Help with i7 950 4.00GHz Overclock

C.K · 15 Feb 2011 at 18:54

Hi guys, the OcUK O.C profile that came saved in BIOS from when I purchased my overclocked bundle doesn't appear stable.

With no overclock, the system is stable and can run Prime95 for 12hours+, no crashes at all. But when I have the profile loaded, prime will crash within 5minutes, automatically restart and give me artefacts on the screen.

The artefacts are definitely down to the overclock, as the system is stable, never crashes unless this O.C profile is loaded, and I only see them when using this overclocked profile - it's perfectly sound when running stock.

I have run memtest86, all passed out fine.

As this is my first overclock, I'm hoping you guys could list some settings to try/alter.

Please be easy!

lol

Specs:
Mobo: Asus P6X58D-E
Cpu: Intel i7 950 1366
Ram: Corsair XMS3 3x2GB DDR3 1600MHz (Stock timings: 9-9-9-24 1.65v)

Pics of O.C profile settings:

I have also tried these settings, but still artefacting.

bifday2k · 16 Feb 2011 at 02:39

Bump for you.

Also as your now on watercooling, load up the OC profile again, and whack the qpi volt upto 1.35v and save. See if taking that off auto helps at all, if it primes fine with that, then its down to tweaking that lower and maybe the vcore abit to.

But i guess its best to start high and work backwards really.

C.K · 16 Feb 2011 at 04:50

On the OcUK profile or the 2nd lot of settings I tried?

bifday2k · 16 Feb 2011 at 04:57

On the OcUK one, start off high on the volts, and work backwards.

Sorry for not responding on msn just now, was away from my comp.

C.K · 16 Feb 2011 at 05:13

Ok cheers.

I have changed the qpi volts to 1.35v, and changed the timings from 9-9-9-28 to 9-9-9-24.

Just going to prime now...

C.K · 16 Feb 2011 at 05:38

Whilst prime was running, I got a BSOD with win32k.sys as the reason.

Going to memtest86 again, then go from there.

C.K · 16 Feb 2011 at 13:31

Memtest86 passed with no errors for 7hours. For this, I put the CPU @ 3.2GHz instead of the 4.00GHz

Prime running now @ 3.8GHz.

Edit: Prime ran without any problems for 7hours @ 3.8GHz.

bifday2k · 16 Feb 2011 at 22:56

So the memory at 1600mhz is not the issue, thats good then.

Weird as hell as to why at 4ghz even with high volts (higher then is needed) is so unstable, guess more testing, and if it continues to be stupid, just have it clocked to 3.8ghz on lower volts.

Could always post in the support section lower down, as it is supposed to be a guaranteed 4Ghz clock lol.

C.K · 16 Feb 2011 at 22:58

What volts should I use for the 3.8GHz O.C?

bifday2k · 16 Feb 2011 at 23:17

Same as the 4ghz volts, then work backwards, until u find a point where its unstable then put it back up one to the last fully stable volts.

Im still amazed that, that cpu can't keep 4Ghz stable, even with stupid high volts, i know if it was me id be on the phone to OCuk complaining like hell, haha.

But yeh start off with the 1.35v on both vcore and qpi, prime for like 2 hours, then lower repeat, lower.. until it won't run prime properly, then at that point, up the vcore 1 notch and run prime for longer, keep uping until prime will do a long run, annoying as hell but best way.

JW1993 · 16 Feb 2011 at 23:17

Try taking it to 1.3v

C.K · 16 Feb 2011 at 23:25

Just a thought, could I not up the cpu voltage a notch higher than 1.35 and see if I can get 4.00GHz stable?

Not sure what the safest voltage is.

Also, when things start getting unstable, the first thing that happens is programs start crashing, like internet explorer, or windows explorer. Does this narrow it down to anything?

bifday2k · 16 Feb 2011 at 23:49

You could go higher then 1.35vcore yes, especially as you are on water cooling, Just make sure the core temps are well within spec, sub 80c.

But if u can run 3.8ghz with lessor volts, id go for that, especially if the 4ghz needs far more.

Programs crashing generally to me indicates your close to stability just not quite there yet.

If you want try this, re-load the OcUK settings, and up the vcore only to 1.375v and test then (make sure load ling Calibration is on).

C.K · 17 Feb 2011 at 00:08

Gaz can you pop on msn please mate

bifday2k · 17 Feb 2011 at 00:10

Logged on now.

C.K · 17 Feb 2011 at 22:34

After playing around with the OcUK 4.0GHz profile, I have found that if I lower the voltage, I can get into windows and IBT fails quickly. If I raise the voltage a notch, it will run IBT and take awhile to fail. If I raise the voltage another notch, the system posts then artefacts.

Anyone have an idea?

Bond · 18 Feb 2011 at 07:43

One thing is to change the PCIE frequency on the OcUK provided overclock to 100 only - 101 may cause issues certainly I have had previously.

Can you then try again

Are you running CoreTemp to make sur that the temperatures are not getting too high as well and causing the issues you are seeing? 1.35 of QPI seems high to me if you are only running 6GB and will increase you temperatures by a certain margin as well

Failing this then I would recommend speaking with OcUK - I'm surre they will help if it was one of their overclocked bundles

bifday2k · 18 Feb 2011 at 13:13

He's on full custom water cooling (cpu + gpu), with vcore and qpi both at 1.35 his temps are low to mid 70's under full prime load, so temps are not an issue at all.

I totally forgot to get him to test with PCIE at 100, good call bond, may not be an issue but always worth testing for sure.