UnOfficial Asus Rampage II Extreme Thread

[OcAddict]

Can't download bios 0805

Site is down for maintenance i think, i downloaded it yesterday was all good then. Running on 0805 still

[dejanh]

Disable CPU TM in the bios and it will quite shutting your turbo down. Turbo is only on one core tho. Not all 4.

CPU-Z may tell you it is all four but it's just not reading it right.

It's not CPU-Z, it's RealTemp reading it. It reads it correctly, believe me. I have double checked this with the creator of RealTemp. We even used a small test tool to check the multiplier and it stays in turbo. Disabling CPU TM does nothing to stop the Turbo from turning off, but you can try this yourself (or I can post another screenshot for you)

Anyway, here is a screenshot that is showing system load at 100% on all 8 threads with turbo still on. I can also do a test for you where I lock the multiplier at 22x and you will see the performance difference in Arena. What you are saying I heard as well, but in practice this is not the case. I do not know whether there is an incorrect implementation on this board, or in general, or the original information about turbo is wrong. Either way, turbo is sure running...

[jasonelmore]

Good to know. i've seen a few people at the gigabyte forum have turbo stuck on, on all four cores. ME GONNA TRY haha

[jasonelmore]

Can't download bios 0805

Yeah the site is down for maintenance.. It will be back shortly. PM me your email and I'll send it to you.

[dejanh]

Sorry for two posts in a row, but this is important as I think I may have found a serious problem on the R2E. I will need your guys help to test this as well (I confirmed it on two R2E boards, different part numbers that are currently here with me). I'm using the same Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 1.65V DRAM on both boards.

Basically, here is the problem. QPI/DRAM voltage is incorrectly set in the BIOS leading to a whole host of problems that exhibit randomly such as missing memory channels (e.g., 2/4GB detected instead of 6GB), cold boots, stuck at LOCKED/DET DRAM, general system instability, etc.

1. If the CMOS defaults are set the system will boot fine and QPI/DRAM voltage will be set at roughly 1.12V.
2. If the X.M.P. profile is set, the QPI/DRAM voltage gets set in the BIOS at 1.35V. However, after saving settings the system will reboot and the voltage will measure 1.37V for a couple of seconds (normal, within spec) but a few seconds later it will get bumped to 1.46V (not normal, and out of spec completly). This may not happen on every reboot/system start. However, if the system is overclocked it happens on every boot basically. As I am typing this I am running 23x180MHz OC with memory at 1800MHz with 3.6GHz Uncore and 3.96GHz QPI. Below screenshot shows the settings however (done through BIOS, not this utility...I'm just showing TurboV so that I can show the settings). DMM is physically measuring 1.462V QPI/DRAM on the board (1.454V under load).

Edit: I guess I forgot to mention why I believe that this is related to the whole host of problems people are seeing...I have been measuring voltages every time when I experience instability and/or missing memory channels, and/or no boot/cold boots and I noticed that every time this happens QPI/DRAM voltage is out of spec completly and is stuck high at 1.46V even if it is manually set lower in the BIOS (1.35V in my case). This cannot be a coincidence. Also, I have confirmed this behavior with most of the problems (except cold boot, cannot run other R2E stable at all) with the two R2E boards that I have here. Again, the two boards are different part numbers.

We need to get people on both sides to confirm this please. If I am right those that are having issues will have QPI/DRAM running high and those that are not should have their QPI/DRAM running close to what it is set in the BIOS.

[jasonelmore]

You have a multimeter dont you? hook up the Probe it leads to the board. Dont trust the bios or the software.

Are you noticing this only with the Memory set to XMP?

I have the Corsair 1600mhz Cas 8 Kit but i'm running custome settings. No particular profile. VTT is 1.36 on the multimeter.

[dejanh]

You have a multimeter dont you? hook up the Probe it leads to the board. Dont trust the bios or the software.

Are you noticing this only with the Memory set to XMP?

I have the Corsair 1600mhz Cas 8 Kit but i'm running custome settings. No particular profile. VTT is 1.36 on the multimeter.

I measured everything with a DMM. I mentioned it in the post above. So far all of my test have been with X.M.P. first and then OC, but I cannot see this making a difference. All X.M.P. does is set some timings and voltages. I will test without X.M.P. and post back as well. My current memory settings are as follows...

X.M.P. Profile #1 (only profile), OC to 1804MHz, 8-8-8-24-2T, 1.65V DRAM, 1.35V QPI/DRAM (measured high at 1.46V, boots okay for the first 5-10 seconds at 1.37V measured). Same thing happens at 1600MHz as well (default for X.M.P. profile). Error free in all memory stress tests.

In the meantime, you say you are measuring 1.36V, so I have a couple of questions.

1. What are you running your memory at (speed, voltages including QPI/DRAM)?
2. Are you using X.M.P. profile?
3. Do you experience missing memory channels?
4. Do you experience cold boot issues?

[Astratuner]

Ow yes and can I ask you guys where on what ftp you find these new bios beta's? path to the beta files would be nice to!

Anyone please

what ftp and what path ?


Thanks!

[Markmb]

Sounds promising... 2 questions:
1. are you running your ram at default settings?
2. Could you please describe your cold boot problem in detail?


Thanks.

Well im running on manual settings, 1603 mhz and sat the timings at 8-8-8-24.
When i boot my system i get into windows and the system is rock solid! but when I shut the system down my fans would just spin a 1 sekund. Then i'll have to shut the psu off totally for about 10 sekunds. After that i boot just fine again.

[skypx]

Well im running on manual settings, 1603 mhz and sat the timings at 8-8-8-24.
When i boot my system i get into windows and the system is rock solid! but when I shut the system down my fans would just spin a 1 sekund. Then i'll have to shut the psu off totally for about 10 sekunds. After that i boot just fine again.

Ok thanks. For a minute there I thought lowering the voltage going to the ram solved the cold boot issue.

[jasonelmore]

I measured everything with a DMM. I mentioned it in the post above. So far all of my test have been with X.M.P. first and then OC, but I cannot see this making a difference. All X.M.P. does is set some timings and voltages. I will test without X.M.P. and post back as well. My current memory settings are as follows...

X.M.P. Profile #1 (only profile), OC to 1804MHz, 8-8-8-24-2T, 1.65V DRAM, 1.35V QPI/DRAM (measured high at 1.46V, boots okay for the first 5-10 seconds at 1.37V measured). Same thing happens at 1600MHz as well (default for X.M.P. profile). Error free in all memory stress tests.

In the meantime, you say you are measuring 1.36V, so I have a couple of questions.

1. What are you running your memory at (speed, voltages including QPI/DRAM)?
2. Are you using X.M.P. profile?
3. Do you experience missing memory channels?
4. Do you experience cold boot issues?

Right now with my moderate overclock i'm at 4.2 with turbo and HT. CPU is set to 1.43v with the rest of the voltages set to auto except RAM.

1. Running my Ram Speeds at 1603mhz, 1.65v, 1.36v VTT, 8-8-8-20-1N
2. No, Overclock is set to Manuel
3. No, I have Triple Channel according to CPU-Z.
4. No I do not have the cold boot issue.

Why would you even want to load up the XMP Profile, What about the ROG profile? Does it do the same thing?

I've heard on the Asus forums people have been having luck lowering there Vdimm voltage to 1.55 instead of 1.65. Lay off of your OC'd RAM settings to test this theory out.
Run it all manuel. with 8-8-8-24-2N with 1.55v and see if the problem persist.

I've also heard of people reseating there VTT Card.

[jasonelmore]

Anyone please

what ftp and what path ?


Thanks!

It's on the first page. First post.

[ReVolut1on]

jason,

Since you don't have any issues can you tell me did you buy your board from the release batch or a later batch?

[jasonelmore]

release batch. Got it from Tiger Direct. There first shipment. About 7 days after launch of the i7. I was waiting for someone to stock the corsair ram haha.. finally NCIXUS.com had about 5 kits back then and i scooped one of them up quickly. They even have that new 1866 Corsair stuff right now.

[ReVolut1on]

You got lucky then. It just seems that those who got these boards like last week or so don't have any issues.

[jasonelmore]

The only time I've had a problem like you guys are explaining is when i have grounding issues with something. Something was Tripping my PSU over voltage protection like a short or something. My fans would spin up for half a sec and shut down. Most of the time that's indicative of a short somewhere. And maybe by you guys Power cycling your computer your resetting the PSU's Over-voltage protection. Thats the reason it's working when you power cycle your PSU. Have you guys tried switching your ram around to different slots. How about taking the motherboard out of the case completely and putting it on a anti static bag? I know it's a lot of trouble but it might be just what it takes to figure this thing out.

I know it's highley unlikley that all of you have a short but there's got to be something more going on here. What about Quick Boot? Disable it if you have'nt already

[scaramonga]

I've upped the 0805 BIOS to Rapidshare for anyone having trouble getting it from ftp.

http://rapidshare.com/files/176181266/RampageII-ASUS-Extreme-0805.ROM

[ReVolut1on]

I believe that skypx already tried that quick boot disabling but didnt work.

And jason, do you think that this could still be related to ram? I'm beginning to believe that we are dealing with individuals. It's just probably bad luck that there are so many defective boards. I may be wrong tho. It could be immature bios. Who knows.

[BringerOdeath]

no cold boot problem, here is my batch number 90-MIB6L0-G0AAYOOZ

[Markmb]

Well im still trying to figure out the right settings in Bios so the cold boot would go away.

90-MIB6L0-G0EAY00Z

[ReVolut1on]

are you sure about your part numbers? I have seen stores only selling the ones with -G0EAY00Z number

[mr.morphine]

are you sure about your part numbers? I have seen stores only selling the ones with -G0EAY00Z number

I haven't assembled my system yet, but my motherboard has that other number as well:

90-MIB6L0-G0AAYOOZ

[ReVolut1on]

I haven't assembled my system yet, but my motherboard has that other number as well:

90-MIB6L0-G0AAYOOZ

Interesting..

[dejanh]

Right now with my moderate overclock i'm at 4.2 with turbo and HT. CPU is set to 1.43v with the rest of the voltages set to auto except RAM.

1. Running my Ram Speeds at 1603mhz, 1.65v, 1.36v VTT, 8-8-8-20-1N
2. No, Overclock is set to Manuel
3. No, I have Triple Channel according to CPU-Z.
4. No I do not have the cold boot issue.

Why would you even want to load up the XMP Profile, What about the ROG profile? Does it do the same thing?

I've heard on the Asus forums people have been having luck lowering there Vdimm voltage to 1.55 instead of 1.65. Lay off of your OC'd RAM settings to test this theory out.
Run it all manuel. with 8-8-8-24-2N with 1.55v and see if the problem persist.

I've also heard of people reseating there VTT Card.

Well, I guess you were right. After I turned off the X.M.P. profile and did all of the OC settings manually the VTT does not crap out on me, or it has not done it yet. This is very (no wait, extremely) strange as X.M.P. sets the exact same settings as what I have entered in manually. It must not be doing the exact same thing then...it must be doing something else. I will keep you posted on the results as time goes a bit too. I am still running tests.

Now, after I did this I changed my OC settings to 20x200MHz flat, 1600MHz DRAM with 8-8-8-24-2T timings (default), 1.424V core voltage (high voltage chip unfortunately), but get this, I was able to lower the VTT to 1.3V (I can go lower, down to 1.25V - 1.27V but I do not want to), and DRAM voltage down to 1.5V (lowest available setting)

So far 30mins stable with 4-cores/8-threads at 100% constant load...

Oh and temps, peak out at 75C on all cores on air. WTF? Must be the lower VTT (QPI/DRAM).

Something is majorly screwed up on this board. The more I use it the more confused I am. I'm thinking that it has major issues with DRAM now...not sure any more...maybe it is the low voltage DRAM parts that are problematic? It is the first time around these are being done...hmm

I've also noticed that all of you guys have the 90-MIB6L0-G0EAY00Z part. Asus sent me this part as an RMA as well and I found it way worse than my current board. However, my part is (get this) newer it seems and it is 90-MIB6L0-G0EAY10Z. I'm thinking maybe to stop my 2nd RMA now. I don't think there is a point. Maybe everything is working as intended and memory is the culprit for it all? I almost want to go pick up some Mushkin sticks (I never had problems with Mushkin in any board for 12 years) and see whether that changes anything...

Edit: Test crashed about 50 minutes in. I upped the voltage now to 1.432V on the core. This should be sufficient for 24/7.

Just messed up. That's all I have to say. I think I will get Asus to pick up the board now and tell them to send me an RMA only if they have a part number different than the two we listed here. Otherwise, I do not care to replace it now. Maybe when it's close to 1 year from now and all of the initial batches have gone through the system.

[ReVolut1on]

....anybody else having problems with xmp profiles etc......?