Cant overclock x48-dq6

[BOy2K]

heya guys
firstly hello and sorry the forst post im making is a request for help...
not the best intro eh... sorry...

im having a few issues with my x48-dq6...
firstly it doesnt boot from cold.. it will power up, fans and leds go and it just sits there... if i hard reset it boots fine... weird..
ive tryed all the bios' available but they all do the same. im now on f8e

im considering sending it back for an RMA based on that alone.

but...
this is my 2nd board (RMA'd the last one) because of similar reasons (altho it was worse bios wise)
anyway wierder still is that it will not overclock even slightly via the bios. not even 001fsb
i think it could be a memory issue with this board but wanted to check here cos you guys know your stuff!!

anyway here is a list of my kit.

GA-x48-DQ6
e5300
4x1gb OCZ Reapers pc8500 (5-5-5-15) (2.3V)

I can overclock the chip on stock volts to 3.4 easy as pie in easytune 6 so i dont understand why i cant do the same via the bios..

here are my stock and overclocked screenshots showing cpuz, memtest, coretemp.

stock (2.6)


overclocked (3.4)


and here are my bios settings

  
CPU = Model e5300
Motherboard = ga-x48-dq6
BIOS Version = x48-dq6 f8e
Ram = OCZ, REAPER ddr2 PC8500, [URL="http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_8500_reaper_hpc_edition"][COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_8500_reaper_hpc_edition[/COLOR][/URL]
 
Code:
Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [13] 
Fine Clock Ratio ____________[0]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [200] 
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [100]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [Auto]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]
Performance Enhance = [Standard]
CAS Latency Time________________ 5 [manual]
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ 5 [manual]
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______ 5 [manual]
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ 15 [manual]
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ 3 [auto]
Rank Write to READ Delay________ 3 [auto]
Write to Precharge Delay_________ 5 [auto]
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ 36 [auto]
Read to Precharge Delay__________ 3 [auto]
Static tRead Value_______________ 4 [auto]
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ 3 [Auto]
Comand rate (CMD) _______________ 2 [auto]
CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control [800mV]
CPU Clock Skew Control [normal]
GMCH Clock Skew Control [Normal]
System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.45V] 
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [Normal] 
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [+0.1V] 
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+0.1V] 
CPU Voltage Control_______ [1.25]
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) ...........: [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled] Enabled if you use Vmware/Virtual PC
Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect___________________[Disabled] *Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB__________________

[Chike]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

The screen captures were not done with posted settings.
Do you have the problem with the posted settings too?

[BOy2K]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

everything was done with the settings posted..

bios was typed out from post and the rest was screenshotted without changing anything..

[Chike]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

Sorry I overlooked the first one.
Cold boot problem happen both with stock settings and OC or just OC?

[BOy2K]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

thats the point i can only overclock with easy tune.

i cant replaicate via the bios.

:(

[Chike]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

I don't understand.
If you load optimized defaults and apply stock settings, do you still have the cold boot problem?

[BOy2K]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

yeah if i load optimized defaults, save bios and restart it powers off and just sits there when it reboots with the fans spinning..

like i said earlyer this is the 2nd board ive had because the first one had the same problem. do you think its a bad batch of boards or is it that these boards dont like the memory i have?

[Salty]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

For 4GB of ram +.1 MCH might not be enough. Try +.2?

Numerous instances of yr problem can be found with Google. Didn't find a definite solution though.

[Chike]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

yeah if i load optimized defaults, save bios and restart it powers off and just sits there when it reboots with the fans spinning..

I see, and when overcklocked does it do the same?
When you OC with easytune, enter BIOS and see what it set it for, probably the memory multiplier is ehat make the difference.

Try with only 2 memory sticks in slots 1 & 3, and then slots 2 & 4, to see if any of them solve the cold boot loop.

[BOy2K]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

ok update...

running 2 sticks of ram now instead of 4, this didnt work on the board i RMA'd but seems to work on this one... so im now in windows overclocked via the bios! and it boots from cold! wo0ho0!!

do you think that the reason it doesnt cold boot with 4 sticks is becuase the OCZ reapers need 2.3v? would upping the MCH volts help? whats a safe limit for overvolting the MCH? would i need to put a fan on the heatpipes and heatsink for the North/south?

cheers for the help guys. im sitting on 3.63 stock volts at the moment :)
i might have a nice chip on my hands here!

[Chike]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

Try the same sticks on the other channel. If those work try the other set of sticks. This is to see if one of the sticks/pairs or the channels are faulty.
Have you ran memtest86+ on them?
Increasing MCH Core may help, but only as much as needed, not more.
At higher FSB it is a good idea to add a side fan or mount a small one on the NB to keep it cool (as much as possible, it will still be hot to touch).
What FSB is set for 3.6GHz?

[BOy2K]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

heres a quick screenshot of cpuz
fsb is 280x13



i ran memtest when i had the first board and was having problems and it ran ok. i will do some more testing with the ram to see where the problem could be.

[Chike]

Re: Cant overclock x48-dq6

Use the latest memtest86+ vers. from the programs sticky.