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**profJim** · 05-29-2009, 09:40 AM

Re: Looking for advice in regards to BIOS settings

After an extended overnight Memtest86+ run, my next test is a 20 loop test with Intel BurnTest (IBT). Watch your temperatures when running IBT.
Prime95 or OCCT v:3.01 should be run for run for 12 hours or longer for each test; blend, small FFT, and large FFT.

Your Cpu Vcore looks awfully high. My E6550 runs at 494MHz with Cpu Vcore at 1.36873 which is 3 clicks higher than the normal cpu VID = 1.35000 volts.

Next post, include a screenshot of Memset using the "SPD" tab and the ">>" tab. Your AUTO settings for your memory's primary and advanced settings is not giving you maximum performance.

You might need to set (G)MCH OverVoltage Control to +0.1

**DWells55** · 05-29-2009, 10:36 AM

Re: Looking for advice in regards to BIOS settings

I have a feeling the CPU voltage is much higher than it needs to be, but I think I actually needed it that high to get 3.46 GHz to be stable. However, I think my RAM sucked before, which is why I replaced it recently. Thinking about it, I ran my RAM at stock speeds and the CPU at stock voltage and hit 3.2GHz initially and that proved stable for 18 hours of Orthos. So I think I might try tuning my voltage down to 1.4v for the core and upping the MCH like you suggested.

In fact, I'm gonna try that now and see if I can boot into Windows. I'll download memset and update this post. Thanks!

EDIT: Well, I've managed to boot into XP at 1.40v on the vcore and (G)MCH boosted by .1v. Haven't tried running prime95 yet though. Core Temp is reading 30C and 32C for my cores idle but CPU-Z is reporting that my vcore is actually 1.360v. I have a feeling that the vdroop that will occur when I launch prime95 is going to crash this thing hard, but we'll see. Oh, and here's the memset screenshot:

Thanks again.

EDIT 2: Prime95 ran for about 15 seconds before the system rebooted. Under load, the vcore fluctuated between 1.288v and 1.344v in CPU-Z. In the meantime with the system shut down, I'm taking a look at that memset thread to figure out how to set my timings manually.

EDIT 3:
Okay, from the Memory timings thread I've gathered that my settings should be:
Act to Act Delay (tRRD): 4
Rank Write to Read Delay: 4
Write to Precharge Delay: 8
Refresh to Act Delay: 68
Read to Precharge Delay: 4
Static tRead Value: ?
Static tRead Phase Adjustment: ?

For the time being I have the last two values set to Auto. Anyways, I'm gonna go try Prime95 again at 1.425v.

EDIT 4: With the above settings, memset reads out as such:

Looks like things aren't quite right. Dunno if memset is misreading the BIOS or if the BIOS just isn't settings things properly. Also, at 1.425v in the BIOS, CPU-Z reads an idle voltage of 1.376v which drops to 1.360v and fluctuates back and forth to 1.344v under load via prime95. I think this is why I had my vcore so high in the past - it seems to be lower than what the BIOS actually says and the vdroop really sucks on this board. I think for the time being I'm going to set my RAM back to auto and my vcore back to 1.45v until I can figure out what's going on.

Thanks for the help so far and thanks for bearing with me here through the length posts and constant updates. I'm a detail-oriented person and like to cover everything when I'm learning things.

**profJim** · 05-29-2009, 12:47 PM

Re: Looking for advice in regards to BIOS settings

Changing multiple bios settings at the same time makes it harder to determine where the problem might be.

For now, I"d leave the memory timings on Auto and MCH Core at 0.0 volts. Too much or too little MCH core voltage causes instability.
Work on getting the lowest stable cpu voltage first.

Once your system is stable, Static tRead Value = 8 will improve memory performance (7 might work, lower is better).

Memset is reading the values correctly. The following is from Lsdme's guide ( Memory Timings Explained W/ Suggested Timings & Memset VS. BIOS ):

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_______________ 3-4
Rank Write to READ Delay (tWTR)_______ (4-6) 9-11 (Note Actual Value set in BIOS Vs. What system Uses will be 7+)
Write to Precharge Delay (tWR)________ 3-5 (Note Actual Value set in BIOS Vs. What system Uses will be 5+)
Refresh to ACT Delay (tRFC)___________ 38-42 (2X1GB) 52-62+ (2x2GB)
Read to Precharge Delay (tRTP)_________ 3-6 (Note Actual Value set in BIOS Vs. What system Uses will be 2+)
Static tRead Value (tRD)______________ (5/6) 7-10 (800Mhz) 7-12 (1066Mhz)
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ 1-31*

Please post your altered settings and results in a separate post, rather than adding them (via the EDIT function) to the same post.

**Psycho101** · 05-29-2009, 01:12 PM

Re: Looking for advice in regards to BIOS settings

Go to IBT right away IMO, then if you get any issues, Memtest it, if not don't bother.

Any issues major enough to be a problem would be enough to trip IBT over too. This is only my opinion though. Others have different ways of doing things. As the RAM is running under its rated speed at the correct voltage, with perfectly set timings, I wouldn't waste time on Memtest at this stage. If it fails IBT on max stress (3200MB/RAM) then run three complete Memtest cycles, followed by a few hours of test 5 only.

Don't set your RAM back to [Auto] those settings are fine. There are differences between BIOS and Memset values. Some values in Memset also don't appear in the BIOS as changable values and are automatically set by the board.

Memset can be confusing to look at because of this. Although it gives a good idea of if someone has correct settings, don't tweak RAM timings according to its values. Tweak timings down from BIOS values. For example if Memset says a certain group of timings are 4-4-8-68-3-28 and the BIOS says the same group is 4-4-8-68-9-14 just lower BIOS timing numbers one by one. It doesn't matter if you call a doughnut a doughnut or a zingle-barp, it's still fried dough with jam in the middle.

To test likely stable tRead value, use Memset. Reduce tRead one step at a time, hitting apply and watching what happens. When you get to an unstable value, the PC will lock. Simply switch off, go into the BIOS and set tREAD to one value higher than the value that frose the PC. Eg, if you went to 9 = OK, 8 = OK, 7 = OK, 6 = FREEZE, set 7 in the BIOS and try to boot. Not much point wasting time stability testing at real loose timings if you're never going to set them to that in reality. Loose enough to be sure of stability, but not too loose.

To save having to take pictures of the BIOS screen, and add edits to posts, you could enter your settings in the following template, replacing current values with your own:

Code:

*************************************************

Robust Graphics Booster [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio[8]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio [.5]

**********Clock Chip Control*************************

CPU Host Clock Control [Enable]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) [475]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) [Auto]
C.I.A 2 [Disable]

*********Advanced Clock Control**********************

CPU Clock Drive [Default]
PCI Express Clock Drive [Default]
CPU Clock Skew [Default]
MCH Clock Skew [Default]

**********DRAM Performance Control***********

Performance Enhance [Tubro]
Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) [Auto]
(G) MCH Frequency Latch [333]
System Memory Multipler [2.00B]
Memory Frequency [950]
DRAM Timing Selectable [Manual]

CAS Latency Time [5]
tRCD [5]
tRP [5]
tRAS [15]

*******Advanced Timing Control***********

tRRD [Auto/Default]
tWTR [Auto/Default]
tWR [Auto/Default]
tRFC [Auto/Default]
tRTP [Auto/Default]
Command Rate (cmd) [Auto/Default]


***********Motherboard Voltage Control*******

Load-Line Calibration [Disable]
CPU Vcore [1.3000]
CPU Termination [1.240]
CPU PLL [1.570]
CPU Reference [.810]

MCH Core [1.3000]
MCH Reference [.785]
MCH/DRAM Refernce [1.110]
ICH I/O [1.590]
ICH Core [1.200]

DRAM Voltage [2.1000]
DRAM Termination [1.050]
Channel A Ref [1.050]
Channel B Ref [1.050]

*****************Advanced BIOS Features*********

CPU Multithreading [N/A]
Limit CPUID Max to 3 [Disable]
No-Execute memory Protect [Enable]
CPU Enhance Halt (CIE) [Enable]
C2/C2E State Support [Disable]
C4/C4E State Support [Disable]
CPU Thermal Monitor [Enable]
CPU EIST Function [Enable]
Virtualization Technology [Enable]

**profJim** · 05-30-2009, 05:54 AM

Re: Looking for advice in regards to BIOS settings

Your E6750 cpu is very similar to my E6550.
With my Cpu Vcore set to 1.36875 at 492MHz speeds, my reported cpu voltage varies between 1.296 and 1.312 volts while stress testing with Prime95, OCCT, Orthos, or IBT.

It could be the difference between our motherboards. My P35-DS3L mobo has no problem running with a 75 - 100% overclock, but this is probably due to the E2140 "super wimp" cpu running with 3GB of Crucial Ballistix 2.2 volt memory. The cpu-z idle voltage is 1.280 volts and the only other voltage tweak on the P35 is (G)MCH OverVoltage control set to +0.1 volts.

I've never worked with Load Line Calibration (LLC) enabled, but you might be able to safely use LLC enabled and Cpu Vcore set below 1.40 volts.

**Psycho101** · 05-30-2009, 08:58 AM

Re: Looking for advice in regards to BIOS settings

From what I can see, the GA-P35-DS3R doesn't have a LLC option. It could be hidden and visible if you press [Ctrl] + [F1] but I'm sure that only reveals adjustable RAM timings (at least in early BIOS's anyway). If it were there, it would be perfectly safe up to and including the 1.5V limit of the CPU. Try and get there without LLC first, but in reality, the voltage rises LLC causes is just as much "out of spec" as running a 2.66GHz CPU at 3.46GHz does.

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