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

[wreckwriter]

If you are using g. skill ram this is a good beginners guide
here

That's what I used to get my RAM to 1066 but it does only RAM settings.

[Skyguy]

Just so you know, if only one HDD connected the Intel ICHxR in RAID or AHCI enabled, you will NOT see any list of drives during POST. This is noraml and has been. BIOS can only see 2 or more HDD's connected to the hub. A single is or will be there, it is just not displayed in POST.

You must however leave the Intel RAID driver installed after you converted your OS to single disc in RAID ready mode. Were you coming from a 0 back to non RAID sinle or from 1?
How did you convert your RAID to single? Windows based or DOS?

But if you cannot boot to XP even as IDE mode off Intel SATA ICHxR, then something else went wrong during conversion.

I can't remember if I installed the OS on the RAID first or the single drive. It *might* have been the RAID...?

Is there some order of operations that I should be doing in order to get Vista working with a single drive to work, and then a RAID??? In case I want to remove the RAID later, I'd like to be able to use a single drive obviously.

[wreckwriter]

I have never had an issue with 1004 and it can be reverted using Asus Update or the proper version of AFUDOS

1004 offers a higher trfc options so 4GB users will benifit and its very 45nm friendly

I think I'll give 1004 a shot tomorrow. Thanks for all your time.

[wreckwriter]

someone can tell me what temps you have in NB, SB, FSB

CPU- 29-31
NB- 28-30
SB- 31-32

[trt740]

This is running a E8400

from memory I think it was.....

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 500
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1200
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 18
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 45
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 : moderate
Transaction Booster : Disabled
Relax level: 0

CPU Voltage : 1.475
CPU PLL Voltage : AUTO
North Bridge Voltage : 1.53
DRAM Voltage : 2.12
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


hope it helps

All it appears need changed really from what I had was the AI twister. Why would that matter so much from strong to meduim. Also ive seen a program that cptures bios setting in windows anyone remember that program and where to download it?

[trt740]

All it appears need changed really from what I had was the AI twister. Why would that matter so much from strong to meduim.

we need a thread with nothing but the chips and settings listings Fsb, voltage ,bios settings etc... Then make this a discussion thread.

[icecpu]

Ok mission accomplished for me
Eliminated DET DRAM hang permanantly
I had turn off/on pc and restart them 5 times a day in the last 4 days and No More DET Dram hang.

One simple setting : Northbridge core at v1.63

[Nuckin_Futs]

I have never had an issue with 1004 and it can be reverted using Asus Update or the proper version of AFUDOS

How do you make a CF or Pro stick Dou bootable to use? THe tick box for MS Bootable is not selectable for external USB memory stick. I want to use the Afudos but recent ROM files are too big for floppy.

oh ja, what happened to the ASUS FTP server site, it ask for log in now? Any new links?

I can't remember if I installed the OS on the RAID first or the single drive. It *might* have been the RAID...?

Is there some order of operations that I should be doing in order to get Vista working with a single drive to work, and then a RAID??? In case I want to remove the RAID later, I'd like to be able to use a single drive obviously.

For VISTA, nothing speciall really, since the ioStor driver is already integrated into Vista and if you want you can still F6 & direct to newest driver (ioStor v7.8.0.1012) from USB or HDD, as long as RAID is selected in BIOS. This is better since you will often end up updating anywayz.

[golfjam]

adjust your settings, I only use the 333 strap and run my ram rock solid at 1175MHz.

Post your current settings and we can see where adjustments need to be made

Thank you for the reply. It was a bad stick. So much for the "Dominator" name. My system is rock stable again.

[ElEctric_EyE]

So easy to trash a name. Try wearing a ground strap handling your silicon. Corsair has gotten me to 1253. Tested for 1066

[ElEctric_EyE]

oh ja, what happened to the ASUS FTP server site, it ask for log in now? Any new links?

Lose the TW in the link...

[dimsdale]

Greetings. I just built a rig with a Maximus Formula, QX9650, and 8 GB G.Skill 8500.

So far, I can get prime95 stable at 3.6 GHz at VCORE of 1.26, but 3.85 GHz is just not happening!

My settings for 3.6 GHz are 400 FSB, 9X multipler, Load Line Calibration enabled, DRAM at 2.00V. Everything else auto (except VCORE). Full load temps are about 63*C with a Thermalright 120 extreme and AS5.

But I'm having a nasty time trying to get prime stable at 3.85 GHz. When I was working on this last night, I was applying VCORE around 1.40+, getting load temps of 70*C, and still wasn't fully prime95 stable.

I thought I could get a QX9650 to 3.85 on a MF with far less VCORE than that.

Can anyone suggest some settings or tell me what major mistake I'm making?

Thanks!

[XtremeTiramisu]

Ok mission accomplished for me
Eliminated DET DRAM hang permanantly
I had turn off/on pc and restart them 5 times a day in the last 4 days and No More DET Dram hang.

One simple setting : Northbridge core at v1.63

Yep, indeed you need quite a bit NB volt for X38 chipset mobo to permenantly eliminate DET RAM hang. I had to set mine for 1.65v in bios to get 99.9% stability at 465+ FSB with a Q6600 G0 using *8 multi.
NB temp is idling at ~46c, full load ~52c ish depends on application. So no worries about higher than average volt on the NB. X38 is meant to take this much volt and beyond. However past 1.7v on the NB isn't recommended on a daily basis. Intel spec does state the max volt on the x38 MCH is up to 1.93v IIRC. Temp is really what you should worry about. Great case ventilation is highly recommended

[zlojack]

Greetings. I just built a rig with a Maximus Formula, QX9650, and 8 GB G.Skill 8500.

So far, I can get prime95 stable at 3.6 GHz at VCORE of 1.26, but 3.85 GHz is just not happening!

My settings for 3.6 GHz are 400 FSB, 9X multipler, Load Line Calibration enabled, DRAM at 2.00V. Everything else auto (except VCORE). Full load temps are about 63*C with a Thermalright 120 extreme and AS5.

But I'm having a nasty time trying to get prime stable at 3.85 GHz. When I was working on this last night, I was applying VCORE around 1.40+, getting load temps of 70*C, and still wasn't fully prime95 stable.

I thought I could get a QX9650 to 3.85 on a MF with far less VCORE than that.

Can anyone suggest some settings or tell me what major mistake I'm making?

Thanks!

Check your NB voltage.

I had a hard time with this. I need 1.41v for 100% stable 4.0 GHz on this. I found that bumping up the NB and FSBTerm helped stabilize it.

[Nuckin_Futs]

Yep, indeed you need quite a bit NB volt for X38 chipset mobo to permenantly eliminate DET RAM hang. I had to set mine for 1.65v in bios to get 99.9% stability at 465+ FSB with a Q6600 G0 using *8 multi.

Wow, that is way more then I ever used. 2 of mine on known good BIOS will and have always booted fine on minimal NB and or VDIMM so I dont know whats up with all this. I can onl guess it has a lot to do with the BETA BIOS of v907 and up. I only use1.504v on NB all the way to 502FSB as daily user and many Primed sessions (loaded it droops to 1.488) and even on my current 5:6 at a reasonable 480FSB. FSBT is up to 1.488v This includes many S3, s4 and cold boots, at each stck and several OC profiles.

For me, 907 most certainly corrupted something in BIOS chip, cause this never happened before and was so even after trying to go to any other BIOS even to 1st. I refused to accept this is normal, so I asked for an RMA and it just came back last week. So I will stick with known stable v903 till I find an absolute need to venture above.

[trt740]

This is running a E8400

from memory I think it was.....

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 500
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1200
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 18
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 45
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 : moderate
Transaction Booster : Disabled
Relax level: 0

CPU Voltage : 1.475 The only thing I changed I lowered this voltage. I needed 1.36v
CPU PLL Voltage : AUTO
North Bridge Voltage : 1.53
DRAM Voltage : 2.12
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


hope it helps

and it's gonna go higher it's priming now

[dimsdale]

Check your NB voltage.

I had a hard time with this. I need 1.41v for 100% stable 4.0 GHz on this. I found that bumping up the NB and FSBTerm helped stabilize it.

What NB voltage would you recommend? The "AUTO" setting in the 1004 bios was volting the NB at 1.61 or thereabouts, which was causing the NB to reach about 60*C at sustained load in prime95.

So I just manually set the NB voltage to 1.50 and it seems to be doing better. NB is holding around 55*C and system seems just as stable.

I'm just a noob, but it almost seems that having too high a NB voltage might have been a problem!

[khamo]

Hi guys can anyone help me??
I have just built my sytem up and everything is ok apart from when i turn everything off and then try to boot up again the next morning. It seems to start up with fans at 100% but then nothing else no beep and no boot up screen. Now i can press the cmos button and then it will boot fine but why is it not booting when its been fully powered down . I can restart from windows fine and can have the system of for 10 mins or so it it boots fine. It just seems to be when its left for a few hours or so??
I am using bios 0907 and think it could be a bios setting unless somebody has had the same problem.
Cheers paul
PS im using the same parts as in my sig

I had the same issue with Blitz formula. It had to do with DRAM voltage, when st to > 2.08v the system wolud powerup but not boot after being off for a few hours. Many others reported the same with Blitz Formula in Asus forums. I have my DRAM at 1.9 v and resolved the problem. Not an elegent solution but works for me at present

[XtremeTiramisu]

Wow, that is way more then I ever used. 2 of mine on known good BIOS will and have always booted fine on minimal NB and or VDIMM so I dont know whats up with all this. I can onl guess it has a lot to do with the BETA BIOS of v907 and up. I only use1.504v on NB all the way to 502FSB as daily user and many Primed sessions (loaded it droops to 1.488) and even on my current 5:6 at a reasonable 480FSB. FSBT is up to 1.488v This includes many S3, s4 and cold boots, at each stck and several OC profiles.

For me, 907 most certainly corrupted something in BIOS chip, cause this never happened before and was so even after trying to go to any other BIOS even to 1st. I refused to accept this is normal, so I asked for an RMA and it just came back last week. So I will stick with known stable v903 till I find an absolute need to venture above.

If you're using the same CPU as stated in your sig, there is nothing to be surprised about the high NB it needs for a 65nm Quad 6600 G0. I don't really care if i can boot into windows and post a reply on XS using NB 1.51v but fails or get blue screens in Prime blend or OCCT Mix. 1.65v is what this X38 MF mobo needs to get the job done at high fsb with a 65nm quad, whereas my P35 P5K-Dlx can get away with 1.55v bios set(not sure the actual NB volt). So for now I don't really see a real benefit going from a P35 to X38 besides the PCI-E 2.0 interface ready and better "futureproof" friendly? like all you 45nm cpu OCers are having fun with this board. However, x38 MF is definetely faster than p35 clock for clock in Everest bench and even in real world applications...if I go with the *9 multi route, I can even clock the CPU mhz pass 3800s and prime/occt stable with lower NB volts than going with the *8 multi route. When I get a 45nm quad possibly a Q9550 8.5x multi, I'm sure the whole OC config will be affected by this change in a positive way. MF favours 45nm CPUs or vice versa.

[DerekT]

So easy to trash a name. Try wearing a ground strap handling your silicon.

Word!

[leon_in_melb]

Many thanks to the OP, flashed my p5e without any dramas.

[vikings]

Hi, I tested my pc in sign, with few benchmark in default mode:

-memtest
-prime
-orthos
-3D mark06
-everest stability test
-OCCT

First 5 tested worked fine didn't find any issue. Only occt found a problem.
Ran in auto mode (1h), after few minutes my pc shoutdown and reboot.
Why? Can be my psu (undersize)?

[Nuckin_Futs]

This may only be usefull to CPU tower coolers of wich a 120mm fan can be placed in rear as well.

I had to remove the front fan of my Ultra 120 eXtreme cause of HR-07 RAM coolers. This fan in rear under loading (high to 1600rpm) and 92mm on RAM facing right down on NB open barbs appears to help in system temps bt a few C's. On warm days w/ a NB of 1.50v and FSBT of 1.488, SB 1.10v and SB 1.5 of 1.60v, I only get 42c regular use, and not much over 44c loaded for several hrs in Prime 95 v25.5. I used to reach 50c on slightly warmer day (just near the end of fall) but with NO fan on RAM.

I did remove the X38 chipset IHS below the Fusion block and mounted directly w/ AS#5 so this is also helping.

My 2nd mobo also fluxes on NB & FSBT during 100% loading, and SB 1.5 when set to 1.55 now bumps to 1.6, not 1.58v like 1st mobo, but still runs much cooler so it's fine.

[junkun13]

does anybody have a qx9650 profile here? i can't go beyond 4Ghz

[Grnfinger]

How do you make a CF or Pro stick Dou bootable to use? THe tick box for MS Bootable is not selectable for external USB memory stick. I want to use the Afudos but recent ROM files are too big for floppy.

use this to make a bootable USB stick, then toss AFUDOS and the rom file on it and your set.

http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_Rampage/HPUSBFW.zip

http://www.elektroni.fi/Stilt/Asus_Rampage/USB-Boot.zip