Help me get my E8400 to 4GHz

[TommyD]

I currently have my E8400 running at 3.80 GHz (9x421)@ 1.3500 volts, DDR voltage 1.90, NB voltage auto.

I have an Asus P5K motherboard and G.Skill Pie Series 8GB DDR2-8500 5-5-5-15. I also have sufficient cooling, my CPU has Thermalright IFX-14 with 120mm Delta and the memory has OCZ XTC for some active cooling.

I have tried lowering my timings to 6-6-5-18, DDR speeds not breaking 900 usually in hopes of getting the 4GHz (9x450) to load up Vista64 with no luck. I can get it to post with no problems but Vista64 will blue screen right away.

@ 3.90 GHz I can post with no problems but Vista64 will crash when I get to the login screen. Same voltage settings on the CPU and memory as well as the memory timings.

Other specs are:
Antec 1000 watt PSU
Radeon 4850 Crossfire 450 core/1010 mem clocks.
Asus Xonar 7.1 PCI-E

 

[clarkey01]

I'd be happy with that 3.8 Ghz TBH.

200 mhz wont stop you from upgrading in the future , this is why I have not pushed my Q6600 any more at the present time.

Of course, free performance is always nice, but I wouldnt push too much.

 

[TommyD]

I know, I would just like to see 4GHz

 

[Zenoth]

If your E8400 is a poor OC'er like mine (which I think isn't the case due to your voltage at 3.8Ghz) then you might need more than 1.4v to be entirely stable at 4.0Ghz, and that means not just getting to the Desktop but actually playing games and benchmarking and stress testing without a single error. But... who knows, maybe not, they're all different OC'ers. And also, one thing to always consider is the Power Supply, but in your case a good brand 1K Watts PSU shouldn't be a problem so... not sure, probably just voltage on the vCore, or perhaps you have to add some extra voltage on the FSB and/or MCH (Northbridge).

 

[TommyD]

Is 1.4v on the vCore safe? Also what is a good voltage on the FSB and MCH MB?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I understand where ya beee comin' from on dis, TommyD.

There is magic in numbers. 4 Ghz has, for a few years, been a threshold not unlike reaching a certain elevation during a mountain-climbing ascent on Everest or K2.

I got my E8400 to 3.82, but I'm running it at 3.6 right now with the intention of going back later to patiently tweak the settings that work. I think I can get to 4 Ghz, but on my E8400, I've got to go to 1.36+V in VCORE to get to 3.82, and I'm not comfortable with that voltage for 24/7/365 operation.

Others have said here and elsewhere that there is a range of over-clocking potential with these chips that varies perhaps more widely than some other processor models, and it's the "luck of the draw" for now.

If you wait for a while and want to spend the change, the E0 stepping of the E8400 will appear on the market soon. For under $300, you can now get the E8600 E0 at Newegg, and 4Ghz? I would say your chances would be much more certain with it.

I'm not so sure you'd notice the difference between 3.8 and 4.0+ though -- except in benchmark tests.

 

[rgallant]

Originally posted by: TommyD
I currently have my E8400 running at 3.80 GHz (9x421)@ 1.3500 volts, DDR voltage 1.90, NB voltage auto.

I have an Asus P5K motherboard and G.Skill Pie Series 8GB DDR2-8500 5-5-5-15. I also have sufficient cooling, my CPU has Thermalright IFX-14 with 120mm Delta and the memory has OCZ XTC for some active cooling.

I have tried lowering my timings to 6-6-5-18, DDR speeds not breaking 900 usually in hopes of getting the 4GHz (9x450) to load up Vista64 with no luck. I can get it to post with no problems but Vista64 will blue screen right away.

@ 3.90 GHz I can post with no problems but Vista64 will crash when I get to the login screen. Same voltage settings on the CPU and memory as well as the memory timings.

Other specs are:
Antec 1000 watt PSU
Radeon 4850 Crossfire 450 core/1010 mem clocks.
Asus Xonar 7.1 PCI-E

I would say off the top off my head that all your other voltage settings need to be set -not auto
-check your MB forums to see what other people are running the nb-sbv ,GLT+ vtt ,
-can't get to the high fsb on auto from what I've seen
-you could be just throwing high vcore at it to make up for other voltage short comings
-also at the same time lower the multi. to check what fsb max could be on your board,say 6x450 after setting the other voltages
-and leave memory timmings loose and at 1:1 until you get the cpu max sorted out
-hope that helps.

 

[rgallant]

Originally posted by: TommyD
Is 1.4v on the vCore safe? Also what is a good voltage on the FSB and MCH MB?

-depends on where your see the 1.4v, bois settings , bios voltage read out -CPU-Z146.5 ?
-but 1.45v seems to be the accepted the short term max.from the web.
-1.3625v max. read from where ?. from intel specs. for the 8000 products

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Want some help? sell your 8400 and get the new ones, when they come out, with the E0 stepping or don't worry about 4Ghz

 

[OCGuy]

Check the other stupid settings in the ASUS BIOS..


Transaction Booster should be disabled, and a couple other ones, if they arent already.

I couldnt get my E8400 to POST over 3.8ghz for a whole day in my P5KC until I read about disabling that garbage.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
Want some help? sell your 8400 and get the new ones, when they come out, with the E0 stepping or don't worry about 4Ghz

What? E8400s hit 4ghz all the time...no need for a new stepping. It all depends on what Vcore you are comfortable with....

 

[myocardia]

I think you ought to read the Asus P5K overclocking tutorial for Dummies. Not that you seem at all dumb.

 

[Tempered81]

load line calibration is a vdroop control too... try with or without

 

[TommyD]

Thanks guys, especially Myocardia for the dummies I'll go read that now, much appreciated.