EP45-DS3R + 8GB RAM + Q6600 stability

[hang]

Hi, I have an EP45-DS3R with a: Q6600 G0 SLACR w/ VID 1.325 (high!), and 4x2GB of Patriot Viper PC6400 ram Newegg.com - Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory . http://hardwarelogic.com/news/134/AR...008-01-23.html

I am having trouble achieving a stable overclock. Memtest on the ram shows that it is fine after 5 passes. I get crashes running prime95 and games, however. Ive upped vcore as high as 1.6 before, but i still get crashes. I'm not sure what the problem is. Right now i am running at optimized defaults for stability.

Here were my settings:

Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:n/a
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.2 (356x9)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 356
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100

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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 150
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 200


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: Auto
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.40
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 854Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................4
tRCD .........................................4
tRP'...........................................4
tRAS..........................................12



Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................3
tWTR..........................................3
tWR............................................6
tRFC...........................................51
tRTP...........................................3
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................1066

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:12

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

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:12

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

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.58125 (i guess rather high, but it just wouldnt get stable)

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: <<< 1.460
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: << 1.500

CPU Referen.…………....0.760V*.......: << Auto



MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: << 1.2
MCH Reference….…….0.760V...........; <<< auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: <<< 1.50

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.2

Thanks for taking a look! Please help :)

[hang]

Re: EP45-DS3R + 8GB RAM + Q6600 stability

I just tried HCI memtest that runs under windows. It detected some errors... which memtest should i trust?

[godto]

Re: EP45-DS3R + 8GB RAM + Q6600 stability

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................3
tWTR..........................................3
tWR............................................6
tRFC...........................................51
tRTP...........................................3 --- set that to 4 .. that help with my 8 gig.
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

also lower this to 9 .. don't need 12 ... Static tRead Value

(G)MCH Frequency Latch .. try set to 333 .. because that is what you running anyway.. auto some time does weird thing

i sugest up your MCH little .. maybe to 1.26 .. and you probably can lower your vcore

good luck

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: EP45-DS3R + 8GB RAM + Q6600 stability

Be sure you are using the latest Memtest86+ >>>
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Beta (Which will correctly pickup your timings and DDR type >>
Index of /download/beta/211b6

5-10 passes would be best to be sure of stability

Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:n/a
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.2 (356x9)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 356
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100

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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 150
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 200 << try 250-300


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: Auto
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.40B << As long as you choose B you will be on the 333 strap (For godto)

Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 854Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................4 << May want to use 5 here with 8GB at 850Mhz 4 may not ever get stable without unnecessary voltage

tRCD .........................................4
tRP'...........................................4
tRAS..........................................12



Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................3-5
tWTR..........................................3-8
tWR............................................6-12
tRFC...........................................51 << for 8GB I would use 58 (65-80)
tRTP...........................................3 << 4-7
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................1066

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:7-9

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

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:7-9

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

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.58125 (i guess rather high, but it just wouldnt get stable) << Less for sure likely, what is this actual shown with CPU-z?

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: <<< 1.460
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: << 1.500 << 1.5-1.6

CPU Referen.…………....0.760V*.......: << Auto



MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: << 1.2-1.35 (1.28-1.35 may be needed for 8GB)
MCH Reference….…….0.760V...........; <<< auto << .70 manually set can help (Vtt must be set first)
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: <<< 1.50

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.0-2.2

[hang]

Re: EP45-DS3R + 8GB RAM + Q6600 stability

OK i cannot for the life of me overclock at all. I have lowered down to 333x9 but still nothing. Nothing I try will boot to windows except for loading back to optimized defaults + changing DRAM voltage to 2.1v. Everything else is auto right now. At these defaults and with most things on auto except for dram voltage, memtest86 goes through 5 passes fine and also prime95 shows the system is stable as well. Where should I start to see what the problem is?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: EP45-DS3R + 8GB RAM + Q6600 stability

Please post for me the exact overclock full settings you are trying that fail and I will advise you some looser/better things to set to get going. Most of the time that is the problem, just getting it going then all can be lowered once you get going

[hang]

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: EP45-DS3R + 8GB RAM + Q6600 stability

Try this exactish and see how you get along, if not try the higher settings I post by a few in {brackets}

Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:n/a
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.0 (333x9)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100

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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 150 << try None here with 200-300 below

MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 250


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: Auto
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.40B << 2.50A may work better for you
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................4 << Set to 5 for now
tRCD .........................................4 {5}
tRP'...........................................4 {5}
tRAS..........................................12/15

^^ Sometimes CAS 4 is very hard with 8GB ^^ So maybe 544-12/15 would get you going, if the below suggestions do not, of course try all those first, as it may just be one advanced setting that is holding you back and once you find it you can get them all back down



Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................3 << Set 4 for now {5-6}
tWTR..........................................3 << Set 12 for now {14}
tWR............................................6 << Set 14 for now {16}
tRFC...........................................51 << Did you not see my suggestions above? Jus askin Set to 75-80 {85} for now
tRTP...........................................4 << Set to 5 for now {6}
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................1066 << Try 800 or Auto for now

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:9 << Set to 12 for now

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

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:9 << Set to 12 for now

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

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.5 << What is this in windows, or have you ever got that far? Just wonder how large your vdrop and vdroop is. You may not need this much for only 3Ghz, same applies with Vtt below and yes to much of either can cause issues.

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: <<< 1.460
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: << 1.500

CPU Referen.…………....0.760V*.......: << Auto



MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: << 1.3 << 1.35 {1.38}
MCH Reference….…….0.760V...........; <<< .760 << Auto or .70
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.50V............: <<< 1.50 <<< 1.55

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.2

[hang]

Re: EP45-DS3R + 8GB RAM + Q6600 stability

still does not boot... Reboot loop... i have even tried a 2x1GB set of ballistix. Using Easytune to overclock works, oddly.