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

[Drsignguy]

This board does have an inabled/Disabled option. And you can set the memory multiplier also the MCH voltages but thats about it for the mem settings. He would have to get memset if he chooses to adjust mem timings.

 

[z1ggy]

Yes I saw that enable option and now I am at a stable 2.66 Ghz. I changed my mem multiplier to 2.4 which brings it up to 800mhz (same as the RAM). I know this ram is over clockable.. I read users getting in the 900Mhz range. How do I change this from DDR2 800 to DDR29XX speeds..so then when I OC my cpu, I can reach higher speeds. Otherwise, I will never be able to bring my FSB past 400Mhz with a 1:1 ratio.

Edit : Just checked my CPU-z and it says I'm running a FSB of 333 (correct) with a multiplier of 6 (incorrect). I know for a fact I just changed the multiplier back to 8X in the BIOS and I saved the settings. I went back and double checked and it is still on 8 with the FSB of 333 for a total of 2.6 Ghz. CPU-z says I am only running at 2.0 Ghz. Why is this?

 

[graysky]

@z - that 6x is probably due to speedstep which drops down to 6x333=2.0 Run p95 then look at cpuz... probably 8x333=2.67

 

[Alaa]

I got an E2180 and overclocked it to 240Mhz FSB while keeping the RAM at 400Mhz with 3:5 mutli and left voltages on stock. Tested four hours with prime and stable, is that enough? Everest gives me ~90ns latency- normal? or high?

 

[z1ggy]

Originally posted by: graysky
@z - that 6x is probably due to speedstep which drops down to 6x333=2.0 Run p95 then look at cpuz... probably 8x333=2.67

I read some more forums..seems that some versions of CPU-z past 1.38 have some bugs. I got 1.38 and it reads a multiplier of 8. Question: Should I set Vcore to auto? I read this can save power...but will this give me the right voltages once I OC? I plan to go to 350..then 375..then 400 each letting the FSB burn in for a day or so. I will have to go back and read graysky's post again...but I know some of the settings needed to be disabled/enabled.

 

[graysky]

@z - auto in my experience always overvolts. I don't have the numbers handy but after I minimized my vcore on this X3360 running 8.5x400, my idle/load are identical as per CPU-Z: 1.152 V (BIOS setting was 1.12500V). If I leave it set to auto the idle and load are different and both higher than my value.

I dunno what CPU-Z errors, 1.45 is pretty good I thought. Older versions had some vcore errors. Speedstep dropping your multiplier on idle is normal. Again, run CPU-Z and use p95 to load the CPU. Does it still read 6x?

 

[Alaa]

my post, anyone?

 

[z1ggy]

to graysky: I got the issue fixed..everything runs stable now. Nice and Fast. Running at 2.67 Ghz with a Vcore of 1.35. I'm going to increase the FSB to 350 tonight and let it set in overnight. Should I increase the Vcore with this small adjustment up to like 1.38? I feel like the Vcore is a very touchy thing and I am sort of afraid to tweak it.

 

[graysky]

@Alaa - I dunno what you're asking.... are you wanting to know if your o/c is enough or if a couple hours of p95 is enough? I don't call my system stable until it passes 24 h of large FFT's. As to your o/c, only you can answer that!

 

[graysky]

Originally posted by: z1ggyI got the issue fixed..everything runs stable now. Nice and Fast. Running at 2.67 Ghz with a Vcore of 1.35. I'm going to increase the FSB to 350 tonight and let it set in overnight. Should I increase the Vcore with this small adjustment up to like 1.38? I feel like the Vcore is a very touchy thing and I am sort of afraid to tweak it.

Dude, 1.35 V seems excessive for just 2.67 GHz... my old Q6600 would do 8x333 @ 1.1500 V of vcore. I suggest you re-read the 'minimizing vcores' part of my o/c guide. You more or less can't just pick a value, then run a torture test overnight. It's a kinda long iterative process. You might wanna check your VTT and NB vcores - either of them might be on the low end. Again, I think 1.35 V is excessive for 2.67 GHz.

 

[z1ggy]

That's odd. My bios claims that my Vcore is set to 1.35...What programs will display my VTT and NB voltages? I will have to go back and re read your vcore section again. On speed fan ..my cpu is running at 45C on full load using orthos, so it isn't like my vcore is causing too much heat.

 

[graysky]

The new version of HWMonitor (v1.09 for 64-bit O/S anyway) will display them on my system...
Under ITE IT87
"HT Link" seems to be my VTT
"NB Core" seems to be my NB core

 

[z1ggy]

I was checking out some more specs..seems my 1.35 was more of an average given. The newegg.com specs say the voltage is a range from .85 to 1.5. So I think when I increase my FSB, staying around 1.35 will be ok. Once I run orthos overnight and check the temps, I will know for sure. Thanks again.

 

[z1ggy]

I took the auto voltage off and changed it to 1.3125 I think...I changed the FSB to 350 for an OC of 2.8. I just ran orthos and I got an error only after 3 mins saying "rounding was .4960 , expected less than .4, consult stress.txt" Why am I getting a failure..my Temps didn't go too high..100% load at about 50C. Something wrong with my voltage? I played Savage 2 for an hour or two on this OC and things were fine. I also increased my DDR voltage from 1.8 to 1.9, but I don't think that should cause an error.

Edit: Just ran prime95 for 16 mins..first 8 tests..no errors present. Im going to run it now overnight and see what it comes up with in the morning.

 

[graysky]

@z - could be a number of things... it's rarely temp limited and more likely a function a low vcore or several low vcores. Re-read my guide and see my example of o/c'ing my 8.5x400 for more.

 

[z1ggy]

I re-read your section...I don't really have NB, SB and VTT labels per say...in my bios I have different names that I can't really associate with those things...under HW monitor I have "CPU VCore, DDR, 3.3v, 5v, 12v and Vbat" as my voltage settings.

Re ran Prime95...for some reason my computer just restarted itself right in the middle of it. I don't know if that is an error form the test or my computer randomly feeling like restarting...Vcore right now is on 1.30 and it seems to be okay..but when I get errors it says to check some .txt file. Where do I find this so I can find out what went wrong?

 

[graysky]

Can you take a digital pic of your BIOS screen or at the very least list them in here so people can help you?
The PC restarting is more extreme than a rounding error. More voltage is needed for sure (assuming it's not your memory). That txt file it's referring to will not help you; it only contains some generic statements and not worth your time to read.

 

[z1ggy]

I can list the things for you here..it is odd saying that I need more voltage...Because you thought my voltages were high compared to your quad that you had before.

system voltage control -manual
ddr2 over voltage -.1v
pci-e over voltage- 0
fsb over voltage-0
MCH (north bridge) over voltage- 0
cpu voltage control- 1.325v
normal cpu Vcore- 1.35v

This is what my bios says, but in HWmonitor, that MCH voltage isn't represented. Where would I need some extra voltage? I think that my Vcore is fine...Those terms you used in your guide.. VTT and stuff..It is hard for me to follow along with the guide because the things I have to work with are called different things. I don't think my memory is the cause of this...I increased it to 1.9 from 1.8 because of the increased fsb I am now using.

 

[graysky]

Originally posted by: z1ggy
I can list the things for you here..it is odd saying that I need more voltage...Because you thought my voltages were high compared to your quad that you had before.

I'm just saying what you need to do to stabilize that o/c you're attempting -- not that it's possible! Remember that each MB, CPU, RAM combo is different, and that you need to keep your hardware within the voltage specs to keep it functional long-term (and maybe shorter-term). If you can't stabilize what you're trying to do by adding additional vcores safely, you'll need to back off on the o/c. It's that simple.

 

[graysky]

Also, I dunno about your board or what they didn't allow users additional control of the vcores. If you're serious about it, I'd suggest you dump it and pick up another board that allows more control. I love my DFI LT P35-T2R. Which voltage to add? Tough to say. It will involve a bit of trial and error. What you can do it just pick some limits that you won't exceed and adjust your o/c accordingly.

For example, set a limit of say 1.50 V on the NB, 1.40 V on the VTT, 1.35 V on the CPU and see how you can stabilize it by adjusting your FSB keeping the multi constant. That's another approach you can take.

 

[z1ggy]

Yeah I think that works better.. your last idea. Right now I don't have a huge OC...only up to 2.8 Ghz. I read a forum online of ga-p35 mobo with people going well past my 2.8..I wanted to hit 3.2 and leave it there. Just ran the small FTT test on prime95 for an hour.. no issues.. I doubt that any were going to arrise because my other 2 errors were given tome within 15 mins. Also there is this setting in my bios that if enabled allows the board to take control and under an XXX% amount of load..control the CPU clock freq...basically OC'ing it even more. Perhaps under the 100% stress load of prime95 and orthos...this is happening and causing instability? Should I disable this so it won't do that?

 

[graysky]

I have no idea what the feature does, dude. Use the large FFT's in p95 to gauge stability. Be aware that some errors won't happen until many hours such as 10-12 as you approach stability, but are not quiet there. 8x400... is that what you've been trying?

 

[z1ggy]

Okay..I plan to let the test run again over night to test it for longer. Right now I am only on 8x350 because I am gradually going to 400. 333,350,375..400. I just want to make sure at each step, things are correct, otherwise the next transition def. won't be right. As far as that thing in the bios I mentioned above.. I will prob. just turn it off.

Edit: just ran prime 95 for about 2 hours..I don't know after how long, but my computer did restart. This time running the full FTT test. What should my next step be. I don't think backing off on the OC is the answer... as I am only at 2.8 Ghz right now.

 

[cEvin Ki]

z1ggy...

if i'm not mistaken, small FFT isolates the CPU by itself. and large FFT tends to test the RAM and memory subsystem. this OC guide suggests using Memtest86 to test memory. try that, with EVERYTHING set at stock, to make sure you don't simply have a stick of bad RAM. i was having some isolated crashes in games after a long while of no problems at all. decided to run some stress tests AGAIN, and had errors with large FFT. i asked graysky what his hunch would be, and one suggestion was just that, try Memtest86. sure enough, i adjusted my RAM voltage and that fixed it. believe it or not, i actually had to LOWER my RAM voltage a little under factory spec.

it's too frustrating to try to overclock everything all at once. make sure everything runs at stock first. then we can try to figure out what to do next, one part at a time.

 

[graysky]

Yeah, cE makes a good point about controlling variables. I'd let memtest86+ run for at least 6 full cycles (overnight) and see if it gives errors. What makes it more difficult, is your BIOS doesn't allow you to dial the various vcores you want... any chance of you dumping that board on ebay and getting another?