is my p5qpro set up wrong?

[dbarton]

I look at the ASUS Suite and it says my CPU is running at 2000mhz. CPU-Z says the same. Every now and again, for just a half a second ASUS suite reports 3200mhz, which it is.

It's a Core 2 Duo e8500. 3.16ghz

cpu-z says:
core speed 2003.8mhz
multiplier is x6
bus speed is 334
rated fsb is 1335

Does this all make sense? Shouldn't it report my CPU at 3100ghz?

 

[dbarton]

Looks like I may have answered my own question. It was shifting speed until I disabled C1E in the bios. Now it stays at 3.1ghz.

Any disadvantages of doing this?

 

[n7]

You are now no longer saving power.

 

[dbarton]

Or maybe you could argue that now I do tasks faster, so the computer can be used less often?

 

[n7]

Highly unlikely considering that it automatically clocks up instantly when you are running applications that actually need the extra speed.

I'd recommend leaving SpeedStep on unless you are OCing & cannot do so stably.

For stock systems, i would always advise leaving it enabled.

 

[dbarton]

Can you elaborate on why you advise to leave on?
Why not have full power always available?

 

[ASUSCustomerCare]

Hello dbarton,

Is the FSB frequency and CPU ratio set to Auto in your BIOS? I haven't come across this issue before, but the E8500's CPU multiplier is unlocked and ranges from 6x - 9.5x.

If your BIOS settings are Auto and it is giving you a CPU frequency of 2000Mhz then there may be an issue. However, to get your CPU to run at stock speed you can enter the 'AI Tweaker' in BIOS and manually set your CPU ratio to 8 and your FSB frequency to 400. That will give you a CPU frequency of 3.2Ghz.

 

[dbarton]

I have FSB at 333, and multiplier at 9.5 and that gives me 3.2g. Is that ok?

Any reason why it'd be better to use 400 and 8?

Memory is Mushkin 800, and is set to that. Good?

 

[gsuburban]

That E8400 should over clock to 3.6GHz without changing any cpu voltage settings. It does well on Asus P5Q-E (P45) with 1066 memory set at 2.1 volts. Try the 9 multiplier with 400 FSB and memory and turn off all the cpu "Go green" features like speedstep. There's about 6 of those "Go Green" that need to be disabled if you plan to be stable with overclocking.

These settings work great with 8500 (1066) DDR2 C5 memory:

Ai Tweeker:
Ai Overclock Tuner: manual
CPU Ratio Setting: 9
FSB Freq: 400
PCIE Freq: 100
FSB Strap To N Bridge: 400
Dram Freq: 1066
Dram Voltage: 2.1

Advanced/CPU Configuartion:
CPU Ratio setting:8.5
C1E Support: Disabled
Max CPUID Value : Disabled
Intel Virtualization: Disabled
CPU TM Function: Disabled
Execute Bit Disable: Disabled

All other settings should be Auto and/or defaults within these screens. This should yield 3.6 GHz and a FSB of 1600 MHz in CPUZ.

 

[dbarton]

For clarification, it's an e8500..
I have 800 memory. Will that be an issue?

Multiplier is at 9.5.. So all I need to do is change FSB, and shut off C1E? You mention 6 things -?

 

[gsuburban]

Your memory will be a factor with the settings I provided. In the DRAM Freq field, you won't see a 1066 setting likely so just choose one that is a bit higher than your default setting of 800. It's also possible the cpu won't clock that high with 800 memory however, if you have good memory that is stipulated it will overclock, you should be okay with raising the number from 800. Be sure your memory will work okay with 2.1 volts. I didn't research your memory specs.

 

[gsuburban]

By the way, I'm using the stock Intel heatsink and fan and Corsair Twin2X 8500C5 1066 2X2048 memory. When on sale, it's around $60 and well worth it. Also, the Asus Ai Tweeker software does not work without bugs, uninstall that "Green Friendly" junk and just do the above in the bios for best results.

 

[dbarton]

ok, so with an e8500, I have:

cpu ratio at 9.5
fsb 400
fsb strap to northbridge still set to auto (why do I want to change?)
I changed mem to 1066, but freaked out so it's now back on auto. left dram voltage on auto.
(memory specs say 800 1.8v - mushkin 991587)

cuz says I'm at 3.8ghz, fsb1600, and all seems to be fine so far.
Anything terrible about those things I didn't change?

If I upped the memory speed a little in bios does that do anything?

thanks!!

 

[gsuburban]

Great, the FSB would change if you lower the memory speed. CPU speed and FSB speeds both increase performance via overclocking memory and the cpu. So, you are now 600MHz faster on the cpu for free and 800MHz quicker on the memory as well.

Leave it as it is and if you were to change any voltages on the memory, do not exceed 1.8v or you'll void any warranty. Same goes on the CPU.

Find out if it's stable by clicking on IE7 or Firefox about 20 times opening 20 windows at once. If it performs, they'll all load up without a freeze up or stop error.

Welcome

 

[dbarton]

I'm a bit confused about the memory. I left it on auto, so aren't I still at 800mhz, as I was? Or are you saying that by changing the FSB, the memory is now also running faster, even though CPUZ doesn't actually say so.

The CPU is definitely faster at 3.8, so I guess about 20% faster.

I have 30 Firefox windows open and it seems fine.