Official Rampage Extreme Review/Overclock/Guide Thread

Smirnoff · 27 Aug 2008 at 17:45

CyZMyAssBaby said:
Smirnoff m8, How goes the Gskills? Do you have any more benchies of those evil blue sticks?

Waiting in the cellshock blues at the moment, I've tested the 2gb and 4gb Gskills kits and they work well, As for overing clocking they'll do about 1750Mhz tops on the sets i tested @ 7 7 7 18, There good sticks for the money but if you looking for massive overclocks it has to be the cellshocks

BaronBlue · 27 Aug 2008 at 18:24

Hi to the forum!
Another RE owner here with mem issues. I have heard that some Gskill modules 1/2Gb dont work well with our mobo. Depends on IC´s.
I have 2x2Gb OCZ 1800 Reaper (Micron Ic´s) and all works bad. I need 2x2GB modules so i dont know what to buy now. I thinking, perhaps, Corsair TWIN3X4096-1600C7DHX, but I have not seen any test with them. Perhaps OCZ Platinum 2000, for less than 500 FSB.
Any ideas?

Smirnoff · 27 Aug 2008 at 18:40

BaronBlue said:
Hi to the forum!
Another RE owner here with mem issues. I have heard that some Gskill modules 1/2Gb dont work well with our mobo. Depends on IC´s.
I have 2x2Gb OCZ 1800 Reaper (Micron Ic´s) and all works bad. I need 2x2GB modules so i dont know what to buy now. I thinking, perhaps, Corsair TWIN3X4096-1600C7DHX, but I have not seen any test with them. Perhaps OCZ Platinum 2000, for less than 500 FSB.
Any ideas?

2000Mhz stuff is pure fail, It wont even post at 1800Mhz only the XMP OCZ ram seems to work in this board.

0403 BIOS seems to work well with Micron based memory give that a try of your not running it, as I've had little problems in getting the high end corsair dominator kits running in this board. As for the 1600Mhx DHX stuff I'd personal get the 2x2gb Gskills kit over it.

BaronBlue · 27 Aug 2008 at 19:26

Thanks, Smirnoff.
Im on 403 bios, precisely. My rig (i have a q9550) only is stable @ pure stock: 333fsb/1333 Dram. I can boot in windows @ 400fsb/1600 but im totally unstable in tests, does not matter any setting that I put in volts(NB, Vcore, Vtt, Vdimm...)/timings.
According to what I've seen out there, 2 out of 4 Gskill owners have problems in this board, 2 are very happy. It is too lottery to me. But the ONLY alternative for 2Gb sticks to Gskill seem to be...Corsair. Dominator is VERY expensive in my country, only we can buy XMS cl7. But so far no test from anyone.
Well, also we can buy 4 sticks Geil EVO, that you recommend, but i dont like the 4x1GB set. Or Kingston hiperx 2x2Gb, I suppose...
It´s a mess, i dont know what to do...

Smirnoff · 27 Aug 2008 at 19:47

Memtest your ram, I'd guess its failing badly from what you have discribed, If it is failing memtest RMA it back and you'll get a new set.

BaronBlue · 27 Aug 2008 at 19:52

Lot of tests with memtest86+ in my Reapers 14400. 0 fails...

Smirnoff · 27 Aug 2008 at 19:57

Even at 1600 Mhz ?

BaronBlue · 27 Aug 2008 at 20:02

Even at 1600. I think I did all 1600 test on 404 bios. Always 0 fails...
I think it´s a pure compatibility problem.

Smirnoff · 27 Aug 2008 at 20:04

Lower the multiplier of your chip to 6 so your running at 2700Mhz, If it boot into windows its something do with your CPU settings, If not it could be a corrupted windows install or broken HD ect ect, If your rams passing memtest it should be fine.

BaronBlue · 27 Aug 2008 at 20:29

Testing @ 400 FSB /1:1 sdram freq, loosen timings: prime95 3h+ stable (aborted test for myself)
Testing @ 400 FSB /1333 5-5-5-15, 6-6-6-18: error

I have tried changing Cpu, Nb and Dram skews. Error. The Reaper is only accepted by the Rampage in strictly auto dram settings, or loosen.

xxxitrxxx5 · 27 Aug 2008 at 21:20

Does anyone know if this is a good choice?

Brand CORSAIR
Series DOMINATOR
Model TW3X4G1800C8DF
Type 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM

Capacity 4GB (2 x 2GB)
Speed DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400)
Cas Latency 8
Timing 8-8-8-24
Voltage 1.8V

roller · 27 Aug 2008 at 22:59

Smirnoff said:
Waiting in the cellshock blues at the moment, I've tested the 2gb and 4gb Gskills kits and they work well, As for overing clocking they'll do about 1750Mhz tops on the sets i tested @ 7 7 7 18, There good sticks for the money but if you looking for massive overclocks it has to be the cellshocks

if you looking for cellshock blues try memoryc.com @Mail ask for helen they have some good stock binned post ok as well from irl my blues running at over 2000 with 1.72v 333strap evrything else on auto just repaired my ramp ex prob with power reg since replaced a fet, core v has only needed 1.32v for 495x8.5 with a qx9770 it needed 1,6 before i replaced it it is not a retail m/b got the bits needed in 4days from the master

Matutu · 28 Aug 2008 at 08:13

A carlsberg moment i presume

Hmmm lol i didnt think Cellshock had some nice 2GB sticks? i thought the only worked on 2x1GB? If so i would love 8GB of the blue

CyZMyAssBaby · 28 Aug 2008 at 09:56

Samsung ICs are used in the following 2*1 modules OCZ 2000, the 1800. The 1600 OCZ modules are Micron ICS. (confirmed on the Ocz Forum)

Reported by Kristrofferson *user* from another forum the OCZ PC3-12800 Golden edition 2*1gb sticks use Micron D9JNM ICs are confirmed to work with either Bios 0301 or 0403.

Matutu said:
Hmmm lol i didnt think Cellshock had some nice 2GB sticks? i thought the only worked on 2x1GB? If so i would love 8GB of the blue

2*1 only no 2*2 if only..........

BaronBlue said:
Testing @ 400 FSB /1:1 sdram freq, loosen timings: prime95 3h+ stable (aborted test for myself)
Testing @ 400 FSB /1333 5-5-5-15, 6-6-6-18: error

I have tried changing Cpu, Nb and Dram skews. Error. The Reaper is only accepted by the Rampage in strictly auto dram settings, or loosen.

Memory strap problem?

Out of curiosity what are your NB temps? and voltage settings~(NB)?... NB on air, or wc?

BaronBlue · 28 Aug 2008 at 14:36

Samsung ICs are used in the following 2*1 modules OCZ 2000, the 1800. The 1600 OCZ modules are Micron ICS.
OCZ PC3-12800 Golden edition 2*1gb sticks use Micron D9JNM ICs

Exactly, that is my little theory: the Ic´s D9JNM are one of the most beloved by this board, not so much the GTR and GTS. Gskill sometimes is mounting JNM, GTR sometimes, and anothers, in his 12800 kit...So there are cases where it works very well and where not so much.
I just ordered a Gskill 2x2Gb kit. We will see my luck.

Out of curiosity what are your NB temps? and voltage settings~(NB)?... NB on air, or wc?

Great question. Since yesterday I am researching how runs my system if i raise hard the voltages, until the heat limits or beyond. When i set around 1.34 Vcore, 1.3 VTT and 1.47 Nb in Bios (65º cores in load, 55º Nb, 49º Power), i´am beginning to have some stability @ 400FSB, strap 333, 1600 Dram 1t 7-7-7-20. Only some, but something is something.
In 1:1 @ 400 FSB only i need 1.27 Vcore (in bios) 1.33 NB (ProbeII) and 1.20 VTT (ProbeII) for the same 3.6 MHz CPU speed, really stable.

CyZMyAssBaby · 28 Aug 2008 at 17:19

BaronBlue said:
Exactly, that is my little theory: the Ic´s D9JNM are one of the most beloved by this board, not so much the GTR and GTS. Gskill sometimes is mounting JNM, GTR sometimes, and anothers, in his 12800 kit...So there are cases where it works very well and where not so much.
I just ordered a Gskill 2x2Gb kit. We will see my luck.

I agree with your above statement as that appears to be apparent on other forums. I can confirm the CellShock DDR3 (Micron 128Mx8 DDR3 chips) PC3-14400 (1800MHz) CL8 (8-7-6-21) 1.7-1.9V D9GTR Microns are extremely compatible with the board using Bios 0301, 0403 and 0404 Bios inclusive.

What may be the cause of the D9GTR failure could be the revision of the ICs? (Tony OCZ mentions Ic revisions can be problematic) The cell shock as mentioned above where originally released 2007. technically these original modules had become EoL products (2008) from cell shock hence the high price of these modules in comparison to the newly released cell shock blues D9JNM Ics. (This was confirmed to me by my supplier when i purchased the last set from them. i have an original set first released in 2007)

The additional problem in relation to memory problems associated with this board appears to be continual flashing between 0403 and 0404 resulting in corrupt Bios (both). One of the main issues reported is memory issues: loss of timings and V+ defaulting to Bios V+. before the user had no issues until testing another Bios.

BaronBlue said:
Great question. Since yesterday I am researching how runs my system if i raise hard the voltages, until the heat limits or beyond. When i set around 1.34 Vcore, 1.3 VTT and 1.47 Nb in Bios (65º cores in load, 55º Nb, 49º Power), i´am beginning to have some stability @ 400FSB, strap 333, 1600 Dram 1t 7-7-7-20. Only some, but something is something.
In 1:1 @ 400 FSB only i need 1.27 Vcore (in bios) 1.33 NB (ProbeII) and 1.20 VTT (ProbeII) for the same 3.6 MHz CPU speed, really stable.

The NB temperature, i am sure is contributing to the rams instability as you describe. Personally i would not rely on probeII for the temp readings, as the temps are not taken directly from the NB die(s). OCCT would be a more favorable option to monitor the NB temp. IRC on a well read forum *Infas* confirms OCCT reads directly form the NB die (s). Also OCCT is able to produce temperature graphs idle to under load. It may be worth running OCCT for temp comparison against probeII?

Download from here latest version

http://www.neowin.net/news/software/08/03/14/overclock-checking-toolocct-200

or

here

http://www.ocbase.com/download.php?fileext=exe

Also re-check my post Pg5, Post No:142 in the thread you may find the information useful.

Look forward to your your thoughts, update

CyZMyAssBaby · 28 Aug 2008 at 17:40

Dup post

BaronBlue · 28 Aug 2008 at 23:17

The additional problem in relation to memory problems associated with this board appears to be continual flashing between 0403 and 0404 resulting in corrupt Bios (both). One of the main issues reported is memory issues: loss of timings and V+ defaulting to Bios V+. before the user had no issues until testing another Bios.

I can confirm word by word all this. There is no need to make many flashes. My bios already appeared corrupt in the first. My bios appeared corrupt even after a simply hard freeze. Is hard to believe but this is pure true. Perhaps in my case things get worse because the ram issues.

I have spent many hours testing today. There was a time when it seemed that my system had achieved great stability @ 1600Mhz, but then I wanted to test how far could squeeze the dram. Could not even start @ 1800 MHz/defaults factory, no matter how much voltage i set or how much i loosen the timings. Then I returned to the same settings in that just before the rig seemed to have great stability, and began to appear errors and errors in the test from the beginning.

I am a fan of OCCT. With this board I have not used yet because I am now using much a new toy, the newly emerged Gui for the Linpack that is here, and also recommend to all, along with the brave OCCT and the eternal Prime95.

I continue with the test...

CyZMyAssBaby · 29 Aug 2008 at 09:30

BaronBlue said:
I can confirm word by word all this. There is no need to make many flashes. My bios already appeared corrupt in the first. My bios appeared corrupt even after a simply hard freeze. Is hard to believe but this is pure true. Perhaps in my case things get worse because the ram issues.

I have spent many hours testing today. There was a time when it seemed that my system had achieved great stability @ 1600Mhz, but then I wanted to test how far could squeeze the dram. Could not even start @ 1800 MHz/defaults factory, no matter how much voltage i set or how much i loosen the timings. Then I returned to the same settings in that just before the rig seemed to have great stability, and began to appear errors and errors in the test from the beginning.

I am a fan of OCCT. With this board I have not used yet because I am now using much a new toy, the newly emerged Gui for the Linpack that is here, and also recommend to all, along with the brave OCCT and the eternal Prime95.

I continue with the test...

Thanks for the heads up BaronB.

Out of interest have you placed the rams in either the white or blue dimm slots?

Have you tried booting with 1 module and entering timings, V+. Powering down replacing the 2 module and rebooting?

As a suggestion; It may be worth recovering "fresh Bios install" the Bios from the CD to Bios 1 and see what occurs with the ram. If that fails it may be worth while flashing to 0301 using Bios 1. If that fails to resolve the ram issue repeat a fresh Bios recovery from the Cd again, then re-flash to 0403. If that fails recover Bios new install and then attempt 0404. The process would reduce Bios corruption due to the clean installation process. One or the other may be a lottery winner?

BaronBlue · 29 Aug 2008 at 10:26

Out of interest have you placed the rams in either the white or blue dimm slots?

Blue slots. Of course i test the white slots and everything is worse.
Thanks for the suggestions, mate.
So far I repair the corruption by either reflashing or using the reset button on the I/O panel.
Now I got back stability in 1600Mhz. Throughout the day I receive the Gskill, and I will use for their testing only the "fresh Bios install".