Maximus formula II P45 - q9550 c1 - let's get higher than my current OC of 4ghz. :)

Maximus formula II P45 - q9550 c1 - let's get higher than my current OC of 4ghz.

Hey guys, I just purchased a Maximus II and I love it. At the moment I'm running 471 x 8.5 - 4004mhz or 4.0ghz and 1.375v on my vcore.

Anyone willing to shed some light on the expansive tweak page and what I should set some of my more advanced numbers to so that I can try for a little more FSB under the same voltage?

My load temp is close to 58-60c at the moment, so if I neeed a little more voltage for some more speed I don't mind. I'm looking for my highest OC and RAM speeds with decent temperatures that is close to prime stable for a long period of time (1hr +)


Currently I'm about a half hour prime stable, which close to what I'm looking for because I haven't had any actual reboots by using the computer through regular usage.

cooler, scythe infinity
computer 7 120mm yate loon medium fans
90mm exhaust.

cpu: q9550 - C1 stepping
multi - 8.5x
motherboard - asus maximus formula II
memory - 2x2GB - g.skill DDR2-1000. does about 1100 on OC on 5-5-5-15 timings.

Anyone have some suggestions on the extra voltage settings? Such as the nb vcore, sata 1.5 and 1.1 settings, or other advanced options?

Using the following BIOS template for the Maximus Formula II, fill in as much as you can w/ relation to your current settings...

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
Ratio CMOS Setting : AUTO
FSB Frequency : 471mhz
CPU Clock Skew : AUTO
NB Clock Skew : AUTO
FSB Strap to North Bridge : AUTO
DRAM Frequency: DDRII-943mhz
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

CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# Activate to Precha : 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay : AUTO
Row Refresh Cycle Time : AUTO
Write Recovery Time : AUTO
Read to Precharge Time : AUTO

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

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: Disabled
Dram Read Training : Auto
Mem. OC Charger : Auto
Ai Clock Twister : AUTO
Transaction Booster : AUTO
PCIE Freguency : 100


CPU Voltage : 1.3875v
CPU PLL Voltage : auto
FSB Termination Voltage : ~1.312v
DRAM Voltage : ~2.102v
North Bridge Voltage : auto
South Bridge 1.5 Voltage : AUTO
South Bridge 1.1 Voltage : AUTO

CPU GTL Reference (0) : auto
CPU GTL Reference (1) : auto
CPU GTL Reference (2) : auto
CPU GTL Reference (3) : auto
NB GTL Reference : AUTO
DDR2 ChA Reference Voltage : auto
DDR2 ChB Reference Voltage : auto
North Bridge DDR Reference : auto

CPU Configuration
Ratio CMOS Setting : 8.5
C1E Suppport : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled
Intel (R) Virtualization Tech. : disabled
CPU Disable Bit : disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Intel (R) Speed Step (tm) Tech : disabled

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



This is what my entire main tweaking page looks like. I highlighted the portions that were different from your template.


edit:

I'm basically trying to stabalize the OC without going over 1.4v. And preferably staying near 4ghz. Not really looking for an absolute max here, I just want to get the most out of my ram (which can get close to 1100mhz stable) and have good temperatures. If I can make the mobo a bit more stable, I can raise the FSB and lower the multi to 8x and then have a little more freedom with my RAM settings, since right now it's running below spec.

Dram Clock Skew will help stabilize ram at higher MHz
For example my GSkill crap out at anyhting above 1100MHZ with clock skew set to advanced 350ps they will run upto 1147MHz on same volts of 2.1
IMO you have way to much auto settings there, nice job if your 4.0GHz is actually stable tho.

Here is a stable 3.8GHz and a 3.9GHz setting, it should help you with setting volts and values.

CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 8.5
FSB Frequency : 450
CPU Clock Skew : Normal
North Bridge Clock Skew : Normal
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1081
Dram Clock Skew CH1 A1 : Advanced 300ps
DRAM Clock Skew CH1 A2 : Normal
Dram Clock Skew CH1 B1 : Advanced 300ps
Dram Clock Skew CH1 B2 : Normal


DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 55
Write Recovery Time : 6
Read to Precharge Time : 3

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

Write to PRE Delay : 14
Read to PRE Delay : 5
PRE to PRE Delay : 1
ALL PRE to ACT Delay : 5
ALL PRE to REF Delay : 5

DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
Dram Read Training : Enabled
MEM OC Charger : Disabled
Ai Clock Twister : Stronger
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 CHA PH4 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH5 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH1 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH2 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH3 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH4 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH5 Disabled

PCIE Frequency : 101

CPU Voltage : Whatever your CPU needs
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.50
FSBT : 1.33850
DRAM Voltage : 2.12
North Bridge Voltage : 1.39150
South Bridge Voltage 1.5 : 1.5
South Bridge Voltage 1.1 : 1.1

CPU GTL Reference 0 : +20mv
CPU GTL Reference 1 : +10mv
CPU GTL Reference 2 : +10mv
CPU GTL Reference 3 : +20mv
North Bridge GTL Reference : AUTO
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
North Bridge DDR Reference : AUTO

Load Line Calabration : Enabled
CPU Sread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

3.9GHz

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 8.5
FSB Frequency : 459
CPU Clock Skew : Normal
North Bridge Clock Skew : Normal
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-1103
Dram Clock Skew CH1 A1 : Advanced 300ps
DRAM Clock Skew CH1 A2 : Normal
Dram Clock Skew CH1 B1 : Advanced 300ps
Dram Clock Skew CH1 B2 : Normal


DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 55
Write Recovery Time : 6
Read to Precharge Time : 3

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

Write to PRE Delay : 14
Read to PRE Delay : 5
PRE to PRE Delay : 1
ALL PRE to ACT Delay : 5
ALL PRE to REF Delay : 5

DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
Dram Read Training : Disabled
MEM OC Charger : Enabled
Ai Clock Twister : Stronger
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 CHA PH4 Disabled
Pull-In of CHA PH5 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH1 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH2 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH3 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH4 Disabled
Pull-In of CHB PH5 Disabled

PCIE Frequency : 101

CPU Voltage : Whatever your CPU needs
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.53975
FSBT : 1.33850
DRAM Voltage : 2.1
North Bridge Voltage : 1.39150
South Bridge Voltage 1.5 : 1.5
South Bridge Voltage 1.1 : 1.1

CPU GTL Reference 0 : Auto
CPU GTL Reference 1 : -45mv
CPU GTL Reference 2 : Auto
CPU GTL Reference 3 : -45mv
North Bridge GTL Reference : AUTO
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
North Bridge DDR Reference : AUTO

Load Line Calabration : Enabled
CPU Sread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Thank you, I will try this out tonight. The thing is that my OC was not stable. The motherboard was being picky at the higher fsb's, even though I could boot up at 4.2 and even 4.3, random things would end up crashing. This happened anywhere from 3.6->4.3, even though I could POST and boot on all of them. I believe a more stable motherboard will help me find my true max and best stable settings. Thanks for this!

I think you pretty much have the best mobo to get-r-don w/ this CPU. You're just gonna have to systimatically test each setting to see what helps/hurts. I think you have a winning combination if you're willing to spend a long time tweaking. Just being able to boot at 4.3 is very promising.

jason4207 said:

I think you pretty much have the best mobo to get-r-don w/ this CPU. You're just gonna have to systimatically test each setting to see what helps/hurts. I think you have a winning combination if you're willing to spend a long time tweaking. Just being able to boot at 4.3 is very promising.

Click to expand...

Yes I agree!

What I *meant* to say was more stable settings on THIS mobo is going to help me. Having everything on auto was not what I was looking for at all. I'm hoping the above post is the step in the right direction in getting the mobo stable and some more freedom on finding my max for my CPU. I believe it was all of the auto settings that were holding me back, more than the RAM or CPU.

I can't even POST with either of those layouts Grnfinger . I wonder which option(s) I have set to auto that manually setting is killing my OC.

Go back to your auto setting, and then change them 1 at a time, and see what helps, and what hurts.

I realize my reply is ages later, but I changed my ram to ocz platinum kits (4x2GB = 8GB ddr2 8500) and my OC is fantastic now. Seems that my RAM was holding me back the whole time, which is what I thought.

I haven't even played around with it yet but I've boosted myself up and past 3.9 and up to 4ghz @ 1.35v and the RAM is still going higher. I'm happy now! Currently at 458fsb, memory is at 1100mhz, and I'm at 3895mhz. I'm absolutely positive I can go higher and maybe even LOWER the voltage! This chip is a dream and I think the motherboard is much better too.

Great to hear you got your system working sweetly after all this effort. I have just purchased a system very similar to yours - I wonder if you would mind posting your final BIOS settings so I can give thema try too? Cheers!

ColdKiss said:

Great to hear you got your system working sweetly after all this effort. I have just purchased a system very similar to yours - I wonder if you would mind posting your final BIOS settings so I can give thema try too? Cheers!

Click to expand...

I never did get a final completed version like I had hoped I would. The system has the same stability from 3.5ghz up to 4ghz. Which is basically stable with AIM/MSN or IE randomly freezing when it goes idle. This happens every couple of days or so. Ijust hit the X, hard close the program, and open it up again and no trouble. No shutting down or anything.

I lowered the OC to 3.5 and still got the same problem, changed the ram and still got the same problem, so I think its a bios setting somewhere but I got lazy and never figured it out. I just moved back to 3.83ghz, seems to be a happy medium of no hard system crashes or game crashes, just AIM or MSN randomly dying on me every now and then.

Thanks for the fast reply - Maybe an fresh OS install of Windows is what's needed to solve those pesky IE & MSN issues