GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

[comradeoldmatey]

Hi everybody!


First time over clocking the third system I have built. I am up to 2.91GHz which is more than 1GHz over stock, but I have hit a wall and the system won't boot up with any higher CPU Host Frequency than 416 using any system memory multiplier that fits. Suggestions appreciated. Specs are as follows:

GB-EP43T UD3L
4GB G.Skill-NT DDR3-1333 RAM (only 2GB installed for OC'ing)
Intel C2D E6300 1.86Ghz (yes the C2D NOT the PDC)
ThermalTake Blue Orb II CPU cooler.
MSI 7600GT
Antec Two Hundred
Vantec Ion2 520W
Western Digital 160GB HDD
Seagate 500GB HDD


BIOS SETTINGS

Robust Graphics Booster = Auto
CPU clock ratio = 7x
CPU Frequency = 2.91 GHz

CPU Host Clock control = Enabled
CPU host freq = 416
PCI Express Freq = Auto
C.I.A.2 = Disabled

DRAM performance enhance = Standard
(g)MCH frequency latch = Auto
System Memory Multiplier = 3.20B
Memory Frequency = 1331
DRAM Timing Selectable = Auto
STC
CAS = 9
tRCD = 9
tRP = 9
tRAS = 24

Voltages

CPU Vcore = 1.24375
CPU Termination = Auto
CPU PLL = Auto
CPU Reference = Auto
ICH I/O = Auto
ICH Core = Auto

DRAM voltage = Auto 1.500v
DRAM Termination = Auto



Let me know any settings that might be tweaked for a further overclock or better performance. As stated I seem to have hit a wall at 2.91 GHz. My temps 36-39 degrees on full load using speed fan. Everest seems to record a few degrees lower. I'm using prime for testing and only have 1x2GB stick of RAM in play at the moment and am aware that I may need higher NB voltages for this. All in all its not a bad first time OC, but I crave to break 3.0 and perhaps even 3.5 at these temps. Teach me! =)

Thanks.

EDIT: using BIOS version F1, Processor stepping = B2 (6) any other information needed please let me know.

[Chike]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

It is not recommended to leave vtt (CPU Termination) and PLL on auto, OC may over volt them too much. Check EasyTyne Tuner -> Advanced -> Voltage target for the applied values.
The temperatures in SpeedFan are core temps? SpeedFan may be off, use RealTemp or CoreTemp to monitor core temperature.
Please use a template from http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/giga...ettings-33613/ to post settings.

[comradeoldmatey]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

Motherboard: Gigabyte Model: P43T-UD3L Rev#: 1 Bios Version: F1
Cpu: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
Ram: 4GB G.Skill NT, Model/Part#, F3-10600CL9D G.SKILL-Products
Power Supply Unit: Brand: Vantec Model#: ION2 Wattage: 520W

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster -------------- : [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ---------------------- : [x7]
CPU Frequency ---------------------: 2.77GHz

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control --------------- : [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) --------------: [396]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) ---------- : [100]

C.I.A.2 ------------------------------ : [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control ------- [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive ---------------------- : [800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive -------------- : [800mV]
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) ---------------- : [Auto] (1267)
DRAM Timing Selectable ---------------- : [Auto]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time -------- 9 ---------- : [Auto]
tRCD ------------------- 9 ---------- : [Auto]
tRP --------------------- 9 ---------- : [Auto]
tRAS ------------------- 24 ---------- : [Auto]

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD ------------------- 4 ---------- : [Auto]
tWTR ------------------- 5 ---------- : [Auto]
tWR --------------------- 10 ---------- : [Auto]
tRFC ------------------- 74 ---------- : [Auto]
tRTP ------------------- 5 ---------- : [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) -------------------- : [0]

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength --------- : Press Enter <--- press ENTER to modify memory sub-timings when overclocking

Channel A
Static tRead Value --------------------- : [Auto]
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]
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
Voltage Types------------ Normal -------- Current -----
Load-Line Calibration ----------------- : [Disabled]
CPU Vcore --------------- 1.24375V ---- : [Manual]

CPU Termination --------- 1.200V ----- : [Auto]
CPU PLL ----------------- 1.550V* ----- : [Auto]

CPU Reference ----------- 0.805V* ----- : [Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core ---------------- 1.100V ------- : [Auto]
MCH Reference ----------- 1.200V ------- : [Auto]
ICH I/O ----------------- 1.550V ------- : [Auto]
ICH Core ---------------- 1.100V ------- : [Auto]
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ------------ 1.500V ------- : [Auto]
DRAM Termination -------- 0.750V ------- : [Auto]

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

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ------------- : Either called something else or setting not present in integrated peripherals

(all settings missing in my bios removed)





Using Easy Tune 6 all power on settings match target settings if that is what you were driving at. However the CPU PLL and CPU termination are reading 0.2000 and 0.1000 over the settings in bios respectively. The MCH Core reads 0.200 over in Easy Tune what it does in bios. Scarily MCH reference shows 0.760 instead of 1.200. If these differences are what you mean should I compensate in the bios accordingly?


EDIT: I had some boot instability despite passing Prime tests, so I kicked back down to 2.77GHz. Might have had something to do with C1E being enabled so I have disabled it in bios and will work on getting back to 2.9+

[Chike]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

MCH Core & CPU Termination might be a bit high but they are OK. 1.2-1.24v for both likely to be enough.
PLL is high, might be ok for 65nm CPU, not sure, probably not needed that high, try 1.57-1.65v.
MCH Reference in BIOS is 1.2v? Please recheck, doesn't look right.
P43 FSB wall is around 420, mine won't boot above 418, so there is probably not much that can be done.

[comradeoldmatey]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

My apologies, MCH ref is 0.760V.

Really? Not much more? Alas I was hoping for 3.0GHz+. Should have bought the P45 by the sounds of it. =(

Thanks for your help. If anyone has any other ideas I'm all ears. I suppose there isn't much more that can be done.

[Chike]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

Not so bad 3GHz, tune it yp and it is much more responsive and smooth than stock settings I am sure.

[comradeoldmatey]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

When you say tune it up are you talking about RAM timings? if so any suggestions on where to start testing? Sorry for my newb questions but I can't find much on the subject around that isn't rather outdated.

[Chike]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

Timings I usually don't change but Static tRead Value is set too high by auto settings may be lowered for better memory performance.
It would help to have a screen capture of MemSet main and spd(click spd) windows.
BTW is there a reason you don't use the 3.33D memory multiplier?

[comradeoldmatey]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

Ok, changed a few settings, using 3.33D mem multi and had to dial the OC back to 2.85GHz. I also tightened the auto Static tRead value from auto (10) to 9. But thats as far as it goes without failing to boot.

I will post an updated template when I get home from work if you like. Strange how MemSet misreads the DDR3 RAM and motherboard chipset in the main screen but it picks up everything fine on SPD.... I'm sure there's a good reason for that.

I'm really disappointed to not be able to go any higher with such nice temperatures. You suggested different software to read them before? But I am using 2 different programs (speedfan and everest) and the bios says its even lower (around 14-15 on boot). I'd like to put it down to my CPU cooler but I suppose that temp might just be too good to be true. The highest I have seen it since overclocking was 38 degrees at full load and that was at the highest OC I can manage, although it was slightly instable. Its hovering in the 31-37 degree mark at full load all night at stable settings.

[Chike]

Re: GB-EP43T UD3L, C2D E6300 OCing past 2.91GHz -HELP REQUIRED-

Didi you have to dial the OC back because the memory multi? If so maybe it's worth keeping the 3.20B. Run Everest Memory & Cache benchmark and see how they compare.

When Static tRead was auto did MemSet showed Performance Level 10? Often the number shown as default in BIOS is not the actual being applied.
MemSet b6 may fix the clock reading. Does Everest show correct chipset? I think CPU-Z does not either.

The temperatures in BIOS/ET6 HWMonitor are read from the CPU diode, core temps are read from the DTS sensors on the core itself. Those are different type of sensors at different locations in the CPU, and obviousely give different readings.

For my CPU SpeedFan read 5c more than RealTemp or CoreTemp, which means it probably uses wrong TJmax. Might use the right one for your CPU. Try one of those, non of them require installation.

Yes temps seems somewhat low, but even if they are 10c higher they are still very good. What is the ambiant temperature?