Asus Maximus Formula SE X38 - Living Review. - Page 2

Clunk · #11 10-10-2007, 21:21

And finally 4203Mhz - No screenie, it crashed

CPU-Z Validator Database

The highest I could go was 467x9, and I just managed to get a CPU-Z validation file from it...typically, the CPU-Z website has disappeared

Going for highest FSB possible, I tried 510x6 - this was doable on my P5K Deluxe...no go on the Maximus, in fact, I cant even post with 500xanything, and also, 490x7 wouldn't even boot - (Fixed with BIOS 0505, highest bootable FSB is now 480, but not stable, see further down the page.)

The problem here seems to be the flakey BIOS. With my previously stable settings, I restarted and the PC didn't post, this is also reminiscent of the Commando, with the error on the LCD Poster showing a random selection of errors from DET-DRAM (which often means dead RAM) to CPU-DET.

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

Continued...

I have been testing some more this afternoon, and I'm quite concerned about the Maximus now, or at least mine.

Aside from the flakey BIOS I mentioned earlier, I have been having RAM problems, in so much as, I have been unable to get stable with anything other than 5-5-5-15. Now the worrying thing is that the Maximus over volts the RAM by around 0.8v, and earlier this afternoon, the board wouldn't restart without physically unplugging the PSU. Again, these are exactly the same symptoms as on the Commando when it went on it's RAM killing spree, not once, but three times, and you can imagine that I wasn't too pleased when my first set of Ballistix suddenly died (** UPDATE 17-10-07:This also appears to be a weird BIOS problem with one particular set of Ballistix, as they work in the P5K Deluxe!, so they are not dead.).

I have replaced the ballistix with another set, and I am still having some strange issues.

One issue is that even with 11 hours stable settings, a restart to change some BIOS settings, results in no post, and the PSU has to be unplugged, or turned off and on for a few seconds before it will post.

I tried a different PSU - different brand, a Seasonic S12 and the same thing happens.

I am going to try a few other things and I'll report back with any findings....

Flashed back to the 04 BIOS, slightly better, but still cant restart without it hanging at any settings.

RAM clocking is a bit better with this BIOS as well.

CPU-Z Validator Database 3600/4-4-4-4

CPU-Z Validator Database 3600/3-3-3-3

CPU-Z Validator Database 3690/3-3-3-3

3780Mhz/3-3-3-3
CPU-Z Validator Database

3870Mhz/3-3-3-3
CPU-Z Validator Database

4005/3-3-3-3
CPU-Z Validator Database

4050Mhz/3-3-3-3

That's 900Mhz on the RAM at 3-3-3-3

CPU-Z Validator Database

4104/3-6-3-6

CPU-Z Validator Database

4113/3-6-3-6

CPU-Z Validator Database

Messing with the Dividers.

Previously, I wasnt able to even post when I used a divider, but after flashing back to BIOS 0401, they are working.

4104/5-5-5-12 1140Mhz 5:6
CPU-Z Validator Database

4104/4-4-4-4 1140Mhz 4:5
CPU-Z Validator Database

This is a request from Hornet.

3600Mhz CPU - 1200Mhz RAM 14Hrs Prime stable (I forgot the screenie, you'll just have to trust me )
CPU-Z Validator Database

One other interesting thing that I've noticed, is that, even through all the heaviest of testing, with quite high voltage (1.65v at times), the HR-09 heatsinks were cool to the touch, in fact, so much so, that I took them off to check they were making contact and they were. On my P5K, these got very hot, especially the one on the left of the CPU, that one got seriously hot, too hot to touch, so this is a great step forward as there will be less heat to get rid of in your case.

Testing 4x1GiB PC2-8500 Crucial Ballistix.
CPU-Z Validator Database

This is where I changed to BIOS 0505 and things started to get better. Vdroop is much less, and things overall seem to need less voltage, but for the following tests, I needed a lot of voltage to the Northbridge, as you can see from the pics. I did manage to reduce the NB voltage down quite a lot, but this depends highly on how many sticks of RAM you are running, how fast you are running them, and how tight the timings are. For most people, running 4x1GiB @ 800Mhz, or even 1066Mhz with reasonable timings, then a couple of extra notches of voltage to the NB should be sufficient.

3600Mhz CPU - 1066Mhz RAM 4-4-4-4
CPU-Z Validator Database

3600Mhz CPU - 800Mhz RAM 3-3-3-3
CPU-Z Validator Database

Highest FSB.

The Highest bootable (not stable) FSB I can hit with this board is 480, as opposed to 510FSB on the P5K Deluxe, hopefully this will change as the BIOS matures.
CPU-Z Validator Database

More later

Clunk · #12 10-10-2007, 21:21

I've moved over to BIOS 0602 and now I can boot with 480x8

480x8
CPU-Z Validator Database

Absolutely no added benefits over 0505, apart from the use of the 8x multi, which isn't stable.

Futuremark - ORB - Project Comparison 15396

Futuremark - ORB - Project Comparison 15459

I have just beaten my previous highest overclocks on water.

4209Mhz on water

CPU-Z Validator Database

4382Mhz on hot water

CPU-Z Validator Database

The absolute maximum FSB I can hit on this board is 490, and that is with some serious tweaking and reduction of timings etc, so still not great.

CPU-Z Validator Database

Clunk · #13 10-10-2007, 21:21

reserved

Clunk · #14 10-10-2007, 21:21

Continued Testing with 4x1GiB Crucial Ballistix.
Same settings as above, 11 hours 59 mins prime stable.

4x1GiB 3600Mhz/800Mhz 4-4-4-4
CPU-Z Validator Database

4x1GiB 3600Mhz/1066Mhz 4-4-4-4
CPU-Z Validator Database

4x1GiB 3600Mhz/800Mhz 3-3-3-3
CPU-Z Validator Database

More later...

Clunk · #15 10-10-2007, 21:21

Conclusion

Over the last few weeks, I have got to know the quirks of the Maximus, and in general, I have to say that most of the time, it wasn't a nice board to use, and here's why;

There was a warm restart problem, which meant that if you needed to restart the PC, be it by the reset button, or via restarting windows, the Maximus would fail to post every time. At first I suspected the PSU, as I had an identical problem with the Asus Commando and the Enermax Galaxy a few months ago, but even with a different brand of PSU (Seasonic), the problem was still there. Even a change of graphics card and several different sets of RAM didn't solve the problem. The only small speck of light at the end of the tunnel, was by raising the PCI-E frequency to 120, and this dramatically cut down the problem, but not completely - Enough is enough, it's a 180.00 motherboard, when all said and done, and this shouldn't be happening.

There was also the dubious issue of the RAM over volt, sometimes as much as 0.09v at idle, which I believe, could have contributed to killing a couple of sets of Ballistix (Killed one set, damaged another). One of the sets of RAM, flatly refused to work in the Maximus, until after BIOS 0505 was loaded, and later died completely - take from that what you will!

The layout on the Maximus was good at first glance, but later proved to be a bit of a pain, especially if you want to fit any larger PCI cards, as the bottom PCI slot would obscure some of the internal USB/Firewire headers, and the top PCI slot can be a real pig to get to, especially if you have a water cooler GPU and North Bridge, as I suspect that a lot of users of this board will have.

Overclocking wise, I reached my personal highest overclock on the Maximus and that was 4382Mhz, however, more down to earth overclocks for everyday use, required a significant amount more voltage than my P5K Deluxe did, and I suspect that this could have been fixed with some GTL REF tweaking and a more stable BIOS - that would have given the Maximus the edge it needs. Similarly, I was able to hit 510FSB with the same Q6600 on the P5K Deluxe, whereas the Maximus would only let me get to 490FSB.

The bundle of accessories was pretty good, and the inclusion of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and 3dMark06 was nice, in fact, for a top end board, it is pretty much what you would expect. The only feature of note that was missing from the Maximus was E-SATA.

The BIOS - The shipping BIOS wasn't great, and the subsequent release wasn't much better. It wasn't until 0505 was released that things started to improve.

In the last year or so, I have used pretty much every Intel based Asus motherboard, and this is by no means the worst, but as far as buggy BIOSes go, this is right up there.

**UPDATE: 20-11-2007 - The latest BIOS release is 0901, and this appears to fix a lot of issues, which is excellent news.