Help with i7 @ 4GHz

DeliciousMango

DeliciousMango

DeliciousMango

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10 Apr 2009
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My system is as follows:

  • Intel i7 920
  • Gigabyte EX58-UD5
  • 6 x 2GB Corsair XMS3 (Total 12GB)
  • 300GB Velociraptor
  • 1TB Seagate Barracuda
  • Radeon HD 4890
  • V8 Coolermaster
  • Corsair VX 550W

I want to clock my CPU @ 4.GHz and my memory at 1600MHz, I have followed many tutorials (mainly this: http://lakesidepc.com/Core.i7.920.oc.4G.2008.12.12_ENG.pdf) but Windows seems to crash on the "Windows is starting up" splash every single time. I'm using Win7 RC1 x64 if thats any help.

If someone has some exact values to use for my system, it would be brilliant...

Thanks, Mango.
 
Keep an eye on this thread - link.

If Swiftlegend replies you may have some of your answers - but he's only clocked at 3.8GHz with 12 gig, but his memory is running at 1600MHz.
 
DeliciousMango said:
Ah, so it's the fact I have 12GB that is the problem?
Click to expand...

Very probably, - as, i posted on the other thread:

At the moment - all/most motherboards advertised state that any memory running over 1333MHz as 'overclocked' so it's not guaranteed to run dedicated memory over 1333Mhz at their dedicated speed. But if you're using just 6 gig it's very attainable...

Unfortunately, using 12gig makes it very difficult to try and reach these speeds as using all the slots stresses the NB and the motherbords potential stability when clocked. But using higher frequency memory obviously gives you a bit more flexibilty...

But, it would seem that some people are claiming to have achieved 1600MHz with huge overclocks - but i would say they are the exception to the rule.

I'll be fitting 12gig in a build for a friend but i don't expect to be getting a great overclock and i'm going to settle on 1333Mhz for the memory or as high as i can get it.
 
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A very valid, point.

DeliciousMango said:
I would settle for 3.8GHz, that'd do me fine. In fact, something around the 3.4GHz would be great as long as I could get my memory up to 1600MHz. I'll check out the thread. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Mang, what's the highest stable clock you've achieved so far with 12gig?
 
I've managed 3.0GHz but I haven't been able to get windows past the "Starting Windows" splash with anything higher. And even with the 3.0GHz, windows was reporting some weird clock speeds, I think it may have been a big however.
 
I just updated my bios firmware from F4 to F7 and it's seemed to have made things a bit better. I'm upto 3.4GHz and 1200MHz now and I only changed the BCLK... I changed nothing else from the default optimized settings. I'll stick with this for a while and see how it goes.
 
Is you i7 920 a C0 or D0? Has a big bearing on the method for overclock.

I'm currently at 4.4Ghz stable - and my 12GB blade ram is sat at 1670 even though it's rated at 2000. Once you have the bclk up high the ram tends to need to come down a bit.

I can do 4.65Ghz but its nowhere near stable.
 
Thanks for the reply Simon.

i've not seen a 12GB set... I brought 2 lots of 6GB.
Click to expand...

Some retailers have just started selling them.

I'm pleased with your reply - as i would rather get 2 x 6gig of the OZC or Kingston than the Corsair 12gig pack i saw.

What brand and spec of memroy did you use?
 
memory controller on the chip could be to blame

running 12gb is not easy with high clocks

you need to find the balance

- high cpu clock
- high RAM clock
- high RAM capacity

one of these has to be reduced in order to get the system stable
 
rjkoneill said:
running 12gb is not easy with high clocks

you need to find the balance

- high cpu clock
- high RAM clock
- high RAM capacity

one of these has to be reduced in order to get the system stable
Click to expand...

Yeah, i agree - i'm trying my hardest to reduce the total memory on my friends build to 6gig for those very reasons - but he's set on the idea of 12gig.

He wants a decent clock but i suspect i'll run into a brick wall at a relatively low clock using 12gig.

Unless i get lucky like one of these guys - it would still be great to know their system specs?
 
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12gb is not really needed at all at the moment, I read several places on the web and placed a thread about the difference between 6gb and 12gb, and there was no noticeable difference at all, so I stayed with 6gb in the end, the money is best left spent elsewhere on a new system, going with just 6gb gives you a decent overclock right up to at least 4.0, but with 12gb the overclock would be a lot more lower down
 
using 12GB I whole hartedly agree that it is complete overkill and does no real benifit, but it is Nice :)

As for brand. I tried the patriot 1600 and found that really poor when overclocked. So I switched to the OCZ blade 2000 9,9,9,20. I got this knowing I would not be using it at 2000 because my plan was always to scale back the ram, but it's such good value and has proven excellent. I am running it at between 1600 and 1850 depending on my clock and it has not blinked.

It is very true that the CPU is the main driving force when it comes to the overclocked RAM. My D0 is much more stable with high Ram clocks than the C0 was. But in my experience under clocking the Ram means the CPU is not having to work too hard.

Final thought... With the Blade, I have found no difference in the clock speed and stability between 6GB and 12GB - Under clocking has ensured that both combinations work perfectly.
 
Thanks for the comprehensive reply SimonMaltby - just the kind of information i was after.

I too have chosen the D0 for it's clocking compatibilities combined with the Noctua. I'm just stuck on memory choice but your OZC looks very appealing but i see you have a very serious overclockers motherboard so i may not get the same benifits. (i'm buying the Asus P6T Deluxe v2 Intel X58).

That is a very impressive spec in your sig - what are you housing it all in?
 
Plec said:
Thanks for the comprehensive reply SimonMaltby - just the kind of information i was after.

I too have chosen the D0 for it's clocking compatibilities combined with the Noctua. I'm just stuck on memory choice but your OZC looks very appealing but i see you have a very serious overclockers motherboard so i may not get the same benifits. (i'm buying the Asus P6T Deluxe v2 Intel X58).

That is a very impressive spec in your sig - what are you housing it all in?
Click to expand...

The memory was just as effective in the std EVGA X58 mobo. The CPU overclock is quite a lot higher and more stable on the Classified.

I am using the Coolermaser Cosmos S case which has plenty of room :)
 
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