Xeon X3360 Overclocking Results, mainly P5Q Deluxe questions...

[mrSHEiK124]

ASUS P5Q Deluxe, 1004 BIOS
Xeon X3360 (C1 Stepping)
Xigmatek HDT-S1283

X3360_4.png
CPU Voltage: 1.21875 (1.208V idle in CPU-Z, 1.218V under load, load line calibration is weird, with it off I have to use a LOT more power)
All GTL Voltages on Auto
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.50
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.30
DRAM Voltage: 2.0
NB Voltage: 1.38
SB Voltage: 1.10
Load-Line Calibration: Enabled
CPU/PCIE Spread Spectrums both disabled
CPU/NB Clock Skew both on Auto
CPU Margin Enhancement: Performance Mode

Idle 37/37/35/34, Linpack load 64/64/62/60, AS5 hasn't set yet. I know I can go up to 1.4 on VTT before it starts to become dangerous, and similar for Vcore, but how much can I give the NB? Every time I go up a little bit in FSB the NB needs more power, it barely likes 400 MHz FSB.

As far as the BIOS is concerned, what do you guys like for the P5Q Deluxe? I was searching online and found a few modded BIOSes, but everyone prefers an either really old or the newest for one reason or another, like compatibility with certain hardware or something else. I haven't been able to gauge which one to go with and don't want to spend all day flashing and testing the different BIOSes...

 

[Foxery]

You have plenty of room to up the Vcore if you feel like pushing farther. 3600 MHz with ~1.29v may be possible. If you're using performance RAM, it's probably rated for 2.1v, too.

Lowering GTL values very slightly helped stabilize my Abit board, but someone with an Asus will have to chime in about yours.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: Foxery
You have plenty of room to up the Vcore if you feel like pushing farther. 3600 MHz with ~1.29v may be possible. If you're using performance RAM, it's probably rated for 2.1v, too.

Lowering GTL values very slightly helped stabilize my Abit board, but someone with an Asus will have to chime in about yours.

The RAM has SPD settings for 800 MHz and 1066 MHz (4-4-4-12, 5-5-5-15 respectively, both at 2.0V).

I wasn't actually afraid of the Vcore, even though the box says 1.25V max, I know these chips can handle close to 1.4V without any trouble; the temperatures were just scaring me. I don't want to be hitting 70C, right?

 

[Patrol]

don't go above 1.4 V , was reading your posts since the 10th of this month u have very good settings for the OC , im ahving problem getting it stable @ 1.5 GHz ,Q9550 hope some one help us here its good forum im sure some one will help us , but im using 8 GB of ram just becarfull on V core don't go above 1.4 V

 

[ghost recon88]

Go with the latest 1406m BIOS for your P5Q Deluxe!

 

[Foxery]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I wasn't actually afraid of the Vcore, even though the box says 1.25V max, I know these chips can handle close to 1.4V without any trouble; the temperatures were just scaring me. I don't want to be hitting 70C, right?

Official Q9550 Specs
Official X3360 Specs
Huh, I forgot they give the Xeon versions smaller voltage ranges. Some of us crazy folks push them right up to the Q-series limits, though 70C is Intel's safe zone; some crazy folks push higher, but it depends on how much risk/reward you are after.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: Patrol
don't go above 1.4 V , was reading your posts since the 10th of this month u have very good settings for the OC , im ahving problem getting it stable @ 1.5 GHz ,Q9550 hope some one help us here its good forum im sure some one will help us , but im using 8 GB of ram just becarfull on V core don't go above 1.4 V

Thanks. I didn't want to get close to 1.4V as I imagine I'll need water to keep it cool at that point.

Originally posted by: ghost recon88
Go with the latest 1406m BIOS for your P5Q Deluxe!

Thanks, will definitely try it out. Do you recommend the hacked 1406 BIOS or the official one?

Originally posted by: Foxery

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I wasn't actually afraid of the Vcore, even though the box says 1.25V max, I know these chips can handle close to 1.4V without any trouble; the temperatures were just scaring me. I don't want to be hitting 70C, right?

Official Q9550 Specs
Official X3360 Specs
Huh, I forgot they give the Xeon versions smaller voltage ranges. Some of us crazy folks push them right up to the Q-series limits, though 70C is Intel's safe zone; some crazy folks push higher, but it depends on how much risk/reward you are after.

I thought the Xeon would be the better choice for overclocking since server chips should handle a beating, right? Kinda regretting not going for a Q9550 from Newegg and possibly getting an E0, but I'm happy I got 3.4 GHz with minimal effort [and voltage ]. I'm gonna mess with it some more and update later. What's the word on load-line calibration? AT had a CPU review I think and they bashed it for messing with Vdroop, but I need to set Vcore a lot higher to keep 3.4 GHz stable with it off...

 

[Big Lar]

I reccomend the unhacked 1406 bios for now.
Heres my settings at 480fsb, obviously yours will be different but may be usefull for a reference point.


Q9400 2x2gb 1406 bios Settings at 8x480 10/07/08

FSB Strap = 333
PCI-E = 101
Dram Freq. = 961
5,5,5,15,3,52,6,3
8,3,5,4,6,4,6
14,5,1,6,6
Static = Disabled
Training = Disabled
OC Charge = Auto
Ai Clock = Medium
Ai Booster = 10
All Disabled
1.28750v
0.670v 0/2
0.675v 1/3
1.56v PLL
1.28v VTT
1.98v Ram (Ram overvolts on this board so be carefull)
1.34v NB
0.640 NB GTL
1.20v
1.60v
LLC = Enabled
D,D,A,A
CPU Margin; Optimal

My ram is the G.Skill F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ

Larry

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: Big Lar
I reccomend the unhacked 1406 bios for now.
Heres my settings at 480fsb, obviously yours will be different but may be usefull for a reference point.


Q9400 2x2gb 1406 bios Settings at 8x480 10/07/08

FSB Strap = 333
PCI-E = 101
Dram Freq. = 961
5,5,5,15,3,52,6,3
8,3,5,4,6,4,6
14,5,1,6,6
Static = Disabled
Training = Disabled
OC Charge = Auto
Ai Clock = Medium
Ai Booster = 10
All Disabled
1.28750v
0.670v 0/2
0.675v 1/3
1.56v PLL
1.28v VTT
1.98v Ram (Ram overvolts on this board so be carefull)
1.34v NB
0.640 NB GTL
1.20v
1.60v
LLC = Enabled
D,D,A,A
CPU Margin; Optimal

My ram is the G.Skill F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ

Larry

Thanks! Nice to finally get feedback from someone with a P5Q-Dlx, quick question though, what good does 333 FSB Strap do, and are your GTL voltages a factor of other voltages, ie., are they what they are because another voltage is at a certain setting? Most of what I've been reading tells me to steer clear of GTL unless I want to read up a lot on it and squeeze out a few extra MHz. That's a pretty sweet OC you've got, props; I need to get a watercooling setup

 

[Foxery]

As I understand it, "GTL" are percentage figures. The default is 67-68% for Core2-based systems. Moving it by 1-2% can improve stability; any more than that, and you'll lose it again.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sheik124/X3360_6.png
Tried all the below settings for 423x8.5, IBT results and temps voltages are in the screenshot. Weird how IBT passes for ~10-ish passes and then gives a VERY close (but off) value. Gonna mess with it some more, if tweaking voltages isn't going to work I'm going to back off 1 MHz at a time on the FSB...

CPU Voltage: 1.2875V
CPU GTL 0/2: 0.635x
CPU GTL 1/3: 0.645x
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.60V
FSB Termination: 1.38V
DRAM Voltage: 2.00V
NB Voltage: 1.38V
NB GTL: 0.635x
SB Voltage: 1.20V
LLC Enabled
CPU Margin Enhancement: Performance Mode
PCIE SATA: 1.50V

 

[mrSHEiK124]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sheik124/X3360_7.png
I think I finally have it stable at 423*8.5, now I'm going to tighten my RAM timings to somewhere in between the SPD ratings for 800 MHz and 1066 MHz (4-4-4-12 vs. 5-5-5-15, both 2V)

CPU Voltage: 1.2875V
CPU GTL 0/2: 0.640x
CPU GTL 1/3: 0.650x
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.58V
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.40V
DRAM Voltage: 2.00V
NB Voltage: 1.40V
NB GTL Reference: 0.640x
SB Voltage: 1.20V
PCIE SATA Voltage: 1.50V
LLC: Enabled
CPU Margin Enhancement: Performance Mode

 

[Big Lar]

Your voltages are a bit high for that clock. FSB voltage,(VTT) shouldn't be that high at all, NB voltage too. One thing alot of folks do not know, is that no 2 voltages should be the exact same settings, ie your NB and FSB. It creates some kinda crosstalk, noise that is not good.

As to GTL's, they are a Multiplier of FSB Termination Voltage,(vtt). A STARTING POINT for them would be .667 on the CPU GTL's for most boards, Asus says to start at 0.630 for the 0/2 cores and 0.670 for the 1/3 cores. So, say you have 1.28 FSB Term Voltage, the math for it would be something like this for a GTL of 0.670;

1.28 x 67% = TREF
1.28 v 67% = 8576

TREF should always be a Minimum of .8000 and a Max of 1.00 < keep that in mind.

So,Lets say we start at the above 1.28vtt and 0.667 or 67% for both GTL's, but we run Prime95 Blend and Worker 1 cuts out but the others continue on. We then Note how Long Worker 1 ran,( thats important). We then go back into bios and change our 0/2 GTL Down 1 notch and run Prime Blend again. If the time of how long it takes for Worker 1 gets longer, or does not fail at all, we know we are going in the right direction with the GTL setting, if not, try 1 notch up from the Original setting. That, is how GTL's are figured out or "Tuned".

BTW in Prime, Workers 1 & 2 relate to GTL 0/2 in bios and Workers 3 & 4 relate to GTL 1/3 in bios, at least in my bios anyhow. Once you tweak your GTL's, then and only then should you raise vcore/vtt/NB/PLL, etc...Most people never do that, but then most don't get the highest clock with the lowest voltage either. On the Asus board, the NB GTL can be left on Auto usually until about 425 FSB. then that will need to be tweaked as well.

Larry

 

[mrSHEiK124]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sheik124/X3360_8.png

FINAL RESULTS

Xeon X3360 C1 @ 423 x 8.5
ASUS P5Q Deluxe 1406 BIOS
Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / DDR2-1066 5-5-5-15 @ DDR2-846 4-4-4-12
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 + Arctic Silver 5

Idle: 39C/39C/37C/34C
IBT Load: 70C/70C/67C/67C

CPU Voltage: 1.28750
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2): 0.665x
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3): 0.640x
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.58
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.36
DRAM Voltage: 2.02
NB Voltage: 1.30
NB GTL Reference: 0.625x
SB Voltage: 1.20
PCIE SATA Voltage: 1.50
Load-Line Calibration: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
CPU Clock Skew: Auto
NB Clock Skew: Auto
CPU Margin Enhancement: Performance Mode
Intel SpeedStep: Enabled

NB Voltage went all the way down to 1.30V and stayed stable, FSB/VTT didn't like being below 1.36V, I'd start getting very VERY small errors in Linpack if it went below there, no matter what GTL was used.