Asus Crossblade Ranger - FM2+ enthusiast warrior

[FlanK3r]

After many days, in the dark days of x86 AMD was born small warrior. Big older brother Crosshair fighting well two-three years ago as Vishera octa core against Sandy and Ivy. It was not true, because for 8 threads was only 4 floating points etc....Strong in video, strong in render, strong in compressing and encryption. Average in games, but not much good with one hand in single operation...Old brother must reboring into something new if he do not die. Time to rest.

Now is here smaller brother with 4 arms. Exactly 2CU/4C. And good shield for him is new Crossblade....There begins Crossblade Ranger story.


I like ROG and I like two oponents in game of x86 (AMD and Intel too). Today is D day of Crossblade Ranger. The first ROG motherboard for not highend chips, but for mainstream FM2+. What is the benefit the FM2+? You can play extreme with Trinity, Richlands and Kaveri APUs or Athlon derivates. All these CPU you can put into the motherboard. And you know, Richland and LN2 can be really fun. Or some experiments with good Kaveri chips. iGPU here is so strong!

Features, what you cann add to board

Injoy with ROG Front base panel


SupremeFX sound with soundstage function. HW soundstage are predefined audio profiles exmaple for racing games, FPS games etc...And again video with some audio functions in Sonic Studio software (Z97 tested)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuUVXFRUYVA&list=UUJXfmRezJja_lW9sz2RNi8A



Intel LAN chip is not all, ROG 2014 and guards




Gamefirst III for gaming, streaming, working etc.


At install DVD you can find RAM disk software. If you have around 16 GB DRAM or more, it can be nice improvement...


Special HW/SW function keybot. I will wite later sometimes about it in text in short. For better understanding is here video (tested with Z97)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w3NLBK3Sug&list=UUJXfmRezJja_lW9sz2RNi8A

 

[FlanK3r]

The AI SUite software can auto-OC your system. Not only OC, but exactly to say tuning your PC.


Sonic Radar II, where is your enemy...

The BOX

From top is the classic, the board name, color scheme, ifno about support 4K, win8.1, CPUs...And something as bonus inside


Open the part of the box and features info inside


And description of the board and boards functions


Gaming features, audio, LAN, IO

Who it is inside?

Inside the board you can find the SATA cabels, cabel labels, DVD, Manual, ROG sticker, gaming tag, IO cap, Q-connectors and mouse pad!

 

[FlanK3r]

Description in short

Look at the board from top. ROG is long time with nice scheme colors black and red. Now are all details only red and black, no white etc.... The first look likes as Z97 Ranger. The connectors are at the rigt and classic places. At right are 4 DIMs slots for DDR3 DRAM up to 2666 MHz (and support DOCP and AMP profiles)! Overall capacity can be up to 64 GB, not bad . For them is OC area and digi power for memory. Middle part of the board and bottom half is about PCIE/PCIe slots. You know, Trinity and Richland is PCIe 2.0 chip, but Kaveri are PCIe 3.0. But of course, everything from FCH (SB) is still PCIe 2.0. As Z87/97 too. The CPU has 16 PCIe 3.0 links. So with A88X you can try 1x X16 or 2x X8 in the red slots . Smaller PCIe slots are PCIe X1 2.0 (from FCH chip). The last one black PCIe X16 slot working as X4 and its again 2.0 standard.
The board has seperate PCB part for audio and audio links named Supreme FX 2014 with some exclusive functions. Yes, you know them from Z97 launch .


From bottom look are backplates. CPU backplate and two mosfets backplates. Hardness of PCB is OK, the board is not to sag.

Details of the board parts

DRAM slots are digital driving with separate controller, primary slots are RED colors. You can see 24-pin MB ATX power and START and small RESET button in front. I evaluate the post display. ABout more details and example fan connectors we will talking later


The 8-pin ATX CPU power.


8 Chokes and nice designed pasive at VRM area. One average 7850K inside the socket.


Details at PCIe area. The red slots are X16 in the mode 1x 16 or 2x 8 (PCIe2.0/3.0, depends at CPU). These are from CPU controller. The space between red slots its OK for Crossfire. Small PCIe black slots are PCIe x1 and from southbridge (FCH). This chipset is still live with PCI lines. It can up to 3 PCI, but ussually in these days you are OK with 1 PCI. The Crossblade Ranger has overall 2x PCI slots. The last black slots at bottom the board is PCIe x16 working in x4 mode (PCIe 2.0).


There is SATA cornet of MB. You can see 90 angle SATA slots. All eight slots are 6 GB/s and all native from chipset with Raid support 0,1,5,10,JBOD. Under the ROG FCH pasive is located true and not big FCH chip and Asus TPU chip for tuning PC. Between SATA connectors and 24-pin ATX you can see red USB3.0 front port.


IO panel is part of conectivity and video/audio outputs. The Trinity/Richland/Kaveri support Multi-VGA: HDMI/DVI-D/RGB ports
- Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz*1
- Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
- Supports RGB with max. resolution 1920 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
Maximum shared memory of 2048 MB
AMD? Dual Graphics technology support. With Kaveri you have some next of benefits GCN architecture as Mantle, DX 11, True audio, HSA etc... But back to IO information . You can see PS2, 2x USB 2.0 (one is for right function of Keybot feature), SPDIF out, D-SUB, HDMI, DVI, bios flashback button, 4x USB 3.0, gigabit LAN (Intel I211 controller) and audio outputs with 8 channel support DTS.

 

[FlanK3r]

Sound part with SupremeFX chip. You can see audio part line of "shielded" part PCB. There are few capactiors by ELNA, big aluminium shield and inside probably ALC1150. The audio line can red blinking (BIOS setting).


The bottom part of motherboard is about conectivity. From left to right: front audio, soundstage button (audio profiles), TPM header, ROG extendor (ex. for ROG Fron base panel or OC Panel), pwm fan connector, CMOS button, front USB 2.0 ports, keybot button (next special function active with keyboard), case connectors.

So, something more details and MB overview in picture, chips (no Chispy as Angel friend )

There are some colors and some arrows . The red area is CPU/iGPU supply. Its created with capacitors, mosfets, chokes and again capacitors. Design is 8 digital phases for CPU and iGPU part. The pink square is ASP digital controller. The VRM seems similar as at the Ranger Maximus. The blue rectangle is two phases for DRAM and smaller pink square is digi controller for this area. The yellow rectangle is FCH power (fusion controller hub). Smaller yellow frames are 4-pin connectors for fans. There is five connectors and all connectors are pwm or DC ready. Depends at your choice .
Green arrows means FCH support and red arrows are from CPU support.


Detail at DRAM vrm area, the digital controller is in the right corner near the red memory slot. Bellow is post display with two char. code. The red button MEM OK = "no more problems with RAMs", and lovely small area for us LN2 jumper (for LN2 you can switch to second position), slow mode switch for save booting to windows with extreme cooling and values (hmmm, easy way to get 7.5+ GHz with Richland ), voltage points (its truly real what I set in BIOS?). Big red START and small black RESET buttons.

Some chips

Asmedia 1480 PCIe dividers and clock generator ICS.


CPU digital controller digi+ ASP

 

[FlanK3r]

LAN gigabit chip from Intel

small asmedia chip, keybot-rog chip for special functions, IO chip Nuvoton 6791D.

BIOS part
This days is BIOS settings very large. I dont know, how many people will be listen me in 50 screens of BIOS . So I cute it at only few. For others is the link to download more BIOS screens and settings:
http://uloz.to/xFrPWKTk/bios-zip


for beginners is basic screen, there is part with information about MB, CPU, memory, temps...Can choice DOCP/AMP profile directly, set the boot priority, set the auto tuning PC and make the fun with the fans .


Fans tuning screen...4 profiles or manual tunning.


If you press F11 in BIOS or click at top of the basic screen, you get EZ Tunning Wizzard function. Its simple for beginners. You choice the function of your PC (home, gaming PC and few others), next you cooling at CPU and after you PC will be tunned. Not bad way for newbies.


All what you need the overclocker


Memory timings is at the 3 screens

 

[FlanK3r]

With the Kaveri you can change the TDP limit. Auto is 95W (or more for OC), next values you can get 65W and 45W


Main is the information about board, APU, ROG chips

USB, SATA, iGPU, LAN, PCIe, APU power saving settings


Monitoring, PWM/DC controll, Fan tunning feature


Boot settings


BIOS flashing, BIOS profile saving/loading (included USB), SSD secure erase (example for fresh installation), GPU info, SPD memory infos.


Shortcuts.


And what do you like, put it to Favorites

So, this is end of part one. Give me few days for part II. In part II you will see few from software and finally some benchamrks and OC. Now I have not much good A10-7850K chip so LN2 part coming later in next months.

 

[Sysad]

Hi FlanK3r,

I'm really looking forward to seeing the results of your benchmarks. I'm Thinking of purchasing this board and feel this will really give me an idea on the type of performance/ experience I should expect from it.

Keep up the good work mate.

 

[FlanK3r]

Software


We will talking about software in short. The main is software Ai Suite with 5-way optimization. Its logic from next screenshot, what means 5-ways


5-way:
-TPU for OC settings
-Fan Xpert 3 for PWM/autofan tunning etc
-digi+ power control for driving the phases etc
-Turbo App. for priority of process in audio, LAN, CPU performance
-EPU for lower power consumption etc


Tuning of CPU/iGPU


There are three iGPU profiles


Fan Xpert for tuning the airflow in PC


Turbo aplication


Next is gaming (and not only for gamnmg) application Gamefirst III with profiles, priorities...

 

[FlanK3r]

Sonic Radar as little gaming help



Keybot software with binded macros , you can to use F1-F10 keys. F11, F12 and delete are predefined


Audio software of SupremeFX is in Czech language too! With front audio connectors you have higher active menu with Soundstage functions and complete Sonic Studio settings.


Yes, AMD has TurboV core light! Finally.

Testing and stock benchmarks:
Asus Crossblade Ranger (0507 BIOS)
AMD A10-7850K
iGPU Radeon R7 series with CATALYST 14.4.
2x 8 GB Radeon Memory 2133 MHz 10-11-11-2T (by IMC of APU 7850K)
Noctua NH D14 CPU cooler
1x SSD Seagate 240 GB + 1x 1TB HDD Seagate, both in IDE mode (because better for BCLK tweaking)

CPU-Z


GPU-Z


Benchmarks at stock settings
Lets go to the resutls at stock settings!

Guys at XS like SUperpi many, many years . There is 1M and 32M run

 

[FlanK3r]

AIDA memory and cache


AIDA HASH


Cinebench R10 all


Cinebench R11.5


Cinebench R15


Wprime 32 and 1024


Y-cruncher 0.6.5 at 500M


x264 FHD benchmark


ROG Realbench


7-zip

 

[FlanK3r]

Now is time for iGPU performance. Im surprised how good this R7 Radeon is it...

AIDA


3D Mark11


3D Mark Cloud Gate


3D Mark Fire Strike


Unigine Heaven


Unigine Valley


Sniper Elite 2 1920x1080, DX11, medium details, medium AA


Unreal Tournament III, max detail settings 1920x1080


HDD benchmark:
SSD benchmark is not awesome score for , but the SSD is in IDE mode. Later I can try AHCI and RAID mode.


The Power Consumption:
In idle is only 44 W consumed without the LCD (but with two disc - SSD+HDD SATA and not ideal 1200W PSU for this PC). In CPU load is power consumption around 120 W.

 

[FlanK3r]

The OVERCLOCKING
Mythical name, dream of overclockers, hope for gamers and enthusiast....First part is about automatic overclocking. Yeah, I tried this method and its not bad for beginners or gamers without better knowledge of CPU, BIOS settings...

So, first from BIOS, the utility named "EZ tuning Wizard" utility" (pres F11 key in BIOS)

The settings before


choice your priority for PC performance


whats your cooling system?


The target


The results after OC is 4200 MHz at CPU and 960 MHz at iGPU part. Its not bad, because stock settings is 3700 MHz (up to 4 GHz turbo) and 720 MHz for iGPU. The 3D Mark11 is close to 3000 points now!



Cinebench R11.5 is 4.01 points

 

[FlanK3r]

Second way is exactly 5-way . What is it? In software AI Suite/Dual Intelligent processors 5 is column "5-way optimization"
It perform or optimizes your CPU/iGPU clocks, power saving activity, air cooling in case, power phase driving



Some time it working, PC is restarting, working and again restarting....After all is this result and I must say it is not far from manual overclocking. So 4326 MHz CPU and 989 MHz iGPU + 2197 MHz DRAM!


And results? Again time for Cinebench and 3D Mark11.


3097 points in 3D M11. Ufff.

 

[FlanK3r]

Manual overclocking
Lets talk about manual overclocking. This is average early chip of Kaveri. Nothing special. I know there are better samples. But I have only this one yet. Later (in September/October) with second I find some time for LN2. Of course, stable overclocking is very time consumed. And after all I spent times with all this work and fun. So my stable settings are only "stable". I used LINX with AVX support for AMD and only 3-5 runs. So really only "stable" resutls .

4428 MHz is sweetpoint of OC


The same I can say about next result with higher BCLK. Temps and power consumption is still OK


With the luck I got 4487 MHz with same voltage. In loads the voltage little jump up - to 1.468 V


And final result is 4531 MHz at CPU and 989 MHz at iGPU. The memory near 2200 MHz. I tried different combination of memory. But it was not stable over 2400 MHz with worse timings and if I set 4500/2400 (higher latency cl13) the 3D Marks score was lower...


Benchmarks after OC
For fun I tested some benchmarks. If I will be not extreme busy with next hardware (Pentium G3258+B85 board and 7700K+cheap A88x combo+something new and bigger ) I can test some maximals with different memory kits and I wanna try some benchs at 4400 MHz and different APUNB clocks. How it scaling in 32M, Cinebench and 3D Mark11. But back to the stable results:

AIDA memory test


wprime



superpi32M (look at 32 scaling, for AMD is Kaveri very good for 32M)


Cinebench R11.5

 

[FlanK3r]

Cinebench R15


3D Mark11


3D Mark Cloud Gate


3D Mark Fire Strike


UT3 1920x1080, maximal details - 109.32 FPS average

 

[monstercameron]

good stuff

 

[Gikaseixas]

Good Job, decent scores

 

[FlanK3r]

thx Kaveri seems quick for AMD in superpi