ASUS RAMPAGE III EXTREME BIOS - V1601 - Updated OROM MOD

[pir8man]

Any confirmed accounts of Rampage III Extreme users getting ECC Ram (Registered or Non) to work with Xeon processors? I have a Xeon X5690 and I'm looking to buy 48 GB of Ram for this board.

I know of only one account for an owner of a Rampage III Gene (which is VERY similar to the extreme), with one particular type of ECC registered ram.

If there's anyone else who's had success or failures, please post your CPU / RAM chip so others can make note of it. Thanks!

I can confirm R3E has the traces for ECC memory.  This allows a XEON (for ECC support) to utilize ECC memory installed.  
ECC Registered is NOT supported.  Only unbuffered ECC will work.
I have been running 6x4gb (24GB) ddr3-1600 with ECC for some time now.  I had not reviewed if ECC was actually operating until today.

Code:

freenas# dmidecode -t memory
# dmidecode 3.2
Scanning /dev/mem for entry point.
SMBIOS 2.5 present.

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 5, 28 bytes
Memory Controller Information
       Error Detecting Method: 64-bit ECC
       Error Correcting Capabilities:
               None
       Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
       Current Interleave: One-way Interleave
       Maximum Memory Module Size: 4096 MB
       Maximum Total Memory Size: 24576 MB

My CPU is a XEON W3680.  As shown, '64-bit ECC' is working.  'dmidecode' shows each memory module with "Total Width: 72 bits" and "Data Width: 64 bit". 

I got led into reviewing my ECC because of some memory issues.  After extensive testing I found that my IMC in the cpu could not handle 6x4GB ECC at 1600mHz.  I had to turn down the memory speed from 1600 to 1333, and then re-tune for optimal timings.

[pir8man]

I just added S23 to Gdrive location.
The only change is 206C0 microcode is updated to latest (Rev 1C dated 2009-12-14).
This microcode handles all non-production (not OEM nor Retail) CPU's for our mainboard.  'ES' Engineering Samples and the like.
This microcode will not block Spectre/Meltdown for those CPU's as it is too old, but it should make them more reliable.

Also added S23o:
This version has pre Meltdown/Specter microcode releases:
206c0 Rev 1C
206c2 Rev 1C
106a5 Rev 1B


106a5 effects these CPUs: 
Xeon Models: E5502, E5503, E5504, E5506, E5507, E5520, E5530, E5540, L5506, L5508, L5518, L5520, L5530, W5580, W5590, X5550, X5560, X5570
Core Models: i7-920, i7-930, i7-940, i7-950, i7-960, i7-965, i7-975 

206c2 effects these CPUs:
Xeon Models: E5603, E5606, E5607, E5620, E5630, E5640, E5645, E5649, L5609, L5618, L5630, L5638, L5640, W3670, W3680, W3690, X5647, X5650, X5660, X5667, X5670, X5672, X5675, X5677, X5680, X5687, X5690
Core Models: i7-990X, i7-980X

S23o will allow your CPU to run at it's full potential, but will leave it susceptible to Meltdown & Spectre.  

Both releases support ANY of the above listed processor models.  If you run some other processor it is supported by one of the other microcodes and was never patched for Meltdown/Spectre.

[Alain054]

Hi,

I'm afraid my RE3 is bricked. Without any SATA disks/CDROM attachements, no USB attachements, only a PS/2 keyboard and my PCIE Nvidia card, for all the CMOS-resetted BIOS (1601 S18 both), with a new battery CR2032, I'm in an endless BIOS loop.
My PS/2 keyboard is OK (I see the F8 or the ALT F2 messages when I press these keys), but I cannot enter in the BIOS, or do anything.
The BIOS message is :

[...]
Initializing USB Controllers .. Done.
[memory] OK
Updating ATA controller firmware now! DO NOT reboot or turn off power...

And 3-4 seconds later, the machine reboots, endless. I use only one RAM module, and I have tried many.

Any idea before the motherboards cemetary ? Is it a way to avoid this ATA updating in the BIOS, in order to try to flash another BIOS ?
My last BIOS flash was in 2018, so it's not a flash error: the machine was OK in 2019. So I suppose my ATA firmware chip/controller is dead now ?

[Alain054]

Hi,

I'm afraid my RE3 is bricked. Without any SATA disks/CDROM attachements, no USB attachements, only a PS/2 keyboard and my PCIE Nvidia card, for all the CMOS-resetted BIOS (1601 S18 both), with a new battery CR2032, I'm in an endless BIOS loop.
My PS/2 keyboard is OK (I see the F8 or the ALT F2 messages when I press these keys), but I cannot enter in the BIOS, or do anything.
The BIOS message is :

[...]
Initializing USB Controllers .. Done.
[memory] OK
Updating ATA controller firmware now! DO NOT reboot or turn off power...

And 3-4 seconds later, the machine reboots, endless. I use only one RAM module, and I have tried many.

Any idea before the motherboards cemetary ? Is it a way to avoid this ATA updating in the BIOS, in order to try to flash another BIOS ?
My last BIOS flash was in 2018, so it's not a flash error: the machine was OK in 2019. So I suppose my ATA firmware chip/controller is dead now ?

OK, I do the reply myself!

After 5 days :

1. It's possible for a R3E to update or downgrade the bios without the bios itself.
Just create a usb FAT32 key with the choosen BIOS named exactly R3E and R3E.ROM (I'm not
sure if the extension is need, so I create the 2 identical files except the names).
Switch OFF the machine, but don't remove the power cable.
Put the usb key in the special ROG USB port in the rear of the machine, near the 2 USB 3.0 ports.
Press at least 10 seconds the ROG button near the ROG USB port (the symbol on it is 2 chain links).
The amber LED on the motherboard near the actual BIOS used chipset blinks during the
flash (about 30 to 45 seconds).

=> But no hope for me with 1501 or other BIOS versions, same problem when
Updating ATA controller firmware!

2. Avoid to flash a real old BIOS version with an i7-980x... I have tried, and the BIOS doesn't
known my proc. I have to reinstall an very old i7-940 to see something to the screen.

3. The solution is: CHANGE THE MEMORY! I have updated my 6x2GB 1066 for 6x4GB 1333 one
year ago. This (new) memory is perfect for boot, in windows, linux... but doesn't support the
updating ATA flash! With only one RAM module, I do the test 2 times (downgrading bios,
upgrading bios to flash the ATA): with 2GB 1066, no problem; with 4GB 1333, no matter to
flash the ATA.

NB: my 2GB 1066 is an OCZ3P1600LV6GK (1066 standard 1.5 volts, 1600 XMP 1.65v).
My 4GB 1333 is a KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX (1333 standard 1.5 volts, 1600 XMP 1.65v).

So, long life to my R3E!

Alain054
--

[pir8man]

@Alain054 glad you solved it. Did you try the BIOS Switch button next to front panel IO? I keep un modded 1601 on my backup bios.
All of the i7 series are such integrated from each internal to external component. That if any one interconnect or component is flaky, then your gonna random issues.

[volfernion]

Hello friend
I bought this motherboard

and I have memory problems corsare venegace ddr3-2400

try xmp profile
try manually set 2400
dont boot




as I understand it is necessary to set manually?

and bios updates have affected enhanced memory compatibility?

[rattyto]

In my opinion the Rampage III Extreme only supports up to 2200 MHZ.

Try the XMP Profile and set the speed on 2200.

https://www.asus.com/de/Motherboards/RAM...pDesk_QVL/

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LG...me-QVL.zip

[pir8man]

Hello friend
I bought this motherboard

and I have memory problems corsare venegace ddr3-2400

try xmp profile
try manually set 2400
dont boot




as I understand it is necessary to set manually?

and bios updates have affected enhanced memory compatibility?

In my experience, the limiting factor for me was the memory controller in my CPU's.

My Bloomfiled CPU's typically needed extra uncore voltage to run DDR3-1866 and higher.  Some of my Gulftown CPU's could run DDR3-2000 without extra voltage, some need extra voltage.  But ALL of them needed voltage to go higher than 2000Mhz.

Personally I went back to DDR3-1600 ECC modules (Low Voltage 6x4GB@1.35v).  Mainly because there is no performance boost beyond 1600MHz because these older processors cannot move information in and out of the DRAM as quick as DDR3-1866+ is capable of.  My system runs stable at stock voltages with only 3 sticks.  To get all 6 to be stable I increased the DRAM voltage up to 1.37v.

To answer your questions:
You will definitely need to setup manually.  DDR3-2400 is either XMP2 or XMP3 where 1st Generation i7 are XMP1.  The BIOS does it's best to translate the requirements, but you just cannot trust it to setup properly.

My BIOS updates have no effect on memory compatibility, they only update OROM and CPU Microcode.  The 'beta' BIOS that my updates are done on does have the latest memory table that ASUS released for our boards.

[arden]

Any confirmed accounts of Rampage III Extreme users getting ECC Ram (Registered or Non) to work with Xeon processors? I have a Xeon X5690 and I'm looking to buy 48 GB of Ram for this board.

I know of only one account for an owner of a Rampage III Gene (which is VERY similar to the extreme), with one particular type of ECC registered ram.

If there's anyone else who's had success or failures, please post your CPU / RAM chip so others can make note of it. Thanks!

I can confirm R3E has the traces for ECC memory.  This allows a XEON (for ECC support) to utilize ECC memory installed.  
ECC Registered is NOT supported.  Only unbuffered ECC will work.
I have been running 6x4gb (24GB) ddr3-1600 with ECC for some time now.  I had not reviewed if ECC was actually operating until today.

Code:

freenas# dmidecode -t memory
# dmidecode 3.2
Scanning /dev/mem for entry point.
SMBIOS 2.5 present.

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 5, 28 bytes
Memory Controller Information
       Error Detecting Method: 64-bit ECC
       Error Correcting Capabilities:
               None
       Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
       Current Interleave: One-way Interleave
       Maximum Memory Module Size: 4096 MB
       Maximum Total Memory Size: 24576 MB

My CPU is a XEON W3680.  As shown, '64-bit ECC' is working.  'dmidecode' shows each memory module with "Total Width: 72 bits" and "Data Width: 64 bit". 

I got led into reviewing my ECC because of some memory issues.  After extensive testing I found that my IMC in the cpu could not handle 6x4GB ECC at 1600mHz.  I had to turn down the memory speed from 1600 to 1333, and then re-tune for optimal timings.

I've been using 48GB for a while now, with a Xeon, but on default settings. I read in this thread that some who have upped the memory/cpu speed have seen issues so I've just left as is, been rock solid since. I've attached a few images of my config. 

Note, I'm still on the old bios, but planning to update in the next day or so to R3E_1601_S23o.

   
   
   
   
   

[weingeist]

my Sytem