X48 Rampage Formula Preview.

[Alien Grey]

Did you ever wonder why everything always ends up in failure?


MSR Fail 0x2a

Processor Hard Power-On Configuration.
(R/W)
Enables and disables processor features; (R)
indicates current processor configuration.

MSR Fail 0x40

Last Branch Record 0 From IP. (R/W)
One of four pairs of last branch record
registers on the last branch record stack. This
part of the stack contains pointers to the
source instruction for one of the last four
branches, exceptions, or interrupts taken by
the processor. See also:
• Last Branch Record Stack TOS at 1C9H
• Section 16.10, “Last Branch, Interrupt, and
Exception Recording (Pentium M
Processors).”

MSR Fail 0x118

Data ECC register D[7:0]: used to write ECC and
read ECC to/from L2

MSR Fail 0x19e

???

MSR Fail 0x400

See Section 15.3.2.1, “IA32_MCi_CTL MSRs.”

MACHINE-CHECK ARCHITECTURE

The IA32_MCi_CTL MSR controls error reporting for errors produced by a particular
hardware unit (or group of hardware units). Each of the 64 flags (EEj) represents a
potential error. Setting an EEj flag enables reporting of the associated error and
clearing it disables reporting of the error. The processor does not write changes to
bits that are not implemented.


NOTE

For P6 family processors, processors based on Intel Core microarchi-
tecture (excluding those on which on which CPUID reports
DisplayFamily_DisplayModel as 06H_1AH and onward): the operating
system or executive software must not modify the contents of the
IA32_MC0_CTL MSR. This MSR is internally aliased to the
EBL_CR_POWERON MSR and controls platform-specific error
handling features. System specific firmware (the BIOS) is responsible
for the appropriate initialization of the IA32_MC0_CTL MSR. P6 family
processors only allow the writing of all 1s or all 0s to the
IA32_MCi_CTL MSR.

Now you know why it always ends up in failure.

[Giaki]

Excuse me,
I need help, few days ago with the 1002b-R1 bios my motherboard (P5E) stops rebooting. I can only start my pc from completely off and, i.e., if I restart it from windows it stays in a limbo with all lights and fans on but no signal from the video card and from hd. Same thing if I reboot from bios or linux, even from the reset button.

EDIT: Solved with a correct clear cmos: remove power cord, remove battery, clrtc swith enabled, disabled, insert battery.

By the way, could you give me some raccomended bios settings to achieve 4GHZ with an E8400 C0 and corsair ddr2 800mhz TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX ram.
I have a p5e motherboard with the latest solor's 1002b-R3 bios.
Thank you

[Alien Grey]

By the way, could you give me some raccomended bios settings to achieve 4gb with an E8400 (first model), and ddr2 ram.
I have a p5e motherboard with the latest solor's 1002b-R3 bios.
Thank you

I don't know exactly what you mean with that. You can find lots of Overclocking Profiles in the thread. I'm using DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A and B delay 50ps with the 1002B-R3. Everything else is the same.

[Spyrus]

I use for Delay in DRAM, CPU and NB the normal since i think that when back to 0902 where no such settings, by default normal seems to me fine.
I might change them to AUTO or use delay 50/50/100/200? BTW 0902 has also blue screen 0x124 so apparently these 4 bios options are not relative (and i have not Quad)

[Alien Grey]

I use for Delay in DRAM, CPU and NB the normal since i think that when back to 0902 where no such settings, by default normal seems to me fine.
I might change them to AUTO or use delay 50/50/100/200? BTW 0902 has also blue screen 0x124 so apparently these 4 bios options are not relative (and i have not Quad)

Look at the MSR fails and than you know who's responsible for these BSOD issues.

[Spyrus]

Noob here ... with the MSR Fails ... you mean run the tool some tried here? Or read your post that said that for MSR Fail 0x400 (which i will probably found also in my PC),
bios coding is responsible so nothing we can do? Did you also said that only bios 1001 and beyond have these MSR fails or also older ? I might give a try to 0803 then ...
But users with no overclocking have blue screens?

[Alien Grey]

You should run the tool to know if there are also MSR fails with a Dual. This has been done some time a go but the results weren't accurate with that version of BITS.

I'm not surprised that one of them has to do with the L2 cache and the other with the MACHINE-CHECK ARCHITECTURE. It's typical for a 0x124 and MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION BSOD.

All BIOS versions have these MSR fails and all versions also have these BSOD's.

I don't know if users with BIOS defaults have these BSOD's. All I can say is that I already had to ask 2 times to RMA my CPU. The first time for my Q9450 and the second time for my Q9650. Both CPU's where replaced and I think that both CPU's have been tested. I've asked this to my retailer because I saw that they've been used before and he answered me that I didn't have to worry about that and that he knew that these where good CPU's. Both CPU's are running fine but the BSOD's continued. I also tried different memory but that doesn't help either.

I've been asking ASUS to fix these BSOD's for as long as I've got this board and that's more than 3 years a go. I've also asked them a few times to fix the Loadline Calibration. They probably laughed at me and thought that it was user error. Now it's my time to laugh with them because LLC is fixed with a Microcode update and the MSR fails are terrible. The only reason that they probably don't want to fix them is because they're pissed that they where wrong.

With doing that they screw us but they also screw Intel because the CPU RMA's will continue with these MSR fails. I'm starting to think to make the switch to AMD when it's time to upgrade. Why pay so much money for something that never is going to be good enough.

[Giaki]

I don't know exactly what you mean with that. You can find lots of Overclocking Profiles in the thread. I'm using DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A and B delay 50ps with the 1002B-R3. Everything else is the same.

Thank you Alien Grey, I found the Overclocking Profiles in the thread and started ocking from that settings (yours last with 450x9).
Let me introduce the initial situation of my config. The last few years it was with 3,64ghz (403*9) and ram at 968 mhz with FSB Strap 333mhz (ratio 6:5). My bios voltages settings were: Cpu 1,23125, CpuPLL 1,5, FsbVTT 1,34, Ram 1,94, NB 1,31, SB 1,05 and 1,5.
Now I'd like to squeeze some more from the E8400 and Ram too. Actually I'm quite stable (still testing) with this settings: 444*9=3995MHz with fsb strap to 333 and ram to 1066mhz.
The voltages from aida64 are:


I'd like to know if 3,6 to 4ghz worth the consistent increase in the cpu voltage and if 333mhz strap is a good choice or if is better a 400mhz like I've seen in most of your overclocking profiles.

[Alien Grey]

I'd like to know if 3,6 to 4ghz worth the consistent increase in the cpu voltage and if 333mhz strap is a good choice or if is better a 400mhz like I've seen in most of your overclocking profiles.

If you use it for gaming on a 64 bit OS, it's worth to run it at 4GHz. The reason that I'm using the 400MHz strap is to run my memory at 1200MHz with tRD 6 to increase the memory bandwidth.

[Alien Grey]

MSR Fail 0x118

The importance of CPU L2 cache ECC checking.


Where's the BIOS setting to enable it in our BIOS?


I can understand that ASUS tries to squeeze as much performance as they can with BIOS defaults, but I can't understand that if they disable features in the BIOS that there isn't a BIOS setting to revert them.

[Commander_HK47]

Please note that the presence of this feature in the BIOS does not necessarily mean that your processor's L2 cache actually supports ECC checking. Many processors do not ship with ECC-capable L2 cache. In such cases, you can still enable this feature in the BIOS but it will have no effect.

Is there a list of processors that support this function to cross check if this feature is supported on our chips end?

[Alien Grey]

Is there a list of processors that support this function to cross check if this feature is supported on our chips end?

The processors support the L2 cache ECC check. Here's prove that it does support it.

Errata

AV17. Address Reported by Machine-Check Architecture (MCA) on Single-bit
L2 ECC Errors May be Incorrect

Problem: When correctable Single-bit ECC errors occur in the L2 cache, the address is
logged in the MCA address register (MCi_ADDR). Under some scenarios, the
address reported may be incorrect.

Implication: Software should not rely on the value reported in MCi_ADDR, for Single-bit L2
ECC errors.

Workaround: None identified.

Source: Intel® Core™2 Extreme Processor QX9000Δ and Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9000Δ Series Datasheet Specification Update

[leo27]

This might interest you guys:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windo...s-217745.shtml

KB 2493989 offers what Microsoft refers to as a microcode update for Intel processors. “This update improves the reliability of x64-based versions of Windows that uses certain Intel processors. This update fixes an issue in which the operating system might function incorrectly,” the company noted.

Apparently Windows 7 x64 is unstable for certain Intel processors, go figure.

[Alien Grey]

Did anyone find the setting in BIOS 1002B-R3 to make your CPU fail LinX?

I've tried every CPU GTL and they all work stable. All issues with the BIOS seems to be resolved except the CPU Voltage 0x124 BSOD. This BSOD also happens when I enable LLC and Ubuntu fails to load because of somekind of synchronisation issue.

[Weebeast]

The 1002B-R3 link is down can someone reupload it? Thanks

[Alien Grey]

My BIOS 1002-R3 - No More BSOD - Overclock Profile

*Extreme Tweaker* 
Ai Overclock Tuner               [Manual] 
OC From CPU Level Up             [Auto] 
CPU Ratio Setting                [09.0] 
FSB Strap to North Bridge        [400] 
FSB Frequency                    [450] 
PCIE Frequency                   [110] 

DRAM Frequency                   [DDR2-1199MHz] 
DRAM Command Rate                [2N] 
DRAM CMD Skew on Channal A       [Greyed Out] 
DRAM CMD Skew on Channal B       [Greyed Out] 
DRAM CLK Skew on Channal A       [Advance 50ps] 
DRAM CLK Skew on Channal B       [Advance 50ps] 

DRAM Timing Control              [Manual] 
 1st Information 
  CAS# Latency                   [5] 	
  RAS# to CAS# Delay             [5] 	
  RAS# PRE Time                  [5] 	
  RAS# ACT Time                  [15] 	
  RAS# to RAS# Delay             [3] 
  REF Cycle Time                 [Auto (52)] 
  WRITE Recovery Time            [6] 	
  READ to PRE Time               [3] 
 2nd Information 
  READ to WRITE Delay (S/D)      [8] 
  WRITE to READ Delay (S)        [3] 
  WRITE to READ Delay (D)        [5] 
  READ to READ Delay (S)         [4] 
  READ to READ Delay (D)         [6] 
  WRITE to WRITE Delay (S)       [4] 
  WRITE to WRITE Delay (D)       [6] 
 3rd Information 
  WRITE to PRE Delay             [14]	
  READ to PRE Delay              [5] 	
  PRE to PRE Delay               [1] 	
  ALL PRE to ACT Delay           [6] 	
  ALL PRE to REF Delay           [6] 
  Refresh Period		 [16120T]

DRAM Static Read Control         [Disabled] 
Ai Clock Twister                 [Lighter] 
Ai Transaction Booster           [06] 		
Pull-in of CHA PH1	         [Disabled]	
Pull-in of CHA PH2	         [Disabled]	
Pull-in of CHA PH3	         [Disabled]	
Pull-in of CHB PH1	         [Disabled]	
Pull-in of CHB PH2	         [Disabled]	
Pull-in of CHB PH3	         [Disabled]	

CPU Voltage                      [1.31250v] 
CPU PLL Voltage                  [1.50v] 
North Bridge Voltage             [1.27v] 
DRAM Voltage                     [1.80v] 
FSB Termination Voltage          [1.20v] 
South Bridge Voltage             [1.05v] 
SB 1,5V Voltage                  [1.50v] 
Loadline Calibration             [Disabled] 
CPU GTL Voltage Reference        [0.65x] 
NB GTL Voltage Reference         [0.67x] 
DRAM Controller Voltage REF      [DDR2_REF -10mv]
DRAM Channel A Voltage REF       [DDR2_REF -30mv] 
DRAM Channel B Voltage REF       [DDR2_REF -30mv] 

CPU LED Selection                [CPU Voltage] 
NB LED Selection                 [North Bridge Voltage] 
SB LED Selection                 [South Bridge Voltage] 
Voltiminder LED                  [Enabled] 

CPU Spread Spectrum              [Disabled] 
PCIE Spred Spectrum              [Disabled] 
Cpu Clock Skew		         [Delay 300ps]
NB Clock Skew		         [Delay 200ps]

*CPU Settings* 

CPU Ratio Settings	         [09.0]
C1E Support	                 [Disabled]
CPU TM Function	                 [Enabled]
Vanderpool Technology            [Disabled]
Execute Disabled Bit	         [Enabled]
Max CPUID Value Limit            [Disabled]

Note: With CPU Clock Skew Delay 300ps and NB Clock Skew Delay 200ps the BSOD is gone if you use to low CPU Voltage. The DRAM Controller and Channel REF Voltages have been tested up to 1250MHz. Use the CPU GTL Voltage Reference that gives you the best stability/performance. They all seem to work stable with my Q9650.




Stress Testing


Unreal Tournament and Prime95 Blend together to stress everything. Room temperature 25° Celsius (Opt1=Coolant Temperature). Duration 3 hours.





Note: The Prime95 start time is wrong because I didn't change the time in the BIOS after a Clear CMOS.




LinX to stress the CPU and view it's performance. Room temperature 24° Celsius.





Note: The highest GFlops at 4.05GHz with 3475 MB memory that I've seen with my Q9650.




AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark.







The BIOS has it all. Improved stability and improved CPU performance. I don't think that we're going to need individual DRAM CLK Skews anymore because if you make a 50ps difference between the channels it isn't stable anymore. Time will tell if we're still going to need MCH Read ODT.

[leo27]

Hey A-grey, what made you use a PCIE Freq of 110??

Also what happens if you use the default DRAM Reference voltages??

[SoLoR]

The 1002B-R3 link is down can someone reupload it? Thanks

server is down because of irene... no power

[Alien Grey]

Hey A-grey, what made you use a PCIE Freq of 110??

Also what happens if you use the default DRAM Reference voltages??

Because it works stable with PCIe 110MHz and I wanted to know if it could pass the stress test at that frequency.

Nothing happens if you use the default DRAM REF Voltages. It's only better at higher frequency with my memory.

[Weebeast]

server is down because of irene... no power

Thanks for the info and the bios!

@Alien Grey thanks for the temporary download link!

Gonna flash my mobo now

[Commander_HK47]

Alien Grey, what ram are you using? Is it the G. Skill Pi pc9600 rev. 1 sticks?

[Alien Grey]

Alien Grey, what ram are you using? Is it the G. Skill Pi pc9600 rev. 1 sticks?

It's the G.SKILL F2-9600CL5D-4GBPI but I don't know what revision it is. I can't find it anywhere. Not on the box, memory or any program in Windows. They've got the grey metallic heatspreaders.

[Commander_HK47]

That is revision 1. I have the same set as well.
Here is what revision 2 looks like:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231201

[Spyrus]

My BIOS 1002-R3 - No More BSOD - Overclock Profile

Note: With CPU Clock Skew Delay 300ps and NB Clock Skew Delay 200ps the BSOD is gone if you use to low CPU Voltage. The DRAM Controller and Channel REF Voltages have been tested up to 1250MHz. Use the CPU GTL Voltage Reference that gives you the best stability/performance. They all seem to work stable with my Q9650.

The BIOS has it all. Improved stability and improved CPU performance. I don't think that we're going to need individual DRAM CLK Skews anymore because if you make a 50ps difference between the channels it isn't stable anymore. Time will tell if we're still going to need MCH Read ODT.

What you had before in this settings? I remember i have to raise CPU Voltage in order to Disable LLC

[Alien Grey]

What you had before in this settings? I remember i have to raise CPU Voltage in order to Disable LLC

I was using CPU Clock Skew Delay 200ps and NB Clock Skew Delay 100ps with every other BIOS revision. I've tried it with CPU Clock Skew Delay 300ps and NB Clock Skew Delay 200ps but it didn't stay stable with a room temperature around 20° Celsius. Now I'm using CPU Voltage 1.3000V, like I did with BIOS 1002-R2, to have my full load voltage between 1.22V and 1.23V and it stays stable with CPU Clock Skew 300ps and NB Clock Skew Delay 200ps.

This is with LLC disabled. With LLC enabled it still gives me the 0X124 BSOD after a couple of minutes.