X48 Rampage Formula Preview.

[GAR]

It could also be your cpu. My cpu does 3.4Ghz stable at 1.08v. The best thing to do is start all over, everything low and start raising your fsb till you get stuck. It'll require a lot of reboots but start with vcore first, if it doesn't cure it, move to fsbt, then nb. Move in 2-7 FSB increments. The whole key to this is to know your hardware first, that is cpu and ram so their settings don't interfere with board settings.

I jumped a E8600, 10x multi proved too tempting. I'm watercooling my chipsets too, it helps for stability at higher fsb/clocks.

Ive tried cpu vcore up to 1.45v, this cpu has a vid of 1.275v also it was 3.8ghz stable in a 790i with 1.35v

[Zucker2k]

Ive tried cpu vcore up to 1.45v, this cpu has a vid of 1.275v also it was 3.8ghz stable in a 790i with 1.35v

It's not how much vcore you're giving, it's about getting the combination of vcore, fsbt, and vnb dialed in. In my own experience, sometimes, a one step notch on the vcore leads could lead to numerous boot crashes. Just set your ratio/fsb to 8x333 and bump it 2 fsbs at a time and let me know at which point it fails to complete a boot.

[mikeyakame]

It's not how much vcore you're giving, it's about getting the combination of vcore, fsbt, and vnb dialed in. In my own experience, sometimes, a one step notch on the vcore leads could lead to numerous boot crashes. Just set your ratio/fsb to 8x333 and bump it 2 fsbs at a time and let me know at which point it fails to complete a boot.

Also be weary of CPU_GTL reference ratio. You may need to shift it up or down sometimes along with adjusting FSB_VTT either way also. These 2 along with what Zucker mentioned can make or break stability on this board. It's not about how much vCore you give it, but giving it in the right balance.

Gar,

Im not sure why your NB temp is so high unless you are giving it > 1.50v. I finally got around to AS5'ing my NB earlier this evening and with 1.43V in bios idle is at 32c, full load is at 36-37c this is with 40x40x20mm fan on NB. Temps dropped ~ 5-6c idle and load with AS5. Was going to lap the NB heat sink but it actually wasnt too bad at all.

[mikeyakame]

no way, every time i got stuck to det dram i've never managed to get around it, tried upping vNB to 1.56 (i'm using 1.41, but think i can still lower it once i find a good setup) and played also with PLL, VTT and both GTLs but never managed to make it post...
maybe you do know a trick to avoid det dram?

a trick! if only. performance level seems dependent on how good quality the ICs on the dimms are. I cant get mine to post with PL6 above 400 fsb, and i've tried for hours. perhaps there is something simple I overlooked dunno. I always use 333/400 strap though. Perhaps that is why. I find they are the most stable but also internal MCH timings are tighter when using either of these 2 straps, so maybe that is why PL6 is hard to achieve. I can run PL7 at 490fsb no problems, but PL6 doesn't ever want to get past det dram.

[traveler]

I've had problems with Partition Magic too. Are your disks in raid mode, and connected to Intel Matrix Controller?

The hard drives are in the default BIOS IDE mode and connected to the SATA ports. New drives, 500 gigs, blank and unformated.

The optical is connected to the PRI_IDE port. It seems to read the Asus Rampage Formula motherboard disk fine. It seems to boot to a "make disk" menu.

The floppy is connected to the floppy port. However, I think the floppy drive is shot. (brand new samsung internal floppy drive) I just reconnected it to another computer and the green light stays on and it won't read a disk now.

[Zucker2k]

The hard drives are in the default BIOS IDE mode and connected to the SATA ports. New drives, 500 gigs, blank and unformated.

The optical is connected to the PRI_IDE port. It seems to read the Asus Rampage Formula motherboard disk fine. It seems to boot to a "make disk" menu.

The floppy is connected to the floppy port. However, I think the floppy drive is shot. (brand new samsung internal floppy drive) I just reconnected it to another computer and the green light stays on and it won't read a disk now.

Hmm, you could be plugging the cable in the wrong way, but I doubt. Why don't turn the cable over and plug it in and see if that helps.

[wiz]

BIOS 0407

ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/mb/so...rmula-0407.zip

No tech info

[SirDaemon]

New old bios is out
ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/mb/so...rmula-0407.zip
So, here is the sequence from asus: 0406 - 0408 - 0407.
Pls anyone report how 0407 works with raid-controllers.

Just checked on EZ Flash:

0408 - is dated 07/10/08
0407 - is dated 06/27/08

I guess the raid-controllers problem is not solved.

[systemviper]

I have my new Rampage comming tomorrow, got a great Q6600 and 2 4750's ready to go,,,,

can;t wait to start playing with it,,,,

Regards
Steve

[bigslappy]

here what i did BUT 1st both those setting from Zucker & oo3 didn't fly with SlickSlappy

BUT this stuff did ! & look at those temps !

[bigslappy]

here's the shot of Prime Blend & it's Rock Stable

& the ODD thing is look at the temps & CPU volts when under Prime Blend

Cpu Volts @ 1.336 v when idle

Cpu volts @ 1.296 v when full load of prime

[bigslappy]

ambiant room temps for the above is 26.7 & water temp out of the CPU is 28.1 difference between temp probs is .2 when system is off for a day

that all with a DD TDX block/GTX360 push/pull & a ddc with a Petra's top on the test bed the stock Asus cooling .... gonna water it the rest of the way this weekend

;p

OH Yeah the memory is running at 890 memory divider is 1;1

[mikeyakame]

has anybody managed to get PL6 to post on 333 strap? I've no problem getting it to post on 266 / 400, even PL6 with pull-in on A1/B1 to PL5 posts on 400 strap. PL6 on 333 with 5:6 divider just refuses to straight out post, how odd. Even with > 1.6v vNB. PL5 needs around 1.63-1.65V vNB on 3:4 divider / 400 strap at 435FSB/DDR2-1160

[traveler]

Hmm, you could be plugging the cable in the wrong way, but I doubt. Why don't turn the cable over and plug it in and see if that helps.

Ha! Thanks Zucker2k.

The test rig has a flat plug floppy drive cable. No notch. It was in backwards. I turned it around and the floppy drive worked perfectly.

So I put the tested floppy drive back into the Rampage Formula.

The Rampage Formula has a notched floppy cable so you can't plug it in backwards there but I made sure the cable was lined up correctly anyway. The Rampage Formula still won't read the disk in the drive. The RF will POST. I can go into the BIOS and see "1st floppy drive" in the boot sequence. But after exiting the BIOS, the floppy drive light will go on for a couple seconds, go off, and then the monitor says "Please place boot media into a boot device and press any key". I press a key and the same error message appears. I remove the floppy disk and put it into another computer and there it boots into Memtest86+ just fine.

Do I have a defective motherboard?

[traveler]

The temps on my northbridge are 49°-51° and the temps on my southbridge are 45°-47°. That's after replacing the stock thermal material with Ceramique. It's a bit warm. Would that cause my drive reading problem?

[diablos]

sorry mate,
I've ordered a rampage formula and a E8600
wich bios I need for that cpu?

thanks

[diablos]

Just checked on EZ Flash:

0408 - is dated 07/10/08
0407 - is dated 06/27/08

I guess the raid-controllers problem is not solved.

wich problem?

[DaLiu]

I tried Zucker2k settings on my board and looks like i manage to lower the VTT voltage from 1,38 V to 1,28 V on 450 fsb. For NB any step lower than 1,55 V for 450 fsb its ending with BSOD or freeze. Looks like im not too lucky with my NB but at least the temp will be much better after i put a Thermalright HR-05 SLI / IFX on NB. Right now with 1,55 V on NB i have 48c idle and maxim 60c load with OCCT or Prime blend running for more than 1 hour.

[mikeyakame]

I tried Zucker2k settings on my board and looks like i manage to lower the VTT voltage from 1,38 V to 1,28 V on 450 fsb. For NB any step lower than 1,55 V for 450 fsb its ending with BSOD or freeze. Looks like im not too lucky with my NB but at least the temp will be much better after i put a Thermalright HR-05 SLI / IFX on NB. Right now with 1,55 V on NB i have 48c idle and maxim 60c load with OCCT or Prime blend running for more than 1 hour.

Too low VTT means you need higher vNB to compensate for reduced NB GTL_REF voltage.

[DaLiu]

Too low VTT means you need higher vNB to compensate for reduced NB GTL_REF voltage.

Even if i set VTT to 1,38V i cant lower the voltage on NB, so what is the point to keep VTT at 1,38 V if i cant lower the vNB?

[Zucker2k]

sorry mate,
I've ordered a rampage formula and a E8600
wich bios I need for that cpu?

thanks

0407.

[mikeyakame]

Even if i set VTT to 1,38V i cant lower the voltage on NB, so what is the point to keep VTT at 1,38 V if i cant lower the vNB?

What performance level and strap are you using? Adjust VTT up and bring NB_GTLREF ratio down. Should help you relieve vNB somewhat. Anywhere from 0.56x -> 0.63x. Ratio is based on FSB_VTT.
I'm using 400 strap, PL6 & 438FSB at the moment and need 1.53V NB but PL7 only needs 1.39V with 333 strap upto 450FSB for moi. 400 strap, 500FSB and PL7 needs 1.57V-1.59V vNB.

[Vivi]

u guys have to remember, the rampage formula has a .1 Drop on VTT. meaning you type in 1.38 VTT, and get 1.28 Real. so you could probly up it a bit

[DaLiu]

What performance level and strap are you using? Adjust VTT up and bring NB_GTLREF ratio down. Should help you relieve vNB somewhat. Anywhere from 0.56x -> 0.63x. Ratio is based on FSB_VTT.
I'm using 400 strap, PL6 & 438FSB at the moment and need 1.53V NB but PL7 only needs 1.39V with 333 strap upto 450FSB for moi. 400 strap, 500FSB and PL7 needs 1.57V-1.59V vNB.

PL8 and Strap is AUTO. I never played with GTLREF, they are both on AUTO. What do you think should i do?

[panheimer]

On the maximus formula thread there are some post about 0308 and newer bios. i've used 0406 until yesterday when i've swapped to hte 0308 one. for now i'm pleased with this one, as keeping all my previous settings i've gained some benefits in memory bandwidth and latency.
i've noticed that the 0308 has an higher tREF, 16383 vs. 3120 of 0406. hard to believe that this could be only tREF change that lead to a improved performance, but still wondering why it's reduced in newer bios? and why there isn't a parameter in bios that lets you change it manually!
but the main question is: the newer bios wich on one hand is intented to improve compatibility on the other hand may be limiting ocing possibility?
do you find harder to get high CPU oc, high FSB or lower PL with newer bios?