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

[Hannibal Lecter]

More anomalies: OCCT reports 1.46v while idle (BIOS setting 1.45 LLC enabled) and 1.47v (!!!) load.

Also the max load temp reported by OCCT is 4C higher than RealTemp or CoreTemp. I am running BIOS 904, no one else has this problem? Is this normal for this board? And what vcore to trust?

[monza1412]

More anomalies: OCCT reports 1.46v while idle (BIOS setting 1.45 LLC enabled) and 1.47v (!!!) load.

Also the max load temp reported by OCCT is 4C higher than RealTemp or CoreTemp. I am running BIOS 904, no one else has this problem? Is this normal for this board? And what vcore to trust?

LLC overvolts a little, and in my case the program that gave me more accurate readings (comparing with the lcd display) was everest.

[aln688]

More anomalies: OCCT reports 1.46v while idle (BIOS setting 1.45 LLC enabled) and 1.47v (!!!) load.

Also the max load temp reported by OCCT is 4C higher than RealTemp or CoreTemp. I am running BIOS 904, no one else has this problem? Is this normal for this board? And what vcore to trust?

My BIOS CPU Voltage is 1.23 and under load it'll spike to 1.24 and at idle it'll sometimes go down to 1.22; all with LLC enabled. You could say that behaviour is normal, although I think a vcore of 1.45 is very high, I would speculate to say it's too high. I use RealTemp and CPU-Z to monitor the voltage and temperatures, I've never used OCCT before although I have heard of it.

There isn't a single definitive vcore value to "trust", the lowest vcore, or CPU Voltage, is different for every system's hardware and overclock. You find the lowest vcore for your system by setting it to a low value (i.e. 1.15), then running bench tests for stability. Where the bench test fails, notch up the vcore fraction at a time until your bench tests succeed.

[Hannibal Lecter]

Yes, but the CPU is well cooled, max 70C on load with 32C ambient (this summer), and it's a C0 stepping, it needs more vcore than a D0.

Anyway, after doing some more testing, I suppose I should trust the BIOS most. I was just surprised since the behaviour of LLC is very different from the P6T Deluxe. With the P6T and LLC activated the max vcore on load is the value you set in the BIOS. With the RII Gene the min vcore on load seems to be what you set in the BIOS.

Other than that it's a terrific board, maybe the best X58 board I've tried yet, just change the NB heatsink .

[BobyTT]

I need help guys. I just got Gene and i am using it with 920 , but even on stock clock NB/SB temp is like 88'C is that normal? i am afraid to do anything with this mobo. my CPU cooling is H50, but whats worries me is the temp of the NB/SB...

[Leeghoofd]

Buy an extra fan mate and put it over the NB, then it will be fine (60°C or such is my tempwhen priming with an Antec spotcool ) We all have been experiencing this, the IOH heatsink is underdimensioned, plus when you use the H50 unit you will cut airflow in ya case. So give it some extra air and all will be fine

[BobyTT]

I figure that out, i put one fan blowing on top of it temps went down with 35-40'C.... I was just wondering how is that possible. And why Asus doesn't fixed somehow...

[Hannibal Lecter]

You need to change the NB heatsink. Asus's is very poor and pretty much useless.

Try one of these:

http://www.xigmatek.com/product/air-portercn881.php

Noctua has/had one too (NC-U6), I can't find it on their site.
I think Thermalright HR-05 is too big.

They work well passively and will improve the NB temp a lot.

[Leeghoofd]

If you use an air cooler you will still have some airflow over the IOH heatsink, also the case's air flow will be optimal. The heatsink is designed to be used for that purpose. I've had this board at 4ghz daily with a TRUE 120 in an Antec P160 case. No issue with the stock heatsink at 75°C. But when you start using watercooling and co and especially the H50 unit you are cutting airflow, even dumping hot air inside the case... then you are required to give it some aid. same for it's bigger brother

[BobyTT]

Well i guess ill just stick with a fan blowing air on top of it... I admit , i was a little scare at the beginning...

[aln688]

I need help guys. I just got Gene and i am using it with 920 , but even on stock clock NB/SB temp is like 88'C is that normal? i am afraid to do anything with this mobo. my CPU cooling is H50, but whats worries me is the temp of the NB/SB...

Do what I did, put a Noctua U6 chipset heat-sink on the NB area. Take off (unscrew) Asus's finned modular piece, then buy two M3 x 10mm screws, some compound (I used Noctua NT-H1) and install the U6. My temperature under load never goes above 49 C, and that's passively cooled as well.

[BobyTT]

Do what I did, put a Noctua U6 chipset heat-sink on the NB area. Take off (unscrew) Asus's finned modular piece, then buy two M3 x 10mm screws, some compound (I used Noctua NT-H1) and install the U6. My temperature under load never goes above 49 C, and that's passively cooled as well.

Thanks man great advise! I'll do it. So i have just to unscrew 2 screws and put this noctua , there is no need of modification? Because i have no tools to do any...

[aln688]

Thanks man great advise! I'll do it. So i have just to unscrew 2 screws and put this noctua , there is no need of modification? Because i have no tools to do any...

No special tools needed. All you need is (1) Noctua U6, (2) Two M3 x 10mm screws, (3) Noctua NT-H1 compound (or your own) and (4) phillips screwdriver. Basically the U6 works well as it absorbs the heat from the NB. I used to have an Antec SpotCool blowing over the U6's metal fins, but realized I didn't really need it.

[BobyTT]

Thanks a lot man. Ordered the Noctua, gotta go to hardware store to get the crews! Thank to everyone for the help!

[aln688]

Sounds good. Here's my system when I had the Antec SpotCool fan installed, I've since removed it. You can see the U6 showing to the right of the fan.

[VoRtAn_MaDgE]

Today finally went to the shop and grabbed this badass fan

- Rated Voltage: 12VDC

- Operating Voltage: 10.8-13.2VDC

- Air Flow: 133 CFM

- Input Current: 0.4 A (MAX)

- Input Power: 4.8W

- Speed: 800 RPM+- 15%

- Noise: 16 dB

- Weight: 250 +- 5 grams

- Operating Temperature: -10ºC to + 70ºC (90% PH)

The good of using this fan on the Gene is that considering that the mb is MATX the fan almost cover the entire board

Check my temps idle in windows
Cpu is a C0 cooled by the good old 1st tuniq with stock fan
Default nb e sb coolers



I've got a Noctua U6 but dunno if i needed it in this case

[Hannibal Lecter]

Great temps but...how did you manage this OC with such low vcore on a C0 ???
That's awsome!

[VoRtAn_MaDgE]

Great temps but...how did you manage this OC with such low vcore on a C0 ???
That's awsome!

It's a gooooooooood C0.

I've already thinked in the past selling this one and grab a D0 but i've always kept this one

Gonna try a little more a put temps under load

[BETA911]

Guys, how come my cpu drops to 4185 and later to 4000 when i run 200 x 21, it does it when the load temps already reach 65°C...
Throttle already now ?

[RejZoR]

Depends on what's the cooler that you're using. But i7 920 starts to throttle at 100°C (been there, seen that at 4GHz with AXP-140).
But it shouldn't throttle at 65°C unless there are heat spikes that mess readings. But i doubt it.

[BobyTT]

Any advice for OC for gene and C0 920 my target as i said i am using Corsair H50 and my target is 3.4-3.6GHz but never overclocked i7 before...

[Hannibal]

is this better than the evga micro ?

[Lu(ky]

is this better than the evga micro ?

I think so for the price.. All the stuff you get like X-Fi sound built in, LCD Poster. I find this board to be my favorite out all boards I tried.. It is worth it compared to the other micro x58 boards out there.

[Necetra]

That's a sexy NB heatsink change.
I'm confused about the X-Fi thing though. Specs say it's an AD2000B and not a Creative X-Fi based chip? Am I missing something here?

[Mjhieu]

This board is making for HTPC, it's so small to compare to big brother 2 extreme, and also cheaper alot.