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

[OVERK|LL]

2x1GB Crucials fried? How about what you could suggest for my Q6700 and 4X1GB Crucials 6400 (the new 2.0V versions)

Thanks

Nope, I sold them. Wanted 8GB of RAM

My settings are actually in this thread somewhere if you search on my name.

[youraa]

one of my core thermal sensors is stuck according to realtemp, do I have to worry? i still have the warranty for it do you think, they could replace it? or maybe there is a way to activate the sensor?

[Grnfinger]

I don't post here often, so I didn't update my signature. But your post makes me wonder if you even read my post as I posted my BIOS upgrade path, which was 0401 -> 0505 -> 1207 -> 1302 and I said that I've experienced similar problems under all BIOS. Also, I did not specifically mention testing each module individually, but I have in the past when I was still having these issues. I used Windows Memory Diagnostic (including extended suite) and have used Super Pi (which is a good indicator of memory stability) under Windows with an instance on each core doing a 32M calculations. So, yeah "I'm pretty sure it's not the modules" and I'll stand by that statement.

Signature updated and bolded just for you...

Likewise: I should point out your signature indicates:
G.Skill F2-8500CLD5-4GBPK @ 1130MHz
G.Skill F2-8800CLD5-4GBPI @1142MHz
So where's those Dominators you claim to be running?

You take an attitude when looking for help... good plan

Anyways lets start fresh shall we.
My sig indicates what I'm currently running, I could add the 5 cpus and 3 other kits of ram, my laptop, 2 old socket 939 rigs, my sons e8400/p35 ds3l
I think you get my point, I have no reason to lie here and I kind of take offence to the accusation.

Post your bios setup and temps CPU NB SB please.
I'm still leaning towards memory, you could also inspect the dimm slot area for swollen capacitors, pay really close attention, if any are swollen then your looking at an RMA for sure.
But lets have a look at your bios and temps so we can get a better idea of what is happening.

[zlojack]

You take an attitude when looking for help... good plan

Anyways lets start fresh shall we.
My sig indicates what I'm currently running, I could add the 5 cpus and 3 other kits of ram, my laptop, 2 old socket 939 rigs, my sons e8400/p35 ds3l
I think you get my point, I have no reason to lie here and I kind of take offence to the accusation.

Post your bios setup and temps CPU NB SB please.
I'm still leaning towards memory, you could also inspect the dimm slot area for swollen capacitors, pay really close attention, if any are swollen then your looking at an RMA for sure.
But lets have a look at your bios and temps so we can get a better idea of what is happening.

Someone with an attitude like that doesn't even deserve your help, dude.

Budious, Grnfinger is one of the most helpful guys around and has a lot of practice and experience with a lot of different boards, RAM and CPUs. If he's offering help, say thanks instead of giving him attitude.

[Budious]

Someone with an attitude like that doesn't even deserve your help, dude.

Budious, Grnfinger is one of the most helpful guys around and has a lot of practice and experience with a lot of different boards, RAM and CPUs. If he's offering help, say thanks instead of giving him attitude.

Whatever... it was rhetorical reply to his attitude. He's the one that not so jokingly wanted to make an issue out of BIOS 0505 in my signature when my original post said I had updated it twice. Anyways, if he's so helpful, how about a helpful reply instead?

Post your bios setup and temps CPU NB SB please.
I'm still leaning towards memory, you could also inspect the dimm slot area for swollen capacitors, pay really close attention, if any are swollen then your looking at an RMA for sure.
But lets have a look at your bios and temps so we can get a better idea of what is happening.

I will inspect the board closely as soon as I get a chance later today.

[Dostoyevsky77]

Wow, after a year of perfect problem-free performance on this board, this morning I couldn't turn it on because of "DET DRAM". I only had enough time to try a few things out & tried just two sticks in blue and then the other two in white, but no joy. I also tried clearing CMOS. Still DET DRAM.

Tonight, I will try my wife's PC2-1000 G.Skill 2x2s, but I am pessimistic considering 2x1 Ballistix didn't work. Any other thoughts why it would suddenly not pass POST after working absolutely fine for so long? My rig is current sig.

***EDIT: Good to see Zlojack & Grnfinger still hang out here. You guys FTW. Zlojack, your new build looks awesome. I'm also a Carlsberg fan. :p

[youraa]

Wow, after a year of perfect problem-free performance on this board, this morning I couldn't turn it on because of "DET DRAM". I only had enough time to try a few things out & tried just two sticks in blue and then the other two in white, but no joy. I also tried clearing CMOS. Still DET DRAM.

Tonight, I will try my wife's PC2-1000 G.Skill 2x2s, but I am pessimistic considering 2x1 Ballistix didn't work. Any other thoughts why it would suddenly not pass POST after working absolutely fine for so long? My rig is current sig.

***EDIT: Good to see Zlojack & Grnfinger still hang out here. You guys FTW. Zlojack, your new build looks awesome. I'm also a Carlsberg fan. :p

Last year when I bought the mobo I had kinda similar problem suddenly my 1150 OCZ stopped working, with one of them it did boot, but never with both, although when I tried with just the one stick I thought was damaged it didn't boot. Did you try booting with one of them? Finally I exchanged them for the Black Dragons, the funny thing is that when I went to the store the guy checked the RAM and it was working fine!!???? he checked it on a different board.

[zlojack]

Wow, after a year of perfect problem-free performance on this board, this morning I couldn't turn it on because of "DET DRAM". I only had enough time to try a few things out & tried just two sticks in blue and then the other two in white, but no joy. I also tried clearing CMOS. Still DET DRAM.

Tonight, I will try my wife's PC2-1000 G.Skill 2x2s, but I am pessimistic considering 2x1 Ballistix didn't work. Any other thoughts why it would suddenly not pass POST after working absolutely fine for so long? My rig is current sig.

***EDIT: Good to see Zlojack & Grnfinger still hang out here. You guys FTW. Zlojack, your new build looks awesome. I'm also a Carlsberg fan. :p

Thanks man! I hope to eventually finish that build It's taking forever!

Anyway, weren't there issues with Ballistix and these boards a while back? Could be that yours held out longer and finally decided to die?

[Dostoyevsky77]

Youraa & Zlojack, you guys are right. One stick POSTed for me. Looks like the other three are bad. Sadly, it looks like my luck with these Ballistix has run out and it's time to order a new set.

I am thinking 2x2 for obvious reasons. Do you guys know some good sticks that can take my 1128MHz OC in the 333MHz 5:4 strap? I need to stay cheap. I was thinking of THESE, but my wife's PC2-1000 OCZs don't OC except a couple MHz. Is there some good sticks that reliably OC on this board? ***EDIT: I just saw Grnfinger's sig. I'm going to get those G.Skills for now, but do let me know your thoughts.

Wow... what to do with these Ballistix? RMA them, and then... eBay? How sad.

[youraa]

Youraa & Zlojack, you guys are right. One stuck POSTed for me. Looks like the other three are bad. Sadly, it looks like my luck with these Ballistix has run out and it's time to order a new set.

I am thinking 2x2 for obvious reasons. Do you guys know some good sticks that can take my 1128MHz OC in the 333MHz 5:4 strap? I need to stay cheap. I was thinking of THESE, but my wife's PC2-1000 OCZs don't OC except a couple MHz. Is there some good sticks that reliably OC on this board?

Wow... what to do with these Ballistix? RMA them, and then... eBay? How sad.

You should check them on a different board, cause as I was saying my sticks on a different board worked fine and they were passing all the tests, so that was a strange situation, it seems that it was a mobo problem but after changing the ram it never happend again

[ShawnTRD]

I just seen that some people are showing that they have changed theres. Are changing these important? Why?

[MJR]

soem of those settings can make a huge difference.

[Grnfinger]

I just seen that some people are showing that they have changed theres. Are changing these important? Why?

Speed step and C1E are turned off for overclocking,
vanderpool can be enabled, I used to run it enabled but no longer
TM function will throttle your CPU, so disabled is best
Ex Disable Bit, enables or disables page protection, disabled is best.

Wow, after a year of perfect problem-free performance on this board, this morning I couldn't turn it on because of "DET DRAM". I only had enough time to try a few things out & tried just two sticks in blue and then the other two in white, but no joy. I also tried clearing CMOS. Still DET DRAM.

Tonight, I will try my wife's PC2-1000 G.Skill 2x2s, but I am pessimistic considering 2x1 Ballistix didn't work. Any other thoughts why it would suddenly not pass POST after working absolutely fine for so long? My rig is current sig.

***EDIT: Good to see Zlojack & Grnfinger still hang out here. You guys FTW. Zlojack, your new build looks awesome. I'm also a Carlsberg fan. :p

Sorry to hear about your ram, but glad your still around m8
GSkills kick ass you wont be disapointed with them.

Crucial BT's were notorious for dieing on X38 boards, Test your sticks in a P35/45 if you can b4 you RMA them, they might be just fine.

[ShawnTRD]

How do these Voltage look for Q6700 @ 3.36

Everest
Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.33 V
FSB VTT 1.44 V
North Bridge Core 1.46 V
South Bridge Core 1.10 V
South Bridge PLL 1.52 V
DIMM 2.00 V
DIMM VTT 1.01 V
GPU Vcc 3.27 V

[ShawnTRD]

OCCT only last for 18 minutes

[Grnfinger]

OCCT only last for 18 minutes

run prime blend and tell me what test it fails.

[Dostoyevsky77]

Grnfinger, thank you so much for the PM with the timing/PL/voltage information on the G.Skills. FYI to everyone else, Green sent me a LONG PM with every setting I could possibly want for running the G.Skills @ sigged OC (except at 5-5-5-15).

Speaking of, I wonder what you guys think about this. A good friend at the Nvidia forums is sending PC2-8500 Dominators 4x1GB (probably rev 1.1 or later without the D9GMHs). He says he can get them up to 1150 on a 790i, but only two at a time. He can't run both kits. Anyway, he's sending them FOR FREE! (I love you guys & these forums). It's Jaafaman, if any of you are regular in the Nvidia or EVGA forums. I'll let you all know how both kits (G.Skill v. Dominators) work out. I'm looking for some tight timings at some high speeds.

I haven't benched RAM in over 6 months! What fun to start again (even if it is eclipsed by i7... who cares? I still run a terminal window to override GUI! DDR2 <> FTW, but it sure is a lot of fun!).

[Shiranui Gen-An]

I can't seem to get my Maximus with Rampage BIOS 0701 to even boot when I try to 533FSB or higher with my E0 E8400. I know the chip has it in it, when it was in my DFI P35 it could do at least 542FSB and didn't require a lot of VTT. Right now I'm running 500x8 on the Maximus which seems stable, but it seems odd that I'm having problems going higher. I tried bumping NB voltage all the way up to 1.65 with no success; the highest FSB I've gotten it to POST with is 525.

[Zucker2k]

@ Dostoyevsky77, where have you been hiding? Nice to see you back.

Alright guys and girls, I have a proposition. It's amazing how quickly we can forget stuff, but I have this pesky thing where I can boot windows normal running my Q9550 @ 495 fsb, but at 500 fsb, I always get a black screen..... unless I switch off the system and kill the switch. It'll seem a strap change may be the issue, since I'm running @ PL8 with CL5, but even if I change to PL9, I get the same treatment at boot. The system is perfectly stable (guess not) in windows,and I've shown you some screenies of it priming at 4.250Ghz (8.5 x 500). This anomally is true for both 308 and 701 bioses. So I decided to go to the very early bioses and re-discovered 0207. This bios' microcode is obviously outdated,and even though it throws up a warning about updating my bios to unleash the full power of the processor, actual performance in windows is on par with 308. 207 has a higher TRFC too, and very low gtls - 57 (which I'm running on right now), 59, 61, and 63. The only problem I foresee is TRFC is maxed at 42. Now if we can convince Ket? to copy the latest microcode and may be update the ram table in 207, maybe even append the gtl configuration for that bios, we should have a very effective hybrid bios which should help many people overclock their quads better. I doubt Asus will ever go to those low gtls again. What do you guys think?

PS: Oh, 0207 did solve my booting issue @ 500 FSB when I use 0.57x gtl and bump fsbt a bit higher.

[Zucker2k]

I can't seem to get my Maximus with Rampage BIOS 0701 to even boot when I try to 533FSB or higher with my E0 E8400. I know the chip has it in it, when it was in my DFI P35 it could do at least 542FSB and didn't require a lot of VTT. Right now I'm running 500x8 on the Maximus which seems stable, but it seems odd that I'm having problems going higher. I tried bumping NB voltage all the way up to 1.65 with no success; the highest FSB I've gotten it to POST with is 525.

Try changing PL to one step higher; also, advance clockskews to 300 each, don't forget, a little more fsbt may be necessary. Try the PL first though.

[Dostoyevsky77]

@ Dostoyevsky77, where have you been hiding? Nice to see you back.
(SNIP!)

Thanks. I've been busy lately @ work, but now it's boring again. That, and well... I started getting DET DRAM! :p New modules should arrive today, though.

Vis-a-vis your issue, it's pretty amazing that you found a BIOS that (kind of) works. Have you tried any of the MF BIOSes?

[Shiranui Gen-An]

Try changing PL to one step higher; also, advance clockskews to 300 each, don't forget, a little more fsbt may be necessary. Try the PL first though.

I was running the PL at 10, I'll just set it to auto and see how it goes. I hadn't thought about the clock skews; is that for CPU and NB or for DRAM?

[ShawnTRD]

I this all still true with the new BIOS and RF BIOS? I'm just going over the first post to see what I need to refresh on.

Bios Straps and Getting Them to Work!!!

400 strap set to enabled relax level 0
333 strap set to disable relax level 0
You may need to set Dram Static to Auto

[Shiranui Gen-An]

With the RF BIOS at least, you can manually set the Performance Level/tRD as its actual numeric value.

[ShawnTRD]

These are setting that I'm still confused about. (XXX) is what my setting are.

dram static read ? (Disable I think)
ai clock twister ? (Moderate)
trans.booster ? (Enable I think)

perf.level ? (I'm on 7)