The Maximus Formula Club

[bullydog]

Does anyone notice that the Maximus Formula mobo seems to overvolt the DRAMs slightly regardless of the Dram Volts you set? Even Anandtech also observes it in this article http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3149

Becos i set mine to 2.1 which is factory Crucial spec and PC Probe detects it at 2.19v

i'm using:
FSB x mulitplier 389x9=3501mhz
FSB = 389x4 = 1556mhz
Ram mulitpliers: 518mhz on 3:4 dividers

I'm currently running mine at 1036mhz and thinking to overclock my Rams to 1166mhz thinking that what i set is sufficient since at 2.10 the maximus overvolts it to 2.19v but upon setting 1166 it BSOD ...Whats a good DRAM overVolt these Crucial Ballistix can overvolt to? im Also using the Corsair Dominator Airflow Module

Thanks in Advance

[Deton]

yup, it's definitely a mistery:confused: but here is my idea;
first save your overclock setting under Tools- overclocking profiles, this will save you all the hassle to redo all the setting later.

1. re-flash the Bios to see if this help, if not
2. get yourself a new set of USB keyboard combo

[Deton]

Does anyone notice that the Maximus Formula mobo seems to overvolt the DRAMs slightly regardless of the Dram Volts you set? Even Anandtech also observes it in this article http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3149

Becos i set mine to 2.1 which is factory Crucial spec and PC Probe detects it at 2.19v

i'm using:
FSB x mulitplier 389x9=3501mhz
FSB = 389x4 = 1556mhz
Ram mulitpliers: 518mhz on 3:4 dividers

I'm currently running mine at 1036mhz and thinking to overclock my Rams to 1166mhz thinking that what i set is sufficient since at 2.10 the maximus overvolts it to 2.19v but upon setting 1166 it BSOD ...Whats a good DRAM overVolt these Crucial Ballistix can overvolt to? im Also using the Corsair Dominator Airflow Module

Thanks in Advance

I thought your memory stock voltage is 2.20v?...how come you set it at 2.10v?
BSOD :confused: , what is the timining now? you might have to losen it up when you increase the frequence. Check to see how much your memory can overclock to and how much voltage is the max it can takes.

[Rosco]

Does anyone notice that the Maximus Formula mobo seems to overvolt the DRAMs slightly regardless of the Dram Volts you set? Even Anandtech also observes it in this article http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3149

Becos i set mine to 2.1 which is factory Crucial spec and PC Probe detects it at 2.19v

i'm using:
FSB x mulitplier 389x9=3501mhz
FSB = 389x4 = 1556mhz
Ram mulitpliers: 518mhz on 3:4 dividers

I'm currently running mine at 1036mhz and thinking to overclock my Rams to 1166mhz thinking that what i set is sufficient since at 2.10 the maximus overvolts it to 2.19v but upon setting 1166 it BSOD ...Whats a good DRAM overVolt these Crucial Ballistix can overvolt to? im Also using the Corsair Dominator Airflow Module

Thanks in Advance

I have noticed the overvolting of the DRAMs, I think it was mentioned in an earlier post too. I have the same ram and I let the board set the voltage by leaving it on auto. For me, this seems to be the most stable. I have manually set the FSB at 458 and DRAM at 1100, and PCProbe II reads DRAM voltage as 2.3v at idle and at load. If set manaully, from my experiences, that would be about 2.22v in the bios. I think you could achieve your OC if you set it to 2.2+ in the bios. You need to watch temps I think at these voltages - or maybe not with your DRAM fan. Let us know if you make it.


Add: Also, check out 5P4RK4's post #218.

Xtreme- Take a look at your RAM to see if you got a set of the new Ballistix revision. The new stuff is single sided, and should have a serial number ending in 8FE5. I tried a set (2x1gb) and I couldnt get it to run at advertised specs no matter what, overvolt, undervolt, stock volt, nothing... RMA'd it twice.

Now.. the old set.. which I got in november... double sided, nicer heatspreaders, that stuff runs anything I throw at it. Seems that Crucial severely downgraded and hoped no one would notice.

Very interesting, haven't seen that anywhere else yet. 5P4RK4, can you post your settings, maybe we can learn from them?

I thought your memory stock voltage is 2.20v?...how come you set it at 2.10v?
BSOD :confused: , what is the timining now? you might have to losen it up when you increase the frequence. Check to see how much your memory can overclock to and how much voltage is the max it can takes.

Deton's right, stock volatge is 2.2 and I had to losen my timings to get it to work at 1100, so you will probably have to losen them even more than I did if you want 1166.

[5P4RK4]

I just realized that when I tried that new Ballistix I hadn't updated the BIOS, so that could be why it wasnt compatible. But who knows?!

Right now Im running them (old revision) in DDR2 1100 at only 2.06V (in PCProbeII) My board also changes every setting I actually enter in the BIOS, my ram is about .09 over, Vcore is about .06 under. Its more like enter the BIOS settings, see what you get, and then go up or down as needed. You probably cant get to 1166 on stock volts, definitely not under. just bump them up slowly until it works, You shouldnt need much more than 2.2 to run that. I believe I was running around the same speed last time I set this rig up, If i remember right it was about 2.26 DRAM (in PCPII, which would be about 2.2 in my bios)

That being said I havent seen my BIOS since this whole no keyboard detected error. I'm going to reset my Cmos tonight... If my keyboard works in windows then both the keyboard and the port work right?! I hope so. Anyways.. if you dont hear from me for a few days, its cuz this crappy error locked me out of my bios forever. lol.

[bullydog]

Thanks All for yr inputs
**** i forgot ... i thought it was 2.1 stock DRAM volts!!! i will increase it to 2.2 and see how it goes... my current timings are 5-5-5-15 i will probably try 6-6-6-18 once i go 1166mhz

I will try out and see how it goes any good programs to recommend? other than memtest?

[5P4RK4]

Well.. what do you know, cmos, new bios, computer is happily seeing the keyboard again!

I'm going to re-clock everything on the new bios. See what happens


Bullydog - yup ballistix is 2.2 stock. It should have no problem running 1166 at 5-5-5-15.

[Deton]

Thanks All for yr inputs
**** i forgot ... i thought it was 2.1 stock DRAM volts!!! i will increase it to 2.2 and see how it goes... my current timings are 5-5-5-15 i will probably try 6-6-6-18 once i go 1166mhz

I will try out and see how it goes any good programs to recommend? other than memtest?

try 5-5-5-15 with 2.30v to with if it works before you losen the timing, sometime a ram with tight timing and lower frequence performs on par with faster frequence higher timing ram.

Well.. what do you know, cmos, new bios, computer is happily seeing the keyboard again!

I'm going to re-clock everything on the new bios. See what happens


Bullydog - yup ballistix is 2.2 stock. It should have no problem running 1166 at 5-5-5-15.

good to hear that you've solved the problem but you didn't save your overclocking settings in the Asus OC Profiles as I told you huh?
Now you have to redo all the settings all over again.

[bullydog]

Deton thanks again for ur inputs... how do i do a stability test to my overclocked rams? What do you recommend? i use memtest previously and they are supposed to be run with a floppy drive...but i dont have one now

[Deton]

Deton thanks again for ur inputs... how do i do a stability test to my overclocked rams? What do you recommend? i use memtest previously and they are supposed to be run with a floppy drive...but i dont have one now

Yeah, Memtest only runs under Dos enviroment. Have you try to use USB flash stick?...or you can try use Prime95 (Windows enviroment) --> select Blend test button, this will test the Ram stability and CPU as well, but first to make sure the OC stable before you do Blend test if you get error report then you know your ram is not stable.

I believe most DDR2-8500 can OC up to 1200mhz but of course it won't work for every model though.

[5P4RK4]

try 5-5-5-15 with 2.30v to with if it works before you losen the timing, sometime a ram with tight timing and lower frequence performs on par with faster frequence higher timing ram.


good to hear that you've solved the problem but you didn't save your overclocking settings in the Asus OC Profiles as I told you huh?
Now you have to redo all the settings all over again.

I wanted to try out the new BIOS anyways. I had them all pretty much remembered. back to 3.4 no problem. OCCT ran all night, gonna run memtest to confirm my ram at 1133. I have my DRAM at 2.22 right now, seems fine but we'll see.

Bully - USB flash stick is the way to go if you dont have a floppy. You should be able to set it as a boot device. Just format it (FAT/FAT32), and put the files on it.

[Quincy]

New member with new build, just looking for a speaker cover to finish off the chassis cover because I had to open up the vent to clear the massive Thermalright cooler.

[P3RH4PS]

Welcome!

Wow... I never realized how big that heatsink was until this picture. lol .

[Deton]

that cooler really protruded, you're going to have a hard time to find a cover for it, unless you do a custom build grill cover for it.
Ideas:

1. replace with a lower profile cooler
2. get a bigger case

[P3RH4PS]

There may actually be a couple speakers just that size out there... lol interesting idea.

[rotaryguy]

Hello everyone...My first post.

Just built my new Maximus Formula, I am excited.
I do however have some concerns and I am looking for some advice.
Before I decided to start my OC adventures, that I am totally green at...I thought I would take down some baseline numbers regarding temps, voltages, fan speeds and such.

I am concerned to see my NB hovering close to 60c, SB @ 55c and MB @ 45. My CPU is 30c, these numbers all matched using Everest, PC Probe II and in the BIOS V0907.

I think my case/cooling arrangement is mostly to blame but am not sure, I have a Cosmos 1000 with the 4 stock 120mm fans, I have them all running between 1000-1400rpm using q fan or duty cycle to get there.

Also, a LOT of heat comes off of the 3870 X2, can I move it to the lower slot?

Anyway, by simply pulling off the side panels of the case and turning on my ceiling fan my NB temp drops to about 45c just sitting using IE., SB-41c, CPU-25c and MB-43c all fans again around 1100rpm. If I sit a small fan on the video card blowing on the NB it drops to 37c and the SB seems to follow.....So, I am hoping that I can get a few high quality replacement fans for my case, maybe a new aftermarket NB HS or something.....any and all advice, suggestions would be welcome.

I have my temps now down to...
MB=41
CPU=28
NB=42
SB=39
GPU=49
I replaced all 4 stock case fans with Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F, I also reversed the top two and made them intakes...did not make much sense but it made a huge diff on my gpu temps...I also added two additional 120 intake fans on the hdd cages and added an antec spot fan pointing directly at the NB. so I now have 6 120mm fans, a spot fan and the cpu fan...geeezzz...so long to the "silence" part of the cosmos. I still blame the case design/air flow and I have tried many different fan setups, positive and negative pressure....also removed the crappy vga duct. And no sooner to I buy all new fans to go with my new case AKA easy bake oven...they come out with a new and improved? Cosmos S edition....
Anyway I will post some before and after case pics when I get a chance.