Asus Rampage III Extreme - results thread

[donmarkoni]

By Jammer

Cheers for that. Will try re-jigging the power connectors to see if it makes a difference. I have manged to get it 12hr prime95 stable at 1.35V but monitoring the power delivery to the CPU via a multimeter shows that the voltage does indeed fluctuate during full load. I'm sure this is normal but I will change the power connectors to rule this out.

Will hopefully get the BIOS template filled out tonight. Been a bit busy with work and other stuff. Will also try different bclks but I would rather not go lower than 200bclk.

Stay tuned...

EDIT: Is there an easy way of exporting BIOS settings? Is it as easy as dumping them to USB?

I'm a little surprised that you are talking about noticeable vCore fluctuation measured with DMM.
I'm seeing +/- 0.001V (DMM) fluctuation under load, so I take it as negligible. What are your measurements?

I'm suggesting change of BCLK cause of multi change. What I am saying is that you should change multi to 19 or 21, cause there is confirmed stability problem with even multi's and it needs more voltage to maybe get stable. Me too can confirm it, at least for D0 revision, cause it was not the problem with my old i7 920 C0 rev.

BTW, there is no way that I know of to save BIOS template to file. Take photos and write it down.

[Jammer]

Thanks again don for your help. I had limited time last night so I chose to reload the OS instead which was way overdue, system now feels a lot snappier and it also gave me a chance to update all my drivers.

It is very interesting what you say about the multi and I have heard similar reports. Will go for 19 multi tonight hopefully.

Regarding the voltage fluctuations it's about the same as what you are seeing so I'm no too concerned about it.

[donmarkoni]

Keep us updated!

Here is new BIOS for the OP: R3E0704 (7zip)
Very interesting change log:
1. Added additional memory options (tRFC settings) to improve overclocking
2. Enable support for "Subzero Booster" for improved LN2 overclocking capabilities
3. Enabled additional CPU support for CPU Level Up functionality
4. Improved 3D performance at stock settings

[Jammer]

Just an update, I tried different multis, still no luck. Tried CPU PLL volts lower than 1.8, no go. I'm thinking I just have a **** Xeon.

Hopefully this weekend I'll get some time to fill out the BIOS template.

[Jammer]

Target CPU Frequency		4000MHz
Target DRAM Frequency		1603MHz

LN2 Mode:			Disabled***
QPI Loadline Calibration:	Disabled***

Sync Mode			[Disabled]
AI Overclock Tuner		[Manual]
OC From CPU level Up		[Auto]
CPU Ratio Setting		[20.0]
CPU Turbo Power Limit		[Disabled]

>CPU Configuration----------------------------
CPU Ratio Setting		[20.0]
C1E Support			[Disabled]
Hardware Prefetcher		[Enabled]
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetcher	[Enabled]
Intel(R) Virtualization Tech	[Enabled]
CPU TM Function			[Enabled]
Execute Disable Bit		[Enabled]
Intel(R) HT Technology		[Enabled]
Active Processor Cores		[All]
A20M				[Disabled]
Intel(R) SpeedStep(TM) Tech	[Disabled]
Intel(R) C-STATE Tech		[Disabled]
----------------------------------------------

BCLK Frequency			[200]
PCIE Frequency			[105]
DRAM Frequency			[1603]
UCLK Frequency			[3208]
QPI Link Data Rate		[7218MT/s]

Memory Configuration Protect	[Disabled]

>DRAM Timing Control--------------------------
CAS# Latency		      8	[8]
RAS# to CAS# Delay	      8	[8]
RAS# PRE Time		      8	[8]
RAS# ACT Time		     24	[24]
RAS# to RAS# Delay	      5	[Auto]
REF Cycle Time		     72	[Auto]
WRITE Recovery Time	     14	[Auto]
READ to PRE Time	      8	[Auto]
FOUR ACT WIN Time	     24	[Auto]
Back-To-BackCAS# Delay	      0	[Auto]

Timing Mode		     2N	[Auto]
Round Trip Latency on CHA    56	[Auto]
Round Trip Latency on CHB    57	[Auto]
Round Trip Latency on CHC    58	[Auto]

WRITE To READ Delay(DD)	      7	[Auto]
WRITE To READ Delay(DR)	      7	[Auto]
WRITE To READ Delay(SR)	     18	[Auto]
READ To WRITE Delay(DD)	      9	[Auto]
READ To WRITE Delay(DR)	      9	[Auto]
READ To WRITE Delay(SR)	      9	[Auto]
READ To READ Delay(DD)	      7	[Auto]
READ To READ Delay(DR)	      6	[Auto]
READ To READ Delay(SR)	      4	[Auto]
WRITE To WRITE Delay(DD)      7	[Auto]
WRITE To WRITE Delay(DR)      7	[Auto]
WRITE To WRITE Delay(SR)      4 [Auto]
----------------------------------------------

CPU Differential Amplitude	[Auto]
CPU Clock Skew			[Auto]
IOH Clock Skew			[Auto]
------------ Extreme Engine Digi+ ------------
Digi+ PWR Mode			[T-Balanced]
PWR Volt. Control		[Auto]
Load-Line Calibration		[50% Calibration]
CPU Voltege OCP			[Enabled]
CPU PWM Frequency		[Auto]

Extreme OV			[Disabled]
Extreme OC			[Auto]

CPU Voltage		1.356	[1.35625]
CPU PLL Voltage 	1.230	[1.23225]
QPI/DRAM Core Voltage	1.230	[1.23750]
DRAM Bus Voltage	1.654	[1.65625]

>DRAM REF Voltages----------------------------
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA	[Auto]
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHA	[Auto]
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHB	[Auto]
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHB	[Auto]
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHC	[Auto]
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHC	[Auto]
----------------------------------------------

IOH Voltage		1.111	[1.11300]
IOH PCIE Voltage	1.508	[1.51050]

ICH Voltage		1.111	[1.11300]
ICH PCIE Voltage		[1.51050]

---------- Spread Spectrum Control -----------
CPU Spread Spectrum		[Disabled]
DRAM Spread Spectrum		[Disabled]

OK here are my BIOS settings guys. Please not that I have not touched RAM settings apart from the main latencies. I have also tried CPU PLL up to 1.9V and that makes no difference. Ummm... I have also tried the different settings for CPU PWM frequency and none of those made a difference.

Anything obvious that stands out to you don?

[eva2000]

Jammer not sure how your cpu is, but QPI/DRAM Core Voltage seems kind of low for 200bclk.

[Jammer]

Yeh both the rampage and P6X58D Premium I have seem to easily do 200bclk on 1.2 QPI volts. Tried all the way up to 1.45V... Seems to get more unstable from 1.4V upwards.

[donmarkoni]

I edited some settings worth trying:

Target CPU Frequency		3800-4200MHz
Target DRAM Frequency		1603MHz

LN2 Mode:			Disabled***
QPI Loadline Calibration:	Enabled***

Sync Mode			[Disabled]
AI Overclock Tuner		[Manual]
OC From CPU level Up		[Auto]
CPU Ratio Setting		[19.0 / 21.00]
CPU Turbo Power Limit		[Disabled]

>CPU Configuration----------------------------
CPU Ratio Setting		[19.0 / 21.0]
C1E Support			[Disabled]
Hardware Prefetcher		[Enabled]
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetcher	[Enabled]
Intel(R) Virtualization Tech	[Enabled]
CPU TM Function			[Disabled]
Execute Disable Bit		[Enabled]
Intel(R) HT Technology		[Enabled]
Active Processor Cores		[All]
A20M				[Disabled]
Intel(R) SpeedStep(TM) Tech	[Disabled]
Intel(R) C-STATE Tech		[Disabled]
----------------------------------------------

BCLK Frequency			[200]
PCIE Frequency			[100]
DRAM Frequency			[1603]
UCLK Frequency			[3208]
QPI Link Data Rate		[7218MT/s]

Memory Configuration Protect	[Disabled]

>DRAM Timing Control--------------------------
CAS# Latency		      8	[8]
RAS# to CAS# Delay	      8	[8]
RAS# PRE Time		      8	[8]
RAS# ACT Time		     24	[24]
RAS# to RAS# Delay	      5	[Auto]
REF Cycle Time		     72	[Auto]
WRITE Recovery Time	     14	[Auto]
READ to PRE Time	      8	[Auto]
FOUR ACT WIN Time	     24	[Auto]
Back-To-BackCAS# Delay	      0	[Auto]

Timing Mode		     2N	[Auto]
Round Trip Latency on CHA    56	[Auto]
Round Trip Latency on CHB    57	[Auto]
Round Trip Latency on CHC    58	[Auto]

WRITE To READ Delay(DD)	      7	[Auto]
WRITE To READ Delay(DR)	      7	[Auto]
WRITE To READ Delay(SR)	     18	[Auto]
READ To WRITE Delay(DD)	      9	[Auto]
READ To WRITE Delay(DR)	      9	[Auto]
READ To WRITE Delay(SR)	      9	[Auto]
READ To READ Delay(DD)	      7	[Auto]
READ To READ Delay(DR)	      6	[Auto]
READ To READ Delay(SR)	      4	[Auto]
WRITE To WRITE Delay(DD)      7	[Auto]
WRITE To WRITE Delay(DR)      7	[Auto]
WRITE To WRITE Delay(SR)      4 [Auto]
----------------------------------------------

CPU Differential Amplitude	[Auto]
CPU Clock Skew			[Auto]
IOH Clock Skew			[Auto]
------------ Extreme Engine Digi+ ------------
Digi+ PWR Mode			[T-Balanced]
PWR Volt. Control		[Auto]
Load-Line Calibration		[Full Calibration]
CPU Voltege OCP			[Enabled]
CPU PWM Frequency		[Auto]

Extreme OV			[Disabled]
Extreme OC			[Auto]

CPU Voltage		1.356	[1.30000-1.35000]
CPU PLL Voltage 	1.230	[Auto]
QPI/DRAM Core Voltage	1.230	[1.25000-1.30000]
DRAM Bus Voltage	1.654	[1.65625]

>DRAM REF Voltages----------------------------
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA	[Auto]
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHA	[Auto]
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHB	[Auto]
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHB	[Auto]
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHC	[Auto]
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHC	[Auto]
----------------------------------------------

IOH Voltage		1.111	[Auto]
IOH PCIE Voltage	1.508	[1.51050]

ICH Voltage		1.111	[1.11300]
ICH PCIE Voltage		[1.51050]

---------- Spread Spectrum Control -----------
CPU Spread Spectrum		[Disabled]
DRAM Spread Spectrum		[Disabled]

CPU PLL Voltage 1.230 [1.23225] - 1.2??? was this a writing mistake?

BTW, congrats on writing actual settings before brackets, where they belong. I have seen people not doing this and confusing others with some old settings I used while making the template.