The Maximus Formula Thread - Help/OCing/Guide/Rampage conversion

[TheSamurai]

602 and 802 are not very good choices for 45nm.
I have tested all the bios on an E8400 and so far I can say 907 is the best choice for 84/8500

oops, i'm still using the outdated Q6600...

[zlojack]

Odd, I always found best OC stability with 2 sticks v/s 4 if for the same RAM amount. Although if needing 4G total, then you'd be better with 3 only cause of the timing options for 2g single modules. But if 2 g total, then 2x1 is far more stable and less load on MCH and chipset then 4x512 even if timings were the same.

I've just found that I can't get my 2x2 to clock as high as the 4x1 setups with a high FSB

Although I'm not complaining too hard about 1000 MHz

[iadstudio]

yeah, but my guess is you are RAM limited, not fsb limited with 2x 2gb

[zlojack]

Could be.

I've seen this same RAM run at 2:3 on 367 FSB at 1100 MHz 1.9v on 5-5-5-12 *trfc 53 (in Eldonko's review at Hardwarecanucks.com)

But when I try for a different divider and a higher FSB, I don't have much luck.

[Sources]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/...on/page27.html

LoL at anyone who waited for an X48 mobo which was no better than the x38's

[Tony]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/...on/page27.html

LoL at anyone who waited for an X48 mobo which was no better than the x38's

All that showed me is toms have no real idea about what X48 is all about....

its NOT about doing higher fsb...its ALL about a much improved MCH with the ability to run ram at higher clocks and the ability to run tRD at a tighter clock with lower voltage.

[cadaveca]

lol. They must think INtel is AMD...

and I really need a proper bios so I can retire my Microns...

[Sources]

All that showed me is toms have no real idea about what X48 is all about....

its NOT about doing higher fsb...its ALL about a much improved MCH with the ability to run ram at higher clocks and the ability to run tRD at a tighter clock with lower voltage.

But a whole new platform for what will be minimal results in return.. from what I see. Seems a waste if you where to upgrade from an x38 to an x48. Possibly for anyone with older boards, but even then the price / performance is not even in the ball park. For the price of the x48 boards and DDR3 (which is falling but not fast enough). I cant see wasting the money. x38 is the better way to go.

Edit: thankfully the CPU package is the same

[jnick]

I'm thinking about jumping to water very soon. I've been eyeing it for about 2 years now, and am thinking about making the jump rather soon.

My question is, do you think I should watercool the NB? Right now, I'm planning on CPU and GPU. If I go NB, it will run me another 80-90$, of which It's already up to $350 before shipping/tax.

Or should I just reseat with thermal paste and run it passively (or run it with the little fan it comes with)?

[Tony]

x48 will show that DRR3 is the way forward for ultra performance, the issue as you mentioned is ram cost and the added cost for x48 its self.

DDR2 is also moving to an new era now, higher density, cheap IC's and good clocking at low voltage...the issue is how long with people still make good intel DDr2 boards with Intel pushing them to adopt DDr3

[Nuckin_Futs]

But a whole new platform for what will be minimal results in return.. from what I see. Seems a waste if you where to upgrade from an x38 to an x48. Possibly for anyone with older boards, but even then the price / performance is not even in the ball park. For the price of the x48 boards and DDR3 (which is falling but not fast enough). I cant see wasting the money. x38 is the better way to go.

Edit: thankfully the CPU package is the same

If you're comparing X48 on DDR2 9very few choices) then of corse it's not worth it since X48 is times to better optmize DDR3. So if only thinking of sticking to DDR2 then you'd be just as good with current X38 for the rest fo the DDR2 lif span. However, current X48 doesn't really bring a whole lot to the table yet but it is growing. I believe it is more for the folks that need to see the "QUOTED" 1600FSB of 45nm ready and all that that our X38 has done since new. I dont even think current X48 is ECC RAM compliant. Not that any of us are gonna OC a server. I would hold off on X48 till you're ready for DDR3 as prices come down.

[jnick]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...postcount=1780

^^ Eh...Opinions? Suggestions? Temps to hot?!

[Nhawk]

Because I don't use my PC 99% of the time, so I keep it in Suspend and wake it up via my router when needed (if I'm remote). My PC eats 240W when idle, not to mention collecting dust and wearing out fans and HD motors.

Just curious to know; Why would you care about suspend modes on a stationary PC?
I always turn all that powersaving nonsense off.

[Jagged]

Whats the safe voltage/temp for NB & SB (Max Formula), mine sometime hits 55c & 48 ~ 50c for SB.

Thanks

[Kondik]

Whats the safe voltage/temp for NB & SB (Max Formula), mine sometime hits 55c & 48 ~ 50c for SB.

Thanks

With defalut heatsinks ? Really don't know i took down ASUS stock cooling and bought a couple of Thermalrights for NB , SB and Mosfets and temps are 42 - 44 at max. But the defalut yes i think 50 + is possible.

About voltage well i have + 0.1V increased on NB because of 4 2GB Modules so it's stable. The SB .. i let it at 1.05V and it's fine but i thik max on NB and SB with Stock cooling will be lower than with normal cooling. 1.5V NB and 1.15V on SB and i think you can fry on those funky asus Heatsinks

[M-XXXX]

Im geting dry ice this week and I still dont know max voltages for CPU PLL Voltage and FSB Termination Voltage

[ante_ante]

Is it hard to remove the big passive NB cooler to replace with a waterblock ??

[M-XXXX]

Is it hard to remove the big passive NB cooler to replace with a waterblock ??

No but you have to have SB cooler too!

[Sources]

Is it hard to remove the big passive NB cooler to replace with a waterblock ??

I was told to use a hair dryer and it only took about 3 minutes to get hot enough to remove. It worked perfect. Just blow it directly on the NB and SB, once the heat sinks come off, keep heating the chip to get the thermal paste off, it hardens very quickly so keep heat on it and wipe it with a cloth wet with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol.

Note the SB will come off a lot faster and easier than the NB.

[kup]

450FSB Quad-Core BIOS Settings
CPU Feature
Ai Overclock Tuner [Manual]
OC From CPU Level Up [Auto]
CPU Ratio Control [Manual]
Ratio CMOS Setting: [8]
FSB Frequency [463]
FSB Strap to North Bridge [400MHz]
PCIE Frequency [100]
DRAM Settings
DRAM Frequency [926MHz]
DRAM Command Rate [2T]
DRAM Timing Control [Manual]
CAS# Latency [4]
RAS# to CAS Delay [4]
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 [1.5v]
CPU PLL Voltage [Auto]
North Bridge Voltage [1.61v]
DRAM Voltage [2.16v]
FSB Termination Voltage [1.54v]
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]

Running these settings My performance level is being set to 9, is that right? The system is rock solid stable again, using bios 0505 again... I knew I'd go back to it at some point!

[CyberSeb.fr]

hello !!

do you know if Xeon 3220 and 3230 are compatible with this motherboard ???

thx

[leoftw]

hey guys. I haven't checked in , in a minute.

Those who went from a Q6600 to a E8400 was there a slight drop or boost in performance. I mostly play video games on my PC (Team Fortress, COD4, and some other games) . What would be better for me on this board. A Q6600 or a E8400 ?

[Titus]

is lan1 or lan2 better to use?

is this the place to download the latest LAN drivers for this board?

http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverSearchResults.do

**I'm assuming the Windows XP/2003 x86 Driver (32-bit) for Yukon Devices v10.53.2.3 is the right one?

[zlojack]

hey guys. I haven't checked in , in a minute.

Those who went from a Q6600 to a E8400 was there a slight drop or boost in performance. I mostly play video games on my PC (Team Fortress, COD4, and some other games) . What would be better for me on this board. A Q6600 or a E8400 ?

Depends.

I was running my Q6600 at 3.6 GHz and I can say I didn't see much difference either way.

However, with the Q6600, Vista "felt" snappier. No scientific data to back that up though...

TBH, for gaming and regular use, the difference is hardly notable. I'd say keep your quad and try for 3.6 GHz

[KALISPIMENTA]

is lan1 or lan2 better to use?

is this the place to download the latest LAN drivers for this board?

http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverSearchResults.do

**I'm assuming the Windows XP/2003 x86 Driver (32-bit) for Yukon Devices v10.53.2.3 is the right one?

Windows update should supply you with the latest driver,it did for me