running 4x1GB Crucial BallistiX.

[masterkaj]

Yeah, I have just been told from a few people to use between 1.59-1.61 NB volts.. I'll go mess around with that now.

It just gives me an error... no BSOD

This memory is rated to run between 2.2-2.35. After overvolts it runs at 2.32-2.34v (I just put the corsair coolers on it, thinking about taking it off though)

CPU Feature
Ai Overclock Tuner [Manual]
OC From CPU Level Up [Auto]
CPU Ratio Control [Manual]
Ratio CMOS Setting: [7]
FSB Frequency [450]
FSB Strap to North Bridge [400MHz]
PCIE Frequency [101]
DRAM Settings
DRAM Frequency [DDR2-1199MHZ]
DRAM Command Rate [2T]
DRAM Timing Control [Manual]
CAS# Latency [5]
RAS# to CAS Delay [5]
RAS# Precharge [4]
RAS# Active Time [12]
RAS# To Ras# Delay [3]
Row Refresh Cycle Time [42]
Write Recovery Time [6]
Read To Precharge Time [3]
Read To Write Delay(S/D) [8]
Write To Read Delay(S) [3]
Write To Read Delay(D) [5]
Read To Read Delay(S) [4]
Read To Read Delay(D) [6]
Write To Write Delay(S) [4]
Write To Write Delay(D) [6]
DRAM Static Read Control [Disabled]
Ai Clock Twister [Strong]
Transaction Booster [Enabled]
Boost Level [0]
Voltage Settings
CPU Voltage [1.28(bios) 1.26 in cpuz]
CPU PLL Voltage [1.6]
North Bridge Voltage [1.61v]
DRAM Voltage [2.28v]
FSB Termination Voltage [1.3v]
South Bridge Voltage [Auto]
Loadline Calibration [Enabled]
CPU GTL Reference [0.63x]
North Bridge GTL Reference [0.67x]
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage [Auto]
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage [Auto]
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage [DDR2_REF]
SB 1.5V Voltage [Auto]

[masterkaj]

Just set NB volt to 1.47v and its running fine atm through the standard "blend" test... but haven't gotten to the 896k part yet.

When I set to 896k it fails within 1-2 tests (1-2 minutes) stating

FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
[Tue Jan 01 14:51:49 2008]
FATAL ERROR: Resulting sum was -5.268003728049577e+019, expected: 9285771663272598
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
[Tue Jan 01 14:59:40 2008]
FATAL ERROR: Resulting sum was -7.112784694382475e+020, expected: 2.577967222013199e+016
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.

Different errors, same test.

[JoeBar]

Your NB volts are way high, I run 450x8 and my NB volts are at 1.47 in bios.
I run my ram at 1199 with Trans Booster Enabled Level0 and Clock Twister Strong, (Corsair Dominator) and I only use 2.16volts. 2.28 seems really high to me when this board over volts like mad.
Are you getting an error on the blend test or it bsod?
your processor and settings would be helpfull

I see ppl running low volts on NB but this isn't the case for me. I run @ 3.72ghz (465mhz x 8) with mem @ 1240mhz 5-5-5-12 (2.3v) and NB volt set @ 1.71v. I've tried 1.51v and 1.61v and both are unstable. Haven't tried between 1.61v and 1.71v.

I have and mcw30 on NB so i don't mind about temps. Under the heaviest circumstances i get 40'C.

[Grnfinger]

Just set NB volt to 1.47v and its running fine atm through the standard "blend" test... but haven't gotten to the 896k part yet.

When I set to 896k it fails within 1-2 tests (1-2 minutes) stating

FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
[Tue Jan 01 14:51:49 2008]
FATAL ERROR: Resulting sum was -5.268003728049577e+019, expected: 9285771663272598
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
[Tue Jan 01 14:59:40 2008]
FATAL ERROR: Resulting sum was -7.112784694382475e+020, expected: 2.577967222013199e+016
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.

Different errors, same test.

What CPU do you have?


Give this a shot if prime fails again

CPU Voltage : whatever you need
CPU PLL Voltage : AUTO
North Bridge Voltage : 1.47
DRAM Voltage : 2.16
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.40
South Bridge Voltage : 1.050
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.63x
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.67x
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : DDR2-REFF
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.5

[masterkaj]

Sorry lol... most basic info.

Q6600 G0 stepping.

Why the 7 multi for the bandwidth?

If prime fails try those settings and see what happens
I run that setup currently for 450x8 and prime runs 12 hours no errors

Temps seem to get a bit high... running with a ultima-90 120mm fan. What temp should be my max. temp under load?

Still thinking about lapping my HS/IHS, little uneasy though because I have never done it before.

I just tried those settings.. still failed that 896k test within 1 minute.

[Grnfinger]

Why the 7 multi for the bandwidth?

If prime fails try those settings and see what happens
I run that setup currently for 450x8 and prime runs 12 hours no errors

[masterkaj]

To post with 8x mult @ 3.6ghz i need to put the cpu volt up to 1.45-1.5 volts.

Temps get too high at the moment... I need to lap my hs/ihs to keep temps around 60C... at the moment only 2 of the 4 cores stay around 60-64C the other two are 5C higher.

Think I figured out that 896k thing... it seems that I just needed to up my cpu volts from 1.28 to 1.32v, ill probably keep lowering it until it fails the test and bump it up a step above that.

Weird that I pass the small tft test for 12 hours at 1.28v, but need 1.32 or less to pass parts of the blend test.

[ReZ_]

Think I figured out that 896k thing... it seems that I just needed to up my cpu volts from 1.28 to 1.32v, ill probably keep lowering it until it fails the test and bump it up a step above that.

I had the same exact error with prime95. I could prime everything but not 896k........... very strange. Did anybody else have this problem? My solution was the same though; up the vcore.

I'm running 1.46vcore now, but i guess that's par, for a 60% overclock.

I'd still like to know what's up with the 896k "weakness" !!

[CERO]

I know this is already been adressed but I never thought it will occure at "low volts", the prob is regardless FSB I put, as soon I put in BIOS any value higher then 1.4000v Prime95 under Small FFts wont run 99%( anything lower it would, lucky that my Q6600 @ 3.825ghz is stable @ 1.400 BIOS set and it will load 99%, but anything higher then 1.4000 BIOS set, it will load 87% and the rest goes to system. I found out while I was testing for 445x9 ( 4.01ghz....., to confirm this that it isnt FSB related I tried 400x9 and put 1.450 BIOS , also the same prob)
However If I run Blend however it will use 99% of the cpu usage assigned to Prime.....
Could be the BIOS or I got a Dudd board ?, I am on 0802.

[masterkaj]

So blend test is running fine at 1.32 cpu volts now.

New problem.

When I run geoforms and the blend test at the same time my system reboots.

I didn't have this prob last night when my NB/FSBtm was set higher last night.. other than the 896k prob.

Settings are
CPUPLL-Auto
NB-1.47v
FSBtermv-1.4v
SB- 1.1v

It ran fine with 1.3v FSBtermv last night.... thinking its just the NB volts.

[ReZ_]

So blend test is running fine at 1.32 cpu volts now.

Settings are
CPUPLL-Auto
NB-1.47v
FSBtermv-1.4v
SB- 1.1v

Are you still on that 7x multi? Do you want to get ahead? Here's my advice: Up all voltages to high but tolerable levels. Make sure you check the BIOS voltage readings, they are in the Hardware Monitor. The settings you select are different from the actual final voltages.
up vcore to 1.45v, at least.
up FSBtm to 1.55v
up NB 1.66v
up RAM 2.2v
THEN put a 9x400. prime it occt it. If you run them 1hr each without failure, up the FSB again, to say 410, 420 if you feel lucky!

Use Everest and keep an eye on your temps. Here are some maximums i recommend: cpu's hottest core : 80c, nb: 57c

Check voltages also, if unsure, stay away from RED values in bios.

hope it helps, let us know

if all is well and you are happy with the results, drop voltages one by one, 2-3 steps at a time until you crash. Revert and fine-tune to last stable setting.

I will post my bios settings once i've finished my OCCT session.

[loften]

how reliable is using the ez flash tool? i am still on 401 and was thinking about updating my bios.

[ReZ_]

how reliable is using the ez flash tool? i am still on 401 and was thinking about updating my bios.

never used it, i use asusupdate

you'll probably have to reinstall windows like i did; problems with reboots and anomalies. That was from jumping from 0903 to 0907.... you are updating from 0401

[binormalkilla]

Been reading around for a solution to this prob.. maybe you guys can help.

I can run Prime 95 "small FFT"/Memtest86+ for 12 hours each no errors. However, once I start up the blend test in p95 it fails everytime at fft length 896k or 50 minutes into the test. So I started messing around with volts/timings and it still failes at that 50 min mark or if I set it to custom for that fft length.

I know its not my cpu... so I figure its either the timings or voltages for NB/cpu PLL/FSB term volt.

Considering I have loosened the timings quite a bit and it still failes at the same point makes me think one of my voltages are off. Here is what I have tried so far.

NB- 1.59 to 1.63v
CPU PLL- 1.58 to 1.66v
FSB term- 1.3 to 1.54v (It used to fail after 1 min when set to 1.54 so I figure this at least helped me reach the 50 min mark.)

I have active cooling on my NB/SB/ddr (4x1 Muskin 8500 ddr 1199 in bios set at 2.28v, which is 2.32-2.34 in everest)

Temps on NB never raise above 46C
Temps on SB never raise above 37C

All my other settings I use were recommended by anandtech guide. Any ideas?

Well first of all I would throw that Memtest86 bootable disk in the trash, as it's pretty much worthless for testing memory OCs. It's really for testing defective memory, as only the most huge errors are detected. I had a set of DDR memory that would pass Memtest86 for 8 hours, but it would fail HCI Windows memtest in 30s. Use this:
http://hcidesign.com/memtest/
It works in Vista as well.
BTW if yo're running that much voltage it's most likely overkill.....also make sure that your NB temps are below 50C when running memory tests, as this is known to cause OC instability. I have a 120mm fan pointed toward that area of my board:

[ReZ_]

also make sure that your NB temps are below 50C when running memory tests, as this is known to cause OC instability

Do you have proof of this? I've ran mine stable at 60c (cut the water off!!), for a little while, then i've rerouted the water back on. During this, OCCT was running, but failed alot later, when my NB temps were back to normal...
Turns out the instability had nothing to do with the temp too.

I've read the Anandtech comment about 47c max temp... If I remember correctly, that same 47c was said to be IDLE, not a load temp...

I'm stable at 53c now, and have heard of hotter, stable NB temps.

[masterkaj]

Well first of all I would throw that Memtest86 bootable disk in the trash, as it's pretty much worthless for testing memory OCs. It's really for testing defective memory, as only the most huge errors are detected. I had a set of DDR memory that would pass Memtest86 for 8 hours, but it would fail HCI Windows memtest in 30s. Use this:
http://hcidesign.com/memtest/
It works in Vista as well.
BTW if yo're running that much voltage it's most likely overkill.....also make sure that your NB temps are below 50C when running memory tests, as this is known to cause OC instability. I have a 120mm fan pointed toward that area of my board:

Is this anyway better than using everest memory tester/blend test/OCCT memory test?

What amount should I set the memory for in that test? I have 4096.

[safan80]

here's some benchs with my new wd 500GB re2 drives in raid 10. 6 of them.