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

[Grnfinger]

@ 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 This bios' microcode is obviously outdated,and even though it throws up a warning about updating my bios to unleash the full power of the processor, actual performance in windows is on par with 308. 207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.

You do know that Ket just copies memory tables and any major bios changes he attemps usally results in ppl losing there boards, I realalize there is a risk involed doing anything but it seems he has borked alot of boards ...someting maybe you should consider b4 trashing your cherry board.

I tried a MIIF bios he did, it actually ran worse

[Zucker2k]

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?

I'm on rampage.

You do know that Ket just copies memory tables and any major bios changes he attemps usally results in ppl losing there boards, I realalize there is a risk involed doing anything but it seems he has borked alot of boards ...someting maybe you should consider b4 trashing your cherry board.

I tried a MIIF bios he did, it actually ran worse

ROFL, woah! Scary stuff.

[Dostoyevsky77]

Grnfinger, my G.Skill F2-8500CLD5-4GBPK arrived today. I dropped them in at 1128, and they gobbled that up. I can't thank you enough for your help. I did notice, though, that at AUTO my sticks wanted some tighter advanced timings than you gave in your PM to me. I'm guessing for stability? I haven't done a torture test yet, so I'll keep you posted.

The 4x1 PC2-8500 Dominators should be here by Thursday, and I'll give a head-to-head at that time. Here is a run I just did. Right after OS loaded, I was over 9.7GB/s on read and copy, but it's still a way's off from my Ballistix, which could do over 10 on all three for shorter latency. Still, for the money, these are some great sticks.



Zucker, I know you're on RF BIOSes. I was just wondering if you've tried any of the MF for your issue... you know, just out of curiosity.

[Zucker2k]

Zucker, I know you're on RF BIOSes. I was just wondering if you've tried any of the MF for your issue... you know, just out of curiosity.

I'm on a rampage formula, physically.
Yeah, we all love those G.skills; I think Grnfinger gave you the timings for the PI series, those are a little looser. I have your ram, they can run very high on the frequency and very stable.

[Dostoyevsky77]

I'm on a rampage formula, physically.(SNIP!)

Oh. Now I understand. Haha!

I can't wait to compare these sticks to the Dominators. IIRC, they swapped the Micron D9s after the first couple months to Powerchip... or something. Do you know what's in our G.Skills? I miss the cool lights from the Ballistix Tracers. I know that sounds really stupid, but the under-desk lighting would change significantly from RAM activity with all four modules installed.

[Zucker2k]

Oh. Now I understand. Haha!

I can't wait to compare these sticks to the Dominators. IIRC, they swapped the Micron D9s after the first couple months to Powerchip... or something. Do you know what's in our G.Skills? I miss the cool lights from the Ballistix Tracers. I know that sounds really stupid, but the under-desk lighting would change significantly from RAM activity with all four modules installed.

The G.Skills have powerchips in them. I did take mine out for these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231211 cheap and fast. I'm currently running 8GB of these (4x2GB) 1:1 @ DDR2 942 with the following timings

4-4-3-9-1-2-1

7-2-4-4-5-4-5

11-4-1-4-4

I'm yet to see any such timings from any 2x2GB sticks on the market. I hear they have qimonda chips.

[Grnfinger]

Yes my bad I posted the PI timing, I'll hunt arounf for the other setup.

My Corsairs are vers 1.1 Micron D9GMH best kit of ram ever!
Sadly I have a 1x1GB kit, and would sell my soul for another matching kit

Zucker2k I thought GSkills 8500cl5d's were Micron D9GKX

[Dostoyevsky77]

My Corsairs are vers 1.1 Micron D9GMH best kit of ram ever!
Sadly I have a 1x1GB kit, and would sell my soul for another matching kit

Hehe. I sold my kit on eBay when I upgraded from 2 to 4GB because I couldn't find a matching Micron kit. Maybe I can track down that shipping address, and we can go over there with some eggnog (and a baseball bat).

*Sniff* Come back, sweeties!

[Zucker2k]

Yes my bad I posted the PI timing, I'll hunt arounf for the other setup.

My Corsairs are vers 1.1 Micron D9GMH best kit of ram ever!
Sadly I have a 1x1GB kit, and would sell my soul for another matching kit

Zucker2k I thought GSkills 8500cl5d's were Micron D9GKX

Woah, I wish. No, they're powerchips.

Hehe. I sold my kit on eBay when I upgraded from 2 to 4GB because I couldn't find a matching Micron kit. Maybe I can track down that shipping address, and we can go over there with some eggnog (and a baseball bat).

*Sniff* Come back, sweeties!

You're quite the thug aren't you?

Edit: I clocked my first dominators PC2-8500s to DDR2 1400+ on my Asus P5E. Those had D9GMHs.

[youraa]

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.

I cant't go over 433 (( and hoped that the bios could help same thing with AM 1302 ((

[youraa]

@ 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.

so there is hope )))

[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.

Nothing seems to be working well, most of the time it gets stuck and the LCD Poster still shows "EN SETUP."

[Zucker2k]

Nothing seems to be working well, most of the time it gets stuck and the LCD Poster still shows "EN SETUP."

List your parts please, bios, and what clocks you want. Please list ram specs too.

[Shiranui Gen-An]

Board: Maximus Formula
BIOS: Rampage 0701
CPU: E8400 VID 1.2500
Memory: 2x1GB OCZ FlexXLC 9200 (D9GMH)
CPU Cooler: OCZ Vendetta 2

For right now, I just want to get 533x7.5 stable with the memory at 1:1; once I can get that I'll try the memory on the 333/800 strap as it can do 1280. I eventually hope to at least be able to bench 542FSB with memory at 650MHz.

[Zucker2k]

Board: Maximus Formula
BIOS: Rampage 0701
CPU: E8400 VID 1.2500
Memory: 2x1GB OCZ FlexXLC 9200 (D9GMH)
CPU Cooler: OCZ Vendetta 2

For right now, I just want to get 533x7.5 stable with the memory at 1:1; once I can get that I'll try the memory on the 333/800 strap as it can do 1280. I eventually hope to at least be able to bench 542FSB with memory at 650MHz.

Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 7.5
FSB Frequency : 533
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2- 1066
DRAM Command Rate : 2T

Set both clockskews on CHA/CHB to 300

DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 18
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 45~60 (you can tighten later)
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
DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
Ai Clock Twister : STRONGER

Set PL to 9

CPU Voltage : ? Mess around with these, you know your chip best
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.50
North Bridge Voltage : Try 1.65 ~ 1.70 (you can lower it later; the objective is to see what it'll take to boot itso you can fine-tune settings later)
DRAM Voltage : 2.20v
FSB Termination Voltage : Try .1v higher than vcore
South Bridge Voltage : 1.100
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.60
Loadline Calibration : ENABLED
CPU GTL Reference : .63x
North Bridge GTL Reference : .67x
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : AUTO


NB LED Selection : NB Volt
SB LED Selection : SB Volt
CPU LED Selection : CPU VOlt
Voltiminder LED :

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 7.5
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled

Goodluck.

[Shiranui Gen-An]

I gave it a try last night with most of your settings, a few changes here and there, but no go. I was pretty tired so I'll have to try again after work today.

[Zucker2k]

I gave it a try last night with most of your settings, a few changes here and there, but no go. I was pretty tired so I'll have to try again after work today.

Start going down on the fsb till it starts to post, you can then try individual voltages and voila, you should see what's holding you. I have a feeling your not giving it either much vcore, vdimm.

[Shiranui Gen-An]

Well it's an E0 E8400, so ~4GHz (533x7.5) shouldn't need that much vcore, maybe 1.28V real, at least it didn't on the DFI P35.

[Zucker2k]

Well it's an E0 E8400, so ~4GHz (533x7.5) shouldn't need that much vcore, maybe 1.28V real, at least it didn't on the DFI P35.

Well, you do have it to give it what it needs to run on this board.

[Kiwi76]

I finally got around to flashing the BIOS on my Maximus Formula from the 0602 version it shipped with. I tried before going to 1201, but my overclocks would never stick and reset to stock at reboot, so I reverted back to 0602 because it worked. Well, I got the Rampage 0701 BIOS working, so I want to tweak my setup. For now, I just stuck in my settings that worked for 3.6GHz on the old BIOS and it seems to work just fine. I want to get back to 4.05GHz and then tweak it. I never FULLY tweaked it on the old BIOS, so I want to try to now.

Pertinent hardware is as follows (if anything else is needed, it's in the signature).
ASUS Maximus Formula (Rampage Formula BIOS 0701)
E8400 (C0 stepping, Batch#Q746A381, 1.1125VID)
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
It idles ~40C at 3.6GHz, and I can't remember load temperatures to be honest, but it was running fine at 4.05GHz loaded on the old BIOS. If I maximize fan speed, it idles ~4C lower.
4GB (2x 2GB) Corsair XMS2
Since there's so many Corsair XMS2 RAM types, here's a link. It's the worst of the types. I'm pretty sure it maxes out a little over 950MHz (highest overclock I've ever done was 4.32GHz, but it wasn't exactly stable), but, I've never tinkered with timings much.

BIOS settings are as follows with my current temporary 3.6GHz overclock, and I'll note the differences for when it was at 4.05GHz.

Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9.0
FSB Frequency : 400MHz (was 450MHz for previous 4.05GHz overclock)
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 400MHz
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2 800MHz
DRAM Command Rate : 2N

DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 18 (it can do 12 at 3.6GHz/400MHz FSB with 1.86V in the BIOS which really is ~1.9V, but for 4.05GHz, I think it'll need to be left at 18)
RAS# to RAS# Delay : AUTO
Row Refresh Cycle Time : AUTO
Write Recovery Time : AUTO
Read to Precharge Time : AUTO

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : AUTO
Write to Read Delay (S) : AUTO
Write to Read Delay (D) : AUTO
Read to Read Delay (S) : AUTO
Read to Read Delay (D) : AUTO
Write to Write Delay (S) : AUTO
Write to Write Delay (D) : AUTO
DRAM Static Read Control: N/A (not sure, whatever it defaults to)
Ai Clock Twister : N/A (not sure, whatever it defaults to)

CPU Voltage : 1.2V set in BIOS so ~1.8V real for 3.6GHz. 1.32V set in BIOS so 1.3V real for 4.05GHz.
CPU PLL Voltage : AUTO
North Bridge Voltage : 1.35V for 3.6GHz. I think 4.05GHz needed a bit more like 1.39V or something.
DRAM Voltage : 1.186v (results in 1.9v on the old BIOS) for 3.6GHz and 2.086 (results in 2.1V) for 4.05GHz
FSB Termination Voltage : AUTO (not sure about this BIOS, but on the old one, it had a drop/droop of ~.1V)
South Bridge Voltage : 1.050
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.50
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

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

All of the Intel Speedstep and stuff is enabled.

[chawks2]

Well it's an E0 E8400, so ~4GHz (533x7.5) shouldn't need that much vcore, maybe 1.28V real, at least it didn't on the DFI P35.

Maybe you should check to see the actual voltages being produced based on what you're choosing. This board mad overvolts, so be careful and make sure you know your actual voltages.

[xxDayTrader]

Right off the bat (in my first post here ) I want to thank everyone who's contributed to this thread. The information here allowed me, a complete N00B at overclocking, BIOSes, RAM timings, and so forth, to take my first pc build from a Maximus Formula to a "Rampage Formula" with the 0308 BIOS.

I took these settings from some of the many suggestions in this thread. Unfortunately, I had to set a lot of them to 'Auto' just to get 8x425 to post, boot and test stable in OCCT and Prime95.

I'm beginning my first "real" overclock (real in the sense that I'm not using the standard/automatic Asus OC settings to bump things up for me) and would appreciate some input. As I said, I'm really new at this so I thought I'd post up my settings for now in case someone notices some glaring problems and/or has some suggestions. My goal is to hit 3.6 or maybe 3.8 Ghz (on air cooling if that's possible). For now, all I can manage is 3.4Ghz (8x425) without getting BSOD (posts OK) when window tries to load.



8x425

Extreme Tweaker 
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual 
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO 
CPU Ratio Control : Manual 
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 8
FSB Frequency : 425
FSB Strap to North Bridge : Auto
PCI-E Frequency: 110
DRAM Frequency: DDR2- Auto 
DRAM Command Rate : Auto
DRAM Timing Control: Auto
CAS# Latency : 
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 
RAS# Precharge : 
RAS# ActivateTime : 
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 
Write Recovery Time : 
Read to Precharge Time : 

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : 
Write to Read Delay (S) : 
Write to Read Delay (D) : 
Read to Read Delay (S) : 
Read to Read Delay (D) : 
Write to Write Delay (S) : 
Write to Write Delay (D) : 
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
Ai Clock Twister : Light
Transaction Booster : Auto

CPU Voltage : 1.45
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.52
North Bridge Voltage :  1.45 
DRAM Voltage : 2.06
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.40
South Bridge Voltage : 1.50
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 : DDR2_REF
SB 1.5V Voltage : 

NB LED Selection : NB Volt 
SB LED Selection : SB Volt 
CPU LED Selection : CPU VOlt 
Voltiminder LED : Enabled

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled 
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled 

Advanced CPU Configuration 
CPU Ratio Control : Manual 
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 8
C1E Suppport : Disabled 
CPU TM Function : Disabled 
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled 
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled 
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled 


USB Configuration 
USB Functions: Enabled 
Legacy USB Support : Disabled

Here are some screenshots of Everest and CPUZ:

[Grnfinger]

Just got off the phone with Asus.
Seems after 3 tries they agree my SE is borked. Waiting now on the email of options for replacement boards......

[ShawnTRD]

What ya going to get? (hoping)

[Shiranui Gen-An]

This is just frustrating. I can get 525FSB semi-stable, and by that I mean sometimes it will hang on DET DRAM, but I can press the restart button and it will post and run memtest which showed no errors, but if I go to 530 or above, nothing.

Extreme Tweaker 
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual 
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO 
CPU Ratio Control : 7.5 
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 
FSB Frequency : 533
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333 
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1080 
DRAM Command Rate : 2N
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 : 45
Write Recovery Time : 6
Read to Precharge Time : Auto

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : Auto
Write to Read Delay (S) : Auto
Write to Read Delay (D) : Auto
Read to Read Delay (S) : Auto
Read to Read Delay (D) : Auto
Write to Write Delay (S) : Auto
Write to Write Delay (D) : Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
Ai Clock Twister : Light
Transaction Booster : Auto

CPU Voltage : 1.35V
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.50V
North Bridge Voltage : 1.65V
DRAM Voltage : 2.20V
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.40V
South Bridge Voltage : 1.100V
Loadline Calibration : Disabled
CPU GTL Reference : 0.63x
North Bridge GTL Reference : 0.57x~0.67x
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : Auto
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : Auto
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : Auto
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.50V

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled 
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled