ASUS RAMPAGE III EXTREME BIOS - V1601 - Updated OROM MOD

[SkOrPn]

By the way, I see many people asking about M.2 SSD's and NVMe. Do you guys realize that your R3E CAN utilize NVMe just fine so long you boot first to a UEFI shell running either TianoCore's DUET or the well known Clover EFI Bootloader (or any EFI bootloader designed to boot NVMe.efi devices). Obviously Clover is tailored towards users who want to run the latest macOS on their old legacy systems, but you can use DUET, which is where Clover came from.

DUET on x58 (or any old system with PCIe) should work on nearly all systems. Here are TWO guides that I have used recently and they work fantastic on my Rampage III. Actually I only tried the DUET method with success, at least it boots my SATA SSD's just fine. Purchasing a SM961 here soon just because it worked so good for others.

https://audiocricket.com/2016/12/31/boot...-mainboard
http://www.win-raid.com/t2375f46-Guide-N...ethod.html


ALSO, guys we need the XEON Microcodes updated from the 2011 version to the newer 2015 version please. Below is where you get the microcode in question. Someone sent me a 1601 BIOS for the Rampage III Extreme with the newer code, but I do not know what else has been updated. It may just be a virgin BIOS with updated Xeon code. I am attaching it here because it may be useful to some people.

Start reading from here I think ---> http://www.win-raid.com/t556f16-CPU-Micr...l#msg36222

Again, someone sent me a BIOS for my Rampage that says it has newer "fixed" microcode, but incredibly forgetful me was soooooo busy at the time that I completely forgot what it is or if it's the only mod to it. Kinda worried about flashing it now, lol. Anyone want to take a look at it?


  New 2015 Westmere Microcode+Modded_BIOS_1601.zip (Size: 1.11 MB / Downloads: 72)

[SkOrPn]

Hi, guys! Can anyone advise whether or not this custom BIOS provides support for 48 GB of RAM on the Rampage III? Thanks in advance!

Memory support is dependent on the CPU. Since all these i7's are using a 36 bit address bus, theoretically your board can handle up to 64GB of ram (or something like that). I have seen many people running 48GB on the x58, but high quality ram is a must for truly no issues, and I would get the lowest power sticks you can find. If you use a 6-core Xeon (which are dirt cheap) on your board, then up to 1TB of ram is possible, theoretically speaking. What Intel tells you is just what they "officially" support, not what it really supports. Big difference.

Read the below link and do your research. 48GB should be very easy for your Rampage III, especially if you get a Westmere-EP based Xeon which officially supports over 200GB+ of RAM (or something like that). Your Rampage was designed for Overclocking so it can probably handle any amount of ram you want to throw at it as it is now. No bios mod needed as far as I am aware.

http://wp.xin.at/archives/880/comment-page-1

[jople2004]

Hey boys...

You think it's worth running Intel SSD 520 series on Marvell SATA 6G Controller... or is better just to stick with Intel?
There was a lot of talk about Marvell being actually slower for everyday tasks...
Do these bios updates change anything performance-wise...?

Regards

[SkOrPn]

Hey boys...

You think it's worth running Intel SSD 520 series on Marvell SATA 6G Controller... or is better just to stick with Intel?
There was a lot of talk about Marvell being actually slower for everyday tasks...
Do these bios updates change anything performance-wise...?

Regards

I think the Intel is still better. You might want to experiment. I once used the Marvel for Linux boot, and then Intel RAID for Windows boot. Then instead of using a Linux or Windows bootloader, I just used F8 to select the boot device, with Intel raid as the default bootup (in cased I missed the F8). It surprisingly worked very well for me. Linux partitions were hidden from Windows, and Windows partitions were hidden from Linux.

However, more recently I gave up on SATA entirely, disabled the sata controller and all the sata ports, disabled both Intel, Marvel and JMicron ports and am now exclusively using PCIe+NVMe (Samsung SM961). It made my Rampage III feel like a brand new PC with everything running near instant. I wont be going back to SATA myself. I need my machine to look and feel truly modern, and boy does it ever. lol

[jople2004]

Hey boys...

You think it's worth running Intel SSD 520 series on Marvell SATA 6G Controller... or is better just to stick with Intel?
There was a lot of talk about Marvell being actually slower for everyday tasks...
Do these bios updates change anything performance-wise...?

Regards

I think the Intel is still better. You might want to experiment. I once used the Marvel for Linux boot, and then Intel RAID for Windows boot. Then instead of using a Linux or Windows bootloader, I just used F8 to select the boot device, with Intel raid as the default bootup (in cased I missed the F8). It surprisingly worked very well for me. Linux partitions were hidden from Windows, and Windows partitions were hidden from Linux.

However, more recently I gave up on SATA entirely, disabled the sata controller and all the sata ports, disabled both Intel, Marvel and JMicron ports and am now exclusively using PCIe+NVMe (Samsung SM961). It made my Rampage III feel like a brand new PC with everything running near instant. I wont be going back to SATA myself. I need my machine to look and feel truly modern, and boy does it ever. lol

Does R3E even recognize that? ...or you need to make a bootable USB for that drive?

[x2xx]

if someone interested, attaching correct version of mmtool for microcodes patching

[pir8man]

Sorry I have been away for so long. I need to update my notifications. We need updates for this board?
microcode and test the new Marvell OROM. anything else?

[Iceberg]

Sorry I have been away for so long.  I need to update my notifications.  We need updates for this board?
microcode and test the new Marvell OROM.   anything else?

YES! Any updates will be REALLY appreciated if you are so kind to provide them. Thanks.

[pir8man]

Here are three TEST ROMs for review.  

Depending on feedback will define what my next major update (S19) will include.

The attached file has 3 images with TRIM support and the following updates:
T1 is my Base S18 ROM with only the CPU Microcode updated to include CPUID 06C2 from 2015. 
T2 includes CPU update and Marvell Firmware 2.3.0.1007
T3 includes CPU update and jMicron downgrade to 1.07.24 patched for ahci and hotplug

Please test all three and post results.  I am also rebuilding a system to run off my old R3E board.  I will have limited testing ability in a week or two.


EDIT:
Attachment deleted.  Please see OP for upated release.

[Nobody42]

Hello. I know this thread is old but was wondering if anyone is still watching it. I really need the "soundcard disabled by default" bios hack, does this bios include that? Thanks .