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

[ShawnTRD]

1) Set all your Voltage settings manualy. NB Temp is high for just being idle in BIOS (My NB temp is about 35 idle)
What I do is set everthing to AUTO or Load Defalt Settings. Then I go into the monitor and see what my voltage are then, and write them down. Now I go and set my voltages manualy, but note that what you set them to is alittle different then what they will really be. The one that you really want to watch is DRAM. My BIOS setting is 1.94V but it really comes out to be 2.03V. Almost 0.10V higher then I set it. And depending on your RAM you need to set that your self every time. By Default my DRAM Voltage is 2.0V, and for me thats good because thats my RAM's rated Voltage.




2) Just look through this thread and check other peoples BIOS Settings.

[RCG_Bex]

I'm sure that was the toughest thing he ever did.

Lol yeah he was like "are you going to break my balls if this doesn't work?" n I said "no hun, wouldn't want to break those as well, can't live without both my pleasurers machine OR man"

~Bex

[Zucker2k]

I just want to get your guys opinions on my overclock here. First off let me say im a total noob to overclocking, ive been reading about it but never actually doing it before im not sure if what im doing is ok or not. I got pics from my bios so you can see what I exactly did. I got a x48chipset rampage formula, q9550 quad. After this I did use occt to run a stabilty test and it passed. I am using core temp and just on desktop its sitting at 42c. During the test it was mostly at 62c. I have played cod4 for over an hour and cod5 for an hour as well and no problems.

Well if it ain't broke. don't fix it. My only problem is that your NB voltage seems a bit high for that overclock, but then you'll have to resort to manual to set it youself and since you're new to overclocking, you'll be opening a can of worms since manual overclocking usually involves changing all the vital settings to accomplish total stability.

If you want to go that route, I'd save the current bios, and switch to manual and proceed from there. There are many templates at the begining, as well as throughout the thread. Goodluck, and

[Zucker2k]

Lol yeah he was like "are you going to break my balls if this doesn't work?" n I said "no hun, wouldn't want to break those as well, can't live without both my pleasurers machine OR man"

~Bex

[Michowski]

So basically im just trying to get the lowest voltage for everything listed and have it stable then, correct? I went into the hardware moniter and wrote down all the voltages of everything, so now just put those numbers in manually in the xtreme tweaker for each of them?

[Michowski]

Well if it ain't broke. don't fix it. My only problem is that your NB voltage seems a bit high for that overclock, but then you'll have to resort to manual to set it youself and since you're new to overclocking, you'll be opening a can of worms since manual overclocking usually involves changing all the vital settings to accomplish total stability.

If you want to go that route, I'd save the current bios, and switch to manual and proceed from there. There are many templates at the begining, as well as throughout the thread. Goodluck, and

I put my nb voltage to 1.55 now. It was running at 1.584v on auto. I also put my cpu pll to 1.5v instead of 1.6. Running occt now and so far its all good. I hit 62c with core temp for my cpu, havent seen it go higher yet.

[Eastcoasthandle]

The whole idea of increasing the PCIE bandwidth isnt because the video cards transfer 4GB of data each second EVERY second (standard speed), but because when the cards need a burst of data (stuff in the ram that didn't fit into texture memory), it will occur faster, creating less of a bottleneck to all the other data transfers that it has to do.

Agree or disagree?

Or should you leave it on auto for this board as Asus boards are known to scale the PCIe frequency?

[Zucker2k]

I put my nb voltage to 1.55 now. It was running at 1.584v on auto. I also put my cpu pll to 1.5v instead of 1.6. Running occt now and so far its all good. I hit 62c with core temp for my cpu, havent seen it go higher yet.

Try 30 minute primes for each batch of lowerings. Have you tried lowering vcore?

[Grnfinger]

Agree or disagree?

Or should you leave it on auto for this board as Asus boards are known to scale the PCIe frequency?

I would agree
plus setting 110 gets another 500-800 points in 3DMark

[RobinL]

Few months i flashed my Maximus se to Rampage with the ES flasher. Is it now possible to flash the bios without the ES flasher? Or does i still need that ES flasher edition? Is it possible to get an high FSB with the maximus of Rampage formula about 600Mhz FSB+ or is this inpossible with these boards? Because if bought some of G.Skill 4GB (2x2048MB) DDR2 PC2 9600 CL5 4 GB, PC9600, 1200 MHz ram and want to get high fsb speeds on WC. Or wich other board is beter with that ram?

[Grnfinger]

Few months i flashed my Maximus se to Rampage with the ES flasher. Is it now possible to flash the bios without the ES flasher? Or does i still need that ES flasher edition? Is it possible to get an high FSB with the maximus of Rampage formula about 600Mhz FSB+ or is this inpossible with these boards? Because if bought some of G.Skill 4GB (2x2048MB) DDR2 PC2 9600 CL5 4 GB, PC9600, 1200 MHz ram and want to get high fsb speeds on WC. Or wich other board is beter with that ram?

No you dont need to use the ES AFUDOS you can now flash via the bios or widows.
Rampage or Maximus will not do 600FSB, or if it does I have yet to see it.
To run 1200MHz ram you dont need a FSB that high, 450 would allow for 1200 ram
if you really want 600 fsb then I would look at a Gigabyte

[RobinL]

And which gigabyte do you prefer? And how about maximus II? I don`t think using crossfire with high-end cards. For me its to much power consumption in 2D modus. Maybe i think about the biostar Tpower, but that bord looks cheap.

[Grnfinger]

And which gigabyte do you prefer? And how about maximus II? I don`t think using crossfire with high-end cards. For me its to much power consumption in 2D modus.

MIIF is a solid choice but highly doubt you'll see 600 FSB on it 550-575 is possible and I have seen it 565 stable.
Gigabyte EP45-UD3P will do 600+ fsb
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=205525

[RobinL]

Oke thanks for the good help

[Furiøùs]

OK guys im trying to get 460 x 8.0 (3.7Ghz) stable. It wont post for me! Here are my current settings for 410 x 9.0 (3.7Ghz) i want a higher FSB!

CPU Ratio Setting : 9.0
FSB Strap to NB : 266
FSB Freq : 410
Dram Freq : 1028
CMD Rate : 2N

Dram CLK Skew Chan A and B : Adv. 250ps
5-5-5-15

Common PFL : 07
All Pull-In Chns : Disabled

CPU Volt : 1.51250
CPU PLL : 1.50v (Overvolts to 1.60v)
NB Volt : 1.49 (Overvolts to 1.50)
Dram Volt : 2.02 (Overvolts to 2.12)
FSB Term : 1.40v (Overvolts to 1.45)
SB Volt : 1.075v
SB 1.5 Volt : 1.50v

Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL REF : 0.63x
NB GTL REF : 0.67x

Dram controller REF and all channel REF on AUTO.

The above is my settings that i currently use (410x9.0 for 3.7Ghz)

This is what i've tried for 460 x 8.0 ;

CPU Ratio Setting : 8.0
FSB Strap to NB : 333
FSB Freq : 460
Dram Freq : 921
CMD Rate : 2N

Dram CLK Skew Chan A and B : Adv. 250ps
5-5-5-15

Common PFL : 10
All Pull-In Chns : Disabled

CPU Volt : 1.51250
CPU PLL : 1.50v (Overvolts to 1.60v)
NB Volt : 1.49 (Overvolts to 1.50)
Dram Volt : 2.02 (Overvolts to 2.12)
FSB Term : 1.40v (Overvolts to 1.45)
SB Volt : 1.075v
SB 1.5 Volt : 1.50v

Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL REF : 0.63x
NB GTL REF : 0.67x

Dram controller REF and all channel REF on AUTO


It doesnt post, hangs on EN SETUP on my little LCD poster. Any idea's of what i should tweak guys? I appreciate it.

This is a Maximus formula flashed to a rampage. on the 0410 BIOS. i've tried the 0308 and i was had problems getting my performance level down and the 0410 let me get down to 07. Much better bios so far in my eyes.

[Grnfinger]

CPU GTL should be 0.67x
Might want to up NB volts to 1.51-1.53.
460 FSB and 266 strap, doubt it, 333 or 400 strap.
Drop the multi to 7 and see if it it posts at 460, if not likely you've hit a wall

[Furiøùs]

CPU GTL should be 0.67x
Might want to up NB volts to 1.51-1.53.
460 FSB and 266 strap, doubt it, 333 or 400 strap.
Drop the multi to 7 and see if it it posts at 460, if not likely you've hit a wall

The bottom settings are what i wanted to use for 460 FSB which is 333 strap for 921 on the ram.

I thought CPU GTL was supposed to be 0.63 for Q6600. ok so i'll try that. i'll lower the multi also.

Be right back. Thanks!

[Furiøùs]

Ok. Just tried it and still no post. so i guess it is a FSB wall.

Now my question is, HOW do i get past this wall? Is there no way? how do i do it

[Cold Storm]

Got some new ram. I used the Axe ram in it and The board liked it till a kit went bad. 4gbs in all.. Checked out, and saw that the Blue lines are now gone. If I throw any ram in it, red instance in Memtest. Even my new 2x2 sticks i got last night show it like that. But, white lanes is running good. SO, once I get my 780i board back from DOA, thanks Newegg, I'll be rmaing the Max to Asus.

As for you Fur.. Have you tried the pencil mod to the board?

[Allubz]

To update my situation.

I figured that if I might just exxagerate with all voltages and put some extremely relaxed memory settings I might be able to boot 4GHz+, and voila!

System specs recap:
E8400 C0 @ Scythe Infinity (1x 120mm, 1x 80mm push, 1x80mm pull)
Asus Maximus Formula Special Edition (1407)
4x1GB OCZ FlexXLC 6400 CL3 @ 1GHz CL5

4250MHz (8.5*500) achieved posted, booted.
Memory at 1000 / CL5

Idle: 30-ish degrees
Stress: 60-70 in no time!

DRAM Stati: Disabled
Ai Clock: Auto
TBooster: Dis / Rl 7

CPU Volt: 1.55
CPU PLL: 1.62
NBv: 1.61
DRAM: 2.3 (overvolts to 2.4 = rated spec)
FSB Term: 1.52
SBv: 1.050
Loadline: Enabled
0.63 / 0.67
DDR2 Controller REFv DDR2_REF
SB 1.5: 1.5


Anyone got input on this? It isn't exactly OCCT stable, but I'm not sure what the problem is (might just as well be the RAM not being stable at such high clocks or so). I'll look into more of it tomorrow when I get time.

Any comment is highly appreciated.


EDIT: even 9*500 does POST. No boot though

[Grnfinger]

Jeebus those volts are xtreme

For a 8400 @ 4.0GHz try this for a start, and up vcore only till you get it.

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 8.5
FSB Frequency : 471
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-941

CLOCK SKEW Normal both channels

DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 55
Write Recovery Time : 6
Read to Precharge Time : 3

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : 8
Write to Read Delay (S) : 3
Write to Read Delay (D) : 5
Read to Read Delay (S) : 4
Read to Read Delay (D) : 6
Write to Write Delay (S) : 4
Write to Write Delay (D) : 6

Write to PRE Delay : 14
Read to PRE Delay : 5
PRE to PRE Delay : 1
ALL PRE to ACT Delay : 5
ALL PRE to REF Delay : 5

DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
Ai Clock Twister : Stronger
Transaction Booster : Manual

Common Performance Level [7]

Pull-In of CHA PH1 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH2 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH3 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH4 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH5 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH1 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH2 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH3 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH4 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH5 Disabled

CPU Voltage : 1.35 (start here and adjust)
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.55 ( once chip is stable try to lower)
North Bridge Voltage : 1.55 - 1.51 (start high and lower if you can)
DRAM Voltage : 2.12
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.30 ( you may need to adjust this)
South Bridge Voltage : 1.050
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.63X
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.67X
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : DDR2-REFF
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : DDR2-REFF
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : DDR2-REFF
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.5

[loften]

OK guys im trying to get 460 x 8.0 (3.7Ghz) stable. It wont post for me! Here are my current settings for 410 x 9.0 (3.7Ghz) i want a higher FSB!

CPU Ratio Setting : 9.0
FSB Strap to NB : 266
FSB Freq : 410
Dram Freq : 1028
CMD Rate : 2N

Dram CLK Skew Chan A and B : Adv. 250ps
5-5-5-15

Common PFL : 07
All Pull-In Chns : Disabled

CPU Volt : 1.51250
CPU PLL : 1.50v (Overvolts to 1.60v)
NB Volt : 1.49 (Overvolts to 1.50)
Dram Volt : 2.02 (Overvolts to 2.12)
FSB Term : 1.40v (Overvolts to 1.45)
SB Volt : 1.075v
SB 1.5 Volt : 1.50v

Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL REF : 0.63x
NB GTL REF : 0.67x

Dram controller REF and all channel REF on AUTO.

The above is my settings that i currently use (410x9.0 for 3.7Ghz)

This is what i've tried for 460 x 8.0 ;

CPU Ratio Setting : 8.0
FSB Strap to NB : 333
FSB Freq : 460
Dram Freq : 921
CMD Rate : 2N

Dram CLK Skew Chan A and B : Adv. 250ps
5-5-5-15

Common PFL : 10
All Pull-In Chns : Disabled

CPU Volt : 1.51250
CPU PLL : 1.50v (Overvolts to 1.60v)
NB Volt : 1.49 (Overvolts to 1.50)
Dram Volt : 2.02 (Overvolts to 2.12)
FSB Term : 1.40v (Overvolts to 1.45)
SB Volt : 1.075v
SB 1.5 Volt : 1.50v

Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL REF : 0.63x
NB GTL REF : 0.67x

Dram controller REF and all channel REF on AUTO


It doesnt post, hangs on EN SETUP on my little LCD poster. Any idea's of what i should tweak guys? I appreciate it.This is a Maximus formula flashed to a rampage. on the 0410 BIOS. i've tried the 0308 and i was had problems getting my performance level down and the 0410 let me get down to 07. Much better bios so far in my eyes.

maybe try setting your strap to 333 or 400 and pick which ever will get you close to what you want 1000, 1066, 1081 or ? then set your nb volts, fsb term volts and cpu volts to auto and see if it will boot then check the hardware monitor to see what volts it auto sets it to if it boots and work close to them to start. i am guessing the nb volts set to auto will be in the 1.65 area but you may not need that,, more like 1.51 for that.. 1.56 real.. get the others close to what auto sets it at and go from there.. maybe keep your cpu and fsb term volts a little closer together.. my fsb termination is a little higher then my cpu volts at 3.61 mhz. my cpu is at 1.36-7 real and my fsb term is at 1.42 real.. maybe bump your ram volts up .02 if they are rated to handle it.

[Allubz]

As it seems the MF1207 doesn't allow flashing to really old BIOSes (0701) nor RF BIOSes with the 2.39ES utility

I had to:
MF1207 -> MF1201 (downloaded from topic start) (with the 2.39ES utility)
MF1201 -> RF0410 (newest from ASUS webbie) (with the ES2.2xES utility)

So if anyone's wondering why his/her flash isn't working, you might want to try the older utility.



PS: I'm using the Maximus Formula x38 Special Edition rev. 1.02g if it matters.

I'll post some stability stuff later.

[N3it1]

Quick question:If i flash my formula to rampage do i have to change chipset drivers?

[Zucker2k]

Quick question:If i flash my formula to rampage do i have to change chipset drivers?

No.