A8R32-MVP Deluxe BIOS Options Laid Out!

psychlone

I've been playing with the new ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe for the last couple weeks, and I have to say this is one POTENT overclocking, feature rich board!
Here's where I'm at currently:

[color=Red]ADVANCED[/color]
[color=Blue]_Jumper Free Configuration[/color]
_AI Overclocking__________________Manual
_CPU Frequency__________________285
_PCIE Frequency_________________100

_FID/VID Change__________________Manual
_Processor Frequency Multiple______X10
_Processor Voltage_______________1.550V
_DDR Voltage____________________2.90V
_VCORE Voltage_________________+200mV
_Northbridge Overvolt_____________Enabled
___Core Voltage__________________1.4V
___HT Bus Voltage________________1.4V
___PCIE Voltage__________________1.4V

_PEG Link Mode___________________Auto
_PEG Buffer Length________________Auto

_AI Clock SkewA__________________Auto
_AI Clock SkewB__________________Auto

[color=Blue]_CPU Configuration[/color]
_GART Error Reporting_____________Disabled
_MTR Mapping____________________Continuous
_Cool N Quiet_____________________Disabled
_HT Link Speed___________________1 GHz

[color=Teal]_Memory Configuration[/color]
_Memory Timing Mode_____________Limit
___Memclock Value_______________166
_MCT Timing Mode________________Manual
___CAS (CL)_____________________2.5
___TRAS________________________8
___TRP_________________________3
___TRCD________________________3
___TRRD________________________2T
___TRC_________________________7T
___TRFC________________________16T
___TRWT________________________2
_MCT Extra Timing Mode___________Manual
___TREF________________________7.8us
___DDR Input Strobe Skew_________Disabled
___Burst2Opt____________________Disabled
_User Configuration Mode__________Manual
___Read Preamble________________5.0ns
___Asyc Latency_________________7.0ns
___CMD-ADDR Timing_____________1T

_Bank Interleaving_________________Auto
_Burst Length_____________________8 Beats
_Software Memory Hole____________Disabled

[color=Teal]_ECC Configuration[/color]
___DRAM ECC Enable______________Disabled
___L2 Cache BG Scrub_____________Disabled
___Data Cache BG Scrub___________Disabled

[color=Blue]_Chipset[/color]
___VGA Priority___________________1st PCIE ->2nd PCIE
_HT Config
___HT Link Speed_________________1 GHz
___CPU:RD580-NB HT Link Width_____16 Bit

___RD580 HT Link Three State_______Disabled
___RD580 HT Drive Strength_________Optimal
___HT Receiver Comp. Ctrl__________Optimal

___RD580 HT PLL Control___________High Speed

[color=Blue]_PCI-E Configuration[/color]
___PCIE GFX1 Link Width___________X16
___PCIE GFX2 Link Width___________X16

___P2P Writes Between GFX Ports___Disabled
___10% Extra Current Between GFX__Enabled
___10% Extra Current Between GPP__Enabled
___10% Extra Current Between SB___Enabled
___10% Extra Current Between GFX1_Enabled
___10% Extra Current Between GFX2_Disabled

All other settings are arbitrary.
This yields 2.85GHz on AMD 4000+ w/ 1GB Corsair TwinX PC3200
I arrived at the memory timings by changing [1 at a time] in BIOS, reboot, run Memtest, repeat.

The math looks like this:
(CPU Multiplier * HTT Frequency) / (CPU Multiplier/(Memory Multiplier)) = Memory Frequency

[color=Red](10 X 285 = 2850) / (10 / .83333) = 237.50MHz (475MHz DDR)[/color]

I was never able to get this memory higher than 460+- in my old A8V Deluxe, so I'm sure that there's not much headroom for more of an oc for me...but, I ran the RAM benchmarks from PCMark05, as well as the new Everest Ultimate Edition, and got:
7160 Read 7106 Write 6179 Copy @ 43.8ns (That's close to 1000MB/s of bandwidth higher in each category than my highest on that A8V Deluxe (which was an EXCELLENT board!)
Needless to say, this [color=Red]A8R32-MVP[/color] is [color=Blue]The Stuff Things Are Made Of[/color]!!!!!

--------**REFERENCE**---------------------------------------------------------
Memory Dividers________HT
200 = 1/1_____________1000 = 5x
183 = 9/10____________800 = 4x
166 = 5/6_____________600 = 3x
133 = 2/3_____________400 = 2x
100 = 1/2_____________200 = 1x


(CPU Multiplier * HTT Frequency) / (CPU Multiplier/(Memory Multiplier)) = Memory Frequency
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Thanks to ristogod (from another forum) for supplying the **REFERENCE** info



Psychlone

Judas

what's your HTT speeds?

if your running 5x HTT (1ghz) witha 285 fsb.... your sitting at over 1400HTT?

anything over 1100 on mine results usually in a hang on bootup or errors occuring within windows.

btw. what's your cpu temp? (heatsink used?)

psychlone

HTT@ 5X (1GHz) - The A8R32-MVP has been shown stable to over 1500MHz.
CPU temp (read from ASUS PCProbeII) is 95*F (35*C) idle (like now...) and 127*F (52.7*C) under full load.
I'm using a Thermaltake VENUS12 on my CPU, with the variable adjustment knob running at minimum (2000RPM) and when I run intensive loads, I turn it up full blast (hence my low load temps)
Another contributing factor is my case... it's an Aspire X-Navigator server style case, with 5 silent LED fans.
I have the back 2 blowing in (instead of out,) the front 1 blowing in (like most are) the top 1 blowing out (heat rises...) and the side 1 (right in front of my X1900XT) blowing out (instead of in)...this has been tested in EVERY possible configuration imaginable, and this pattern definately works best in my situation.
My computer desk sits right in front of a cold-air return vent for my furnace (which is ALWAYS cool because it's in my basement, and has LOTS of cold cement) and I have a 120mm silent house-style fan (from Wal-Mart - believe it or not!) blowing the cold air into the back of my case where the 2 fans blow it right over my CPU.
On the inside of the case, I've built from really thick paper, a 'tunnel' to force the cold air from the front case fan into the X1900XT, so it's not getting ANY of the warm air from inside the case...it's literally sectioned off from the rest of the components (and, it doesn't look like a crap tweaker job, either!)
Believe this or not, I can't hear a thing when everything is on low (when the computer is idling...surfing the net, etc.) - but, when I turn everything up, like when gaming, it sounds like a couple 1800W hairdryers going! - not really, but it is loud. (But, I don't hear it at all, cause I crank up the volume on my 7.1 surround - using the Realtek HD onboard sound turns out better than my Audigy2 non-value!!!)

Psychlone

A1A9C1

Is there any way to get the mem frequency to stay at 200 when raising the htt? I'm having troubles with my samsung tccd I think.
I was about to rma this board until I got a new psu, now it's playing along much better.
From 9 x 260 to 310 with my 3200 I can get it to stay at 1T 2-2-2-5 but the memory frequency is at 166 at post.
CPUZ says mem is at 192.9 right now at 9 x 300.
Which one is real???

psychlone

Here's how to do the math:
(CPU Multiplier * HTT Frequency) / (CPU Multiplier/(Memory Multiplier)) = Memory Frequency
So, you'rs looks like this:

LOW END: (9 * 260 = 2340) / (9 / .833333 = 10.8 [11]) = 212.72727
HIGH END: (9 * 300 = 2700) / (9 / .833333 = 10.8 [11]) = 245.45454

Until I just now did the math, I was always inclined to believe CPUz, but unless your dividers are incorrect, CPUz in not showing the correct freq. (which version of CPUz you running?)
See, my freq. is set at 166 (5/6 divider) but after cranking up my HT to 285, and dropping my multiplier to 10, after all the math, I'm running at 237.5 (475DDR) - which, CPUz confirms.
You know, at 9X300HT, and 5/6 divider, 245.45454MHz = 490.90908MHz DDR, which is too much for MOST PC3200 RAM to take.
There are a couple variables you can play with in the BIOS to maybe make it more stable...
Check out TRWT, and change it to a higher value (3T maybe?) and Asyc Latency (8ns maybe?) - either or BOTH may produce the stability you're looking for.
The ONLY way to find your specific RAM latencies lowest possible value is to boot into BIOS, change them all to much higher values, then pick the first (CAS) and drop it a notch, reboot to BIOS again, drop it again, until it wont POST, then get back into BIOS and raise it 1-2 and then run PRIME95 or MemTest for a while...then move on to the next (TRAS) and do the same. Following this, do the same for EVERY latency you have, until you have all of them at their lowest latencies possible.

There's no fast way to do this, but you'll be happy with the results of overclocking like this, as you KNOW you've squeezed every possible Hz out of EVERYTHING!!!

Psychlone

A1A9C1

Psych thanks a lot, I copied your friend's guide from above and my rig did ok with all the settings except the temp was 55 on the cpu with 1.45v. I backed off the cpu freq - 270, voltage 1.425, and nb overvolt down to 1.2 and the temp went down to 44 when I restarted and put up cpuz 1.33.
A64 OC'ing is greek to me, and this ami bios has a lot in it. I'm happy with the clocks for now, the memory frequency is sittin' at 225 too.

psychlone

You're welcome, with one correction:
The BIOS guide was created by me, through many hours of frustration and fun...the **REFERENCE** material, i.e. the dividers and HT multiples were given to me by ristogod from another forum.

I'm glad you got things running good!
I find that overclocking is as much fun as playing games...maybe better, as you get to learn all kinds of arbritraty stuff that you'll never use anywhere else!

Psychlone

A1A9C1

It's really cool that you took the time to type and post your findings here. Thank You Psychlone.

Sticky Material Here!

Asus should put a link to this at their site.

I hadn't had the guts to mess with all the intricate settings yet. Spelled out plain and simple for me I did. I lowered the memory to 2-3-3-7 and ran prime95 for 9 1/2 hours no errors. Restarted and the bios said the cpu temp was 48. I guess that not bad. I'll try getting tighter tonight. Glad I bought the venice last year way before I got to use it, LBBLE0515 was obviously a good run.

psychlone

AWESOME! I'm glad you're enjoying this!
About your CPU temp, I believe BIOS throttles your CPU to full load (max voltage = most heat) so don't think that your Prime95 temp was 48...it only takes a couple seconds to change CPU temp dramatically, and what you saw was your 'throttled temp', but Idoubt Prime95 ran it much higher, if at all.
Also, my TRAS can go down to 5 easily, but I produce best bandwidth at 8 (for some reason, this board likes the TRAS set to 8 instead of anything else.) - I can squeeze about 400MB/s more out of TRAS 8 than the next highest value. - You may want to try doing SuperPI to 1Million digits, or using Everest Ultimate Edition, or perhaps Systool to determine the best TRAS for your RAM. (not sure if it's RAM dependent, or motherboard dependent)

I didn't really have the guts to overclock all the settings until I was given the math equations...after that, it was just a matter of minutes! And, since I know how I felt with this new board's functions, and how alien some values were, I decided to post my findings...but keep in mind, my settings won't work for everyone, ALL components are not created equal, so what works for one, won't necessairly work for the next.
The only way to overclock your system is by trial and error, changing one setting till it's not stable, bumping it back up/down a notch, then moving on to the next.

In no way can I be held responsible for failed overclocks, or damaged hardware. My findings work well on my system, and with the math equations I've given in this thread, and GENERAL guidelines, you should enjoy a happy overclocking experience!

(you're welcome!)

Psychlone

ptsigas

cooling: aquagate r120 mini by coolermaster

CPU: amd athlon 4400x2

A8R-MVP Deluxe mobo

620w seasonic PSU

ati radeon 1900xt 512mb gpu

OCZ PLatinum 2gb pc4000 (500mhz)
======================

hi all! i have been trying to get this cpu oc'd with no luck..aside for a jump from 2.2ghz to 2.31ghz...thats it.

so i bought the ram so i wouldnt have to mess with memory timings much.

the problem i have though is if i set my HT link to 1ghz

and my multiplier to 12 and have my cpu frequency to 200...so i can run the cpu to 2.4ghz..well nothing happens...my cpu restarts and nothing happens..i shut down and wait a bit..then i restart and get a oc failed message.

this has been very annoying. so i figure it is my VCore..i set it to +200mV and my core frequency is set to 1.4V

the problem is though 1.4 is my MAX that the bios has...so how are people getting this mobo with this cpu to 2.8ghz? i want a 1:1 ratio so i want 1ghz ht right?

now my memory- should i up the ddr voltage to 2.5 or something? if i set it to 2.8 the number displays itself as a pink or reddish tone..so i didnt bother messing with that option!

i read the post by psyclone..excellent post..but how does he have 1.5V?

please if anyone can help me out. i am not an expert on this but i have been researching this for a few months now..just finally bought my ram and decided to OC.

thanks in advance!

psychlone

Ok, first of all, HT and HTT are two different things.
HT is the Hypertransport BUS, and HTT is the new word for the old FSB...it's different, but has the same effect when you raise it, it raises the bus speed of the RAM too...just like in the old FSB days.
I'm not an expert on RAM, but I think that your RAM is capable of accepting alot more than 2.5V - mine is at 2.7V, and it's Corsair XMS DDR400 RAM. - You could try to up it to around 2.7V, but do it in small increments.
As for my 1.5V, my Clawhammer 4000+ processor has a max voltage value of 1.55V, and add +200mV to that, and I've got roughly 1.74V (because ASUS buggered the overvolt a bit...it's not really .2V like 200mV would suggest, rather ~.17V)
I would first suggest reading some overclocking stickys here and on other forums, and get familiar with exactly what's going on when you overclock.
Second to that, after you understand what's going on, you'll understand that overclocking potential increases exponentially when you DECREASE your CPU's multiplier, and INCREASE your HTT (dropping your HT Frequency and sometimes raising TREF and ASYC Latencies to compensate, as well as adjusting the voltage going to CPU, RAM, Northbridge, AND Southbridge.)

To get to 2.8GHz may be asking alot of your processor. It ALL depends on your CPU's stepping at this point. You've got great RAM capable of a high overclock - maybe even in a 1:1 ratio, but a 1:1 ratio isn't absolutely necessarily the best way to go if your CPU caps out because of the HTT speeds.

Since I wrote this guide, I've purchased an Opteron 165 (the stepping is CRUCIAL if you want a good overclock, and the stepping on this bad boy is CCBBE 0615DPMW - printed right on the chip itself.) - my CPU's stepping has been shown stable to over 3GHz on several forums, and there are tables that show what people have gotten out of their steppings on Opterons, so I'm sure there are also tables that show what people have gotten with their X2s.

So, let's do my current math:
(CPU Multi X HTT) = A
(CPU Multi / Memory Divider) = B
(A / B) = C

(9 X 356) = 3200
(9 / .666666) = 14 (ALWAYS round up!)
(3200 / 14) = 228.57 (X 2 = 457.15MHz DDR)

***And, my HT Frequency is at 4X (800MHz) - which multiplied by my HTT = 1424MHz. I've found that not every A8R32-MVP is stable near 1500MHz, but most are more than capable of 1300MHz easily. - You may want to adjust this down to 3X if you're going as high as 300 on your HTT speed just to keep it stable - as you won't really loose any bandwidth at that speed anyway.

This puts my CPU at 3.2GHz and my DDR400 RAM at 457.15MHz DDR. This is at 1.40V +200mV Overvolt, Overvolt NB @ 1.5 on ALL, & Overvolt SB Enabled, and 2.9V on my RAM.
All on air.
This is completely stable as per Orthos Stressprime for a small FFT's 24 hour stress test.

I hope this gives you some sort of guide, but always remember that all parts are not created equal. It's impossible to overclock two identical computers to the same exact speeds...there are too many variables, and it just won't happen...but, it shouldn't discourage you from trying to get every last ounce of performance out of that bad boy!

Psychlone

ptsigas

hey thanks for the input psych! i currently made a mistake on my bios lol i didnt give my ram any juice at first..sigh...but i have it at 2.9v i have my vcore 1.4v plus the 200mV overvolt. so far so good. i have this running at CPU=2620mhz and Ram=262 mhz i will try to at least kick it up to 2.7ghz hehehe but that is the utter final goal no higher for me but even right now im pretty darn happy with 2.62ghz x2 cannot really complain.but how do you get up to 3ghz! with air only? is it an air conditioner? i ran super PI - no issues on all calculations. going to play godfather then fear to test things out. prime 95 didnt give me any beef...its set to a 1:1 ratio as well.game on / clock on!

Lyc@N

Hallo all..
sorry i think i didn't get something

So, here's my problem..
I use to have 1 chip of 1G RAM... it was working fine at 400Mhz wich is the
normal speed of my board (asus a8r32-mvp deluxe).
After i put on another chip of 1G RAM (same with previous) speed sudently
drop atomaticly to 333Mhz...

Is there any thing i can do just to restore Dram clock at 400Mhz??

Thnx!!

psychlone

Sure Bro - just go into your BIOS, under Memory Configuration and set the Memclock Value to 200 (remember that DDR means Double Data Rate, so 200 = 400, 166 = 333, 133 = 266, 100 = 200)

That should fix it right away.

Psychlone