UnOfficial Asus Rampage II Extreme Thread

jasonelmore · 12-08-2008, 02:09 AM

Welcome to the UnOfficial Rampage II Extreme Thread. Below you will find Every version of The boards bios's and some advanced overclock settings for different speeds. Also I have included the updated user manuel that Asus has updated with stuff they have tweaked and additional information about supported add-ons. Also I have listed Linux Drivers for the few of you that run dual boot. If you have achieved a really nice overclock then I suggest you post your Bios settings so we can share them and get the most performance out of this board. Bookmark this now if you have the board. We will be talking about the feature's on the board and the feature's added in the newer Bios's. I hope you find a lot of this Information useful. Thanks!

Asus Rampage II Extreme Bios's (All Bios Files are from Asus's Official FTP site)
Note: All Bios's are in Zip Format

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0407
Notes:
First Bios Release

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0503
Bios Updates:
1. Revised QPI/DRAM/ (VTT) Core Voltage Setting in CPU Level Up

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0602
Bios Updates:
1. Fix system may hange after resume from S3
2. Improved Memory Compatibility

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0705
Bios Updates:
1. Fixed the CPU ratio setting incorrect in TweakIt Batch File Funtion
2. Revised the default value of keyboard TweakIt Control Hotkey to "P" in BIOS Setup

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0804
Bios Updates:
1. Fixed Compatibility with some RAID PCI Cards.

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0901 Beta (Beta Bios) WARNING:(Not Official/3rd Party Download))
Bios Updates:
1. Fixes Bug issues with 4870X2's in Crossfire X not showing Video.
2. Fixed Memory Compatibility Issues

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0805
Bios Updates:
1. Fix the system would detect a certain keyboard for an extended period of time.
2. Patch sometimes PC might halt during its booting up

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0903 Official
1.Fixed the function for adjusting BCLK abnormal in TurboV when set BCLK > 200MHz in BIOS setup

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 0904 BETA
1. System Stability Improved When Overclocking Bclk High
Alternate Download Link

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 1001 OFFICIAL
1.Fix AI suite report different CPU temperature as LCD Poster

Rampage II Extreme Bios Ver 1104 THE BIG UPDATE
1. Fixed The TDP Limit Issue
2. Fix can't enter OS if use over 4GB RAM and Vista 64bit together with 2 pcs of GTX295 VGA card

Rampage II Extreme 1201 BETA Bios EXTERNAL DOWNLOAD LINK
1. No Change Log Yet

Rampage II Extreme 1204 Bios

Rampage II Extreme 1306 Bios
1. Fixed BIOS setup may lag when if set CPU ratio over standard ratio

Rampage II Extreme 1403 Beta Bios
1.Added support for Xeon CPU's and other adjustments (Memory / Uncore multipliers etc).

Rampage II Extreme 1406 Bios (Official)
1. Support OC Station
2. Improve Memory Capability
3. Supported EIST Function when CPU ratio is in Manuel
4. Fix Vista loading slowly if use over 3GB RAM

Rampage II Extreme 1502 Bios
1. No Change Log, It has fixed several Cold boot issues in this forum, also sleep mode.

Rampage II Extreme 1504 Bios EXTERNAL LINK
1. Cosmetic Upgrades from 1502
2. Fixed bug where memory voltage values would reset automaticly

Rampage II Extreme User Manuel (Updated Version) 9.5MB

Rampage II Extreme Linux Drivers 6.7MB

Rampage II Extreme QVL (Quality Vendor List) (in .zip format)

Download CPU-Z 1.49 Right Here- It is a basic tool every overclocker needs to make sure your settings stick and other memory and voltage values.

__________________________________________________ _______________________________________________

Additional Files:

Chipset:
1.Intel(R) X58/ICH10R Cipset Software Installation Utility V9.1.0.1007 for Windows 32/64bit XP & 32/64bit Vista.(WHQL) Version 9.1.0.1007 10/10/2008

Audio:
1.SoundMAX Audio Driver v6.10.1.6480 Newest Version 09/05/2008

IDE:
1.JMicron JMB36X Controller Driver V1.17.39.7 for Windows XP/Vista & Windows 64bit XP/Vista. 11/03/2008 5.64MB

LAN:
1. Marvell Yukon Gigabit Ethernet Driver V10.64.10.3 for Windows XP/Vista and Windows 64bit XP/Vista (WHQL). DRIVER 11/21/2008 Ver.10.64.10.3
2. Marvell Yukon NCU Application V10.10.7.3 for Windows XP/Vista & Windows 64bit XP/Vista.11/21/2008 7.73MB Ver.10.10.7.3 APPLICATION 11/21/2008

Utilities:
Asus Update- Program that will let you update your bios in windows.-A MUST HAVE- 9.8MB-New
Asus TurboV- Application that allows you to overclock your system and view system stats. 3.72MB New
Asus TweakIt- Application that allows you to overclock your system with your keyboard. 2.44MB New
Asus PC Probe- Program that allows you to monitor pretty much everything on your motherboard and additional components. 9.84MB New
Sound Blaster Live X-Fi App- Program that installs and activates X-Fi Features on your Rampage II X-Fi Sound Card. 172.4MB New 12/09/2008
Asus AI Suite- Another Program that allows you to monitor stats. It also allows ROG Features to be turned on in windows. 19.55MB New
Asus EPU App- Application that enables power saving features on your motherboard. Do not use if you are overclocking. 5.13MB New 11/21/2008
Asus Direct Link- Allows Fast File Transfers with your Asus Motherboard 2.46MB New 12/09/2008

RAID:
Intel Matrix Storage System Driver- Download 23.28MB New

jasonelmore · 12-08-2008, 02:30 AM

I found a nice format to post our bios settings over at this thread right here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=208609

This format follows the bios exactly. It even list sub sections for CPU Configuration. I've listed it below so you can copy and paste it.

MB - Asus Rampage 2 Extreme
CPU -
RAM -
CPU Cooler -
Fan -
VGA -
PSU -
HDD -
----------------------------------------------
AI overclock - manual or auto
OC from CPU level up - auto or i920/i940/i965
OC from Memory level up - auto or manual
CPU Ratio setting - auto or XX

CPU configuration
CPU Ratio Setting - auto
C1E Support - disable or enable
Hardware prefetcher - enable or disable
Adjacent Cache line prefetcher - enable or disable
Intel Virtualization tech - disabled or enable
CPU TM Function - enable or disable
Execute Disabled bit - disabled or enable
Intel HT Technology - enable or disable
Active Processor Cores - all or 1 or 2
A20M - disabled or enable
Intel Speedstep tech - enable or disable
Intel Turbo Mode tech - enable (Not shown if Speedstep is disabled)
Intel C-STATE tech - disabled or enabled

BCLK frequency - XXX
PCIE frequency - XXX
DRAM frequency - DDR3 XXXXMHz
UCLK frequency - XXXXMHz
QPI frequency - auto or Manuel Value

Dram timing control
1st iformation - Insert Timings Here in X-X-X-XX -X-X-Xformat
2nd information - Insert Timings Here in X-X-X-XX -X-X-Xformat
3rd information - Insert Timings Here in X-X-X-XX-X-X-X format

EPU II phase control - full phase
Load-line calibration - enable or disable
CPU differential amplitude - auto or manuel values
Extreme OV - disabled or enable

Current voltage 1.54v - 1.812v - 1.35v (May be different)
Cpu voltage - X.xxx v or auto
CPU PLL voltage - X.xxxx v or auto
QPI-Dram voltage - X.xxx v or auto

Current voltage 1.131v - 1.508v - 1.111v - 1.508v
IOH voltage - auto
IOH PCIE voltage - auto
ICH voltage- auto
ICH PCIE voltage - auto

Current voltage X.xxx v, X.xxx v, X.xxx v ,X.xxx v
DRAM Bus voltage - X.xxxx v or auto
DRAM REF voltage - auto

Debug mode - string
Keyboard TeakIt comtrol - disabled or enable

CPU spread spectrum - disabled or enable
PCIE spectrum - disabled or enable
CPU clock skew - auto or XXXX ps
IOH clock skew - auto or XXXX ps

And if you can post how stable this config was. With this small data base we can all see what works and achieve similer results. And since there are only 3 different chips out that use this board, a lot of people will find this helpful.

jasonelmore · 12-08-2008, 03:13 AM

I have attached Bios screen-shots of a 4Ghz Overclock with the Bclk at 200 if anyone needs them as a reference. These are also a reference point for anyone wanting to know what the bios looks like before buying the board and what not.

The pics are in this order:

1. Main Bios Screen (Overclocking Screen)
2. Main Bios Screen Continued
3. CPU Configuration Page
4. Dram Timings Page
5. Dram Timings Continued

Hope this helps some of you out!

Relic27777 · 12-09-2008, 12:05 PM

Sorry about these n00bie questions I'm about to ask but I have to anyway. I thought I read somewhere that we can run these triple channel DDR3 kits at 1N timing mode, or am I totally wrong on that? Also what are the safe ranges for CPU PLL Voltage & QPI voltage?

bmilos · 12-09-2008, 12:24 PM

are you P95 stable at 4.0 or is that just what you are running at?

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic27777

Sorry about these n00bie questions I'm about to ask but I have to anyway. I thought I read somewhere that we can run these triple channel DDR3 kits at 1N timing mode, or am I totally wrong on that? Also what are the safe ranges for CPU PLL Voltage & QPI voltage?

You can run them in 1T or 1N mode. It is the first setting in the 2nd memory Catagory under DRAM Timings. (DRAM Timing Mode)

Also make sure you have the newest version of CPU-Z. The older versions, 1.48 and below will not read your memory timings right sometimes.

The newest Version is 1.49 And you can Download it HERE

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 02:59 AM

Alright here are the settings to reach 4.0 Ghz with a Core i7 920. This will allow you to get 4.0 Ghz on all cores and 4.2 Ghz in turbo mode. This will really help your Super PI Scores. Note: Try my CPU voltage first. If it still blue screens that is a sign that you need more voltage. If it does'nt blue screen then you can try to back it off a little at a time. Do this in .05 increments. For Example 1.43 then 1.38 then 1.33. The same goes when increasing your Vcore Voltage. Print this post out and follow the settings EXACTLY!

MB - Asus Rampage 2 Extreme
CPU - Intel Core i7 920
RAM - Corsair 3X2GB 1600mhz Cas 8
CPU Cooler - Water
Fan - Several 120mm
VGA - BFG GTX 280
PSU - Corsair TX-750
HDD - Maxtor 500GB Sata-2 7200 16MB
----------------------------------------------
AI overclock - manual
OC from CPU level up - AUTO
OC from Memory level up - auto
CPU Ratio setting - auto

CPU configuration
CPU Ratio Setting - auto
C1E Support - disable
Hardware prefetcher - Enable
Adjacent Cache line prefetcher - enable
Intel Virtualization tech - disabled
CPU TM Function - disable
Execute Disabled bit - disabled
Intel HT Technology - disabled
Active Processor Cores - all
A20M - enable
Intel Speedstep tech - enable
Intel Turbo Mode tech - enable
Intel C-STATE tech - disabled
BCLK frequency - 200
PCIE frequency - 100
DRAM frequency - DDR3 1603MHz
UCLK frequency - AUTO
QPI frequency - AUTO

Dram timing control NOTE: YOUR RAM WILL BE DIFFERENT. GO WITH STOCK SETTINGS
1st iformation - 8-8-8-24
2nd information - Insert Timings Here in X-X-X-XX -X-X-Xformat
3rd information - Insert Timings Here in X-X-X-XX-X-X-X format

EPU II phase control - full phase
Load-line calibration - enable
CPU differential amplitude - auto
Extreme OV - disabled

Current voltage 1.54v - 1.812v - 1.35v (May be different/ JUST IGNORE THIS)
Cpu voltage - 1.4350 START OFF WITH THIS!
CPU PLL voltage - AUTO
QPI-Dram voltage - AUTO

Current voltage 1.131v - 1.508v - 1.111v - 1.508v
IOH voltage - auto
IOH PCIE voltage - auto
ICH voltage- auto
ICH PCIE voltage - auto

Current voltage X.xxx v, X.xxx v, X.xxx v ,X.xxx v
DRAM Bus voltage - auto
DRAM REF voltage - auto

Debug mode - string
Keyboard TeakIt comtrol - disabled

CPU spread spectrum - disabled
PCIE spectrum - disabled
CPU clock skew - auto
IOH clock skew - auto
ON YOUR RAM VOLTAGE SET IT TO 1.66v

Like i said, If you Blue screen with these settings that means you need more CPU Voltage. Only increase it at .05v at a time. So i have you starting out at 1.43. If this does'nt work, then try 1.48. You should'nt have to go over 1.5 to hit 4Ghz. Actually you will probably be able to get a lower voltage than i have listed above. I have found out that i have a power hungary chip. Also you need some good cooling. This is'nt recommended at all on the stock cooler so DONT DO IT!

The most I recommend doing on the stock Cooler is 3.2 Ghz. And i'd just use the CPU level up Feature for that one.

The goal here is to get you to windows. Then you can tweak your memory and all that good stuff.

Hope that helps.. if you have any questions just PM me. And if you have a better overclock POST IT!!!!!

BringerOdeath · 12-10-2008, 06:07 AM

Oh, jason I saw that you are running with hyperthreading off, only the 4 actual cores. I can do 20x200 and 4.2ghz on turbo mode also stable. If I turn HT on, then thats a different story....I can do 4.025GHZ with HT on. The funny thing is everything runs way faster with HT turned off!! I got 27000 3dmark 06 points with HT turned off and 25000 with it turned on!! Weird.......

fitseries3 · 12-10-2008, 08:03 AM

at 4ghz with cpu voltage at 1.43 and 1.48 3dmark06 hard locks in cpu test. any ideas?

EDIT: 1.53v works fine though.

Aberration · 12-10-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonelmore

The ram really runs at 2T and not 1T. That was just a error with a old version of CPU-Z. If you download the new CPU-Z, it will show the Correct timings. 2T

I was thinking the same, but I see many screens with the latest CPUz showing 1T. So I changed mine to 1T(1N) and it works fine.

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 10:17 AM

Ht actually works for me with those settings i just listed. But it will vary with every CPU. As for the 3Dmark locking up, mine was doing the same thing when HT was enabled. It was doing it during the physics test however. I disabled HT and then it ran perfect. One thing i've noticed is HT will require a few more volts. So instead of running it at 1.43, I'd try it at 1.46. But HT works fine with me on the above settings also. The only thing is my vantage will lock up during the GPU Physics for some reason. Which it should not because its supposed to be testing the GPU and not the CPU. Wierd.

As for Games and other gaming benchmarks, They will run better and you will get better scores with HT Disabled. HT is basicly for windows apps like Cinebench, Office and a few others. There are'nt that many out yet that are coded for HT. So if your gaming I would just disable HT. There is really no benifit right now in games at all. I don't know a single game that uses HT to it's advantage.

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aberration

I was thinking the same, but I see many screens with the latest CPUz showing 1T. So I changed mine to 1T(1N) and it works fine.

I cannot find the setting for this in the Dram timings. What is it listed under? 1st Ram Settings, 2nd Ram Settings, 3rd Ram Settings???!! If you can, go into the Dram timings and tell me exactly what the line says where you switched it to 1N or copy my picture above and circle it and reupload it.

Thanks!

EDIT: See Post #6 For the Awnser to this Question

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitseries3

at 4ghz with cpu voltage at 1.43 and 1.48 3dmark06 hard locks in cpu test. any ideas?

EDIT: 1.53v works fine though.

Like I said, It seems like HT requires a lot of voltage. See if you can back it down at all. Such as 1.52 or 1.51. I dont think that voltage will hurt your cpu in the long run.

I've only see some ES (Enginering Samples) die and they died because of a high VTT (QPI to DRAM) Voltage. It's best to leave it on auto if you dont exactly know what you are doing. Fracious from Intel suggested we keep the VTT within .5 of the DRAM Voltage or it could damage your CPU. But for my overclocks above you need not worry as the auto system is automaticly doing this.

fitseries3 · 12-10-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonelmore

I cannot find the setting for this in the Dram timings. What is it listed under? 1st Ram Settings, 2nd Ram Settings, 3rd Ram Settings???!! If you can, go into the Dram timings and tell me exactly what the line says where you switched it to 1N or copy my picture above and circle it and reupload it.

Thanks!

its called Dram Timming mode in this pic......

it definitely works too as i will show you here...

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 10:36 AM

Alright.. Have you downloaded CPU-Z 1.49 and it still shows it as 1N? I thought command rates where 1T

Also please list your full memory timings. Such as 8-8-8-24-1N

fitseries3 · 12-10-2008, 10:38 AM

1n = 1t

try manually setting it to 2n and you should see 2t/2n

there is even a 3n but idk wtf thats for.

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 10:39 AM

alright. Thanks for the info. What type of RAM are you running?

fitseries3 · 12-10-2008, 10:44 AM

in that screenshot i was using 2x1gb of crucial ballistix 1600mhz that are rated 7-7-7-18-1t @ 1.9v.

im currently running 3x1gb gskill black PI 1600mhz rated 8-8-8-20-1t at 1.6v

both are SICK sets of ram.

BTW...

i did get 200 bclk to run 1.52v to bench 3dmark06.

here...

more info here if you want to take a glance... http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=76464

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 10:51 AM

Looks good.. Thats a really high voltage on your memory. Just make sure your QPI/DRAM (VTT) Voltage is within .5v of the DRAM Voltage or you could kill that baby. Keep the VTT on the lower end of the spectrum however. Also you should'nt need that much vcore in that pic of CPU-Z i see right above this post^^.. try 1.45

bmilos · 12-10-2008, 12:01 PM

MB - Asus Rampage 2 Extreme
CPU - 965
RAM - Corsair XMS3 1600
CPU Cooler - Water Cooled
Fan - 6 120mm
VGA - 4870 x2
PSU - Tagan ITZ 1100w
HDD - OCZ SSD's
----------------------------------------------
AI overclock - manual
OC from CPU level up - auto
OC from Memory level up - auto
CPU Ratio setting - 27

CPU configuration
CPU Ratio Setting - 27
C1E Support - enable
Hardware prefetcher - enable
Adjacent Cache line prefetcher - enable
Intel Virtualization tech - disabled
CPU TM Function - enable
Execute Disabled bit - enable
Intel HT Technology - enable
Active Processor Cores - all
A20M - disabled
Intel Speedstep tech - enable or disable
Intel Turbo Mode tech - enable (Not shown if Speedstep is disabled)
Intel C-STATE tech - disabled

BCLK frequency - 154
PCIE frequency - 100
DRAM frequency - auto
UCLK frequency - autp
QPI frequency - auto

Dram timing control
1st iformation - 8-8-8-20-4-59-8-6-20-0
2nd information - 1N-70-70-71
3rd information - 5-5-14-10-10-10-7-6-4-7-6-4-7-7-4

EPU II phase control - full phase
Load-line calibration - enable
CPU differential amplitude - auto
Extreme OV - disabled

Cpu voltage - 1.39375
CPU PLL voltage - AUTO
QPI-Dram voltage - 1.40000

IOH voltage - 1.20616
IOH PCIE voltage - auto
ICH voltage- auto
ICH PCIE voltage - auto

DRAM Bus voltage - 1.65681
DRAM REF voltage - auto

Debug mode - string
Keyboard TeakIt comtrol - disabled

CPU spread spectrum - enable
PCIE spectrum - AUTO
CPU clock skew - auto
IOH clock skew - auto

I don't have these settings :

Intel Speedstep tech - enable or disable
Intel Turbo Mode tech - enable (Not shown if Speedstep is disabled)
Intel C-STATE tech - disabled

Why is that? This ran over night last night and was prime stable. I am currently working on

156 x 27 for a 4.2mhz clock...

Anyone see any settings that I should change which may help in my endeavor?

bmilos · 12-10-2008, 12:07 PM

within .5v of DRAM? That seems to be a vague statement.

Does that mean as long as QPI is at or below 1.65v, everything is all good or does it mean that we shouldn't pass 1.1v in QPI?

fitseries3 · 12-10-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonelmore

Looks good.. Thats a really high voltage on your memory. Just make sure your QPI/DRAM (VTT) Voltage is within .5v of the DRAM Voltage or you could kill that baby. Keep the VTT on the lower end of the spectrum however. Also you should'nt need that much vcore in that pic of CPU-Z i see right above this post^^.. try 1.45

no i told you man... i DO need that much vcore. it WILL NOT bench any lower. it locks up pretty fast if the vcore is less than that.

i have run up to 2.225v on memory on this board with no probs at all. you just have to know the right settings.

the board is most stable when the vdram is .5v-.7v higher than the qpi/dram voltage. its a 1.5x ratio if you do the math.

so if qpi/dram is 1.4 then vdram should be ~2.0v-2.2v.

more info found here... http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=205688

jasonelmore · 12-10-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmilos

within .5v of DRAM? That seems to be a vague statement.

Does that mean as long as QPI is at or below 1.65v, everything is all good or does it mean that we shouldn't pass 1.1v in QPI?

Within .5 of Dram means if your DRAM Voltage is 1.9v for example. It is not safe to have your QPI Dram Voltage anything below 1.4v. Or Vice Versa. Like saaya said. If you want to kill one of these chips all you need is a high VTT.

Let me redirect you to this thread. It has some really good information in it and I would read through every page on it at least twice.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=207972

mikeyakame · 12-10-2008, 04:20 PM

By the way Enable Hardware Prefetcher.

sonofander · 12-11-2008, 02:48 PM

@ Jason

- you should PM a mod and have them merge this thread with the one in the Intel section. Not as many people look in here and it'd be nice to have all this info in that thread