ASUS MAXIMUS III Formula Review

[TiN_]

Dead so far.
Mobo died just after flash. No other things was done before or later.

It power ups , but no POST, and that stupid led near ATX just light on "CPU" and no any changes.

I tried to flash mobo on program hardware, checked contents of flash chip (8pin DIP near corner of PCB, on panel), i was flashed right.

[Roger_D25]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question, its appreciated (although again I'm sorry to hear about your board)! What is your plan now, are you going to try RMA'ing the board (if so please keep us posted on your RMA experience)!

[TiN_]

No RMA in ukraine Will continue work on repairing, will try to get raw binary.
If anybody have m3f and SPI programmer I'd like to get binary from their BIOSes

[TiN_]

Repaired this stupid motherboard.

Needed to use logic analyzer module for this with DIY hardware flash chip programmer.



Will never buy any ASUS products

[MonkY]

Well, a new BIOS version is out. v1202 with some updates:

1.Improve memory compatibility
2.Fix some PCIEx1 LAN card can't be detected at PCH PCIEx1 slot.
3.Update CPU Level Up function.
4.Fix CPU power always show 2.5W in EPU software.
5.Fix system may halt in POST after AC power loss during BIOS update

You can get it from here: ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/mb/LG...-ASUS-1202.zip
I hope it will fix my cold boot problems... otherwise, will just got and RMA this.

[EXPANDER]

ASUS MAXIMUS III FORMULA Test

Test System

intel core i5-750 Retail.
Asus MAXIMUS III FORMULA
1000 Watt Enermax Galaxy
Asus EAH 4890 1GB Voltage Tweak
Vapochill -LS Modified

4788 MHZ
VALIDATE: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=869311



4704 MHZ SP1M 8.9s

[overclocking101]

well looks like the maximus 3 formula suffers from the same problem as the maximus 2 formula. very poor contact on the vregs heres the proof:
this is a retail m3f just got here really to bad no heatsink on it yet so there has been no board warping whatsoever. i added washers to the back and it seems to not halp at all

[franklin5252]

Yes board and Great pics of it also thanks for the share.

[kamelia23]

Hello, I am new to this forums and I'm found this site interesting and useful.
I’m looking forward to join on the forums, helping people out with my thoughts and learning from others.

[Mjhieu]

I feel sorry for you, I usually update my bios for every 3 months. Only when my dfi mobo dead after successful flashed, I dont dare to update any bios for any mobo anymore, so scary when I need a machine to do my job and it already dead.

Dead so far.
Mobo died just after flash. No other things was done before or later.

It power ups , but no POST, and that stupid led near ATX just light on "CPU" and no any changes.

I tried to flash mobo on program hardware, checked contents of flash chip (8pin DIP near corner of PCB, on panel), i was flashed right.

[sacha35]

Heads up for extreme overclockers using the ASUS Maximus III Formula with the Clarksdale CPU's.

There seems to be some incompatibility in the TurboV software when overclocking, when pushing Bl the system will lock and change registers for VTT, PLL, and Dram.
Am not sure if this problem is apparent for normal usage/air or water overclocking, but for extreme use please note that you could run into problems with your CPU's when using the turboV software to raise the Bclock.

See picture below that clearly shows the registers changed from a setting of 1.35VTT and 1.7VPLL to 1.1VTT and 2.5PLL, when pushing Bclock, which will without any doubt will have a detrimental effect on your CPU.



I have been told that ASUS are working on a fix for this problem but in the mean time please be aware that using the old TurboV software could be detrimental to your CPU when pushing Bclock.

[TiN_]

As always, all that "Overclocking megasupersoftware" is just dump and stupid . Design, aimed like idiots, of these "tools" says for itself. So they work as they look. Use SetFSB

[UnSeenSVK]

Hallo,I just bought this Mobo,i built my new gaming ring.Switched on and doesnt work,still freeze in bios.Cant even flash bios.Sometimes switch on sometimes have only black screen on lcd.

I pluged on ROG conector to my laptop and there show cmos error.. i try everthink..OKmem strart..clear cmos..everothink still doesnt work :o( ... do you think that mobo ist break?..do i have ta make a reclamation?.. .. sorry for my english and in advance tnx for help...

[darthcani]

Nice results , how about today foxconn sockets?

[TiN_]

foxconn sockets?

Affected burning badly. Just screwed M3F with xeon, during 5 hours, never used quadcore, only 2 cores was enabled, voltage never above 1.56V.
Will never buy any asus product from now.

[ICEEXOL]

No access to the bios file number 1305 ?

[MonkY]

No access to the bios file number 1305 ?

That's actually a typo. They ment 0305 and not 1305. Bad Asus, baaad !

[G.Foyle]

Maximus III Formula bios 1305 (added Clarkdale support): download here PROVIDED WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY
correct MD5: 88e17e77d1b3c89d438e08ddb99b38ae

Say thanks if I helped

[ezaleina]

anyone test yet the 1305 bios.,mind to share..

[G.Foyle]

I can say it works and Clarkdales are suported. No Lynnfield OC info yet.

[ezaleina]

I can say it works and Clarkdales are suported. No Lynnfield OC info yet.

u already test it?

[p2501]

Affected burning badly. Just screwed M3F with xeon, during 5 hours, never used quadcore, only 2 cores was enabled, voltage never above 1.56V.
Will never buy any asus product from now.

I kind of get the idea that only old batches of this board are _sometimes_ affected. I'm running this board for ~3 weeks now, checked and reseated chip and HSF yesterday, there are absolutely no signs of damage at all.. I'm running a i7 860 with over 1.41 on VTT and VC btw. The overclock is 3 weeks heavy load stable and counting (Folding@Home bigadv, loads somewhere between Prime and Linpack).

I have to note that the Realtek R8110SC gigabit chip used on these boards is somewhat less than ideal. There's always link down problems, not really that practical if you're running the box headless with only ethernet connected to it... unstable peace of you know what. But I already ordered an Intel card so I don't care anymore. People should know though.

[LuKe88]

hi, I'm having some problems with this motherboard with corsair and team group memories..
I tried a Corsair Xms3 1600 Cl8 1.65v kit, and I can't run stable, even if I use the XMP .. Bsods and errors during the memtest..
So I decided to try the mobo with a Team Group Xtreem 2000 Cl9 Low voltage kit, same problems .. The maximum IMC voltage that i tried is 1,25v ... and i think it's enough for a daily use configuration.. Am I wrong ? have I got to try an higher IMC voltage ?

[p2501]

hi, I'm having some problems with this motherboard with corsair and team group memories..
I tried a Corsair Xms3 1600 Cl8 1.65v kit, and I can't run stable, even if I use the XMP .. Bsods and errors during the memtest..
So I decided to try the mobo with a Team Group Xtreem 2000 Cl9 Low voltage kit, same problems .. The maximum IMC voltage that i tried is 1,25v ... and i think it's enough for a daily use configuration.. Am I wrong ? have I got to try an higher IMC voltage ?

I really do think you're being a bit too conservative on the volts. There's nothing wrong with giving more IMC and core voltage, as long as you can keep it cool. I'd start with 1.3v and work my way from there, keep it below 80-85°C and you're set.

For all i5/i7 it's the same rule, stay within .5v difference of VTT and DIMM volts (IMC volts on 1156), but you have to find out which the right combination of both voltages is.

[MonkY]

A new update is out. Bios 1501 will update a few things and hopefully fix the big bad bugs:

Maximus III Formula BIOS 1501
1.Update JMicron 361 Option ROM
2.Update EZ-flash 2 function
3.Fix some PCIEx1 LAN card can't be detected at PCH PCIEx1 slot.
4.Update CPU Level Up function.
5.Fix CPU power always show 2.5W in EPU software.

You can get it from here: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...-ASUS-1501.zip or check the Downloads page (as it's now oficial): http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_I...qmr&templete=2
Going to update right now and report back