Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

[SuperPollo]

Hi,

I am looking for some help in setting up my mobo.
I use my pc for HD movies, and I wish to make a light overclok to gain extra performance, especially with these memories.

OCZ Technology | Products | Memory | OCZ DDR2 PC2-9600 Flex EX 4GB Series

Thanks in advance.

[profJim]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Follow steps 1 - 4 in this post to provide us with information we need to best help you.
Use the generic bios template from this post to accurately list your current bios settings.

Did you ever load OPTIMIZED bios settings from the main bios screen before you made any bios changes?

[SuperPollo]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Yes Jim, allways load the optimized settings... here ya go.






Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R Rev#: 1.0 Bios Version: F11
Cpu: Intel Q9550
Ram: OCZ DDR2 PC2-9600 Flex EX 4GB OCZ Technology | Products | Memory | OCZ DDR2 PC2-9600 Flex EX 4GB Series
Power Supply Unit: Thermaltake Toughpower 700W PSU


MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 8x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.40 Ghz


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 400 Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

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


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


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: NOT AVAILABLE
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 4
tRCD ......................................... 5
tRP'........................................... 5
tRAS.......................................... 18


Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... [Auto]
tWTR.......................................... [Auto]
tWR............................................ [Auto]
tRFC........................................... 68
tRTP........................................... [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ [Auto]

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:[Auto] But my Bios shows 10
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] But my Bios shows 10
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
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….……….........................: 1.26875V
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: 1.200V

CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: 1.500V

CPU Referen.…………....0.760V*.......: 0.760

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.24
MCH Reference….…….0.760V...........; 0.760
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: [Auto]
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............: 1.500V
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: 1.100V

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: [2.10V]
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: [Auto]
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: [Auto]
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: [Auto]

Advanced Settings
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) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled]



Right now the pc is stable, no blue screens.
Thanks for your reply Jim.

[profJim]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Save your current bios settings as bios profile before you make any changes.
F11 from the main bios screen allows you to save up to 8 separate profiles.
Give each saved profile a meaningful name.

Your current 3.40GHz settings represent a 20% overclock, but your memory settings are far from optimal.
Make the following changes for a 3.8GHz setup:

CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 8x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.82 Ghz

CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 450 Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.40B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1080

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ [5] <--- 6 might be needed
tRCD ......................................... [5] <--- 6 might be needed
tRP'........................................... [5] <--- 6 might be needed
tRAS.......................................... [15] <--- 18 might be needed


Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... [Auto]
tWTR.......................................... [Auto]
tWR............................................ [Auto]
tRFC........................................... 68
tRTP........................................... [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ [OC-1200] <--- for memory channels A and B

Channel A
Static tRead Value ......... 10 ...........:[9] <--- 8 might be OK, lower is better
Channel B
Static tRead Value ......... 10 ...........:[9] <--- 8 might be OK, lower is better

CPU Vcore ....................................: 1.26875V <--- 1.27500 or 1.28125 might be needed
MCH Core ............... 1.100V ...........: 1.24 <--- 1.26 or 1.28 might be needed
DRAM Voltage ......... 1.800V ............: [2.20V] <--- your memory is rated up to 2.25 volts

Once your overclock passes extended stability testing, we can further tweak the memory Advanced timings for better performance.

Are you familiar with running Intel BurnTest (IBT), Prime95, or OCCT stability test programs?

[SuperPollo]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Hi Jim, that settings fail in memtest86+

Only at 3.4Ghz with this strap [2.40B] past the memtest86+.

2.20V are too much for this memories. Black Screen. My system was not able to boot.

Any idea?

Regards,

Pablo.

[Chike]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Any special reason you had tRFC set to 68? SPD is set to 45 for DDR-800.

[profJim]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Let's try a more conservative overclock:
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 8x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.61 Ghz

CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 425 Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.40B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1020


Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ [5]
tRCD ......................................... [5]
tRP'........................................... [5]
tRAS.......................................... [15]

Channel A
Static tRead Value ......... 10 ...........:[8]
Channel B
Static tRead Value ......... 10 ...........:[8]

DRAM Voltage ......... 1.800V ............: [2.10V]

If your system won't boot, try the 2.00B memory multiplier.
If you need to try the 2.00D multiplier, you will need to increase Static tRead Value (tRD) for both memory channels to 9.

[profJim]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Any special reason you had tRFC set to 68? SPD is set to 45 for DDR-800.

His memory is rated for 1200MHz and the SPD doesn't have any EPP profiles for higher memory speeds. With 2x2GB of 1066 memory, tRFC = 50 - 52 is about as tight as you can go in most cases. tRFC was left intentionally loose for the time being and would be tweaked after the overclocking goal is reached.

[Chike]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

If it was 1066 i would not ask, but it was for 800.
I asked because if it was erquired to be that high for 800 maybe it needs to be higher for higher frequency.

[SuperPollo]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

It worked Jim,
Maybe it was a bit aggressive move from 3.40 to 3.8
Now I will try to reach 3.8GHz.
I tray again (5-5-5-18) (6-6-6-18) & fail.

Regards,

[Chike]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

It worked Jim,

Worked as boot or passed 8 hours Prime95 blend?

Maybe it was a bit aggressive move from 3.40 to 3.8
Now I will try to reach 3.8GHz.
I tray again (5-5-5-18) (6-6-6-18) & fail.

Try 3.7GHz first, 436FSB.
It's not all memory settings. For high FSB you will probably need to tweak:
CPU Termination,
CPU PLL,
CPU/MCH Reference,
possibley CPU/MCH Clock Skew,
and of course vcore.

It takes time and a lot of patience. Make one change at a time so you'd know which settings it was that made change for better or worse.

When you need advise about failed settings, post the full failed settings.

[SuperPollo]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Hi chike, thanks for you reply.

I'm using memtest86+ only.

I change the timmings between (5-5-5-18 & 6-6-6-18) &...

the MCH core between (1.24-1.26 & 1.28)

The other settings are equal.

Regards.

[Chike]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

Hi chike, thanks for you reply.

I'm using memtest86+ only.

memtest86+ is not enogh. It can detect bad memory and horrible memory settings but that's about it.
At least 6 hours of Prime95 blend are needed before you move to a higher OC, and 8+ hours if you want to save a stable OC profile. A couple of hours small FFT are recommended also.
It will help to find the required changes along the way.

I change the timmings between (5-5-5-18 & 6-6-6-18) &...

the MCH core between (1.24-1.26 & 1.28)

As I said, there are other settings to deal with, it is not just MCH and memory.

The other settings are equal.

Please repost your settings in question.

[SuperPollo]

[Chike]

Re: Help on BIOS Settings for GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550 and OCZ 4GB RAM

If you want higher FSB just save it in BIOS profile(F11) like it is, you can tweak it more later.
Try FSB 436 for 3.7GHz

Static tRead Value.....................:8 [11] <<< set it down 9 or 8 later

CPU Vcore�.���.........:1.25000V....:[1.26875] << may need more
CPU Termination�....... 1.200V*.......: [1.200V] << try 1.2 to 1.26
CPU PLL�������......1.500V*.......: [1.500V] << try 1.5 to 1.6

MCH Core�����.....1.100V...........:[1.24v] <<< try 1.24-1.28

Try combinations of the above settings, and timings as you tried before.
You may also try Clock Skew if the above do not work

CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0  <<< try 50 with MCH Clock Skew 0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0  <<< try 50 with CPU Clock Skew 0