GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

[profJim]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

For specific troubleshooting and testing with OCCT:

1) Select CPU:OCCT on the main screen.
2) Click on the "Test Type" field and select "Custom".
3) Click on the "Test Mode" field and select:
--> Small Data Set for "small FFT" cpu testing
--> Medium Data Set for "Blend" testing of cpu and ram
--> Large Data Set for "large FFT" ram testing
4) Set the Custom Test Duration time.

There are similar Custom settings using the CPU:Linpack test option where:
--> Low (25% free mem) uses the most memory
--> Medium (50% free mem) uses less memory
--> High (90% free mem) uses the least memory

Watch your cpu vcore temperatures when testing with the Linpack option.
20 - 30 minutes of Linpack testing should be sufficient for each Linpack option.

Post your bios settings with your test results, additional screen-shots help to eliminate possible errors and/or confusion.

[ghost707]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

We had some storms come through Austin last night and this morning - so I have had everything unplugged from the wall - so I am back up and running now.

I did some baseline testing with OCCT using the LinpacK test with memory @1066 7 7 7 20 FSB @333 and CPU @3.33 GHZ - OCCT reports hottest core temp @61.
Tested Flight Simulator X for 2 hours (same configs) with affinity mask set to 14 (to use 3 cores) and HWINFO reported highest core temp @50.

The next step is to test the CPU @ 3.66GHZ (333x11) and test leaving RAM @1066. Reading through the info ProfJim found - it looks like testing the RAM past 1333 may be a waste of time. I know Corsair tries to make their chips compatible - so lower speeds/higher timings may be the compromise to achieve this.
It looks like DDR3 1600 (2GB sticks) may be a gray area with respect to P45 chips.
I noticed on Crucial's website that they don't even make matched pairs (2x2GB) of 2GB DDR3-1600 - only 1GB sticks. Interesting.

Will report findings later this evening.

Thanks again ProfJim for the primer on OCCT.

[ghost707]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

OK - here is the latest,

I think maybe the problems I have encountered have been due to an undervoltage of VCore. Memory has been set to run at 1066 - to take it out of the equation.

I can run OCCT small data set @3.00GHZ (333X9) stock voltages with no problem, 3.33GHZ (333X10) with a small increase in Vcore to 1.2652V.

When I get the CPU up to 3.66GHZ (333X11) the system will reboot about 1 minute into the test at anything less than 1.3125V.
OCCT fails after about 5 minutes into the test - but does not reboot system ([email protected]).

However, there is discrepancy between the Vcore setting and actual voltage shown.
In Bios VCore is set to 1.3125 - in PC health screen Bios shows actual VCore @1.268.
In Windows: OCCT shows unloaded CPU @ 1.26, CPUZ and Easytune both show 1.264V.
Not sure if this is just normal variations or the engineers skewing the voltage a little so less people fry their CPU's.

So, my thinking is that VCore is still a little low in real voltage - which is causing the failure - I didn't want to take it any farther until I got ProfJim's input.

This is where I sit now:

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster .............: [ Auto ]
CPU Clock Ratio .....................: 11 X  
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.................: 0  
CPU Frequency .......................: 3.66GHZ (333x11)

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control...............: [ Enabled ]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333  
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100 
C.I.A.2 .............................: [ Disabled ]

Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive......................: [ 800 mV ]
PCI Express Clock Drive..............: [ 900mV ]
CPU Clock Skew (ps)..................: [ 0ps ]
MCH Clock Skew (ps)..................: [ 0ps ]

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance..................: [ STANDARD ]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [ AUTO ]
System Memory Multiplier ............: 3.20B  
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable ..............: [ Manual ]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time.....................: 7 
tRCD ................................: 7 
tRP'.................................: 7 
tRAS.................................: 20 

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD.................................: 5 
tWTR.................................: 5 
tWR..................................: 10 
tRFC.................................: 70 
tRTP.................................: 5 
Command Rate (CMD) ..................: 2


Channel A
Static tRead Value...................: 8
tRD Phase0 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ...............: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)...............: 9 [ AUTO ]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...............: 7 [ AUTO ]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...............: 8 [ AUTO ]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)...............: 8 [ AUTO ]

Channel B
Static tRead Value...................: 8
tRD Phase0 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ...............: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)...............: 9 [ AUTO ]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...............: 7 [ AUTO ]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...............: 8 [ AUTO ]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)...............: 8 [ AUTO ]


Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type...............
CPU
CPU Vcore............................: 1.31250V
CPU Termination….....................: 1.240V
CPU PLL..............................: 1.570V
CPU Referen..........................: 0.760V [ AUTO ]


MCH/ICH
MCH Core.............................: 1.260V 
MCH Reference........................: 0.760V [ AUTO ]
MCH/DRAM Ref.........................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
ICH I/O......................….......: 1.570V 


DRAM
DRAM Voltage ........................: 1.800V
DRAM Termination ....................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
Ch-A DATA VRef.......................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
Ch-B DATA VRef.......................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
Ch-A Address VRef....................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
Ch-B Address VRef....................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3...............: [ DISABLED ]
No-Execute Memory Protect...........: [ ENABLED ]
Load-Line Calibration...............: [ DISABLED ]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E).............: [ DISABLED ] 
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) .........: [ ENABLED ]
CPU EIST Function...................: [ DISABLED ] 
Virtualization Technology...........: [ ENABLED ] 

USB Legacy Support..................: [ DISABLED ]

some pretty pictures:

[ghost707]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

Some more pictures:

[profJim]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

A simplistic expanation:
vdrop = the difference between your cpu vcore setting and what you see when your system is at idle
vdroop = the difference between the observed cpu vcore at idle and when fully loaded

Here is an excellent article that deals with Vdrop and Vdroop:
Overclocking Intel's New 45nm QX9650: The Rules Have Changed (page 5)
You'll probably want to read the complete article.

Your "normal" cpu V.I.D. is usually displayed in your bios:
CPU Vcore .................. 1.?????...........: [AUTO]

Given the P45 chipset issues (from post #11) with your memory, I recommend the following bios changes:

1) set primary memory timings to 8-8-8-24 for now (it's easier to overclock using conservative memory timings)
2) set DRAM voltage to 1.60 or 1.70 volts (more isn't always better)
3) you can try increasing CPU Vcore incrementally, it's not likely that settings higher than 1.33 - 1.34 volts will be needed
4) set CPU Termination to 0.04 - 0.06 less than your CPU Vcore setting (this might help with stability)

I would start with steps 1 & 2 and try steps 3 & 4 if needed.
Load Line Calibration can be tried later if necessary.

The following are the results on my system with a 48% overclock:
CPU Vcore ............ 1.35000 ........ [1.36875]
PC Health: Vcore = 1.348
cpu-z @ idle ___ = 1.312
OCCT @ load __ = 1.298 - 1.312 (small data set)

The ET6 screenshot --> Tuner --> Advance --> Voltage is useful because it displays the actual applied bios voltage settings and lets us verify that these settings match the posted bios settings in your template.

Not so pretty but useful picture:

[ghost707]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

The article you mentioned is indeed excellent - I came across it right before I purchased my CPU several months ago. Unfortunately - I skimmed through a lot of it during initial reading. I was actually referring to the graphs in the article yesterday morning for comparison on Vdroop - but here is the most important part I missed: "As intended, Voffset and Vdroop ensure that the supply voltage never exceeds CPU VID"

[creamsoda]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

I own the same board, and I can get up to 502fsb stable in OCCT "Large Data Set" test.

It's a good board, but too bad it can't get to 590fsb like my UD3P board =(

[ghost707]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

Creamsoda,
That's a pretty good overclock you got working for you.
Just out of curiosity, what kind of RAM timings are you running?

Thanks for your input.

[creamsoda]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

5-5-5-15-2T
tRFC 42
tRD 8
333MHz frequency latch
DRAM voltage: 1.76v

[ghost707]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

5-5-5-15-2T
tRFC 42
tRD 8
333MHz frequency latch
DRAM voltage: 1.76v

DDR3 @ those timings? Holy megahertz Batman!

[gampamu]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

5-5-5-15-2T
tRFC 42
tRD 8
333MHz frequency latch
DRAM voltage: 1.76v

Impressive indeed! Which divider are you using?

Edit: since we are discussing Gigabyte boards here, which memory multi?

[creamsoda]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

well it sounds really good but it's not that great. It's about equal to a pair of Corsair DDR2 Dominators. My RAM only costs about $75. The Corsair DDR2 Dominators cost $85, and it has better latency. You get what you pay for lol.

@gampamu, I'm using "2.40B" memory strap

[creamsoda]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

Here's a screenshot for Ghost707.

4.2GHz (467x9), OCCT Large Data set 10hrs+ stable



This board can go up to about 502-503 fsb, but it's not recommended since the NB's heatsink will get hotter than satan's ballz.

[ghost707]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

I think Lsdmeasap would like your desktop background

What kind of read/write throughput are you getting with that setup?

I gots to know!

[creamsoda]

Re: GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

I took this screenshot straight out of my youtube's profile. It was taken a few days ago.

4Gb kit (2x2gb) Patriot Extreme Performance DDR3 PC3-10666


Keep in mind, this is $75 RAM, so don't expect anything godly. Also these are in Dual channel, not Tripple. If you have a set of tripple channel (3 sticks) RAM, then it's obviously gonna be MUCH faster than this.