E8500 & UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

[ANDREW76]

hey guys
so i just built a computer a few days ago
here are my specs:

case: Antec 900
mobo: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P (Rev 1.0)
cpu: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 C0 @ 3.16GHz (stock)
HSF: Xigmatek HDT-S1283
memory: OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 1066
vga: EVGA GTX 260
hdd: Seagate 7200.11 500GB
monitor: BenQ G2400WD 24"

I've never overclocked or messed with bios before, I have a general idea of what does what but I don't know what to set some settings to. All I've done so far is just set it to stock.

I'm shooting for 3.8-4.0GHz or maybe a little more. One thing: my core temp sensors seem to be stuck at 39 & 40 degrees celsius.

Here's my bios settings:

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: auto
CPU ClockVirtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

--------------------
My VDroop is 0.025V with LLC enabled

Thanks!

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: E8500 & UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

Some core sensors are just like that, nothing you can do really. Good thing is only Load temps matter

LLC should be disable for 45NM CPU's for sure for safety, just use more vcore

I see you have loaded FAIL Safe settings, please load optimized defaults first and then set ONLY your ram voltage and save/apply/reboot BACK to the BIOS. You will need to set all settings again, for sure do not forget to set your SATA/disk settings again

Here would be optimal ranges for your setup at 4Ghz >>>>

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: auto or fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:. +0.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.99GHz (421x9.5)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 421
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100
C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800mv
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900mv
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps << 50 may help with stability
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0ps << 50-150 can help with stability


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.66D (or use 2.00D for 840 Ram speed, then you can use 444-12 timings) If you want some settings for exact 4GHz and 1066 ram let me know and I will see what I can figure out for you

Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1118
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................15/18

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................3-4
tWTR..........................................4-6
tWR............................................4-8
tRFC...........................................52-62
tRTP...........................................3-5
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................800-1200 (Benchmark/Test all three last)

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH ( Use 10-12 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.........................:6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH ( Use 10-12 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
CPU
Load-line Calibration ....................: [Enabled]
CPU Vcore….……….........................:1.225-1.38 (What you set of course will not be what you get. All CPU's are different some need 1.2 for 4Ghz, some need 1.35 actual. Check with CPU-z the differnce and keep that range in mind, it will change a little as you change voltages but not much. Maybe 1.25-1.33 Actual should get you 4Ghz

CPU Termination…..... 1.200v.......: <<< 1.24-1.38 (Keep under Vcore by at least .1. 1.34 should be good up to 475+ FSB

CPU PLL…………………....1.500v.......: << Please set to stock, Auto overvolts this way to much

CPU Referen.…………....0.760v.......: <<< auto

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100v...........: << 1.24-1.28
MCH Reference….…….0.760...........; <<< auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............: <<< 1.5-1.6
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: <<< 1.14-1.25

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800v............: 2.0-2.15
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: <<< auto
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: <<< auto
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: <<< auto

[ANDREW76]

Re: E8500 &amp; UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

Hey Lsdmeasap
thanks for your help
though, i tried using the settings you gave me but my computer failed to post, and when i got back into the BIOS screen it said that it failed to low from overclocking/voltage changes
i set my CPU Vcore to 1.4. everything else was within your ranges.
was my vcore set too high?

[ANDREW76]

Re: E8500 &amp; UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

nevermind,
just got it to boot @ 421 x 9.5 (3.999GHz) with 1.375 Vcore in BIOS (CPU-Z reads 1.344V)
should i try lowering my Vcore slowly to see what the lowest i can go is? or just leave it?
what kind of programs should i use to test for stability?
btw thanks again for the suggested settings lsdmeasap

[ANDREW76]

Re: E8500 &amp; UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

so, i think it was unstable because i was playing L4D and it my computer was spazzing out once in awhile and eventually it just got super laggy.
i don't know what to change/lower so i just went back to stock

[ANDREW76]

Re: E8500 &amp; UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

any suggestions?
i'm not sure what to mess around with

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: E8500 &amp; UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

Ya, lowest stable Vtt and Vcore is best

I use Memtest86+ and Orthos. Latest Memtest86+ Beta (But will be final Code so fine to use. Correctly picks up P45 DDR type and timings) >>>
Index of /download/beta/211b6

Orthos and TONS of other utilities >>>

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/intel-burn-test-27994/

You would need to give me your full settings you was using exactly that caused you issues for me to best advise you.

[ANDREW76]

Re: E8500 &amp; UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

Hey Lsdmeasap.
sorry, i've been busy lately and havent got time to mess with my settings yet haha.
well here's an update. after feeling like 421x9.5 was unstable last time i just reset everything back to stock.
last night i tried messing with it again and i wanted to try 400x9.5 for 3.8GHz first and it seems to be working fine. i ran OCCT, intelburntest, core damage, and no problems.

i'm curious about one thing though, earlier i told you how my core sensors are stuck at 39 and 40 degrees celsius. even when im running these stress programs that make me hit 100% constant load, my temperatures dont budge at all. i thought that they would atleast start raising once under load and reveal those temps?

i will post my current settings after this post.

[ANDREW76]

[ANDREW76]

Re: E8500 &amp; UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

i just bumped up to 421x9.5 for (3.99GHz)
i lowered some timings and dropped my static tRead values to 10
also dropped vcore to 1.36825 (1.328V in windows)
just ran IntelBurnTest and 1 test out of 5 failed (had a different Residual(norm) value)

[ANDREW76]

Re: E8500 &amp; UD3P Overclocking (need some help)

i'm back to my stable 3.80GHz settings.
think that my 4.0GHz overclock was unstable because of my 1.328V vcore? was it too low for that? and did my timing change affect that too? the timings i changed were the ones in the advanced. i only lowered some of them to the lowest setting that Lsdmeasap suggested