GA-EP45-UD3P and E8500

[WilliamP]

This is my first build and I would appreciate some guidance on overclocking. I have OCZ RPR 10664 GK Reaper 4 GB memory and a Zalman 9700 cooler.

 

[swanysto]

I don't know if you are allowed to link to other forums, but here is one that helped me with that same setup, cept different ram.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f6...ud3p-e8500-help-30859/

You should definitely download OCCT to test your overclock as well.

Make sure you get CoreTemp. The one that came with the Gigabyte was alright, but seemed to be sluggish in opening.

 

[cubeless]

first stop: just set the fsb to 400... you ought to be able to do that without changing anything from auto...

then u can set the mem settings to the values you see in cpu-z for the spd... and set the mem to linked 1:1... set the voltage to 2.2...

then u can push the voltage on the chip up a bit and start walking up to 450...

up to 450 i've not had to push up the mch voltage on a dual core with that board...

but that's the joy of oc'ing, what i did with the same parts may not work for you...

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Ehhh, skip OCCT, use LinX, IBT, & Prime95 Large & Small FFT's

I wrote sort of a guide to overclocking on a UD3R with a Q9550 you can take a look at and take it from there...

Make sure you have the latest bios first of all.

Now, if you have all dimm slots occupied it will be alot harder running high fsb for something like 4Ghz... my 4Ghz is done by 500fsb by an 8 multi. I am running a 2x2 config & DDR2 1000 so I don't have to worry about hitting a memory wall when trying to overclock; thus 500fsb is my max without overclocking the ram. My Q9550 is almost near the Intel vcore max. In bios it's at 1.375 but with vdroop it is a steady 1.34v and stable.

First I would drop your multi to 6 and run Memtest86 vX.XX to see if your ram is stable at 1:1 ratio. You'll need to burn Memtest to a disc and boot into it. So say if you have DDR 900 then 450fsb would be 1:1 and DDR 800 would be 400fsb at 1:1 and so on. This way you test to see if your memory isn't the problem. After about 3 100% passes in Memtest86 (you can do this longer but i'd do 3 at minimum) boot into windows at the same low multi of 6 and 1:1 ratio of your ram. Mine was 6mulit x 500fsb = 3Ghz in windows. This way I knew there wasn't so much pressure on the CPU and RAM there-by isolating the motherboards subsystem. This is where you test the NB. One of the best apps to test the MB subsystem (NB circuitry) is Prim95 Large FFTs.

A few settings I have:
**Clock Chip Control**
CPU Host Freq - 500fsb
PCI Express - 100

**DRAM Performance Control**
Performance Enhance - (I would keep yours at standard until you get a stable OC then play with this)
System Memory Multi - I am using 2.00D

>>> Standard Timing Control
Manually set these to the Memorys factory settings (mine are 5.5.5.15)

>>> CPU ***ALL OF YOURS IN THIS AREA MAY VARY FROM MINE***
Load-Line Calibration AKA LLC - Enabled
CPU Vcore - 1.37500v
CPU Termination 1.320v
CPU PLL - 1.650v

>>> MCH/ICH
MCH Core 1.400v

>>> DRAM
Dram Voltage - 2.080v (my max is 2.1v - try keeping it under the very max)

MANUALLY SET THOSE VOLTAGES AT STOCK FIRST then raise them accordingly. You've eliminated your memory by testing your memory's Max advertised rating so that's when stuff like Vcore, Termination, PLL, and MCH Core come into play. There is a .0500 difference between the Vcore and Termination so try to keep that difference at all times.
You will probably pass P95 Large FFTs at the lowest multi at your max 1:1 ratio and/or fsb.

So, when you start getting blue screens and or not booting into your OS that's when you slightly raise those settings. PLL & MCH (MCH is your NB) would be a good place to start. Then, if you keep failing your boot or blue screen in P95, raise your Vcore: but keep that Termination at a difference of .0500v

With that, you should keep testing till you reach your OC goal. Be careful not to overheat your chip beyond 70*c on the cores. 70*c is conservative but good advice.

You may also want to test your system stability with LinX - maybe 20 or 30 passes at the most memory you're allowed by the app. This will heat your system up tremendously so keep an eye on your core temps. I personally use Hardware Monitor which monitors your core temps and Northbridge temps as well as giving your voltage readings, fan speeds, etc..

If you have any more questions feel free to pm me. I pm'ed you as to not steal that thread's topic.

Have Fun and Good Luck!

 

[WilliamP]

I have been doing some adjusting an I have the Clock Ratio at 9.5 and the CPU host Frequency at 372 MHz.. When I changed the Clock Ratio and the Host Frequency my memory went crazy. I set the Memory Multiplier 3.00a. When I run memtest it says 555 MHz DDR1116.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Originally posted by: WilliamP
I have been doing some adjusting an I have the Clock Ratio at 9.5 and the CPU host Frequency at 372 MHz.. When I changed the Clock Ratio and the Host Frequency my memory went crazy. I set the Memory Multiplier 3.00a. When I run memtest it says 555 MHz DDR1116.

did you do the 1:1 test at your maximum fsb of 533? - i say maximum because you i don't recommend overclocking the ram.