ASUS MAXIMUS III Formula Review

[ezaleina]

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



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

u already update the bios?any changes?

[aqualab]

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

all true mine have more contact, I still see a problem in the midle

[MonkY]

u already update the bios?any changes?

Everything seems ok, except the cold boot problem (if i start my computer after a long period turned off... my windows keeps giving me bluescrens. If i enter in BIOS and wait for a few secconds, then turn it off and on again, no more blue screens).

So, for me it didn't fix the main problem... but it didn't cause another, so...

[NanoBullet]

Everything seems ok, except the cold boot problem (if i start my computer after a long period turned off... my windows keeps giving me bluescrens. If i enter in BIOS and wait for a few secconds, then turn it off and on again, no more blue screens).

So, for me it didn't fix the main problem... but it didn't cause another, so...

That's why i sold my MIIIF, and bought a sabertooth 55 no more boot problem or anything else. got my 750 @ 4000 and never used clrcmos, i'm so happy with it!

[MonkY]

Wow, they keep updating this board (i'm amased, as their tech support forums decided to delete my complaining posts). For now, bios 1607 is out. Still hoping...

Maximus III Formula 1607 BIOS
1. Improve memory compatibility
2. Improve system stability
3. Fix 2.2T HDD size is wrong if Quick Boot option is disabled
4. Improve compatibility with some USB3.0 devices
5. Support new CPUs. Please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/c...Language=en-us

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...-ASUS-1607.zip

[ReverendMaynard]

all true mine have more contact, I still see a problem in the midle

can you give that pipe a slight bend to get better contact?

[MonkY]

Wow, they keep updating this board (i'm amased, as their tech support forums decided to delete my complaining posts). For now, bios 1607 is out. Still hoping...

Maximus III Formula 1607 BIOS
1. Improve memory compatibility
2. Improve system stability
3. Fix 2.2T HDD size is wrong if Quick Boot option is disabled
4. Improve compatibility with some USB3.0 devices
5. Support new CPUs. Please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/c...Language=en-us

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...-ASUS-1607.zip

Updated. Found some better scores in benchmarks... but the Cold boot problem is still there. Seems like Asus is looking for performance instead of stability lately...

[NaMcO]

Updated. Found some better scores in benchmarks... but the Cold boot problem is still there. Seems like Asus is looking for performance instead of stability lately...

I have your problem on a Maximus 3 GENE. Every cold boot gives me a BSOD, no matter what i do. I power off the motherboard, BIOS gives an overclocking failed error, i press F1 to enter the BIOS, save the SAME overclock values as i had and everything just boots fine from there.

I have my i5-750 clocked at 4200 with RAM at 2000 and it's perfectly stable once it passes the first BSOD-boot. I already tried all BIOSes available and all do the same. It doesn't make a difference to mess with any voltages and PCI-E clocks, RAM Timings, etc.

She's about to be returned next week if i don't find the cause and solve it. Meh @ ASUS.

[Salami]

Tried uninstalling all sound drivers and then cold booting? Fixed it for me, just trying to find a creative driver that lets me cold boot without a bsod loop now..

[NaMcO]

Tried uninstalling all sound drivers and then cold booting? Fixed it for me, just trying to find a creative driver that lets me cold boot without a bsod loop now..

I'll try that. If that is the problem... Heh i will join the Creative haters club for sure

[MonkY]

Tried uninstalling all sound drivers and then cold booting? Fixed it for me, just trying to find a creative driver that lets me cold boot without a bsod loop now..

I don't even use the Maximus default sound card anymore (i also suspected it to be faulty) so i have Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty Professional. The problem with testing to cold boot is that you have to wait over an hour before trying again. Otherwise it boots just fine. I guess my next mobo will not be an Asus anymore

[NaMcO]

The soundcard test didn't pass. Disabling the card and uninstalling the software didn't solve the cold-boot-bug. This one is getting returned.

[ElectroBOYY]

Hi, thanks for the review...

I've been looking at the Maximus III and the Foxconn Blood Rage for a while now, but I'm still torn between the 2... Just wondering if you have any thoughts on the choice I should make? Maximus or Blood Rage? Or, possibly something else around the same price point? (£200 tops, probably )

Thanks in advance.

[Cleatus]

I dont and never had cold boot issues...
I do have stability issues now with ram on the new 1601 bios.

Like the board but tipical Asus bugs, poor bios support ect... I'm going back to 801 as it was the best bios imo for bandwidth and stability

[map01ch]

Thanks for sharing

[Salami]

Downclocked my ram , tightened the timings, lowered the VTT (From 1.24v to 1.19v) and I haven't had a cold boot problem since.

[MonkY]

Bios 1706 is out:
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...-ASUS-1706.zip

Changes (oficial):
1.Fix system might hang when using Clarkdale i5 655 CPU and DIMM with 1600Mhz default SPD.
2.Fix BIOS setup might show incorrect Target DRAM Frequency when using DIMM with 1600Mhz default SPD.

[MonkY]

And again, an update. This one might be the one to fix the cold boot problem (as i see it's fixing memory compatibility). Fingers crossed:

BIOS 1801 released June 7, 2010
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...-ASUS-1801.zip

Description (ASUS):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ 1801 ]
----------------------
1. Improve memory compatibility
2. Improve system stability

[edo]

And again, an update. This one might be the one to fix the cold boot problem (as i see it's fixing memory compatibility). Fingers crossed:

BIOS 1801 released June 7, 2010
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...-ASUS-1801.zip

Description (ASUS):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ 1801 ]
----------------------
1. Improve memory compatibility
2. Improve system stability

Thank you mate, i have just flashed the bios and all is ok.

I flashed from 16xx bios even if i had no problem, system stability is always wellcome, i hope to have some more improovement in OC

[edo]

And again, an update. This one might be the one to fix the cold boot problem (as i see it's fixing memory compatibility). Fingers crossed:

BIOS 1801 released June 7, 2010
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...-ASUS-1801.zip

Description (ASUS):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ 1801 ]
----------------------
1. Improve memory compatibility
2. Improve system stability

Monky,

for "cold boot" are you referring the problem that when you start your pc it locks and you need to restart it ? have you noticed if one debug led keeps staying turned on ?

[MonkY]

Monky,

for "cold boot" are you referring the problem that when you start your pc it locks and you need to restart it ? have you noticed if one debug led keeps staying turned on ?

Yes. If i keep my computer turned off for a while... when booting up, i usually get a BSOD (after about 30 sec or so). If i start the computer, enter in BIOS, stay in there for 10 sec, turn off and then turn on again, the computer is 100% stable... no BSOD's.

Well, seems like this BIOS does the same... BSOD's all the way. I will try to take a look at the debug led. How would that help me ?

[edo]

Yes. If i keep my computer turned off for a while... when booting up, i usually get a BSOD (after about 30 sec or so). If i start the computer, enter in BIOS, stay in there for 10 sec, turn off and then turn on again, the computer is 100% stable... no BSOD's.

Well, seems like this BIOS does the same... BSOD's all the way. I will try to take a look at the debug led. How would that help me ?

no help from debug leds if you get bsods.. which ram are you using ?
try to set 1.30 IMC and 1.65Volts on mem, set timings 9 9 9 manually even if you are @ default..let me know

[Pekalion]

Hi people, I have a huge, like HUGE question. Next week Im picking one of this MB, paired with a 875K and the Corsairs of my sign. After reading the whole thread but can't get about those "BSOD with Cool Bug", is that always like that or only when you are running DiCE, Cascade, LN2, etc?

I will have those problems every day with a normal OC with air/water cooling? Hope not, if not I will post a pic of my balls ripped apart from his steak-friend

[ezaleina]

Hi people, I have a huge, like HUGE question. Next week Im picking one of this MB, paired with a 875K and the Corsairs of my sign. After reading the whole thread but can't get about those "BSOD with Cool Bug", is that always like that or only when you are running DiCE, Cascade, LN2, etc?

I will have those problems every day with a normal OC with air/water cooling? Hope not, if not I will post a pic of my balls ripped apart from his steak-friend

hi m8.,so far i used mine with mild oc no such cold bug or BSOD at all.,maybe the problem happen only with extreme oc when running with LN2.,Dice or else..

[Pekalion]

hi m8.,so far i used mine with mild oc no such cold bug or BSOD at all.,maybe the problem happen only with extreme oc when running with LN2.,Dice or else..

Fiuu, thanks a lot!!!

Mother is coming next week, 875K next month Anyway, hope I get a good clocker, I deserve it after the huge desilution of this BlackOps