X48 Rampage Formula Preview.

[003]

So your P5E works with LLC enabled and using a 45nm CPU? No random crashes at idle?

[Helfarch]

Exactly, both E8200 and E3110 at 3.8 and 4GHz LLC always on and 0 problems.

Both are pencil modded, did the Rampage last night and it made MUCH more of a difference than to the P5E.

[003]

Wait, so the pencil modded rampage makes LLC stable with 45nm?

Or it eliminates vdroop with LLC disabled?

What exactly is the pencil mod and how do you do it?

[Helfarch]

It decreases vDroop
As per the Maximus Formula thread. It's the same on all Maximus / Rampage based boards.


Use a HB / 3B / 4B pencil, 2 or 3 strokes only.

[003]

What are you supposed to do? A soldering pencil? Writing? And what do you do with it? Once done, do you leave LLC disabled?

Electrically, what is the pencil mod actually doing?

[Helfarch]

OK regardless of pencil mod.

P5E - LLC works as expected
Rampage - random crashes with LLC

The pencil mod is quite literally getting a 'grey lead' pencil and drawing a few strokes where marked in the image, it's tiny. My understanding is it reduces the amount of vDroop by reducing the resistance. It did next to nothing for my P5E with or without LLC, it greatly reduced the vDroop on myu Rampage Formula without LLC. I have not tested with LLC back on yet.

[003]

Ok I see what it's doing. Wouldn't a better and more electrically sound way of doing this be soldering a resistor in parallel with that SMD capacitor?

[Helfarch]

If you can be bothered soldering something that small when you can just take 5 seconds with a pencil for the same result, go for it. Also the pencil will rub off for RMA

[003]

Yeah but I heard that the pencil wears off after a while.

EDIT:
When you refer to P5E, do you mean the P5E3 or the P5E Deluxe?

Would it not be possible to flash the Rampage Formula with the P5E Deluxe BIOS?

[Helfarch]

How is the pencil supposed to wear off exactly?

When I say P5E I mean the bottom of the pile plain old no frils P5E that shouldn't to ANYTHING better than the Rampage Formula.

[003]

I heard that after a while the graphite can wear off. Not sure if it's true or not, or how long something like that would take.

The issue with LLC really bugs me. Perhaps we should try and round up a bunch of people with a Rampage Formula and a 45nm CPU that all have this issue, and submit the problem to Asus? It's more likely they will do something about it if many people complain, as opposed to one or two. I have sent a support ticket to them about the issue and as of yet, not gotten any response.

[Helfarch]

It's a strange and irritating issue especially because of the significant vDroop on all the boards based on this PCB.

[Ender17]

I just want like 3.2 GHz from my Q9450, how hard is that going to be?

[wyemarn]

I just want like 3.2 GHz from my Q9450, how hard is that going to be?

Should be easily achievable. Just set FSB to 400 and your are done. I think you can do that on stock voltage too since I manage to do FSB 400 with stock voltages.

[Helfarch]

I've just tested my Rampage a bit more and with the pencil mod I only get .008 vDroop

[Leithfield]

The issue with LLC really bugs me. Perhaps we should try and round up a bunch of people with a Rampage Formula and a 45nm CPU that all have this issue, and submit the problem to Asus? It's more likely they will do something about it if many people complain, as opposed to one or two.

Good suggestion - it really ticks me off that with my QX9650 I have to resort to higher voltage due to LLC disabled as enabling LLC results in random lockups + BSOD's @ idle (though P95 + OCCT stable under loading).

[Xelation]

I heard that after a while the graphite can wear off. Not sure if it's true or not, or how long something like that would take.

True, mainly depending of your airflow.

[scottath]

True, mainly depending of your airflow.

More airflow = lasts longer?

[Xelation]

More airflow = lasts longer?

Huh, no the opposite. The more airflow, the faster it 'can' blow the graphite off.

I covered the graphite with a tiny piece of black tape. Not regular tape, it's tape for wiring.

[Eurasianman]

I have my QX9650 @ 3.66 GHz with 1.3875V in BIOS and at load, it reads 1.37V ~ 1.36V with LLC enabled. Using BIOS 401.

[Xelation]

I have my QX9650 @ 3.66 GHz with 1.3875V in BIOS and at load, it reads 1.37V ~ 1.36V with LLC enabled. Using BIOS 401.

Hmm you can lower the vrcore tho, mines at 1.25 @ 3.6Ghz and LLC disabled.

[Eurasianman]

That's the strange thing... I can't. Although, the previous owner was able to run it at 4.0 GHz with 1.25V, granted, he was using vapo. When I received it, it actually required more voltage to run at 3.66 GHz, so I RMA'd the CPU and got a new one last week. This one tends to overclock better with less voltage and runs a bit cooler. By the way, how in the world did you get a C1 stepping?! It's not even on Intel's Processor Specs Sheet. The only C1 stepping they have listed on their site is the QX9770(or is it 5? The LGA775 one lol)

[Xelation]

That's the strange thing... I can't. Although, the previous owner was able to run it at 4.0 GHz with 1.25V, granted, he was using vapo. When I received it, it actually required more voltage to run at 3.66 GHz, so I RMA'd the CPU and got a new one last week. This one tends to overclock better with less voltage and runs a bit cooler. By the way, how in the world did you get a C1 stepping?! It's not even on Intel's Processor Specs Sheet. The only C1 stepping they have listed on their site is the QX9770(or is it 5? The LGA775 one lol)

Is everything under Advanced disabled?

It is a C1, a friend of mine is an overclocker who can get samples. I bought it from him.

But can you help me figure out what it is what I have. CPU-Z reads it as an C1 but it does not show it as an Energy Sample (besides how can you see that it is)

Here a shot:

[Eurasianman]

I'll have to check when I get back home. As far as the CPU-Z screen shot. That is very odd. What was on the Intel IHS? And I thought ES stood for Engineering Sample. Also, I'm now reading that 1.40V or more is bad for the 45nm Quads and will degrade their life.

[WizardofOz]

OK regardless of pencil mod.

P5E - LLC works as expected
Rampage - random crashes with LLC

The pencil mod is quite literally getting a 'grey lead' pencil and drawing a few strokes where marked in the image, it's tiny. My understanding is it reduces the amount of vDroop by reducing the resistance. It did next to nothing for my P5E with or without LLC, it greatly reduced the vDroop on myu Rampage Formula without LLC. I have not tested with LLC back on yet.

I agree entirely with what you are saying about the VDROOP on the Rampage. I initially thought I had a crapola processor (Q6600) it could not run for 1h P95 (Blend) on Stock 2.4GHz with 1.2000v, The voltage fluctuated wildly from 1.14 to 1.152 to 0.04v. Now with the Volt Mod in place Bios = 1.200v and CPUz Load=1.184v and it does not fluctuate.

Thanks for the Pics.