ASUS Maximus II Formula - new P45 king?

[Gunnz Akimbo]

Ya know the tumbler fan the mobo comes with.

Well, i just attached it to the northbridge heatsink section, it sits fine at a 45* angle.
I have picture, but am backing up from USB drives atm, so when thats done i will link the pic. It looks cool, asus should make a angle mounted NB tumbler next time.

[Grnfinger]

Small problem guys, wondering if anyone has some suggestions to fix my issues.
During some benching I hard lockd a few times, and hosed my OS.
Did a clean install eect ect, now when Vista loads up I have a dos window that pops up saying, "updating USB" or something to that effect, while this window is open nothing happens as far as the OS loading, it just hangs there,once the window closes Vista continues to load like normal, My problem is its taking longer to boot than normal and I have never seen this b4 Even on my second MIIF its not there.
Any ideas other than re install?
Maybe I should hunt a floppy down and go XP....

Ignore that post, I had the wrong INF drivers installed 9001011 dont like my hardware much.

[Gunnz Akimbo]

Here's the tumbler grasping onto the NB heatsink

[Grnfinger]

Looks good, the Thermaltake Extreme Spirit vers 1 and II NB/SB cooler works also

[CryptiK]

Here's the tumbler grasping onto the NB heatsink

Looks good, how much did it improve your NB temps?

*****************************

4.3 GHz @ 1.280v (CPUZ) / 1.270v (LCD Poster) load, 1.320v (CPUZ) / 1.310v (LCD Poster) idle - Linpack stable

Linpack running (load)


Linpack finished (idle)


Everest

[ChaosWDG]

You guys are getting some insane clocks on this board and im extremely tempted by it!!
Is there anything similar like a "Maximus II Extreme" for a DDR3 version? I really dont wanna go back to DDR2 when my g.skills overclock sooooo nicely

but seriously.. its an amazing board!

[JoeBar]

that what im going to do,im sitting here typing this with a swim cap on,im ready.i think i just got the info i needed (swiftech ApexH220,ApogeeGTZ,MCR220) thank you

An MCR220 would be a bit small for a cpu/gpu loop. Get a MCR320 or even better a Thermochill. A ones day reading should clarify your shopping list...

[shoehorned]

Ignore that post, I had the wrong INF drivers installed 9001011 dont like my hardware much.

Grnfinger, can you tell me exactly how you fixed this? This happens to me all the time and I don't know to get rid of it.

[JoeBar]

Grnfinger, can you tell me exactly how you fixed this? This happens to me all the time and I don't know to get rid of it.

Install 9.0.0.1008 maybe?

[andressergio]

Small problem guys, wondering if anyone has some suggestions to fix my issues.
During some benching I hard lockd a few times, and hosed my OS.
Did a clean install eect ect, now when Vista loads up I have a dos window that pops up saying, "updating USB" or something to that effect, while this window is open nothing happens as far as the OS loading, it just hangs there,once the window closes Vista continues to load like normal, My problem is its taking longer to boot than normal and I have never seen this b4 Even on my second MIIF its not there.
Any ideas other than re install?
Maybe I should hunt a floppy down and go XP....

Grnfinger that ASUS PROBE soft that do that...remove it and re install it

Tell me if that works

Cheers Sergio

[shoehorned]

Install 9.0.0.1008 maybe?

What application/driver are you referring to? The PC Probe?

[JoeBar]

Intel's INF driver.

[Gunnz Akimbo]

it did a good job of keeping the nb cooler than without it.

today the nb hit 67* playin L4D online without the tumbler attached.
just played some L4D bout 2hrs ago with the tumbler, nb didnt go above 56* - the ambient is very high in this room, no oxygen...

I have QFan enabled for everything, just wondering when the fan speeds kick up into full throttle, even though its whisper silent right now.
The tumbler does around 6000rpm and is a bit noisy, but with QFan its at 2700rpm, cant hear it.

[Kayso]

ATM are in in stock speed,cause I was away from home for a few days.
best score i ve ever had with my rig:
(and that why I want 8x500 setup,so maybe I could do better score)

17001 is not bad score for this card,right?

Huh, and you call this stock ???
GPU: 792, Memory: 1063 LOLL, nice overclock

A made some tests with
8*450 with memory on 1080, like in my signature:
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=9762152

and 8*480, with memory 960 Mhz, PL10, both stronger:
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=9760708

144 points for 30Mhz FSB more, I didn't expect it

Here's the tumbler grasping onto the NB heatsink

***

Nice! I will try it and share some results. Because after washer mod, change of thermal paste and everything what is written in forums to lower NB temperatures, mine goes about 55-58 and nothing less.

[Grnfinger]

Grnfinger, can you tell me exactly how you fixed this? This happens to me all the time and I don't know to get rid of it.

Yes Joebar is correct 9.0.0.1008 INF /Chipset drivers resolves this issue
Also do not install Asus Six Engine

Install 9.0.0.1008 maybe?

Grnfinger that ASUS PROBE soft that do that...remove it and re install it

Tell me if that works

Cheers Sergio

I never install Asus crap, I wont even use there MSM drivers or Chipset.
I go to Intel for them

[radaja]

JoeBar,thanks.see this is the kind of info i need.i dont think i'll wc the gpu,just the cpu and NB.maybe the other common areas of the motherboard(SB? PWM?). so i think i'll only need one loop right? but any ways i'll read up on it.just been to busy OCing this new 9650.

[Fragger]

@Radaja One loop is fine and dont bother cooling the SB or PWM, just not worthwhile. My vid card benefited the most from watercooling, it dropped 30+ degrees and no more screaming fan.

[radaja]

fragger thanks,thats what i was thinking.and since i dont game i never put any stress on the graphics card,so i never hear the fan even come on.so i guess cpu and NB it is.thanks

[Celcius]

Just upgraded to this mobo from 780i and I don't plan on going back

edit: I'm not used to navigating intel's site, could someone post a link of where to download the latest chipset drivers for this mobo? thanks

[CryptiK]

@Radaja One loop is fine and dont bother cooling the SB or PWM, just not worthwhile. My vid card benefited the most from watercooling, it dropped 30+ degrees and no more screaming fan.

Under full load on a hot day my board's PWM gets to 46*C+, this is using a true with no real direct airflow over PWM sinks except case rear and top fans pullng air past them. Guys with quads, especially watercooled, report PWM temps over 55*C. I'm not sure what constitutes 'too hot' though.

You guys are getting some insane clocks on this board and im extremely tempted by it!!
Is there anything similar like a "Maximus II Extreme" for a DDR3 version? I really dont wanna go back to DDR2 when my g.skills overclock sooooo nicely

but seriously.. its an amazing board!

There's no Maximus II Extreme. P45 and DDR3 is not a really good combination, they just don't clock ram very well with a nice low tRD (PL), the P45 is too weak. Add a quad into that equation and it's a poor performer. Your Rampage Extreme would be a much better platform, you should be able to get your quad to ~4.3 GHz on that board.

it did a good job of keeping the nb cooler than without it.

today the nb hit 67* playin L4D online without the tumbler attached.
just played some L4D bout 2hrs ago with the tumbler, nb didnt go above 56* - the ambient is very high in this room, no oxygen...

I have QFan enabled for everything, just wondering when the fan speeds kick up into full throttle, even though its whisper silent right now.
The tumbler does around 6000rpm and is a bit noisy, but with QFan its at 2700rpm, cant hear it.

11*C improvement is pretty good for such a small fan. At 2700 rpm it cant be moving a lot of air.

[Celcius]

This board makes overclocking a breeze:

All voltages are stock except for a slight bump on the cpu.

[CryptiK]

Nice work Celcius, 4 - 4.1GHz should be easy on that setup, your chip has a nice low VID. You will need an increase in vNB, Vtt and do some ram tuning.

[Kayso]

Here is my best 24/7 setup for now:

Processor:  Q9450
Ai Overclock Tuner: Manual
OC From CPU Level Up: Auto
Ratio CMOS Setting: 8
FSB Frequency: 450
CPU Clock Skew: Delay 300
NB Clock Skew: Delay 300
FSB Strap to North Bridge: 333
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1080MHz

DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A1: Auto
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A2: Auto
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B1: Auto
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B2: Auto
DRAM Timing Control: Manual

1st Information: 

CAS# Latency: 5 DRAM Clocks
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5 DRAM Clocks
DRAM RAS# Precharge: 5 DRAM Clocks
DRAM RAS# Activate to Precharge: 15 DRAM Clocks
RAS# to RAS# Delay:  3
Row Refresh Recycle Time: 55 DRAM Clocks
Write Recovery Time: 6
Read to Precharge Time: 3

2nd Information:

Read to Write Delay (S/D): Auto
Write to Read Delay (S): Auto
Write to Read Delay (D): Auto
Read to Read Delay (S): Auto
Read to Read Delay (D): Auto
Write to Write Delay (S): Auto
Write to Write Delay (D): Auto


3rd Information:

Write to PRE Delay: Auto
Read to PRE Delay: Auto
PRE to PRE Delay: Auto
All PRE to ACT Delay: Auto
All PRE to REF Delay: Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled (setting it to Enabled gave me some more preformance in Everest)
DRAM Read Training: Enabled (and some more preformance too)
MEM. OC Charger: Auto (it is on auto, because Enabled or Disabled give me always BSOD :?)
Ai Clock Twister: Stronger
Ai Transaction Booster: Manual

Common Performance Level: 8
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

PCIE Frequency: 101

CPU Voltage: 1.16
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.55
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.36
DRAM Voltage: 2.19
North Bridge Voltage: 1.45
South Bridge 1.5 Voltage: 1.50
South Bridge 1.1 Voltage: 1.10

CPU GTL Reference (0): -55mv
CPU GTL Reference (1): -10mv
CPU GTL Reference (2): -55mv
CPU GTL Reference (3): -10mv
NB GTL Reference: +60mv
DDR2 ChA Reference Voltage: +12.5
DDR2 ChB Reference Voltage: +12.5
North Bridge DDR Reference: -25


CPU Configuration:

Ratio CMOS Setting: 8
C1E Support: Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Intel Virtualization Tech: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled

Load-Line Calibration: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled

I will try to lower vFSB and vNB next weekend, because I don't have much time to play right now. This voltages gave me best stability for "Stronger".


I can't go over 450FSB on 5:6 ratio, because my dominators sucks. I'm waiting for 4GB G.SKILL PC8800 [F2-8800CL5D-4GBPI], so I hope I will be able to run them at about 1150 Mhz with 480 FSB on PL8.

I rembered that a user made some test with PL on MIIF long time ago:

After i upgraded to 0601 BIOS i made some simply checks what PL level is beign set at different mem dividers. As follows:

I did the same test with my mobo, and I know, why my dominators can't run lower then PL10 on 6:5 ratio and lower than PL8 on 5:6. It is just impossible for this mobo

[Celcius]

Nice work Celcius, 4 - 4.1GHz should be easy on that setup, your chip has a nice low VID. You will need an increase in vNB, Vtt and do some ram tuning.

I think my temps at 3.9 are as high as I can go while being safe:




What would increasing the vNB and Vtt do, allow me to run with lower vcore or just increase stability?
Also, how high should I raise them?

[Kayso]

I think my temps at 3.9 are as high as I can go while being safe:




What would increasing the vNB and Vtt do, allow me to run with lower vcore or just increase stability?
Also, how high should I raise them?

1. Your chip is cold man !! You can go in Prime and OCCT to 70-74C without worries. In normal 24/7 use, you temps won't go over 60-64C! So go for it.

2. About vNB and vFSB - for my chip they did the job and I'm able now to run it on 450 FSB with 1.16vcore But you have to play with GTL's. There is very nice HowTo wrote by Simps few pages behind, and very nice GTL calculator made by Seban. You have to tweak your mobo and you will be able to lower your voltages and push your Dominators to the limit