Maximus IV Gene-Z - None OC-Possibility

[BurtonCHell]

Hi everyone @ ROG-Board,

last month I decided to upgrade my system with the Core i7-2600k. The choice for the right motherboard fell on the Maximus IV Gene-Z - in anticipation for the good overclocking ability.

And here we are already on the topic:
First I proceed the way of Raja´s "Overclocking Using Offset Mode for CPU Core Voltage"-Guide (many thanks for that) - and on the other hand I just tried to set manually the turbo frequency on the first page in the EFI BIOS.
The effect in the end is the same: windows starts with random crash reports (from processes, services or the desktop gadgets), you can see here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/error_messages_01.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/error_messages_02.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/error_messages_02expand.JPG

It makes no difference wheter I try 3850 or 4300 MHz ... even the way back by typing 3800 MHz for the default turbo frequency makes the system instable and windows starts slowly with a load of crash reports named above.
It only helps if I load the optimized defaults in BIOS.

Here some screenshots from the EFI-BIOS & CPU-Z:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110807114207.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110807113311.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110807113326.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110807114316.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/CPU-z_01.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/CPU-z_02.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/CPU-z_03.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/CPU-z_04.JPG

I tried beside the 0208-version of the EFI-BIOS also the 0650 and yesterday the 0403-version.
Furthermore I´ve done a hdd-erase on the ssd-drive and a completly new installation of windows 7.
I´ve bought a RAM from the QVL-List (complete system specs here (http://www.sysprofile.de/id154057))
Nothing could help.

Now I´m gettin rather frustrated.

I hope someone here can give me some hints for this issue. Or is it a well-known bug and I have just to wait for some new BIOS-versions?

It is very disappointing, that there is no OC-possibility on my Gene-Z which beside of that is a very forceful board.

Thanks in advance for your help,
BurtonCHell

[Raja@ASUS]

Check the specified votlage for your DRAM, 1.654V might be too high.

Also, is the system stable at stock?

Lastly, might be an idea to upload ALL AI tweaker screens and DRAM timing screens rather than a few.

-Raja

[BurtonCHell]

You´re right - the specified voltage for the DRAM is 1.5V. I have now set correctly.

Here are all Extreme Tweaker screens and DRAM settings:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224032.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224045.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224059.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224111.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224157.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224210.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224237.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224244.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224254.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/110808224308.jpg

At last I tried again with the lowered voltage for the DRAM a smooth OC @ 3900 MHz - typed "39" in Maximum Turbo Ratio setting (Adjustable in OS) in EFI BIOS.
Windows starts again with a load of crashes (the creative launcher you can see is also not available).

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/error_messages_3.JPG

The system is 100% stable at stock - Prime95 simultaneous with FurMark Burn-In-Test, Gaming, Office-Applications, windows start, windows shut down everything ...
I´m desperated and have no idea anymore ... :(

[Raja@ASUS]

Set the following:

1) VCCSA/IO to 1.10V.

2) Command Rate to 2T.

3) tRR(DR) to 3

If that does not help then you need to increase CPU Vcore until the system is stable.

-Raja

[BurtonCHell]

Thanks for your support Raja.

I´ve tested the mentioned settings and set the CPU VCore manually to 1.376V with a turbo speed of 3900 MHz.

Unfortunately the result on the first boot was the same ... still random crashes .. this time core temp and the nvidia driver ...
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28201956/error_messages_4.JPG

So I did a restart and set a higher VCore (1.40V) but after the Win7-log-on screen it appears a "desktop is prepared"-dialog for a few minutes but nothing happened, so I made a hard reset by switching the power supply button off.
The next thing was that after restart & the red ROG-BIOS-screen the system holds on with the following bios-post-warning:

Power supply surges detected during the previous power on.
ASUS Anti-surge was triggered to protect system from unstable power supply unit!
Press F1 to Run SETUP

Was the trigger my hard reset by switching the psu-button?
Or was the voltage of 1.40V too high for the system and the power supply surges really protected the hardware?
Or is my PSU with 400W (Tagan TG-400) too undersized for a overclocked Sandy Bridge configuration?!? On the other hand the system at stock handles simultaneous stress tests of CPU and graphic card without problems ....?

[rogb055]

It's the PSU, I recommend you upgrade to a Corsair PSU (at least 500w) to provide clean power for that OC of yours.

[Grnfinger]

I would lean towards the PSU, quick google search shows its from 2k8 and powering lower end systems

you can also try setting everything to stock and testing the ram with memtest to rule out bad ram. and bios 902 is rather solid
ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/asus/mb/LGA1155/Maximus_IV_GENE-Z/MaximusIV-GENE-Z-ASUS-0902.zip