Problem with OC

[exidus]

Hi guys
I'm sort-of-a-newby in this, but I think what's happening is not normal:
My set-up is as stated in the topic:

CPU: C2Q Q9550 (E0)
MB: Gigabyte X38T-DQ6 (bios F7f - supports E0)
RAM: DDR3 8GB /4 DIMMs - 2x(2x2GB) @1800MHz Corsair Dominator CM3X2G1800C8D/
PSU: Hiper 880+
GPU: Gigabyte 3870 512 DDR4


I have also LC on the CPU and GPU. The idle temps rarely exceeds 35C and load temps - 45C
Both memory modules and MB supports X.M.P. @1800.

OK... so ... Everything is working nice, since I don't touch the FSB freq. Default FSB is 333, so the RAM runs @1333 on 8-8-8-20. These are the best timings I could get @1333. I'm thinking DIMMs can do more, but no luck....
Every attempt to rise the FSB leads to re-loading the default CPU/FSB settings in BIOS. I've tried almost everything I saw in forums (slight rising of Core, PCI-E and RAM voltages within the safe margins, disabling load-pipe control and power saving voltage control). Nothing worked.
I don't want to extreme OC the system. My goal is CPU@ 3.2 - 3.4 GHz, FSB@400MHz, ram@1600MHz, if possible...
Soooo... any ideas are welcomed

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

First of all hi and welcome to the forums.

So you have DDR3 1800 speed ram?

 

[exidus]

@ BTRY B 529th FA BN

thank you, man
Yep, I do have a dd3 1800, but for now i doubt about the point having it, as I can't enjoy even 1600...

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

With that DDR3 speed you should top out at 450fsb and that will be enough to reach your overclocking goal. 450x8.5(mulit) should bring you to 3825Mhz at those rated timings. I think all you really have to do is leave most everything on auto except for the fsb and raise it accordingly. I've read what you have done and can't understand "so the RAM runs @1333 on 8-8-8-20. These are the best timings I could get @1333" Did you change the timings also? Are you running the memory at the rated voltage?

 

[exidus]

Original timings for 1333 are 9-9-9-24 @1,5V, but there is an X.M.P. with 6-6-6-18-2T @1,5V for 1350MHz and 8-8-8-24-2T @1,8V for 1800Mhz. Current config: 8-8-8-20-2T @1,5V 1333MHz. I've tried rising only the FSB, with all others on auto.
The system is halting even if I rise it by 1 MHz. My previous processor was Q6600 (FSB @266x4). I had the same problem with it: Original FSB @266 working without a glitch, but no chance of geting it working with other freq.
So the main issue is: Why is it working fine with the original settings @1066 and 1333, but does not overclock at all.
So far I've eliminated following eventual causes:
- temp: Both CPU and chipset are within safe margins (I'm using temp probe for measuring chipset temp)
- Power: PSU load do not exceed 35%
- Voltage: the provided original voltage should be enough for my goal, even so I did some tests with slightly rised voltages.
- MB clock generator malfunction: It's working fine on both original 1066 and 1333. Overclocking 1066 to 1333 is impossible and so is OC 1333+

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Anyone else want to jump in on this!?

I am stumped why your memory will not accordingly raise with your fsb ... you should be able to overclock the fsb up to the specified memory speed of DDR3 1800 at specified timings and voltages. Try pulling your cmos and resetting things. And your Bios is up to date right?

 

[exidus]

Yep, BIOS is up to date, it's even a beta, because older ones doesn't support E0 stepping. With previous processor, BIOS was final version. Tried cmos reset several times also...

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

- On a side note question, how are you measuring your PSU load? by a tool?

Set the FSB Strap to 400, rais your fsb to 400 choose DDR3 1600 for your DRAM requency and see if that works.

 

[exidus]

tried that too
I can't rise it to nowhere...

as for the PSU load I'm using separate multimer.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

do you have a link for the ram you bought?

 

[exidus]

only this simple pdf: http://www.corsair.com/product...aspx?pn=TW3X4G1800C8DF

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

non pdf?

 

[exidus]

well... corsair didn't felt it's necessary to put more info in their site... only, that it's compatible with this board.

 

[aigomorla]

if im not mistaken, those ram require more voltage.

Also you want to overclock, you need to learn to play with voltages, so i need to know exactly what voltage you have for everything and what your going after.

The word safe, to a newbie, is virgin to a person whose been overclocking for a while, so our terms are way different.

 

[KingstonU]

I would also look more closely at the ram voltage. I was unable to do anything with my computer until I upped the dram voltage to 2.0v like G.Skill's website states as a minimum from the stock 1.8v that bios had it at.

Also I wonder if using the XMP profile has anything to do with it. Can you turn it off and OC everything manually?

 

[exidus]

ok... so these are max voltage settings i've tried: Vcore up to 1,45V, ram up to 1,80V (it is the extreme1800 profile set, normal is 1,5V), chipset +0.25V - tested and failed @FSB400 & @FSB450

these are my current settings:
Vcore: 1,25V
RAM: 1,5V
everything else is at normal (auto) setting

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Could be bad ram

 

[exidus]

yeah, I thought about that, but then how come it's working now on 1333 with Q9550 but did not work with the 6600

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

because its rated at 1800

 

[exidus]

and yet I couldn't manage to oc to 1333 with the 6600. worked fine on 1066, though

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: exidus
ok... so these are max voltage settings i've tried: Vcore up to 1,45V, ram up to 1,80V (it is the extreme1800 profile set, normal is 1,5V), chipset +0.25V - tested and failed @FSB400 & @FSB450

these are my current settings:
Vcore: 1,25V
RAM: 1,5V
everything else is at normal (auto) setting

E0's dont like high voltage's at all.

Did you try to run at a lower voltage?

I know it sounds funny, but all my E0's were like ladies, they sipped instead of gulped.

 

[exidus]

I'm aware of E0's voltage issues, so first tested with default voltages.
btw someone on another forum suggested faulty memory controller... I think it's more likely that, than faulty dimms.. still hope it's neither...

 

[aigomorla]

can i see a picture of your bios screen?

take a camera pic or whatever pic.

The overclocking section is what i need.

Want to see what you set everything at.

 

[exidus]

here they are:

http://www.imagebam.com/image/f0023124219046
http://www.imagebam.com/image/23393824219049
http://www.imagebam.com/image/97b41324219051
http://www.imagebam.com/image/64dd0824219061
http://www.imagebam.com/image/c8461c24219066

sorry for the size

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: exidus
Yep, BIOS is up to date, it's even a beta, because older ones doesn't support E0 stepping. With previous processor, BIOS was final version. Tried cmos reset several times also...

This could be the problem. I've read of other cases in which BETA bioses allowed certain 45nm CPUs to function at stock, but wouldn't OC one iota.