EVGA 680i SLI & E6600 Overclock question

Z

Zorn

Limp Gawd
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I got the EVGA 680i SLI board a couple months ago, I have a E6600 and some OCZ platinum DDR2-800 RAM. I am right now overclocking the system to 3Ghz using the PDF guide from nvidia, at these settings:

FSB: 1360 QDR
Memory bus freq (unlinked): 1020Mhz
CPU voltage: 1.350v
Mem voltage: 1.850v
FSB voltage: 1.300v
nForce SPP: 1.350v

Now at these settings, things are mostly stable, but my memory runs incredibly hot, and I noticed when I moved my computer into a new case that the heatsinks have begun to separate from the RAM chips.

I bought 2GB of Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066 memory to replace the OCZ stuff. I am wondering what the best settings would be to get a 3.0 - 3.2 Ghz clock. Do I need to up the voltages as much as I did? Should I do anything with SLI memory profiles?

I haven't really overclocked before so I'm not sure if my original setup up top was somehow incorrect. If anyone has any comments I'd appreciate it. Thanks
 
but my memory runs incredibly hot, and I noticed when I moved my computer into a new case that the heatsinks have begun to separate from the RAM chips

Memory bus freq (unlinked): 1020Mhz
Mem voltage: 1.850v
Click to expand...

That really worries me, these boards have a rep for burning up memory. While your speed is very high which should generate considerable heat, the voltage is almost ridiculously low (which makes me wonder how you got to 1020) and if I read you post correctly that is the OCZ 800MHz stuff running at 1020MHz at 1.85 volts. I do not have a lot of experience with OCZ but that is damn good OC on the memory, almost too good and makes me wonder if that voltage reading is in error. What I am saying is that I know that is what it says in the bios but wonder what voltage the ram is really getting and unless you have a Digital Volt Meter there is no way for you to know either. If you cannot do a slow count to 5 with you finger on the side of the heat spreader the ram is doomed to die. Get some air on it.

To answer you question and using the Corsair, oh, BTW, get some air on it. :p

For 3.2GHz (check coretemps with orthos running for basic stability testing)
(Boot, check cpu temp in bios, then reboot into a memtest CD first time and let it run a full pass to verify everything is fairly stable and prevent corrupting your windows install due to a freeze)

CPU multiplier set to 8
FSB: 1600 QDR
Memory bus freq (unlinked): // as close to 1066 as it will allow or slightly over//
CPU voltage: 1.425v //initail value, then through experimentation reduce to lowest stable value//
Mem voltage: 2.1v //leave this. Do NOT raise higher. If stability at 2.0v can be maintained. lowering it is OK. keep an eye on ram temps, act accordingly.//
FSB voltage: //use auto, then through experimentation reduce to lowest stable value//
nForce SPP: //use auto, then through experimentation reduce to lowest stable value//
nForce MCP: //use auto, then through experimentation reduce to lowest stable value//
 
So I want to just run the memory at 1066 and not linked to my FSB at all?
 
I exchanged my memory for 4GB of Corsair DHX DDR2 (1GBx4) and I have lots and lots of crashing now. I even installed Vista 64 to be able to fully see the memory. When I'm in games, either they crash or the system does after about 10 minutes. Sometimes Windows will just BSOD on its own. I tried the settings in this post and I have tried just about anything I can think of in the BIOS, I can't make my system stable. Anyone have any idea?
 
I've even gotten rid of the OC and took all the voltages to Auto, and the system is still unstable and continues to BSOD. Anyone have any clue?
 
Are you running your memory on Auto? try extremely relaxed settings or run Mem test to see of your memory is indeed bad.
 
"auto" sux on this m/b. My 680i sets my Ballistix to 1.8v on auto and it needs 2.2v to run 4-4-4-12 timings. However I can't seem to o/c this ram at these timings much at all. Check your manufacturer's specs on that ram. If it says 5-5-5-18 @ 2.0v or 4-4-4-12 @ 2.2v and it's PC6400(800Mhz), set it to just that manually- do not trust "auto". Also, use "UNLINKED" in BIOS so you can keep your ram at stock speeds (for now) while o/c'ing your CPU. FYI: My Ballistix doesn't care for anything much more than stock (2.2v, 4-4-4-12 & 800Mhz) so that's what I have it set to. And actually touch your ram, if it's extremely hot, put a fan pointing directly at it.

Another thing, we have the same cpu+M/B and i wouldn't recommend o/c'ing your setup much without a serious HSF. Mine's on water and only goes into the upper 50's when running Orthos. My rig needs 1.55v to run 3950Mhz stable, 1.4v to run 3605Mhz and can run 3450Mhz @1.35v (which is still in the stock range for my cpu.)
 
I'm running my RAM at stock speeds (400) because of the potential for these boards to chew up memory (Patriot is power hungry to, I'm at 2.0V in order to remain stable)... I'm pushing my e6400 to 3.2GHz (1600QDR) w/ 1.3125V -- again, it's the lowest I could go and remain stable. The 1:1 speed ratio also makes me happy...

I used the PDF just like you did, and found it very useful. This board is great for rookie OCers. The only advice I have is to test, test and test some more. Like Thrust said, leave your memory at stock settings (don't trust auto, set them manually according to manufacturer specs) and focus on the CPU first. Set a reasonable goal (like 3.0 Ghz), and test it at various voltages. Start high (1.35V) and work your way down. Gotta remember, getting your voltages down keeps temps low and extends the life of your parts. Be prepared to waste a day testing and tweaking your settings to find optimal settings.

Once it's stable, play with your ram speeds and timings until you find the optimal setup... again: test, test, test and test some more.

Good luck.
 
I'd lost this thread thinking it was in intel forum.

I'm 'synch mode' at stock timing for my RAM. Boosted the v to the 2.1 my RAM wants.

I'm 30 minutes into a Prime95 test at 3200 (356/1423) and voltage set at 1.4. I was cranking along at 3.5 at 1.55 but hit 75C and so backed way the heck down before things got bad.

What's a good load temp? 54 / 52 in that range?

Good luck in the OC!

Pin
 
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