ASUS RAMPAGE II GENE (Retail) : ROG. X58 m-ATX preview

[mecho_gruh]

He is well prepared overclocker, I've just convinced him to let AM3 bulshhhhh and get the i7. He already has got a high end liquid cooling system and 850W PCP&C. The problem with the 1156 is that the new CPU's are still too hot and not very good for OC, as they will become in few months after the release of the rev.2 (like D0 for 920). We also compared prices here in Bulgaria and it doesn't matter what you get.

Also which do you think is better R2G or Foxconn Flaming Blade? He can't accept that the R2G is mATX, and only for this reason he want's to take the Foxconn.

[RejZoR]

Core i7 doesn't seem to overclock much better on extreme end motherboards. Sure you have slightly more freedom and options but in the end most of them go up to 4GHz quite easily. Though i wouldn't change RIIG for anything else :P I just love this small bottle of poison.
I thin buying i7 920 was a smart thing. It's a great CPU. But if your friend is low, on budget, then LGA1156 CPU could be a slightly cheaper option.

Btw, i've installed Thermalright AXP-140 today on LGA775 holes. The trick with plastic washers worked like a charm. But then i had to drill 4 holes in the motherboard holding plate because the screews were sticking out too much. Cools the CPU 10°C better than Scythe Big Shuriken. Thermalright is pricey but damn, they make high quality products, thats for sure.

[Stijndp]

He shouldn't care about the size concerning performance tbh. I overclocked with a GigaByte GA-G33M-DS2R on 775 and now with a Asus Rampage II Gene for 1366.
And you don't see much of the mobo in a case, and that's even assuming you look at your mobo instead of your screen.

Tell your friend that prejudice is a waste of his life

[mecho_gruh]

You are absolutely right, but I wasn't able to convince him, as instead he bought ASUS Crosshair III Formula. At least he spared the extra 250$.
You reminded me of my old ASUS P5E-VM HDMI, which still is the best mATX ever, I was able to OC my Q6600@3,8 GHz rock solid on air, just with a pencil in real time when the PC was working. I was monitoring the GPU-Z while scratching with the pencil, until the VCORE was just right. Ah the good old days.

[Lu(ky]

Is this board Windows 7 compatible? I did not see any Drivers for it?

[mecho_gruh]

@Lu(ky Just use the Vista drivers included in the CD. You won't have any problems.

[Lu(ky]

Question did anyone take off stock paste on N/S sections? And add new paste? I see on the memory section they use pads if I take this off can I use something else there like paste MX2 etc.. This area looks thick I hate to take it off to leave a gab. But I thought I read somewhere this board cooks and it should be taken off. My board is new never used yet planning on starting tonight with it. I hate to use it and have the stuff embedded into the N/S chips. Thanks

[aln688]

Question did anyone take off stock paste on N/S sections? And add new paste? I see on the memory section they use pads if I take this off can I use something else there like paste MX2 etc.. This area looks thick I hate to take it off to leave a gab. But I thought I read somewhere this board cooks and it should be taken off. My board is new never used yet planning on starting tonight with it. I hate to use it and have the stuff embedded into the N/S chips. Thanks

There's absolutely no need to replace the compound on the NB chip. Simply removing the modular piece and placing a heatsink there and/or a fan blowing over the NB area will cool down the NB nicely, as I've evidenced myself and the review at Hardware Canucks. I'm skeptical replacing the stock NB compound with something similar to MX-2 or AS5 will make a difference, there's no definitive evidence.

I did however replace the compound on the SB, it was a white oily substance which had almost disappeared, I put Noctua NT-H1 on there instead, and pushed the stock Asus heatsink back in place - however, I doubt even that was necessary. Out of the two the NB heats up the most and adding more metal to absorb the heat is a good idea, as well as plenty of airflow.

[Esajuppeli]

I have run this mobo at 220BCLK, and 4,3Ghz Uncore (Benchmarks), but I still want more. So i'm asking if you know any mods for this mobo, feel free to tell 'em to me.

PS. Do you have problems with PCI-E clocks? If I set over 103 PCI-E, Soundcard and network won't work.

[EXPANDER]

5145 MHZ I7 975 EXTREME EDITION / ASUS RAMPAGE II GENE / LN2 -78c

CPUZ VALIDATE: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=714352

[buddatech]

Changed NB/SB thermal paste to Thermal fusion 400 and NB Idle temps 41-43c and SB idle temps 52-54c P95 loads temps go up only by 3-4c NB also has a 40mm fan attached. This in a crap V9 case (temporary case) and both 23cm fans top and side panel have been removed.

[RejZoR]

I don't quite understand the point of using uATX mobo in a standard ATX cases. Bottom third of the case is just empty. I have a small case where i can fit only uATX, so RIIG is the only option. But for you guys, there is plenty of choice. Why Gene!?

[overcrash]

I don't quite understand the point of using uATX mobo in a standard ATX cases. Bottom third of the case is just empty. I have a small case where i can fit only uATX, so RIIG is the only option. But for you guys, there is plenty of choice. Why Gene!?

775 holes/cheaper yet goot performance/nice looking

[buddatech]

I was planing on picking up a P180 Mini when egg had it for 69.99 + free shipping, but sold out at that price before I can grab it So I picked up this case from a local best buy while I wait and hope that deal comes back again, so within the next 29 days I hope it goes back on sale.

[Leeghoofd]

I don't quite understand the point of using uATX mobo in a standard ATX cases. Bottom third of the case is just empty. I have a small case where i can fit only uATX, so RIIG is the only option. But for you guys, there is plenty of choice. Why Gene!?

1) performs as good as the full blown REX II
2) Far less gimmicks and features, so more stable
3) Voltages are far more stable then my REX II
4) Far cheaper

Only disadvantage is the IOH heatsink that really needs help to maintain stability...

[Lu(ky]

Well I finally got mine going after having problems with the Swiftech MCW-NBMAX it kept leaking in the mounting screws. Luckily I had another one and was able to finish it last night. So far everything stock but I must say I love this new Intel 80GB SSD V2 drive can you say zoom zoom.. Looking to buy 1 more to make a raid in the future. Here are some quick pix with a link to the slide show. --------------> SLIDE SHOW

[The Nemesis]

I was planing on picking up a P180 Mini when egg had it for 69.99 + free shipping, but sold out at that price before I can grab it So I picked up this case from a local best buy while I wait and hope that deal comes back again, so within the next 29 days I hope it goes back on sale.

Strange the P180 Mini Black was onsale at egg for $69 with free ship with coupon code. Picked one up Friday to go along with my with one. (Yin & Yang). Did you miss this sale?

Well I finally got mine going after having problems with the Swiftech MCW-NBMAX it kept leaking in the mounting screws. Luckily I had another one and was able to finish it last night. So far everything stock but I must say I love this new Intel 80GB SSD V2 drive can you say zoom zoom.. Looking to buy 1 more to make a raid in the future. Here are some quick pix with a link to the slide show. --------------> SLIDE SHOW

Glad to see you got things worked out.Nice looking build

[aln688]

I don't quite understand the point of using uATX mobo in a standard ATX cases. Bottom third of the case is just empty. I have a small case where i can fit only uATX, so RIIG is the only option. But for you guys, there is plenty of choice. Why Gene!?

Good question. There's aren't many good reasons to choose a tiny board in a large case, over a board such as an Asus P6T Deluxe V2. The P6T V2 board is no less competant than a RIIG. Using a smaller board only makes all the cables more obvious by having them stretch across from the various places in the case across the visible part of the motherboard tray. For me personally if I already had a larger case, I would choose a board that sizes up against the motherboard tray in the case. At the end of the day though, it just comes down to personal choice.

[aln688]

2) Far less gimmicks and features, so more stable

I wouldn't speculate that less features and gimmicks makes a board more stable. It's possible to have a board without many features that's unreliable, for example the Intel OR840 I once owned. The Asus P6T series of boards (Workstation, Deluxe, etc.) have more features and they are very stable.

[buddatech]

Strange the P180 Mini Black was onsale at egg for $69 with free ship with coupon code. Picked one up Friday to go along with my with one. (Yin & Yang). Did you miss this sale?


Glad to see you got things worked out.Nice looking build

Yes, that is precisely the sale I missed Had it in my cart almost all day and when I finally went to pull the trigger BAM it was sold out!! Either way I decided to go with a Storm Sniper this way I can choose between a full ATX or mATX board.

[aln688]

MWave.com has it right now for $67 (refurbished though):

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch...iteria=CB24772

They are quite a good shop to do business with. If not refurbished, then Provantage has it for $74:

http://www.provantage.com/antec-mini-p180~7ANTG04Y.htm

[buddatech]

Here is my P95 run, what do you guys think of temps?



The end!

[Taylor01]

Ok I have had this board for a few months now and never got around to OC it until now. I have say first off I am a amature at best so if this is a dumb. I oc my i7 920 to 4.2ghz. the thing I notice is that cpuz shows it at 2.6ghz until I start prime95 and them it jumps up to 4.2ghz. so when running different programs my cpu speed go up and down. So is this a feature of this board? can I turn it off in Bios so it will run 4.2ghz all the time?

[Cralle!]

Ya, it´s a energysaving function called Speedstep and you can turn it off in BIOS but i see no point in doing that.

[sacha35]

Ok I have had this board for a few months now and never got around to OC it until now. I have say first off I am a amature at best so if this is a dumb. I oc my i7 920 to 4.2ghz. the thing I notice is that cpuz shows it at 2.6ghz until I start prime95 and them it jumps up to 4.2ghz. so when running different programs my cpu speed go up and down. So is this a feature of this board? can I turn it off in Bios so it will run 4.2ghz all the time?

Hi if you are a general user/ gamer I would leave things as they are as it will only be running full speed when the system is under load (Speedstap) , this way when browsing the net or light loads you have a nice quite cool PC and then when needed it will run at full speed.