Help Getting Windows To Boot At Higher Clock Speeds

[K300Y]

Firstly , Hi I'm K300Y and this is my first post on this forum.

Been interested in overclocking for a short while and have built myself a computer specifically for the task.

My problem is this - I can get my computer to run lovely and cool and stable and be fully useable up to 3592 Mhz (8*449) but if I push it any further I can't get Windows to load.
Seriously even at 8*451 systems POST's no problem but then that little green worm gets stuck in his tube and that's it, time for a restart.

So anybody, the question is this, can any of you out there who have more experience with these matters than myself please come to my aid and offer me some advice as to what to do next, would like to think this computer has a little more to give but if it's not usable then what's the point right?

will post computer specs in sig if haven't already.

Thank You for reading.

 

[Drsignguy]

Hi and welcome to the Foums!

There are many reasons why you can't get into windows at that Oc. Here is a list of a few:

Memory; what is the Speed and Do you have it set to 1:1 Ratio and what is the voltage it requires.
Northbridge; what is the voltage.
Temps; what are they and what are you using to monitor them?
Vcore; what do you have it set at in bios and what are you using to monitor it.
Pci-e; is it locked at 100mhz.
Are you using "auto" voltage settings or are you setting them manually.

Just to name a few but this list is generally some things to look at when Over clocking.
Sometimes the FSB can be the culprit to as it can hit a wall.

Also, What is your bench test that you are using....and are you sure its stable?


BTW: That is a massive PSU you have with that system....

 

[Concillian]

search for threads specific to C2Q. They get really picky about every little setting in BIOS once you get around 450 FSB. You have to have patience to take them much higher than 450.

I'm betting you have the same issues with 450 even if you use a lower multiplier?

 

[K300Y]

Hi Drsignguy and thanks for the swift response.

In answer to your questions/suggestions.

Memory Ratio is 1:1 so speed nearing 1800 @ 1.5 volts

Vcore is set @ 1.28 could prob be slightly lower but still playing.

PCIe is locked on 100MHz

Tempratures - Idle 47-49
Fully Loaded 60-62
Accuracy of temps is questionable as i dont actually know Tjmax for chip, think it is currently set at 105 using HWMonitor

I have the north bridge voltage set to auto along with a couple of other voltages, reason being i dont really know what to adjust them to, thought that would be safest just now while I'm still learning how changing them affects the system as a whole.

I've been using Prime95 to test for stability (actually it's running now as I type) and things seem to be very stable at these settings.

Any suggestions for bettertesting/monitoring software greatfully received, better so if they're freeware

With regards to P.S.U. yes it is a little bit over kill. Upon first building system I had a x-power 600 (which i'm sure was fine but has never actually been used) system would not POST or boot , joined countless forums over the course of many weeks to find out why and nearly everyone said 'not enough power' for system with big video card etc. So bought toughpower psu.... Problem turned out to be faulty motherboard, was rma'd and returned in less than a week and had no further probs so far, you live and learn I guess.
Must say tho much happier with the modular design of psu , means i no longer have a collection of redundant cables cluttering up the inside of the case.

 

[Drsignguy]

Well looks like your temps are in place but questionable on the 1800 Ram speed. You just might want to recheck that again. Your figure seems a bit high as if you are running 1:1....., So, what is your rated ram speed (again, stock levels) and what brand is it? Also, your vcore....You said that you have it set to 1.28v. What is your VID of your chip? You might not have enough voltage set in bios to be stable. Your Nb might have to be bumped up a notch to. Also, I am not familiar with the Asus board so, Hoping someone with more incite to that board may give you more help.

An example: My Q9450 has a Vid of 1.250v and I have it set to 1.300v in bios and when @ full load, it drops to 1.248-1.232v.

100 tjmax, and I use Realtemp to keep track of my temps.
I use OCCT and Intel Burn test test for benching. Prime is real good for the long term tests.....

 

[faxon]

just some food for thought, you probably didnt need to get a 1200w PSU for the system your running. a 600 watt PSU would have probably been overkill, esp with just a 3870x2. 1200w PSUs are best for things like high end SLI (GTX280 x2) or tri-sli, and running a lot of other components, all while overclocking everything in your system.

also drsignguy did you look at the specs on his motherboard? 1800MHZ DDR3 is hardly a feat, considering that's where the performance starts to pick up over DDR2 and DDR3 - 2133 exsists.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...=P5E3%20Premium%20WiFi.

you might want to try increasing the memory voltage a bit if you are overclocking it any. 1.5v is kinda low for DDR3 1800, regardless of timings. and again, 1.28vcore isnt pushing the CPU to hard, try upping it until it's stable. 1.36vcore is intel's max range which they rate their processors for, though people have been known to take the vcore up to 1.4 on occasion without much adverse effect. what kit memory are you using? that kit sounds like it would be awesome for overclocking a nehalem with!

 

[vj8usa]

Originally posted by: Drsignguy
Well looks like your temps are in place but questionable on the 1800 Ram speed. You just might want to recheck that again. Your figure seems a bit high as if you are running 1:1.....

Actually, 1800 makes sense - if memory serves me right, DDR3 runs at 4x the speed of the FSB, and 1800=450*4.

edit: I just realized he never explicitly said DDR3 (I just saw the 1.5v and assumed that it's DDR3) - you might've been thinking he had 1800MHz DDR2, which would be quite a feat.

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: vj8usa

Originally posted by: Drsignguy
Well looks like your temps are in place but questionable on the 1800 Ram speed. You just might want to recheck that again. Your figure seems a bit high as if you are running 1:1.....

Actually, 1800 makes sense - if memory serves me right, DDR3 runs at 4x the speed of the FSB, and 1800=450*4.

edit: I just realized he never explicitly said DDR3 (I just saw the 1.5v and assumed that it's DDR3) - you might've been thinking he had 1800MHz DDR2, which would be quite a feat.

My bad, yes I did miss that.....

As he didn't mention the Ram so, just assumed<------ which isn't always good.....Thanks for pointing that out....Faxon and vj8usa.....

 

[K300Y]

So where were we?

Memory - 4 Gb (2*2) Corsair cm3x2g1600c9dhx (cheap and cheerful)
I took on board what you guys were saying about getting cpu stable before playing with other settings so have now reduced memory speed to around 1600 ( ratio now 3:5 giving 1566MHz or so)

And I've upped Vcore now set 1.304v droops to 1.264v at full load.

Current cpu clock speeds 3760 (8*470) which runs stable so far (3hrs on prime95 and counting) tried 3776 MHz(8*472) it hung within 3 mins of full load so this is looking much more promising.

With regards P.S.U. had to do a few case mods too to fit the bloody thing in, it's huge! I've got one of those Lian-Li armorsuit cases with the fan in the top , had to move the fan forward about an inch to fit psu in , not as easy as it sounds!! As I say you live and learn.