Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme & i7 920

[Kiteman]

I'm not able to get a stable oc above 4GHZ on my 920. I already bumped voltages to high levels and I don't feel confident to raise them any higher. Have I reached the end of the road? Any feedback on my settings? Here are my BIOS settings:


Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio .......................... [21x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech ................ [Enabled]
CPU Cores Enabled ........................ [All]
CPU Multi Threading ...................... [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) .................. [Disabled]
C3/C6/C7 State Support ................... [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor ...................... [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function ........................ [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology ................ [Disabled] << Disabled if you do not use Vmware or Virtual PC Programs
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ................... [Enabled]

Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed ............................ x36
Uncore Frequency ......................... x17
Isonchronous Frequency ................... [Enabled]

Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control ................ [Enabled]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ..................... [188]
PCI Express Frequency (MHz)... ........... [100]
C.I.A.2 [Disabled]
Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ...........................[800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive .................. [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew ........................... [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ........................... [0ps]

Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [Standard]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........... [8.0]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............. [Quick]
Channel A + B + C
Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ......................... [7]
tRCD ..................................... [7]
tRP ...................................... [7]
tRAS ..................................... [24]
Below values may be left in Auto if you like, generally this is fine. For those users who DO Set advanced timings manually, please see some of my thoughts and findings about these settings and rules here
XtremeSystems Forums - View Single Post - Gigabyte EX58-UD5/Extreme Discussion Thread
##Channel A Advanced Timing Control##
tRC ...................................... (Should be = tRAS + tRP or above for stability)
tRRD .....................................
tWTR ..................................... (Must be Write to Read Delay/Same Rank - (tWL + 4)
tWR ......................................
tWTP ..................................... (tWTP Must = tWR + tWL + 4)
tWL ...................................... (tWL Must be CAS Latency -1)
tRFC .....................................
tRTP .....................................
tFAW .....................................
Command Rate (CMD) ................
##Channel A Misc Timing Control##
Round Trip Latency ...................

Advanced Voltage Control:
CPU
Load Line Calibration ................... [Disabled]
CPU Vcore ............................... [1.4125]
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v .................. [1.435]
CPU PLL 1.800v .......................... [Auto]
MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ............................. [Auto]
QPI PLL 1.100v .......................... [Auto]
IOH Core 1.100v ......................... [1.2]
ICH I/O 1.500v .......................... [Auto]
ICH Core 1.1v ........................... [Auto]
DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v ..................... {1.6]
DRAM Termination 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

How is it unstable? Does it freeze or crash? Do you get BSOD's, if so what is the BSOD Code (Like 0x00000000)?

I can help you with settings, but more info about your issues would be nice before I did that. Can you also list your full specs including a link to your memory, and what BIOS you are using?

Thanks

[Kiteman]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

I use Prime95 for a stress test. After about 40 secs the system freezes and ends up with a BSOD; don't know the code but will post when I get it again. I'm on F12.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

Likely that means more Vcore. Here is some info on using Prime95

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/another-q9950-ud3p-overclock-31304/index9.html#post296644

[Kiteman]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

So what's safe in terms of vcore voltage? I seem to read different numbers depending on who's posting them. One number everybody seems to agree on is that 1.55V is the max according to Intel. Do you agree? Then I read that QPI/VTT should be at least equal to vcore. In a PDF document where one oc'ed his 920 to 4GHz vQPI was set to 1.515; is that safe? What I may want to do is knowing the max voltages that are safe to run without degragation and see how high I can bumg blck frequency.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

Well if your temps are good then you can use 1.4-1.5 if you want without issues. Yes 1.55 is Intel's posted max.

Q{I/Vtt should only remain within .5 of Vdimm is all for X58. And yes high QPI/Vtt is safe and often may be needed, see my post here on my thoughts on that
QPI/Vtt Voltage post (High is OK)

[phillywood]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

What are your system specs? memory and timings

[Kiteman]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

Gigabyte EX58 Extreme
Intel i7 920 (watercooled)
6GB OCZ OCZ3P1600LV6GK DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz Platinum XTC
ATI Radeon 4870x2 (watercooled)
300GB Velo HD
Windows 7 x64

CPU-Z shows the following timings:

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

Did you have any luck with this yet? If not please post your new current full settings you are trying and I will help you when I get in tonight.

[Kiteman]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

yea, still having stability issues. blck is set to 190 x 21 = 3.99GHz with
vcore: 1.425
QPI/VTT Voltage: 1.55
IOH: 1.1
DRAM v: 1.6

The STOP code on the BSOD shows 0x00...124. Any suggestions?

[Kiteman]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

Link to my RAM: OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 Platinum Low-Voltage Triple Channel OCZ Technology

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

124 BSOD means you need more Vtt normally, or are using way to much, which I think you are using way more than you should need but this could be due to other incorrect settings.

Can you please post me your current problematic full settings in a template from the link in my signature, then I can advise you on things to try and get going.

[Kiteman]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

ok, here are my current settings again:

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio .......................... [21x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech ................ [Enabled]
CPU Cores Enabled ........................ [All]
CPU Multi Threading ...................... [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) .................. [Disabled]
C3/C6/C7 State Support ................... [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor ...................... [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function ........................ [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology ................ [Disabled] << Disabled if you do not use Vmware or Virtual PC Programs
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ................... [Enabled]


Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed ............................ x36
Uncore Frequency ......................... x17
Isonchronous Frequency ................... [Enabled]


Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control ................ [Enabled]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ..................... [190]
PCI Express Frequency (MHz)... ........... [100]

C.I.A.2 [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ...........................[800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive .................. [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew ........................... [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ........................... [0ps]


Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [Standard]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........... [8.0]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............. [Quick]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ......................... [7]
tRCD ..................................... [7]
tRP ...................................... [7]
tRAS ..................................... [24]

tRC ...................................... [Auto]
tRRD ..................................... [Auto]
tWTR ..................................... [Auto]
tWR ...................................... [Auto]
tWTP ..................................... [Auto]
tWL ...................................... [Auto]
tRFC ..................................... [Auto]
tRTP ..................................... [Auto]
tFAW ..................................... [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) ....................... [1]

##Channel A Misc Timing Control##
Round Trip Latency ....................... [Auto]



Advanced Voltage Control:

CPU
Load Line Calibration ................... [Disabled]
CPU Vcore ............................... [1.425]
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v .................. [1.555]
CPU PLL 1.800v .......................... [1.8]

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ............................. [1.5]
QPI PLL 1.100v .......................... [1.1]
IOH Core 1.100v ......................... [1.1]
ICH I/O 1.500v .......................... [1.5]
ICH Core 1.1v ........................... [1.1]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v ..................... {1.6]
DRAM Termination 0.750v ................. [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO] ........... [Auto]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO] ........... [Auto]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO] ........... [Auto]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO] ........ [Auto]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO] ........ [Auto]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO] ........ [Auto]

[phillywood]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

I believe that code is not enough or to much qpi. I know all chips and boards are not a like, take a look at this bios and see if it helps. This was 50 passes LinX stable. I have a 4ghz bios also, just have to find it.

[Kiteman]

Re: Can't reach 4GHz on EX58 Extreme &amp; i7 920

just wanted to add that at a 190 blck with 1.37V vcore and 1.435V QPI/VTT the BSOD code was 0x00000101.