Help Please! > What part of my System is holding back my Overclock?

Gix10000

Gix10000

Gix10000

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Joined
1 Oct 2010
Posts
18
Hi,
i recently built a new computer and am trying to Overclock it,
however i am having VERY limited success.
its the first time iv done over-clocking so im probably missing some important detail, but i have done my best to research my system.

The Specs are:
AMD 1055T 125W CPU
Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 Mobo
8Gb Corsair XMS3 1333Mhz Ram (2x 4GB Sticks)
4x WD 500GB Hard disks in 'Raid 10'
Nvidia 8600GT Graphics
Titan Fenrir Cooler

The computer system is built for Music Production and General Audio Work,
which is why i have an older (Quieter) Graphics card.

The Problem:
I am Currently Running it (Stable) with:
The CPU Clock set at 230Mhz.
CPU NB @ 2061Mhz
HT @ 2ghz
Memory clock @ 1220Mhz (due to ram multiplier resolution)

Voltages Set to manual @:
VCore @ 1.475v
NB Voltage @ 1.1v
CPU NB VID @ 1.5v
all these values are default but i didn't want the MOBO shuffling them around at will with Auto mode

This all gives me 3.2Ghz with 3.6Ghz Turbo.
basically i have managed to bring the 1055t up to 1090t speeds.
and its completely stable no errors after 8 hours of Prime95

My problems arise when i try to push the system any further.

If i push the CPU Clock to 235Mhz,
then everything posts okay but the moment windows starts loading it BSODs with a BIOS Error before the splash, OR says 'The file may be corrupt. The file header checksum does not match the computed checksum'.
If i then push the voltages up a couple of notches on everything.
i do get past the windows splash screen but then i get a BSOD complaining of Windows Drivers/System files going wrong.

And if i push it to 240mhz the Post long beeps twice and then boots, but having reset the CPU Clock back to 200Mhz.

Does anyone have any ideas what may be holding me back?
i have every suspicion i may have a (REALLY) low binned CPU,
as the Mobo got good reviews for Overclocking, and Corsair XMS3 ram is something of a good brand im told.

Thanks in advance!!!!!!
Nick

Edit: i forgot to mention that when i try to push past 230Mhz i DO deactivate turbo core.
and on everything i have got C1E and CNQ Deactivated.
 
Last edited:
oh and i forgot something else.
idle my temps are at 18-22 Degrees
and full on load on the stable OC they never go above 52 Degrees

SO MUCH information to remember to give!!!
 
Gix,

we were discussing this on another thread, What PSU are you using, run HW monitor and look at voltages on the 12V line when at your max OC (with prime running).

Try with just one 4Gb stick in although this is not likely to change things much. What Vmem are you using? I would suggest 1.6V or a notch more.

Is there a later bios version than the one installed?

andy.
 
Hi,
i have a 'XFX 650W XXX Single Rail'
i bought it because it seemed to have good reviews and i read that single rail is the best way to go for overclocking.
my ram is rated at 1.5v and thats what its set at, and i always underclock it a little to make sure im only pushing one component at a time, alhough i did try pushing it to 1.6v when i pushed everytihng up a little and managed to bsod AFTER the splash screen (big improvement that was LOL).

with prime running everything full on,
+12v is @ 12.1v
+5v @ 4.96v
+3.3v @ 3.34
+2.5v @ 1.49v
CPU Core @ 1.36v

that last reading is unusual actually,
because i have my voltage settings on manual, and my VCore/CPU Voltage is set to 1.475 as its the default value, but its only reading as 1.36v.

also i have the latest bios, it was the first thing i did when i installed my software.
 
that last point is a wierd one because i updated my bios and its now reading voltage correctly it seems... hmmm
still no OC'ing potential for some reason though HELPP!!!!
 
Mate is it possible to borrow a mates ram - you are running 2 x 4gb sticks and I wonder if they are holding you back. Should not I guess but if it is not the ram then the only thing left must be the CPU? So I think it might be worth while to check out the over-clocking with some other ram.
 
Hello Gix10000,

I'm wondering a few things, the first is that perhaps you would be better off leaving all voltages on [Auto] except for maybe vCore? . . . I'm also wondering exactly how you have set-up the memory?

These are the three standard memory mutipliers that I'm aware of, as you are using DDR3-1333 only the [3:8] multiplier will apply once you begin raising the HT ref.clock above the standard 200MHz . . .

am3stockmemory.gif


So working with the smallest [3:8] memory multiplier which is designed to run DDR3-1066 like so:

  • 200MHz HT ref.clock x 8 / 3 = 533MHz (DDR3-1066)
  • 250MHz HT ref.clock x 8 / 3 = 666MHz (DDR3-1333)
So that's got you a 250MHz HT ref.clock to work with . . . you can then set the HT-Link & CPU-NB multi to [x8] which will put them both at standard 2.0GHz speed . . .

AMD® Phenom™ II X6 1055T
  • 14 x 200 = 2800MHz
  • 16.5 x 200 = 3300MHz (Turbo)
    • 14 x 250 = 3500MHz
    • 16.5 x 250 = 4125MHz (Turbo)
The only problem I can see when running 250MHz HT ref.clock would be the Turbo-Core pushing three cores over 4.1GHz :D . . . with Turbo-Core disabled and the HT-Link/CPU-NB set to [x8] and the memory mutliplier running on the [3:8] you should be good? . . .

However if your mobo doesn't feature a smaller memory mutliplier than [3:8] then you won't be able to get higher than 250MHz Ht ref.clock without overclocking your DDR3-1333? :cool:
 
i wont be able to borrow anyone elses ram as no-one i know has DDR3.
but i will try taking out one of the sticks and see if i get more promising results,
i dont ACTUALLY need 8gb right now but i will in the future so it can be a later upgrade if i return the ram and get half the amount at a better quality for now.
if i can hit 240mhz with one stick of ram then il know the issue immediately, and can go about that process.

i have actually been through the exact process you just described,
however the computer simply will not boot if i set my CPU Frequency to 235 or above,
whatever i do

however i dont think worrying about how i have the ram clocked is going to help.
i have underclocked EVERYTHING massively and then cranked the CPU Frequency to 250 and it still didnt boot... i dont know what that means really, although im worried that means a problem with my MOBO.
but when doing a proper overclock i am always setting the multiplier so the end frequency ends up just under 1333mhz and leaving the voltages be.

also i have tried with voltages on auto and on manual and im not getting any change in bootability.

Cheers
 
i am also going to check the Chipset when i get back home incase its loose because apparently the heatsink is pretty badly attached,
could be the cause of all these problems if 235mhz is making it overheat on startup i think
 
okay guys iv had SOME headway on this.
i tried running off one stick and a CPU Frequency of 235 was suddenly stable to boot.
i then tried the other stick on same settings and got a BSOD on bootup.
so i know i have a dodgy ram stick.
however i just cranked it to 250mhz on the stable stick and gave the CPU NB & VCore a 0.5v boost (1.2 & 1.4 respectively)
and im getting "The file is possibly corrupt. the file header checksum does not match the computed checksum" when the operating system should be loading.
im going to do some experimenting and see what my maximum boote-able Mhz is and whether theres some settings i missed in the bios,
but im hoping that this is now a fairly common and easy to fix problem.
Cheers
 
Oh sorry about that <P
i honestly couldn't find the forum rules when i first registered here,
so i just assumed common sense tbh.

il just name the sticks as it will be easier

OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333MHz/PC3-10666 Platinum i5 Memory Kit 1.65V CL7(7-7-7-20)

Crucial 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333MHz/PC3-10600 Ballistix Memory Kit CL7 (7-7-7-24) 1.65V

Kingston 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333MHz HyperX Memory Kit CL7 1.7V

Those are all within my price range, although potentially a bit of a stretch for me.
Has anyone had experience with any of them?
 
Hey guys,
thought i should clear this up now that i know the problem.
The issue was indeed with my ram.
i bought some Kingston Hyperx 2x2gb sticks 1333mhz @CL7 1.7v
and straight away i was able to clock up to 3.6 ghz completely stable.
and acceptably cool (56C on top load for a few hours).

My Passmark score is now just over 7000 which is freaking impressive if you ask me:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
as this does make it the 11th fastest CPU on the market compared to the Stock I7's, Xeons and Opterons.

AMD is definitely back in the game for me.
 
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