This thread is intended for newcomers to the Asus P5Q-E / Intel E8600 combo and hopefully start them out on the right foot to achieving a basic 4.00GHz overclock. I believe any E8600 will easily do 4.00GHz and higher, but to get the best out of it you should consider updating the BIOS because your current BIOS may be old. My board shipped with 0605. Since then, there's been many updates, and a good number of those are to fix compatibility issues with various memory brands.
I would welcome any tips from other P5Q users as I am a newcomer to this setup myself, too.
E8600 (week 20) on Asus P5Q-E • BIOS settings for 4.00GHz
BIOS used: m1306. These are the latest Asus BIOS and have been modified by Ket at XS forums to be compatible with more CPU's and more memory brands.
Ai Tweaker (Tab)
Ai Overclocking Tuner ...... [Manual]
CPU Ratio Setting .......... [Auto]
FSB Frequency .............. [400]
PCIE Frequency ............. [101]
FSB Strap To North Bridge .. [Auto]
DRAM Frequency ............. [Fastest your RAM can run]
DRAM CLK Skew .............. [Auto]
DRAM Timing Control ........ [Manual to OC, otherwise Auto]
* Make adjustments to memory timings if necessary,
then scroll down with your arrow keys to the voltage section *
________________________________
CPU Voltage ................ [1.28125] (actual voltage = 1.248v idle / 1.256v load in CPU-Z)
CPU GTL Reference (0/2) .... [Auto]
CPU GTL Reference (1/3) .... [Auto]
CPU PLL Voltage ............ [1.52]
FSB Termination Voltage .... [1.12]
DRAM Voltage ............... [Whatever your RAM needs]
NB Voltage ................. [1.12]
* All other settings in this section are AUTO *
________________________________
Load-Line Calibration ...... [Enabled]
CPU Spread Spectrum ........ [Disabled]
PCIE Spread Spectrum ....... [Disabled]
CPU Clock Skew ............. [Auto]
NB Clock Skew .............. [Auto]
CPU Margin Enhancement ..... [Performance Mode]
______________________________
Advanced (Tab) > CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Setting .......... [Auto]
C1E Support ................ [Enabled]
Max CPUID Limit ............ [Disabled]
Intel Virtualization Tech .. [Disabled]
CPU TM Function ............ [Enabled]
Intel SpeedStep ............ [Enabled]
Intel C-STATE Tech ......... [Enabled]
The result of these settings is a clock frequency of 4.00GHz and automatic lowering of the multiplier when the processor is idle, that's why you'll see x6.0 instead of x10 in CPU-Z when the CPU is not under load. Personally, I like SpeedStep and I can't understand why anyone running the CPU at it's default multiplier would want to disable it, unless it affects overclocking, which for me it never has on this Intel system or my previous AMD systems (Cool 'n' Quiet). To enable power saving mode fully, go to your Windows Control Panel and look under Power Options. Set the Power Scheme to Minimal Power Management. Click Apply > OK.
As for memory settings, it all depends on your RAM, of course. While you stabilize your CPU overclock, you may want to set your memory to a low speed, somewhere close to the default speed the manufacturer intended it to run at. Once you've stabilized the CPU (I recommend IntelBurnTest more than any other program right now -- it's extremely quick to find errors), you can max out your RAM performance.
I am using 2*1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 (single sided modules, which are supposed to be crap, apparently) which does around DDR2-1066 on stock voltage. That doesn't seem like crap to me. I am able to run it at 5-5-5-15 with almost all sub-timings lowered by 1 notch. Command Rate is 2T. I can also set it to Performance Level 6. If you've ever wondered why Asus P5Q series boards don't offer a great deal of memory bandwidth, it's because Asus set the Performance Level very conservatively. To achieve higher bandwidth, you need to play with Performance Level. Here's how:
Download MemSet, install, reboot, then run the program.
See Performance Level (mine was set on 10 originally).
In the drop-down box, lower it by one number.
Check performance in Everest memory benchmarks or your chosen application. I also like to use SuperPi.
Keep lowering the PL number and keep checking the results.
... At some point, Windows will freeze.
Reset the PC manually and enter BIOS. Under Ai Tweaker (tab), go to Ai Transaction Booster and set the Performance Level to the last stable number that worked before the freeze. Press F10 > Enter to exit and reboot.
You should also play with the memory settings in BIOS. I was able to enable Pull-ins and set Ai Clock Twister to Strong. This also helped improve memory bandwidth.
NOTE: This OC was done using the stock cooler, plus no more than the maximum recommended voltage printed on the Intel box (1.26V). Just because mine can do it doesn't mean everyone's will. Unless you're daring, raise the FSB Frequency in steps of 100MHz and stress test it for stability, don't just jump to 4.00GHz. Nothing is guaranteed, and if your PC explodes, it's not my fault!
On a more serious note, the P5Q series is excellent in recovering from a bad overclock. If your system won't POST after a BIOS settings change, power it off and try again in a few seconds. The last settings you entered will be retained, but the board will boot with default settings. Marvellous stuff. If it still won't POST, unplug the power cable, press the power switch a few times to discharge any current, and clear CMOS using the jumper on the motherboard. You may possibly have to remove the battery for a few minutes, too. Personally I have had no problems with a non-POSTing board. Again, overclock carefully, one step at a time. Once you have a rock solid, stable overclock, save the profile under the Tools section of your BIOS.
Good luck!
I would welcome any tips from other P5Q users as I am a newcomer to this setup myself, too.
E8600 (week 20) on Asus P5Q-E • BIOS settings for 4.00GHz
BIOS used: m1306. These are the latest Asus BIOS and have been modified by Ket at XS forums to be compatible with more CPU's and more memory brands.
Ai Tweaker (Tab)
Ai Overclocking Tuner ...... [Manual]
CPU Ratio Setting .......... [Auto]
FSB Frequency .............. [400]
PCIE Frequency ............. [101]
FSB Strap To North Bridge .. [Auto]
DRAM Frequency ............. [Fastest your RAM can run]
DRAM CLK Skew .............. [Auto]
DRAM Timing Control ........ [Manual to OC, otherwise Auto]
* Make adjustments to memory timings if necessary,
then scroll down with your arrow keys to the voltage section *
________________________________
CPU Voltage ................ [1.28125] (actual voltage = 1.248v idle / 1.256v load in CPU-Z)
CPU GTL Reference (0/2) .... [Auto]
CPU GTL Reference (1/3) .... [Auto]
CPU PLL Voltage ............ [1.52]
FSB Termination Voltage .... [1.12]
DRAM Voltage ............... [Whatever your RAM needs]
NB Voltage ................. [1.12]
* All other settings in this section are AUTO *
________________________________
Load-Line Calibration ...... [Enabled]
CPU Spread Spectrum ........ [Disabled]
PCIE Spread Spectrum ....... [Disabled]
CPU Clock Skew ............. [Auto]
NB Clock Skew .............. [Auto]
CPU Margin Enhancement ..... [Performance Mode]
______________________________
Advanced (Tab) > CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Setting .......... [Auto]
C1E Support ................ [Enabled]
Max CPUID Limit ............ [Disabled]
Intel Virtualization Tech .. [Disabled]
CPU TM Function ............ [Enabled]
Intel SpeedStep ............ [Enabled]
Intel C-STATE Tech ......... [Enabled]
The result of these settings is a clock frequency of 4.00GHz and automatic lowering of the multiplier when the processor is idle, that's why you'll see x6.0 instead of x10 in CPU-Z when the CPU is not under load. Personally, I like SpeedStep and I can't understand why anyone running the CPU at it's default multiplier would want to disable it, unless it affects overclocking, which for me it never has on this Intel system or my previous AMD systems (Cool 'n' Quiet). To enable power saving mode fully, go to your Windows Control Panel and look under Power Options. Set the Power Scheme to Minimal Power Management. Click Apply > OK.
As for memory settings, it all depends on your RAM, of course. While you stabilize your CPU overclock, you may want to set your memory to a low speed, somewhere close to the default speed the manufacturer intended it to run at. Once you've stabilized the CPU (I recommend IntelBurnTest more than any other program right now -- it's extremely quick to find errors), you can max out your RAM performance.
I am using 2*1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 (single sided modules, which are supposed to be crap, apparently) which does around DDR2-1066 on stock voltage. That doesn't seem like crap to me. I am able to run it at 5-5-5-15 with almost all sub-timings lowered by 1 notch. Command Rate is 2T. I can also set it to Performance Level 6. If you've ever wondered why Asus P5Q series boards don't offer a great deal of memory bandwidth, it's because Asus set the Performance Level very conservatively. To achieve higher bandwidth, you need to play with Performance Level. Here's how:
Download MemSet, install, reboot, then run the program.
See Performance Level (mine was set on 10 originally).
In the drop-down box, lower it by one number.
Check performance in Everest memory benchmarks or your chosen application. I also like to use SuperPi.
Keep lowering the PL number and keep checking the results.
... At some point, Windows will freeze.
Reset the PC manually and enter BIOS. Under Ai Tweaker (tab), go to Ai Transaction Booster and set the Performance Level to the last stable number that worked before the freeze. Press F10 > Enter to exit and reboot.
You should also play with the memory settings in BIOS. I was able to enable Pull-ins and set Ai Clock Twister to Strong. This also helped improve memory bandwidth.
NOTE: This OC was done using the stock cooler, plus no more than the maximum recommended voltage printed on the Intel box (1.26V). Just because mine can do it doesn't mean everyone's will. Unless you're daring, raise the FSB Frequency in steps of 100MHz and stress test it for stability, don't just jump to 4.00GHz. Nothing is guaranteed, and if your PC explodes, it's not my fault!
On a more serious note, the P5Q series is excellent in recovering from a bad overclock. If your system won't POST after a BIOS settings change, power it off and try again in a few seconds. The last settings you entered will be retained, but the board will boot with default settings. Marvellous stuff. If it still won't POST, unplug the power cable, press the power switch a few times to discharge any current, and clear CMOS using the jumper on the motherboard. You may possibly have to remove the battery for a few minutes, too. Personally I have had no problems with a non-POSTing board. Again, overclock carefully, one step at a time. Once you have a rock solid, stable overclock, save the profile under the Tools section of your BIOS.
Good luck!
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