E8400 + EP45-UD3R Overclocking Adventures!

[edouble]

Hi all, trying to make my way to 4GHz using an E0 chip. Here is my set up right now:

Robust Graphics Booster ...............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio .......................: [   9]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio...................:  +0.0
CPU Frequency .........................: 3.60GHz

Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control.................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ..............:  401Mhz
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
MCH Clock Skew (ps)....................:   0ps

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance....................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)........: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch.................:  Auto
System Memory Multiplier ..............:  2.66D 
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ................:  1069
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

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

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...................................: 4
tWTR...................................: 4
tWR....................................: 6
tRFC...................................: 54
tRTP...................................: 4
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 2

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

Channel A
Static tRead Value.....................:     7
tRD Phase0 Adjustment..................: [Auto]
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]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.....................: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.....................:     7
tRD Phase0 Adjustment..................: [Auto]
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]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.....................: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type...........................: [Manual]

CPU---------------------Normal-----------Current

Load Line Calibration..................: [Disabled]
CPU Vcore...............1.25000V.......: 1.25000V
CPU Termination.........1.200V.........: 1.200V
CPU PLL.................1.500V.........: 1.500V
CPU Reference...........0.760V.........: [Auto]  

MCH/ICH
MCH Core................1.100V.........: 1.200V
MCH Reference...........0.760V.........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Reference......0.900V.........: [Auto]
ICH I/O.................1.500V.........: 1.500V
ICH Core................1.100V.........: 1.100V

DRAM
DRAM Voltage............1.800V.........: 2.000V 
DRAM Termination........0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel A Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel B Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]

Advanced Settings
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]

Seems fairly stable. However, when I up the FSB to 410 AND drop the memory multiplier down to 2.00D, I can't post. If I bump it back up to 2.66D, then I post just fine. Why would my system post with overclocked RAM and not underclocked? I'm guessing some of my manually-entered RAM settings are to blame. My current RAM: Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Any help/assistance on my way to 4GHz would be most appreicated
Temps are pretty OK at this point - Tcase is 52C at load, cores are at 56C or so.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: E8400 + EP45-UD3R Overclocking Adventures!

Your tRD (Static tRead Value) is too low for P45 Chipset at 400+ FSB using D multi's, this and possibly other voltages are the issue. For sure though 7 tRD is not going to work at 400+ FSB using a D Memory multi, maybe using B but that is a whole different beast in P45. Some ram will do it easy, some will not

Try this for 4Ghz >>>

Robust Graphics Booster ...............: [Auto or Fast]
CPU Clock Ratio .......................: [ 9]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio...................: +0.0
CPU Frequency .........................: 4.05GHz

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control.................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 450Mhz
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
MCH Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance....................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)........: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch.................: Auto
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00D (2.00B can be attempted later. You may also try 2.40B now if you want, you will need to play with MCH Voltages and tRD though)
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ................: 900
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

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

^^ if you stick with 2.00B/D you can use 444-12 or 544-12 or 55412, ect instead of 555-15 since you are underclocking the ram ^^

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...................................: 3-4
tWTR...................................: 3-6
tWR....................................: 4-6
tRFC...................................: 52-54
tRTP...................................: 3-4
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 2

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

Channel A
Static tRead Value.....................: 6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH (Set 8-9 for now if using D Memory Multi)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment..................: [Auto]
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]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.....................: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.....................: 6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH (Set 8-9 for now if using D Memory Multi)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment..................: [Auto]
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]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.....................: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type...........................: [Manual]

CPU---------------------Normal-----------Current

Load Line Calibration..................: [Disabled]
CPU Vcore...............1.25000V.......: 1.25000V << More likely, but of course all chips are different so yours may be fine with less. Then again this is your 3.6 setting. I would say for 4Ghz try 1.25-1.38 BIOS Setting

CPU Termination.........1.200V.........: 1.200V << To Low, try 1.225-1.32
CPU PLL.................1.500V.........: 1.500V << 1.54-1.58
CPU Reference...........0.760V.........: [Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core................1.100V.........: 1.200V << 1.24
MCH Reference...........0.760V.........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Reference......0.900V.........: [Auto]
ICH I/O.................1.500V.........: 1.500V << 1.55
ICH Core................1.100V.........: 1.100V << 1.14-1.2

DRAM
DRAM Voltage............1.800V.........: 2.000V << 2.1V for now
DRAM Termination........0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel A Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel B Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]

[edouble]

Re: E8400 + EP45-UD3R Overclocking Adventures!

Thanks, I'll try this tonight. On a whim, I tried a similar 4.0GHz template I believe you posted for another poster somewhere else on this forum last night, but it wouldn't post. My guess was low Vcore (I only got up to 1.275 or so, haha ). Either way, it was a big jump with a lot of tweaking, so who knows what the culprit was.

Oh, by the way:

DRAM Voltage............1.800V.........: 2.000V << 2.1V for now

I'm an idiot and just mistyped this. I'm using 2.1V.

[edouble]

Re: E8400 + EP45-UD3R Overclocking Adventures!

Ok, I can get the following to post and Prime95 test for an amazing 13 minutes without crashing.

Robust Graphics Booster ...............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio .......................: [   9]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio...................:  +0.0
CPU Frequency .........................: 3.87GHz

Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control.................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ..............:  430Mhz
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
MCH Clock Skew (ps)....................:   0ps

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance....................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)........: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch.................:  Auto
System Memory Multiplier ..............:  2.00D 
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ................:  860
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

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

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...................................: 4
tWTR...................................: 5
tWR....................................: 5
tRFC...................................: 54
tRTP...................................: 4
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 2

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

Channel A
Static tRead Value.....................:     11
tRD Phase0 Adjustment..................: [Auto]
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]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.....................: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.....................:     11
tRD Phase0 Adjustment..................: [Auto]
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]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.....................: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type...........................: [Manual]

CPU---------------------Normal-----------Current

Load Line Calibration..................: [Disabled]
CPU Vcore...............1.25000V.......: 1.375V
CPU Termination.........1.200V.........: 1.32V
CPU PLL.................1.500V.........: 1.59V
CPU Reference...........0.760V.........: [Auto]  

MCH/ICH
MCH Core................1.100V.........: 1.24V
MCH Reference...........0.760V.........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Reference......0.900V.........: [Auto]
ICH I/O.................1.500V.........: 1.57V
ICH Core................1.100V.........: 1.20V

DRAM
DRAM Voltage............1.800V.........: 2.100V 
DRAM Termination........0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel A Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel B Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]

I can post, but cannot boot into windows with a FSB of 450 using the above settings and am not too excited about upping the Vcore anymore. However, I will say that the vdrop/vdroop is fairly big - while my BIOS is set to 1.375, CPU-Z shows 1.344 at idle and 1.312 while running Prime.

What I found to be a little crazy was that I was able to boot into Windows and run an hour or so under Prime with a 401 FSB with a Vcore of 1.275, a full .1 less than what I have now!

Anyways, any suggestions on how I can improve this would be most appreciated. It appears I don't have a chip that's going to allow me to go much further.