ASUS Maximus II Formula - new P45 king?

[andressergio]

andressergio,

I am a bit confused.
I see on your last pic, that you are using this settings:

CPU GTL's: 10 -35 10 -35
NB GTL: +30
vFSB: 1.37825
vSB1.1 - 1.20600
vSB1.5 - 1.55300

But I don't get if you are better with them or not. Is your overclock more stable with them? Are you passing stress tests that you couldn't before, with this settings? Or are they worst that your previously settings?

I look at your pic (before you change your settings to this lastest one), and you too, were passing the same IBT test... So no improvements? Here are both pics I have from you.
My conclusion is that you didn't improve... You got the same result, with different settings..

[]'s
Simps

Sorry mate if i confused you...

Yes i passed IBT with a 2850Mb problem size custom test but an hour later gave my BSOD instant when i tried to re run it, tested today and again wont' pass...So i decided to try most of your settings for 500FSB and passed again, in a few hours will try again to see if it keeps going strong and also test using x9 multi

You uderstood now ?

************************************************** ********
my first settings where (first pic)
passed IBT yesterday and today BSOD in seconds...

4105 (483x8,5)
2x2GB Gskill 1200 PL10 Moderate vdimm 2,1

CPU Skew: Delay 200
NB Skew: Delay 100
DRAM Skews: Delay 50
CPU GTL's: +10 -35 +10 -35
NB GTL: +40
CHA / CHB Reference: Auto
NB DDR Reference: Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
DRAM Read Training: Disabled
MEM OC CHARGER: Enabled
PULLINS: Disabled
PCI-E Frequency: 100
vPLL: 1.55
vFSB: 1.35
vNB: 1.45775
vSB1.5: 1.5
vSB1.1: 1.1
CPU Configuration: All disabled
Load line calibration: Enabled
CPU and PCI-E Spread Spectrum: Disbaled
vcore set 1,35 idle 1,336

************************************************** ********

my new settings (second pic)
will try with this one later to see if it's still strong

4105 (483x8,5)
2x2GB Gskill 1200 PL8 Moderate vdimm 2,1

CPU Skew: Delay 200
NB Skew: Delay 100
DRAM Skews: Delay 50
CPU GTL's: +10 -35 +10 -35
NB GTL: +30
CHA / CHB Reference: +12.5
NB DDR Reference: -25
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
DRAM Read Training: Disabled
MEM OC CHARGER: Enabled
PULLINS: Disabled
PCI-E Frequency: 100
vPLL: 1.55
vFSB: 1.37825
vNB: 1.45775
vSB1.5: 1.55300
vSB1.1: 1.20600
CPU Configuration: All disabled
Load line calibration: Enabled
CPU and PCI-E Spread Spectrum: Disbaled
vcore set 1,35 idle 1,336

************************************************** ********

[Simps]

Now I got it
Ok, I hope you can pass the test again in a few hours, with no errors, which will be an improvement over your old settings.
You said you got BSOD, with the old settings. This could be related to Vdimm. Since you didn't raise your Vdimm for the new test, there is a chance that the problem will happen again. But who knows, maybe it won't. Only way to know is trying it.
Waiting on your results.

[andressergio]

Now I got it
Ok, I hope you can pass the test again in a few hours, with no errors.
Waiting on your results.

Thank you mate let's hope so

[Simps]

Thank you mate let's hope so

If it fails, try the same thing, but replace 5-5-5-15 with 5-5-5-18. Might help.

[andressergio]

If it fails, try the same thing, but replace 5-5-5-15 with 5-5-5-18. Might help.

just re run it and failed in seconds

this time the BSOD reads "a clock interrupt was not received in a secondary processor"

the other BSOD i was getting say "hardware malfunction...."

[andressergio]

Just went back to VTT 1,3525 and passed IBT again...weird huh ? at least it passed again, i ONLY changed VTT the rest exact the same

[Simps]

Look, what we are doing here, is what everybody seem to be doing with this board. We are randomly changing values, trying to "magically" find the right one. This is not the way to work with this board. That is why I wrote that guide. But to follow it, you will have to start from zero, and fine tune everything again. It is hard work, but that is the way to find the sweet spot.

But anyway, stop changing the settings like crazy, or you will never find what is holding you back.
Keep your current bios setting, and now only work on the RAM, to find if the problems is there.

It looks like, it is probably your ram that can't handle DDR2-1200 PL8 at 2.1v, on your FSB.
You need to know this for sure. Do one of the following without changing your settings:

1) Raise your Vdimm to 2.2 and test again.
2) If you don't wanna raise Vdimm, then just downgrade your ram from DDR2-1200+ to DDR2-1000 or something like that, keeping all the other settings as it is, and test again.

If you get no more BSOD, then the problem was your RAM needing more volts for sure.
Report results.

[]'s
Simps

[andressergio]

Look, what we are doing here, is what everybody seem to be doing with this board. We are randomly changing values, trying to "magically" find the right one. This is not the way to work with this board. That is why I wrote that guide. But to follow it, you will have to start from zero, and fine tune everything again. It is hard work, but that is the way to find the sweet spot.

But anyway, stop changing the settings like crazy, or you will never find what is holding you back.
Keep your current bios setting, and now only work on the RAM, to find if the problems is there.

It looks like, it is probably your ram that can't handle DDR2-1200 PL8 at 2.1v, on your FSB.
You need to know this for sure. Do one of the following without changing your settings:

1) Raise your Vdimm to 2.2 and test again.
2) If you don't wanna raise Vdimm, then just downgrade your ram from DDR2-1200+ to DDR2-1000 or something like that, keeping all the other settings as it is, and test again.

If you get no more BSOD, then the problem was your RAM needing more volts for sure.
Report results.

[]'s
Simps

LOL yes Simps i never do that but i entered on that phase that everything seems random...

What i did was memtest on this FSB and error appeared after 375% so the probelm can be what you say just RAM, will try on 2,15 vdimm and let you know

Thanks !!
Saludos
Sergio

[andressergio]

Simps

I upped vdimm to 2,15 and passed perfect 1090% memtest, so i guess that mems failing after 375% was the problem, will see tomorrow when i run IBT again

They need 2,05 on multi x9 at 450FSB 1200 PL7 stronger

but need 2,1+ on multi 8,5 at 480+ FSB 1200+ PL8 moderate

will keep testing

[CryptiK]

Perhaps also alter the NB GTL Ref value - drop the vNB until you get errors in less than 100% coverage in memtest - adjust NB GTL Ref from -100mv to +100mv. When you find the setting that gives you the longest time before an error occurs, use that setting. You may find it's close to what you have set now, but at least you will know for sure it's the right setting.

NB GTL Ref was critical in gaining complete stability for me, and adding vNB did not help at all. Now the NB GTL Ref is properly adjusted, it's stable at 1.30 vNB, whereas before when it was not correctly set, I was unstable even at 1.45 vNB. It makes a huge difference.

For any given FSB you need to be sure you have tuned the NB GTL Ref correctly.

[CryptiK]

I picked up a new CPU, I needed greater flexibility for benching, and a little more speed 24/7 will also be nice. It's a Q829A, supposedly a decent batch. After about 5 hours idling at stock speed and 1.08v, and half an hour or so of orthos, i started working my way up. It passed 2 hours of orthos and 5 runs of IBT (max stress) at 4005 MHz @ 1.197v. I'm still slowly raising the clocks.

So far it's looking pretty good, passed an hour of small FFT's at 4104 MHz, 1.237v:


New PB 3D Mark 06 with 8800GT:

[radaja]

looks like you got a good one there cryptik. should run cool too,vid 1.25. my e8400 EO with vid of 1.23 runs pretty hot,but my e8500 with vid of 1.25 runs cool

[CryptiK]

Well the volts are still low but it seems hotter than my C0 E8400 which is a 1.225 VID, but compared to other E0's I've seen, it is running pretty cool.

[andressergio]

I picked up a new CPU, I needed greater flexibility for benching, and a little more speed 24/7 will also be nice. It's a Q829A, supposedly a decent batch. After about 5 hours idling at stock speed and 1.08v, and half an hour or so of orthos, i started working my way up. It passed 2 hours of orthos and 5 runs of IBT (max stress) at 4005 MHz @ 1.197v. I'm still slowly raising the clocks.

So far it's looking pretty good, passed an hour of small FFT's at 4104 MHz, 1.237v:


New PB 3D Mark 06 with 8800GT:

Congrats CryptiK !!

[andressergio]

Simps

As promised i re tested today and BSOD after first IBT test...

Mems are on 2,15 vdimm and passed 1000% memtest so now memory can't be

Cheers
Sergio

[CryptiK]

Cheers mate I'm working on 4.2GHz at the moment should be doable at around 1.263v but may need one more notch. I haven't fine tuned the GTL Refs yet either.

Concerning your issue - what happens if you set PL to 13 and leave everything else the same? This should take a lot of strain off the NB and if it passes IBT repeatedly, may indicate that was the issue. Have you determined the best NB GTL Ref setting? This may also be affecting it.

[Simps]

CryptiK,

Congrats on the new CPU. It looks good, maybe a 4.3 - 4.4GHz for 24/7 doable there. 4.2GHz is for sure, possible with reasonable volts / temps.

Simps

As promised i re tested today and BSOD after first IBT test...

Mems are on 2,15 vdimm and passed 1000% memtest so now memory can't be

Cheers
Sergio

Man, then I really have no idea why are you having thoses crashes.
If your mem is not the problem, and you are at 1.45vNB so the NB is not the problem too. Your VCC and VTT are fine too. PLL too. You are not a very high FSB / CPU clock too (considering your Q9650). You should be stable.

I can only think, that you don't have your Maximus II Formula tunned the right. Probably the values you have for CPU GTL's, NB GTL, Skews, References are not the right ones for you. You just think they are fine, but they are not, and they are holding you back. That is the only thing I can think off. Maybe you should start from zero, and run the tests the proper way to really fine tune your mobo.

[]'s
Simps

[andressergio]

Man, then I really have no idea why are you having thoses crashes.
If your mem is not the problem, and you are at 1.45vNB so the NB is not the problem too. Your VCC and VTT are fine too. PLL too. You are not a very high FSB / CPU clock too (considering your Q9650). You should be stable.

I can only think, that you don't have your Maximus II Formula tunned the right. Probably the values you have for CPU GTL's, NB GTL, Skews, References are not the right ones for you. You just think they are fine, but they are not, and they are holding you back. That is the only thing I can think off. Maybe you should start from zero, and run the tests the proper way to really fine tune your mobo.

[]'s
Simps

Thanks Simps seems so, i started again testing slowly and leaving mems very loose so they don't mess with cpu...Maybe it's true those values are not right for me or maybe is something else i really don't know.

Cheers
Sergio

[Simps]

Maximus II Formula is probably the best non-core i7 board out there for 24/7 usage.

I have been looking at all the other mobo threads, and I have seen no other mobo with so much potential as the MIIF. Once your MIIF is correctly tunned, and you really have your best GTL's, Skews, References votls going on, you can do "miracle" with this board. I have been doing some tests at 490FSB on a quad, and would like to share what I found. This is all 100% stable for 24/7 use.

1) 1.25vNB is what is needed for a quad at 490FSB and DDR2-1178 PL8 STRONGER
2) 1.27vFSB is what is needed to clock a 65nm quad at 490FSB on this board for 24/7 use! 45nm values would be even lower!
3) vPLL, vSB1.1 and vSB1.5 can be at the lowest possible volts the board allows, even at 490FSB on a quad.
4) The board just don't heat up! It is insane that your NB, SB, PWM's are not going to heat up, even at the most extreme clock / volts! Idle to load delta's are arround: NB=5C, SB=3C and PWM=10C

Once you have your Maximus II Formula right configured, you will only need to mess with VCORE and VDIMM to perform overclocks. This board can handle all the other voltages, at default / auto or below default, even at 490FSB on a quad, and PL8 and STRONGER on a DDR2-1178. So if you are using higher vNB, or vSB or vPLL, and probably vFSB (this one is CPU related too), at lower FSB and MEM clocks, then that is a head ups to you, that your MIIF is probably not tunned the right way.

Take a look at the FSB / MEM speed, and the voltages required to do so, all on a 65nm quad!
This is a 6h prime blend and 20 loops IBT on max stress.
Everything, CPU, MOBO, etc, is aircooled inside a closed case.





I really haven't seen the other P45 boards doing this. And as you can see on the pic, mine is a rev02, just like everybody else.
This can also show, the difference a really well tunned MIIF can make, over a bad tunned board. Volts can be dropped insanaly once the board is on the sweet spot. Also, this board can do 500FSB on quads, and I don't have a dualcore, but I am sure this board would clock 600FSB there if tunned correctly. And it would take less volts to do it, then the other boards for sure.

[]'s
Simps

[andressergio]

I tried your settings i was able to boot to vista 64 still didn't test stability but no way to use that NB volts or Stronger for 2x2GB in my case...

This are the values i could boot to vista, didn't try less vcore yet

i'm scared of testing stability lol

[Simps]

Nice going my friend!
Test the stability there. If it is stable, that might give you some good information about your 8.5 x 483 overclock. If you are stable at 490FSB then there is no reason for you not to be stable on 483FSB, other then lack of vcore for raw speed, or lack of vdimm for ram speed. I don't think this chipset has FSB holes. So if you are stable at 490FSB with that settings, then you might want to try again for 8.5 x 483 overclock, with a bit more vcore to it. Maybe that will do solve your stability issues there. If not, add a bit more of vcore and vdimm, and test again.

I see you are using a vFSB of 1.34v for 490FSB. Was that the lowest or you didn't try to lower it? I really believe you could lower that a lot.

[]'s
Simps

[andressergio]

Nice going my friend!
Test the stability there. If it is stable, that might give you some good information about your 8.5 x 483 overclock. If you are stable at 490FSB then there is no reason for you not to be stable on 483FSB, other then lack of vcore for raw speed, or lack of vdimm for ram speed. I don't think this chipset has FSB holes. So if you are stable at 490FSB with that settings, then you might want to try again for 8.5 x 483 overclock, with a bit more vcore to it. Maybe that will do solve your stability issues there. If not, add a bit more of vcore and vdimm, and test again.

I see you are using a vFSB of 1.34v for 490FSB. Was that the lowest or you didn't try to lower it? I really believe you could lower that a lot.

[]'s
Simps

Hey no it's not stable, i'm re testing all again will post when i have some good and re tested results, for now this has been a hell for me, more than a month and a half and every OC i pass on IBT or prime the other day won't...

Cheers and much thanks for all your help

Sergio

[Shiranui Gen-An]

Maximus II Formula is probably the best non-core i7 board out there for 24/7 usage.

I have been looking at all the other mobo threads, and I have seen no other mobo with so much potential as the MIIF. Once your MIIF is correctly tunned, and you really have your best GTL's, Skews, References votls going on, you can do "miracle" with this board. I have been doing some tests at 490FSB on a quad, and would like to share what I found. This is all 100% stable for 24/7 use.

Perhaps is is a good 24/7 board, but for benching, especially memory OC, it leaves a lot to be desired. My UD3P is kicking its butt all over the place with my D9GMH/D9GKX sticks.

[Grnfinger]

Agreed, decent board but no world records will be set on it thats for sure.
I'm looking for a decent benching board now

[Simps]

I totally agree that for benching, the Maximus II Formula will not be the best choice, and I never said that. We know Biostar P45 is a better bencher, DFI p45 DK is more efficient on superpi, and as you said, those Gigabyte UD3P are showing some nice FSB clocks and mem clocks for benching too. And there are other examples out there.

But as I said before, I am talking about 24/7. About the memory issue, YES, it is true, but, as an example, for a screenshot a 12000mb/s is very different from a 10000mb/s on everest. But on a day to day performance on games or other applications, it means absolutely nothing. Other things are much more important as stability, and low volts for higher solid stable clocks, and more important, SAFFER volts for 24/7 use for years.

Maximus II Formula can keep overclocks, with lower volts then all other boards (I am saying this, because I visit the other board threads, and I can compare), including your UD3P. MIIF 16 phase power do make a difference on vcore and vFSB against the 6 power design of the UD3P, and the 8 - 12 power design of other boards. Mosfets on MIIF will ALWAYS be cooler then on those other boards, and more stable at very high quad clocks and FSB. Maybe it has some problems clocking ram at some point, but that is far beyond a 24/7 use situation anyway.

The thing I don't like much about "showing a screenshot" or just benching for the highest number, is that it makes no sense for me. Everybody would be reaching 550 - 560FSB on quads, for a screenshot, if they were crazy enough to push 1.8 vFSB and 1.75vPLL, like NapalmV5 and others were doing. Everybody would be showing 12.000mb/s on everest, if they would push their 2.1v rated mem to 2.4v or so.
There is no secret. I is just plain simple and easy. Buy the best and expensive hardware, and risk it by pushing crazy volts. You will get some nice numbers and screenshots for sure.

Anyway, I don't have the money, and I never killed a computer part. Not even a single memory stick. I hope I can keep it that way... Except for the money part of course =/

I will quote Leeghoofd on this:

The GB boards have got the A3 rev of the NB and the board pushes way more volts... for 24/7 I prefer the Asus board as I got the same clockspeed with way less NB and FSB term voltage... for benching the Gb might be better... but does that NB get scorching hot...

Don't get me wrong, this is xtremesystems, and to push it is the way to go here. I believe there is space for everybody. For the extreme benchers, and also for the ones only interested in 24/7 operation.

[]'s
Simps