Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

[cybercatpt]

Hello guys,

I know it's kinda old but I'm interested in Overclocking a Q9650 SLB8W, 4 sticks of G.Skill F2-8500CL5D and a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P with bios F11.d.

My doubts are, which is better 1:1 or other divider like 5:6 to my setup?

After can you give me examples of templates to configure M.I.T.?

I'm sorry not being detailed about my doubts, but I've come from a P5B and the bios was quite simpler.

Anything you guys need to know I'll be glad to answer.

BTW, I've managed to boot with most of the options in the board @ [auto] to 525 FSB 1:1, but freezed in Memtest. After this FSB the board just won't boot.

Again, thanks in advance.

Jorge


PS: I've tried a lot of templates but I can't know if the users of those templates are using different CPU or Memory from the setup I have.

[profJim]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

You can't expect any stable overclocked template to work with your setup, even if the template is from a system with an identical hardware setup. I've seen some Q9550/Q9650 EP45-UD3P (or UD3R) setups where they struggled to reach 3.80GHz and others that are stable with a 4.50GHz overclock. It depends on how "good" your cpu, motherboard, memory and power supply is. Once you get to about 3.80GHz you often need to tweak with MCH or CPU Reference settings and sometimes you might need to tweak the CPU or MCH Clock Skew (ps) settings.

The forum's Advanced Search Keyword(s) feature and Search Titles Only for Q9650 Q9550 will provide a list of 226 threads, 49 of which are for the Q9650 cpu. Some of the posts will include their bios templates and some excellent screen-shots that provide useful information from EasyTune6, Memset, CPU-z and some benchmark results. There is a wealth of solid overclocking information in many of these threads.

Depending on your FSB setting, there is virtually no difference when running memory at using Cas4 settings below ~ 900MHz versus using Cas5 settings with 1066MHz or higher. With 8GB of DDR2 memory you might need to use Cas6 settings with memory speeds higher than ~1000MHz.

Several months ago I got a Q9650 and P35-DS4 motherboard with 8GB of OCZ Reaper 1066MHz memory and easily had a stable overclock at 4.00GHz. I'm running at 3.80GHz with slightly lower Cpu Vcore on this old chip. With my P35 motherboard the highest possible FSB setting (aka Cpu Host Frequency) is probably about 470MHz with 8GB of memory. Your P45 motherboard might be stable using a 500 - 550MHz FSB.

There aren't any shortcuts to getting a stable, high overclock. It will require a lot of Prime95 overnight stress testing.








Q9650 @ 4.50MHz with DDR3 1600MHz, Rampage Extreme

[cybercatpt]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

Thanks Jim,

I'll check your reply and try to do some more testing!

Again thanks!

Jorge

[profJim]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

You're welcome.

I did some quick and dirty testing to see how high my FSB would go.
475, 470 and 465MHz wouldn't boot, even when my cpu Vcore was set to 1.45 volts.
Increasing several other voltages did not help.

My system booted with 9 x 460MHz = 4.140GHz and was able to successfully complete 5 runs of IBT using the High stress level = 2048MB.
This quickie test does not mean that my system was anywhere near stable with these settings.

My tests included:

• stock settings using 3.0GHz cpu with 1066MHz memory @ 5-5-5-15, cpu vcore = 1.27500 (normal setting)
• my everyday settings using 3.818GHz cpu with 848MHz memory @ 4-4-4-10, cpu vcore = 1.36250
• higher O/C settings using 4.14GHz cpu with 920MHz memory @ 5-4-5-12, cpu vcore = 1.45000

The GFlops results scaled closely with the cpu speed where:

• stock = 39+ GFlops
• everyday = 49+ GFlops
• high O/C = 53+ GFlops

I don't know if I could have overclocked higher if I only used 2x2GB of memory, using only 4GB of memory is not an option.
It's not worth it to me to use vcore = 1.45 volts instead of my relatively cool vcore = 1.36250 volts.



If Chike is looking over my shoulder, I'm well aware that the spread in GFlops scores at 4.14GHz is not ideal.

[WTFMAN]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

G-Skills won't do much over a FSB of 459. Pretty much @ any stock voltages. Or in plain terms 3.9 GHz max, 1102 Mhz mem @ 2.1v. 5 5 5 15 8 58. But that just my opine. I think you would be better served with a different memory other than G.Skill. Say Corsair...

I disagree with the P95 over night testing though. Really how long are you going to max you PC at maximun settings? Unless your folding or some crap like that why bother with the 12 - 24 hours crap.

And the Chike gflops spread is crap also so take it with a grain of salt, really means nothing. But Hey bump the cpu volts if you wish.

[Chucko]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

I've been running a Q9550 in an EP45-UD3P for 5 years now as a Hackintosh. I updated the BIOS recently with a modded one, and didn't save my settings, so I've been recreating them.

My CPU has a high VID (1.30V) but it runs 16 hr Prime95 stable at 452 MHz FSB with stock voltage! Had to bump the MCH Core voltage to 1.22V though, and play with the MCH and CPU Termination voltages and MCH clock skew to get it reliable at that speed.

I'm still trying to optimize the memory timing. I'm running 8 GB of OCZ Reapers rated for 1066 MHz. I'm "underclocking" them at 1:1 (912 MHz) right now, at 1.8V. CPU and FSB are more important than RAM speed IMHO.

[cybercatpt]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

Guys, thanks a lot for answering!

Tonight I'll give more try's in tweaking my Bios, if I can I'll install a OS and post some screenshots.

Again thanks in advance.

Jorge

[profJim]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

I recommend that you install the O/S using stock cpu and memory speeds.
I always save the optimized, "default" bios settings as a saved bios profile.

It's possible that your O/S installation might get corrupted while stress testing.
To avoid possibly having to reinstall the O/S, create an O/S boot partition image and save the image to a drive that will be offline while you're testing. My personal preference is to use Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download for creating and restoring partition backups.

You can create a Linux and/or Windows PE Rescue Media CD/DVD with their freeware version.

Happy tweaking!

[cybercatpt]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

Hello guys,

I've done some rough testing only with Memtest and managed to boot at 500 FSB 1:1 (with multi 6x) and bios auto settings to do ONE loop of Memtest. The only setting changed was the CPU V-core and was set to "Normal" around 1.265v. @ "Auto" was scaling to 1.4+volts which was just to much for x6 multi.

I'll continue my journey of tweaking, first at a low multi and the escalating to higher multis with phase-change cooling.

Again thanks for all the information you provided.

BTW anyone knows a guide to MIT in this board since I really don't know much about VTT termination and all this new options that didn't exist in my previous board, an Asus P5B.

Best wishes.

Jorge

[profJim]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

I've spent several hours revisiting the http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ot-450fsb.html thread. Ah, the good old days.
Even though the thread deals with E8400 overclocking, there is an incredible amount of excellent overclocking advice, starting around the post #80 section. The overclocking efforts eventually get around to using clock skews and MCH/CPU reference volt settings. devoh is a forum member who was trying for 500 - 550MHz settings with a 6x multiplier. There are several broken TweakTown links in this thread and I can fix them if you list the post numbers that have broken links.

Here are some links that will help:

• http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...t-vs-bios.html

• http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...-easytune.html

• How to: Clock Skew Can Save Your Overclock And Memory

• Understanding GTL Reference Voltage

• Setting up and voltage terms for EP45-UD3*

• http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...rclocking.html

• AnandTech | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P - P45 at its Finest

Happy reading!

[cybercatpt]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

Thanks Jim,

you're the best!

Best wishes.

Jorge

[cybercatpt]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

Guys good news.

After many hours of tweaking, I've managed to get stable @ 525 FSB (5-5-5-20) passing loops of Memtest, about 5 hours of it.

I'll try to post later my M.I.T. setting so you let me know if they're off-limits (voltages more precisely)!

Thanks to all but mainly to Jim for all the links he posted!

Cya later :)

Jorge

[cybercatpt]

*************************************************

Robust Graphics Booster: [Turbo]
CPU Clock Ratio: [6X]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio: +0.0
CPU Frequency: 3.18GHz (530x6)

**********Clock Chip Control*************************

CPU Host Clock Control: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz): [530]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz): [100]
C.I.A 2: [Disable]

*********Advanced Clock Control**********************

CPU Clock Drive: [800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive: [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew: [0ps]
MCH Clock Skew: [50ps]

**********DRAM Performance Control***********

Performance Enhance: [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile: [Disabled]
(G) MCH Frequency Latch: [400MHz]
System Memory Multiplier: [2.00D]
Memory Frequency: [1060]
DRAM Timing Selectable: [Manual]

>>>>> Standard Timing Control

CAS Latency Time: [5]
tRCD: [5]
tRP: [5]
tRAS: [15]

*******Advanced Timing Control***********

tRRD: [4]
tWTR: [4]
tWR: [8]
tRFC: [80]
tRTP: [4]
Command Rate (CMD): [2]

>>>>> Channel A
Channel A Timing Settings
Static tRead Value: [11]

Channel A Driving Settings
Driving Strength Profile: [OC-1200]

>>>>> Channel B
Channel B Timing Settings
Static tRead Value: [11]

Channel B Driving Settings
Driving Strength Profile: [OC-1200]

***********Motherboard Voltage Control*******

Load-Line Calibration: [Enabled]
[B]CPU Vcore: [1.45V][/B]
[B]CPU Termination: [1.46V][/B]
[B]CPU PLL: [1.63V][/B]
CPU Reference: [0.949V]

>>>>> MCH/ICH
[B]MCH Core: [1.44V][/B]
MCH Reference: [0.964V]
MCH/DRAM Reference: [1.060V]
ICH I/O: [1.5V]
ICH Core: [1.1V]

>>>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage: [2.120V]
DRAM Termination: [1.060V]
Channel A Reference: [1.060V]
Channel B Reference: [1.060V]

*****************Advanced BIOS Features*********

Limit CPUID Max to 3: [Disabled]
No-Execute memory Protect: [Enabled]
CPU Enhance Halt (CIE): [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support: [Disabled]
C4/C4E State Support: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor: [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology: [Disabled]

Thanks in advance.

Jorge

[profJim]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

Glad to see that you're making progress.

What is the max voltages I can for 24/7?

The "recommended" 24/7 or everyday limits are:

• CPU Vcore less than 1.45V
• CPU Termination (aka VTT): At least 0.05 lower than CPU Vcore.
• CPU PLL less than 1.60V
• MCH Core less than ~ 1.40V

Your 3.18GHz (530x6) settings currently represent a 6% overclock over stock settings.
Your bios voltages and temperatures will increase as you increase the cpu multiplier.

The main consideration is how long do you want your cpu to last?
Running your system with extreme voltages will put much more wear and tear on your system's components.

Perform the following web searches:

• electromigration overclocking
• maximum q9650 q9550 safe overclock

and you will find varying recommendations.

In post #4 I reported:
The GFlops results scaled closely with the cpu speed where:

• stock = 39+ GFlops
• everyday = 49+ GFlops
• high O/C = 53+ GFlops

where stock = 3.000GHz, everyday = 3.814GHz (+27%) and high O/C = 4.140GHz (+38%).
The difference between my everyday O/C and high O/C is 8.5% but the real world performance difference is probably at best, less than 3% - 4%.

From the screen-shot in post #4, HWiNFO64 reports the following idle temperatures:

• Motherboard: 27^oC
• CPU: 19^oC

While running IBT each of the maximum cpu core temperatures were 59^oC to 64^oC.

[profJim]

Re: Q9650, GA-EP45-UD3P,2x(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) + Phase Change Cooler

When you are tweaking MCH Reference and/or CPU Reference settings you need to use the following procedure:

1. set VTT to 1.20V
2. adjust MCH or CPU reference(s) to the desired values
3. set VTT back to the desired (i.e. previous) value

and report each setting using the following format:

MCH Reference_____0.760V_____: [0.863] using 0.800 @ 1.2v VTT

In the above example, with VTT = 1.20, you would have set MCH Reference to 0.800 and when you set VTT back to the desired setting, the bios would then show MCH Reference as 0.863.

You can increase or decrease your VTT setting without manually changing either of these reference settings, but in this case the bios will display a different value in each of the reference value's brackets after you have changed the VTT setting.