Q9450 can't get it to run stable enough

[Sir Ali]

Hi,

I have a Q9450 processor, EVGA 780i SLI motherboard and 8GB of OCZ Reaper HPC DDR-800 RAM.

I overclocked my processor to 3.2GHz unlinked (1600FSB using a multiplier of 8). The RAM is overclocked to 900MHz with timings of 5-4-4-15/2T.

Processor runs @ 1.3v Bios, 1.25v in HWMonitor and the RAM is @ 2.1v.

I've tested the RAM with memtest86+ 2.01 for 12+ hours (7 passes).

I tested the processor with Prime95 (64-Bit version as I run Vista x64). Blend and running 4 threads.

The first two cores gave an error after 8 hours.

What am I doing wrong here?

 

[lopri]

I don't think you're doing anything wrong. It's either heat build-up or power delivery (be it the PSU or VRMs) irregularity after a long period of load. Prime will probably run longer if you can lower the ambient temperature or enhance cooling around CPU socket.

Welcome to AT Forums.

 

[Sir Ali]

The processor temp. (HWMonitor) for CPUTIN didn't exceed 53C @ load. So it wouldn't be a heat issue I guess?

PSU is 1200W running a 9800GX2 as well. I've played some game, not for much but I haven't experienced any crashes. I really hope I can run a 24H test @ 3.2GHz.

 

[lopri]

Is your NB actively cooled? Failing Prime95 doesn't necessarily mean that your components are crapping out after a marathon. A short-period irregularity (such as vCore fluctuation) could cause a failure. So for instance if your VRM/Mosfet fail to supply an adequate vCore for a moment when CPU is @100% (and even if it shortly goes back to where it was), the Prime will fail. Heat is No.1 cause for such symptoms and not just for the CPU but everything around it.

 

[Sir Ali]

I don't quiet get what you said because it's my first overclock. How do I solve that?

 

[ShadowFlareX]

Originally posted by: lopri
Is your NB actively cooled? Failing Prime95 doesn't necessarily mean that your components are crapping out after a marathon. A short-period irregularity (such as vCore fluctuation) could cause a failure. So for instance if your VRM/Mosfet fail to supply an adequate vCore for a moment when CPU is @100% (and even if it shortly goes back to where it was), the Prime will fail. Heat is No.1 cause for such symptoms and not just for the CPU but everything around it.

Basically he's just saying that you try cooling the North Bridge (NB), probably add a small fan on top of it, or a bigger fan facing it. The NB is pretty much under that big heatsink stuck in the middle of your motherboard.

Just checked what EVGA 780i looks like, seems it has a small fan already. Perhaps just place an 80mm fan or something and face it to the NB heatsink, so it helps blow the heat away.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

1.3 vcore set in bios is probably not enough for 3.2ghz stable, my x3350 won't do 3.2ghz on that vcore.

Since your temps are OK, bump the vcore and try again.

 

[Sir Ali]

@ShadowFlareX: Yes, I do have a fan on top of my NB. Also the air flow in my case is really good hence my processor and graphics card (overclocked) temps.

Prime has been running for about 11h 30min without any errors...Everything @ stock (inc. RAM). Max temps. I got were:

49C for CPUTIN
63C for Core 0
67C for Core 1
62C for Core 2
63C for Core 3

Using HWMonitor. Can anyone enlighten me where to find the chipset temperature?

Here's a screenshot:
http://alisalem.net/uploads/ne...oc/hwmonitor-temps.jpg

Today it was really hot in Egypt where I live. 35C. So the CPUTIN temp. looks really good. I've got the ZALMAN CNPS9700LED BTW.

Now I believe it's got a lot to do with the voltage as GuitarDaddy. As I said, setting it to 1.3v drops to 1.25v on CPUZ.

What do you have the voltage set GuitarDaddy?

 

[runawayprisoner]

Set vCore to 1.325v, and I'm sure it'll go longer. Actually, use OCCT to stress instead of Prime. OCCT is faster, and it gives errors much easier than Prime. I had my 3.8GHz Q9450 12-hour-Prime-stable chip failed in OCCT after 10 minutes.

 

[Sir Ali]

As long as the temps are fine, this processor should live for long regardless of what voltage I use, right?

I want it to stay for 3-4 years at least.

 

[Bwd4]

anything over 1.4v will degrade 45nm chips faster then you would like, the High-k/metal gate tech from intel is great and cool, but cant withstand volts like 65nm and bigger. electromigration occurs much quicker. also, dont forget to take vdroop into account, 1.3v might be droping as low as 1.25 or 1.22v, check what vcore your getting under load with cpuz.

 

[Sir Ali]

Originally posted by: Bwd4
anything over 1.4v will degrade 45nm chips faster then you would like, the High-k/metal gate tech from intel is great and cool, but cant withstand volts like 65nm and bigger. electromigration occurs much quicker. also, dont forget to take vdroop into account, 1.3v might be droping as low as 1.25 or 1.22v, check what vcore your getting under load with cpuz.

That's what I'm experiencing. 1.25v when BIOS is set to 1.3v.

So far 12h stable using Prime @ everything stock.

I'll try now the following settings before I sleep (23:00 here).

8 x 400MHz (1600FSB) / Unlinked / 1.325v
900 MHz for Ram @ 5-4-4-15/25 / TRC 30 / 2.1v

Should I play around with NB/FSB voltage?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Sir Ali
As long as the temps are fine, this processor should live for long regardless of what voltage I use, right?

No, far from it. Long-term high voltage is the easiest way to kill a processor, no matter how cold it happens to be.

900 MHz for Ram @ 5-4-4-15/25 / TRC 30 / 2.1v

Raise your tRFC to 60, if that setting is available in your BIOS, and lower your RAM speed to 800 Mhz DDR.

Should I play around with NB/FSB voltage?

Keep all voltages as low as possible, or in other words, don't raise any voltage that you don't have to raise, unless you need to raise it to maintain stability.

 

[bryanW1995]

you can also use memset to change your trfc.

 

[Sir Ali]

But the RAM is fine after 7 passes in memtest86+ (900/54415/2T/TRC30).

Anyhow here's an update.

I ran OCCT using a voltage of 1.3250 in BIOS. It gave an error after 38min.

I changed the voltage to auto and I was amazed not to see much voltage drop (I believe auto is 1.3). Ram OCCT for an hour without any errors. Also ran Prime95 (Small FFT) for 13 hours without any errors. Load was 54C for processor.

So I guess the OC is stable. The final test I'm gonna try will be Blend for 24h. Hopefully it holds.

 

[Sir Ali]

Blend failed after 5 min.

I set all voltages to auto and now it's running for 4.5 hours without any errors in a pretty hot room.

24H is the target. C'mon!

 

[Sir Ali]

Man I'm fed up. 1st core failed.

I have a feeling that the processor OC (which is supposed to be stable) is not stable because of the RAM although the RAM passed memtest86+ for 14 hours.

It should be the ram that's causing my problems. What do you people suggest for my 8GB kit? It's default is 800/4-4-4-15 @ 2.1v.

 

[bryanW1995]

when going for your max oc you should always relax memory timings then come back to them to fine tune later. it's not the mem that's failing, it's the mch/northbridge. do the following:

set trfc to 60
bump mch/nb up to 1.5 (default should be 1.25 so use +.25 if that's how mobo displays it)
relax ram timings to 5-5-5-18 and 1:1

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Try using the RAM setting in OCCT and also this little app: http://hcidesign.com/memtest/

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
Try using the RAM setting in OCCT and also this little app: http://hcidesign.com/memtest/

Yeah, but only after making the changes bryanW suggested.

 

[Sir Ali]

OK how about testing with ram @ 800 (default) with 4-4-4-12? These settings gave me 5.9 in Vista so I'm happy.

Also, I can use a linked OC using Sync Mode which displays 1:1 in CPUZ with these RAM settings. Before it was 8:9 or something, I don't recall.

How do I use RAM settings in OCCT?

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
Try using the RAM setting in OCCT and also this little app: http://hcidesign.com/memtest/

nice! is this program as reliable as the dos version of memtest? I'd much rather use a windows-based unit...memtest is the only reason that I bothered to install a floppy on my 45nm quad rigs...the geeks down the street have started shunning me...

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: Sir Ali
OK how about testing with ram @ 800 (default) with 4-4-4-12? These settings gave me 5.9 in Vista so I'm happy.

Also, I can use a linked OC using Sync Mode which displays 1:1 in CPUZ with these RAM settings. Before it was 8:9 or something, I don't recall.

How do I use RAM settings in OCCT?

you're not listening. If you don't want our advice then don't ask for it. go read graysky's guide and come back when you're done:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2057083&enterthread=y


sorry, I'm frustrated b/c we've told you several times to follow steps that graysky lists in his guide. allow me to repeat:

ONLY STRESS ONE COMPONENT OF YOUR COMPUTER AT A TIME DURING OVERCLOCKING. WHEN GOING FOR MAX CPU CLOCK, YOU WANT TO TAKE MEMORY OUT OF THE EQUATION. RELAX YOUR MEMORY TIMINGS TO 5-5-5-18 OR EVEN 6-6-6-18 WHEN GOING FOR MAX OC. YOUR CPU SPEED IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN MEMORY SPEED/TIMINGS. TUNE YOUR MEMORY SPEED/TIMINGS AFTER GETTING YOUR MAX STABLE CPU SPEED.

PS: GO READ GRAYSKY'S GUIDE.

 

[Sir Ali]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: Sir Ali
OK how about testing with ram @ 800 (default) with 4-4-4-12? These settings gave me 5.9 in Vista so I'm happy.

Also, I can use a linked OC using Sync Mode which displays 1:1 in CPUZ with these RAM settings. Before it was 8:9 or something, I don't recall.

How do I use RAM settings in OCCT?

you're not listening. If you don't want our advice then don't ask for it. go read graysky's guide and come back when you're done:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2057083&enterthread=y


sorry, I'm frustrated b/c we've told you several times to follow steps that graysky lists in his guide. allow me to repeat:

ONLY STRESS ONE COMPONENT OF YOUR COMPUTER AT A TIME DURING OVERCLOCKING. WHEN GOING FOR MAX CPU CLOCK, YOU WANT TO TAKE MEMORY OUT OF THE EQUATION. RELAX YOUR MEMORY TIMINGS TO 5-5-5-18 OR EVEN 6-6-6-18 WHEN GOING FOR MAX OC. YOUR CPU SPEED IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN MEMORY SPEED/TIMINGS. TUNE YOUR MEMORY SPEED/TIMINGS AFTER GETTING YOUR MAX STABLE CPU SPEED.

PS: GO READ GRAYSKY'S GUIDE.

OK first of all, I didn't know that guide existed. I've read other guides but none were that detailed about overclocking unless they were old.

Anyhow, after reading, I've got some questions:

1. Say I've got a DDR-800 RAM stick. Would it be better to OC it with less timings or lessen the timings @ it's stock speed?
2. Should I stress the RAM by OCing it to give more room for the processor OC?
3. What's the best option of FSB/DRAM divider?
4. What's the difference between choosing Sync Mode in BIOS and 1:1 divider (linked of course)?
5. Do all people who have 3.4+GHz OC's with 8x Multi have RAM faster than DDR-800?

Thanks.