Q9550 & GA-X38-DS4 need some help

[LiamSR]

Hi,

I'm new to this fourm and very happy that i found it.

I need some help OC'ing my Q9550 on a GA-X38-DS4 MB.

I have very stable [email protected] (Prime95+OCCT) and i want to push it higher...
I didn't had to change a lot of things in the bios to get to 3.83GHz and the temp is fine at max 60c (stress check), idle is ~45c (or less).

No matter what i do (changing a lot of values in the bios), I just can't go higher than that.

Any suggestions ?

Here is my settings for 3.83GHz Stable:

Robust Graphics Booster__________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ________________ [8]
Fine Clock Ratio ________________ [0.5]
CPU Host Clock Control___________ [Enabled]
CPU Frequency__________________ [3.83]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)________ [451]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)______ [100]
C.I.A. 2________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.40B] = 1082 MHz memory freq
DRAM Timing Selectable_____SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ [5]
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ [5]
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay________ [5]
Precharge Delay (tRAS)____________ [15]

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ Auto (3)
Rank Write to READ Delay_________ Auto (3)
Write to Precharge Delay__________ Auto (6)
Refresh to ACT Delay_____________ Auto (52)
Read to Precharge Delay__________ Auto (3)
Static tRead Value_______________ Auto (8)
Static tRead Phase Adjust_________ Auto (0)
Command Rate (CMD)_____________ Auto (2)

CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control__ [800mV]
CPU Clock Skew Control_________ [normal]
GMCH Clock Skew Control________ [Normal]

System Voltage Control_________ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control_______ [+0.3V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_______ [Normal]
FSB OverVoltage Control_________ [Normal]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control______ [Normal]
MCH Reference Voltage Control____ [Normal]
DDR Reference Voltage Control____ [Normal]
DDR Termination Voltage Control___ [Normal]
Loadline Calibration _____________ [Enabled]
CPU Voltage Control_____________ [1.4V]-->CPU-Z shows 1.37v@idle and 1.344v@load
Normal CPU Vcore_______________ [1.25V]

Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Disabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology.................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect___________________[Disabled]


My system

CPU: [email protected]
CPU Cooling: OCZ Vendetta 2
Memory: G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-1066 CL5
GPU: Sapphire Radeon 4870 512MB DDR5
MB: Gigabyte GA-X38-DS4
HDD: Seagate ST3500320AS 500GB + WD 320GB AAKS
PSU: Corsair 520W 40A@12V 520HX
Case: TT Armor Plus MX
OS: Vista Ultimate 64bit SP1


Thanks

[godto]

Re: Q9550 & GA-X38-DS4 need some help

try to go with trap 400 - 2.00D .. your ram be little lower .. and when you OC CPU to the point you want .. then tweak the ram ... the trap 333 - 2.40B is holding you back .. your temp little high .. mine at 3.82 .. and only at 27-33 ... and full load at 52-54 ...
also give MCH +1 or +2 ... you probably can lower your cpu voltage..
your 3.82 should only between 1.34 to 1.38 only ... ( hehehe experience from 6 different Q9550)

[LiamSR]

Re: Q9550 & GA-X38-DS4 need some help

Thanks!

My ambient temp is 20-24, my temp at full load is for the hottest core, and i'm going to place another fan in my case for better airflow.

I started checking again, this time wrote to myself my progress.

Here is what i changed, and Prime95 results

CPU Frequency__________________ [3.83GHz]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)________ [451]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.0D] = 902 MHz memory freq
FSB OverVoltage Control_________ [+0.1]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control______ [+0.2]
CPU Voltage Control_____________ [1.38125V]-->CPU-Z shows 1.36v@idle and 1.328v@load

Prime stable for 12min

next

CPU Frequency__________________ [3.83GHz]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)________ [451]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.0D] = 902 MHz memory freq
FSB OverVoltage Control_________ [+0.15]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control______ [+0.2]
CPU Voltage Control_____________ [1.38125V]-->CPU-Z shows 1.36v@idle and 1.328v@load

Prime stable for 25min

Is it true that Q9550 have FSB wall at 450MHz ?

What to try next ?

[godto]

Re: Q9550 & GA-X38-DS4 need some help

i ran my at 500x8 = 4.0 ... also ran at 471x8.5=4.0 ... they run fine .. just too much voltage ... over 1.41v .. so i back down to 450x8.5 = 3.82 .... at 1.3625v. i run mine 24/7 so want to be safe and stable ..i don't think there is so much different between 3.8 and 4.0 .

try to use .. if you want to go higher ... and how high do you shoot for ??

your ram is holding you back little ... loosing up and OC .. get stable then tweak ram latter

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ Auto (3) -- 4-5
Rank Write to READ Delay_________ Auto (3)-- 4-5
Write to Precharge Delay__________ Auto (6)---8
Refresh to ACT Delay_____________ Auto (52)---62-72
Read to Precharge Delay__________ Auto (3)---4
Static tRead Value_______________ Auto (8) -- 9 - 10
Static tRead Phase Adjust_________ Auto (0)
Command Rate (CMD)_____________ Auto (2)

*PS ... you might need to up your CPU voltage little if not stable ... one of my chip at 3.82 i had to go about 1.39v

[LiamSR]

Re: Q9550 & GA-X38-DS4 need some help

I finally got it stable (Prime 25.9 64bit 24 hours) @3.9GHz with 55c@load.

I can get as far as 4.1GHz with the same voltage (about 6 hours prime stable).
here is my new settings (thanks for the tips ):

Robust Graphics Booster__________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ________________ [8]
Fine Clock Ratio ________________ [0.5]
CPU Host Clock Control___________ [Enabled]
CPU Frequency__________________ [3.901]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)________ [459]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)______ [100]
C.I.A. 2________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00B] = 918 MHz memory freq
DRAM Timing Selectable_____SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ [5]
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ [5]
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay________ [5]
Precharge Delay (tRAS)____________ [15]

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ [4]
Rank Write to READ Delay_________ [4]
Write to Precharge Delay__________ [8]
Refresh to ACT Delay_____________ [62]
Read to Precharge Delay__________ [4]
Static tRead Value_______________ [9]
Static tRead Phase Adjust_________ Auto (0)
Command Rate (CMD)_____________ Auto (2)

CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control__ [800mV]
CPU Clock Skew Control_________ [normal]
GMCH Clock Skew Control________ [Normal]

System Voltage Control_________ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control_______ [+0.3V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_______ [+0.15V]
FSB OverVoltage Control_________ [0.25V]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control______ [+0.3V]
MCH Reference Voltage Control____ [Normal]
DDR Reference Voltage Control____ [Normal]
DDR Termination Voltage Control___ [Normal]
Loadline Calibration _____________ [Enabled]
CPU Voltage Control_____________ [1.4V]-->CPU-Z shows 1.392v@idle and 1.36/1.376v@load
Normal CPU Vcore_______________ [1.25V]


Now i'll try to decrease the voltage (Vcore, MCH & FSB) a bit and then to the memory tweaking...

I noticed that the PCI-E voltage was holding me down (the only way to get stable system = PCI-E@+0.15 or more). What is the safe range for it ?