***Asus Rampage III Extreme Owners Thread***

[tistou77]

I try to OC my 970 to 4.2GHz and 2000 memory

my settings:
Vcore: 1.30v
cpu-PLL: 1.81v
vQPI: 1.33v
vIOH: 1.17v
vDIMM: 1.64v

it's ok for a Hyper32M with memory 2000 and uncor to 3800 (CPU 21*200)
it's ok for a LinX with 21*200 and memory to 1600
it's ok for a Linx (and OCCT) with 15*200 and memory to 2000
but it is not stable with OCCT or LinX 21*200 and memory to 2000

What I need to increase voltage?

thank you

PS: if I drop the CPU-PLL, it is not stable (I thought it helped)

[zoson]

My R3E has a strange problem.
When I go to shut it down, windows goes through the normal shutdown, then the screen goes blank and all my fans spin up to 100%. It then hangs like that indefinitely. Hitting the Power button and holding it does not force a shutdown. Hitting reset does not reset my machine... The only way to shut it off or restart it is using the switch on my PSU.

After making a BIOS change, I also sometimes experience this problem where I hit F10, it saves, the screen goes blank, and all my fans spin up to 100%. Once again the Power button, and reset buttons do nothing, and my only recourse is to use the switch on my PSU.

The board starts up normally every time after shutting off the power at the switch.

The POST string shown on the RC Poster tool does not change in any case. It's either 'successfull boot' or 'bios setup menu'

[playground]

I try to OC my 970 to 4.2GHz and 2000 memory

my settings:
Vcore: 1.30v
cpu-PLL: 1.81v
vQPI: 1.33v
vIOH: 1.17v
vDIMM: 1.64v

it's ok for a Hyper32M with memory 2000 and uncor to 3800 (CPU 21*200)
it's ok for a LinX with 21*200 and memory to 1600
it's ok for a Linx (and OCCT) with 15*200 and memory to 2000
but it is not stable with OCCT or LinX 21*200 and memory to 2000

What I need to increase voltage?

thank you

PS: if I drop the CPU-PLL, it is not stable (I thought it helped)

Set uncore 2x memory speed. For Mem 2000 uncore 4000. Is it even pospossible to set it lower than 2 times mem?
And I would say rise vQPI.

[zoson]

I try to OC my 970 to 4.2GHz and 2000 memory

my settings:
Vcore: 1.30v
cpu-PLL: 1.81v
vQPI: 1.33v
vIOH: 1.17v
vDIMM: 1.64v

it's ok for a Hyper32M with memory 2000 and uncor to 3800 (CPU 21*200)
it's ok for a LinX with 21*200 and memory to 1600
it's ok for a Linx (and OCCT) with 15*200 and memory to 2000
but it is not stable with OCCT or LinX 21*200 and memory to 2000

What I need to increase voltage?

thank you

PS: if I drop the CPU-PLL, it is not stable (I thought it helped)

vQPI needs to be increased. Try about 1.4v. vCore should also be increased. Probably around 1.35.

[fmsam]

My R3E has a strange problem.
When I go to shut it down, windows goes through the normal shutdown, then the screen goes blank and all my fans spin up to 100%. It then hangs like that indefinitely. Hitting the Power button and holding it does not force a shutdown. Hitting reset does not reset my machine... The only way to shut it off or restart it is using the switch on my PSU.

After making a BIOS change, I also sometimes experience this problem where I hit F10, it saves, the screen goes blank, and all my fans spin up to 100%. Once again the Power button, and reset buttons do nothing, and my only recourse is to use the switch on my PSU.

The board starts up normally every time after shutting off the power at the switch.

The POST string shown on the RC Poster tool does not change in any case. It's either 'successfull boot' or 'bios setup menu'

I may have a similar issue here
I recently changed my ram to Dom GTs CL7,
Running a o/c @ 4.1 to start with,

ratio 21
bclk 195
Dram 1563 ( 1600 kit)
uclk 3127
qpi link 7038 mt/s
50% llc
cpu voltage 1.39
pll auto
qpi / dram auto
dram v 1.65625
ioh auto 1.64
ioh pcie auto 1.508
ich auto 1.11

the issue is random blue screen on re-start / shut down when windows closes
seems to be prime / game stable otherwise



any ideas folks

[zoson]

I may have a similar issue here
the issue is random blue screen on re-start / shut down when windows closes
seems to be prime / game stable otherwise

any ideas folks

Mine never bluescreens. It's just an issue with shutting down properly, and saving bios settings then restarting properly...

Other than this weird thing... My hardware runs great.

[tistou77]

Set uncore 2x memory speed. For Mem 2000 uncore 4000. Is it even pospossible to set it lower than 2 times mem?
And I would say rise vQPI.

yes with the 32nm CPU, the uncor is at least x1.5

vQPI needs to be increased. Try about 1.4v. vCore should also be increased. Probably around 1.35.

Indeed, I increased the vQPI to 1.34v and it's OK

it's OK for the CPU-PLL to 1.81v? if I drop it is not stable

thanks

[Benton]

To bad to be honest. The WORST tim I have ever seen by far. I looks like the candle wax they wouldnt use in the crappiest candles in history. Also turns to stone after a few uses.

Ive got a EK full cover block arriving tomorrow. How would you recommend I remove the stock tim. Its not going to be fun by the sounds of it. Ive got some ArctiClean, it usually does a good job at removing all kinds of thermal material from computers.

[bassplayer]

Ive got a EK full cover block arriving tomorrow. How would you recommend I remove the stock tim. Its not going to be fun by the sounds of it. Ive got some ArctiClean, it usually does a good job at removing all kinds of thermal material from computers.

It is extremely difficult. I always use Isopropyl Alcohol to remove TIM. However, whatever they put on there has to be scraped off with something hard. If you have something strong, thin, and plastic, that's your best bet.

[Expat GriZ]

Ive got a EK full cover block arriving tomorrow. How would you recommend I remove the stock tim. Its not going to be fun by the sounds of it. Ive got some ArctiClean, it usually does a good job at removing all kinds of thermal material from computers.

Yup.... ...just soak the tim with the cleaner and let it sit for a couple minutes..then it wipes off no probs.

[turtletrax]

Yup.... ...just soak the tim with the cleaner and let it sit for a couple minutes..then it wipes off no probs.

Thats good to know. I used iso alcohol and it wouldnt budge it. I had never seen TIM that hard to this point. I had to use an old bank card to scrape it off.

[Utnorris]

I used a razor blade to get most of the TIM off and then just artic cleaner to get the rest. You can also heating it up with a hair drier and that should loosen it up quite a bit.

[JenBell]

My R3E has a strange problem.
When I go to shut it down, windows goes through the normal shutdown, then the screen goes blank and all my fans spin up to 100%. It then hangs like that indefinitely. Hitting the Power button and holding it does not force a shutdown. Hitting reset does not reset my machine... The only way to shut it off or restart it is using the switch on my PSU.

After making a BIOS change, I also sometimes experience this problem where I hit F10, it saves, the screen goes blank, and all my fans spin up to 100%. Once again the Power button, and reset buttons do nothing, and my only recourse is to use the switch on my PSU.

The board starts up normally every time after shutting off the power at the switch.

The POST string shown on the RC Poster tool does not change in any case. It's either 'successfull boot' or 'bios setup menu'

z...try setting the power off mode to S3. I set it to S3.

[zoson]

z...try setting the power off mode to S3. I set it to S3.

Hi Jen,
Thanks for the suggestion. I went to bios and looked for a 'power off mode' and could not find one.

Under Power, I did find 'suspend type' which can be S1, S3, or Auto. It was set to Auto, so I set it to S3 and tried shutting down...

No dice, It still did the same thing. Is there another setting I've missed?
Thanks!

[JenBell]

z..sus type was the setting I was talking about. I think u need to get into the windows and have a look device manager for a start. For BIOS settings, I usually disable a lot of things that have given me issues before. For example, on-board audo, bluetooth, firewire. I'd start working ur way through the hardware and see what u can turn off and see if that makes a difference. I know its not useful info but only thing I can think of...anyone else got better advice?

[zoson]

z..sus type was the setting I was talking about. I think u need to get into the windows and have a look device manager for a start. For BIOS settings, I usually disable a lot of things that have given me issues before. For example, on-board audo, bluetooth, firewire. I'd start working ur way through the hardware and see what u can turn off and see if that makes a difference. I know its not useful info but only thing I can think of...anyone else got better advice?

I don't think it has anything to do with windows itself. Windows is shut down fully and it's like when the motherboard goes to power off, it instead just leaves all the power on at max.

Not to mention it does it when I change a BIOS setting and hit F10 to save/quit.

It doesn't affect stability or performance any... It's just annoying.

But yeah, anyone got any other advice?
Thanks!

[3dchipset]

I know this is a little offtopic, but how do you remove the ROG circle on the heatsink? I have the full eK chipset block along with a CPU block and I can't seem to remove the damn circle ROG light... Any ideas?

[turtletrax]

I know this is a little offtopic, but how do you remove the ROG circle on the heatsink? I have the full eK chipset block along with a CPU block and I can't seem to remove the damn circle ROG light... Any ideas?

They use the very thin two sided 3M style tape on the ROG light. Mine came off fairly easily on both of the boards I have had.

If yours is being a PITA you could try to stick it in the freezer to see if the tape will become more brittle and let lose. If that doesnt work looks like you will just have to eats your spinach.

[3dchipset]

They use the very thin two sided 3M style tape on the ROG light. Mine came off fairly easily on both of the boards I have had.

If yours is being a PITA you could try to stick it in the freezer to see if the tape will become more brittle and let lose. If that doesnt work looks like you will just have to eats your spinach.

lol! Thanks! I'll try the freezer trick. :-)

[bassplayer]

I'll be doing my final tests on the board this weekend to determine the true cause behind bad 3D scores.

Here's the game plan:

You'll see the following results from both my W3520 and my i7 950 all set from the BIOS. I will run ambient with both and subzero with the 950 (possibly the Xeon also). I'll be testing 3DMark '06 and 3DMark Vantage.

200x20=4000, QPI=3600
210x19=3990, QPI=3780
220x18=3960, QPI=3960
230x17=3910, QPI=4140 (if I can boot at 230 ambient)

Assuming my 950 isn't a dud, I'll also be running the tests at these frequencies with it:

220x23=5060, QPI=3960
223x23=5129, QPI=4014


My prediction: Anything with a QPI over 4000 will have a terrible GPU score. It happened with my W3520 frozen last time, though Asus claims temperatures are my issue...

If this does prove to be true, I'll be RMA'ing my board or trading it to someone who wants some epic 2D scores.

[AceBaran]

Happy to see someone following through ! Hopefully you get good results. i
Ive ordered a full mother waterblock and hate to RMA the board, but will do if its not doing what it should do !

[bassplayer]

I don't see any reason for the majority of people to RMA the board because the fact is, it does what it's supposed to do. However, if this problem is widespread (in that it affects most RIIIE boards), I will not buy another Asus product. That would mean that buying the top of the line in no way guarantees or even gives you a decent chance at getting a good board as there is no way any sort of binning has occurred.

In fact, it seems that these boards have a particularly bad IOH. I have never heard of this issue before the RIIIE. It's not present on my Gigabyte board at all, and that was 2 levels below the top when it came out (UD5 and Extreme above it).

The reason I say most users won't need to return it is that maybe 10% of the people that buy this board will ever push over 220 BCLK.

[DOM.]

ran 225x20 seems 3d works

[Leeghoofd]

Already replied to you in PM bassplayer, ever since I popped in the980X I can run 235 rock steady here on water. Only test I did was 3D06, tis now with the same CPU that bugged out at 228 before... sigh... Error bits is the explenation.

Will test some more after GOOC... might ask for a UD7/9 sample to test the same stuff...

Like I told you lads before, there's no binning on the IOH chips... one REX III locked at 215 and one UD9 at 220 here...

Some 235Bclock screenies :

[bassplayer]

Hmmm... seems like I need to wait for my GB board to get back then RMA this thing.