Live MB OC Report :: ASUS Rampage Extreme

[Mezzro]

Well, it appears I've stepped square in the middle of a Montagues and Capulets fisticuffs. LOL. I can't speak to your history with Holmer. I was simply commenting on the excerpted exchange as it appears on this thread. Had the posts been properly linked, I would have happily given them a read. They weren't. As you said, they appeared over a month ago, making it impractical to locate them. If you were quoted out of context, that's a matter you will have to take up with Holmer. Thanks for the links, Eternal. I'll review the posts and attempt to put this in context. It seems you're both assets to the community, so hopefully you can arrive at some form of detente.

I did try your settings last night, but no luck. I realize we have different RAM, so that makes a difference. I swapped the QX9650 for a E8600 this evening, so perhaps will have better luck with the dual core. A very fickle motherboard, indeed. It would appear I'm not the only one battling with the Rampage Extreme and quad core 'blue plate special': Quad Core on the Rampage

[tekjunkie]

Wow, finally read through the entire thread.It took me an entrie night to read through but wow, a wealth of information. I also do have an assortment of hardware that I can throw at the RE when it comes in Monday(see sig), but unfortunately I will be on air cooling, as I am not into benching. I will see what I can do to contribute(I hope work will be light next week so that I can have some fun). It will also be interesting to put the OCZ core SSDs on the Areca.Fun time ahead.

[eternal_fantasy]

Wow, finally read through the entire thread.It took me an entrie night to read through but wow, a wealth of information. I also do have an assortment of hardware that I can throw at the RE when it comes in Monday(see sig), but unfortunately I will be on air cooling, as I am not into benching. I will see what I can do to contribute(I hope work will be light next week so that I can have some fun). It will also be interesting to put the OCZ core SSDs on the Areca.Fun time ahead.

Hey tekjunkie, saw your post in the general hardware section, debating whether to go for the 790i FTW of the RE. Hopefully you'll enjoy your stay and have no regrets on your decision.
Being owner of the pretty good EVGA 790i Ultra and the diabolical Striker II Extreme, I'm thrilled to have switched to the Rampage Extreme. So thrilled infact I brought one extra, fully modded, placed on a book shelf as a geeky room decoration and emergency backup!!

Also I'd love to know how you get on with your Core SSDs via the very nice Areca controller.

keep us updated with your progress.

[tekjunkie]

Hey tekjunkie, saw your post in the general hardware section, debating whether to go for the 790i FTW of the RE. Hopefully you'll enjoy your stay and have no regrets on your decision.
Being owner of the pretty good EVGA 790i Ultra and the diabolical Striker II Extreme, I'm thrilled to have switched to the Rampage Extreme. So thrilled infact I brought one extra, fully modded, placed on a book shelf as a geeky room decoration and emergency backup!!

Also I'd love to know how you get on with your Core SSDs via the very nice Areca controller.

keep us updated with your progress.

Yep was debating very hard between the RE and the 790i FTW and decided to go with the RE. I didn't want to get stuck with all NV stuff so decided to go with Intel/Ati combo. This will give me a lot of options going forward as I already have my S2E.Two different platforms means a lot of upgrade options GFX card wise until I go Westemere in 2010.

@3oh6, I read your write up on the canuks and gr8 job. Do you think if I cut up the silicone gourmets that are used to mount the HDDs, it could be used as washer to mount the NB heatsink??

[eternal_fantasy]

Yes, I'm glad we got to a common consensus. Context is key, and with out context comes imagination and assumptions.

With that behind us, here is my current 24/7 settings with my E8400:




Settings:
BIOS Version 0501
FSB - 570
Ratio - 7x
CPU clock skew - 300
NB clock skew - 100
FSB Strap - 333
DRAM - 1825
Command Rate - 1N
7-6-5-18
Clock twister - Moderate
Booster - Manual/PL8
VCore - 1.4875
LLC - Disable
VPLL - 1.511
VFSB - 1.325
VMCH - 1.55
VDIMM - 2.054
VSB - 1.511

Setting using kits in my sig except the CPU, NB watercooled below 40C under load. All voltages lowered until unstable, then upped 3 steps as insurance. So what is 100% stable for my system may require raising voltages a little.

Enjoy~

[Holmer]

Yes, I'm glad we got to a common consensus. Context is key, and with out context comes imagination and assumptions.

I do not want to waste my and everybodys time with a personal quote war with you. However, you are perfectly right concerning context is key so instead of you just proclaiming the common consensus for everyone I suggest that anybody who cares about my point of view can judge by themeselves by reading the background of my simple request for more stability testing with memory 1:2 here (last post #125 on the page) http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...=195117&page=5 and the rest og the uncut story down to post 135: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...=195117&page=6

Besides I think e.g. tekjunkie and Slim123 can confirm that I am also trying to help others in this forum when I am sure I know something usefull for others.

Sorry to everybody for this off topic post.

# Mezzro thanks, now you have a chance to read the full uncut story (I still haven't figured out the multi quote system - sorry ;-)
# Captain Zero, very cool build

[Mezzro]

# Mezzro thanks, now you have a chance to read the full uncut story (I still haven't figured out the multi quote system - sorry ;-)
# Captain Zero, very cool build

Holmer, thanks for the links. As I said to Eternal, IMHO, both of you contribute to the Forum, and I'm genuinely sorry to see that there was some misunderstanding along the way.

I'm starting to feel more like Henry Kissinger here and less like an overclocker. So, without further ado, here is my Rampage Extreme/QX9650/E8600 build log: Trials and Tribulations with the Rampage Extreme and Quad Core; Less Tribulation with the E8600

Summation: Based on my personal experience, that of a few friends that are experienced builders, and mixed reports on this excellent, XtremeSys thread, I cannot recommend the Rampage Extreme for use with quad core processors -- yet. Hopefully this situation will change with subsequent BIOS releases, and my opinion along with it. As it stands, it's a diamond in the rough . . . with one or two inclusions.

As a rule, I love Asus products and do my best to get them to perform to spec. If these issues were limited to my personal experience, I would state that. They aren't. And I'm in good company.

This forum has been a tremendous resource to me in the past, so I feel I owe it to fellow quad core owners contemplating purchase of a Rampage Extreme a heads up that it ain't all a bed of roses in this instance. Go into the purchase fully aware that, through the luck of the draw, you may end up with a board that plays nice with quads, like Eternal's, or you may end up with a board that goes all Mahatma Gandhi on your ass and stages a virtual 'sit down protest,' powering down abruptly when anything other than auto settings are used at overclocks above 4.20GHz (again, where a quad core is involved).

No one likes to hear bad news. Particularly after they're just dropped $400 on a motherboard and $1,400 on a CPU. There are so many times that I could have saved big bucks had a few early adopters stepped forward and presented the "other side of the story." That's all I'm attempting to do here -- spare others some lost cash and grief. That's not to say the Rampage Extreme is a dog. Far from it -- I think it's a stallion paired with some dual cores, but even then it's hit and miss as Cool_Case can attest to.

Not sure if he's posted it yet, but Cool_Case experienced the same board shutdowns and overall poor OC performance with the QX9770 as I did with the QX9650. And he fared no better with his E8600 . . . using LN2. Cool_Case is not only an experienced overclocker, but also a mathematics professor that oversees a college science department, so brings talent, credentials and experience to the table. And brevity. Something I'm working on. LOL

[Holmer]

Holmer, thanks for the links. As I said to Eternal, IMHO, both of you contribute to the Forum, and I'm genuinely sorry to see that there was some misunderstanding along the way.

I'm starting to feel more like Henry Kissinger here and less like an overclocker. So, without further ado, here is my Rampage Extreme/QX9650/E8600 build log: Trials and Tribulations with the Rampage Extreme and Quad Core; Less Tribulation with the E8600

Summation: Based on my personal experience, that of a few friends that are experienced builders, and mixed reports on this excellent, XtremeSys thread, I cannot recommend the Rampage Extreme for use with quad core processors -- yet. Hopefully this situation will change with subsequent BIOS releases, and my opinion along with it. As it stands, it's a diamond in the rough . . . with one or two inclusions.

As a rule, I love Asus products and do my best to get them to perform to spec. If these issues were limited to my personal experience, I would state that. They aren't. And I'm in good company.

This forum has been a tremendous resource to me in the past, so I feel I owe it to fellow quad core owners contemplating purchase of a Rampage Extreme a heads up that it ain't all a bed of roses in this instance. Go into the purchase fully aware that, through the luck of the draw, you may end up with a board that plays nice with quads, like Eternal's, or you may end up with a board that goes all Mahatma Gandhi on your ass and stages a virtual 'sit down protest,' powering down abruptly when anything other than auto settings are used at overclocks above 4.20GHz (again, where a quad core is involved).

No one likes to hear bad news. Particularly after they're just dropped $400 on a motherboard and $1,400 on a CPU. There are so many times that I could have saved big bucks had a few early adopters stepped forward and presented the "other side of the story." That's all I'm attempting to do here -- spare others some lost cash and grief. That's not to say the Rampage Extreme is a dog. Far from it -- I think it's a stallion paired with some dual cores, but even then it's hit and miss as Cool_Case can attest to.

Not sure if he's posted it yet, but Cool_Case experienced the same board shutdowns and overall poor OC performance with the QX9770 as I did with the QX9650. And he fared no better with his E8600 . . . using LN2. Cool_Case is not only an experienced overclocker, but also a mathematics professor that oversees a college science department, so brings talent, credentials and experience to the table. And brevity. Something I'm working on. LOL

I totally agree with that conclusion concerning RE and quads - but this morning I just could not resist a good price and ordered it anyway

I have very reliable information that EK Waterblocks will have a NB replacement block similar to the Swiftech one http://www.swiftech.com/products/MCW-NBMAX.asp finished from production this week! I have already one in order.

[rob2k]

Trials and Tribulations with the Rampage Extreme and Quad Core; Less Tribulation with the E8600

Based on my personal experience, that of a few friends that are experienced builders, and mixed reports on this excellent, XtremeSys thread, I cannot recommend the Rampage Extreme for use with quad core processors -- yet.

Mezzro - I tend to agree - I'm on my 3rd set of memory trying to get a 420+ FSB. Now on Corsair Dominator 1800Mhz C7 not yet on my sig. The RE is my gaming rig whilst I have an AMD FX62 (i think) for general digital photo/office/internet use. Thinking about getting an E8600 for the RE set up and replacing the AMD machine entirely but utilising the QX9770 - what mobo would you recomment for that chip ?....I'm thinking P5E3 Premium maybe.

Still hoping for a bios update to help things along

[Mezzro]

what mobo would you recommend for that chip ?....I'm thinking P5E3 Premium maybe.
Still hoping for a bios update to help things along

The P5E3 Premium receives mixed reviews here, but pretty positive response elsewhere: AnandTech Review. I think it's a good choice. X38 chipsets seem a safer bet with quads, overall, although I think that will change as the X48 BIOS's mature. If you're buying now, though, the X38 may be your best option: The highest 3DMark06 scores I've obtained using a quad were achieved with the Maximus Extreme. The Maximus Formula is also excellent. Again, mixed reports on the P5E3 Dlx, but still not a bad choice, IMO.