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[OC log] (\/)0n0L17(-) II

  • 06-12-2007 8:53pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭


    Ok well I finally got my RAM replaced from HWV. Funny thing is they didn't return any of my emails for 3 weeks then they sent my out a kit of RAM thats actually better than the one I sent them?

    I used to have a 4GB kit of Mushkin HP2-6400, they've sent me out a 4GB kit of XP2-6400. Basically the same but with tighter timings.

    So I thought I wouldn't be stupid like last time and just start ramping up voltages and clocks and seeing if they work, i'm going to try and OC this rig methodically and see what my results are. My rig is a fairly common high/mid end machine so hopefully someone will find this usefull.

    The rig i'm overclocking is:

    (\/)0n0L17(-) II
    CPU: QX6700 w/ Tuniq Tower lapped
    RAM:4GB Mushkin XP2-6400 @ 4-4-4-12 2T
    Mobo: eVGA 680i-A1
    GPU: eVGA 8800 GTX @ 620/1100
    HDD1: 2x320GB WD SE16 RAID0
    HDD2: 500GB Samsung Spinpoint
    Soundcard: X-FI Fatal1ty
    PSU: OCZ 700w GX
    Optical: SATA DVD-ROM 18x
    Case: P180b

    Here is my process for overclocking. I'll be leaving the FSB unlinked for this

    1: Find the limits of the RAM:
    This involves setting the timings to their rated settings and stepping up the Mhz of the FSB 10 at a time until I fail memtest86 before 8 hours. Once I fail i'll up the voltages and continue. I'll only be going up as far as 2.0v

    2: Find the limits of the CPU:
    This involves loosening the RAM timings and dropping the RAM clocks down, then uping the CPU's FSB 10Mhz at a time and testing for 8 hours in OCCT. Once it fails i'll up the voltages and test again, i'll do this up as far as 1.4v

    3: Find the best balance between RAM and CPU:
    This area is always fiddly, i'll try testing the RAM and CPU at their limits together and see if i'm stable. If not i'll increase the SPP, MCP, FSB and SPP<->MCP volts and retest. If I can't get it stable i'll drop both the cpu and ram clocks by 10mhz each until i'm stable.

    4: As a final test i'll run an 8hour run of rthdribl (or maybe the crysis benchmark) and OCCT to make sure everything is stable including my GPU overclocks.

    Here are some screenshots of the BIOS, feel free to give me advice on settings which are important and onces I should ignore.

    1.JPG

    2.JPG

    3.JPG

    4.JPG

    5.JPG


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 514 ✭✭✭nibble


    Just 2.0v with D9's? You won't be going to far at that voltage.. Something in the 2.2 range would be better, and there shouldn't be any danger of killing them at that, ballistix are rated 2.2v stock using the same ic's.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 810
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 4
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 1.9
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.3
    Memtest86 PASS


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    :mad: ok a weird thing is happening now, I set the RAM FSB to 820Mhz and ran memtest86, it passed 8 hours BUT... I don't think my FSB settings are being applied? CPU-Z and Everest are still picking up my RAM FSB as only 800Mhz?

    So I set the Memory Clock Mode to "linked", set the memory ratio to 1:1 and dropped the FSB to 820. I then rebooted and in post I now get "System has entered safe mode"... wth is going on???

    Anyone any ideas? :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 830
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 4
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.0
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 11.43
    Memtest86: PASS


    Wow, these forums are really buzzing with life :rolleyes: well anyway, I got some help over at the eVGA forums about why the increase in the RAM FSB wasn't being shown in the POST.

    Unlinked doesn't necessarily mean the RAM isn't still hindered by the divider (which can't be changed in this mode) So the ACTUAL RAM Mhz didn't go up until I changed it to 830Mhz. I had to up the voltage to 2.0v to stabilize this though. I don't really want to go much higher than this but i'd like to at least get to 900Mhz at these timings.

    Alternatively i'm going to try and leave them at 400Mhz and lower the timings.

    EDIT: Oh, I meant to ask... how does the HT multiplier work for Intel? When should I be dropping it to say, x4 and x3? Does it read the FSB for the CPU or the RAM? Does lowering it affect performance much?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    :rolleyes: ...

    ok having a REALLY weird problem now. I set the RAM FSB to 840Mhz and the VRAM to 2.0v and booted into Vista. i then played a few hours of Crysis, and when I exited the game my RAM had dropped back down to 800Mhz and the voltage had dropped to 1.9v???

    WTH???

    Anyone any ideas...


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 840
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 4
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.4
    Memtest86: PASS


    Ok... well I figured out the issue I was having with my voltages and clocks resetting. I have ntune installed and had saved a profile with my GPU overclocked values in it. Before loading up Crysis I had set ntune to load that profile, unknown to me, ntune also saves whatever your BIOS settings where when you saved that profile and then loads them. There is also no way to stop it from doing this :mad: Looks like i'll be getting another program to overclock my GPU.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭Anti


    Ah only just seen this now. And i was about to blame ntune. Had the exact same problem myself. Use riva tuner, atleast you can overclock the shaders too now :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Anti wrote: »
    Ah only just seen this now. And i was about to blame ntune. Had the exact same problem myself. Use riva tuner, atleast you can overclock the shaders too now :)

    Yeah just got the latest version. Luckily there are some released signed drivers for it so no need to turn driver chechking off when rebooting.

    Having some problems now with the RAM. Its failing after 7 hours at 854Mhz :( I've lowered the timings a bit to see if I can get the clocks higher, although I'd be surprised if I can hit 900Mhz on this kit at 2.0v. I'd go to 2.1v but I haven't tracked down what killed my last set and I don't really want to kill this set right before the xmas holidays :rolleyes:

    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 854
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 4
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 7.2
    Memtest86: FAIL


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Ok well lowering the timings seems to have helped. I'm going to see how far I can go at these timings.


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 854
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.5
    Memtest86: PASS


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 867
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.3
    Memtest86: PASS


    looks like the lowered timings are helping with the overclock.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 889
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.0
    Memtest86: PASS


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Ok getting a REALLY weird issue with overclocking the RAM (although nobody will probably read this :rolleyes:) My performance is DROPPING to my INCREASES in FSB (using EVEREST to bench)??? But the sticks are still 100% stable after 8 hours of memtest86???

    i.e.

    @ 427Mhz -
    * mem read: 7600 MB/s
    * mem write: 4830 MB/s
    * mem copy: 5368 MB/s

    @ 444Mhz -
    * mem read: 7411 MB/s
    * mem write: 4828 MB/s
    * mem copy: 5344 MB/s

    @ 457Mhz -
    * mem read: 7358 MB/s
    * mem write: 4852 MB/s
    * mem copy: 5400 MB/s

    Very very odd??? :confused: anyone any ideas, i've never seen this issue before when overclocking.



    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 915
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 8.0
    Memtest86: PASS


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭Anti


    try giving it some more voltage just a small bit and see what heppens.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Anti wrote: »
    try giving it some more voltage just a small bit and see what heppens.

    I don't think thats it, i've been reading around and supposedly this drop in performance happens when the northbridge strap increases from 1066 to 1333. Supposedly this happens when the FSB goes over a certain value.

    Heres a graph I found on this particular problem.

    attachment.php?attachmentid=121&stc=1&d=1160346346

    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 934
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.0
    Memtest86: PASS


    EVEREST Bench results: (OMG :mad: stop going down!!!)

    *mem read: 7227 MB/s
    *mem write: 4827 MB/s
    *mem copy: 5363 MB/s


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Ok, stable at 948Mhz after 8 hours... plus my bench scores seem to be rising again. So I have a window of DDR 100Mhz (i.e. 50Mhz) where my performance drops, now i've got to see how much further I have to push the FSB to get back to where I was before? Seems kinda fruitless overclocking when there are such blatant flaws on the motherboard. It might prove better leaving the DDR FSB low and just tightening the timings.

    @ 474Mhz
    *mem read: 7342 MB/s
    *mem write: 4850 MB/s
    *mem copy: 5436 MB/s

    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 948
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 8.0
    Memtest86: PASS


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭Anti


    jesus, thats a bit mad isnt it. And yeah i think i agree with you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Anti wrote: »
    jesus, thats a bit mad isnt it. And yeah i think i agree with you.

    I'd say i'll be up to around 500Mhz before i'm back to the same performance I was at at 427Mhz. Supposedly this is a common problem but because people don't bench, but just stress test at each clock increase they just assume that the performance is rising proportional to the increase im Mhz, which it isn't.

    The only way around this is to overclock the RAM from within Windows using something like ntune or clockgen as the strap won't change from within windows. This is also the reason why overclocking within windows will lead to stability problems a lot earlier than overclocking from the BIOS.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Ok WTH??? My scores are dropping again. This is very weird now.


    @ 480Mhz
    *mem read: 7273 MB/s
    *mem write: 4828 MB/s
    *mem copy: 5406 MB/s

    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 960
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.3
    Memtest86: PASS


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    BTW, what voltage is your ram warranty covered to? I wouldn't think twice bout giving them 2.2V


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,227 ✭✭✭awhir


    he's supposed to give them 2.2v there d9 chips.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    awhir wrote: »
    he's supposed to give them 2.2v there d9 chips.

    I've been on the Mushkin forums and these sticks are warrentied to 2.1v. But I doubt that's whats causing this issue. If I start failing memtest86 then i'll increase the volts. No point giving them more volts than they need.

    I've a feeling as i'm increasing the FSB the Northbridge strap is changing the memory latency proportionally (a memory setting 680i boards don't let you control) this means that what ever extra clock I give them is being cancelled out by this latency. They seem to have settled at around 7300 MB/s Read and aren't really increasing anymore.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 514 ✭✭✭nibble


    L31mr0d wrote: »
    Ok, stable at 948Mhz after 8 hours... plus my bench scores seem to be rising again. So I have a window of DDR 100Mhz (i.e. 50Mhz) where my performance drops, now i've got to see how much further I have to push the FSB to get back to where I was before? Seems kinda fruitless overclocking when there are such blatant flaws on the motherboard. It might prove better leaving the DDR FSB low and just tightening the timings.

    @ 474Mhz
    *mem read: 7342 MB/s
    *mem write: 4850 MB/s
    *mem copy: 5436 MB/s

    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 948
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 8.0
    Memtest86: PASS

    It's really not a flaw, just the nature of how the thing works. The NB-RAM and NB-CPU interconnects have latencies too, just like the ram itself does. Increasing the clock speed is obviously going to mean the board will need to increase its internal latencies to allow for the higher speeds.. just like your ram does. Also really give that RAM 2.2v man, it needs it!

    Pure bandwidth will usually prove better than lower FSB with tight latencies.. Sorta depends on the app but in general it'll be better.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Ok I give up :confused: it seems some other setting on the motherboard that isn't visable in the BIOS is fighting against me and defeating whatever overclock I give these sticks. I think the reason i'm not failing memtest86 at these speeds is that they are still running way below their rated bandwidth. At DDR1000 i'm still running under the bandwidth I was at at DDR850.

    I'm going to cut my losses and start testing these sticks linked and with the divider set to sync mode (i.e. DDR for RAM, QDR for CPU)

    Also nibble, your comment makes no sense to me. Tight timings will give me more bandwidth so i'm not sacrificing one for the other. If you mean i'll get more bandwidth from a higher clock I think i've already proved that with my board (at least with the clocked mode set to unlinked) this isn't so.

    Also why do people keep telling me to up my volts??? Volts are only going to affect stability, as my sticks are stable I don't need to give them more volts yet. Upping the voltages needlessly is just going to create more heat.


    @ 500Mhz
    *mem read: 7356 MB/s
    *mem write: 4834 MB/s
    *mem copy: 5440 MB/s



    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 1000
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.0
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 11.2
    Memtest86: PASS


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 6
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1600
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: Synced mode

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 3
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 1
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.1
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 4.3
    Memtest86: FAIL


    Ok tried tightening the timings today, i've been trying to get the timings above stable. At 2.1v they are stable for 4.3 hours. Still anything less than 8 hours is not good enough. I'll try 2.15v tonight and see how it goes


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 6
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1600
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: Sync mode

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 3
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 1
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.15
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.3
    Memtest86: FAIL


    hmm... ok they failed again. Just to be sure i'm going to loosening the timings back to stock today to make sure I haven't broken these sticks as the error is always coming up at the same location.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    For a quick memory test, run a 15x loop of test 5 & 10x of test 6, will take about 1.5hrs. These are the most intensive tests that will produce the most fails quickly. Ya must have great patience running them all night :D

    Have ya tries 2.2V with the tighter timings? They're d9 chips & do actually need it & can cope with it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    PogMoThoin wrote: »
    For a quick memory test, run a 15x loop of test 5 & 10x of test 6, will take about 1.5hrs. These are the most intensive tests that will produce the most fails quickly. Ya must have great patience running them all night :D

    Have ya tries 2.2V with the tighter timings? They're d9 chips & do actually need it & can cope with it

    i'm in no rush, i'd rather get it right then end up breaking them. I run the testing overnight, and then again when i'm in work, so it really isn't eating into my time at all. Plus it would only bother me if I needed the performance for some game i'm playing which I don't

    Also, I've found the failing is happening in test 4

    I'm going to have to rethink how i'm going to overclock this board as you can't really ever seperate the ram from the cpu. The strap changes affect both of them, plus the 680i boards suffer from having FSB holes where the system just won't boot at one clock, yet a higher clock will. Its the oddest board i've ever had to overclock on.

    Plus for some reason, my system enters safe mode when I enable linked mode with a divider of 1:1... it really does not like it, i've tried a few different clock settings and always the same.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1067
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: Sync mode

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 3
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 8.4
    Memtest86: PASS


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    Told ya :p

    Have a try at 4-4-3-10 @ 2.2v. Or use memset & test with orthos.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    PogMoThoin wrote: »
    Told ya :p

    Have a try at 4-4-3-10 @ 2.2v. Or use memset & test with orthos.

    well it runs stock 4-4-4-12 @ 1.9v, it actually runs stable at 4-4-3-12 @ 2.05v but i'm sick of voltage being an issue so i've just upped to 2.2v as I ran memtest overnight at this voltage and I wasn't getting any errors.

    The next timings I'll be trying are:

    4-4-3-10
    4-3-3-10
    4-3-3-9

    then if i'm lucky 1T, but I'm not holding my breath for that as there isn't many 4GB kits that can handle 1T.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 6
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1600
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: Sync mode

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 3
    TRAS: 10
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.29
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.5
    Memtest86: PASS


    Ok i'm really starting to hate this motherboard :mad: I passed at these settings last night. So I wanted to see if having the CPU divider down at 6 could be loosening the latencies. So I tried these settings

    CPU Multiplier: 8
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1200
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: 3:2

    Wouldn't BOOT, after a few automatic retries the BIOS went into safemode. So I tried this

    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 800
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: 1:1

    Wouldn't BOOT again... WHY??? I have no idea. Yet running

    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1000
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: 5:4

    boots just fine??? I can't get my head around it, how a CPU FSB of 800 is problem, 1000 isn't a problem and 1200 is a problem :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1000
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: 5:4


    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 3
    TRP: 3
    TRAS: 10
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.3
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 8.2
    Memtest86: PASS


    Ok, so i'm pretty happy with this. The sticks are running stable at 4-3-3-10 2T, plus the CPU multi doesn't seem to be having an effect, yet.

    Going to try 4-3-3-9 2T next and hope for the best.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Ok have a look at these EVEREST screens (who am I talking to? :rolleyes:)

    They show that even at timings 4-3-3-10 i'm seeing a VERY small performance increase over 4-4-4-12. Whats also weird is that 4-4-4-12 @ 419Mhz is actually better. :confused:

    mem_44412_400.jpg

    mem_44412_419.jpg

    mem_43310_400.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    Frequency is latency for intel, forget eveything you ever learned bout Amd. You'll always get better performance from intel by pushing the fsb, even at looser timings. You've just prooved that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Ok I couldn't get 4-3-3-9 1T stable at 2.2v. So I wanted to see what kind of performance increase just changing the CR would have. I remember on my AMD board the CR gives a bit of a jump in performance at 1T

    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto


    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 4
    TRP: 4
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 1
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.3
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 8.2
    Memtest86: PASS


    Results:

    Thats a pretty nice jump in performance. I'm going to see if I can lower any of the other timings seperately to get the maximum stable performance.

    mem_44412_1T_400.jpg


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Ok well I tried to boot at

    4-4-3-12 1T, I succeeded, but started to fail memtest86 after only a minute

    I then tried, 4-3-4-12 1T, I couldn't even boot at these timings. I just got the dreaded one long POST beep then the motherboard automatically switched the BIOS into safemode (a pretty nice feature imo, means I don't need to keep manually resetting the CMOS)

    So instead I decided to just try 4-3-3-9 2T, if that works i'm going to try 4-4-4-9 1T next.

    Although i'm starting to lose hope with these sticks, nothing i'm trying is really giving me much, if any, performance increase. My best bet will probably be to just leave it at DDR800 at 1T and start overclocking the CPU.

    Out of interest, those who are reading this, what performance are yous getting out of your sticks and at what timings and clocks?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 10
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: unlinked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: Auto

    Timings
    TCL: 4
    TRCD: 3
    TRP: 3
    TRAS: 9
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.3
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 8.0
    Memtest86: PASS


    mem_4339_400.jpg

    hmm... looks like i'm better off with 1T :rolleyes:

    Right, i'm done with this RAM. I wanted to get it above 8000MB/s read but that's not going to happen unless I overclock it from within windows which will force the strap not to change. But i'm not prepared to take that risk.

    Onwards and upwards. I'm going to start testing the CPU now.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    I don't try to tighten timings, i loosen them & push for higher fsb, more gains that way. But i didn't gain much on these ocz sticks, hopefully new gskills (in my sig) i'll have when my mam returns from Usa will oc a bit better.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    PogMoThoin wrote: »
    I don't try to tighten timings, i loosen them & push for higher fsb, more gains that way. But i didn't gain much on these ocz sticks, hopefully new gskills (in my sig) i'll have when my mam returns from Usa will oc a bit better.

    I think I agree with you. I tried testing 4-4-4-9 CR1 last night and i'm getting a worse score than at 4-4-4-12 CR1. I asked about this on the Mushkin forums and they said this is normal as tightening the timings also has the affect of loosening the NB latencies (which can't be controlled :()

    It seems a bit misleading for RAM suppliers to charge more for tighter timings when they give near to no increase in performance.

    My other problem is that I can't increase the FSB either, as, due to strap changes, it also has the affect of reducing performance rather than increasing it.

    I'll give overclocking the CPU a shot now and hope for the best. My only hope is that because my CPU has an unlocked multiplier I won't have to increase the FSB too much.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 12
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1000
    RAM FSB Mhz: 800
    FSB Memory Ratio: 5:4

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 12
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.3
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 9.3
    OCCT: PASS


    Ok pushed the clock up to 3Ghz straight away... :rolleyes: luckily enough, its stable at 3Ghz with a multi of 12. I'll be stepping up now 100Mhz at a time.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 254 ✭✭TheThreeDegrees


    Nice you can change your multiplier.I dont seem to have that option.
    See youve loosened your timings also.
    Thanks for the link on the other thread.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    You can lower the multiplier, but not increase it unless you have an extreme edition chip like L31mrod


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Nice you can change your multiplier.I dont seem to have that option.
    See youve loosened your timings also.
    Thanks for the link on the other thread.

    Yeah, any Intel CPU with an "X" in the name usually means it has an unlocked multiplier. (i.e. yours is a Q6600 so it doesn't, mines a QX6700) Like Pog said, it doesn't mean it can't be lowered though.

    Here are some bench screens, from that link I gave you with bench programs I found this german PI program for benching all 4 cores called MaxPI Multicore

    @ 2667Mhz

    cpu_bench_2666.jpg

    @ 3100Mhz

    cpu_bench_3100.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    BTW, Prime 95 is now multi core.

    Push up the fsb now m8 :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    PogMoThoin wrote: »
    BTW, Prime 95 is now multi core.

    I can't find any information about prime 95's support for quads. What version supports it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    CPU Multiplier: 12
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: ~<800
    FSB Memory Ratio: 4:3

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 15
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.3
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 6
    OCCT: FAIL


    hmm... ok, woke up to a message in Vista saying the system had recovered from a system error (BSOD) From the event logs it looks like OCCT lasted 5 hours at 3.2Ghz before restarting. Going to try 1.35v now and test again.

    BTW, my load temps in EVEREST are around 55'c per core under load with the side panel off, i'll be happy pushing it up to 70'c if it can handle it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    http://extremeoverclock.org/category/download/tweak-overclock/stressing/

    Its version 25.4 thats multicore, not sure if its out of beta stage but it works fine. I used occt for a quick 30min test while pushing for max fsb & prime 95 for an overnight torture test.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    PogMoThoin wrote: »
    http://extremeoverclock.org/category/download/tweak-overclock/stressing/

    Its version 25.4 thats multicore, not sure if its out of beta stage but it works fine. I used occt for a quick 30min test while pushing for max fsb & prime 95 for an overnight torture test.

    cheers... i'll give it a shot when I get home (working xmas eve :()

    Something i've noticed with my temps, since putting the 8800GTX into my P180 i've found my CPU temps have gone up from 28'c idle to 40'c after having the machine on for a few hours. I put this down to the fact that the 8800GTX is so long it basically partitions the main compartment in 2, stopping air from the middle intake fan getting to the RAM and CPU. Theres also the added heat being spewed out by the 8800GTX. I think this is what killed my last set of RAM. I had had the PC on for a few days so I guess the heat just built up on the RAM and eventually killed them. I have no way of getting an air intake around the RAM so i'm just going to leave the side off, the noise levels are also a lot lower as I don't have to have all my fans running at high RPMs to get the same level of cooling. I have a can-o-air to deal with the inevitable dust that will be caused by this.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 254 ✭✭TheThreeDegrees


    would you not up the voltage on the CPU?
    How high can you go anyways?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    would you not up the voltage on the CPU?
    How high can you go anyways?

    I did, I said i was going to increase the volts to 1.35v, which worked out good :D i'm now stable at 3.2Ghz

    CPU Multiplier: 12
    FSB – Memory Clock Mode: linked
    CPU FSB Mhz: 1066
    RAM FSB Mhz: ~<800
    FSB Memory Ratio: 4:3

    Timings
    TCL: 5
    TRCD: 5
    TRP: 5
    TRAS: 15
    CMD: 2
    TRRD: 3
    TRC: 24
    TWR: 5
    TWTR: 14
    TREF: Auto

    Volts
    CPU Core: 1.35
    CPU FSB: 1.2
    Memory: 2.2
    Nforce SPP: 1.25
    Nforce MCP: 1.5
    HT nForce SPP <-> MCP: 1.2

    Time Ran (hrs): 8
    OCCT: PASS


    EDIT:

    cpu_bench_3200.jpg


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