[HELP] PC locking up completely at random during games

[wazza300]

yeah it helps,try and see first but 1.2v is still to low for qpi/vtt so try that at 1.32v if it fails again

 

[Nexus18]

btw I have noticed since enabling the XMP profile that my CPU core temps have increased, originally they were around 35 but now sit around the 45 mark (idle) Is that normal?

 

[wazza300]

does it raise the cpu bclk to get you 1600mhz? sometimes it does either that or it raises voltages qpi/vtt a little

 

[Nexus18]

Hmm, not sure, will need to check the bclk with XMP on and off, is there anyway of finding this out in windows rather than the BIOS?

XMP disabled:

Spoiler

XMP enabled:

Spoiler

qpi voltage went from 1.1V to 1.2V

EDIT:

Yup, bus clock speed went from 133MHz to 160MHz

EDIT:

A bit of topic from the issue I am having but..........how much performance gain will I get from this XMP being enabled as it also ups the CPU a bit? We only talking about a few FPS in games, would it help minimum FPS? Trying to decide if it is worth it for the 10 degree increase in temps

 

[wazza300]

youll gain some performance with any overclocking,it raises the bclk so it can use 1600mhz memory speed,as you adjust the bclk it also raises the memory speed

you can do it all manually if you want

with sandy/ivy the bclk stays at 100mhz and the cpu multiplier goes much higher,on older p55 you can raise the bclk aswell this is why its harder to get the memory stable as your overclocking through the bclk more

 

[Nexus18]

I have just disabled the XMP profile as I was actually getting too hot from the heat being put out and the increase in the CPU fan cooler noise (gelid tranquillo with gelid fan) was noticeable, a quiet system is a must for me (PC case is literally right next to me on my desk and is left on over night a fair bit), now my temps are around the 30 degree mark (idle), it is actually a 15 degree difference

Will enable XMP again, when/if I get a new/better CPU cooler or/and a better case.


So, will have to test the games out again, this time with just the "performance enhance" mode set to "standard" and if it still happens, do I just set the qpi/vtt voltage shown here to 1.32V, despite the memory running at 1.5V and 1333MHz again as opposed to 1.65V and 1600MHz?

 

[wazza300]

How much CPU voltage is being used for stock clocks? Remember auto will tend to use more and it will raise it if you raise the bclk,if you set CPU v to normal you can add extra or undervolt the CPU in dvid,I do this with my I3 540,I undervolt it to 1v

Then you can run the ram at 1600mhz and 1.32qpi,qpi doesn't heat up temps like CPU v does,I'm guessing xmp is making you use more CPU v due to higher bclk

 

[Nexus18]

All CPU info. at stock clocks/XMP disabled below, so more or less, it is using 1V.



EDIT:

And bios photo with stock:

Spoiler

If the problem isn't fixed, I will do as you said in your last post there.

 

[wazza300]

CPU-z doesn't show idle clocks sometimes,if you stress the CPU you'll see CPU voltage in CPU-z shoot up,you can just set CPU v to normal rather than auto and see if it uses less,if not you can reduce it further in dvid maybe -0.0100v

 

[Nexus18]

With far cry 3 running:

 

[wazza300]

I don't want you to drift off coarse though,first try and fix this game freezing/lock ups,from what your describing it points to memory imo mainly qpi/vtt,once you crack that then you can think about improving voltages and lowering CPU temps,stock or overclocked you can improve over what auto sets

If CPU v is 1.104v you can try CPU voltage on normal and dvid at -0.0100v this would make your load CPU v 1.004v at load

 

[Gregster]

Nice work Wazza. Good to see you helping and hope you get it sorted Nexus.

 

[Nexus18]

Don't worry, fixing the lock up issue is still my main priority

Just had a couple of hours gaming session on FC 3 and no lock up so far.......... *touch wood* This is with just the power enhance mode set to standard as opposed to turbo mode.

When/If the lock up issue does happen again then the next thing I will do, is change the qpi/vtt voltage to 1.32V and hopefully that will be it sorted once and for all!


@Gregster

Thanks and indeed! Once again, wazza has been extremely helpful with my problems/questions! It is much appreciated

 

[wazza300]

no problem,i just wanna see you crack it,you can always try to lower qpi later on,and you can certainly improve stock cpu voltage

performance enhance tightens/loosens secondary ram timings so that usually helps and helps you use less qpi voltage aswell

 

[Nexus18]

TBH if the issue is solved with the standard preset for performance enhance and/or the qpi voltage change, I might just leave the CPU core voltage etc. for the time being, as long as the temps (including noise levels) and performance is good and most importantly stable, then I am happy with the PC for the time being , extremely tempted to do all this overclocking, undervolting etc. stuff now though! Have learned a lot about it from this thread and messing around in the BIOS etc., previously I didn't have a clue

 

[wazza300]

if your gaming id run your ram at 1600mhz,its running 1333mhz atm apart from that its fine settings wise

you can always tweak if you want to get temps even better but not essential

 

[Nexus18]

Ok, I will enable the XMP profile again then and in order to stop the temperature of the CPU cores rising by 15 degrees, I adjust the "CPU vCore" in the this area of the BIOS, right?

http://i.imgur.com/NdRaoh.jpg

Just set it to "normal"?

And that is all I have to do in order to have good CPU core temps and the RAM running at 1600MHz and of course the system being stable

 

[wazza300]

yeah,and see where it says "dynamic vcore-dvid" set that to -0.0100v,if its unstable leave it blank but its worth a try,it will lower cpu temps if it is stable

 

[Nexus18]

Ok thanks very much! if it is unstable, what will happen? Will the pc just not boot up, crash/lockup more often?

What about the qpi/vtt voltage? Should I just leave it for the time being?

 

[wazza300]

yeah leave qpi for now,it will just restart or freeze and restart then it will say oc settings failed and you can set it back to how it was or clear the cmos to reset the bios settings to default