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trouble overclocking here

A

aznlangjai

n00b
Joined
Jan 4, 2007
Messages
21
Before I start, here are my spec

ASUS P5K
Intel Quad Core Q6600 2.4ghz
8gb OCZ DDR2-400mhz 6400 (4x2gb)
750w corsair PSU
Using air cooling

My OC setting

FSB frequency is set to 333mhz
DRAM frequency is set to 667mhz to match the 1:1 ratio
everything else is on auto

This is the best I can get it to so far without getting BSOD or random freeze/restart. But I've ran prime95 overnight and core 1 always give a hardware failure after about 30 min. Ran prime95 again when I went to work, came home and my computer restarted by itself. Then ran it again before I went to sleep, and core 1 failed again after about 30 min.

I've read that rounding error are usually to do with memory or memory controller, but i have yet to figure out how to tweak my ram.

Can anyone help me diagnose my problem? If it's underclocking my ram, please give me a step by step instruction because I have no idea how to fiddle with OC/UC'ing ram.
 
What type of cooling are you using and what temps are you getting?

You are going to want to not just put everything at default because that is probably what is causing you problems. You will want to manually adjust your cpu voltage and possibly northbridge voltage as well. Your CPU is rated up to 1.5v so that is the absolute limit. I would start somewhere around 1.2 - 1.3 depending on your cooling.

Your RAM is underclocked so I doubt that is causing you problems unless the default timings are too aggressive.
 
Raise your MCH/northbridge voltage the next step and test again. If it still fails add one more step. Apparently you are using the "just slam some numbers in method".

I am assuming you are using a third party CPU cooler and have retired the stock intel one ?

Temps as reported by Coretemp or Realtemp while testing under load ?

Yes you are underclocking your ram. Ram runs at 2x the FSB x the ratio. So your 800MHz ram is running 2 x 333 x 1/1 = 667MHz . you need a divider of 800/(333 x 2) = 800/667 = 1.2 = 6:5 to run the memory at its rated speed but I would leave it at 667 until you stabilize your current settings.

I suggest you go blow the dust off the little book that came with the motherboard and read the Bios section over and over using google as you go until you understand what each setting does and how it might affect an OC.

The basic rules are.
The cpu runs at the CPU mulitplier x FSB
The memory runs at 2 x the FSB x the ratio
More voltage usually helps up to the point something smokes.
All the main chips on the board are thermally protected they will just shut themselves down if temps get too hot but too much voltage will kill them without warning.
Q6600 is good to 1.45V with proper cooling (Intel spec is 1.55) I stop at 1.4V as a conservative limit. Usually the small gains at anthing higher are not worth the trouble and risk in my opinion.
You need to cool the MCH/Northbridge with a dedicated fan. It gets OCed just like the CPU and if not kept cool your results will likely not be good.

One thing you could quickly do/test/try.

Reduce the cpu multiplier to 8
Raise the Vcore cpu voltage to 1.375V
Raise the MCH voltage two steps.
Make sure your memory voltage is set to the max range still covered by warranty, check spec on manf web site do not go by newegg or some other advertisement giveing specs. Go to manuf. Usually 2.1V for high performance memory is correct but double check.
Set memory ratio to 1:1
See if it will boot with a 400FSB, that will give you 3.2GHz cpu speed and your memory will be running at 800MHz exactly on spec. If you can get the board to do that, its a very good place to sit at while you learn the ins and outs of OCing. It may not do it. If not back off to 375, then 350 see where you can get it to run stable and post back.

But anyway its the MCH voltage that needs a bump or two and double check the memory voltage, that might get your current 9x configuration to run. As mentioned with the 9X config, keep the memory ratio at 1:1 underclocking the memory until you sort out the stability issues. Your hardware should do 333 FSB 9x for 3GHz easily, MCH and memory voltage setting is what the problem is I think.
 
I tried 8 multiplier with 400 FSB
vcore at 1.375v
can't find the MCH voltage
memory voltage at 2.1v

it can boot into windows, but i could already feel the unstableness.
i then ran prime95 and instantly BSOD.

currently running 9x333 at 3ghz with vcore at 1.375v and memory voltage at 2.1v. stress test making my temp going to 65C highest on the first 2 core and 60C highest on the last 2 core.
 
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You're running just the vanilla P5K I assume? It's the same board I'm using and in my experience, the damn board just tends to get finicky and unstable whenever I would try to raise the FSB above 333. I seem to recall having a lot of similar issues like you're describing. I finally broke down and bought a CPU with an unlocked multiplier that let me keep the FSB at 333 and simply raise the muliplier. No stability issues afterwards.


Anyway, I know that doesn't help you much in your case but I am suggesting that the board may be simply mediocre with higher FSB. Anyway, good luck.
 
well if it can help you for your setting, here's how i OCed mine :

Q6600 @ 3.6 + Zigmatek dark knight
ASUS P5K-E
Patriot viper 4g @ 1126

8x450
RAM @ 1126Mhz 5-5-5-15 2T
PCIE 100Mhz
CPU Vcore 1.50 (show 1.39 in CPUID)
CPU PLL Voltage 1.50
FSB Termination Voltage (AKA VTT) 1.30
North Bridge Voltage (AKA MCH) 1.40
South Bridge Voltage (AKA ICH) 1.05

Prime 95 small FTT 13 hours without errors (after that i just stopped it)
OCCT Large Data Transfer 10 hours without errors (after i stopped it)
OCCT Medium Data Transfer 10 hours without errors (same pattern lol)

temps : 36c idle, around 55c in games, and 63c in Prime95 small FTT.

I remember i also had it stable @ 3.00Ghz (8x375) with everything on auto setting lol.
 
well even at my current setting 3.0ghz OC, 1 core is failing after an hour or so. Just today i left my stress test on before I went to sleep and my computer restarted by itself. Logged into windows and a window saying that it has recovered from a critical error or something.

Maybe it has something to do with my cooling? My temps idle at 50C - 57C. Stress test bumps it up to 65C.

I will try those setting nicolas and post back. This is really fustrating.
 
Johnny78 said:
You're running just the vanilla P5K I assume? It's the same board I'm using and in my experience, the damn board just tends to get finicky and unstable whenever I would try to raise the FSB above 333. I seem to recall having a lot of similar issues like you're describing. I finally broke down and bought a CPU with an unlocked multiplier that let me keep the FSB at 333 and simply raise the muliplier. No stability issues afterwards.


Anyway, I know that doesn't help you much in your case but I am suggesting that the board may be simply mediocre with higher FSB. Anyway, good luck.
Click to expand...

Is there that much of a big différence between a P5K and a P5K-E ? Cause my P5K-E works pretty good for overclocking my Q6600, well so far at least, lol.
 
Have been running prime95 now for 30 min and none of the core has failed yet. Passed the 1024k, 8k, and now currently on 10k. Gonna leave it before I go to bed.

The only thing I tweaked is changing the memory timing to manual and setting it to 5-5-5-15, also changed cpu PLL volt to 1.5, FSB termination to 1.3. Couldn't find SB/ICH one. Left vcore at 1.375v and memory at 2.1v. So currently my OC setting is as follow

Multiplier: 9x
FSB: 333mhz
PCIE frequency: 100mhz
DRAM frequency: 667mhz
Memory timing: manually set to 5-5-5-15

Vcore: 1.375v
CPU PLL voltage: 1.5v
FSB Termination: 1.3v
NB voltage: 1.4v

I will be tweaking the voltage a little since I don't think I need that much for a 3.0ghz OC. Correct me if I am wrong.

Oh forgot to mention that I am using thermalright ultra 120 extreme heatsink with scythe s-flex 1600rpm 120mm blowing from the top. My temp with prime95 running right now is

core #0 - 69C
core #1 - 69C
core #2 - 63C
core #3 - 63C

are these normal with thermalright ultra 120? i heard this heatsink is pretty good.

I have intake fans on the inside at the top of my case and in front at the bottom. The only exhaust is the one at the back of my case. The bad thing about my case set up is the PSU is at the bottom with the fan blowing up (not sure if it's suppose to face up) and then on top of that is my BFG 9800GX2 producing a great amount of heat venting to the back of the case, but it's still pretty hot on full load (about 90C max, was 105C once). Luckily I am getting that RMA'd.
 
aznlangjai said:
Oh forgot to mention that I am using thermalright ultra 120 extreme heatsink with scythe s-flex 1600rpm 120mm blowing from the top. My temp with prime95 running right now is

core #0 - 69C
core #1 - 69C
core #2 - 63C
core #3 - 63C

are these normal with thermalright ultra 120? i heard this heatsink is pretty good.

I have intake fans on the inside at the top of my case and in front at the bottom. The only exhaust is the one at the back of my case. The bad thing about my case set up is the PSU is at the bottom with the fan blowing up (not sure if it's suppose to face up) and then on top of that is my BFG 9800GX2 producing a great amount of heat venting to the back of the case, but it's still pretty hot on full load (about 90C max, was 105C once). Luckily I am getting that RMA'd.
Click to expand...

Hum, idk but those temps seem a little high considering you have a thermalright ultra 120 extreme.......

My Q6600 @ 3.6 (Vcore 1,50v in bios and 1,39 in CPU-Z), my temp never goes above 63c in Prime95 small FTT, i use a Xigmatek Dark Knight, the thermalright ultra 120 extreme is supposed to perform as good if not better. I have a pretty good airflow though, my case is an Antec900.
 
Those are temps from CoreTemp. What do you suggest I do? Re-seat the heatsink? I've done that recently and temp went down by about 10C. I've seen report of the 30C idle and mid 50's full load with the thermalright.

And I suspect that the auto restart on stress test is due to heat. Once it reaches 70C it restarts.

Maybe my voltage is too high?
 
everytime i stress test, it auto restarts when i come back to my comp after 6 - 10 hours. what is causing the auto restart?
 
I foudn it easier to stress with intel burn in to find stability as I dont have to wait 8 hours everytime i want to check to see if a setting is stable. I get intel burn in stable on the lowest voltage values possible and then shoot for an 8hour+ pass of Prime95. The Intel burn it gets me a close idea of where I need to be a lot quicker mkaing the overall time it takes to get a stable OC much shorter.
 
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