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

[chew*]

I just tried to flash the my bios following the instructions however im having problems in that when i get to the DOS prompt in input the code I keeps saying BIOS file not readable. I also tried via EZFLASH which I've done many times previous and that didn't work either. Something about incorrect BIOS I was trying to update to BIOS 0403.

You are using afudos.exe right? Make sure you are at stock settings when you DL the bios and try to flash it and use this command in afudos.

AFUDOS /iRF0219.rom /pbnc /n

Obviously you will want to insert your bios files name in place of RF0219.rom or rename it to that......

You could have a bad floppy, I flashed from a bootable USB. If your not sure what the name of your bios file is while in dos just type DIR and hit enter.
EZ flash will not work until you force the rampage bios with afudos...........And under no circumstances should you flash from windows and never ever power off while flashing, sometimes it will seems like it hangs, just wait.

You have to use afudos because you are doing a force flash. If your using a floppy the problem you are having is a floppy is 1.44mb and the bios file is 2.0mb........

[orbiter]

You are using afudos.exe right? Make sure you are at stock settings when you DL the bios and try to flash it and use this command in afudos.

AFUDOS /iRF0219.rom /pbnc /n

Obviously you will want to insert your bios files name in place of RF0219.rom or rename it to that......

You could have a bad floppy, I flashed from a bootable USB. If your not sure what the name of your bios file is while in dos just type DIR and hit enter.
EZ flash will not work until you force the rampage bios with afudos...........And under no circumstances should you flash from windows and never ever power off while flashing, sometimes it will seems like it hangs, just wait.

You have to use afudos because you are doing a force flash. If your using a floppy the problem you are having is a floppy is 1.44mb and the bios file is 2.0mb........

Many Thanks chew

I was using the wrong file name for BIOS I'm running the 0701 bios now thanks, so I'll check all my voltages and give this BIOS some stick to see if I can get 4GHz+ anymore stable on the Q9650. If not I'll be back on to you guys

Thanks again

Orb

[orbiter]

OK fellas, still having problems after flashing to BIOS 0701 Same Issues really as with the Maximus 1302 BIOS. Got everything reasonably good at 3.81GHz but at 3.9GHz or above the system either just doesnt boot or crashes as soon as I poke it with Prime95 etc. Here are the BIOS settings I'm using right now....Hope you guys can spot something in there? I greatly appreciate your assistance


Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
CPU Ratio Control : auto
FSB Frequency : 422
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2- 1014
DRAM Command Rate : 2n
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 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: auto
Ai Clock Twister : auto
Transaction Booster : auto

CPU Voltage : 1.30000v (tried max also 1.3625v)
CPU PLL Voltage : auto
North Bridge Voltage : 1.45v
DRAM Voltage : 1.94 (tried aslo 2.1v)
FSB Termination Voltage : auto
South Bridge Voltage : auto
Loadline Calibration : auto
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

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 : auto
- Ratio CMOS Setting :
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Auto
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Enabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled


USB Configuration
USB Functions: Enabled
Legacy USB Support : Auto

Thanks for your help

Kind Regards

Orb

[19*12 gamer]

Hey guys,

I flashed my Maximus Formula to Rampage a while ago to get higer oc and I did. (533*8 @1.38v)
I was just wondering which (mobo-)drivers would be best? (Rampage or formula, if there is any difference)

[Zucker2k]

I've actually had the cpu voltage up to max (1.3625v) but I don't think it's the chip that's giving up the ghost as the moment my computer freezes Prime95 is still showing green icons for each core.

Regards

Orb

Vdimm is memory volts; you either have an unstable ram oc or your ram is defective. Test the failing oc with memtest 86+ and see if it passes.

[orbiter]

Vdimm is memory volts; you either have an unstable ram oc or your ram is defective. Test the failing oc with memtest 86+ and see if it passes.

Hi zucker2k

I can't find Vdimm in my bios it just says DRAM volts which i have set at 1.94v. I have treid them at 2.1v but that makes no difference to the OC failing. Everest is reporting DIMM as 2.05v and DIMM VTT at 1.02v.

Am I just looking in all the wrong places for this Vdimm?

Thanks again

PS just tried 2GB brand new Corsair ram still no luck

Orb

[chew*]

Here are a few things to try......First lets set cpu ratio control to manual and set it to 8.

You said your cpu is stable at 3.6 so lets see if we can get it stable at 3.6 with higher FSB, etc process of elimination. Try 450 FSB X 8 multi.

Also OCZ ram should be set to advance 300ps channel A and B.

Static read = disabled

AI clock twister = Lighter.

Transaction booster = manual

Performance level = [7]

set Vdimm 2.12-2.14 aka dram volts

Zucker is correct, I'm willing to bet without those memory settings above you will fail memtest in test 5

[orbiter]

Here are a few things to try......First lets set cpu ratio control to manual and set it to 8.

You said your cpu is stable at 3.6 so lets see if we can get it stable at 3.6 with higher FSB, etc process of elimination. Try 450 FSB X 8 multi.

Also OCZ ram should be set to advance 300ps channel A and B.

Static read = disabled

AI clock twister = Lighter.

Transaction booster = manual

Performance level = [7]

set Vdimm 2.12-2.14 aka dram volts

Zucker is correct, I'm willing to bet without those memory settings above you will fail memtest in test 5

Trying those settings now. Also can i run memtest on vista x64?

Regards

Orb

[orbiter]

System wont boot with those suggested settings my friends not even with ram lowered to 901MHz.

[chew*]

With all those settings or just the ram, settings, etc 450 fsb x 8

Memtest runs in dos........

[orbiter]

With all those settings or just the ram, settings, etc 450 fsb x 8

Memtest runs in dos........

System won't boot with all those settings chew

[carepolice]

System won't boot with all those settings chew

Increase Performance level to 8 or 9, should boot after that

[chew*]

Increase Performance level to 8 or 9, should boot after that

Nope I think its the FSB go back to your tested stable OC or change to 9x400 and use those settings for the ram and let me know if you boot ok. If it boots fine then its likely cpu/motherboard holding you back with fsb and we will have to tweak voltages to get it stable at a higher fsb.

[xxDayTrader]

I was this close to throwing in the towel on this oc, going back to my 9*400 setup and just leaving it (because I could run lower settings and got lower temps). Instead, with some new-found confidence from some articles on Anand, I'm gonna stick in there (for now ).

Before I go nuts, I have a couple questions I'd like some opinions on:

1. Asus ProbeII - is it reliable for mobo and NB temps and, if so, what should be my target temp to keep them both under?

2. Is it likely that Vista64 "issues" could cause failures in Prime95? If not "cause" them, could it be a contributing factor?
I ask because on and off for the past couple weeks I've had an issue where it's as if Vista is alt-tab'ing my keyboard. For instance I could be typing this reply then my cursor disappears, the boarder around this window ghosts out {like they do when you jump from one window to another} then it would jump back again and part of the word/sentence I was typing wouldn't be there from when this window was 'deselected.' - When I'd go into taskmanager, all the tasks in the applications tab would be jumping around as well. It's probably time for a format/OS reinstall anyway but I wonder if it could have anything to do with my cpu crapping out during Prime. EDIT: i double checked my established run-time for defrag and that's not it.....even though my pc kinda acts like that's what's happening. Re-EDIT: I might have tracked it down to a PDA/Outlook appointment reminder/sync. problem.

3. Does increasing FSB Term. Voltage (VTT) impact CPU temps and NB temps or mostly just one or the other?

.....as always......thanks.

[binormalkilla]

Well I went ahead and flashed 0308, but I still can't POST at 475 with PL7. Tonight I'm going to test other FSBs with PL7 and go from there.
I was 1 hour OCCT stable with PL8 at 475*8 with lower VDIMM and NBV. I'm going to try lowering voltages on NBV and FSBT until I'm unstable, and begin tightening RAM timings as well.
After finding a fully stable low voltage solution I'll start testing PL settings.
I guess it's possible that some Maximus Formulas don't have a high enough binned X38 to run as high of a performance level as the native Rampage Formulas/other flashed MFs.

[orbiter]

OK guys, I've loaded my max OC (3.81GHz) with all my previous settings apart from the new ones you advised chew and still booted ok with those.

Currently temps are good although NB is a bit warm at 50*C idle.

BIOS - vcore 1.25000v / Everest 1.26v
BIOS - Dram 2.04v / Everest 2.16
NB - 1.49v
SB - 1.09v

Thanks for help chew..What next my friend?

Regards

Orb

[chew*]

OK so now it wasn't the ram timings holding you back, its cpu/mobo.....

There are a few voltages that can get you stability. I will list them all.

Leave SB voltage alone.

NB voltage up to 1.55 *edit* if your chip is 45nm use max 1.45v

Cpu PLL up to 1.7

FSB term voltage ( I don't need this but maybe one of the other guys have some input and max safe setting ) it hasn't done anything for me...

Cpu voltage up to 1.55

Try all those volts at those settings and try to boot, If you do boot start backing off each voltage again until you cant boot, this will help you determine which voltage is the culprit limiting your OC. Once you find the culprit you can fine tune it to pass prime.

[Grnfinger]

OK guys, I've loaded my max OC (3.81GHz) with all my previous settings apart from the new ones you advised chew and still booted ok with those.

Currently temps are good although NB is a bit warm at 50*C idle.

BIOS - vcore 1.25000v / Everest 1.26v
BIOS - Dram 2.04v / Everest 2.16
NB - 1.49v
SB - 1.09v

Thanks for help chew..What next my friend?

Regards

Orb

Maximus X38 is 45nm quad limited.
425-430 FSB seems to be the limit, there are few rare exceptions but not many. Thats why I bought a MIIF
Rampage bios will not resolve this issue......

[orbiter]

Thanks chew, please note though that I am using a 45nm cpu so should that be it's max voltage of 1.3625v? also I'm not even sure myself of max safe PLL? please advise.

Regards

Orb

[chew*]

Thanks chew, please note though that I am using a 45nm cpu so should that be it's max voltage of 1.3625v? also I'm not even sure myself of max safe PLL? please advise.

Regards

Orb

I think save voltage for any cpu is .20-30 over stock vid....temps depending. Not sure what 45nm is for VID.

/\
I think grn knows something i don't, never used 45nm myself.

[orbiter]

Maximus X38 is 45nm quad limited.
425-430 FSB seems to be the limit, there are few rare exceptions but not many. Thats why I bought a MIIF
Rampage bios will not resolve this issue......

Ahh so it's my mobo you think Grnfinger and not the chip?

If so would it be worth me buying a Maximus Formula II and how much more could I possibly expect from it and my new Q9650? I was actually hoping for 4.1GHz out of this system before I paid £440 for the cpu so I'm a tad dissapointed to be honest.

Regards

Orb

[orbiter]

Hi again guys,

After running Prime95 again with new Rampage BIOS just to test for any stabilty changes, I'm finding that I can't run Prime now for half the time I could with the Formula BIOS (1302) and I can't seem to flash back, as I keep getting an error saying "ROM file size does not match existing BIOS size". I've got the maximus BIOS file on the same flash drive I used to flash to Rampage and have inputed the correct code, but still get the error. Please could you advise?

Thanks

Orb

[chew*]

Hi again guys,

After running Prime95 again with new Rampage BIOS just to test for any stabilty changes, I'm finding that I can't run Prime now for half the time I could with the Formula BIOS (1302) and I can't seem to flash back, as I keep getting an error saying "ROM file size does not match existing BIOS size". I've got the maximus BIOS file on the same flash drive I used to flash to Rampage and have inputed the correct code, but still get the error. Please could you advise?

Thanks

Orb

are you using afudos and following these steps?

AFUDOS /i**INSERT*BIOS*FILENAME*HERE** /pbnc /n

[orbiter]

are you using afudos and following these steps?

AFUDOS /i**INSERT*BIOS*FILENAME*HERE** /pbnc /n

Yes... Exactly the same procedure as I used to flash it to the Rampage and from the same USB drive with the same files on it + the 1302.ROM

Orb

[Grnfinger]

Ahh so it's my mobo you think Grnfinger and not the chip?

If so would it be worth me buying a Maximus Formula II and how much more could I possibly expect from it and my new Q9650? I was actually hoping for 4.1GHz out of this system before I paid £440 for the cpu so I'm a tad dissapointed to be honest.

Regards

Orb

My Q9550 would not boot past 426FSB on MAximus X38 board...
My Q9550 will boot on 490FSB on Maximus II Formula, thats why I bought it.