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

[zlojack]

I can't get 500 FSB with a quad on this board...with a dual I could all day.

[dimsdale]

I can't get 500 FSB with a quad on this board...with a dual I could all day.

The CPU is the other half of that equation...isn't it. The North Bridge itself might be able to run at 500 MHz and the bus between the NB and the CPU might, but if the front side of the CPU can't do 500, game over. Correct?

zlojack: how far did you get in your efforts to OC the FSB for your quad?

[NLight95]

I'm looking at two 2x2GB memory kits.

G.Skill
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231166

OCZ Reaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227289


Of these two, which one is recommended?

I've read some posts in this thread where some seem to be having problems with OCZ's Reaper memory. It's a bit cheaper than the G.Skill but I want to know whether those issues have been resolved or should I just go with the GSkill to be on the safe side.

[Grnfinger]

I'm looking at two 2x2GB memory kits.

G.Skill
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231166

OCZ Reaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227289


Of these two, which one is recommended?

I've read some posts in this thread where some seem to be having problems with OCZ's Reaper memory. It's a bit cheaper than the G.Skill but I want to know whether those issues have been resolved or should I just go with the GSkill to be on the safe side.

OCZ ram I find dosent clock very well, I think you'll find more will recommend G.Skill.
I have used OCZ ram and personally would never buy it again

[Talonman]

Final Report on my FSB limit for now...

This is what I know. Under Bios 907, this were my finding for OC'ing my Q6600.

Ref link: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...=160606&page=6

"Recap of my findings:
So far With the Maximus and my Q6600 GO:
My CPU Voltage setting of 1.46250v (BIOS), will allow error free Priming with a FSB Frequency 414 giving me 3.7GHz with my 400 NB Strap.
My CPU Voltage setting of 1.506v (BIOS), will allow error free Priming with a FSB Frequency 424 giving me 3.81GHz with my 400 NB Strap.
My CPU Voltage setting of 1.51875v (BIOS), will allow error free Priming with a FSB Frequency 428 giving me 3.85GHz with my 400 NB Strap.
My CPU Voltage setting of 1.51875v (BIOS) starting taking errors 4 minutes into prime with a FSB Frequency 432 giving me 3.8888GHz with my 400 NB Strap.

I did successfully prime 3.9GHz with a FSB Frequency 435 for 45 minutes, but stopped the test.
For my system it requires me to set in the BIOS a CPU core voltage of 1.55000v's, and Everest reads 1.53v.
You also must bump your CPU PLL to 1.60v's.
1.55 Core and only 1.56 PLL would not Prime 3.9GHz error free."

** I added in a TV tuner card 2 days befor my GPU swap, and the system was fine. No problems booting, still 3.8GHz under 907.

I took out an 8600 GT, put in a GX2, and could not boot withought getting a CPU init hang on the LCD poster, right on the initial boot after the install.

I had to back down my FSB speed to give me 3.3GHz to boot for the first time with the GX2 installed. I did fight my way back to 3.4GHz, but no more. (Still on 907)

Now I flashed to BIOS 1004, GX2 still installed, and I am back at a 3.465GHz limit. Any more FSB than 387-388'ish will result in core dumps, Vista lockups, and sometimes not posting. I threw more volts at about everything I could... Took all the posted settings, and combos I could, Enabled, Disabled, and Autoed settings for 2 days...

Made no differeance... Thanks for everybody's help BTW!!

I am keeping 3.465GHz for now until some new info comes into light. Until I hear from another Q6600 Maximus SE dude, who was running at 3.8GHz or faster, and plugged in a GX2, and still heald his speed... I think it's a limit of some sort right now...

I have no explanation, but there it is...

If I have to run my water cooled rig at 3.4, I turned some bells and whistles back on in the BIOS that I like...

I also backed down the voltages to show how easy I can run with a FSB Frequency of 385...

It's not a bad chip! It's a Maximus, Q6600, GX2 combo thing....

Only about 45 minutes, but my stability is there. I have had no problems so far, and don't expect to... (Still on the good side of my 390 FSB limit)
For trivia, a Q6600@3.465GHz and a stock GX2 SSC = 17,775 3DMark06 points at default settings. (Only for the 3DMark fans.. don't yell at me!)


Here is my current 1004 Bios settings for 3.465GHz, (With a GX2 installed!):

Under Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : Auto
CPU Ratio Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 385
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 400
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-770MHz
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 : 35
Write Recovery Time : 5
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: Enabled
Ai Clock Twister : Strong
Transaction Booster : Enabled
Boost Level: 0

CPU Voltage : 1.40625v (BIOS)
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.54v (BIOS)
North Bridge Voltage : 1.43v (BIOS)
DRAM Voltage : 1.80v (BIOS)
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.40v (BIOS)
South Bridge Voltage : 1.050v (BIOS)
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.63x
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.67x
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : DDR2_REF
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : DDR2_REF
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : DDR2_REF
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.50v (BIOS)

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

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Under Advanced
And CPU Configuration:
CPU Ratio Setting : 9
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Enabled
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled

Under Advanced
And USB Configuration :
USB Functions: Enabled
USB 2.0 Controller : Enabled
USB 2.0 Controller Mode: HiSpeed
BIOS EHCI Hand-off : Enabled
Port 64/60 Emulation : Disabled
Legacy USB Support : Enabled

I still love my GX2, but i'm not sure the Maximus SE does?

[Nuckin_Futs]

Final Report on my FSB limit for now...


"Recap of my findings:
So far With the Maximus and my Q6600 GO:
My CPU Voltage setting of 1.46250v (BIOS), will allow error free Priming with a FSB Frequency 414 giving me 3.7GHz with my 400 NB Strap.
My CPU Voltage setting of 1.506v (BIOS), will allow error free Priming with a FSB Frequency 424 giving me 3.81GHz with my 400 NB Strap.
My CPU Voltage setting of 1.51875v (BIOS), will allow error free Priming with a FSB Frequency 428 giving me 3.85GHz with my 400 NB Strap.
My CPU Voltage setting of 1.51875v (BIOS) starting taking errors 4 minutes into prime with a FSB Frequency 432 giving me 3.8888GHz with my 400 NB Strap.

I did successfully prime 3.9GHz with a FSB Frequency 435 for 45 minutes, but stopped the test.
For my system it requires me to set in the BIOS a CPU core voltage of 1.55000v's, and Everest reads 1.53v.
You also must bump your CPU PLL to 1.60v's.
1.55 Core and only 1.56 PLL would not Prime 3.9GHz error free."

** I added in a TV tuner card 2 days befor my GPU swap, and the system was fine. No problems booting, still 3.8GHz under 907.

I took out an 8600 GT, put in a GX2, and could not boot withought getting a CPU init hang on the LCD poster, right on the initial boot after the install.

I had to back down my FSB speed to give me 3.3GHz to boot for the first time with the GX2 installed. I did fight my way back to 3.4GHz, but no more. (Still on 907)

Now I flashed to BIOS 1004, GX2 still installed, and I am back at a 3.465GHz limit. Any more FSB than 387-388'ish will result in core dumps, Vista lockups, and sometimes not posting. I threw more volts at about everything I could... Took all the posted settings, and combos I could, Enabled, Disabled, and Autoed settings for 2 days...

Made no differeance... Thanks for everybody's help BTW!!

I am keeping 3.465GHz for now until some new info comes into light. Until I hear from another Q6600 Maximus SE dude, who was running at 3.8GHz or faster, and plugged in a GX2, and still heald his speed... I think it's a limit of some sort right now...

I have no explanation, but there it is...

If I have to run my water cooled rig at 3.4, I turned some bells and whistles back on in the BIOS that I like...

I also backed down the voltages to show how easy I can run with a FSB Frequency of 385...

It's not a bad chip! It's a Maximus, Q6600, GX2 combo thing....

Only about 45 minutes, but my stability is there. I have had no problems so far, and don't expect to... (Still on the good side of my 390 FSB limit)
For trivia, a Q6600@3.465GHz and a stock GX2 SSC = 17,775 3DMark06 points at default settings. (Only for the 3DMark fans.. don't yell at me!)

I still love my GX2, but i'm not sure the Maximus SE does?

In regards to your boot failure and messages, yes they are for real. It usually happens because Windows becomes damaged after many hard crashes and especially when crashing during an OC test liek we so love to do. I try to keep to safe mode for starters till I feel it can go further. If this doesnt work, try your last good profile and in OS, reinstall current inf, GPU and RAID (if any) drivers. It worked for mine when it happened.

You mentioned 907. Are you back on that now or came from that at some point? I had BIOS chip corruption when moving away from 907, no matter what version I flashed to. I has the very USB hang ups and lots of the det_ram hangs even in stock. So just to clear up, did you have the USB hang up in 903 and also was the GX2 installed then too? It may be worth a shot to try it. I am most interested to know, cause I really dont want another 907 USB and RAM hang up experience again. When I was on v0907, the few times I got to XP x64, I would even loose USB support, and RAM hang ups (frozen desktop and or video, requiring a hard reset. Sometimes, USB hang can be fixed by unplugging mouse and plugging it back in. but the whole experience was driving me Nuckin Futs up the wall. Lol!

[Talonman]

In regards to your boot failure and messages, yes they are for real. It usually happens because Windows becomes damaged after many hard crashes and especially when crashing during an OC test liek we so love to do. I try to keep to safe mode for starters till I feel it can go further. If this doesnt work, try your last good profile and in OS, reinstall current inf, GPU and RAID (if any) drivers. It worked for mine when it happened.

You mentioned 907. Are you back on that now or came from that at some point? I had BIOS chip corruption when moving away from 907, no matter what version I flashed to. I has the very USB hang ups and lots of the det_ram hangs even in stock. So just to clear up, did you have the USB hang up in 903 and also was the GX2 installed then too? It may be worth a shot to try it. I am most interested to know, cause I really dont want another 907 USB and RAM hang up experience again. When I was on v0907, the few times I got to XP x64, I would even loose USB support, and RAM hang ups (frozen desktop and or video, requiring a hard reset. Sometimes, USB hang can be fixed by unplugging mouse and plugging it back in. but the whole experience was driving me Nuckin Futs up the wall. Lol!

I was on 907 a few days ago, and have been running my 3.8GHz on it for quite a while...

I'm taking this over to the pure Maximus SE thread...

I don't think anything is really corrupted...

I can't overlook the facts that:

It started the second the GX2 was installed...
I had been running at 3.8GHz for months with no issues.
Both BIOS 907 and 1004 produce the exact same results for me.
You have no idea how many combos I have tried... (Bordering on obsessive-compulsive disorder!)
No setting wen't unchanged, or searously overvolted.
My system has just primed the above setting fine for 7 hours with thoes low volts. No sign of system issues at all.
Me moving my FSB from 385 to 390 should not take a ton more voltage to pull off. I have already given it as much as I dare. It didn't help.


I need to hear from a GX2 Maximus SE guy... Are you out there?

[zlojack]

The CPU is the other half of that equation...isn't it. The North Bridge itself might be able to run at 500 MHz and the bus between the NB and the CPU might, but if the front side of the CPU can't do 500, game over. Correct?

zlojack: how far did you get in your efforts to OC the FSB for your quad?

The furthest I got was 450.

I sold my QX9650 on Ebay and I just took it out of my rig today to package it up for shipping.

I've slapped an E8400 in for now (nothing special, but it'll go into a secondary rig later) and I'm going to wait a while and try to get my hands on the C1 QX9650.