E6400/P5B can't get above 320MHz FSB

[KnickNut3]

EDIT:

Amazing. No stability anywhere from 320 to 400. As soon as I hit 405FSB I'm suddenly much more stable. Currently sending my multiplier back up, then will max out FSB.


UPDATE: P5B vanilla, E6400, OCZ DDR2-800 Platinum

The stories people are having about the MB crapping out at FSB in the 300s are especially true with mine, it seems. I'm stable at 8x320, but going up to 330 even at a multiplier of 6 (0309 BIOS) causes instafail on Prime95, BSODs, and critical errors. Even with my new PSU I can't run my ram above 1.9V (see below), so all voltages are on Auto right now.

I'll try 6x400 or something to see if the 330-400 range is the problem, but I'd appreciate suggestions.



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I must have a setting wrong somewhere or something, because as of now I can't boot anything above stock, even though it's Prime stable at stock.

Asus P5B motherboard. Stock cooling.

I tried upping the voltage to 1.45 or up to 1.5.
I've set everything either on Auto or set (tried upping FSB voltage, I set the PCI frequencies constant. I have the memory set to my speed (800) but also tried it on auto. I have the memory timings correct.

My PC is stable on all these different settings. If I up the FSB it dies fast. IF I put it to 280 (instead of the stock 266) it won't post. If I put it even to 270 or 267, it'll boot to the windows load screen, but will either loop on that screen or auto-restart just as it's about to go to the Windows Logon screen. Don't really have an idea with temps because we think Asus reports them wrong (see my (other thread).

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[Wall7486]

Set the memory to the lowest MHZ. I don't know how the P5B BIOS goes, but I assume it will be similar to the P5W. Clock the RAM according to the FSB of your processor. You 6400 is running at 266 x 8 at stock. Set the RAM to the advertised timings, but set the RAM to match the FSB of your proc. Right now I got my e6400 at 413 x 8. My memory is running at DDR2 826. 826/2 = 413.

 

[gobucks]

yeah, it's gotta be the memory. I have yet to hear of an e6400 that can't do 3GHz, let alone one that can't go past 2.13GHz. what kind of memory are you using? run your memory at 1:1 (default speed 533MHz) even if it can go faster. that will give you OCing room. that way, even if your memory can't run past 800MHz, at least you can get your FSB up to 400MHz, making 3.2GHz for the CPU. also, try upping your VDIMM to 2.0 (or 2.1V if you have good memory). most DDR2-800 runs at 1.9V or higher, so the default 1.8V that the board provides just isn't enough.

 

[aggressor]

Put the ram at 533 (1:1). If you use DDR2800 it puts the ram in 2:3 mode, which your ram probably can't handle. Also do what gobucks stated, put the memory to 2.0v.

 

[Some1ne]

Have you tried flashing your BIOS? There seems to be an issue with the board not scaling well at higher FSB settings, so it may not be your CPU or RAM. Newer BIOS revisions alleviate this problem somewhat, though there's still a wall that kicks in at around 350 MHz FSB.

 

[KnickNut3]

Thanks for the suggestions. Am I missing a setting? I only see the RAM able to go to 667, 800, 889, 1000, etc., I can't set the RAM to match the FSB exactly.

I'll see what I can find to run it as 1:1

I've got 2x1GB of OCZ Platinum PC2-6400, so I'm definitely expecting it.

So I'll set it to 533, then when I OC the RAM will go with it? Ah. I'll put it to 2.0v too. Will report back.

 

[aggressor]

For that ram put 2.1v or 2.15v. When you are at 266mhz FSB, Pick DDR533 and then overclock.

 

[KnickNut3]

Well, I just tried a bunch of settings I reboot/crash during bootup even at stock speeds if the voltage to the RAM is above 1.9v. This is starting to piss me off that this RAM is causing all these problems.

"When you are at 266mhz FSB, Pick DDR553 and the overclock."

Sorry, but what do you mean by that? If I'm trying to go to 300mhz FSB, I keep RAM at 533 in the settings and it will automatically adjust to 600 to stay 1:1? There's no 600 option if I'm at 300FSB.

Thanks again for the help.

Just to confirm, here are the only things I've changed in the BIOS:

FSB: adjusting
RAM speed: Auto or set to 533
PCI express: 100
PCI: 33.33
Next setting: Auto
Ram: 1.9v (can't go above)
Vcore: 1.5v
FSB: 1.3V

Then the only other thing is under the Northbridge chipset I chose the timings listed on my RAM.

 

[aggressor]

OK, do this:

1. Do not set your own ram timings. Let the motherboard automatically detect them.
2. That ram is rated to run at 400mhz @ 2.1, so crashing above 1.9v is odd. I think it has to do with #1
3. Yes, picking DDR533 means, at 266mhz FSB, your ram will be running at 266mhz (or DDR533). The number will change as you go up in FSB speed. If you pick 300mhz FSB, it will change to DDR600, or 300mhz. This is the 1:1 ratio, and I have no idea why they decided to do it this way. I guess it's easier for some people.

Also, do you have the P5B or the P5B Deluxe?
For the record, I have a P5B-Deluxe, an E6400, and the same ram as you. The BIOS options are pretty much the same between the P5BD and the P5B, so this should work.

 

[KnickNut3]

Thanks again for your continued help.

I've got a P5B (not deluxe).

Well, I tried letting the MB automatically detect them, and it got worse. I couldn't get it to boot at higher than 1.9v, and I couldn't boot all the way into windows without the timings set at 300FSB.

Right now I'm running stably at 300FSB. However, I can't go much above that with my current settings (1.9/1.5/1.3).

Should I be talking to OCZ about why they won't run above 1.9V?

Thanks, I understand your explaination of the memory ratios, etc. That's what I figured but wanted to make sure I was assuming correctly with their unusual terminology.

Would you mind letting me know what you maxed out at, since we seem to have the exact same setup?

Thanks to aggressor and everyone for their comments.

 

[aggressor]

I'm still testing, but so far I am 18h Prime95 stable at 8x375 @ 4-7-7-23 with stock voltages all around. I've been having some problems myself, and I'm still not sure what's going on.

As for your problems, you could try manually setting 5-5-5-20 in the BIOS and see if that helps. By the way, did you grab the latest BIOS? The newest one seems to be 0309.

 

[KnickNut3]

I'm trying to use Asus Update to update my bios (newest ones on the Asus website are 0219 or something).

Any reason you chose to go with those timings? Loosening the timings so you can get a greater FSB? Suggest I do the same?

(Hopefully I can give you some of my findings soon so I can help you at least a little in return fo how you helped me )

 

[KnickNut3]

Hmm, upgraded to 0309. I got farther with 2.1V but it still failed/rebooted as it was finishing booting up (already logged in).

Running all stock speeds/voltages except for 2.0V VDIMM right now.

How did you get your speeds to 4-7-7-23? I see the maxes as 6 and 18, so I couldn't replicate those timings even if I tried... hmm...

Maybe my power supply is failing or something. I'm getting a new FSP400-GNU Monday that will hopefully help (??).

EDIT: 2.0V had oddities, too, had to go back to 1.9V. Having some success with 1.9V/1.5V/1.3V.

Also, 0309 BIOS have the updating mem timings that you were telling me about (to match 1:1, 2:3, etc.). 0211 BIOS stay at 533 pr whatever you choose.

 

[aggressor]

I think the 4-7-7-23 thing is a bug in the BIOS I'm using since I don't have those in my BIOS either. In any case, it's what CPU-Z reports.
I completely forgot to mention this: Make sure PCI Express Frequency is at 100, and set PCI Clock Syncro Mode to 33mhz

 

[KnickNut3]

Weird. What do you have it set to in the BIOS? Auto or other? I have it set to 4-5-4-15 right now, and that's what CPU-Z is reporting as well.

Yeah, so I boot and can run pretty stable at 333FSB, but Prime95 fails in less than 5 seconds . So obviously something's up. Maybe the new PSU will let me up the RAM timings, because while we've made headway (and thanks for your help!), I obviously still have features to figure out if I can't Prime stable it at 333, even at higher voltages.

 

[KnickNut3]

Bump for update.

 

[aggressor]

I have a similar update. 7x375 is a no go (won't even let me into Windows), but 7x425 works great.

Gotta love those strange mysterys

 

[KnickNut3]

I'm at 8x415

Seeing how far I can go at 8x. Then will see about 7x.

The only think I'm worried about is the CPU temps I can't measure. Right now P5B says 100C :shocked: Obviously wrong but would be good to know.

 

[cmdrdredd]

It's your memory. There's thousands of complaints about OCZ DDR2 on almost every C2D motherboard out there. Most people are starting to recommend Corsair for performance and Patriot for the more value based solution.

 

[KnickNut3]

Knock on wood, my OCZ has been treating me well now that I've jumped up past 400MHz.

I have heard those sentiments. Had I not gotten a good deal on their premium stick, I probably wouldn't have gone that direction.

 

[n7]

Yeah, hate to say, but i'm gonna have to guess the OCZ RAM as the issue, or at least contributing to the issue.

Seen a tons of similar threads/posts with high FSB issues on XS too with ppl using OCZ.

 

[Pachino123]

I too was unable to get past 320 FSB...until I set it to 415...then everything worked just fine...what an amazing ocer this E6400 ,P5B, Corsair combo is !!