Overclocking with EP45-DS3 and E8500

[sajkarN]

Hi there!
First post for me here, though I'm not new to overclocking and computers.

I'm having some problems with my overclock and I'm looking for advices and some answers to a few questions.

My system is:

Antec Three Hundred with Nexus and Fractal Design fans
Corsair HX520 520W
Gigabyte EP45-DS3 (bios version F9 aka latest)
Intel C2D E8500 (E0 stepping)
Corsair XMS2 PC6400 4 x 1024 mb (Link: WEBHALLEN.com [Corsair XMS2 Xtreme 2048MB DDR2 XMS2-6400 800MHz (5-5-5-18) (2x1024MB) (TWIN2X2048-6400)] )
Gigabyte 9600GT 512 mb (model with fan)
2 x 250GB Seagate 7200.10
640GB Western Digital

Anyway, back to the questions:

So, I was running my system with 380x9,5 giving me 3600MHz (a friend helped me overclock this time, now I want to do it on my own :)).
I was satisfied with that until I became more aware of overclocking and what it really does. Now, I wish to reach 4,0GHz or even more!

So, I was trying 9,5x400 giving me 3800MHz, changing the memory voltage to 1,9V which my memories are specified to run at. It didnt go to well and I was back to square one after failed booting etc. Been running at stock speed for a week or two now as I've been busy in real life. This weekend, I'm looking forward to spend some time in BIOS to reach 4,0GHz!

First Question: As I will most likely have to press the RAM voltage 2,0V+ for a 4,0GHz overclock, can that be done without extra RAM cooling or any danger? They are specified at 1,9V, do I dare raising it to 2,0V or 2,1V?

Second Question: I was thinking something like 420x9,5 giving me 3990MHz, that is reasonable with just a 20MHz RAM overclock?

Third Question: How far do you think I can reach? 4,2GHz? 440x9,5=4200?

Fourth Question: Would anyone mind giving me one of those templates you are using for M.I.T settings for 4000MHz?

TEMPERATURES:

IDLE:
CPU: 27 C
CPU Core 1: 35 C
CPU Core 2: 35 C
NB: 38 C
9600GT: 42 C

LOAD:
CPU: ~38 C
CPU Core 1: 42-46 C
CPU Core 2: 42-46 C
NB: ~41 C
9600GT: 60 C

I'm cooling my CPU with a Zalman CNPS7500-ALCU and the bridges with original cooling. Maybe a little fan on the northbridge would cool it a little? :)

Hope you can give me some advices, looking forward to it.

Regards from rainy Sweden.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Overclocking with EP45-DS3 and E8500

Yes, you can use 2.0 easily on 1.9 ram without cooling. 2.1 as well but it all depends on your ram if that is warranted or not, either way it is likely not need anyhow. You should be fine at 800-850 w/ 1.9V maybe even 900 at 2.0

Yeap, a 20Mhz overclock on your ram would be fine

4Ghz at least, depending on your chip and temps maybe more. It all depends on how much your chip likes voltages and how good your cooling is

Here is what I would use for 4Ghz with your CPU and ram >>>

[b][u]MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)[/u][/b]
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 4.03


[b][u]Clock Chip Control [/u][/b]
[b][u]Standard Clock Control[/u][/b]
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 425Mhz
[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...........................: <<< 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 50
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 50-150


[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...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00B or 2.00D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 850
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

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

[b][u]Advanced Timing Control[/u][/b]
tRRD...........................................3-4
tWTR..........................................3-6
tWR............................................4-8
tRFC...........................................52-65
tRTP...........................................3-5
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

[u][b]Driving Strength Profiles[/b][/u][b][/b]
Driving Strength ............................800/1066

[b]Channel A[/b]
Static tRead Value.........................: (6/7-10 for 333/B MCH - 9-12 for 400/D MCH)
 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.........................:(6/7-10 for 333/B MCH - 9-12 for 400/D MCH)
 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….……….........................: All up to your chip, keep in mind what you set here is not what you get in windows at idle and less at load.  So check that difference with CPU-z and keep it in mind.  It will change as you scale the voltages, but not usually too much.  Maybe 1.26-1.34 Actual would be needed.  All chips are different some need far more then others, some far less.

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: <<< 1.24-1.34
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: << Please set to stock, Auto overvolts this way to much

CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: <<< .64% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly 

CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:<<< .67% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly 

[b]MCH/ICH[/b]
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: << 1.2-1.3 (maybe 1.24-1.28 would be good)
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........; <<< Leave
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< Leave
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: <<< 1.55-1.6
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: <<< 1.1x-1.2

[b]DRAM[/b]
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 1.9-2.0
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] Enabled if you use Vmware/Virtual PC

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

OR

[b][u]MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)[/u][/b]
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 4.05


[b][u]Clock Chip Control [/u][/b]
[b][u]Standard Clock Control[/u][/b]
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 450Mhz
[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...........................: <<< 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 50
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 50-150


[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...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00B or 2.00D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 900
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

[b]Standard Timing Control[/b]
CAS Latency Time........................5/6
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................18

[b][u]Advanced Timing Control[/u][/b]
tRRD...........................................3-4
tWTR..........................................3-6
tWR............................................4-8
tRFC...........................................52-65
tRTP...........................................3-5
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

[u][b]Driving Strength Profiles[/b][/u][b][/b]
Driving Strength ............................800/1066

[b]Channel A[/b]
Static tRead Value.........................: (6/7-10 for 333/B MCH - 9-12 for 400/D MCH)
 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.........................:(6/7-10 for 333/B MCH - 9-12 for 400/D MCH)
 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….……….........................: See above

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: <<< 1.24-1.34
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: << Please set to stock, Auto overvolts this way to much

CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: <<< .64% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly 

CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:<<< .67% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly 

[b]MCH/ICH[/b]
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: << 1.2-1.3 (maybe 1.24-1.28 would be good)
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........; <<< Leave
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< Leave
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: <<< 1.55-1.6
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: <<< 1.1x-1.2

[b]DRAM[/b]
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 1.9-2.0-2.1

[sajkarN]

Re: Overclocking with EP45-DS3 and E8500

Thanks alot! I'll try one of those, just wondering a few more things:

System Memory Multiplier: 2.00B or 2.00D ........ Whats the difference?

MCH Clock Skew (ps): 50-150 .......... Rather big step there, any recommendations where to start? 50?

Thanks again, over and out.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Overclocking with EP45-DS3 and E8500

2.00B is 333 Northbridge speed/timings and 2.00D is 400 NB Speed/timings. 333 would be better but may not be stable over 400 FSB

Skew just helps add stability. Test all 3 settings 50-100-150, you may find none is needed at all, or more even. It is not a dangerous setting so you can try any you like

[sajkarN]

Re: Overclocking with EP45-DS3 and E8500

Alright, thanks!

Will return here with further questions when I've started overclocking.

Thanks again.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Overclocking with EP45-DS3 and E8500

K, good luck and post back anytime!