**Official ASUS Striker II Formula Discussion/Review/Overclock/Guide/BIOS Thread**

[Nits]

Thanks clip - having a look for them now...

[Nits]

I guess this is what you mean:

The rules with 4GB 2x2 with a quad.

tRFC, you have to tune this, big impact on vdimm and stability
FSB has to stay to the sweet spots, 9 multi has issues for some reason also.

For me 8x1333, 8x1600, 8x1667 all worked well with async and 4GB at 1000, 5-5-5-18 tRFC 54 and 1.85V vdimm. At these FSB's the board sets exactly 1000 for the memory and weirdly this seems to have an effect.

Im still testing, but end users who we helped over at OCZ who followed these rules have had no issues, so there is something to them.

So for 4 GB, I need to aim for combinations that set 1000MHz for the memory?

Seems as though I have my vdimm set higher than needed too. Not sure what I should set for tRFC, but I guess 54 would be a place to start?


Anyway, I should have the other 2x2GB in soon (~12 hrs hopefully), so I'm not sure if its worth playing with these settings too much.

What I'd really like to know is how these settings would translate to 4x 2GB?


Edit: well Memtest gave me some errors, so I guess I'll leave it for now and shut down till I can get the other sticks in there. In the mean time, can anyone suggest what would be a good staring point for the 4x 2GB setup... should I try to get the RAM stable before I start to experiment with OCing, or the other way around?

[Phil The Greek]

Okay I will switch back to the Q6600 and let you know my results ASAP...

How soon will be that ASAP?

[Nall]

is anyone running 4GB (2x2GB) 1066 corsair dominator sticks successfully with this board?

I'm having a fair bit of trouble with exactly that set up.
I cannot get 4GB to run stable even at the capped 800MHz setting, 2GB is fine. But I'm having no joy whatsoever running the memory to it's full potentail of 1066, even with just one 2GB stick in I'm getting a blue screen cache error. It hurts...

I know it can be done - some of you here are doing it, but how?!

I'm a little new to the whole PC build world so if any kind soul here has any pointers I would love you for ever and build a shrine in your honour.

Running Vista 64, E8500, EVGA 8800GT - if that makes any odds.

Thank you.

[Leeghoofd]

Anyway of setting TRFC to 55 value ? higher NB voltage ? what FSB are you running ?

[Nall]

FSB is 1333.
You'll have to excuse my ignorance. NB is north bridge..? what would be safe values to try?
And I've no clue what TRFC is...

Sorry, but you're dealing with fool here.

[Nits]

I'm having a fair bit of trouble with exactly that set up.
I cannot get 4GB to run stable even at the capped 800MHz setting, 2GB is fine. But I'm having no joy whatsoever running the memory to it's full potentail of 1066, even with just one 2GB stick in I'm getting a blue screen cache error. It hurts...

I know it can be done - some of you here are doing it, but how?!

I'm a little new to the whole PC build world so if any kind soul here has any pointers I would love you for ever and build a shrine in your honour.

Running Vista 64, E8500, EVGA 8800GT - if that makes any odds.

Thank you.

After having spent the last few days reading various sources, it's apparent that every S2F out there has differing preferences when it comes to RAM. I think I got lucky and bought a board that isn't too fussy, but others seem to be very fussy when it comes to RAM.

For instance, when I try to enable the SLI ram mode, I can't even post, and have to clear CMOS, but for others it's the only way they can get their RAM to work.

Have a look at the link I posted previously for more ideas on what to try, and here is another good one: http://www.asktheramguy.com/v3/showthread.php?t=66203

[Nall]

Thank you!

I think it's working. Mangaged a boot and now a post with 4GB set at 1066.
Got it going with the settings stated in here but with the Mem voltage at 2.10, NB at 1.40.

Will have to run some tests and just keep my toes crossed that all things run smoothly from here on out but it is looking grand so far.

Much, much, muchly appreciated. Thank you!

[Nits]

Good to hear you are getting somewhere with it. You may well need to do more tweaking to get it fully stable. Get Memtest86+ if you have not already, and run it a few times to make sure you don't get errors. Let us know how you get on

Welcome by the way

[The0men]

Any word on 1202 BIOS yet?

Still have not bothered to try.

[Nits]

Looks like I won't be getting my replacement RAM for a while (last time I use Scan to buy anything!), but I really want to get on and start tweaking/overclocking. So can anyone tell me, is it worth trying to find a stable overclock before I get all my RAM in, or will I just end up having to start over?

If I can't do that, is it worth playing around with RAM settings to try and get it stable @ more than 800MHz, or should I also wait for that?

Edit to add: I suppose I could at least try and find what my FSB wall is - there is probably variation between S2F boards in that respect no?

I really want to get going, so if someone could help me here I'd be very grateful!

[Hor$eman]

You could try up to 888 if it is PC 6400 RAM.

Best method I have found for finding an exact ratio is as such:

Set the desired RAM freq., then change the CPU FSB to near what you want it to overclock to. then press "enter' twice. This will then show the correct actual RAM freq. Continue by increasing the FSB freq 1 at a time and then pressing "enter" twice. Makes it easy to find a FSB freq. that works.

PGE DWN (Could be up - I forget)
ENTER
ENTER
OBSERVE
REPEAT until actual meets desired.

[Nits]

Thank you Hor$eman,

Glad I can get on with something at last!

It's actually PC-8500 RAM that I have, which I got to hopefully make overclocking this thing a bit easier.

I think I should be setting the RAM frequency to 1000MHz (going by Tony's advice which I quoted a few posts back)?

[Hor$eman]

Thank you Hor$eman,

Glad I can get on with something at last!

It's actually PC-8500 RAM that I have, which I got to hopefully make overclocking this thing a bit easier.

I think I should be setting the RAM frequency to 1000MHz (going by Tony's advice which I quoted a few posts back)?

Get CPUID if you don't have it.
Run the ram at 800 mhz (default bios), and check the SPD tables in CPUID. For PC8500, it should be 1066 mhz
The one on the far right is the max settings your ram should run at. Set those settings in the bios and it should work.

Setting the unlinked ram speed at the SPD table setting and then working the FSB freq up as I detailed should be best.

If you want to try set other advanced ram settings , then download MEMSET 3.5 beta, . Use it to tweak your ram further if you so desire, but further settings might cause instability. Note: CAS latency cannot be changed in MemSet, even though it looks like you can. To change CAS latency, you must change it in the bios. Also, tRFC of 38 seems to be a magic number for many people. I've tried lower and higher, but 38 is stable for me.

I have PC9600 ram, and can run it at 1200 mhz (rated SPD table), though even rated at 1200, it runs better at 1180 (no bsods at all).
1066 should be no problem. I can't even get into windows at 1230 mhz, though it will post.

[Nits]

CPUID = CPU-Z right?

Going to have a look for Memset now.

Thanks for all the advice Hor$eman!

[Hor$eman]

CPUID = CPU-Z right?

Yes.

No need to search. Click on the link for MemSet.

[Nits]

Got it. Cheers!

[Nits]

OK I'm still trying to get my head around this. It sounded easy, the way you explained, but trying it in actual bios has me a bit confused, and I'd like to make sure I'm doing this correctly before I proceed...

So in bios, my FSB is set to 1333, and to overclock to 3.2GHz I'd need to set that to 1601 - is that correct?? Should I just enter this figure, or start off a little below (1598 for example) and work my way up 1 at a time - is that what you meant?

What's really confusing me though, is when you say "hit enter twice"... What exactly should be selected when I hit enter?

Also, and sorry for being dumb, what am I observing for? ...when "actual meets desired" ? Could you go into a bit more detail here please?

Thanks for the RAM tips again - I set the timings according to the SPD in CPU-Z and a quick test with memtest confirmed I was stable @ 1066MHz, although I left tRFC on auto. I'll do a sustained test later, and if necessary set to 38.

Thank you again for all your help Hor$eman!!!

[Hor$eman]

Ok, set the RAM freq (unlinked) to what you want it to run at. In your case, that's 1066.

Now select the FSB freq, and set it to whatever, say start at 1550 by selecting the FSB freq and pressing <enter>, typing in 1550, then pressing <enter> again.

Now look below the ram freq, where you set 1066, and you will see a number (actual ram freq). It might not be 1066. Just for the purposes of this, I'm going to say it is 1056.8

Now, still on the FSB Freq, press <PGE DWN> to change the number to 1551. Then press <enter> twice. This brings up the new FSB number, but when you press the <enter> button a second time, it refreshes the "actual ram freq".

Look at the ram freq below 1066. lets say it is now 1058.4
Repeat until the actual ram freq reaches 1066.

Clear this time?

[Nits]

Yes, thanks. That makes allot more sense!

[Nits]

Got my first overclock - 3.2MHz/FSB 400MHz

Only trouble is, after a few minutes of running OCCT, I get BSOD

Is there anything I could try that would cure it? Edit: A bit more Vcore I guess?

[Nits]

Not sure what my correct Vcore is. Everest and CPUz seem to show different values.

Screen shot:

[Nits]

Couldn't get it stable. Tried raising the Vcore, one step at a time, but OCCT kept failing or giving me BSOD. I took Vcore from 1.275V - 1.312V in bios (6 steps), and on the last OCCT said CPU was too hot and failed. The cores were hitting 70 degrees according to OCCT.

The only thing I can think of doing now is removing the CPU cooler, lapping the CPU and re-mounting. Have I got any other options?

[Leeghoofd]

Up the OCCT temp shutdown... but watch those temps via real temp plz

[Nits]

OK - will do. Thanks!