X48 Rampage Formula Preview.

[Alien Grey]

@greg.m

Does it make a difference running at 9 X 480MHz in 3DMark06 graphics tests score than running at 9 X 450MHz?

[Roger_D25]

As I already said I haven't got any problem with 65nm cpu.

Sorry about that, when I wrote that post I was referring to people who hadn't yet posted their experience with stuck sensors and the Rampage Formula (I should have been more articulate). In hindsight it wasn't a very good question because I'm already quite sure its got nothing to do with the motherboard (earlier today I installed my Q9650 into my old DFI UT X48 which also measured a stuck sensor on Core#4 at 42C)!

Burdoror - Great work with the Q9550, that is very impressive for such early testing.

[ElAguila]

This thread has gotten really large and I have been trying to keep up. So what is the final verdict on bios 0902? Flash to it or stay with 0803?

[kuebk]

I'm still on 803.

[Alien Grey]

This thread has gotten really large and I have been trying to keep up. So what is the final verdict on bios 0902? Flash to it or stay with 0803?

The BIOS makes it possible to run at DDR 1200MHz+ and tRD 6 and makes it possible to run stable at FSB 480MHz and DDR 1200MHz.

It's the best BIOS for DDR 1200MHz+.

[OLDcomer]

802 does wonders on my board but I should try 902 with my new toys:

Transcend aXe 1200+ 2x1GB kit
Quick testing:
DRAM Voltage 2.1V bios set on all shots

1240MHz



1260MHz

[crosshairs]

I'm still on 803, I may have to just try this BIOS...

[greg.m]

@greg.m

Does it make a difference running at 9 X 480MHz in 3DMark06 graphics tests score than running at 9 X 450MHz?

Yes it does and i think a big one... but ill be back later with some results

[Earzz]

Hi guys since a few days im really running into stability problems.
First i thought that it was my RAM then i thought it was my mobo but now i think its my CPU.
System is only stable at stock speeds and any overclock will fail in PRIME and OCCT.
Now i noticed this ate start up:



It should say count : 4 but it is saying 2, in windows the 4 cores show up without any problems.
So what could it really be? A failing RF or a failing Xeon?

[Roger_D25]

Earzz - I wouldn't worry about it (especially if Windows is properly showing all four cores), I imagine your Xeon isn't "officially" supported by the BIOS or motherboard at the moment (maybe go over to Asus and check the CPU compatibility list to see if its supported). I could be wrong but I assume that its just a simple mistake and nothing serious (but I could be wrong)?

[greg.m]

@greg.m

Does it make a difference running at 9 X 480MHz in 3DMark06 graphics tests score than running at 9 X 450MHz?

Here is the results:

450x9


and

480x9


Thats a big difference i think...

[Earzz]

Earzz - I wouldn't worry about it (especially if Windows is properly showing all four cores), I imagine your Xeon isn't "officially" supported by the BIOS or motherboard at the moment (maybe go over to Asus and check the CPU compatibility list to see if its supported). I could be wrong but I assume that its just a simple mistake and nothing serious (but I could be wrong)?

Well i know that it did show up as 4 cores before i had all my problems, one other thing is how can it be that all of the sudden my systems isnt stable anymore.
It worked just fine for more then a year

[kuebk]

Try to reflash bios.

[Alien Grey]

802 does wonders on my board but I should try 902 with my new toys:

Transcend aXe 1200+ 2x1GB kit
Quick testing:
DRAM Voltage 2.1V bios set on all shots

1240MHz



1260MHz

Nice results with that Transcend aXe 1200+ 2x1GB kit.

[Alien Grey]

Here is the results:

450x9


and

480x9


Thats a big difference i think...

Yeah, that's a big difference. Could you also run a test at 8.5 X 480Mhz to see if it's the CPU or the higher bandwidth that makes the difference.

[Alien Grey]

Well i know that it did show up as 4 cores before i had all my problems, one other thing is how can it be that all of the sudden my systems isnt stable anymore.
It worked just fine for more then a year

Did you change any hardware?

Try with removing the PSU cable and battery and do a Clear CMOS.

[Earzz]

Did you change any hardware?

Well i installed Win7 and my SSD's and then all my troubles began.
First i thought it was Win7 and then i thought it was the combination with Win7 and SSD's, then i thought it was maybe my old 410 bioswat didnt support the SSD's correct so i went to 803 and now 902.
So i started stress testing with different speeds with all kind of different voltages and no mather what i tried everything was failing.
So this evening i noticed that with the bios start up it is saying "count : 2", i know for sure this was saying 4.
Ill try disconnecting everything and installing the old 410 bios and see what happens then, ill keep you updated.





Must solve this ........................

[leo27]

I've just been tightening up my memory timings (memory is in sig).




I'm 11 passes memtest for windows and 50 passes linx stable with these memory settings, the rest are the same as previously.

I haven't run a P95+UT2004 pass on it as yet i'm not sure if that is necessary if only the memory has been changed, would it be advisable??
Are there any timings i could tighten further??

also
@Earzz
I would try just doing a clear CMOS like A-Grey said but reinstall Bios 902. Eliminate one thing at a time in this case a bad bios flash.

[Earzz]

@Earzz
I would try just doing a clear CMOS like A-Grey said but reinstall Bios 902. Eliminate one thing at a time in this case a bad bios flash.

Well clearing my cmos solved the problem that it was showing count 2.
Now im on 3570 Mhz with 1.264 VCore (real) 1 hour OCCT stable, gonna let it stress test now overnight for 8 hours.
Really strange because all my old known stable OC settings dont work anymore, its really picky now with the settings and i doubt it that i will reach a stable 3700 Mhz.
For sure i wont be able to run it anymore with a VCore of 1.288 but i still will try to get my Xeon C1 back on that speed.

[leo27]

if your still on Bios 902 don't forget to set the nb and CPU clock skews they can help with stability

[Roger_D25]

leo27 - First of all nice work, it can take a lot of time and effort to tighten everything up while testing for stability! After looking at your screenshots the main thing I noticed what your "Performance Level" setting (which is 8). In my opinion this is a very important setting and has a bit impact on performance and stability. There is an excellent article over at Anandtech HERE in regards to the Rampage Formula and BIOS settings (it goes into great detail about certain settings including the Performance Level or tRD setting). Basically this setting is dependent on what FSB your running (there is a formula you can use to figure out if certain tRD settings are possible or not). With that said I would suggest lowering your tRD value from 8 to 6 (if you keep your FSB at 425Mhz). You might even try running a tRD of 5 but it might take a bit more testing and tuning to get stable. Like A-Grey I'm running a tRD value of 6 with a FSB of 450Mhz. In any case lowering your tRD value from 8 to 6 will yeild decent memory performance increases.

[leo27]

I'm running a tRD of 8 with all pull-ins enabled (so basically a tRD of 7),i wasn't aware you could run a tRD of 6 with a memory frequency of 850Mhz (a 1:1 memory divider)??
And also if i did lower the tRD would any voltage increases be necessary do you know??

[Roger_D25]

I should have done this before posting my suggestion above (about lowering tRD to 6), after some quick math I realize that your right. Given that your running 1:1 with a CAS4 it shouldn't be possible, tRD6 is about as good as you can get. Sorry about that Leo, I should have paid closer attention to the divider you were running. If you have the time would you run the Everest "Cache and Memory Benchmark" and post it (or just post your "Read", "Write", "Copy", and "Latency" numbers for me with your current settings), thanks very much if you can!

[leo27]

here's the everest bench

[Alien Grey]

here's the everest bench

Nice result for a 6400 kit.