UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

[Ken429]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

Yes and No. I loaded the optimized defaults and then reentered the "changes" manually. I think I have over-thought this whole EP45-UD3P/Q9550 E0 overclocking adventure. I went back today and set the Static tRead Values (Channel A and B) to "Auto". I then changed all the voltages to "Normal". The only settings that I have overridden are the DRAM Timing Control = 5-5-5-15 and the DRAM Voltage to 2.02V, Vcore = 1.36250V (Probably too high?), CPU Termination = 1.34V and MCH Core= 1.34V. I set the CPU Host Frequency to 463 and the System Memory Multiplier to 2.40B (926 MHz) and let OCCT 3.1 run for an hour with no errors. I currently have upped the "FSB" to 470 and the system seems OK but I really haven't put it under load yet. So... it seems I may be on the right track? It looks like the CPU Termination and MCH Core voltages are the key players to get to 3.8GHz and all the rest of the voltage stuff was just getting in the way. Comments please.

[profJim]

<-- different memory
DRAM Termination...... 0.900V..........:Auto
Channel A Reference... 0.900V.........:Auto
Channel B Reference... 0.900V........:Auto

[Ken429]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

Thank you for staying with me. That is the trouble with the internet - I ended up with way too many cooks in the kitchen and some sound good but don't really know what their doing! Just so I understand, "Normal" = "Stock" even though I have struck it from my BIOS settings? I am guilty of not reading the verbage out to the right of the sample BIOS settings. I have changed all the stuff to this forum's (yours specifically) suggested settings and things are looking pretty good. I'm running at 3.8GHz (8.5 multiplier) and have reduced the voltages to 1.325 Vcore, 1.28 CPU Termination and 1.3 for the ICH Core. The system is running faster and a couple of degrees C cooler! I will keep lowering the Vcore and the CPU Termination until the system is unstable. Just so I understand, my CPU VID is 1.28750V versus the 1.25V and 1.22V I've seen in different postings. I assume that Intel is telling me that this CPU needs/wants a minimum of 1.28750V and to OC I need to be a little higher?

[Ken429]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

Were you right about the voltages. I have reduced the Vcore gradually down to the VID or 1.2875V (running up my electric utility bill with all the 1 hour shots of OCCT). I have also gradually changed the other voltages to the values you gave me. The system keeps on running at 8.5 X 450. I'm about ready to lower the Vcore below the VID? However, I'm not sure that is worth the effort since I have not noticed much of drop in CPU temps after the initial Vcore voltage reductions.

[Acebmxer]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

For these boards in the bios where you are changing the voltage the column on the left is your default voltages for stock. You can verify that with Core temp it will state the Default VID for your cpu. The lower the vcore usually will require lower volts at higher O.C to be stable but will run hotter then a cpu with a higher VID at same O.C with more volts. I dont know why but thats what alot of people have been noticing.

[profJim]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

Glad to see that you're making good progress.
Lowering Cpu Vcore lower than the VID is usually only done when you're under-clocking your cpu to run at lower than stock speeds. This is done to lower heat and noise, usually in HTPC systems, where lower fan speeds can be used due to lower heat output.

ICH Core = 1.10 or 1.20 is usually all that is needed for moderate overclocks.
The bios settings in post #32 are not guaranteed to work with all systems, but it is an example of reasonable settings for a stable overclock with your cpu and mobo.

With my Muskin memory, MCH Core = 1.26 - 1.28 works fine for moderate overclocks, and 1.22 - 1.24 is stable at stock settings.
Once you've completed extended stability testing, post your bios settings and a screen-shot that includes:
Memset using the SPD and ">>" tabs
cpu-z main screen
EasyTune6 --> TUNER tab --> ADVANCE tab --> VOLTAGE tab
This will let us suggest some additional tweaks for improved memory performance.

An overclock to 3.91GHz should be easy, using 460 x 8.5 with memory running at 920MHz or possibly 1104MHz. Overclocking to 4.0GHz or higher will take a lot more work.

[kick]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

I dont want to deny anyone the joys of tweaking but
Accepting for a minute that cpu speed >fsb spped>memory speed unless you have some really great memory u may find it easier to get more performance with memory running at a 2:00 multiplier.

Also check thru the long threads by Conners and posts by Acebmxer they are the most recent detailed oc on 9550 and 45 ud3p board.
lots of settings there too.

In general terms on decent air cooled systems:
45nm intel 775 quads with intel chipsets you will get around 50% cpu speed increase over stock with around 500fsb being their happiest max.
cpu core V in bios goes something like
490fsb 1.3-1.35V(1.29-1.34under load)
500fsb 1.36-1.40V(1.36-1.39under load)
510fsb..much higher and things get very hot
below 490 voltage requirements (for cpu) drop very dramatically towards stock voltage.
nb the above is mainly from reading posts here and on other forums.

Personally I may go back to 490 fsb for the rest of my cpu lifetime (its almost a year old),the overall voltage requirements are comparatively low and playing around at 520 fsb feels too much like russian roulette for minimal performance increase.

[Conners]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

Ok what did I miss.... I personally can't understand why a person would want to use the sleep function in the 1st place. I mean if your that worried about the cost or wear and tear turn it off. LOL Lets see here for a moment say a computer uses 350 watts an hour times 24 hours a day that would = 8,400 watts... 1000 watts in a kilowatt so 8400 / 1000 = 8.4 kW. Now lets say an average of 11.59 cents per kW. 8.4 X.1159 = .97356 cents in 24 hours x 365 days a year $355.3494 a year.

Anyway sorry for straying of topic. I'd say the last template profJim provided should work very well for you. (I am running @ 460 fsb) I don't know about you Muskin memory timings or the memory it's self but I hear good things about it from peeps here.

Also I read back a page or two about profJim providing valuable instruction on you sig and settings. Take it from me and compromise and do it proJims way, you'll be glad you did. And beware of the OC bug, you can feed it and feed it and then when you think your in remission it starts gnawing and gnawing at you to up the FSB speed, then one thing leads to another and the first thing you know weeks of your life are gone.

Hey but if you want more templates of higher OC's holler.

[Ken429]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

Response to Conners,
I have fallen in love with Window Home Server and it likes to wake up computers in the middle of the night and do it's backup routine. I have 3 other computers and WHS does a fine job of keping me out of trouble. On more than one occassion it has save my @@ss. Anyway, I just fell into the Sleep Mode trap because it works on the other computers. You got to understand that my old Pentium 3.2GHz generated enought heat to warm a whole room on a hot day in Indiana! I'll let this one run until someone comes up with a "Sleep" solution. I'll even break down an buy an ATI card if that will solve the problem! I'm still fighting this thing - it ran Prime95 with no errors for over 6 hours and then hard crashed. I have upped the Vcore from 1.30V to 1.31250V and started the Prime95 again. I also upped the CPU Termination to 1.22V. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Chike]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

The computer can be waken up from shutdown too.
Another option may be hybernation as compromise between sleep and shutdown.

[profJim]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

Raising Cpu Termination (aka VTT) can help with stability issues.
The general recommendation is that VTT should be at least 0.05 - 0.10 volts lower than Cpu Vcore.

It's best if you provide information that tells us which test you were running (small FFT, Blend, large FFT)
and what the FFT size was when the error (rounding?, expecting ....?) occurred and to post your failed bios template.

[Ken429]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

I would comply but it was a hard crash. Nothing - just a reboot.

[Conners]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

These are the settings I use for 3.83GHz your welcome to try them out. I don't know about your memory timings so set them as per the side of the stick.

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio.............................: 8 x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.+0.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.83GHz
 
Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Disabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 451 Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:Auto ---100
 
C.I.A.2 ................................:Disabled
Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0ps
 
DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: [2.40B]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1083
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]
 
Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5 --- Set the next 4 to whats on the side of your memory
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................15
 
Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................4 --- Can try the next 6 settings
tWTR..........................................4
tWR............................................8
tRFC...........................................68
tRTP...........................................4
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:Auto --- 2
 
Driving Strength Profiles Driving Strength ....:Auto ---OC1200
 
Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:Auto ---8
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 ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
 
Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:Auto ---8
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 ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
 
Motherboard Voltage Control
CPU
CPU Vcore�.���.........................:Auto --- 1.25625
CPU Termination�..... 1.200V ...........:Auto --- 1.200
CPU PLL������.1.500V*.......: Auto ---1.500
CPU Reference.����....0.760V*.......:Auto --- .760
 
MCH/ICH
MCH Core�����.....1.100V............: Auto --- 1.220
MCH Reference�.��.0.760V............: Auto --- .760
MCH/DRAM Ref.�......0.760V..........: Auto --- .990 - 1.04
ICH I/O������.....1.500V............: Auto --- 1.500
ICH Core����...��1.100V.............: Auto --- 1.100
 
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ��....1.800V............: 2.08 --- Set ot what's listed on side of ram
DRAM Termination .�0.900V............: Auto --- .990 - 1.04
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: Auto
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: Auto

G/L

[profJim]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

Conners,
Are you trying to infect Ken429 with the overclocking bug you caught when you went from 3.6 to 3.8GHz?
And then you couldn't stop until you got your system stable at 4.25GHz (8.5 x 500MHz).

[Conners]

Re: UD3P and Q9550 Overclock Problems

No, well yes might as well infect them all... I am just tweaking the ol ZM-MFC2 then off to higher ground.