Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

[Ahi]

Hi

2 days ago I overclocked my E8200 2.66 Ghz to 3.3 Ghz by changing the FSB to 400 (from the default 333) and memory SPD to 2 (from auto) I didn't touch any other settings, no messing with voltage or RAM timings, nothing. The computer booted up ok and was completely fine all day. I didn't run any stress test but I was watching movies and gaming. Not a single issue, everything was fine. Next day when I started up the computer...everything was still fine, running at 3.3 Ghz, was running the entire day, temperature never exceeded 51 degress Celsius, again not a single issue. In the evening I restarted it and boom - it wouldn't boot up - just failed during post and restarted again with default settings (everything in MIT set to auto)
I tried various settings, messing with voltages and whatnot but no luck - I can't get it to boot with anything else than default settings - even raising the FSB by 1 Mhz makes it fail booting

I really don't know what to try, I'd understand if it wouldn't OC at all but why woul it be working fine for 2 days and the suddenly fail?

using the following RAM Patriot DIMM 2048MB DDR II 800MHz PSD22G800KH - Czech Computer | czc.cz

and this PSU Fortron Blue Storm II 500W - Czech Computer | czc.cz

here is a cpuz screen I made when it was still working



Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Chike]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

Load BIOS optimized defaults for now, with changes you need like disk boot order.
Increasing FSB alone with auto voltage settings is not recommended.
Read this link and follow steps 1-4 for additional information that will help us to assist you.

[profJim]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

Use the bios template in this post to post your current P35 bios settings.

[Ahi]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

okay, I got home, turned PC on, entered BIOS, set FSB to 400, SPD to 2, saved and...it booted just fine and is running at 3.2 Ghz



I really don't know why it's suddenly working again (but who knows why and how long)

anyway here are the specs and settings (hope you won't mind it's pictures)


CPU:



MB: GA-P35-S3G



RAM:





BIOS settings:







Like I said, all I did was enabling CPU host clock control and setting it to 400, and changing system memory multiplier (SPD) to 2x from the default auto (which was setting it to 2.40), everything else is set to auto

Anyone knows why it's behaving so strangely ? :( I would rather have it not working at all instead of working only when it wants to :(

Thanks for any help

[Chike]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

Voltage settings do not look like default settings.

[Ahi]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

Voltage settings do not look like default settings.

It's set to auto, those settings aren't being used

anyway, it held for 2 restarts, booted up fine and stayed at 3.2 Ghz so I went for the ultimate test: turning the computer off and on again

sadly, it didn't past POST again, failed to boot and reset everything to default settings

I honestly really do not know what's up with this

[Chike]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

There were 3 BIOS updates for this board since F2, you may consider updating, at least to F3.

F3 2008/03/17 1. Update CPU microcode

If you choose to update, read http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/bios...h-guide-27576/.
Never update BIOS with OC settings.

What kind of CPU and case cooling do you use?

For 3.2GHz, load optimized defaults, save & reboot, enter BIOS again and try the following changes:

CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [8] 
Fine Clock Ratio ____________[0.0]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [400] 

PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [100]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00D]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance________________ [Standard]

System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [normal] <<< +0.1 if not enough
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [normal] 
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [+0.1V] 
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+0.1V]  <<< +0.2 if not enough
CPU Voltage Control_______ [1.25] <<< morr may be needed, max by Intel 1.3625v

[Ahi]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

okay, overclocked it again, turning up the VCORE to 1.345, it survived another 2 restarts and even turning the computer off and on this time so I thought i had it, I turned it off again to make sure and guess what - it failed to boot again and reset :(

I guess updating the BIOS is really my last option, I've never done it but it doesn't seem to be hard, just hope it won't kill the MB

What kind of CPU and case cooling do you use?

case: Thermaltake VG1000BNS Wing RS100 - Czech Computer | czc.cz , there are two fans in there

CPU cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro - Czech Computer | czc.cz

like I said, the temperatures hardly went over 50 degrees Celsius when running at 3.2 Ghz and they're around 48 degrees now at 2.66 Ghz

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/246710-12-problems - this is the exact same problem I am having - and it seems there is basically no solution :/

[Ahi]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

okay, I flashed the BIOS to F3 and it looks like it helped - been running at 3.2 Ghz for 2 days now, went through almost 10 power off/power on and numerous restarts and it seems to hold

however when I tried a higher FSB than 400 it failed to POST. I think it's the memory that's to blame but I'm not sure - I've seen people running PC6400 at 900 Mhz. Can anyone suggest some settings I should try?

[Chike]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

Post full BIOS settings using the template in this post.

Havig your system specs in your forum signature will help users to advise you.

[Ahi]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

ok here you go


CPU = E8200
Motherboard = GA-P35-S3G
BIOS Version = F3
Ram = http://www.czechcomputer.cz/product....calelang=en_US


Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [8]
Fine Clock Ratio ____________[0.0]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [400]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [Auto]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ Option does not exist
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Auto]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ 5
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ 5
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______ 5
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ 16

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ [Auto]
Rank Write to READ Delay________ [Auto]
Write to Precharge Delay_________ [Auto]
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ 0
Read to Precharge Delay__________ [Auto]
Static tRead Value_______________ [Auto]
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ [Auto]

CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control - Option does not exist
CPU Clock Skew Control - Option does not exist
GMCH Clock Skew Control - Option does not exist

System Voltage Control____ [Auto]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [Auto]

PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [Auto]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [Auto]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [Auto]
CPU Voltage Control_______ [Auto]

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]

[Chike]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

What idoes BIOS PC Health Status reports for memory voltage and vcore? Also what is normal Vcore in M.I.T?

EDIT: do memory multipliers have letters or are there more then one multiplier of 2.

[Ahi]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

What idoes BIOS PC Health Status reports for memory voltage and vcore?

this is for the default 2.66 Ghz

VCORE: 1,204 V
DDR18V - 1,920 V
+3,3V - 3,312 V
+12V - 12,492 V

Also what is normal Vcore in M.I.T?

1,2250 V

EDIT: do memory multipliers have letters or are there more then one multiplier of 2.

there are multipliers of

Auto
2
2.40
3
3.40
4

I set it to 2 for the overclock


I bought additional 2x 1GB memory today (exactly same type I already had - http://www.czechcomputer.cz/product.jsp?artno=47736), put them in but it failed to POST with the overlock settings - it would only POST with the default 2.66 Ghz settings

when I removed the modules, it was fine again, running at 3.2 Ghz

so in short:

overclocked with 2gb of RAM - seems to work
overclocked with 4gb of RAm - does not work
not overclocked with 4gb of RAM - works

do you think that perhaps the PSU is to blame? It seems I am using the same one as you are ( http://www.czechcomputer.cz/product.jsp?artno=43195 ) and almost same type of RAM as well....and I've seen people running OC'd system with SLI graphics on that PSU...

[Chike]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

Just to clatify, are the voltages Auto or Normal?

I don't think the PSU is the problem, population all four memory slots is often a pain.
Try MCH OverVoltage +0.1 and see if you can run with four modules. You may need +0.2, but your NB HS is rather small so you may need to add a fan on it.

Try FSB OverVoltage +0.1 (in addition to MCH OverVoltage) and see if you can raise FSB.
You may need to add ram voltage, currently it's +0.1 with auto settings, this is of coyrse up to you if you want to do it or not.

[Ahi]

Re: Mysterious GA-P35-S3G overclosking troubles

the voltages are on auto

I should've probably mentioned I already tried upping all the voltages by both 0,1 and 0,2 V, didn't help :(

maybe the problem is the advanced memory timings, i leave them all on auto because I really don't know how to set them up even after reading the sticky here :(