ASUS Maximus II Formula - new P45 king?

[Kayso]

24/7 settings - 100% stable with my hardware
I will post screens later


Ai Overclock Tuner: Manual
OC From CPU Level Up: Auto
Ratio CMOS Setting: 8
FSB Frequency: 480
CPU Clock Skew: Auto
NB Clock Skew: Autol
FSB Strap to North Bridge: 333MHz
DRAM Frequency: 1152Mhz

DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A1: Advance 150
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A2: Advance 150
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B1: Advance 150
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B2: Advance 150
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
1st Info: 5-5-5-15-3-55-6-3
2nd Info: Auto
3rd Info: Auto

DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
DRAM Read Training: Enabled
MEM. OC Charger: Disabled
Ai Clock Twister: Stronger
Ai Transaction Booster : Manual

Common Performance Level [8]

Pull-In of CHA PH1 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH2 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH3 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH4 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH5 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH1 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH2 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH3 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH4 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH5 Disabled

PCIE Frequency : 100

CPU Voltage: 1.425
CPU PLL Voltage:1.55
FSB Termination Voltage:1.36
DRAM Voltage: 2.00
North Bridge Voltage:1.45
South Bridge 1.5 Voltage: 1.55
South Bridge 1.1 Voltage: 1.15

CPU GTL Reference (0): Auto
CPU GTL Reference (1): -45mv
CPU GTL Reference (2): Auto
CPU GTL Reference (3): -45mv
NB GTL Reference: +60mv
DDR2 ChA Reference Voltage: Auto
DDR2 ChB Reference Voltage: Auto
North Bridge DDR Reference: Auto

CPU Configuration:

Ratio CMOS Setting: 9
C1E Support: Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Intel Virtualization Tech: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled

Load-Line Calibration: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled

[screwtech02]

Kayso, did you use Simps guide to get there???

[eSp!s0]

Hi guys,
I am new with this board and it`s not even installed. I took a look in the manual and read sth about the Epu6-Engine software.
I will change from my current Maximus Formula and there was the option to only install the Epu driver without the software with it. How is this with the M2F and is the software good in your opinion?
Also the manual says to first install ram in the yellow slots for better running/OC, I guess they mean the white ones!?
Regards.

[Kayso]

Kayso, did you use Simps guide to get there???

Not exactly, but this was something like FAQ for me.

[humeyboy]

Really?

I'd think the Internet connection would bottleneck it. I mean it shouldn't matter how fast you can talk to the router if the router can only talk to the web via 10Mb/s.

And shouldn't it be 2000Mb/s (2Gb/s) if you team? I guess you need a Gb router, though.

The GIG NIC's will show 100mbit as that's all you need normally.

They will change to 1000mbit if needed or if you take setting OFF Auto and set to 1000mbit

They are 10/100/1000mbit NIC's actually.

[GFORCE100]

Really?

I'd think the Internet connection would bottleneck it. I mean it shouldn't matter how fast you can talk to the router if the router can only talk to the web via 10Mb/s.

And shouldn't it be 2000Mb/s (2Gb/s) if you team? I guess you need a Gb router, though.

The same effect can be triggered by amending the TCP/IP settings of the NIC itself rather than teaming them together. It's worth checking out the NIC settings in device manager and/or the Windows registry. I don't know which settings would need tuning off the top of my head (too taxing on the brain hehe) but things like concurrent connections, read/send buffer and so forth. Changing things like MTU won't help if you're on ADSL since as far as I remember ADSL supports a MTU of 576 bytes. You're always going to get encapsulation/overhead/fragmentation and unless you're using Gigabit or higher (Your PC <> Router/Switch) I wouldn't worry about it overly much (no need to think jumbo frames to increase throughput efficiency etc.).

The only exception to the above would be if you have a hub in play, especially if it's set at 10Mb/s Ethernet which wasn't full duplex hence packet collisions galore (I doubt many people still use them though).

There are apps online that tune your Internet connection for you, or info on what to change in the Windows registry.

You can't get 1000Mb/s Ethernet to work if your router/switch only supports Fast Ethernet which is 100Mb/s. Auto-negotiation won't allow it, even if you set it manually to 1000/1000 it's a no go. Also you ned CAT 5e/6 UTP or better cabling (i.e. STP if you are sending secret info )

[Grnfinger]

Hi guys,
I am new with this board and it`s not even installed. I took a look in the manual and read sth about the Epu6-Engine software.
I will change from my current Maximus Formula and there was the option to only install the Epu driver without the software with it. How is this with the M2F and is the software good in your opinion?
Also the manual says to first install ram in the yellow slots for better running/OC, I guess they mean the white ones!?
Regards.

I run Raid0 so cannot comment on Asus Six Engine but I can only assume its crap like the rest of there software.

I would recommend getting the latest chipset driver from Intel and IMSM if your running raid. And yes they mean white slots for the dimms Asus copied most of the manual from a P5Q

[eSp!s0]

Allright, thank you. After installing I only have the problem that I can`t use the Console Starter and AudioConsole from the X-Fi Utility, only the Volume Panel is working. When I try to start Console Starter for example, there comes a message "no supported audio found" (sth. like that) and I have the option to switch to another audio but in this list only is Windows-Standard and nothing else to switch to. I installed AudioMax driver and X-Fi Utility after. Also I cant get Mic or Headphones working with the front panel (tried HDAudio and AC97 in bios and different settings in AudioMax software).

[Grnfinger]

Allright, thank you. After installing I only have the problem that I can`t use the Console Starter and AudioConsole from the X-Fi Utility, only the Volume Panel is working. When I try to start Console Starter for example, there comes a message "no supported audio found" (sth. like that) and I have the option to switch to another audio but in this list only is Windows-Standard and nothing else to switch to. I installed AudioMax driver and X-Fi Utility after. Also I cant get Mic or Headphones working with the front panel (tried HDAudio and AC97 in bios and different settings in AudioMax software).

I run a xtreme gamer creative card but iirc you need to set HD audio in bios, do not let vista/xp install anything and then install the sound max and creative drivers from the cd...my wifes rig runs the same board and thats the method I used and the audio is working 100%

you may need to uninstall from device manager and clear the registry of any drivers

[eSp!s0]

I never let XP install sth I don`t want to have
I installed the card the way you did. Soundmax is working, X-Fi Volume Panel is working. Then I started X-Fi Console Launcher and I had to activate the card with the serial on the Asus CD and I could activate without a problem. Then I wanted to start the now registered/activated function X-Fi Console Launcher and then the error message I wrote in my post before apeared and is still appearing when starting Console Launcher or Audio Console.
I wonder that the Soundcard is not fitting optimal in the slot. The hole with which the card becomes screwed with the case is a few mm above the hole from the case. I already removed the mainboard screw exactly under the soundcard but that didn`t help a lot. The case is straight, I don`t know why it`s not fitting right.
Whatever, the card is working, only the X-Fi functions won`t find the audio needed to start and the list only contains windows standard, nothing to switch (and fornt audio doesn`t work).
I don`t like mainboard sound and my X-Treme music is defect/had problems with Maximus Formula X38. Therefor I want to buy a X-Fi Titanium PCIe in a few weeks but I am scarred it won`t fit, too. Another option would be a X-Treme Music UAA but that`s PCI and PCI is the main reason for most problems with this X-Fi PCI cards. Grrrrrrrrr

[Grnfinger]

that is wierd did you update the creative drivers once the cd install was finished?
I had some issues with feedback when I moved the mouse around and after the update all was fine.

[eSp!s0]

No, I used a downloaded installer for Soundmax and X-Fi utility. Soundmax version in installer-filename is V510X6480 (XP) and X-Fi utility is 1.0, didn`t find any newer version.
Got them from here: http://www.hardwareluxx.de/community...d.php?t=588579

[529th]

Ok, so I've had my Maximus II Formula up for sale for a while ($160) and no ones bought it. Recently a guy has shown some interest in mine. So, I just was going through the retail packaging etc. making sure everything was there and caught myself a slight interest in it again. This prompted me to check the Asus download page for an update to the bios for this motherboard and I noticed BIOS 2104 is out for this board which amazes me. Now, I am having thoughts of keeping this board in blind hopes of my previous goal of rock solid 24/7 500fsb with my Q9650 + 4gb (but I do have 8gb in disposal)

What's the reports of this new bios!? Grn, anyone? Thanks,

529th

[WaterFlex]

1307 is still the best for me

[529th]

Ok, so I've had my Maximus II Formula up for sale for a while ($160) and no ones bought it. Recently a guy has shown some interest in mine. So, I just was going through the retail packaging etc. making sure everything was there and caught myself a slight interest in it again. This prompted me to check the Asus download page for an update to the bios for this motherboard and I noticed BIOS 2104 is out for this board which amazes me. Now, I am having thoughts of keeping this board in blind hopes of my previous goal of rock solid 24/7 500fsb with my Q9650 + 4gb (but I do have 8gb in disposal)

What's the reports of this new bios!? Grn, anyone? Thanks,

[eSp!s0]

that is wierd did you update the creative drivers once the cd install was finished?
I had some issues with feedback when I moved the mouse around and after the update all was fine.

I removed the drivers and installed the drivers from CD and now the X-Fi functions are working
Which update do you mean, can you give me a link? Perhaps I will have these issues, too. Than I will give the update you mentioned a try.

[Grnfinger]

Ok, so I've had my Maximus II Formula up for sale for a while ($160) and no ones bought it. Recently a guy has shown some interest in mine. So, I just was going through the retail packaging etc. making sure everything was there and caught myself a slight interest in it again. This prompted me to check the Asus download page for an update to the bios for this motherboard and I noticed BIOS 2104 is out for this board which amazes me. Now, I am having thoughts of keeping this board in blind hopes of my previous goal of rock solid 24/7 500fsb with my Q9650 + 4gb (but I do have 8gb in disposal)

What's the reports of this new bios!? Grn, anyone? Thanks,

Didnt bother to try the new bios Asus epaper had this to say about its new release


Maximus II Formula Release BIOS 2104, 04/13/2009 [Download] Enhance system stability with certain memory modules.

I might test it out tonight for someting to do

I removed the drivers and installed the drivers from CD and now the X-Fi functions are working
Which update do you mean, can you give me a link? Perhaps I will have these issues, too. Than I will give the update you mentioned a try.

iirc in your sys tray there should be a XFI icon right click and select the update option, not at my pc right now I'll check when I return home

[529th]

Thanks for the Reply GrnFinger

[eSp!s0]

iirc in your sys tray there should be a XFI icon right click and select the update option, not at my pc right now I'll check when I return home

If you mean the Creative Volume Panel icon, there is no update function. I also took a look in the startmenu (don`t know if it`s right in english) Creative folder where you normally can select the update function with a real X-Fi card like my old X-Treme music but there is no update function, too.
I will wait till you are home again

[529th]

Any results with the new Bios yet?

[eSp!s0]

I flashed the new bios directly after putting the new M2F in my system and I have no problems so far but I don`t no the versions before. Since the weekend I am playing around to find my 500x8 settings I also used before with the X38. I need a bit more VFSB, 1,25VBios/1,24-1,25V Everest (X38: 1,20VBios/1,10V Everest), a bit less VNB, 1,206VBios/1,19V Everest (X38: 1,33VBios/1,31V Everest) and almost the same Vcore (both 1,218V Bios/1,160-1,168V CPU-z) and VDimm (both 1,80V Bios). With VNB and VFSB I am not ready with testing, perhaps I can give them a little bit less V but not less than 0,05V, so far I already tested.
With the X38 I could run PL9, now I had to switch to PL10 with M2F (both Moderate) but it`s as fast in Everest Cache bench as X38 with PL9.
@ Grnfinger: Come home

[seba84_2005]

My new ram

OCZ 2X2GB FLEX II 1150MHz 2.1v @ 1200MHz 2.2v

[WaterFlex]

Nice clock, Seba

[Grnfinger]

My new ram

OCZ 2X2GB FLEX II 1150MHz 2.1v @ 1200MHz 2.2v

Nice results, have you tweaked your timing yet?
Scores look a litle low imo

[seba84_2005]

My setting of memory:

1st Information:

CAS# Latency: 5 DRAM Clocks
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5 DRAM Clocks
DRAM RAS# Precharge: 5 DRAM Clocks
DRAM RAS# Activate to Precharge: 15 DRAM Clocks
RAS# to RAS# Delay: 3
Row Refresh Recycle Time: 55 DRAM Clocks
Write Recovery Time: 6
Read to Precharge Time: 3

2nd Information:

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


3rd Information:

Write to PRE Delay: 14
Read to PRE Delay: 5
PRE to PRE Delay: 1
All PRE to ACT Delay: 5
All PRE to REF Delay: 5

DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
DRAM Read Training: Disabled
MEM. OC Charger: Enabled
Ai Clock Twister: Stronger
Ai Transaction Booster: Manual

Common Performance Level: 0.8
Pull-in of CHA PH1: Disabled
Pull-in of CHA PH2: Disabled
Pull-in of CHA PH3: Disabled
Pull-in of CHB PH1: Disabled
Pull-in of CHB PH2: Disabled
Pull-in of CHB PH3: Disabled

One can still improve something?