GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

[frag85]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

i believe you are correct wazza300. i have noticed that when i manually set the vcore, the voltage does not change. however if leave the voltage on 'normal' which work works up to 190x21 for 3.99ghz, vcore is at 1.24v (1.2375v IIRC). i intended on using my machine to fold so i went with 200x21 with no power saving features since its at 100% CPU usage 99% of the time.

[wazza300]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

i believe you are correct wazza300. i have noticed that when i OC the voltage does not change. however if leave the voltage on 'normal' which work works up to 190x21 for 3.99ghz, vcore is at 1.24v (1.2375v IIRC). i eventually used my machine to fold so i went with 200x21 with no power saving features since its at 100% CPU usage 99% of the time.

yeh you can only clock so high on normal,then you have to disable c1e and raise voltage,are you using balanced power saving feature in win7? i am it cuts my clocks to 2.5ghz when not under load and jumps to 3.8if needed,you could try that and save some heat at idle...or just stay on high performance

[Squeeky]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

New BIOS today (F10k), and with it a new setting, "Dynamic Vcore." So here are my adjusted settings:

CPU Vcore ..................................... [Normal]
Dynamic Vcore ............................... +0.125

With these settings, my Vcore under load (such as Intel Burn Test) is the same as before, 1.248v, but my Vcore at idle is now 1.040v (rather than 1.28v) ... all, as measured by CPU-Z. The lower voltage at idle (when the multiplier steps down to 12x from 21x) results in a CPU temp at idle that is 3C lower than with the F10h BIOS.

At 70F ambient, idle temps are now MB: 35C, CPU: 39C, and NB: 48C.

This is perfect, IMO. At idle, C1E and EIST, together with Dynamic Vcore, reduce the multiplier and the Vcore voltage ... less voltage, less heat, more green. However, this CPU also easily runs at 200x21 = 4.2GHz ... a respectable overclock (and it definitely isn't maxed out yet) ... without any change in the BIOS settings.

Sweet!

Kudos to Gigabyte for the F10k BIOS.

My euphoria was premature. While I'm stable under load with Dynamic Vcore enabled, I suffer from random instability (freezes) at idle. I've tried to tweak other voltage settings to reach stability, but so far have been unsuccessful. For the time being, I've reverted to my prior settings (but am keeping the F10k BIOS).

[Squeeky]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

My euphoria was premature. While I'm stable under load with Dynamic Vcore enabled, I suffer from random instability (freezes) at idle. I've tried to tweak other voltage settings to reach stability, but so far have been unsuccessful. For the time being, I've reverted to my prior settings (but am keeping the F10k BIOS).

As it turns out, the F10k BIOS is not stable with the settings that I was using for the F10h BIOS (random system freezes when idle, or sometimes triggered by a mouse click, always with CPU usage of less than 1%). While I could keep experimenting, I have chosen the path of least resistance, and returned to the F10h BIOS.

It is unfortunate that they never disclose (in detail) what has been changed from one BIOS version to the next. It would make it so much easier to adjust one's settings.

[Squeeky]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

Success!

Configuration goals:

-- 4.2 GHz
-- Dynamic VCore enabled
-- C1E and EIST enabled
-- Memory running at lowest latency: 7-7-7 @ rated speed: 1600 MHz
-- Minimal voltage/heat increase


Settings:

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................... 20x
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech .................... [Enabled]
CPU Cores Enabled .............................. [All]
CPU Multi Threading ............................ [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ..................... [Enabled]
C3/C6/C7 State Support ...................... [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor .......................... [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function .............................. [Enabled]
Virtualization Technology ..................... [Enabled]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ....................... [Enabled]

Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed ................................... x36/7.200 GHz
Uncore Frequency ............................... x16/3200 MHz
Isonchronous Frequency ...................... [Enabled]

Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control .................... Enabled
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ......................... 200
Spread Spectrum ................................ [Enabled]
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ............... 100
C.I.A.2 ............................................... [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive .................................. 800mV
PCI Express Clock Drive ....................... 900mV
CPU Clock Skew .................................. [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew .................................. [0ps]

Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ......................... Standard
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) .......... 8.0 = 1600 Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............ Expert

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time .............................. 7
tRCD ................................................. 7
tRP .................................................. . 7
tRAS ................................................. 24

##Channel A Advanced Timing Control##
tRC .................................................. 35
tRRD ................................................ [AUTO: 4] actual: 6
tWTR ............................................... [AUTO: 4]
tWR ................................................. [AUTO: 8] actual: 12
tRFC ................................................ 88
tRTP ................................................ [AUTO: 4] actual: 6
tFAW ............................................... [AUTO: 16] actual: 24
Command Rate (CMD) ....................... 1

##Channel A Misc Timing Control##
Round Trip Latency ............................ [AUTO: 51] actual: 52

Advanced Voltage Control:

Load Line Calibration ......................... Disabled
CPU Vcore ........................................ Normal
Dynamic Vcore ................................. +0.125
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v .................... 1.28
CPU PLL 1.800v ................................. 1.86

>>>MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ..................................... [Auto]
QPI PLL 1.100v ................................. 1.30
IOH Core 1.100v ............................... 1.16
ICH I/O 1.500v .................................. 1.50
ICH Core 1.1v ................................... 1.20

>>>DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v ........................ 1.66
DRAM Termination 0.750v ................. [AUTO: 0.75v]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v ..................... [AUTO: 0.75v]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v ..................... [AUTO: 0.75v]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v ..................... [AUTO: 0.75v]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v ................ [AUTO: 0.75v]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v ................ [AUTO: 0.75v]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v ................ [AUTO: 0.75v]

HPET Support ................................... [Enabled]
HPET Mode ...................................... 64-bit mode


Comments:

BIOS: F14i
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64

Idle temps (@ ~70F ambient): MB: 40C; CPU: 41C; NB: 53C; CPU temp at full load (Intel Burn Test): 63C

At Idle: Clock multiplier = 12x; Core voltage = 1.040v

I have not tried to go beyond 4.2 GHz, but I have no reason to believe that the system can't be tweaked further; my current voltages and temps are relatively low.

My experience indicates that there is no need to disable C1E and CIST to achieve a significant overclock with the i7-920 D0 stepping. Further, C1E and CIST had no effect upon stability at idle.

I earlier reported problems with random freezes in Windows 7 x64 at idle. These appear to have been largely software related.

[wazza300]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

what voltage does the "normal" cpu setting set your voltage at? for me its 1.18750v but it varies from chip to chip

[Squeeky]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

what voltage does the "normal" cpu setting set your voltage at? for me its 1.18750v but it varies from chip to chip

I'm not sure I understand the question.

As noted, on the "Normal" CPU Vcore voltage setting, my "Core Voltage" is reported (by CPU-Z) as 1.040v at idle. And, at idle, there is no adjustment for Dynamic Vcore ... it doesn't kick in at idle.

Under load while using the Intel Burn Test, the CPU multiplier jumps from 12x to 21x, the core speed reaches 4.2 GHz, and (with Dynamic Vcore set at +0.125v) the Core Voltage increases to 1.264v (again, as reported by CPU-Z).

[wazza300]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

sorry to confuse,if you look in easytune/tuner/advanced/voltage 1 it will tell you your cpu voltage as power on and target

[Squeeky]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

sorry to confuse,if you look in easytune/tuner/advanced/voltage 1 it will tell you your cpu voltage as power on and target

I don't use EasyTune (and don't have it installed). The voltages reported by HWiNFO32 (another utility that I use) are the same as those reported by CPU-Z. Both get their readings from the ITE IT8720F chip, as EasyTune must.

[wazza300]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

ok its not important,i just thought you might be able to lower it a little more,easytune shows the cpu voltage different to those programs,they display what the cpu is using which isnt as much as what its set too ill post pics to show you what i mean


cpu voltage is set to normal/1.18750v

cpu-z idle voltage

cpu-z load

see how much cpu vcore is set in easytune yet at full load it only uses 1.168v,so the cpu will only use what it needs under load ect

[Squeeky]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

I appreciate seeing your numbers. I note that your BCLK is 180 and mine is 200. Consequently, your maximum core speed is 3780.0 MHz, while mine is 4200.0 MHz ... a not insignificant difference. Based upon this difference, I would expect my voltages to be higher. Note that my idle voltage of 1.040 v is set by the BIOS (I selected "Normal", and this is what I got; so some algorithm in the BIOS ... undoubtedly tied to the BCLK, set this).

The component of Vcore voltage that I selected myself is the Dynamic Vcore. I set this by using the Intel Burn Test and Prime 95 ... i.e., what does it take to reach stability on 25 cycles of the Intel Burn Test ("High").

[wazza300]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

i just stick to 180bclk to run memory at 1800mhz,dynamic vcore i set to normal also,and yes it will probably use slightly more vcore when idle due to higher bclk not cpu multi,you did well to clock to 4.2ghz with normal setting and temps are good too

EDIT: i see you have win7 now,have you tried disabling c1e in the bios and selecting "balanced" power saving profile in windows power saving options?? it does the same job as c1e,throttle/reduce cpu multiplier and voltage at idle and full speed/highest cpu multiplier under heavy load,"high performance" setting runs cpu at full speed at load and idle,also uses full cpu voltage load and idle

[frag85]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

Sorry i did not reply before I must have missed it.

System works fine with or without power saving features.

On a side note I found it interesting that even with all the power saving features enabled, there really isn't that much power saving going on. The difference for me is >30 watts. With the system in 'idle' mode the system draws 225watts. Sitting at the desktop with 2xGTX275's in their 3d clock modes the system draws 250watts. I just leave it all disabled because this system runs BOINC almost 24/7 and the rest of the time I'm gaming so its not like I'd save much even living in one of the highest costing electricity states in the US ($0.20/kwh). The system as a whole ends up costing me ~20 cents/hr when gaming D: I also figure that if the system is going to idle at >200 watts I might as well just sleep it if I do not plan on running BOINC.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

Interesting, I always thought saving power was a scam, now I see it really doesn't save all that much just like I thought

[frag85]

Re: GA-EX58-UD4P Settings Question

I wouldn't call it a scam, its just a feature that gets blown out of proportion. I7's are enthusiast CPU's, thus are very power hungry. The fact that I have 2 high capacity hard drives and a raptor, plus 2-high end video cards probably doesn't help. If you had 10 systems just sitting idle then you might start to see a difference in your power bill.

In my case over the course of a year if my computer was on and idling 24/7 I would save $5 (based on $0.19-0.20/kwh. 30watts/1000watts per kw*.19 per kw*24hrs day*365 days year). When you take into account that I DC, my system probably doesn't idle for more than 1hr a day, so over a year I would barely save $2 ($2.08). Yearly that is $36.62 vs $41.61. And that is with the 2nd most expensive electricity in the US which is nearly double what most see, not sure about internationally though.