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

[19*12 gamer]

Update on my progress:

Managed to get Orthos small FFT's stress test stable for 73 seconds. (Vista is "stable", i can surf and Orthos Gromacs Core test does not fail)
I lowered a lot of the voltages: (all temps stay below 42degrees C)

My settings are:
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 470
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-941
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 18
RAS# to RAS# Delay : AUTO
Row Refresh Cycle Time : AUTO
Write Recovery Time : AUTO
Read to Precharge Time : AUTO

DRAM Static Read Control: AUTO
Ai Clock Twister : light
Transaction Booster : Disabled
Relax: 1

CPU Voltage : AUTO //reads in BIOS/cpuz/cpuid: 1.304v
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.50 // 1.58v
North Bridge Voltage : 1. 51 // 1.51v
DRAM Voltage : AUTO // 2.1v
FSB Termination Voltage : AUTO // 1.408v (vdroop?)
South Bridge Voltage : AUTO
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : AUTO
North Bridge GTL Reference : AUTO
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage : AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

I tried transaction relax level 0;no POST, and setting :2 boots but stress test fails after 14seconds

[Grnfinger]

Have you tried a Rampage bios yet?

[19*12 gamer]

just flashed it to Rampage but that makes it harder for me to tweak.. any suggestions?

[Grnfinger]

just flashed it to Rampage but that makes it harder for me to tweak.. any suggestions?

Why, it has more options to help stabilize your rig.

[Thanh55]

I couldn't flash to Rampage at all, I follow the guide on page 1 but I got error BIOS file not compatible. My q9450 stable @ 470x8, never go over that with what ever voltage I send to CPU, NB, VTT....

[19*12 gamer]

I flashed it to rampage, its a bit more complicated now but i get most of the settings and got 8.5*500 stress stable for 18+ minutes:
@Thanh55: make a bootable USB stick as the first page instructs and use the afudos command listed there, I flashed Rampage Formula 0410.rom in it that way.

I stopped the test after 18 minutes, all temps stayed below 44 degrees C , im gonna leave it running tonight

My settings for that oc are:
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 8.5
FSB Frequency : 500
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1002
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 18
RAS# to RAS# Delay : AUTO
Row Refresh Cycle Time : AUTO
Write Recovery Time : AUTO
Read to Precharge Time : AUTO

DRAM Static Read Control: disabled
Ai Clock Twister : lighter
Transaction Booster : auto (0-30 dont get this??)

CPU Voltage : AUTO //reads in BIOS/cpuz/cpuid: 1.304v
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.50 // 1.58v
North Bridge Voltage : 1. 51 // 1.51v
DRAM Voltage : AUTO // 2.1v
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.6// 1.5v
South Bridge Voltage : AUTO
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : AUTO //Dont get this 2
North Bridge GTL Reference : AUTO //and this (0.67*-0.62* = %?)
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage : AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Havent tried lowering voltages for this OC yet...
Tried for 3 hours to get 800*9 working but could not boot windows nomatter what, while 520*8.5 is able to boot vista and make screens but not stress the system...

[Dua|ist]

@19*12 gamer
I'm not a big Maximus (Rampage) Formula expert, but here are my 5 cents:
- disable both DRAM Static Read Control & Transaction Booster (Disable - Relax Level 0) at first. This will make it less stressful for northbridge
- consider loosening Row Refresh Cycle Time (say 45 - 50, once again to make sure it's not the memory that's holding you back)
- try setting FSB Strap to North Bridge to 400 - sometimes helps to achieve higher FSB
- try to avoid as much voltages set to AUTO as possible, set them manually
- vcore is way too low for the clocks you want, set it manually, so that bios monitoring / CPU-Z reads at least 1.35 under load
- up the PLL a little - this sometimes helps when OCing at high FSB with a high multiplier
- same for Norhtbridge, set it to 1.55
- FSB Termination Voltage seems too high for me, maybe lowering it to 1.35 - 1.4 will help?
- if none of the above helps play with PCI-Express Frequency (different values between 100 - 110) and / or toggle PCI-Express Spread Spectrum

[Grnfinger]

I flashed it to rampage, its a bit more complicated now but i get most of the settings and got 8.5*500 stress stable for 18+ minutes:
@Thanh55: make a bootable USB stick as the first page instructs and use the afudos command listed there, I flashed Rampage Formula 0410.rom in it that way.

I stopped the test after 18 minutes, all temps stayed below 44 degrees C , im gonna leave it running tonight



Havent tried lowering voltages for this OC yet...
Tried for 3 hours to get 800*9 working but could not boot windows nomatter what, while 520*8.5 is able to boot vista and make screens but not stress the system...

Your FSBT is way to high 1.40 max in bios.
take your NB to 1.55 it should help

[19*12 gamer]

Thanks, will try it out. The transaction booster gives me only the option to enable and has a setting of 0 - 30 ?? Does this setting effect oc?

[19*12 gamer]

sorry double post

[Thanh55]

@19*12 gamer: still have the same error..hmmm. Have to stuck with 1207 BIOS.

[Commander_HK47]

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3208&p=2

More than likely this has been posted but i find it a fairly good read as there is a lot of info in this review that explains some basic but mystifying aspects of the maximus/rampage formula board to new comers.

19*12 gamer; i think one reason you are having issues is because of the decrease of your multiplier witch in return is forcing you to use a higher *FSB to reach the clock speed you are going for. The problem is that the higher FSB in conjunction with the lower multiplier is causing some sort of stress on the north bridge when it tries to communicate with the system memory.

I had an issue with a particular set of values i was trying to use to obtain 3.6 with my Q6600(instead of 400x*9 450*8 was suggested), now this is not a knock against that individual as they where just trying to help.

I did not change voltages or any other setting other than the ratio/FBS, when i tried to test a few times afterward(for statical averaging purposes) i not only failed the Intel burn in test/Prime 95, but my machine would BSOD/hang as where it would just fail before(400*9 apposed to 450*8) and i could still use the OS.

I think it might have something to do with how it(the processor)negotiates with the memory controller in the north bridge when it comes to handling data transactions with the systems memory bus. Some thing to the affect of to large of a ratio skew in terms of the CPU to NB to Memory binding(best i could picture it ATM).

I could be wrong about all of that, and wouldn't mind if i was told so. I would just like to see supporting evidence to learn/confirm otherwise.

[scoobie dave]

Do most people who flash to the Rampage Formula rom's have more luck with overclocking higher fsb?

[kup]

Yes, generally. The Rampage bios seems to make things more stable as you go higher. It won't always help you gain more MHz as this is very much silicon dependent but it will help.

[Houdini]

Hello, what is the advantage of flashing to rampage bios? Better oc capabilities? Faster or what's the deal?

And what bios is recommended for the rampage?

[kup]

Please read the thread instead of asking questions that have been answered at least 50 times already.

[BieBiep]

RF 410 bios lists improved memory compatibility.
Can i just flash the bios provided by asus to my P5E or does it need modification first?


I'm happily running 403 atm, provided on the first page, but i cant get the board to POST with 2 sticks... (Sticks tested in a p5b deluxe)

[19*12 gamer]

I made it to 4.5Ghz to bad it needs 1.45V

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks everyone, I think I made it to my goal, just trying to get the voltages down a bit and trying to stress the system harder because orthos can run for hours now

My settings are:
Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 500
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 400
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1000
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 18
RAS# to RAS# Delay : AUTO
Row Refresh Cycle Time : AUTO
Write Recovery Time : AUTO
Read to Precharge Time : AUTO

DRAM Static Read Control: disabled
Ai Clock Twister : light
Transaction Booster : auto (0-30 I still dont get this setting, there is NO relax)

CPU Voltage : 1.46//reads in BIOS/cpuz/cpuid: 1.448v
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.58 // 1.664v
North Bridge Voltage : 1. 65 // 1.648v
DRAM Voltage : 2.2// 2.2v
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.44// 1.344v
South Bridge Voltage : AUTO
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.62*
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.67*
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage : AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Gonna try Intels burn test now...
EDIT:This app is very scary, it took my cpu from 36 degrees up to 68 Degrees C in 1 second! I dont think this represents normal use, even with several stress tests the system never reach beyond 59 degrees..
My cpu is rated for 74Degrees max according to Intel, whats a safe max temp to run on? (I did pass the Burn tests)

Thanks again for assisting me

Any suggestions on how to test stability when it is already stable for hours of stressing the system with Orthos? (Even tried multiple tests simultaneous)

[Grnfinger]

First Orthos sucks ass I have had many systems pass orthos and fail prime.
OCCT is better than Orthos

Second your NB and FSBT are way to high for 24/7 use.

Besides that nice job getting it stable.

What ram do you have running 1:1 you should be able to enable dram static, and run clock twister strong for much improved bandwidth.

[Commander_HK47]

Transaction Booster : auto (0-30 I still dont get this setting, there is NO relax)

please read that article i post from anandtech.com, it will explain how to set the common performance level correctly. However you need to read most/all the article as its not just covered in one set page.

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3208&p=2

[Grnfinger]

there is a chart that lists the proper PL level for each strap/FSB
But its fairly basic stuff to figure out on ones own

[Commander_HK47]

yes, but for people that don't know what, why, or how CPL works in conjunction with other settings like FBS straps and other memory timings, it provides a good starting point to learn.

[19*12 gamer]

Thanks for your help, i will try to lower the NB voltage but i think i already tried that and i cannot lower it without losing stability.
FSB-T at 1.344v is too high? With the Transaction booster setting i only get stability problems, havent tried every possible setting yet tho. (Will try that tonight)

I can get into my desktop with 9*533 but cannot stress the system. I think I will go for 4.25Ghz @ 1.3V cpu and FSBT 1.25v. NB will need only 1.5 then. Seems like an ok-ish oc.

[19*12 gamer]

Just read anandtech article, very nice info indeed, maybe i can tweak even higher on lower Vcore since I've bin setting Loadline Calibration to enabled as disabled gave me (more) problems.
(Had to read the article 3 times to "fully" understand)

Good thing to read is that according to the article setting LC to enabled s with your voltages, so I will test this statement, I certainly hope its true

EDIT:After 2hrs of testing my first impressions are that they indeed tested a 6750 and the same does not work for a E8400 E0.
Setting Loadline Calibration off makes every cpuvoltage setting more unstable while maintaining the rest of the previously stable oc settings.
Makes me wonder what else does not apply for my cpu...

Anyway 4.1 seems a nice oc with about 1.28 vcore so i will stick with that i guess.

[DOM.]

Rampage Formula well it OC my X3350 aka Q9450 and E8500 E0

i know the E8500 well get more fsb cuz its a dual core but what about the X3350 it has a x8 multi

its this or a P5E Deluxe idk much about the new chipsets im still on a P965