GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

[alex.turovsky]

Well, after the initial nightmare of installing Vista, upgrading to the altest F9 BIOS solved everything and Vista 64 has been successfully installed.

Now, Overclocking is driving me crazy as nothin "usual" works as it works on my baby, the ASUS Rampage Formula

I begin by turning off the 3 throttling settings:
In "Advanced BIOS"
-Disabled ESIT
-Disabled C1E
-Disabled TM2
-Disabled Virtualization Technology

usualy I just need to make:
CPU @ 1.6V
[email protected]

and just raise the FSB and all works. Here I cant get past 300 FSB. I mean WTF ?!

Can you please advice on recommended BIOS Settings ?

*Ram is this model:
LogicPC - MEMORY >> OCZ DDR2 HIGH PERFORMANCE >> OCZ OCZ2G8004GK 5-5-5-18 (2x2048)MB 800MHz DDR2 Gold Memory set

P.S - I basically feel the same as this dude:
GA EP45-DS3 Q6600 Overclock Issues - Core system - PC Hardware

Thank you.

[BongWizard]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

So have you got the Asus Rampage board or the Gigabyte EP45-DS3? Sorry, but you have really been clear... I'm just gonna assume you used to have the Formula and now have a DS3

You shouldn't need more than about 1.45V (when you compensate for droop) on the Q6600... with 2x2GB memory you'll have to change the settings somewhat. try these settings to get 3.8GHz

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................: N/A
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.80GHz (422x9=3798MHz)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 422MHz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100MHz <--Always 100!!

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


Advanced Clock Control
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0-50
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 50-100


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: 333 or 400MHz (try 333 first)
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 844MHz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time.............................5
tRCD ..............................................5
tRP'.............................................. ...5
tRAS.............................................. ..18

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3-7
tWTR.......................................... 4-9
tWR............................................ 4-8
tRFC........................................... 52-65 (essential for 2x2GB)
tRTP........................................... 4-7
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 2

Channel A
Static tRead Value............................: 7-12
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
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: Auto

Channel B
Static tRead Value..........................: 7-12
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
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: Auto

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.4-1.48V (start high then lower it when you get stable to decrease your temps)
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: Auto (or you can manually set as 1.28-1.35V)
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: Auto (should be fine for the rest of the CPU voltages)
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: Auto
CPU Reference2………..0.800V*.......: Auto

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.2-1.3V (will need for 2x2GB)
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........: Auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: Auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: Auto
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: Auto

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.1V

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]

also,
Legacy USB Storage Detect............: [Disabled] -> unless you wanna flash from USB

with all the timing changes, start really loose and then tighten them up one at a time while testing with MemTest86+ (Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool) between each move

also, you'll need some pretty good cooling on your CPU if you wanna get a decent OC, so if you dont have a good heatsink, get one before you try to OC

[alex.turovsky]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

You actually wanted me to try 422 fsb ? right

I did exactly the settings you said but with a lower 350 FSB and of course it didn't work.

it boots to Vista and after a few programs load on the taskbar it restarts. temps are on the 30 stock level, which is like ice cold.
then I tried setting the "(G)MCH Frequency Latch" to 400 and then to 200 but it made it worse. after restart the screen went black and the system sounded continuous short beeps, the another set of the same short beeps, and then rebooted normally to windows with default settings. when going back after another restart some message regarding bad overclock was shown and the settings remained the same I changed to, but without any effect on the OS.
Well, untill another reboot at least, with another set of short beeps and so on . . .

I need maximum stable settings. no timings, nothing tight(no 10-20 please, something solid, since I don't know whether higher or lower is more safe).
Also tried setting memory to 7-7-7-18, didn't work.

Oh, and i dont't have these options (second one since it's basic memory I guess):
- C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
- Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

Ya, The Q6600 is a hard stretch to get 3.8. Where do you normally run it, or have you used this particular CPU before? Or is it new?

Well I know you said no ranges, but that is how you have to do things. I can for sure post you alot of high numbers that would boot, but would also be terrible for performance.


That is value ram at 1.8V, so I will only advise 2.0V. Which will be fine, but I just wanted to point that out to you incase you were not sure of what would be ok and would not be, or didn't know. 2.1 even would be fine, but at 800Mhz or so 2.0 will likely work just fine

Sooo.... With that said, try this for 3.2, and if you want more let us know, but try to get this going first. F11 on the MAIN Page of the BIOS is save, F12 is load

(Q6600 @ 3.216 ~ 4GB 2x2 800MHZ 555-18 ) >>>>

[b][u]MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)[/u][/b]
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: [B][COLOR="Blue"][SIZE="3"]8[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.216


[b][u]Clock Chip Control [/u][/b]
[b][u]Standard Clock Control[/u][/b]
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 402Mhz
[B]PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:Set to 100[/B]

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


[b][u]Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter][/u][/b]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 50
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 50-100


[b][u]DRAM Performance Control[/u][/b][u][/u]
[B]Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD][/B]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [400] <<< set voltages, this then memory multi, then static Tread and save/apply/reboot and then you can set the rest.  333 may also work as well, so try it if you have issues.  Main thing here is to not try to set many timings when you change this.  And keep a eye on memory mutli when you do as it will go to Auto when you move this

System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 804
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

[b]Standard Timing Control[/b]
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................18

Set all highest below, then later lower and test as you lower.

[b][u]Advanced Timing Control[/u][/b]
tRRD...........................................3-4
tWTR..........................................3-6 (Use 12 first to boot thru)
tWR............................................4-6 (use 14 first to boot thru)
tRFC...........................................52-62 I'd set 58 first should be fine
tRTP...........................................3-6
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

[u][b]Driving Strength Profiles[/b][/u][b][/b]
Driving Strength ............................800 or 1066, 1066 is likely best

[b]Channel A[/b]
Static tRead Value.........................:6-7 for 333 MCH latch at stock ram speed, (8-10 for 400 MCH latch)  Set to 9 for now should be fine

 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:<<< Leave for all below as well
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

[b]Channel B[/b]
Static tRead Value.........................:6-7 for 333 MCH latch at stock ram speed, (8-10 for 400 MCH latch)  Set to 9 for now should be fine

 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:<<< Leave for all below as well
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

[b][U]Motherboard Voltage Control[/U][/b][U][/U]
Voltage Type.���... Manual
[b]CPU[/b]
CPU Vcore�.���.........................:  << There is about a .6 or so Vdrop on these boards.  So maybe 1.425-1.45 or more, only you and your CPU can find out.  Like I said though, 1.5 set in the BIOS will be 1.44 or so in windows.  So you may need more or less, best to set high first and lower later.  

CPU Termination�..... 1.200V*.......: <<< 1.3-1.45
CPU PLL�������....1.500V*.......: <<< 1.5
CPU Referen.����....0.755V*.......: <<< .64% Of Vtt (Termination above)
CPU Reference2���,,0.800V*.......:<<< .67% Of Vtt (Termination above)

[b]MCH/ICH[/b]
MCH Core�����.....1.100V...........: << 1.24-1.3 << Needed for 2x2 stability, can be lowered/tested later

MCH Reference�.��.0.800V...........; <<< Leave
MCH/DRAM Ref.�......0.900V...........: <<< Leave
ICH I/O������.....1.550V............: <<< 1.55-1.6
ICH Core����...��1.100V............: <<< 1.2-1.3 only need for when you start a higher overclock.  1.15-1.2 would be fine for this one

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ��....1.800V............: 2.0
DRAM Termination .�0.900V............: <<< Leave
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: <<< Leave
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: <<< Leave

[b][U]Advanced Settings[/U][/b][U][/U]
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]

[b][U]Integrated Peripherals[/U][/b][U][/U]
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled] *Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB

[alex.turovsky]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

NTSOKRNL ERROR on boot . . .

I tried now changing sticks to a cheap Samsung 1x2 memory modules and got the same results.

ALL THIS SAID IS ONLY ON 350 FSB !
- tried with higher voltages
- tried with 300 or 400 MCH Frequency Latch
- tried with DIMM 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 voltages
- tried raising all your given voltages a bit (0.5V increase, then 1.0V increse)
- only lousy 330 FSB, worked (with both 2x1 and 2x2 memory sets).


God Damn't, how ****ed up are Gigabyte's new P45 boards that I need to change like every single setting regarding OC to not even get to 350 stable FSB ?!

I read the same problematic experience accross all local Israeli and global Hardware forums in the past 2 days since I tried to understand whether it's only me. It seems to be a general issue.

On Asus P5Q series it takes 3 settings to change brings me to 3.6 rock solid:
FSB
Vcore: 1.6V
VDIMM: 2.2V

That's it. Why Gigabyte needs 40 (!) settings to be changed (list above) for OC to work half way is a complete mystery for me.

[Dweirdo]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

im exactly in your position , just with another CPU E7300, i cant get it over 333 FSB, something is weird, dude, if u r stable at 330, just try 333 to see if u get it stable, i know its little change, but just check if its not a hole,and if u get it on 333, up it another 3 to 336, till u dont get boot\prime success.
when u fix that problem tell me how u did it XD

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

I would say you need to try at it some more, especially since you have ram that is not on the QVL.

It is a memory issue, but you can get those to work, you just need to keep at it a bit more, post what you have tried and I will advise.

That Asus board having less options means less overall performance once you learn the in's and out's of your more advanced BIOS

[alex.turovsky]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

I gave up. I couldn't get to 350FSB, but could get to 335FSB (so I guess the limit is between 340-350) and didn't even want to hit more since it was an [email protected] OC and that was some sweet spot for my nerves.

3 Ghz is enough for 2 nightmarish days of changing 40 settings each time.

Lsdmeasap -With al due respect, I don't even want to respond to this "less options means less overall performance" crap. All my life (8 boards in a row from the days of P3V4X) I've been an ASUS customer and never felt like I wasted my money for zero performance increase over stock. All ASUS boards can give me perfect stock results, but OC was the thing to go when paying extra $. Getting nothing from these extra $ was a dissapoinment for me so for the mean time, I'm stopping any Gigabyte recommendation in our forums until I get from Gigabyte the same 3 settings OC that I get from ASUS.

Talking about performance, ASUS Rampage Formula gave me one of the highest OC in the world for a Quad core bringing mine
Q9450 [email protected] by
FSB: 480
Vcore: 1.65V
VDIMM: 2.0V

THAT IS IT. No extra settings. And this sums it all for me talking ASUS vs. Gigabyte.

Thank you all guys. Really :)

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

I used to think the same when I used Asus

Please Load optimized defaults, and start again. If you did not do this ever, or after adding/switching hardware then it is likely your issue.

And no matter what you say, you KNOW that more settings provides finer tuned this better performing overclocks. Ask Any DFI owner and you will be assured of this

Just because you cannot change a few settings and boot or be stable means nothing other then you need to adjust things more to get going. With MANY available options that leave tons of room for incorrect values, as compared to limited choices leaving less room for error.

And to be fair, you are right in a way. Let put it like this to be a more valid statement.

If you had 2 of the same Asus boards you mention above but one with ALL BIOS options enabled/visible/configurable and one with the normal BIOS settings available the one with the FULL BIOS would for sure be the best performer of the 2 boards.

4.3 is the Record I see for Q9450, but yeah 3.8 is high for sure >>>
THE OVERCLOCKING WORLD RECORD DATABASE

I do know what you mean, but trust me once you get your BIOS settings all figured out you will be jumping around in no time

[alex.turovsky]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

1) Immediately after flashing the BIOS I always pressed "Load optimized defaults" as it was recommended on Gigabyte's web site. Beleive me that after 2 days and countless restarts this board proved me one thing:
I know **** about Gigabyte's BIOSes - And never want to know it again.
It's like finally getting in bed the girl with the nicest features (as GB's board above) only to find out she has sex disease.

2. The results you showed with the Q9450 made on various extreme cooling. The limit of these CPUs on air is more or less what I got, with Thermalright's Ultra 120 Extreme.

3.You and me agree on one fact though. BIOS should be easy, and give Extreme OC results. Why this theory good for ASUS and bad for Gigabyte's engineers is an enigma.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP 45-DS3 + Q6600 Overclocking

Hmmmm

Ya, I assumed you were on air, just wanted to pass the actual DataBase onto you incase you did not know there was such a site. Just some info for ya, you can look up any CPU there as well.

Well, I do think A esy BIOS is good for someone who is not a overclocker yes. But as for overclocking I would have my P45 BIOS with tons of options any day over my P35 very limited BIOS any day