ASUS Rampage Formula (Intel X48)
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Date: 24.08.2008 |
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BIOS
The BIOS of ASUS Rampage Formula is based on the AMI BIOS version, and its capacity is 16 Mbit.
All the memory settings are gathered in the overclocking tools section:
There is also a parameter that affects the performance - setting the memory operating frequency.
There is another parameter that increases the efficiency of the memory operation - the "1T" setting (on other ASUS motherboards, it may be referred to as "Command Rate"):
The choice of available frequencies is in direct dependence of the selected Strap:
Now move on to the section to do with the system monitoring.
The board displays the current temperatures for the CPU, system, and the chipset (both north and south bridges), rotational speeds of all the fans, as well as voltage levels. Besides, the rotational speeds of all the plugged in fans is adjustable depending on the temperature of the CPU and the system, and on the temperature of external thermal sensors. The respective settings are made in the Q-FAN 2 section:
You can keep track of the system parameters from within Windows as well: with either AI Suite (basic set of parameters) or with PC Probe II (extended set).
The BIOS version can be updated in a number of ways. First, make use of the AFUDOS (DOS) and ASUS Update (Windows) utilities, and in the latter case the POST image can be recorded into the BIOS (for that, there is the MyLogo 3 feature). Secondly, the user can resort to the EZ Flash 2 utility integrated into the BIOS. The file with a new firmware can be located not only on a regular 3.5" floppy but also on a hard disk or a USB flash drive.
Besides, the board offers support for the CrashFree BIOS 3 (restoring the damaged BIOS firmware with a CD or a flash disk).
Traditionally for motherboards made by ASUS, the BIOS supports display of the settings in multiple languages (Multilanguages BIOS).
The BIOS also gives access to tuning all the features of modern processors:
In conclusion, we note the OC Profile technology which allows saving all the BIOS settings into memory and loading them on demand. ASUS Rampage Formula supports two independent profiles:
We also note the option to control the external POST screen where either the current time, or a user-defined line can be displayed:
Overclocking and stability
Prior to moving to overclocking, let's look into the power converter. It uses an 8-phase power scheme in which there are two 270 mkF and eleven 560 mkF capacitors.
Note that engineers at ASUS have introduced the new technology Energy Processing Unit (or, the EPU). The idea behind it is that in the idle mode or under small load the power supply module operates following the 4-phase scheme.
Under the full CPU load, the converter operates following the 8-phase scheme. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the overall power consumption level of the CPU.
Talking about overclocking tools, we note that the board lacks the dynamic overclocking (ASUS calls this technology as NOS). Instead of that, there is support for Super MemProfile and CPU Level UP.
The ASUS Super MemProfile technology provides compatibility to the Intel XMP (Extended Memory Profiles) technology. This is some sort of an analog to the NVIDIA EPP (Enhanced Performance Profiles) technology whose idea is that the additional information on guaranteed memory operation modes is stored into the SPD of the memory modules. Each set includes information on the memory frequency, voltage, respective latency timings, and most importantly, the sub-timings. Therefore, overclocking with the Super MemProfile is performed based on the information on the memory capabilities: the memory frequency is set to the maximum possible and then, with the available multipliers, the FSB (and thus the CPU clock speed) is set.
The second feature - CPU Level UP - is somehow simpler and easier: the Rampage Formula board offers a fixed set of FSB/MEM frequency values, and for better perception each set meets the specifications of an Intel processor.
In particular, we set an E6550 on board and set the "CPU Level UP" equal to "E6700" (we remind it that the CPU offers the multiplier = 10, FSB = 266 MHz and, therefore, the clock speed 2.66 GHz). In the end, the board set the FSB to 380 MHz and left the multiplier unchanged (i.e. = 7). Therefore, we attained the clock speed of the CPU as 2.66 GHz. Also, the nice thing is that the board was aware that the memory as well could be overclocked and, using the multiplier 6/5, it set the memory frequency to 456 MHz (which is equivalent to DDR2-912).
Anyway, confirmed overclockers prefer tuning all the settings on their own. So, let's list all the respective features in sequence. First off, ASUS Rampage Formula allows adjusting the system bus speed within 200 to 800 MHz in 1 MHz increments. Of convenience is that you can enter the desired FSB value from the keyboard. Secondly, there is a feature for adjusting the CPU multiplier. In fact, it will be of use only by the owners of "extreme" Intel CPUs with the multiplier unlocked.
Here are the remaining overclocking tools:
| Motherboard |
ASUS Rampage Formula |
| CPU multiplier adjustable |
+ |
| HTT adjustable |
within 200 MHz to 800 MHz (1 MHz) |
| Vcore adjustment |
within 1.1V to 2.4 V (0.00625-0.025V) |
| Vmem adjustment |
within 1.8 to 3.4V (0.02 V) |
| Vdd adjustment |
within 1.25V to 1.85V (0.02 V) |
| Vtt adjustment |
within 1.2 to 2.0V (0.02 V) |
| Vsb adjustment |
within 1.05 to 1.225V (0.025V) |
| Vpll adjustment |
within 1.5 to 3.0V (0.02 V) |
| PCI-E adjustment |
within 100 MHz to 180 MHz (1 MHz) |
Now on to the practical overclocking. ASUS Rampage Formula has demonstrated fantastic results: a stable operation at FSB=558 MHz with a Conroe processor.
Apart from the listed parameters, the BIOS offers two undocumented features like "Transaction Booster":
and "AI Clock Twister":
As we found out earlier, the "Transaction Booster" and "AI Clock Twister" are able adjusting secondary latency timings and settings. In a word, they can be used for some slight performance gain but only once all the other means have failed. Because raise of the system bus speed by 1 - 2 MHz (i.e. increase in the CPU and memory frequencies by 10 MHz) gives a greater speed boost than the mentioned features.
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