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ASUS Maximus Formula LGA775 X38 ATX DDR2 2PCI-E16 3PCI-E1 2PCI 2GBLAN SATA RAID 1394 Motherboard
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   SKU:  27037
   Shipping Weight:   8 lbs
   Part #: MAXIMUS FORMULA

Subject: Intermittent problem with computer not starting

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Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 02:03 PM

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I recently built a new quad core system with this board and it works great when it works but i'm also having an intermittent problem. Sometimes when I turn the computer on it freezes during the splash logo screen or sometimes nothing shows at all. I have to either hit reset a few times or power down the system and turn it back on to get it to work.

I've been having problems since the very first time I powered it on and it wouldn't boot or show anything on screen. Sometimes the LCD poster shows that its "DET DRAM" and it stays like that unless I restart it a few times. I've alreach checked both sticks of ram with memtest in each of the slots and I didn't get any errors.

So do I have a defective board? Is there something else i should check for before exchanging my board for another one?

Topic URL: http://forums.ncix.com/forums/topic.php?id=1532555

Ben_J

Rating: 3311 | Rated by 201 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 03:22 PM

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DET DRAM

Quote: (Jason_L @ Jan 06 2008, 02:03 PM)

Detect Memory
- Auto-detection of DRAM size, type and ECC.
- Auto-detection of L2 cache (socket 7 or below)

Thats what it says in the manual for "DET DRAM"

What ram you using?

Hyperlight
Rating: 16554 | Rated by 1391 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 03:24 PM

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Try updating your bios. I know I ran into some glitches with my maximus on an early bios. Also make sure your ram is securely seated in the slot and not just making intermittent contact.

Austin_B
Rating: 819 | Rated by 42 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 03:48 PM

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I am having the exact same problem with my ASUS P5K Premium. It is anoying indeed.

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 04:08 PM

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I haven't tried updating the bios yet. The thing is I don't have time to check to see if updating the bios will fix the problem. Isn't the exhange policy at NCIX 15 days from the invoice date?

I'm using Crucial Ballistix Tracer ram and both sticks are good according to memtest.

This message was modified by the poster at 01 06, 2008 04:09 PM

Hyperlight
Rating: 16554 | Rated by 1391 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 04:10 PM

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Yes the exchange refund period is 15days. However if the product has been opened its subject to a restocking fee.

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 04:16 PM

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There's a restocking fee even if I have a defective board and i'm exchanging it for the exact same board?

Hyperlight
Rating: 16554 | Rated by 1391 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 04:18 PM

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If your RMAing there is no exchange fee.

Grnfinger
Rating: 1156 | Rated by 188 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 04:25 PM

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For the DET RAM hang on the Maximus

For me it has to do with transaction booster

Using the 400 strap you need trans booster enabled level0
Using the 333 strap you need trans booster disabled level0
the other 2 straps dont work yet but the bandwidth will be nice when they finally do

If you havent yet upgrade to the latest bios 907
ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/Maximus_Formula/

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 04:26 PM

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Ok well i'm gonna try updating the bios anyways and see if I encounter anymore problems. If it appears to be fixed I may not need to exchange it.

Ben_J

Rating: 3311 | Rated by 201 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 04:34 PM

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DO NOT UPDATE THE BIOS IN WINDOWS!!

Put it on a USB Flash device and use Asus's bios manager.

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 04:51 PM

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Thanks for the warning but its a little too late lol. I already updated the bios using Asus update utility program and it worked fine for me. My old bios was version 0602 and I just flashed it to 0907. Now i'll just have to wait and see if it fixed it.

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 06:51 PM

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Well it looks like updating the bios didn't work. I just turned the computer on and nothing happens. Nothing shows on screen and no beeps. The LCD poster just show DET DRAM and it stays that way. Looks like i'll have to exchange ths board for another one.

Prickly Pete

Rating: 15635 | Rated by 1756 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 07:07 PM

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Quote: (Jason_L e Jan 06 2008, 04:08 PM)Crucial Ballistix Tracer ram

I think that's some weird compatibility problem with that ram. IIRC, Linus tried a couple sets of Ballistix on a his Maximus and couldn't get it stable. I've also seen some other people having problems with that ram/mobo combo on other forums.

You could try playing around with the 'dram static read','transaction booster' and 'clock twister' bios settings, as well as tinkering with the fsb strap setting.

EDIT: Just realized GrnFinger already posted a noted about transaction booster, Had you tried messing around with it's settings already as he suggested?

This message was modified by the poster at 01 06, 2008 07:22 PM

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 07:30 PM

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I missed the post by GrnFinger so if I can get it to boot again i'll try changing those settings. If I had known the this ram wasn't compatible I would've picked something else.

Prickly Pete

Rating: 15635 | Rated by 1756 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 07:40 PM

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Quote: (Jason_L @ Jan 06 2008, 07:30 PM)

If I had known the this ram wasn't compatible I would've picked something else.

There do seem to be people using that ram in the Maximus now, I just expect they've had to play with the bios settings to make everything happy.

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 06, 2008 08:39 PM

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Ok here's a short update. I went into the bios and changed the fsb strap setting to 400 and set the transaction booster to level0. The computer seemed to boot up with no problems so I turned it back off and let it sit for a while. I turned it back on and got the same problem again.

So I tried changing the fsb strap to 333 and transaction booster to level0. I also changed the Ai Twister setting from auto to light. Now i'll just have to wait and see if this has any effect.

This message was modified by the poster at 01 06, 2008 08:41 PM

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 07, 2008 09:38 AM

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Well it would seem after messing around with the fsb strap setting, dram static read and Ai twister i'm still getting problems with this board to post. Sometimes it hangs at the Det Dram stage and sometimes at the Countmem stage. Or sometimes it doesn't even post at all. Well i'm going to continue trying a different combination of settings but if nothing works then i'm going to try exchanging the board for another one....unless its actually a problem with the ram but I already cut apart the packaging and mailed away for the rebate.

Edit: I should also note that if it hangs during post or if it won't post at all I can always get it to work by removing one stick of ram and then putting it back in later.

This message was modified by the poster at 01 07, 2008 09:42 AM

Cameron_L
Rating: 13 | Rated by 0 Visitors

Jan 07, 2008 01:40 PM

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silly question but did you manually set your voltage and timings for that ram? That may help as your board may be trying to boot your ram at 1.8v if its set to auto.

Also try to relax your sub timings as I have heard that sub timings do not transfer over from a p35 chipset

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 07, 2008 02:17 PM

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I manually set the dram voltage to 2.0v but I left the timings on auto.

It seems i don't get the DET DRAM error message anymore but instead it freezes all the time at the COUNTMEM stage. This only happens once the computer has been off for 1 hour or so.

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 07, 2008 09:17 PM

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After adjusting memory related settings in the bios like you guys suggested I still can't get this board to post properly everytime. I tried different combinations of settings but they all don't seem to work. Changing the settings seems to have fixed the DET DRAM error but now it hangs on the COUNTMEM stage. I give up trying to find the perfect settings to make this board work right. If someone know's which settings to use please let me know. Otherwise i'm gonna bring this board back and exchange it for another one because of all computers i've built i've never had this many problems trying to get it to work properly.

Daniel_Y
Rating: 366 | Rated by 42 Visitors

Jan 07, 2008 09:43 PM

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I am using the Asus Maximus formula with the Crucial Ballistix pc2-8500 and so far no problems. I have upgraded to the latest 0907 bios and seems ok. I even tried the RAM at 4-4-4-12 timing at 1200mhz and everything Ok so I don't think it is the memory since the tracer is basically the ballistix with Led. Maybe up the voltage a little since the LED does take some more juice from what I read somewhere on the internet and it seemed to work for that person. Do a search on the Tracer RAM to see if it is the voltage if not than most likely your board.

Jeffrey_C
Rating: 12 | Rated by 1 Visitors

Jan 08, 2008 03:26 AM

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First, I am using 2 sets of OCZ PC2-6400 Reaper Series 2gb kit with this board, and I am experiencing the same "DET DRAM" issue with this board. I have been playing around with the settings for the past 2 days as Jason_L do, we all have the same intermittant boot up issue. I remember at one time that I get the board to recognize the chips and install Vista x64. However, the problem re-surfaces after a few boots. Very Annoying.

Then I threw in my other set of Corsair 2gb Dominator. With this RAM, it runs smooth as hell. And I found out that this Dominator kit is listed in ASUS QVL for Maximus Formula. But that is not what I intend. I want to build a system with 8gb RAM. Any suggestions.

From other forums, I found that some user is using Ballistic or G. Skil.

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 08, 2008 06:23 PM

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I took my board back today and exchanged it for another one. After installing it and turning it seemed to work...that is until it got stuck at COUNTMEM. I didn't get any DET DRAM errors with this board yet but the COUNTMEM is just as bad since I have to keep resetting it until it works. I guess this is a problem i'll have to live with unless they come out with an updated bios that solves this issue.

Apollo4g

Rating: 5608 | Rated by 352 Visitors

Jan 08, 2008 06:34 PM

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Im using the Maximus with 2x2 Mushkin ram and have no problems.

Did you do a memtest on your ram?
What ram btw?
All setting on auto?
(Sorry too many posts to read if you already mentioned it.)

Jason_L
Rating: 1118 | Rated by 63 Visitors

Jan 08, 2008 06:50 PM

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I ran memtest on both sticks of ram individually and it didn't show any errors. It also passed memtest with both of them installed.

I'm using Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2 8500 and all the settings are back at auto for now. Before exchanging my board I had previously tried changing the fsb strap, Ai twister, dram static read and trasaction booster settings but nothing was able to fix my problem.

Bjarke L
Rating: 3 | Rated by 0 Visitors

Oct 27, 2008 07:46 AM

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I have the EXACT same problem as you have. Same RAM same MB, and I also get stuck at COUNTMEM. No problems when I finaly get into windows. But the the boot, omg it's f****** annoying! I think I'll just have to live with it.

Bjarke_L
Rating: 3 | Rated by 0 Visitors

Oct 28, 2008 01:31 PM

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Check this: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1248989&page=16 post #313

Might help

Rating: 251 | Rated by 11 Visitors

Oct 28, 2008 02:03 PM

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I used to have this problem until i flash it with Rampage formula's bios.
PS: Don't flash it in Windows

steven s wilson

Rating: 512 | Rated by 33 Visitors

Oct 28, 2008 02:21 PM

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Quote: (Bjarke_L @ Oct 28 2008, 01:31 PM)

Check this: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1248989&page=16 post #313

Might help

Thanks for posting that link. The "fan plugged into the PWR FAN header" fix sounds promising.

Been a while since I played with one of these, but I had the same issue with some crucial ballistix. Managed to make it go away for a while by turning off "legacy USB" in the Bios.

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