UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

[vipnyc]

Hello all, I have the UD3P rev 1.6 board, I'm running a Stepping E0 Q9550 and OCZ Gold Ram 4x2gb. I am using all 8 of the rear USB ports + firewire and I have an additional fan (in addition to the cooler, case fan).

I have 2 questions:
1.) Right now, I just want to get system stability before I go to overclock this thing. What MCH/ICH settings should I use given my RAM and usb load.

2.) I have hooked up a fan to the 3 pin header called system fan 1. But it spins pretty slowly - 800 rpm I believe. Is there a bios setting that I am not aware of that would boost this thing. (i'm running osx)

My thought process here is to get the system completely stable before I start to overclock. The OCZ Gold is 1066mhz (pc2-8500) ram, I assume that I will want to get the settings to run this is full 1066mhz before I overclock. Please let me know if that is not a good idea and if I'm just better keeping the ram slow and overclocking the CPU.

I have a corsair TX750 PSU, OCZ Vertex SSD drive, 2 SATA hard drives and 2 EVGA 9800GTX+ video cards. I realize that this is probably a fairly heavy load.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

[profJim]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

With 8GB of 1066 memory, MCH Core = 1.28 - 1.32 will probably be needed. If this setting is too high or too low, this can lead to boot loop problems and/or instability.

I recommend that you follow the suggested basic settings in this post.
If you have problems, post your current settings using the generic EP45 template.

If you haven't already loaded optimized bios settings, you must:

1. load optimized bios settings
2. save settings and exit
3. re-enter the bios and then make any necessary bios changes
4. you should save these initial settings as a bios profile

The motherboard user manual describes how to save and load different bios profiles.
You can save up to eight different bios profiles and you can later replace any of these saved profiles with a newer profile.

With many systems, 8GB of memory will not run at it's full rated speed and needs to be underclocked somewhat.
With your stock 333MHz bus speed, you might need to start with 800MHz memory speeds using the 2.40B System memory multiplier.
Once your system passes stability tests at stock settings, we can help you overclock higher.

Are you running a dual boot system?
Your memory's maximum rated voltage is 2.15 volts if needed.

Your cpu cooler might not be adequate if you're looking for a final overclock in the 3.8GHz or higher range.
Most good coolers with a 92mm fan setup are OK for mild to moderate overclocks.
You will need to watch your cpu core temperatures as you overclock, especially during stress testing.
An overclock up to about 3.4GHz should have reasonable core temperatures unless your room temperature is 25 (C) or higher.
A 3.6GHz overclock or higher will probably require a top tier cpu cooler, such as Prolimatech Megahalems or Thermolabs Barum cooler.
For best cooling, one or two 1600 - 2000 rpm fans with high static pressure will be best.

Your psu should easily handle your hardware setup.

[mm67]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

If you are lucky like me and have a cpu that overclocks easily with low Vcore then you can get quite high even with modest cooling. My Q9550 runs stable at 3.61 GHz using only stock Vcore, LLC disabled and temps are real low even with Linpack.


Sysfan1 connector is pretty useless at the moment, it runs temperature controlled like Cpu fan connector but at half speed. If you want to run your case fan temperature controlled but using full speed then get a splitter cable and connect both fans to Cpu fan connector. There are splitter cables for both 3- and 4-pin fans but I really recommend using 4-pin PWM fans if you are running Snow Leopard, voltage control doesn't work same way on OS X as it does on Windows. This is the splitter that I use: Akasa Thermal Solution . That cable is specially good because it takes power for fans straight from PSU, no need to worry about motherboard connector's power capability.

[profJim]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

Thanks mm67, I forgot to include that Sys_Fan2 runs fans at about half speed if the fan under-volts well.
Fans that don't under-volt well won't spin at all when using the Sys_Fan2 connector.

**edit** Except for the Sys_Fan2 header and the cpu PWM header, the remaining fan headers on your motherboard should power each connected fan at full speed.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

It is also common for SYS_Fan2 to do that

[vipnyc]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

Wow thanks for the quick replies. I will do as suggested then come back with my template. Do I need to change my ICH voltage because of the # of USB devices?

I am not running a dual boot system.

I will buy a new cooler - I didn't research any - I bought this thermaltake thinking it was big and should suffice but didn't do any checking.

What temperature should I not let the cores go past during testing? FWIW I briefly tried just bumping up the FSB to 471 and then Prime95'd. (Left everything at auto voltage except MCH (1.3v) and Memory (2.14). It worked well but I chickened out when temps got to 77 degrees. I then manually set the v-core to 1.3625 and the system crashed after a few hours of normal usage.

Lastly, I looked up my fan spec - it's 800 rpm max anyway. So I guess this is running full speed, again not sure why I didn't research that but it is what it is. Do you think I need to replace that with a high speed fan? Keep in mind I already have the cooler fan, and the primary case fan. The fan that I am referring to sits towards the front of the case and blows over the memory.

Thanks again guys. Really appreciate the help.

With 8GB of 1066 memory, MCH Core = 1.28 - 1.32 will probably be needed. If this setting is too high or too low, this can lead to boot loop problems and/or instability.

I recommend that you follow the suggested basic settings in this post.
If you have problems, post your current settings using the generic EP45 template.

If you haven't already loaded optimized bios settings, you must:

1. load optimized bios settings
2. save settings and exit
3. re-enter the bios and then make any necessary bios changes
4. you should save these initial settings as a bios profile

The motherboard user manual describes how to save and load different bios profiles.
You can save up to eight different bios profiles and you can later replace any of these saved profiles with a newer profile.

With many systems, 8GB of memory will not run at it's full rated speed and needs to be underclocked somewhat.
With your stock 333MHz bus speed, you might need to start with 800MHz memory speeds using the 2.40B System memory multiplier.
Once your system passes stability tests at stock settings, we can help you overclock higher.

Are you running a dual boot system?
Your memory's maximum rated voltage is 2.15 volts if needed.

Your cpu cooler might not be adequate if you're looking for a final overclock in the 3.8GHz or higher range.
Most good coolers with a 92mm fan setup are OK for mild to moderate overclocks.
You will need to watch your cpu core temperatures as you overclock, especially during stress testing.
An overclock up to about 3.4GHz should have reasonable core temperatures unless your room temperature is 25 (C) or higher.
A 3.6GHz overclock or higher will probably require a top tier cpu cooler, such as Prolimatech Megahalems or Thermolabs Barum cooler.
For best cooling, one or two 1600 - 2000 rpm fans with high static pressure will be best.

Your psu should easily handle your hardware setup.

[mm67]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

Power usage can be surprisingly high, yesterday I bought a power meter and of course I had to check what is the maximum power that my system needs. Running OCCT PSU test at 4.1 GHz settings power usage was 434 Watts, on stock 2.83 GHz maximum was only 334 W. Looking at those numbers it's easy to see why a powerful cooler is needed for overclocking, after all that extra 110 Watts is pretty much all heat.

[profJim]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

When overclocking, Cpu Termination (VTT) and Cpu PLL should NEVER be set to AUTO, as the bios will over-volt both of these settings.
Your cpu fan is rated at 300 ~ 2500 rpm.
If you set CPU Smart Fan Control to DISABLED, your fan will run at full speed for better cooling. You should be able to manually reduce cpu fan speed using EasyTune6 or SpeedFan if you want to reduce fan noise.

When stress testing with Intel BurnTest (IBT) or LinX, cpu core temps will be about 60 -65 (C) with room temperature about 20 (C).
Most Prime95 or OCCT tests will about 8 - 10 (C) cooler. For each 1 (C) rise in room temperatures, cpu core temperatures will rise by about 1 (C). These are optimal results when using an excellent cooling setup.

Choosing a top tier cpu cooler requires a bit of research to verify that the cooler's dimensions won't interfere with your computer case or memory modules.
Check out this post for some information with fitting a premium cpu cooler.

His setup with a decent older cpu cooler and his Q9550 was running with cpu core temperatures in the 70 (C) range during stress testing. You might find that your current cpu cooler is adequate for your everyday usage. Naturally, the higher you overclock, the higher your temperatures will be.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

ICH Voltages may be OK in auto, if you have USB Issues you are safe to raise them though if you find it helps.

[vipnyc]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

Makes sense - thanks

Power usage can be surprisingly high, yesterday I bought a power meter and of course I had to check what is the maximum power that my system needs. Running OCCT PSU test at 4.1 GHz settings power usage was 434 Watts, on stock 2.83 GHz maximum was only 334 W. Looking at those numbers it's easy to see why a powerful cooler is needed for overclocking, after all that extra 110 Watts is pretty much all heat.

[vipnyc]

ICH Voltages may be OK in auto, if you have USB Issues you are safe to raise them though if you find it helps.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................12/15/18

Set all Suggested below to highest Values first. Then later you can lower, one at a time, testing as you go

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3-5
tWTR..........................................3-8
tWR............................................ 4-10
tRFC........................................... 58-74
tRTP........................................... 3-5 (3 may fail with 8GB)
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................800/1066 (1066 would be best)

Channel A + B
Static tRead Value.........................: 7-9 (7 may fail since you are at 400 FSB and using B memory multi's, so you might get 8 working, or you may need to use D memory multi's and try 8-9)

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V << This needs more, try 1.25-1.3
CPU PLL…………………....1.5-1.58
CPU Referen.……………Auto
CPU Reference2………, Auto

MCH/ICH
MCH Core………………..1.32v << You may get less here with higher tRD set, or more Vtt set
MCH Reference….…….0.760V << Auto if not manually set properly while Vtt is at 1.2V
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V << Auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V
ICH Core…………...……1.100V

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……….2.14v

[mm67]

Re: UD3P - Rev 1.6 FE Bios - 8gb ram and a lot of USB connections

Be careful with temperatures if you use your system with Snow Leopard. On Windows it doesn't matter much if you don't use C1E and EIST, on idle @ 3.91 GHz using Windows 7 I measured power usage as 129 W with C1 and EIST enabled and 140 W with those disabled. On Snow Leopard numbers are very much different, same speed with C1E and EIST enabled is using 130 W, with no C1E and EIST power usage jumps to 180 W which is about same as constant 20 % load on cpu. With good cooler you don't really even see that problem but people with stock cooling are struggling with the heat that this produces. Problem is that it doesn't help if you enable those power management options in bios, on OS X power management must be handled with dsdt patching or using a special kext. If you want to learn more about these things go to InsanelyMac forums.