Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

[Thorn2009]

My system Includes:
Inte E8500 @ 3.30
Gigabyte EX38-DQ6 (F3)
2 GB of 1066 Corsair Dominator Ram
2X500 GB Seagate Barricuda SATA II HD's
1XMaxtor 500GB External HD
Thermaltake Soprano Case (Black with viewing port)
Zalman CNPS9500 LED CPU Cooler


I have a few questions regarding overclocking on my E8500 system, I have heard people easily getting up to 4.0 gighz with this CPU on stock cooling, not sure if I want it that high but I am not sure how all the settings you can tweak relate to stability with the final product.

Say I wanted to push my overclock up to say 3.50 how would this affect my settings below? My memory is running faster than factory due to my overclock, what would I have to do to save this going even faster and causing instability? ATM it is running ok at 1107 but I wouldn't like to try to push it much higher! Do I have to change the Memory Multiplier (Memory Multiplier X FSB equals Memory speed?)

The settings below I have stable at 3.30:


Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [9X ]
Fine Clock Ratio ____________[0.5]
CPU Frequency _____________ [3.28 (346X9.5)]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [346]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [100]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00] Auto (there is no other option?)
Memory Frequency _______________[1107]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ 6
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ 6
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______6
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ 17

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ 4 (Auto)
Rank Write to READ Delay________ 4 (Auto)
Write to Precharge Delay_________ 8 (Auto)
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ 68 (Auto)
Read to Precharge Delay__________ 4
Static tRead Value_______________ 7
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ [Auto] 23

CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control [800mV]
CPU Clock Skew Control [normal]
GMCH Clock Skew Control [Normal]

System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.300V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control__ [+0.1v]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [+0.1V]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+0.1V]
CPU Voltage Control_______ [1.25]
Normal CPU Vcore _________ [1.22500v]
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]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect___________________[Disabled] *Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB

One other question for you, regarding the CPU Vcore voltages is it a case of the higher your overclock the higher this voltage needs to be for stability?

Thanks for you valuable time :) And sorry I am so new to overclocking without leaving everything on Auto and just slapping the FSB up (doesn't work in this case after 3.30 ;)

[Dodgexander]

Re: Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

You should just need more vcore to achieve 4ghz, maybe a bit more MCH(north bridge voltage). You can change your RAM multiplier from Auto to something else that will let your memory run slower.

If you run 445x9 i believe your memory will run at 890mhz when you use one of the memory straps. I suggest you read the sticky in this forum for overclocking, it helps alot.

I use to have this board and to get 4ghz, my settings were as below (I had A E8400 though). I have changed a few settings towards your memory and cpu. One thing to note,dont use the 1.4v i reccomend if using the stock cooler as this most likely wont be able to cope with the temps.

Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [9X ]
Fine Clock Ratio ____________[0.0]
CPU Frequency _____________ [4.00ghz (421X9.5]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [4.00ghz]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [100]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00D] <Use this if B doesnt work as this offers more stability at higher memory frequencies. you may be able to use a higher one, depending on your resulting memory frequency.
Memory Frequency _______________[842]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ 6
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ 6
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______6
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ 17

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ 4 (Auto) (May want to slack this if you have problems)
Rank Write to READ Delay________ 4 (Auto)(May want to slack this if you have problems)
Write to Precharge Delay_________ 8 (Auto)(May want to slack this if you have problems)
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ 68 (Auto) (if you have problems raise this)
Read to Precharge Delay__________ 4
Static tRead Value_______________ 7 ( I set this at 9, maybe even 10)
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ [Auto] 23 (keep auto)

CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control [800mV]
CPU Clock Skew Control [normal] < Dont go there unless you have problems.
GMCH Clock Skew Control [Normal]

System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.300V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control__ [+0.1v]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [+0.1V]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+0.1V] < Change this so your NB is 1.300-1.350.
CPU Voltage Control_______ [1.25] < Change this to 1.4v first to see if you can boot, if so, reduce and stress test for stability afterwards each time you reduce the voltage. Different CPUs need different v
Normal CPU Vcore _________ [1.22500v]
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]

[Thorn2009]

Re: Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

Thanks for all that info I will definately give it a try :) So say I wanted to go up to 3.5 or 3.6 even I would just have to raise the Vcore a little to compensate to make it stable?

I am using a Zalman Cooler atm so I think it should be able to handle the extra heat, atm I have it running at its slowest and the CPU temp idles at about 41-43 degrees and doesn't seem to go above 48 or 49 under full strain after playing a game !

[Thorn2009]

Re: Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

??

[Dodgexander]

Re: Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

Sorry. Yes, you probably need to raise the vcore a bit more. I would try if you just want 3.6 1.38v. But chips dont neccesarily scale with voltage, for instance, you may need 1.4v to run at 3.6 and also 4ghz, its unfortunatley process of elimination.

If you want just a basic overclock, why dont you download easytune6 and just set it as a medium overclock, that will do everything automatically for you.

Finally, make sure you are usinge RealTemp to monitor your temps, sometimes coretemp and speedfan give incorrect readings.

[Thorn2009]

Re: Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

Yeah the funny thing is if I use coretemp it shows my temps idling around 44 to 47 degrees and getting up to 50-54 under strain, if I use Realtemp it shows my CPU idling at 33-36 and getting up to 42-44 under stress! I know Realtemp is more accurate but that is a fairly big difference! That is in Celsius btw ;)

Either way I should be able to reach 3.6 by just upping the Vcore, I will try 1.38 for the Vcore too :) The temps are fine and I can always up the Fan speed on my Zalman Copper Cooler if they start getting high, like I mentioned before atm I have it on its slowest setting to prevent noise !

One question, will going up to 3.6 in any way in the long term, damage my CPU or shorten it's life? I won't be able to buy another CPU for awhile (I have my first child on the way) ! I certainly don't want it burning out !

I haven't used Easytune since I had my old Nforce4 board, is it safe to use? The thing I like about the Modern Duel-Quad Cores is the fact that it slows itself down when just sitting around in Windows so really it won't be running at that over-clocked speed unless you are playing a game!

Thanks for your reply and help :)

[Dodgexander]

Re: Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

Each Intel CPU has a max voltage spec, in your case for long term use the max is 1.4v actual(this is the seen voltage in CPUZ, not whats set in bios). Therefore running it at up to that is fine for long term use.

Your tempreatures are really good, wish I had those :)

[Thorn2009]

Re: Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

Glad to hear that :) So if I run it at 1.38 for example that should be ok for a 3.6 clock! I will give it a go over the weekend, what program would you recommend for stress and stability testing?

Thankyou btw, yeah happy with my temps, what really helps is a good CPU cooler and a good case, my Thermaltake Soprano has 2 180 mm fans one in the front and the back, also a faster but smaller 10cm fan in the side, the Zalman cooler is a great cooler too, copper pipes and a nice Blue LED on the fan hehe

Thanks again !

[Dodgexander]

Re: Overclocking help on a EX38-DQ6 and E8500

I use Intel Burn in test to stress.

Easy to use and very accurate/quick at determining stability. You just have to make sure the figures it generates are always the same and it tests both CPU and RAM.

Other than that, OCCT is also a good program:)