Overclocking my new rig

Biglunn

Biglunn

Biglunn

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Slough, Berkshire
Just upgraded to the following......

i7 950
Asus P6X58D-E
Corsair XMS3 9-9-9-24 3x2gb DDR3

Upgraded BIOS, and with everything on AUTo, things are absolutely fine - RAM sets at 1066mhz, standard CPU speed and standard voltages.

But the moment I try ANYTHING, I start seeing just 4gb in Windows 7. Bump the ram speed up to rated 1600mhz and set 9-9-9-24, and set 1.65v for RAM- BIOS and Windows sees just 4gb.

Initially, I thought - even on everything on default - that the memory was failing memtest - realised that memest was on v2.10 then tried latest v4.10 and the memory seems stable.

But with this 4gb issue, I cannot even start to overclock. Anyone have any ideas? Something faulty?? Help me please :) :(

Feels to me like the worst upgrade ever
 
reeceLAV said:
Yeah, i think theres a problem with the XMS3 kit and the p6x58d-e, been hearing people been having problems with that specific kit.
Click to expand...

Well I have the -E board with a 930 and 2 x 6GB kits of XMS3 (bought a couple of weeks apart) with zero issues.

There are a few guides suggesting all sorts of voltage changes on this board but I found that this works, is stable (20 passes IBT maximum; 24 hours Prime mixed torture test) and is cool running 24 hours a day and folding every night since:

BCLK 191 (mult 21 so 4Ghz)
CPU volts at 1.26250
QPIDRAM at 1.22500
PLL at 1.8 (stock but NOT auto)
ICH & IOH at 1.1 (stock but NOT auto)
Enabled the extreme phase option (and make sure you took the plastic wrap off where the Extreme Phase text is on the mobo itself....)

I also have all the speedstep and power state options enabled.

With some careful testing, I have the RAM at 1527Mhz (191x8), timings tweaked to 9/9/9/24/1N tRFC at 72 and RAM volts incremented down to 1.54 (the RAM is a lot cooler than it was at the XMP 1.65 volts) and no issues at all.

I have a suspicion that lots of issues come from a random mix of "start by sticking IOH and ICH to 1.2 and PLL at 1.88 then jack QPIDRAM and CPU volts to 1.35 jack DRAM to 1.65volts and leave the rest on auto".

I prefer to see if IOH, ICH and PLL at stock (i.e. 1.1, 1.1 and 1.8 - NOT ASUS-thinks it's right auto) plus QPIDRAM at 1.3 and CPU volts at 1.3 will achieve a stable boot - they often will, at 4Ghz. Well, at least 4 out of 4 have between my two and two friends....

Then increment QPIDRAM down, using Prime blend or IBT max to find memory erorrs and inch back up one notch after it fails (avoid running IBT with memory so large it causes masses of page faults and just tests I/O to your page file....)

Then step CPU volts down, using prime FFT or IBT high until you get Prime error or freeze or other error and notch back up one step.

Boot a few times and note what the board sets for RTL for channels A, B and C (use CPU tweaker). Then manually set to the most stable settings (the Asus boards seem to shuffle these timings from boot to boot -given they should be a straight calculation of how long it takes to get to the dram from the CPU, they shouldn't really roll around like they do).

Then try to tighten memory settings (try 1N instead of 2N) and then incrementally trim DRAM volts down from 1.65 using IBT max/Prime blend as before.

My suspicion is that widespread "baseline" over-volting leads to more need for over volting and the resultant general heat leads to less stability. (no science, just 4 pieces of experience).

The 4 machines I have experience of are also used for Premiere CS5 work in a big way so we NEED the 12GB (and really wanted 24...).

Try it?
(the tRFC value seems to matter a lot with this RAM by the way so set that to the SPD 88 as well as the 9/9/9/24 2T to start with).
 
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About the memory issue, my asus board has no problems. Try re-seating the cpu, and cooler. If your cooler uses a back plate, make sure that the metal is'nt touching the back of the motherboard as this can cause issues, use rubber/plastic spacers if supplied, or get some from a diy shop.
 
I think you'll have to start slowly and build up to the rated speeds instead of jumping in at 1600. Also you WILL need more QPI Voltage to run that speed. Which may be the culprit.
 
Cheers for the advice!

I really started to think that this was the worst system I have ever made (in 14 years) and never had I built a system that felt so `fragile`. I was distraught.

Now.... the system would get unstable as soon as any setting is changed from defaults. And as I said, it would start to show just 4gb in BIOS/Windows too.

I had read about potentially the CPU not sitting right / CPU socket pins being bent, and was about to whip out the mobo to reccheck everything, but knowing that it actually works correctly with everything on default (1066mhz on ram and no overclock), I knew it cannot be related to CPU connection.

I had a gut feeling the memory was suspect (even though I couldnt isolate it to a particular stick), ordered the Patriot Viper kit on special this week, put them in - straight to 1600mhz on XMP, passed memtest, voila!

I have had bad luck with memory before.... again Corsair. I simply cannot trust it again! Maybe just bad luck, but I have heard a few problems with Corsair in certain motherboards.

Anyways..... Im now utterly happy, and let the overclock begin! BIG Thank you bullyterrier - some good pointers in terms of overclock - really is a bit of a culture shock coming from a simple Core2quad platform!
 
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mmj_uk said:
As you found out this problem is usualy caused by a weak memory stick, good to hear you got it sorted.
Click to expand...

I think you are right. The memory is OK at 1066mhz, but anything much over than that then if falls over. As its brand new, I `should` be able to get a refund on it as it claims it can run at 1600mhz but cant
 
Ive now got a `comfortable` overclock of 3840mhz (160 x 24) with a CPU core of 1.2v and QPI/Dram volts of 1.225v

CPUZ.jpg
Realtemp.jpg




Im certain volts can come down a bit more, but temps in Prime95 seem to average between 80-85deg, and thats with a Titan Fenrir V2 cooler, in a well ventilated case. I started with CPU at 1.3v and now at 1.2v temps are not that much cooler. CPU volts aside, can I do anything settings wise to lower load temps?

Also, when CPU is idling, it downclocks to 1920mhz (12x), but volts stay at preset 1.2v. Is it possible to automatically downvolt, just like when system settings are at default auto?
 
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