Live MB OC Report :: ASUS Rampage Extreme

[IN7OX]

hi there mezzro
could you please post your settings as i have just moved from the me to the re and have just got 4x1gb sticks of cellshock 1866 blue and im finding it hard to get it to run stable with my q6600
cheers

[Zeus]

Guys, the new Swiftech NB block is oficially released:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...32#post3284832

[Mezzro]

Sure. I've completed 3DM06 at 4.20GHz, but for highest, stable settings, I would recommend the following: 400 - 450FSB. 9x. 1.31v - 1.475vcore (depending on overclock). At 3.90GHz, I could get vcore as low as 1.31v, FSB VTT/1.20v, PLL/1.60v, NB/1.36v, SB/1.50v.

Next to vcore, I found NB and PLL voltages key for stability for CPU clock speeds at or above 4.00GHz: NB/1.60v (1.70v for higher clock speeds). SB/1.50v. PLL/1.693v. FSB VTT/1.40. GTL set to +45. 400MHz strap. LLC disabled.

With 1.92vdimm, I was able to run the RAM at tight timings of 8-8-8-16 approaching 1900MHz.

Regardless of FSB speed, I found that any vcore above 1.50v tended to quickly overheat the CPU, despite low temps reported in the BIOS and by Everest UE. It's almost as if the sensor is placed in the wrong place or has a very low threshold in calibration.

[Xtreme Addict]

I got this mobo yesterday, so far I have only found a few minutes for overclocking this baby

[MnM]

Anyway here is my setting for 470FSB

FSB - 480...

[eternal_fantasy]

OMGWTFNINJAEDITBBQSAUCE

People really need to update their quote...

[rockqc]

Guys, the new Swiftech NB block is oficially released:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...32#post3284832

Can't wait to get mine

[Holmer]

My settings are stable for 24/7 as I no longer bench, I game. Therefore around 4Ghz is where I stay. Memory compatibility is a pretty big issue with the RE. I cannot get my CellShock blue DDR3-1866 PC3-15000 to start windows no matter what setting/voltage I tried, where it is absolutely fine in the ME. Obviously it works fine for your board.

Anyway here is my setting for 470FSB

FSB - 470
Strap - 266
DRAM - 1414
CR - 1T
6-5-5-15
Twister - Strong
Booster - PL7
VCore - depends on your CPU and its speed
LLC - Disable
PLL - 1.51
VFSB - 1.31
VMCH - 1.524
VDIMM - 1.90
SB1.5 - 1.51
SB1.05 - 1.06

Setting using kits in my sig, NB watercooled below 40C under load. 10 hour dual ORTHOS Blend stable, OCCT 2 Hour Stable, 3DMark06 2 Hour stable. 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. The highest clock I've tried and primed at is 470x9, around 1.63V for my QX9650.

I eagerly awaits your review.

Quite some time ago I pointed out that running FSB 450+ with a memory divider (not 1:2) was not extraordinary and you wrote
"FYI my system is running fine 470x8.5 1:2 1880Mhz mem, played TF2 for 3 hours absolutely fine." Does that mean that running you memory 1:2 was not stable in the long run or that you chose your current settings because it gives more performance (I see you have nice and tight timings/strap)?

Full quote from your post I was refering to:

You quote me:
Originally Posted by Holmer
I don't want to argue about how you define a 24/7 stable OC and the FSB you reached is indeed great. However, these FSB are not exceptional with other motherboards (I know for sure on the WS Evolution) and a QX9650 especially with the 4/5 memory divider. Please don't get me wrong but if the settings are only stable to check email and post a SS what's the use (I know it is preliminary tests). As mentioned my point is, it puts a lot more stress on the MB (and naturally the memory) to use the 1:2 memory divider. Therefore to me a FSB of 450+ is only really impressive with memory running DDR 1800 (and preferably 2x2 GB of memory). For instance my MB can prime for 10-20 h at 9x445 but will crap out within minutes in a game. At 426x9.5 I can Prime for 70 h (even I know that is excessive) and games run perfect. If I use the 4/5 memory divider and FSB around 450 games are fine but performance sucks. I would love to see the RE handle FSB 450+ with 2x2GB memory 1:2.
I really don't mean to be a party pooper and I sincerely appreciate your tests with your QX9650, but I am not so excited before I have seen som Orthos/OCCT/Prime/game stability with memory running synced

BTW I use my PC for scientific work sometimes so I require another level of stability. Quote end

Your reply:
Believe it or not, I'm not an Asus employee, and am not trying to impress or showoff what I brought in an attempt to "impress" you into buying the board. To be honest I really couldn't care less. However what I CAN and are happy to do is to try and answer reasonable questions, and try reasonable settings on the board. What I will not do is put my newly installed rig out of commission (try gaming while priming) for a day, sucking juice out of my wall socket, in an attempt to impress a guy over the internet, so he can make up his mind, and be confident about his purchase. As I said before, what you do with your own system is your business, and I will be helpful if the request is resonable. When was the last time you saw an online review site show you a screenshot of a 24H+ primed stable overclocked system? If they won't do it even when they get paied, I as hell won't.

FYI my system is running fine 470x8.5 1:2 1880Mhz mem, played TF2 for 3 hours absolutely fine.

No hard feelings btw, its just how I do things... maybe you can get one of the others that has the board to test it for you. Quote end
(sorry for my inability to multiquote across threads I need to learn that ;-)

I speak only for myself. I do see more and more posts here and elsewhere with experienced users struggling with the RE paired with quad cores.


That's terrific. Perhaps he will share with the class.


IMHO, forget about it until more mature BIOS releases surface. By then, we all my be using Nehalems. but I digress. I think the board has potential. I also think its shortcomings were eclipsed by the hype. And there's no shortage of the latter. LOL

Thank you for answering, I appreciate your posts (clean and informative).

[eternal_fantasy]

Yes I stand by my post, having my memory at 1:2 7-6-5-18 means that I need to have 2.05V VDIMM and raise the VMCH by 0.05V. infact the performance is indeed similer using everest mem&cache bench. I was just showing that I could indeed satisfy having a FSB of 470Mhz using quad while having a much lower VDIMM. Infact I have many settings I can use, just because I didn't post them all don't mean it was not stable/possible for me or that I was posting BS before. Hopefully you'll understand.

[3oh6]

And the final session with the HD4850s is done. The Tek-9 4.0 Slims are a treat to work with and even without temp probes, managing them was quite straight forward. Still nursing the banged up ribs so pouring from the dewar for 3 pots was quite a chore but manageable. Either way, the session went very well and a few updates to the HD4850 scores happened...

CPU at 6.15GHz on LN2 // CF 2 x ATIHD4850 at 1000MHz core+ on LN2
Intel X48 & 2x ATI HD4850 512MB DDR3 // CrossFire Cat 8.7 // TEK-9 4.0 SLIM:
Click score for full size screenshot...
01 = 114997 | CPU @ 615*10 6100MHz | GPU @ 1020MHz / 1075MHz @ 1.508v | ORB | HWBot.org
03 = 102558 | CPU @ 615*10 6150MHz | GPU @ 1050MHz / 1075MHz | ORB | HWBot.org
05 = 40110 | CPU @ 615*10 6150MHz | GPU @ 1000MHz / 1075MHz | ORB | HWBot.org

The culmination of all previous testing went down earlier this week with a 3 pot LN2 session on the HD4850s. I got my E8600 stable at 6150MHz for all benches and managed to improve a couple with some help from a pair of Tek-9 4.0 Slims on the GPUs. I did not have thermal probes on the GPU pots so it was fly-by-wire and they could have been maximized quite a bit more I believe. Either way, some CF HD4850 WRs fell and a solid chunk of HWBot points were earned from this very strong setup...cracked the top 50

unfortunately that is not all the news there is and the last bit is not good. during the late stages of the session i got DRAM DET error after a reboot. this was quite common with my D9GTS and about the 3rd or 4th time it happened this session. a clear CMOS, boot with a single stick, save and exit of defaults, then plop the other stick back in gets me up and running when this happens...no problem. well, this time after the CMOS reset the LCD Poster just came up with CPU INIT, as soon as the power to the PSU was turned on

for those that are un-aware, if you get CPU INIT as soon as the PSU is turned on, your board is a brick. if anyone has had any luck getting out of this without an RMA, let me know, otherwise the board will be going back monday and i will no doubt get a dud in return from ASUS...that's just how it happens with me

[Mezzro]

Quite some time ago I pointed out that running FSB 450+ with a memory divider (not 1:2) was not extraordinary . . . . As mentioned my point is, it puts a lot more stress on the MB (and naturally the memory) to use the 1:2 memory divider . . . . I sincerely appreciate your tests with your QX9650, but I am not so excited before I have seen some Orthos/OCCT/Prime/game stability with memory running synced

BTW I use my PC for scientific work sometimes so I require another level of stability.

I'm of a similar mind, Holmer. Achieving a high FSB holds limited utility and performance gains if the memory is running in geological time. Settings and performance vary given the context within which the hardware is used, of course, but games also benefit from faster RAM clock speeds. Moreover, it's self-defeating to spend $300-$600 on high-end RAM only to run it at one half its spec speed.

When was the last time you saw an online review site show you a screenshot of a 24H+ primed stable overclocked system? If they won't do it even when they get paied, I as hell won't.

In fact, boutique resellers like Hypersonic and Falcon NW commonly bench test their high-end, overclocked rigs for 24hours before shipping to end users.

FYI my system is running fine 470x8.5 1:2 1880Mhz mem, played TF2 for 3 hours absolutely fine.

While running certain games for extended periods at max settings on an overclocked computer is certainly one way to test for rudimentary stability, it is by no means exhaustive nor adequate for one using a computer in a scientific/CAD/engineering setting. More conventional bench tests are required to test for hardware/performance suitability in this context; hence, there is nothing untoward about requesting results from such tests, as this is the accepted industry standard by which stability is indexed.

I didn't hear anyone calling for 24 hours of Orthos. Holmer mentions that he will sometimes strive for 72 hour bench-stable settings; he only requests of others, "some Orthos/OCCT/Prime/game stability with memory running synced." Big difference and not an unreasonable request. While not everyone here uses his/her PC exclusively for gaming or scientific application, there are certain benchmarks that have been accepted by the IT industry as the industry standard by which stability and performance are gauged. TF2 is not one of them.

Once I have arrived at what I believe to be a stable daily overclock, I will run Prime95 and Orthos for an hour or two each. For most here, publishing results from two or three of the established benches like Orthos, Prime, SuperPi, 3DMark06 and PCMark Vantage lends more credence and import to any claimed settings. Since we're not a homogeneous group with members playing the same games or performing identical work related tasks, employing some common and accepted benchmarks when posting specific, successful overclocks imbues them with far great meaning.

[Mezzro]

3oh6, amazing work with this board! Kudos. Sorry to hear it gave up the ghost.

[Xtreme Addict]

[Mezzro]

Impressive, Miravo! Guess I'm going to have to pull the QX9650 and drop in the E8600. See if I have better luck with that CPU.

[cool_case]

I'm hitting the FSB wall at about 417MHz with both the QX9770 and the E8600, both brand new. Tried vcore up to 1.7v and I"m running on LN2 with temps down around -70C.

[eternal_fantasy]

Right.. I think I'll need to answer these backwards so it makes more sense... Also read with an open mind, or you're just wasting your time.

I didn't hear anyone calling for 24 hours of Orthos. Holmer mentions that he will sometimes strive for 72 hour bench-stable settings; he only requests of others, "some Orthos/OCCT/Prime/game stability with memory running synced." Big difference and not an unreasonable request.

If you want to give your thoughts on a post that was written more then a month ago, in another thread, you might want to read through said thread, or you might get your facts wrong.
Here is his post I was answering to at the time of writing:

Please perform some more long term stability tests soon at FSB 450+ with memory 1:2 with your QX9650 (e.g. Prime blend for 24 h+).

-----

While not everyone here uses his/her PC exclusively for gaming or scientific application, there are certain benchmarks that have been accepted by the IT industry as the industry standard by which stability and performance are gauged. TF2 is not one of them.

Same as above, If you have read posts leading up to the one Holmer quoted in this thread, then you'd know TF2 was not my stability test. This post follows the one above by Holmer:

First I will try and push all my hardware to the limits and see how far they'll go, then an hour or two of ORTHOS blend and I'm happy for my 24/7 settings. I don't have any mission critical tasks to perform on my PC, and 2 hours of priming will be more then enough to ensure stable gaming.

-----

While running certain games for extended periods at max settings on an overclocked computer is certainly one way to test for rudimentary stability, it is by no means exhaustive nor adequate for one using a computer in a scientific/CAD/engineering setting. More conventional bench tests are required to test for hardware/performance suitability in this context; hence, there is nothing untoward about requesting results from such tests, as this is the accepted industry standard by which stability is indexed.

I love how you assume and dismiss my method of stability testing based on one quoted post of a long dialogue between me and Holmer from another thread.

First I will try and push all my hardware to the limits and see how far they'll go, then an hour or two of ORTHOS blend and I'm happy for my 24/7 settings.I don't have any mission critical tasks to perform on my PC, and 2 hours of priming will be more then enough to ensure stable gaming.

Then after posting that I DO stress the PC once at my desired speed/setting, he came and pissed on my post saying "if the settings are only stable to check email and post a SS what's the use"??
Then I gave him a piece of my mind:

Believe it or not, I'm not an Asus employee, and am not trying to impress or showoff what I brought in an attempt to "impress" you into buying the board. To be honest I really couldn't care less. However what I CAN and are happy to do is to try and answer reasonable questions, and try reasonable settings on the board. What I will not do is put my newly installed rig out of commission (try gaming while priming) for a day, sucking juice out of my wall socket, in an attempt to impress a guy over the internet, so he can make up his mind, and be confident about his purchase. As I said before, what you do with your own system is your business, and I will be helpful if the request is resonable. When was the last time you saw an online review site show you a screenshot of a 24H+ primed stable overclocked system? If they won't do it even when they get paid, I as hell won't.

And yes, he DID ask for a 24H+ prime tp prove my stability, as per my first point in this post.

-----

In fact, boutique resellers like Hypersonic and Falcon NW commonly bench test their high-end, overclocked rigs for 24hours before shipping to end users.

Thank you for backing up my point. I can see the 24H stress test can be a selling point for system makers where they are paid to performed these tests. I'd like to help forum members, free of charge of course, but when someone nudges in requesting me to prove my claim of stability by wasting my time and money for 24H+, when he disaprove my stress length, saying it was "only stable to check email", when I can't use my just built PC for what I want to use, so that someone I don't know somewhere on this planet can sleep at night knowing it is "24H+ prime stable", I get a little upset. I'm sorry, but as I said, buy one yourself and prime away.

-----

Once I have arrived at what I believe to be a stable daily overclock, I will run Prime95 and Orthos for an hour or two each. For most here, publishing results from two or three of the established benches like Orthos, Prime, SuperPi, 3DMark06 and PCMark Vantage lends more credence and import to any claimed settings. Since we're not a homogeneous group with members playing the same games or performing identical work related tasks, employing some common and accepted benchmarks when posting specific, successful overclocks imbues them with far great meaning.

Then you'll find these posts intresting:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=121
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=125
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=128
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...6&postcount=68

some people just don't contribute to the community... they take and take, and when they don't get what they want, they dismiss what others has given, then about it on the forums...

[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]

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~

[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.

[Captain Zero]

Sub'd to this great thread, picked up a lot of info here. Not to jack, but here's my Rampage Extreme build in progress, used a lot of the tricks found here so THANK YOU!

http://www.xtremesystems.org/FORUMS/...d.php?t=201512

[tomati]

I wonder if the ifx-10 heatsink from thermalright will fit on these Rampage extreme, due to the fujitsu chip on the backside board ?

The backplate of the IFx-10 is a little bit different from the TRUE, there is some space between the board and the backplate, so I don't need to cut it .



I want to use it with my TRUE, so what do you think ?


Does someone compared the Rampage against the P5E3 premium, does the extra 75€ worth the invest ?

[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

[Zeus]

3oh6, My condolences on your magical board, i hope you'll get a good one in return.

Are you sure it ain't moisture from condensation?

[Mezzro]

I wonder if the ifx-10 heatsink from thermalright will fit on these Rampage extreme, due to the fujitsu chip on the backside board ?

Tomati, I would be very careful with that backplate. The Fujistu chip sticks out there a good bit. If you're certain there is clearance, go for it, but as you ratchet down heatsink to backplate to provide better contact, that's where you run your risk, IMHO. Most people that have used an enclosed backplate with the RE have modified it in some way. Just don't want to see you with a board that you can't RMA.