Rampage VI Omega -VROC-Direct Die experience - Long

[ROGman2]

ASUS Rampage VI Omega coming from ASUS ROG STRIX x299-XE

Thank you to this community for providing very valuable, useful and reputable information. I hope that this will help others (by giving back to this community).

Omega is a worthwhile upgrade from my X299-XE. Last year, I wanted a Rampage VI Extreme or APEX. None was in stock, so I settled with X299-XE. X299-XE was a great board but wanted more. If I had an Extreme or Apex, I might not need to upgrade. I would water cool your VRMs- I had monoblock but ended up with direct die as I had a 50mm fan on my VRMs (monoblocks do not work well with delidding – even if you replace IHS with copper. The other neat aspect of the Omega is that the dims and Dimm.2 are moved down on the board to that I have more room at the top. Also like the live dash.

Bios:
Same experience as others. Once updating to 0504, even the bios 2 at 0218 had error code 70, so now have two 0504. I tried all three ways of updating, 1) USB, 2) Bios-EZ flash, and 3) AI suite 3. It works with 0504, 0218 is not even available.

VROC:
My experience – YMMV. Yes, I felt the pain like most of you that tried to VROC. I started with 4-SM961 and Hyper 16 M.2 (because I read that it was supported on the Intel website), Disappointed - no boot but good performance with 4 drive NVME (data only). Then I took the plunge on a small scale with 4-Intel 760P and another Hyper 16 m.2. It worked flawlessly with supplied drivers that came with the board (RTSe_f6_iaVROC_win8_10_64), bootable (no key 4-760P raid 0-pass through). Yes, not the greatest Q depth but with Ramcahe II or III, Q depth increased from the 58 to over 200. Ok with me and with the higher read/writes.

Fast forward to Omega. The Hyper 16 with Intel 760p worked fine in slot 1 and 2 (x16) with four drives, bootable. The Hyper 16 worked in slot 2 (x8) with two 760P and the third with 2 760P (x8). I then tried the three PCIE slots on the motherboard (DIMM2 and PCIE on MB) VROC and worked fine. I had to disable 10G ethernet to get the 10 NVME drives to work on the OMEGA (four in 1, GPU in slot 2 x8, two in slot 3 and four on the motherboard.
In this process, True Image 2017 did not restore to the Raid, only to a single 970 PRO. Not a problem after upgrading to True Image 2019 where in the Universal WINPE restore, you can add the F6 VROC drivers (again – using the drivers that came with the motherboard USB). No fear on RAID 0 VROC any more, within five minutes, True Image 2019 will restore to single drive or VROC raid 0 drives either on Hyper 16 or three m.2 on motherboard.

Rebuilding VROC:
Five main steps in the setup with the fourth being the volume setup which never has to happen again even when clearing and updating the Bios on the same bios number. Array information is saved on the first drive (I think as I never had to delete or recreate volumes once done, only did to change block size when playing). If you change the bios number on the motherboard, the array did not boot for me. The ASUS manuals for Raid and x299-xe are very clear in this process. Remember VROC is RSTe and not IRST and no key is necessary for raid 0 pass through.
1) Clear bios
2) Boot, disable CSM, set PCH storage options to RST RAID
3) Boot, Set CPU storage options to Hyper 16 m.2 with VROC in slot 1 (4 drives, where it resides since it always stays at x16 – slot 2 will change from x16 to x8 if slot 3 is used)
4) Boot, INTEL VROC drive volume setup – create raid volume, select drives and block size.
5) Boot, install windows 10 – F6 (RSTe) for custom install to see the single volume raid drive, install.

After Windows installs, you only have to go through steps 1-3 to use VROC on the Hyper 16 after clearing or updating the bios (not changing the bios from 1 to 2 as this made my array fail to boot). After installing Windows, you can unplug the drive, clear CMOS and only have to setup the initial raid and Hyper 16 storage options – do NOT delete or touch the VROC volume settings in the VROC bios settings as the volume information will stay with the Hyper 16 array( I think this is saved on the first drive in the array on the Hyper 16 . I have gone though the entire week end playing around with this. Let me know if you need more clarity.

Bottom line up front (BLUF): VROC works with the Intel 760P drives and don’t be afraid if you have the proper restore methods that can add the F6 drivers and build the universal boot disk like the True Image 2019.
The only hiccup is that Windows needs to be reactivated on the restore. Phone call activation worked fine. I was told by Acronis that this is a Windows issue and that activation will be necessary with all restorations...

Omega PCIE:
STRIX X299-XE had 16x16x8 in any configuration. I had 4-760P in first x16 slot, 4-SM961 in second x16 slot and GTX 1080 in third x8 slot. Omega will do only 16x16-no slot 3 or 16x8x8. With the Omega, I have 4-760P in first x16 slot VROC Raid 0, GTX 1080 in second x8 slot and two SM-961 in the third x8 slot. The 2 Dimm.2 SM961 plus the other two SM961 for my 4 drive Windows data raid 0. Engaging the other two M.2 slots on the motherboard was challenging as the PCH slot would always work for a total of 9 NVMEs but to get the motherboard PCIE to see the 10th NVME I had to disable the 10G ethernet in bios. If I wanted to have two x16 for GPUs, I would do a three VROC raid 0 on the motherboard.

Direct Die:
Both the X299-XE and the Omega are running my Iceman Direct die x7900x with very low, even temperatures across all cores as my main focus was only a quieter and cooler machine. I am liquid cooled with only a 420mm Push/Pull, Velocity and Thermaltake Silent D5. I tried the Rockit copper IHS. but with the 4 degree drop in temperatures, I settled on – no IHS, just liquid metal. My 7900x delidded running 43/45 runs at 63 degree at 100% CPU all day and the system is very quiet. It is 35 degrees with no load, 20 degree ambient. cleared bios temperatures were at 24 degrees, all 10 cores within 1-2 degrees of each other. The six ML140 fans run off the CPU. VRM fans turn on only at full power on after PS switch being off. Then never came back on again after booting. Need to play more now with overclocking…

I like the ASUS Aura Addressable RGB hub works fine for all of the addressable lighting/CPU water block (the motherboard only has one and the EK Velocity needed one too. Velocity is using 2066 jet plate.

Memory:
Using memory from the QVL – 3600 GSKill 16-16-16-36. AISUITE II likes 3200mghz but I have set if back to 3600 after AI Suite 3 tuning at 43/45. I will start the OC later- too tired for now and just enjoying my PC.

Thank again to all!

[ROGman2]

LiveOrDie wrote:
Thats because he didn't use a copper IHS and had a gap because of his delid that has nothing at all to do with the monoblock mate.



4.7Ghz is pretty good make sure you stress test your CPU with realbench for 8 hours after your happy with your voltage, if 8 hour passes bump your voltage up by .001 to be sure stability is 100%.

LOD, Yup, went back down to 4.6 and quietness. Yes, I will stress test but being that I had this CPU in my X299-XE, I am comfortable with the settings until I learn more. Moving the clock rates higher slowly raises the temperatures and the PC slowly raises all of the fans for more noise - even at idle. Thank you!

[Abaidor]

LiveOrDie wrote:
Thats because he didn't use a copper IHS and had a gap because of his delid that has nothing at all to do with the monoblock mate.



4.7Ghz is pretty good make sure you stress test your CPU with realbench for 8 hours after your happy with your voltage, if 8 hour passes bump your voltage up by .001 to be sure stability is 100%.

I am going to test the Monoblock vs the Velocity real soon on an undelidded 7940X, maybe this weekend, before I go Direct Die since even a rep from EK has admitted that monoblocks are not better than dedicated blocks. I am just curious and all reports point to the monoblock being simply worse vs dedicated block no matter what...

Anyway, I will run some tests my self....I don't have a copper IHS and honestly if direct die cooling with the der8auer die frame is not going to work for me I will use the stock IHS and be done with it....I am not spending a single extra penny "to save" the monoblock.....either way it's going to the wall!!

[ROGman2]

Oops, saw that you already have the monoblock on...

[LiveOrDie]

Abaidor wrote:
I am going to test the Monoblock vs the Velocity real soon on an undelidded 7940X, maybe this weekend, before I go Direct Die since even a rep from EK has admitted that monoblocks are not better than dedicated blocks. I am just curious and all reports point to the monoblock being simply worse vs dedicated block no matter what...

Anyway, I will run some tests my self....I don't have a copper IHS and honestly if direct die cooling with the der8auer die frame is not going to work for me I will use the stock IHS and be done with it....I am not spending a single extra penny "to save" the monoblock.....either way it's going to the wall!!

EK did say there not any better but they didn't say there any worse ether, they said the VRM cooling isn't really important, let us know how your testing goes but for me both the mono and evo are on par with each other.

[Abaidor]

LiveOrDie wrote:
EK did say there not any better but they didn't say there any worse ether, they said the VRM cooling isn't really important, let us know how your testing goes but for me both the mono and evo are on par with each other.

There was a rep here that stated "Monoblocks are more for looks....it has always been like that.."

Something like that but that is not the issue here....the main problem was the reduced height of the IHS with delidded CPUs and the monoblock. Since I already have the VRM Block + Velocity + Direct Die frame I am not going to buy the copper IHS (with its associated LM hassle in application = 2 step process). At least not yet, LOL!

I'll see how it goes an report back.

[LiveOrDie]

Abaidor wrote:
There was a rep here that stated "Monoblocks are more for looks....it has always been like that.."

Something like that but that is not the issue here....the main problem was the reduced height of the IHS with delidded CPUs and the monoblock. Since I already have the VRM Block + Velocity + Direct Die frame I am not going to buy the copper IHS (with its associated LM hassle in application = 2 step process). At least not yet, LOL!

I'll see how it goes an report back.

Jake only said that about the VRM part of the block rather than the whole thing, I know because I was the one asking the questions.

[Abaidor]

LiveOrDie wrote:
Jake only said that about the VRM part of the block rather than the whole thing, I know because I was the one asking the questions.

I am taking screenshots now with undelidded (still) cpu and the monoblock. Tomorrow I will install the VRM block and the Velocity and before delidding I will test again so that I can compare the performance between the two.

Nonetheless, my VRM temps are simply great with the monoblock and this would be the last reason I would change it. Even if the separate block performs better it is a non factor...

With 5X Cores @ 4.7Ghz & the rest at 4.4Ghz my VRM never exceeds 50C under stress......certain "turd cores" though (2,5,9,11) insist on hitting 100-103C at 4.4Ghz or 4.2Ghz even at the lowest possible voltage...this leads me to believe that the monoblock does not make good contact with that area of the CPU...

I will see how this goes with the Velocity BEFORE I delid the chip just to have a reference point. If for any reason I see no difference and my Direct Die cooling attempt FAILS, I MIGHT be tempted to get the copper IHS just because I like the looks of the monoblock. However, it sucks that I will have to pay AGAIN....this platform and high clocks chasing turned to a money sink it seems....

[LiveOrDie]

Abaidor wrote:
I am taking screenshots now with undelidded (still) cpu and the monoblock. Tomorrow I will install the VRM block and the Velocity and before delidding I will test again so that I can compare the performance between the two.

Nonetheless, my VRM temps are simply great with the monoblock and this would be the last reason I would change it. Even if the separate block performs better it is a non factor...

With 5X Cores @ 4.7Ghz & the rest at 4.4Ghz my VRM never exceeds 50C under stress......certain "turd cores" though (2,5,9,11) insist on hitting 100-103C at 4.4Ghz or 4.2Ghz even at the lowest possible voltage...this leads me to believe that the monoblock does not make good contact with that area of the CPU...

I will see how this goes with the Velocity BEFORE I delid the chip just to have a reference point. If for any reason I see no difference and my Direct Die cooling attempt FAILS, I MIGHT be tempted to get the copper IHS just because I like the looks of the monoblock. However, it sucks that I will have to pay AGAIN....this platform and high clocks chasing turned to a money sink it seems....

Yeah my VRMs with the monoblock never go over 45c the copper IHS is just a must if you don't want to waste your monoblock, if you do use the copper IHS make sure to use the correct LM as I have read lots of people reporting the copper and thermal grizzly LM has a bad affect on each other.

[RichKnecht]

ROGman2 wrote:
Staying at 4.9 all cores. XMP 3200, AVX 4,6 everything else on auto.
Voltages at 4.8 was 1.3, 1.35 at 4.9. AIDA 64 FPU test drew 544W

Cinebench was 2395, still 4.7 saw 2503. 4.7 seemed to be the sweet spot. 5.0 did not work with Cinebench.

CPUID HW PRO max Temps at 4.9:
PKG:93
0:90
1:89
2:88
3:95
4:83
5:89
6:89
7:90
8:90
9:89

CPU-7900x delidded, naked with Iceman, LM, Velocity 2066 jet plate vertical (will try horizontal later), single 64/420mm radiator with six ML140 push pull, Thermaltake silent d5 pump on 75%. 21 degree ambient.

Omega VRM fans are always spinning but not heard. At + 4.7 and 45 degrees idle they were just spinning with no noise (had to use a flashlight to see if they were spinning). They progressively started to get louder with the ML140s as they got louder too. I could not differentiate the VRM fan noise from the ML140. All fans never got loud to me. Still very quiet to me. I did notice that my Windows setting for CPU was set to 100% as the minimum speed to I set it to 5% minimum and now when I don’t use the CPU, CPU speeds go down to 1.1(idle) from the 4.9 at load.
I apologize to keep posting and will be quiet for now. Thank you!

4.7 seems to be the sweet spot for my delidded 7900x also. I am running all cores at 1.242 and it scores ~2631 in Cinebench. Tried an all core OC to 4.8, but Cinebench scores actually dropped quite a bit and I couldn't get them to go up. Tried raising VCore, vccin but nothing made a difference.

[ROGman2]

Delidding is a huge event that is very time consuming. Give yourself a lot of time to check contact patterns. It also depends on what you're looking for as I was looking for "quiet and cooler".

Mono-Velocity tests with a undelidded CPU will give you a great base line for the future. I would do the Velocity first, then the monoblock. Take your time, enjoy the process and good luck this weekend!