HOWTO: Overclock C2Q (Quads) and C2D (Duals) - A Guide v1.7

[graysky]

@BTRY - yeah, I was misinformed about DDR3 and dividing that number by 3 to get the max FSB. There is a wikipedia artcile that explains it but I don't have it handy on the PC to post here for you to read. As far as I know, the text you quoted is right, although without having my hands on the physical hardware, I don't know for sure!

Honestly, dividing DDR3-1600 by 2 to arrive at a FSB of 800 MHz doesn't seem right to me.

 

[graysky]

Version 1.6.1 is up. Totally re-wrote the section on memory which now includes a discussion on both DDR2/DDR3 and formulas you can use to calculate max supported FSB of a given module based on it's DDRX-Y and PCX-Y designations. Also re-ordered the first part of the guide.

 

[Alaa]

graysky,

You might need to consider this:
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3229&p=5

"At 465MHz FSB, a tRD of 6, command rate 1N, and memory at a 2:1 ratio for DDR3-1860 with 7-7-7-21 timings we were able to easily pass 12,100 MB/s using Lavalys' EVEREST Cache and Memory Benchmark."

 

[graysky]

@Alaa - I read it, but can you point to where in the guide that quote is relevant? I didn't wanna get into subtimings since the guide is targeted at newbies.

 

[Alaa]

It is in the first few lines in that page. This is just about DDR3 being divided by 2 to get the FSB.

Edit:
And btw, I think you can answer my question here!

I think that gigabyte P35 DS3L doesn't have an option to set the tRD manually. Correct? Does it set the value to the lowest auto? For example, (using E2180) setting FSB to 266 Mhz, CAS at 5, tRD 5 and Ram to 400 Mhz, satisfies the equation with x = 1 and N = 3/2. Does that mean the motherboard will set tRD to 5? Thanks!

 

[graysky]

@Alaa - I'm not sure about that board. I tRD is independent of the formula. If you don't have a BIOS setting for it, try memset and see if you can change it there.

 

[Alaa]

graysky,

I don't understand you. The equation is: [tRD - (tCL / N)] > (x / N).

 

[graysky]

@Alaa - I believe we're talking about two different formulas

 

[cEvin Ki]

yes, i believe Alaa is referring to this:

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3208&p=8

so your above mentioned settings do work mathematically, but i feel the board will NOT default to that. my maximus formula defaults to a tRD of 7, which is not the lowest by any means. ddr 2 800 cas 4 ram. look for a setting like "transaction booster", or anything nearby the "static read delay" settings.

 

[graysky]

The tRD (aka performance level on my DFI) is a function of which strap you're using... I'm using the 266/667 strap which allows my 8.5x400 to run the memory @ 4:5 @ 1,000 MHz. The tRD is 6. If I switch to the 333/800 strap (5:6 @ 960 MHz) it drops down to 7.

 

[cEvin Ki]

makes perfect sense. i do seem to remember once on a bios reset, memset reported a 6, and that was at the default 266 for my quad.

 

[cEvin Ki]

graysky, i have a couple questions. i've really not had time to read up on that x3360. what is the lowdown on that? looks quite interesting to say the least.

also, your screenshot from the asus board and q6600 shows your NB voltage used to be 1.25. that is what mine has always stayed, and has always been fine. at 9x333, i've stayed stable with stress testing, ram at 1:1. i've tried performance level 7, 6, and 5, which is what it is now. but..... one particular game crashed three times over the last couple days, one being a BSOD with a looping sound file playing. so, i decided to give the latest OCCT a run on "RAM" setting, and right at just under one hour, i got an error. obviously there is a stability issue.

now, i AM going to try some tweaking, but for now, i wondered what your first hunch would be. could it be the ram voltage still a bit low? (same as your ballistix, at 2.08v bios, 2.192 HW monitor) because i know you run yours at straight up 2.1v. or, could it perhaps be a teensy boost in NB voltage needed at that performance level of 5?

it's funny it waits till now to surface. and this game is by no means a performance hog.... :/

 

[graysky]

@cEvin - Dunno what you want when you asked about the lowdown on the x3360. It's running stable @ 8.5x400 = 3.40 GHz (mild overclock but I'm happy) with the following vcores: CPU Vcc=1.12500V, NB Core=1.370V, CPU VTT=1.310V. Using the 266/667 MHz strap, I can run the Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066 (TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF) 2x 2Gb @ 5-5-5-15 (performance level 6) @ 1,000 MHz (4:5) @ 2.100V (haven't tried lowing the memory's vcore).

My old P5B-deluxe didn't allow me to set the performance level, so I'm not even sure what it was running. Regarding your crashes... what does memtest86+ tell you? You might wanna run them at their full rated vcore of 2.2 V. Check on crucial.com to verify that's the case. If you're getting errors there, I'd consider upping either your ICH or NB voltages until it's stable.

 

[cEvin Ki]

@graysky

thanks man, sorry i didn't mean for you to have to write all that, i was just curious if it was the new "q6600" or in other words a good overclock at a good pricepoint.

thanks too on your thoughts. a one notch bump in the NB did it so far. stable for a few hours of test, and no game crashes yet. altho, i have been noticing one of my fans has been acting funny since i dug it out a few weeks back. it doesn't always start immediately like all the others, and the LEDs occasionally come on a few minutes in. soooo..... i may possibly have a fan on deathrow, and maybe it's wreaking havoc on the power subsystem? coincidence? i'll play with that saturday.

 

[graysky]

yeah, sounds like the fan is going... just replace it (you can get a good tri-cool antech for under $15 and it has 3 settings as well as a nice 3-way switch).

 

[z1ggy]

Hey, guys..I always see people posting there specs of there computer and they will have there ram timings listed sometimes.. my G.skill ram comes at 5-5-5-15 I believe. I see some people that have the same ram and cpu as me posting times like 4-4-4-12 or 5-6-6-20...I don't understand what this means and how this effects my computer. With my ga-p35, will I be able to change these specs if I OC my cpu??

 

[graysky]

Some people have faster RAM than 5-5-5-15. There's a link in my guide that'll explain these timings to you (near the front under the Memory section). I gotta think your board will allow you to adjust them, but if you memory isn't rated for quicker timings, they might not work.

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: z1ggy
Hey, guys..I always see people posting there specs of there computer and they will have there ram timings listed sometimes.. my G.skill ram comes at 5-5-5-15 I believe. I see some people that have the same ram and cpu as me posting times like 4-4-4-12 or 5-6-6-20...I don't understand what this means and how this effects my computer. With my ga-p35, will I be able to change these specs if I OC my cpu??

With the Ga P35 DS3L, you wont be able to change the timings in the bios. You will however, be able to change them with memset. The only changes you can make with the memory in the BIOS is the voltage setting and the ratio's.

 

[z1ggy]

Ok, Well...won't I need to OC the RAM b/c like graysky said, the cpu fsb can only go as high as one half of my ddr2 800 can go..which is 400. With the multiplier at 8, thats 3.2 Ghz, which is okay, but I believe it could go higher. I have the antec 900 case which is great airflow and the Arctic Freezer HSF, but I'm not sure how far to take it on air. I will probably never have water cooling..it is too much fuss for me...so all in all, would tweaking the ram timings and speed even benefit me??

 

[graysky]

If your memory will support it, you can run with a non-1:1 divider effectively raising your memory frequency.

 

[z1ggy]

Yes I have read that my memory is over clockable...but since my motherboard bios won't let me do much as far as the memory speed is concerned, how would I change the ratio to 1:1?... Or is it default set to 1:1? If I could raise past 1:1 ratio like some people have 4:5 and such..would that be a good idea?

 

[Drsignguy]

When you boot into bios, goto MIT (MB intelligent Tweaker) and in there is the system Memory Multiplier. Its probably set to auto. Set it to 2.00 and this will give you 1:1.

 

[z1ggy]

OK, i got my system up and running, no OC yet...things are fine and stable. One problem I am having is that the CPU frequency isn't an option that I can change. Its in a dark gray font and it is set to 8x333. Why can't I change it?

 

[graysky]

@z - Dunno about your board, but my old Asus board required the user to enable manual mode before the tweaks could be applied... does your board have such mode?

 

[z1ggy]

Originally posted by: graysky
@z - Dunno about your board, but my old Asus board required the user to enable manual mode before the tweaks could be applied... does your board have such mode?

I am not quiet sure I just got everything to work 100% a couple of mins ago. I only had a few minutes to fool around in the bios and I just noticed when I came to cpu freq. I was not able to change anything accept the multiplier..which would only go down. How would I get into the manual mode on my GA-p35 board?

Also..off topic but its a minor issue. When ever I plug my flash drive into my front usb port, my computer goes to this blue screen with all this writing and such on it and then immediately restarts. Any reasons why?