Lousy a$$ Overclock

[Huffbanger]

I have disabled everything questionable in the bios and have changed the voltages every which way and can only manage to get my FSB to 350! I've tried locking my PCI-e freq to 100 and 101 and setting my RAM timings to everything under the sun. I have even tried three or four different BIOS (currently at 10). I have read numerous threads on how to overclock these combinations and have had no such luck. I get an error in Orthos within minutes. So my question is, what is my weakest link or where am I going wrong?
Thanks for any input

C2D 6400
Thermaltake Blue Orb II
DS-3 rev. 2.0
2x1Gb G-skill 6400 4-4-4-12
XFX 7600GS
Ultra X-finity 500w P.S
2 80Gb Western in RAID 0

 

[JechtShot]

Did you try running Memtest86 to see if there are any errors with your ram sticks?

 

[Huffbanger]

I have not tried that yet, but I did try my memory sticks one at a time with the same results.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Try this

Drop CPU multi to 7
Bump MCH volts up
Bump FSB termination voltage
Set DDR speed to 533
Set FSB at 401mhz
Set all ram timings and volts to spec

If that works set the multi back to 8, and raise CPU volts until it's stable

 

[Huffbanger]

I set everything up according to what GuitarDaddy suggested with the exception of the DDR speed. I wasn't sure where I make that change, nonetheless. When I change the FSB to 401 and the multiplier to 7, my system won't even post. It will eventually turn on but back to default settings. Does this prove that my memory can't handle a FSB of 400 even if its rated for it? Will MEM86 further prove that it's bad? Thanks for the input.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Sorry it's called "System memory multiplier" on your board and should be set to 2.0 as shown on the fifth screen shot

Here

You can check the rest of your settings to those in the screenshots, but I would get it working at 401 before I tried 451 like the screenshots are showing. And with 401 you shouldn't need the higher ram volts shown, and probably not as much MCH volts


If your still having problems I would set everything to stock and set your ram to spec and run memtest for several hours. That will tell you if your ram is bad or incompatible. I would also make sure you have the latest bios, as they have ironed out alot of memory incompatibility problems with the later bioses.

 

[Huffbanger]

I copied the BIOS settings exactly with the exception for the mouse and keyboard USB support. I was able to get it to boot, but failed Ortho's within the first minute. I have the latest and greatest BIOS. I guess it's time to focus on the memory. Thanks for all of your input.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

If you copied them exactly, you probably need more vcore. The chip he has is incredible to do 7x451 at only 1.375 vcore. My E6400 needs much more vcore, like 1.45 to get stable at that speed.

Did you try 7x401 with those settings? If so, then yes run memtest at stock speeds and see what happens

 

[yiranhu]

What is your memory? it says Gskills 2x1. Is that CL4-2GBPK or 2GBHK? I have the PK one and I can't get it to run at 4-4-4-12 ortho stable above 400, (which is the rated !!). But I can get it to run at 450 with 5-5-5-15...

 

[Huffbanger]

My memory is G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK R. I have tried timings of 4-4-4-12 and "auto". I don't think I've tried 5-5-5-15 manually. With this memory I just assumed I would be able to get at least a FSB of 360 with no errors. I'll give it a shot tonight along with memtest. As far as my BIOS settings, I'm using 1.375 vcore along with bumping everything else up by .1V. I would think that this would suffice (for starters)for a FSB of 370? Once again, thanks for everyone's input and advice.

 

[Huffbanger]

I finally got it to work!!! I now have the FSB to 424@3.39Ghz[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]. I know this isn't screaming, but it's better than the 350 I was getting. The only way I could get this to work is to set all of the voltages to "auto"! I tried every voltage combination and could not get it to work. I'm not sure why"auto" seems to be the cure all but who cares! Is there any way to see what the actual "auto" settings are? Thanks again.

 

[n7]

The auto settings increase voltage as needed, meaning you weren't giving it enough voltage before, & whereas auto is.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

CPU-Z will show you the vcore. And I recommend coretemp and Intels Thermal analysis tool for checking temps. Check temps under load, my board P5B-E ramps the volts WAY up on auto.

 

[Huffbanger]

Thank again everyone, you guys kick ass!