OCing e8400 and P5N-e

[Razorfist]

Hi, I recently put together a system and would like some tips on getting it past the 4.0 GHz mark.

Computer Parts:

ASUS P5N-e SLI
OCZ StealthXStream 600W
Intel e8400 3.0 GHz
OCZ SLI Ready Memory DDR2 800 MHz (2x1024MB) Rated at 4-4-4-15-1T
OCZ Vendetta 2 Heatsink/CPU fan
XFX GeForce 8800GT 512MB
MS Windows XP Home SP3

Other parts:

Coolermaster CM690
Syncmaster 931c 19" 1280x1024
G15 Gaming Keyboard
G5 Laser Mouse
Logitech z2300 Speakers and woofer
$30 DVD drive (ridiculously loud when reading, but can do anything)
Ultra 3.5" Floppy + 7in1 reader

So thats the parts I put together into a computer. I started out OCing it and I got so messed up by the way the BIOS presented the numbers, they looked so odd... but after a bit I understood what they mean by them.


I am now running on a stable:

VCore: 1.225 V
FSB: 425 MHz (3.825 GHz)

CPU/RAM Ratio: 1:1

Memory Voltage: 2.085 V
Memory Speed: 425 MHz (850 MHz)
Memory Timings: 4-4-4-15 1T

With these settings, I run a SuperPi 1.5, 1M digits in: 12.328 seconds

When I tried to change my settings to:

VCore: 1.225 V
FSB: 450MHz (4.05 GHz)
CPU/RAM Ratio: 1:1
Memory Voltage: 2.085 V
Memory Speed: 450 MHz (900 MHz)
Memory Timings: 4-4-4-15 1T

The computer posts the BIOS, but the windows loading screen never comes.

To compensate, I tried to relax my memory timings to 5-5-5-15 2T. Still the same black screen after BIOS post.

Then, I tried to raise the memory voltage (I'm focusing on the memory as the problem because the e8400 is badass).
I raised the voltage from 2.085 to 2.178. Now, this changed something, after the BIOS post, I got some crazy lines on the screen. However, still no windows.

So, I decided, that before I continued, I would ask the experts (this is my first time).

What do you think my course of action should be to OC this system to its fullest potential?

I am interested in gaming results. So if relaxing my memory timings too much to get a higher OC hurts my gaming rather than helps, I would rather keep the tight timings.

Perhaps I should try raising the CPU voltage? Maybe 1.225 V isn't enough to load windows at 4 GHz?

Any advice or tips would be appreciated!

 

[Don66]

For your reading pleasure....

 

[OCGuy]

You would have to have a pretty amazing chip in order to be anywhere near stable at that voltage. Myself and many others need ~1.4v for 4ghz to be stable. However, there are definatly cases of needing less. Good Luck!

 

[error8]

That vcore is very, very low for 4ghz. I find it strange that you are stable at 3,825 ghz with it. Concentrate on that first and then look at the memory.

 

[Razorfist]

Thanks for the VCore tips, I guess my chip is amazing to run at that voltage.

I read through the second posters link, but I should have seen that everyone else was posting 4 GHz @ way more voltage that I was using.

I'll try getting some more voltage into the CPU and see where it gets me. Will repost new results.

Does anyone happen to know the record for an e8400 on air cooling?

By the way, for anyone interested, with my current specs at only 3.6 GHz, I'm pulling 453 avg fps in CSS Every settings highest.

But.... every settings highest in Company of Heroes = 59 FPS avg. I'm buying Crysis soon, gonna turn every setting to the highest... and I will probably have found my limit. Doubt I can play that reasonably fast at full settings. I like getting at least 60 FPS avg in shooter games.

 

[Razorfist]

Last night I put more voltage into the CPU, sitting at 1.4 volts now.

Current settings (stable for 3 hours of FPS gaming):

VCore: 1.4 V
FSB: 467.5 MHz (4.207 GHz)

CPU/RAM Ratio: 11:10

Memory Voltage: 2.085 V
Memory Speed: 425 MHz (850 MHz)
Memory Timings: 4-4-4-12 1T

SuperPi 1.5, 1M digits in: 11.260 seconds

I decided that my $34 RAM was holding me back when stress testing failed at 900 MHz. I'm going to keep the RAM at 850 MHz now and see how much more gaming performance I can push out of the CPU. This RAM is already amazing for having these timings at this speed.

I'm also sitting at,

RealTemp: 39C - 40C Idle, 50C - 53C Load

CoreTemp: 49C - 50C Idle, 60C - 63C Load

Tonight I'm going to push it one last time, then decide if that last push is worth the expected minimal performance gains. I'd rather have a long CPU life.

I'm not sure of all the possible CPU/RAM ratios, I believe .5s are not possible. I'm not sure what ratio I'm going to use next. I could just let it auto choose one for me, but I like to calculate them in advance.

A FSB of 510 would give me a nice 12:10, but I do not know if I can reach 4590 MHz without overheating. I don't want to touch 70C, so if load temps ever get to 69C I'm gonna turn it down. However... if RealTemp is actually correct, I still have 17C to work with instead of 7C. I know RealTemp uses a TjMax of 95 and CoreTemp used 105. Everyone has said that 95 TjMax is correct for 45NM chips but that's just what people say.

 

[Tempered81]

the p5n-e SLI can actually run the memory slower than the FSB? 467mhz FSB and 425mhz memory? That's less than a 1:1 ratio, while all I've ever heard of is 1:1 as the minimum. interesting!

 

[GrJohnso]

Nice work... That encourages me to take some timing playing around with my e8400 a bit more. After just a little toying around I broke 4ghz without any real effort... 4.2 would be nice..

Gigabyte EP35-DS3R r2.1
e8400 rev. C0 @ 4014.1mhz (446 bus)
Bios at 1.4v, all reading show 1.36v
Temps 40c idle, 60c during most gaming (Crysis), 64c under full CPU stress testings..
No more than 2c spread between core temps, but usually within 1c.
FSB & Northbridge +.1v
G.Skill 533mhz 5-5-5-12 @t 2.1v spec. Running at 535.2mhz.. Right on spec.. 5:6 ratio..
GeFroce 8800GT 512mb
Scythe Mugen(sp?) single fan blowing across HS, 2" from HS to exit fan blowing out back... Nice airflow...