Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

[profJim]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

Search the web for TIM application guides, videos and tutorials.
The goal is to only use as much as is needed, and yes I know the first part of this sentence is completely lacking in the specific information you want. Don't overlook youtube videos, some of them are excellent and the rest aren't very good.

I'm going to be tied up for much of today but I'll see what I can come up with.

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

Just a quick thought... Might having a custom BIOS including the X5460 microcodes make a difference to the high temperatures?
I can't imagine it would otherwise you'd probably have suggested it already!

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

I dismantled my cooler and this is what I saw:



Looks like I used just a little (yeah right) too much TIM...

I'm going to rotate my cooler so that the airflow is from front to back and then do a TIM test run.

I'll send you a picture of the amount of TIM and the result of the test and wait for your feedback before I put everything back together and move on with the overclocking.

I will also have a case fan (top) that I could possibly move to in front or behind of the Optical drive? Or am I better leaving it in place?

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

So here are the before and after pics of my test run with the Arctic Silver 5 TIM:



I'm going to clean everything up and head to bed - If I'm lucky you'll get a chance to take a look before I wake up so I can put it back together in the morning :)
I'll wait as long as it takes for your reply before I do. Also If you could recommend about the top fan as well so I can take it out before I put the cooler back if necessary as it's in a tricky position otherwise.

Thanks again profJim, I never would've got this far without you

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

So... the suspense was killing me!

I decided to do another test and post the pics - I think (hope) this looks better than the first test:



I kinda liked the look of this one so decided I'd try and do it again and go with it - If it's not optimal then I can always do it again...

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

and this is what my current TIM looked like before I squished it down with the cooler:

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

I decided to do an Intel Burn Test at 3.8GHz to see if there was much difference but it failed :/

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Rev 2.0: BIOS Version: F9C
CPU: Intel Xeon X5460
RAM: Crucial Model: Ballistix Sport DDR2 800 Part#: BLS2CP2G2D80EBS1S00CEU (http://uk.crucial.com/ProductDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10153&categoryId=17510&productId=10743&urlLangId=-1&langId=-1&top_category=&parent_category_rn=17510&storeId=10153)
Power Supply Unit: Corsair HX520W
Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio __________________ [9]
Fine Clock Ratio __________________[0.5]
CPU Host Clock Control____________[Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)_________[400]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)________[101]
C.I.A. 2__________________________[Disabled]
Performance Enhance = ____________[Standard]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)_____[2.00]
DRAM Timing Selectable_____ SPD ___[Manual]
 
CAS Latency Time_______________5_[5]
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay________5_[5]
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______5_[5]
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________12_[12]
 
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________3_[Auto]
Rank Write to READ Delay________3_[Auto]
Write to Precharge Delay_________6_[Auto]
Refresh to ACT Delay____________52_[Auto]
Read to Precharge Delay__________3_[Auto]
Static tRead Value_______________8_[8]
Static tRead Phase Adjust_________0_[Auto]
 
System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.200V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [+0.1V]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [+0.1V]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+0.1V]
CPU Voltage Control_______ [1.38750V]
Normal CPU Vcore________1.23750V

Hard Disk Boot Priority.....: [Press Enter]
1.	Kingston SV300S37A240G
2.	ST3500320AS
3.	ST3500320AS
First Boot Device...........: [Hard Disk]
Second Boot Device......: [CDROM]
Third Boot Device.........: [Disabled]
Password Check...........: [Setup]
HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability......: [Enabled]
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.........: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect.........: [Disabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)...........: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ......: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function...............: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology..........: [Disabled]
Full Screen LOGO Show.........: [Disabled]
Init Display First............: [PEG]

SATA AHCI Mode.........: [AHCI]
SATA Port0-1 Native Mode.........: [Enabled]
USB Controller...........: [Enabled]
USB 2.0 Controller............: [Enabled]
USB Keyboard Support............: [Disabled]
USB Mouse Support..........: [Disabled]
Legacy USB Storage Detect��.[Disabled]
Azalia Codec............: [Auto]
Onboard H/W LAN............: [Enabled]
SMART LAN.................: [Press Enter]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM.......: [Disabled]
Onboard IDE Controller........: [Enabled]
Onboard Serial Port 1..........: [3F8/IRQ4]
Onboard Parallel Serial Port...: [378/IRQ7]
Parallel Port Mode................: [SPP]


ACP1 Suspend Type........: [S1(POS)]
Soft-Off by PWR-BTTN....: [Delay 4 Sec.]
PME Event Wake Up.......: [Disabled]
Power On by Ring.......: [Disabled]
Resume by Alarm......: [Disabled]
HPET Support..........: [Enabled]
HPET Mode.............: [64-bit mode]
Power On by Mouse.............: [Double Click]
Power On by Keyboard.........: [Disabled]
AC Back Function..................: [Soft-Off]


PCI1 IRQ Assignment.............: [Auto]
PCI2 IRQ Assignment.............: [Auto]
PCI3  IRQ Assignment............: [Auto]

Reset Case Open Status...........: [Disabled]
CPU Warning Temperature.......: [80�C/176�F]
CPU FAN Fail Warning...............: [Disabled]
SYSTEM FAN2 Fail Warning.......: [Disabled]
POWER FAN Fail Warning..........: [Disabled]
SYSTEM FAN1 Fail Warning.......: [Disabled]
CPU Smart FAN Control.............: [Disabled]

I'm curious though as it seemed to be stable with Prime95's blend test (4 hours)

Back to 3.6GHz?

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

and just for reference here is a pic of how the system looks now :)

[profJim]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

In the middle picture, the TIM coverage at each of the four corners is not optimal.
The coverage is excellent from left to right and top to bottom in the center of the cpu.

I've had good results using the small grain of rice method with a single line of tim that is about 8mm long (1/3 of an inch) and 2mm thick (1/12 of an inch).

The coverage in the following picture is as good as it gets.

Arctic Silver TIM Application Method

Arctic Silver has thermal grease instructions for specific AMD and Intel processors.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appm..._line_v1.1.pdf has Core2Quad instructions and discusses the break-in period. They recommend using a long thin horizontal line of TIM where the triangle corner on the cpu's PCB is in the lower left corner. I've had best results where the line of TIM is shorter and thicker than the line shown in their picture.

Use the technique that works best for you.

SPD values for your memory

Your posted SPD window shows 5-5-5-18 timings in the 400MHz column.
It's common to find 5-5-5-15 timings with some memory kits.
Where did you find 5-5-5-12 timings?

Tweaking memory timings is the last thing to do once you've reached your final stable overclock.

[profJim]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

Your IBT failure might be related to using 5-5-5-12 memory timings.

Some LGA775 overclockers had problems with cpu host frequency = 400MHz.
Try using 399 or 401MHz.

Use the following bios settings:
HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability ---------: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect -------: [Enabled]

If you want to test at 3.60GHz, change the Fine Clock Ratio from 0.5 to 0.0.


With my recent 4.0GHz testing with lower cpu voltage, the first Prime95 Blend test failed after 1.5 hours.
My second attempt failed after 5.5 hours.
My third attempt completed 8 hour Prime95 tests three different times using Prime95 Blend, Small FFT and Large FFT tests.

In post #47, running at 4.0GHz, my HWiNFO window shows:
Vcore maximum voltage = 1.360 (with no load)
Vcore minimum voltage = 1.328 (under load)
This was with Load Line Calibration = Auto.
My P35-DS4 motherboard has the following LLC options: Disabled, Enabled or Auto.

Your P35-DS3L does not have an LLC option and your recent results were:
Vcore maximum voltage = 1.360 (with no load)
Vcore minimum voltage = 1.312 (under load)

My vdroop was 0.032 volts and yours was 0.048 volts. Both of these results are normal.


With more AS5 curing time, your core temperatures will be lower over time. I've seen some reports where the cpu core temps were somewhat lower after 20 - 40 hours of use and the computer was turned on and off several times where each on/off session counts as one thermal cooling cycle.

Your current case setup looks cool (pun intended).

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

Well since we're doing things the right way I will take the cooler off and re-apply the TIM :)

I will also change those BIOS settings.

Here is a photo I took of my RAM re the timings:



Also, you have a great eye for detail and I'm curious as to what information from CPU-Z misreported my processor in my first post?

[profJim]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

Look at the upper left cpu-z window where it says you have an Intel Xeon E5450 cpu.



In another recent thread, there was a mismatch in the memory timings sticker on the module and the programmed SPD values shown by Memset and cpu-z.
As I said earlier, I've never seen 5-5-5-12 timings; 5-5-5-15 or 5-5-5-18 timings are common.
I was pleased when both of my higher end ddr2 memory kits with 4-4-4-12 SPD timings were stable with 4-4-4-10 timings with 8GB of memory.

Take a look at the following air cooling review that includes the newer Noctua NH-U12S and NH-U14S coolers:
The Best CPU Coolers: 10-Way Roundup - TechSpot September 6, 2013

Both of the newer "S" models performed well and probably ran a few degrees cooler than the older "P" models.
Typical results with a push/pull fan setup usually lower core temperatures by 2^o - 3^o(C).

core i7-4960X specs
# of Cores	6
# of Threads	12
Clock Speed	3.6 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency	4 GHz 15 MB
Max TDP	130 watts

When you are applying a line of thermal grease on your cpu, with your motherboard and case in the normal vertical position in front of you, applying the TIM vertically (top to bottom) on the cpu is actually using Artic Cooling's "horizontal" line recommendation.

Additional information:
Noctua NH-U12P Review | Skinnee Labs

2011-2012 Thermal Paste Review/Roundup | Skinnee Labs

Moderate Contact Performance

There are also similar graphs that show poor and excellent contact performance results.

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

That is a lot of information! It'll take me a while to try to take in the most important parts.
I think you're right about the timings (ballistix sport tRas timing - Crucial Community) - am I running these at too high a voltage with the +0.2V setting?
Also I returned the Startech card so have some amazon credit to play with - should I buy a different TIM or anything else?

[profJim]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

You can go crazy trying to find the "best" thermal grease and reading numerous reviews doesn't make it any easier. Unless you go with the Coollaboratory or Indigo Extreme TIMs, chances are there will only be a couple of degrees difference with many of the better TIMs. I've never tried either of these "exotic" TIMs.

All the reviews of your NH-U12P cooler indicate that it should do better than your results so far. It takes a fair amount of practice to apply just the right amount of TIM, as too little or too much leads to higher cpu core temperatures.

If I had to buy new TIM, the Noctua NT-H1 would be near the top of my list.
You still have two older tubes of thermal grease to play with and they might be fine. Will they perform better than the AS5? I don't know.
See if you can get some lower temperatures with the Arctic Silver 5. If you leave you system on overnight and turn it off and let it cool down completely every day, you'll help speed up the AS5 curing times which should lower your temperature several degrees more. You can easily do several heating/cooling cycles each day as well as putting a big dent in the required break-in time.

Right now it looks like your cpu core temperature readings are about 10^o(C) too high, at idle and when stress testing.

Contact Crucial tech support and see what they say about the maximum voltage settings and the correct SPD timing values.
Crucial.com - Contact Crucial support, live chat might be the quickest.
Maybe they have a toll-free European telephone number.

As I recall, the JDEC standard voltage is 1.80 volts and up to at least 1.90 volts. I didn't find any useful information at their web site.

[lukevega]

Re: Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock

Sorry for the late reply... 6 days left til (hopefully) my last ever exams so time is getting precious!

Here are the pictures of my (your) rice grain method test: