Need Help/Advice on Q9450 OC

[ubershinobi]

This is my first overclock and I need some help with refining my settings for my system. I plan to use this rig for mostly gaming, and editing.

Specs:
Q9450@3360mhz
TRUE with 1900rpm s-flex fan
Asus rampage x38
2x2gb G.skill 1066 pc8500cl5
Corsair 750 psu
Vista ultimate 64bit

So far I've been running prime95 smallFFT for two hours and I plan to leave it on for 12 hours and see what happens (It has not crashed yet). I also have this small annoyance that will be awkward to explain but I really want it fixed. When I move my mouse around on the desktop the cursor skips and the system freezes for a split second. This happens randomly every 10 seconds or so very predictably. I don't know where to even begin to correct that so any info would be great.


These are my current BIOS settings:

Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : 8
FSB Frequency : 420
FSB Strap to North Bridge : AUTO
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR2- AUTO (CPUZ shows 420mhz so it's about 840)
DRAM Command Rate : AUTO
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay : AUTO
Row Refresh Cycle Time : AUTO
Write Recovery Time : AUTO
Read to Precharge Time : AUTO

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : AUTO
Write to Read Delay (S) : AUTO
Write to Read Delay (D) : AUTO
Read to Read Delay (S) : AUTO
Read to Read Delay (D) : AUTO
Write to Write Delay (S) : AUTO
Write to Write Delay (D) : AUTO
DRAM Static Read Control: Enabled
Ai Clock Twister : Strong
Transaction Booster : AUTO

CPU Voltage : 1.27 (1.264 Real)
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.68
North Bridge Voltage : 1.55
DRAM Voltage : 2.08 (max is 2.1v)
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.4
South Bridge Voltage : 1.2
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : AUTO
North Bridge GTL Reference : AUTO
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage : 1.5

NB LED Selection : NB Volt
SB LED Selection : SB Volt
CPU LED Selection : CPU VOlt
Voltiminder LED : enabled

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : 8
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled

USB Configuration
USB Functions: Enabled
Legacy USB Support : Disabled

This is what my CoreTemp shows under prime95 load right now:

Tj max: 105C
Core #0: spikes between 63-70C
Core #1: spikes between 61-65
Core #2: spikes between 60-65
Core #3: 65C

I think on idle they were in their mid 40's. Let me know if these temps are OKAY. Intel site lists the max thermal for Q9450 as 71.4C so I would assume I'm fine?


I want to refine these settings so any help would be appreciated
THANKS

 

[ShadowFlareX]

ASUS Rampage is X48, Maximus is X38.

I'd suggest to have Loadline Calibration disabled, you may have to increase the voltage in Bios but it's because the VDrooped is enabled that way.

What's your room temp?

For your system freezes every 10 secs, was it normal before? Did it start occuring recently? If yes, try System Restore.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Your PLL voltage seems too high. Anandtech staffers fried a QX9650 by running an overnight stress test with 1.5v VTT (Confirmed by Intel)

I would drop everything to stock and test it with prime to make sure the CPU is OK.

 

[ShadowFlareX]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Your PLL voltage seems too high. Anandtech staffers fried a QX9650 by running an overnight stress test with 1.5v VTT (Confirmed by Intel)

VTT is FSB Termination Voltage, and AT staff set it at 1.45V for long runs of tests. They suggested to set VTT no more than 1.4V to be safe.

So ubershinobi's FSB Termination Voltage of 1.4V is still ok.

Dead QX9650

Although I still agree with GuitarDaddy that your PLL is too high. Don't go increasing all voltages, try reducing PLL voltage step by step while testing for stability.