Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

[cynicoren]

I am totally new to overclocking. I read a few guides and I have tried a few things but nothing worked.
Please help me OC using the MOBO's CIA2 system, or straight from the BIOS, using stock cooling.

I played with it a little bit, and it lets me underclock under 3GHZ, but never above it, won't let bus go over 333.
Thank you!

[profJim]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

Copy the bios template into Notepad or a plain text editor, fill in your current stable settings and then include your settings in your next post.

• Ignore the current values in the template and accurately fill in your settings.
• Fill in Auto or the appropriate value for each setting.
• Fill in N/A for any settings that don't appear in your bios.

Also include a cropped screen-shot similar to the attached image below, using:

• Cpu-z download
• Memset download

Bios Template

[COLOR="#0000FF"][B][SIZE=3]CPU = Model #
Motherboard = Model, Revision #
BIOS Version = F6
Ram = Brand, Model#, Part#, And or Link


**** MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.): ****

Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ___________________[9x]
CPU Frequency _____________________[3.00GHz (333x9)]
CPU Host Clock Control_____________[Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [333]  
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [100] 
Performance Enhance________________[Standard] 
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)_____[3.20] 
Memory Frequency(MHz)____[800]_____[1066] 
DRAM Timing Selectable___(SPD)_____[Manual] 
 
***** Standard Timing Control ***** 
CAS Latency Time________________5__[5] 
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________5__[5] 
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______5__[5] 
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________5__[15]
 
***** Advanced Timing Control ***** 
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_____________ 7__[Auto] 
Static tRead Phase Adjust______25__[Auto] 
 
System Voltage Control_____________[Manual] 
DDR2 OverVoltage Control___________[+0.3V] 
FSB OverVoltage Control____________[+0.1V] 
FSB DeOverVoltage Control__________[-0.10V] 
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control_________[+0.2V] 
CPU GTREF Voltage Ratio____________[0.636] 
CPU Voltage Control________________[1.35000V] 
Normal CPU Vcore___________________[1.15000V] 

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

Limit CPUID Max. to 3______________[Disabled] 
No-Execute Memory Protect__________[Enabled] 
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)____________[Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support_______________[Disabled]
C4/C4E State Support_______________[Disabled] 
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2)_________[Enabled] 
CPU EIST Function__________________[Disabled] 
Virtualization Technology__________[Disabled] <--- (*Note* Must be enabled for VMware/Virtual PC)
 
**** Integrated Peripherals: ****

SATA AHCI Mode_____________________[Enabled] 
SATA Port0-1 Native Mode___________[Enabled] 
Legacy USB Storage Detect__________[Disabled] <--- (*Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB)[/SIZE][/B][/COLOR]

(click on Memset's SPD and ">>" options to display both memory channels and SPD information)

[cynicoren]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

CPU= Intel E8400
Motherboard GA-X48-DS4
Bios Version ?
RAM - Gskill 4x2GB DDR2 F2 6400CL4 2GBPK Performance - F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK - G.SKILL DDR2 Memory (2.1v edition)



**** MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.): ****


Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto] (on another note, should I change that to increase GPU performance?)
CPU Clock Ratio ___________________[9x]
Fine CPU clock ratio_______________+0.0
CPU Frequency _____________________[3.00GHz (333x9)]
CPU Host Clock Control_____________Disabled
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [333]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [Auto]
C.I.A.2____________________________Disabled
Performance Enhance________________[Turbo]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)_____[AUTO]
Memory Frequency(MHz)____[800]_____[800]
DRAM Timing Selectable___(SPD)_____[AUTO]


***** Standard Timing Control *****
CAS Latency Time________________5__[AUTO]
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________5__[AUTO]
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______5__[AUTO]
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________5__[AUTO]

***** Advanced Timing Control *****
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_____________ 7__[Auto]
Static tRead Phase Adjust______17__[Auto]
Command rate (CMD)______________2__[AUTO]

******Clock driving & skew control *********
CPU/PCOEXlock driving control______[ 800mV]
CPU clock skew control_____________[Normal]
(G)MCH clock skew control__________[Normal]

System Voltage Control_____________[Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control___________[Normal]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control__________[Normal]
FSB OverVoltage Control____________[Normal]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control_________[Normal]
Loadline calibration_______________[AUTO]
CPU Voltage Control________________[Normal]
Normal CPU Vcore___________________[1.225V]


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

Limit CPUID Max. to 3______________[Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect__________[Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)____________[Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2)_________[Enabled]
CPU EIST Function__________________[Disabled]
Virtualization Technology__________[Enabled]

**** Integrated Peripherals: ****

SATA AHCI Mode_____________________[Disabled]
SATA Port0-3 Native Mode___________[Disabled]
Legacy USB Storage Detect__________ Don't have this line.





imgur: the simple image sharer




THANK YOU

[profJim]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

Your maximum overclock will be limited by using the stock Intel cpu cooler.
Installing a highly rated $30 - $50 cpu cooler should let you overclock to 4.0GHz or higher.

HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information, Analysis and Monitoring Tools is an excellent program to monitor voltages, temperatures and additional sensor information.

It's best to create a full backup image of your boot partition before you start overclocking just in case some files get corrupted due to system instability.
It's much quicker and easier to restore a backup image than it is to reinstall windows again.

In the bios, save your current stock settings as a saved bios profile.

The following is from page 38 in your motherboard user manual:

The Functions of the <F11> and <F12> keys (For the Main Menu Only)

F11 : Save CMOS to BIOS

This function allows you to save the current BIOS settings to a profile. You can create up to 8
profiles (Profile 1-8) and name each profile. First enter the profile name (to erase the default profile
name, use the SPACE key) and then press <Enter> to complete.

F12 : Load CMOS from BIOS

If your system becomes unstable and you have loaded the BIOS default settings, you can use this
function to load the BIOS settings from a profile created before, without the hassles of reconfiguring
the BIOS settings. First select the profile you wish to load, then press <Enter> to complete.

Next, make the following bios changes:

CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]343[/COLOR][/B]]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]101[/COLOR][/B]]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control___________[[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]+0.10[/COLOR][/B]]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control_________[B][[COLOR="#0000FF"]+0.10[/COLOR][/B]]

Create a new saved bios profile and give it a meaningful name, such as 343MHz test.

Save settings and exit (F10) and boot into windows.
If there are any boot problems, describe them in detail.

If there are no boot problems and no stability issues, we will try a larger overclock using 366MHz where your system will run at 3.30 GHz.
At this point it will be necessary to perform extended Prime95 tests for 6 - 8 hours each.

Leave the Robust Graphics Booster alone.
You will get much better gaming performance later by manually overclocking your HD 7850 video card.


This is an example of a detailed screen-shot that includes a lot of useful information:



note: Unfortunately there isn't a version of EasyTune6 for your motherboard.

[cynicoren]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

I did the 343 thing, nothing changed (when I enter the bios, it appears as suggested, but after restart and on OCCT/CPUZ, data stays the same, total speed= 3 ghz).
Unlike people has written elsewhere, the cpu multiplier can change 6-9, but even as I change it, it wont anything higher than 333, only equal or lower numbers.

[profJim]

Re: Clearing the CMOS

Clearing the cmos might fix your overclock problem.

The quick method that often works is:

1. turn off your system
2. unplug the power supply's A.C. cord from the wall outlet
3. press and hold the front panel power switch for 10 - 15 seconds
4. carefully jumper the two CLR_CMOS pins for 15 seconds
5. if used, remove the jumper block from the CLR_CMOS pins
6. turn on your system and immediately enter the bios
7. load optimized bios defaults
8. save settings and exit
9. immediately go into the bios again and load one of your saved bios profiles

If these steps do not fix the problem you will need to use the following procedure:

from http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...tml#post258596, post #2:

Clearing the CMOS

CMOS is a Acronym for "Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor"

Clearing the CMOS will erase the settings stored in the CMOS. It does not remove or change the BIOS itself, it only clears the user defined settings within the CMOS.

This is a very useful thing to do, that everyone needs to know how to properly use . It can often help if you are having overclock issues, if your PC will not stop the booting cycle, Or some people choose to clear CMOS when they plan to flash. All of the above are normal times for you to use this function

When you clear the CMOS you will often likely see the error message "CMOS Checksum Error" on the next reboot. Do not worry this is a normal thing, please enter BIOS at this stage and Load Optimized Defaults, set your DDR2 voltatge and reboot again to the BIOS. The error will be gone after that.

Incase anyone is confused by that error message statement above, the Corrupt BootBlock/Scanning for BootBlock Error is the one you do not wish to see, the checksum error is fine and will be gone on a reboot or with one setting change in the BIOS as the board will update the DMI pool to match the CMOS and the checksums will then be matched

First thing to do is to shut down your System, and let it rest for 30 seconds to a minute.

Then it is wise to unplug the Power Supply from the wall. Be sure to also Unplug the USB cables of any powered USB devices!

Open your case and find the "Clear CMOS" jumpers. It is a 2-pin jumper normally located just under the or between the PCI-E slots in P35 boards and under the last PCI-R Slot in P45 boards. Once you have found these jumper pins you will need to get a Hard Drive or Optical Jumper (The same type you used to use on IDE Drives) and place this jumper on the "Clear CMOS" pins. Then press and hold the Case Power on switch for a minute.

Boards with A Clear CMOS button you may also Press and hold this for a minute as well after you do the power button. Sometimes this Clear CMOS button alone will work, other times it will not. So this FULL method is just to BE SURE it gets cleared for those users who have issues with other methods

You may also want to remove the CMOS battery. This is optional and not Always necessary, but you may want to try it if you are having issues getting the CMOS Cleared.

Below is a Example from P45-DS4P & P35-DS3R Gigabyte Manuals



Now let the computer rest with this jumper on for 10-20 Minutes, this will ensure that the battery gets drained, and the CMOS is cleared. Some people will tell you it will only take a few seconds or a minute or two, but I find that to be false and it may indeed lead to a corrupt BootBlock and or a Bricked motherboard.

So best to not try to cut corners when it comes to Clearing the CMOS, wait the full 20 Minutes

When the 20 minutes is up, remove the jumper from the "Clear CMOS" pins, put the battery back in if you removed it, and close your case up. Plug the Power Supply back into the wall and restart the system. Then please follow above advice and Load Optimized Defaults, set DDR2 Voltages and Reboot.

+ + + + + + + +

additional note: I've seen several cases in the forum where it took up to 8 - 24 hours for the the CMOS clearing procedure to work where a jumper block was connected to the CLR_CMOS pins and the motherboard battery had been removed.

[cynicoren]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

I can't believe it, it works. (1st option)

People in TomsHW couldn't solve it, you did !

What are the recommended temps for this CPU ?

I run an 7.6% OC (CIA 2 1st option. 2nd one 11% OC makes errors according OCCT) , core 0+1 Temps gets stable at 69 degrees (stock cooler), CPU VCORE runs at 1.17V.
How do I take up from here, step by step?

[profJim]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

I can't believe it, it works. (1st option)

oh ye of little faith.

Core temperatures up to about 80^o(C) are OK.
Your OCCT stress test temperatures are much higher with your stock Intel cpu cooler.
A mid to higher end accessory cpu cooler will lower core temperatures significantly and let you overclock up to about 4.0 GHz or higher.
With my Scythe Mugen 2 cpu cooler my cpu core temperatures were 70^o(C) while running the LinX stress test.
When running Prime95 stress tests the cpu core temperatures are about 10^o(C) lower than the LinX temperatures.

I don't trust the built in auto overclocking features to provide safe or stable overclocks.

For a 10% overclock, make the following changes:

CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]366[/COLOR][/B]]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]101[/COLOR][/B]]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control___________[[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]+0.10[/COLOR][/B]]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control_________[B][[COLOR="#0000FF"]+0.10[/COLOR][/B]]

Run the CPU:OCCT stress test for at least 6 - 8 hours.
If there are any errors, stop the test and post your bios template and screen-shot.

I run each of the Prime95 test options, Small FFT, Large FFT and Blend tests where each test is run for at least 6 - 8 hours.

My best guestimate is that your highest stable overclock will be about 15% - 20% or 3.45 - 3.60 GHz with the Intel cpu cooler.
As you overclock higher you will probably need to make a few additional bios changes.



from: HARDOCP - Performance Measurements - Noctua NH-U14S AMD & Intel CPU Air Cooler Review

[cynicoren]

next oc move

Ok. 9.8% oc was succesful, run all night on 67-68 degrees on occt cpu large data set. What will be the next move?

[profJim]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

The next step is to run overnight tests using the OCCT Medium data set followed by the the OCCT Small data set.

Once your system has completed all three overnight OCCT data sets your system is stable and can be overclocked higher.

You do not want to overclock higher until your system has completed all three of the OCCT overnight tests.

The http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ot-450fsb.html thread has excellent overclocking information.
It is a very long thread and it covers the basics of overclocking in the first pages of the thread.

[cynicoren]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

Passed all tests.
Thanks for the link, but after 4-5 pages I didn't find any relevance, since this guy had problems with his oc setting and his different than my hardware.

[profJim]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

The relevance in the linked to thread is how well Dan kept us updated with all of the details when he had good or bad results.

With an above average cpu cooler the OCCT or Prime95 tests will max out in the low 50^o(C) range when ambient temperatures are in the low 20^oC range.
When running a 5 - 10 loop IntelBurn test (IBT), the cpu core temperatures will be about 10^o(C) higher than Prime95 or OCCT.
With my 8GB of ram I run a 3 loop IBT test using 4096 MB of ram before I run Prime95.
This 10 minute test is a quick preliminary test and if there are any IBT errors, there are problems that need to be fixed before running any of the 8 hour extended stress tests.

The next step is to apply the following bios changes:

CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]402[/COLOR][/B]]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]101[/COLOR][/B]]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control___________[[B][COLOR="#0000FF"]+0.10[/COLOR][/B]]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control_________[B][[COLOR="#0000FF"]+0.10[/COLOR][/B]]

In the past, some members had problems when using a 400 MHz FSB, and it was easier if the FSB was set a little lower or higher.

There might be a couple of additional needed bios tweaks with your system running at 3.60 GHz.

If there are any problems provide detailed information.

[cynicoren]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

It crashes when loading windows, then returns to default settings.
I managed a stable oc at 3.4 by 378, pci 101, ddr2 +0.1 fsb +0.1 G-mch 0.1 cpu v 1.23125 (normal is 1.225)
couldn't get past that.

[profJim]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

It crashes when loading windows

This tells me nothing!
Did it BSOD? Freeze? Auto reboot with no indication what went wrong?

Stable at 3.40 GHz? Did you run any stress tests? If yes, which tests?
Without any screen-shots we have no idea what settings you used.
What are the core temperatures at 3.40 GHz at idle and under load?

Dram voltage and (G)MCH OverVoltage Control might need to be set a bit higher.

[cynicoren]

Re: Overclocking the GA-X48-DS4 with the Intel E8400

Auto reboot with no indication what went wrong.
I ran the usual OCCT stress tests for 6 hrs.
The temps were about 53c idle and 70c under load.