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

[Grnfinger]

when i try to set the fsb strap to 266MHz, DRAM Freq to 1203Mhz, NB volt. 1.55v and dram volt. 2.06 my system wont boot.

is there wrong in my settings? Thanks!

Set Dram Static Read Control to AUTO
Set Transaction Booster to AUTO.

It should boot now, once in windows check Everest to see what PL level is set, then adjust your bios manually to set your PL.

1200 on 266 strap with trans booster enabled relax level 0 is setting a incorrect PL level and thats why your PC wont boot.

[Talonman]

Hey guys, I have an odd problem with my Maximus Rampage conversion. I've never had an issue till I decided I wanted an Nvidia card instead of ATI. I've tried 2 MSI 8800GTS cards and 1 Evga 9800GX2. None produce a video signal on my board yet the computer boots. If I wait long enough and enter my PW, I hear the Vista music as it goes to the desktop with a black screen. I put the ATI 1950 back in and no video problem. I took the 2 8800GTS cards and put them in other rigs. 1 an old DFI 965 and the other in a P5Q. Those cards work perfectly on those boards. I haven't tried the 9800GX2 on another board yet because it means breaking down the Maximus Rampage and stealing the power supply or buying another power supply capable of running 2 GX2s and I'm leaning towards the latter.

Any ideas as to why my board hates Nvidia? Anyone else had the problem?

My money is on the official SupremeFXII driver. Whenever I installed the driver, bad things would happin. The red X letting me know my internet connection wasen't there yet, on each re-boot. (It would last about 90 looong seconds before giving up and continued to boot.) The modum was always ready. It was a driver conflict that caused me problems. I just use the windows default sound driver, and all works fine for me.

I know it sounds wacky, but that is my guess.

With no video, just take the sound card out and see if it fixes anything.

[junkun13]

Set Dram Static Read Control to AUTO
Set Transaction Booster to AUTO.

It should boot now, once in windows check Everest to see what PL level is set, then adjust your bios manually to set your PL.

1200 on 266 strap with trans booster enabled relax level 0 is setting a incorrect PL level and thats why your PC wont boot.

still no luck

[Grnfinger]

still no luck

what is the LCD Poster screen showing when it wont boot?

[junkun13]

what is the LCD Poster screen showing when it wont boot?

DET DRAM

[Grnfinger]

DET DRAM

try trans booster disabled relax level 2
dram static read control disabled

[junkun13]

try trans booster disabled relax level 2
dram static read control disabled

still won't boot, other suggestions please!

[Grnfinger]

still won't boot, other suggestions please!

what bios version are you running?

[junkun13]

what bios version are you running?

latest 1201, i guess 266 strap will not work?

[Grnfinger]

latest 1201, i guess 266 strap will not work?

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 450
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 400MHZ
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1199


DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
Ai Clock Twister : Moderate (Strong if its stable)
Transaction Booster : Disabled
Relax Level 0

[CBird28]

I just happen to have a pic:

thanks man, nice setup

[junkun13]

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 450
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 400MHZ
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1199


DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
Ai Clock Twister : Moderate (Strong if its stable)
Transaction Booster : Disabled
Relax Level 0

still no chance of booting, i hate this

[Zucker2k]

still no chance of booting, i hate this

You need to post all your bios settings. If you're on the 266 strap, you're most likely working with the 4:5 divider (FSB 1000RAM 1200) - if this is the case then you'll need to run performance level 8. Also advance clock skews to 300 for both A&B channels. Leave Ai ClockTwister and DRAM Static Read Control at AUTO.

If your divider is 2:3 (FSB 800: DRAM 1200) - you may be able to run Performance Level 7 depending on RAM, NB, Vdimm.

Best thing, post all your settings.

Edit: What bios are you using?

[junkun13]

bios version 1201

Also advance clock skews to 300 for both A&B channels

i don't see this on the bios settings

[OVERK|LL]

I THINK those settings are only available with the Rampage BIOS conversion. I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong.

[WaterFlex]

I THINK those settings are only available with the Rampage BIOS conversion. I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong.

You`re right.

[MacClipper]

there is the newer 1207 actually,
ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/mb/so...rmula-1207.zip

[Grnfinger]

You need to post all your bios settings. If you're on the 266 strap, you're most likely working with the 4:5 divider (FSB 1000RAM 1200) - if this is the case then you'll need to run performance level 8. Also advance clock skews to 300 for both A&B channels. Leave Ai ClockTwister and DRAM Static Read Control at AUTO.

If your divider is 2:3 (FSB 800: DRAM 1200) - you may be able to run Performance Level 7 depending on RAM, NB, Vdimm.

Best thing, post all your settings.

Edit: What bios are you using?

He is running a Maximus bios.
I tried the Auto settings and PL 8 still no go.
I cant see why it wont post, I tried the same settings and mine will boot right into Vista.

[aussie-revhead]

Hi guys , I just ran some tests on my new 4870x2 and fitted a 4870 for tri-fire but my pc will not boot with the 4870 installed , I get cmos error code shown on the lcd poster , has anyone else seen anything like this ? I have had this vid card in this pc before , and the pc will boot with either vid card on its own.

This vid card has been flashed with the modded bios , could this be upsetting things ? Or would they just dislike cf if that was the case ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Barr3l Rid3r]

He is running a Maximus bios.
I tried the Auto settings and PL 8 still no go.
I cant see why it wont post, I tried the same settings and mine will boot right into Vista.

PL9/ static Disabled/ CPU GTL 65x / NB GTL 63x
VNB 1.39V
vFSB 1.30V
VPLL 1.50v

[junkun13]

At last problem solved!

I just flashed the latest bios to 1207 and whola!

thank you guys!

[MacClipper]

Great to hear that.

[Grnfinger]

From Asus today
**Please respond to this email**

I apologize for the delay in processing your RMA as we were unable to repair your unit. Since we currently do not have stock on your model (EAH380X2/HTDI/1G/A), we would like to offer an exchange/replacement to the next available model (EAH380X2/TOP/G/3DHTI/1G). To accept or decline this offer, please respond back to this email. If you do not wish to accept this offer, we can attempt to locate your original model which may take longer than our normal turn-around-time of approximately 10 business days.

A comparison chart is included below for your reference and do not hesitate to contact our Technical Support department for specifications/compatibility questions via one of the following methods:

Not much of an upgrade but it I have waited long enough.

Can anyone comment on the card?

[Grnfinger]

New 9550 quickie test.

[Amurtigress]

I do recall the Intel specs stateing that 45nm max FSBT was 1.40.
I think others will confirm this in the E8400 thread I know he has a quad but should be able to get the correct max value there.
4x1GB will tax the NB alot harder than 2 sticks so setting 1.35 might be a little on the low side, I would set maybe 1.45 and work down from there, I also agree 1.61 is insane for NB volts.
PL 8 is high for 1:1 PL 7 or 6 should work but regardless that would not cause his problem. 5-5-5-15 vs 5-5-5-12 offers nothing. Only thing that would/ could tell a difference would be a Everest bench.

Hi Grnfinger and lestat,
there is a story to the 1.61V. I was using a E6600 before running at 8x436. Which means the actual core clock of the NB was 436/8*9=490 MHz. With less than 1.59 V I was getting PCI Express troubles, like the Express devices (Intel PCIe LAN) were making the whole system run choppy when getting under high network load. Add to that higher power demand through the four memory modules. Four modules require 0.04V more than two, AFAIK. Another detail, I capped my NB/SB heatpipe and replaced the thermal compound with Arctic Silver 5. So the temp. shouldn't be a big issue.

However I will try less voltage, the current clock is 436 (* 7.5/7.5) now, roughly 10% less.

Memory performance level: My board does not post at 9 anymore if I am leaving the skew settings at auto. 250 ps get me to level 6-7...I found that pretty interesting since I am far from being at 1200 MHz.

FSBT volt: I read it a few times that voltages above 1.40 are real penryn killers. Besides I seem to get the least crashes between 1.34 and 1.38. I can test it with my multimeter tho, can anybody remember where the measuring spot was for the FSBT volt?

Thanks for the feedback so far!

PS: Rebooting now and setting NB volt to 1.45