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

[swiftex]

Hey guys, great work on consolidating all the Maximus info so it's easier to find the important stuff. I joined the Maximus Rampage owners today. Everything went smooth as silk! I'll be adding my graphics cards to my cooling loop and installing a 9450 this weekend before any OC attempts.

To avoid even more repetitive questions may I suggest the syntax be changed for the flashing command?

I had to use: AFU236U /irf0219.rom /n /pbnc

...to initiate the flash. Typing afudos didn't work for me. I honestly can't remember if I tried it in all caps too. This was discussed deep in the thread and is currently buried somewhere.

Too in eastcoasthandle's post he mentions putting the board in the refrigerator as a means of assisting removal of the NB HS. In the Cliff's notes I think it should be mentioned that Component Cooling spray is available from Radio Shack and safer. It should also be stated that it is far easier to remove the NB hs from the board new out of the box. If removed after running it takes far more heat or cold as the thermal compound then acts like cured epoxy. Arcticlean works fine when removed new. After being run it takes Acitone. I only bring this up because I just removed the NB HS from a new Rampage Formula. The SB came right off. The NB needed about a 6 second blast of the Component Cooler. My Maximus was run for 2 weeks prior to removal and that ordeal took lot's of heat and about 45 minutes.

I preferred a Part 1 & Part 11 thread myself - but some %^&*% didn't like it -

I would have thought that over time due to popular demand and the "DEMOCRATIC" process it would have become evident as to what would have gone the way of the "DODO"

Nonetheless, I appreciate the ability to express myself and embrace the ability of others to do so as well and naturally hope that this continues without predjudice

That being said, y'all enjoy eh! (friggin canucks strike again) - (part 2: epilogue: by the time you hit 50 page 2's a blurr)

[Renegade5399]

Got my Q6600 today and after about an hour of playing around, it is stable at 4GHz with 1.51v. It's a SLACR G0 I just picked up from fry's for $189. My board is a Maximus modded to a Rampage running 0219.

http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=346759

I am more than impressed with the way this board handles this chip. I have had little to no trouble getting this thing up and going and not once did it not boot to windows.

I found that using the CPU GTL set to .67x did in fact help me with stability. Next up are the RAM tweaks (hello DET DRAM), but I have a stick of 667 Value RAM here for those times when DET DRAM says hi.

[WFO]

Got my Q6600 today and after about an hour of playing around, it is stable at 4GHz with 1.51v. It's a SLACR G0 I just picked up from fry's for $189. My board is a Maximus modded to a Rampage running 0219.

http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=346759

I am more than impressed with the way this board handles this chip. I have had little to no trouble getting this thing up and going and not once did it not boot to windows.

I found that using the CPU GTL set to .67x did in fact help me with stability. Next up are the RAM tweaks (hello DET DRAM), but I have a stick of 667 Value RAM here for those times when DET DRAM says hi.

Great price on the chip Renegade. Cheapest price I saw last week when shopping was around $240. Seeing your post makes me regret buying 2 9450s even though they aren't even installed yet. Hopefully they will provide better folding performance at lower clocks and save some energy though.

[Nuckin_Futs]

Anyway I got a Maximus Formula with a Q6600 GO stepping. Still on the 602 bios that came on the board.

This is my first water cooled PC and the first real overclockable one.

I got it up to 4GHZ and my memory running at 890 cas 4 with the settings below.

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 445
FSB Strap to North Bridge : AUTO
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2- AUTO
DRAM Command Rate : AUTO
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 4
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 4
RAS# Precharge : 4
RAS# ActivateTime : 12
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: AUTO
Ai Clock Twister : AUTO
Transaction Booster : AUTO

CPU Voltage : 1.56875 = 1.488
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.50 = 1.632
North Bridge Voltage : 1.51 = 1.552
DRAM Voltage : 2.14 = 2.24 might be more then you need for your RAM
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.42 = 1.488
South Bridge Voltage : AUTO = 1.072 try 1.104v
Loadline Calibration : AUTO try Enable for vdroop correction
CPU GTL Reference : AUTO try 63x
North Bridge GTL Reference : AUTO try 67x
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : AUTO = 1.120
SB 1.5V Voltage : AUTO = 1.552 Try 1.58~1.60 if gaming or on RAID set

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

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled


USB Configuration
USB Functions: Enabled
Legacy USB Support : Enabled


Question is, should I stay with the 602 bios or is there a better one for the Q6600?

v0602 was the best for me on a Q6x00 and E6x50. Those settings look very like to mine so I can see they work for others too. If it is stable and you like its feel, I'd stay away from th4e BETA's unless there's something you must have. Then by all means, go for it at your own risk just like the rest of us. I would first try the 500x8 like mine to see if you get the like of an OC. Mine was on air, so you have an edge already, and using lees vcore.

Play with the settings I colored in RED, see notes. Compare to see if it feels any better and especially before you go BETA BIOS so you have something to compare it to.

[Diss]

v0602 was the best for me on a Q6x00 and E6x50. Those settings look very like to mine so I can see they work for others too. If it is stable and you like its feel, I'd stay away from th4e BETA's unless there's something you must have. Then by all means, go for it at your own risk just like the rest of us. I would first try the 500x8 like mine to see if you get the like of an OC. Mine was on air, so you have an edge already, and using lees vcore.

Play with the settings I colored in RED, see notes. Compare to see if it feels any better and especially before you go BETA BIOS so you have something to compare it to.

I've read a little about the GTL but I don't completely understand it. Can anyone spell it out in newb terms.
Thanks for the ideas.

[MrHydes]

can someone give me some help, handling this DRAM SLK Skew on channel A B

Advance 100Ps
Advance 50Ps
normal
Delay 50Ps
Delay 100Ps

that this in fact does in terms of performance?

[ElEctric_EyE]

I've read a little about the GTL but I don't completely understand it. Can anyone spell it out in newb terms.
Thanks for the ideas.

n00b or newB? that is the question. Are all you newies scared to blow up your cpu's? I recommend reading thoroughly your q6600 datasheets and the 2 thermal protection methods this CPU uses. If you are on air alone you have absolutely nothing to worry about. You could overlock all day long without even a heatsink, and you r little CPU will struggle through it's ordeal. Now if you OC and supercooling the cpu AND subject it to high vlts and freq, then you have something to worry about becaue you are bypassing the 2 thermal limit protections embedded in the cpu, that no software can change. READ YOUR cpu DATASHEET on intel.com! come on lamers do we have to do all the work for you?! Show me your settings...

[Grnfinger]

n00b or newB? that is the question. Are all you newies scared to blow up your cpu's? I recommend reading thoroughly your q6600 datasheets and the 2 thermal protection methods this CPU uses. If you are on air alone you have absolutely nothing to worry about. You could overlock all day long without even a heatsink, and you r little CPU will struggle through it's ordeal. Now if you OC and supercooling the cpu AND subject it to high vlts and freq, then you have something to worry about becaue you are bypassing the 2 thermal limit protections embedded in the cpu, that no software can change. READ YOUR cpu DATASHEET on intel.com! come on lamers do we have to do all the work for you?! Show me your settings...

+1
I couldnt have said it better myself
I was wondering who else was getting tired of the "please do it for me" requests

[ZenEffect]

+1
I couldnt have said it better myself
I was wondering who else was getting tired of the "please do it for me" requests

i hate those pm's

"can you mod my 2900xt for higher volts and clocks?"

for a while i was getting like 15 a day... thank god for rbe

[Utnorris]

I am not sure if all the "I hate lazy people posting" were aimed at me or the other guy. If it was me I assure you me asking about the voltage settings was only after I had spent the last 4 days looking at various forums. All i could fine was what people were setting theirs at and since I sometimes like to push the envelope I wanted to know if there was established guidelines to the max settings. If I pissed someone off, I truly apologize as that was not my intention.

Utnorris

[ElEctric_EyE]

#'s: This is with Rampage BIOS 0308. Still trying to lower Volts on CPU and NB. Core temps with Volts shown are approaching 75C on 28C ambient, 32WC loop temp. After 3 days finally got it "stable". Stable to me is posting, loading to windows vista x64, and putting up with 10 min OCCT 50/50 blend. I am overvolting my corsair ram way above spec's which worries me, but it almost time to upgrade anyway, and they are doing well with "normal" usage of gaming with front lines and video encoding with tpmgenc.

[Grnfinger]

#'s:

you should tighten your timings ALOT, I run 2 MHz faster on my ram @ 1174MHz and my bandwidth is alot better



5-5-5-15-3-30-6

DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
Ai Clock Twister : Stronger
Transaction Booster : Manual

Common Performance Level [7]