![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Wednesday, July 23, 2008
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
ASUS Maximus II Formula
In its typical fashion, ASUS’ latest Republic of Gamers branded motherboard looks to dominate the P45 market. The Maximus II Formula board performs as well as it looks, and seems to be shaping up to give the other Intel boards a run for their money. Did we mention it is themed in blood red and black? Our favorite.
BIOS
For the Maximus II Formula, ASUS chose to use an AMIBIOS designed template for the system BIOS implementation. The BIOS used in testing the board and shown below is version 0701. In an unusual move, ASUS chose to place the Extreme Tweaker tab at the forefront, with the Main tab placed in a secondary spot.
The Extreme Tweaker menu contains all system configurable performance options, including those controlling device speeds, voltages, and memory timing options. The Ai Overclock Tuner option controls the user overclocking experience, with settings for BIOS controlled and manually controlled overclocking. All available settings become user configurable with this option set to Manual. Instead of the typical automated overclocking methods seen on their other boards, ASUS introduces a new automated overclocking method via the OC from CPU Level Up setting. This option lists numerous CPU types, such as E6400, E6800, and X6800 to name a few, which force auto configuration of the CPU FSB and memory speed settings to match the selected CPU speed setting with the current CPU in use. When set to Auto, this setting allows for user configuration of the CPU FSB and memory speeds. The CPU multiplier is configured via the Ratio CMOS Setting option, with its list of available multipliers auto configured for the CPU in use. The FSB Frequency option controls the base CPU FSB setting, with a maximum value of 800 MHz settable. The physical CPU speed is determined by multiplying the Ratio CMOS Setting and FSB Frequency options together. The CPU Clock Skew option allows you to set the CPU clock to lag the Northbridge clock, while the NB Clock Skew Control option configures the Northbridge clock to lag behind the CPU clock. The system memory speed is controlled through two options, the FSB Strap to North Bridge and DRAM Frequency options. The FSB Strap to North Bridge option gives access to various memory ratio settings based on the selected CPU FSB, with the DRAM Frequency option showing the real-time speed of the memory modules available based on the selected FSB Strap and FSB Frequency settings. The DRAM CLK Skew settings control how far forward or back the DRAM clock runs in conjunction to the Northbridge clock, with individual options for each onboard memory slot.
The user configurable memory settings become visible with the Manual setting selected from within the DRAM Timing Control option. The configurable memory timing options include the following: CAS latency; RAS to CAS delay; RAS precharge delay; active to precharge delay; RAS to RAS delay; row refresh cycle delay; write recovery delay; read to precharge delay; read to write delay; write to read delay; read to read delay; write to write delay; write to precharge delay; read to precharge delay; and row cycle time (PRE to PRE Delay). Note that on the memory timings listed, the numerically lower setting forces more aggressive memory operation. The static read control and read training settings can be enabled or disabled only.
The MEM. OC Charger and Ai Clock Twister options control the aggressiveness of the internal chipset memory related settings, while the Ai Transaction Booster option regulates how aggressively the BIOS attempts to regulate internal system settings. The CPU voltage is controlled through the CPU Voltage option, with a 2.50V maximum voltage settable. The CPU power regulation circuitry voltage is configured via the CPU PLL Voltage option, with a massive 3.0105V maximum allowed. The CPU threshold voltage is configured via the FSB Termination Voltage option, with a 2.001V maximum. The DRAM Voltage is configurable to a ceiling of 3.40325V, which should be enough voltage for even the most hardcore enthusiast. The Northbridge voltage can be maxed out at 2.054V. The Southbridge voltage is split between a 1.5 Voltage option, which controls the PCIe bus voltage, and a 1.1 Voltage option, which controls the base chipset voltage. The 1.5 Voltage option has a ceiling of 2.0565V, while the 1.1 Voltage option can be set to a 2.001V maximum. The CPU GTL Reference options control the stability of the internal CPU circuitry while overclocked, while the NB GTL Reference setting controls the voltage used to regulate the internal circuitry of the Northbridge. The DDR2 Reference Voltage and Northbridge DDR Reference option have the same stabilizing effects on the memory modules and bus. For all reference settings, a higher voltage setting gives better overall signal integrity.
The CPU Configuration submenu contains real-time statistics on the CPU in use, as well as various options for configuring the internal CPU functions. The configurable CPU settings include the following: CPU multiplier ratio (Ratio CMOS Setting), C1E support, CPUID value limit, Intel virtualization technology, CPU Thermal Module function (CPU TM Function), Execute Disable Bit, and Intel Speedstep.
The Main menu tab contains the base system time settings, as well as submenus for configuring the ICH10R SATA drives and system information.
The Storage Configuration submenu contains options for configuring the onboard SATA 2 ports controlled by the ICH10R Southbridge chipset. The SATA Configuration setting determines the system port access type. With the Compatible mode option selected, the system is restricted to accessing to a total of 4 SATA 2 devices. The Enhanced mode setting allows for use of 6 devices in standalone IDE or RAID mode. The Configure SATA as option becomes user configurable with the SATA Configuration set to Enhanced mode. This option sets the SATA controller configuration, including the AHCI and RAID functionality. Note that the RAID boot BIOS will only show with drives connected to the onboard ICH10R’s SATA 2 ports.
The System Information submenu contains read-only options detailing the current BIOS, CPU, and memory related default speed and type configuration settings.
The Advanced menu contains all settings for configuring the integrated devices. The options are organized in to a series of logically grouped submenus.
The Northbridge Chipset Configuration submenu contains configuration options for the onboard graphics ports, and is accessed via the Chipset submenu.
The Onboard Devices Configuration submenu contains settings for all board integrated devices, including the Marvell eSATA controller, the Silicon Image RAID controller, the GigE LAN controllers, the IEEE 1394 ports, and the ADI HD audio subsystem. The Speeding HDD Control options configure the ASUS Speeding HDD device, which controls the operating mode of the Silicon Image tied SATA-2 ports. The Speeding HDD device offers 2 modes of operation when activated, Super Speed and EZ Backup. The Super Speed mode treats the drives connected to the SATA ports as a single device, configuring the drives similar to a RAID 0 array type setup. The EZ Backup mode creates a mirror of the drive attached to the primary SATA port on the secondary SATA port drive, more similar to a RAID 1 array type setup.
The USB Configuration submenu contains all USB related configuration settings, including the port speed mode settings. With a USB device connected to the system at boot time, the USB Mass Storage Device Configuration submenu displays. Using this submenu, you can set the emulation settings for the attached USB device.
The Advanced PCI/PnP Settings submenu lists all user configurable plug and play and PCI bus related configuration options. Unfortunately, the version of the BIOS tested did not allow direct manipulation of the IRQ interrupt or pool assignment related settings.
The LCD Poster and LED Control submenu contains options for configuring the onboard LEDs, as well as the LCD Poster diagnostic device. The ROG Logo option sets the illumination state for the imbedded Northbridge logo LED. The LCD Poster operating mode is set via the LCD Poster Mode and HWM Select Mode options. The device itself can be configured to display system time, or a rolling display of monitored voltages, temperatures or fan speeds, which would display after system initialization has completed. The Voltminder LED setting controls the operating state of the onboard voltage status LEDs, with the individual LEDs configurable to show status on specific device voltages.
The Other Configuration submenu contains configuration settings in the event of a system crash. The iROG CrashBIOS Rule setting determines whether or not the backup BIOS is loaded, with the Switch setting forcing use of the secondary BIOS in the event of a crash. The iROG Timer Keeper option configures a time mechanism to keep track of mean time between crash type events.
The Hardware Monitor submenu contains a series of submenus which can be used to monitor real-time statics on system monitored voltage, temperatures, and fan speeds, in addition to configuring system response to specific monitored events. This submenu is accessed via the Hardware Monitor link located in the Power menu.
The Voltage Monitor submenu displays all monitored system voltages. The Temperature Monitor submenu displays all monitored device temperatures, with options available for all to initiate system shutdown based on a selectable temperature threshold. The Fan Speed Monitor submenu displays fan speed statistics for fans connected to the onboard fan headers. Through the Fan Speed Control submenu, you can configure each of the onboard fan headers for automated control based on temperature thresholds or static speed settings.
The Hard Disk Drives submenu, accessed from within the upper level Boot menu, displays all detected hard drive devices connected to the system at system boot time including connected USB 2.0 type devices.
The Tools menu contains submenus and links to the available ASUS specific BIOS tools, including the EZFlash2 BIOS update utility, a BIOS profile storage mechanism, and the BIOS Flashback backup utility. The ASUS EZ Flash 2 submenu runs the proprietary ASUS EZFlash2 BIOS update applet. This application allows for flashing the board from BIOS update files from any connected system device, including properly detected USB 2.0 devices. The BIOS Flashback submenu contains options for making a backup copy of the entire BIOS including settings and save profiles, with the available backup option determined by the BIOS chip currently in use.
The ASUS O.C. Profile submenu contains options for storage or loading of up to 2 BIOS profiles, which are full images of all BIOS settings. The Start O.C. Profile option from within the submenu allows for file based storage of customized BIOS profiles. The interface is very similar in design to the EZ Flash 2 interface, with access to all attached system storage devices for save and load operations, including attached USB 2.0 devices.