trouble overclocking e7400 with Gigabyte UD3R

[mentalcrisis00]

Hello all

I bought the equipment in my sig a month ago and it has been running good. I bought the Intel C2D e7400 because of the low heat and overclockability of it. Some people say they get 3.5GHZ easy with no overvolt and up to 4.0GHZ with slight overvolt. I wanted to get going on this seeming the system has been stable for a month. I had everything in the BIOS set to standard settings or auto for 2.8GHZ stock. All the intel auto settings and monitor disabled as suggested elsewhere.

Here are the settings that I'm trying right now, I started small 3.0GHZ and I can't get the system to run past boot unless I set my ram to 800MHZ instead of 1066MHZ that my Gskill ram is rated for.

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.00Ghz


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333MHz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100MHz
C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control
CPU Clock Drive...........................:800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................:900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................:0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................:0

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: Standard [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....isabled Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............:333mhz
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 3.20B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1066Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: Manual

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................6
tRCD .........................................6
tRP'...........................................6
tRAS..........................................18

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.???... line calibration currently set to Disable
CPU
CPU Vcore?.???.........................:1.2625V Auto
CPU Termination?..... 1.200V*.......: Auto
CPU PLL???????....1.500V*.......: Auto
CPU Referen.????....0.760V*.......: Auto

MCH/ICH
MCH Core?????.....1.100V...........: Auto
MCH Reference?.??.0.760V...........:Auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.?......0.900V...........:Auto
ICH I/O??????.....1.500V............:Auto
ICH Core????...??1.100V............:Auto

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ??....2.000V manual (Gskills recommended setting)

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Disabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................:[Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]

Now I've done a bit of research and I set the advanced settings to disable as others have suggested. Should be noted that I have tried these settings with the intel auto settings enabled and still doesn't work. Now if I set the memory multiply down so it reads 800MHZ instead of 1066 the system boots fine and runs prime for an hour with no errors. I would like to get 3.5GHZ out of this chip which I have read should be a doable. All my temps are within norm.

CPU core: Idle-25c Load-42c Prime-49c
Core 1 and 2: Idle-33c Load-46c Prime-52c

If someone could help me out with this or drop a hint as to what I might be doing wrong please let me know. My full specs are in my signature.

 

[Rick James]

Your Vcore is too low. Set to 1.35v

 

[mentalcrisis00]

ok thanks i'll try that, I didn't know what I should set the vcore at because intel only gives a range of .85V-1.36V. I'm alittle skittish when it comes to setting voltages as this is my first system even mildly worthy of overclocking. I will try 1.35V and see if that does the trick and report back.

 

[Rick James]

Here's my old settings. Try these. MAKE SURE you have a good cooler

Also don't be afraid to use the extra .5 multiplier. I have never had an issue with it.

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 400Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800mv
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900mv
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: ops
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0ps


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: Normal
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Diabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00D or yours may like 2.0B, one will let you set lower PL(static tRead)
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................15

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................Auto
tWTR..........................................Auto
tWR............................................Auto
tRFC...........................................52
tRTP...........................................Auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................Auto

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:Auto, note what this is and try lower later
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:Auto, note what this is and try lower later
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Motherboard Voltage Control
.....LLC=Enabled
CPU Vcore?.???.........................:1.35v not more than 1.4v especially if you have E0 steppping
CPU Termination?..... 1.200V*.......: 1.22v
CPU PLL???????....1.500V*.......: Normal
CPU Referen.????....0.760V*.......: Normal

MCH/ICH
MCH Core?????.....1.100V...........: 1.26
MCH Reference?.??.0.760V...........; .74 or more likely .70 or .68, set this when VTT is 1.2v, then change VTT
MCH/DRAM Ref.?......0.900V...........: Auto
ICH I/O??????.....1.500V............: Normal
ICH Core????...??1.100V............: Normal

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ??....1.800V............: 1.9v
DRAM Termination .?0.900V............: Auto
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: Auto
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: Auto

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled]

 

[mentalcrisis00]

ok I tried all those settings for 333x9=3.0GHZ 400x7=2.8GHZ 400x7.5=3.0GHZ and I still can't get it to post at all. Computer restarts after saving the bios and then black screen, computer shuts down, post comes up and bios has set the FSB back to 266 because of the failure to start. I had the same exact settings you have listed except the ram I set to 1066MHZ, 6.6.6.18, 2.0v which is the factory specs. I'm alittle dumb founded as the why this isn't booting right, I have the latest BIOS loaded.

I'm also using an Asus V72 cooler which seems to keep the heat down, I never get over 55C on the CPU. I got it cause it is cheap, small, and quiet.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

ok I got it to boot at 266x10.5=2.8GHZ 1.35v by setting the MCH back to auto 1.1, tried running it at 1.26v but wouldn't boot with those stock settings. Thought seeming this booted and didn't crash to a blue screen right away I'd try raising the clock. Set it to the 3 cpu clocks in my previous post and it wouldn't post at all, then I tried 333x10.5=3.5GHZ and it actually made it to the post screen!... but then it crashed. I at least know that the ram timings and cpu/ram voltage numbers run at stock 2.8GHZ but as soon as I try to change the CPU multiplier or FSB it won't run.

 

[Rick James]

Leave Dram voltage on auto and tighten the timings to 5-5-5-15. What memory do you have?

 

[mentalcrisis00]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231226

here it is newegg lists all the specs gskill recommends, some people have problems in their reviews and gskill messages back and says "up the voltage to the recommended 2.0v" so thats what I did off the bat without thinking to much about it. I will try the auto voltage and 5-5-5-15.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

Ok i didn't have the ram set to 800MHZ as you specified in the specs you wrote to me. The settings below are what I'm running and it booted into windows. I stuck with the moddest 3.0GHZ for cpu just so I can ensure that I can get it to boot with the memory timings. I have seen alot of people that buy the DDR2 1066 speed ram actually downclock it to 800 speed and tighten the timings as you described. Is this just the way it has to be for me to be able to overclock the cpu? Anyhow the system booted with the memory settings with 2.8GHZ and 3.0GHZ cpu clock and thats more progress than I've made so far. Not out of the woods yet but it's a step in the right direction thanks.

Prime95 ran for 40 minutes without errors, not a long test but before it would have an error about 5 seconds into it, temps went up about 3 degrees C. I will try it at 3.5GHZ later tonight and see if the performance boost justifies the overclock.

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
Multiplier.......................................: 9x
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: Normal
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00D or yours may like 2.0B, one will let you set lower PL(static tRead)
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................15

Motherboard Voltage Control
.....LLC=Enabled
CPU Vcore?.???.........................:1.35v not more than 1.4v especially if you have E0 steppping
CPU Termination?..... 1.200V*.......: 1.22v
CPU PLL???????....1.500V*.......: Normal
CPU Referen.????....0.760V*.......: Normal

MCH/ICH
MCH Core?????.....1.100V...........: 1.26
MCH Reference?.??.0.760V...........; .74 or more likely .70 or .68, set this when VTT is 1.2v, then change VTT
MCH/DRAM Ref.?......0.900V...........: Auto
ICH I/O??????.....1.500V............: Normal
ICH Core????...??1.100V............: Normal

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ??....1.800V............: Auto

All other settings are the same as you previously wrote to me.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

also about the MCH Reference number, it is set in odd decimals of .020, in other words it's like 0.672, 0.692, 0.712, 0.732 and so forth. Right now I'm trying it at 0.732 seeming thats closest to what you stated. I should probably down the voltages incrementally after I got the cpu clock where I want it, correct? That's what I read on the overclocking guides, to start high and then work down to find the sweet spot.

I'm running 3.5GHZ right now, 333x9.5 1.35v

Prime95 has been running for 2 hours now and my temps are:

Room temp...20c
Chipset.........35c
CPU..............61c
Core 1..........63c
Core 2..........63c

Those aren't constant but thats the highest they're gotten too. I think I see the short comings of the Asus V72 cpu heatsink, it's running maxed out at 2700RPM and seems to be barely enough to cool this cpu at 3.5GHZ. I might look into a better cooler, I have a swiftech water system but got sick of maintaining it so went back to air.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a cooler? I've been looking into the Zalman 9500/9700 or Xigmatek S1283 120mm (the reason I didn't like this is cause if you want the screw in mounting bracket you have to buy it separately or deal with pushpins)

 

[chuckm]

Get the Xig and bolt thru kit. Hell of a lot easier that the push pins.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

Ok just tried the cpu at 4.0GHZ 10x multiplier and ran prime95 but it only lasted about 10 minutes before the system shut down cold. No prime95 error, no bluescreen, just blinked out and next thing I saw was post screen. Before it crashed I got a glimpse of the temps and I think it indicates that the Asus V72 cooler just doesn't have enough to cool this chip at 4.0GHZ.

Room temp...20c
Chipset.........35c
CPU..............64c
Core 1..........61c
Core 2..........62c

I guess when the cpu die temp is higher than the core's it means it's time for a heatsink upgrade. I'm gonna put a xig 120mm HSF on order and hope that i get better performance out of it. In the mean time I'll run it at 3.5GHZ and hope it doesn't give me trouble, I will report the temps when I get the new sink in.

Thanks alot for the advice guys I really appreciate being able to open up the full potential of my system.

UPDATE

Switched the ram memory multiplier to 2.0B instead of 2.0D and the system has been running prime95 for an hour and the top temps are below. They're high and it may just be a flook that it's running this time, I have a feeling it won't run stable.

Room temp...20c
Chipset.........35c
CPU..............66c
Core 1..........67c
Core 2..........67c

 

[Rick James]

Is that 67C with prime or without? If its with prime thats not a bad number at all.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

yes thats with prime running but it errored out again not long after the hour mark, i dunno if thats from heat or something else.

The thing is also that the fan on this Asus V72 is a 90mm and it revs up to 2700rpm when the cpu passes 50C. The xig seems to be a bit quieter and if it gives me 10C off those temps I'll take it. I can refund the asus with newegg still too.