Overclocking Q9450 System

Chazaxl · 11 Oct 2011 at 13:23

Hi,

Following on from this thread:-

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=20276771&posted=1#post20276771

Where I start with overclocking?

Would my RAM be suitable - not sure what needs to change, Vcore, RAM timings or voltages?

The RAM is OCZ with part number OCZ2RPR800C42G.

Thanks in advance.

Chazaxl · 11 Oct 2011 at 13:26

Something else Ive just spotted via CPUID, not at home to check but via remote.

RAM is currently running at 5-5-5-18 but the part number and CPUID info seems to indicate that it can run at 4-4-4-15, I take it im 'wasting' resource here not using the better timings?

EDIT, then again, perhaps only at higher RAM Voltage, theres a 1.8V option for the timing that I have, should I try and move to 2.2V?

Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) OCZ (7F7F7F7FB0000000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number OCZ2RPR800C42G
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP yes (1 profiles)
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-5-5-15-20 @ 333 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-5-5-18-24 @ 400 MHz
EPP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
EPP profile #1 (abb) 4.0-4-4-15-xx-2T- @ 400 MHz (2.200 Volts)

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x52
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) OCZ (7F7F7F7FB0000000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number OCZ2RPR800C42G
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP yes (1 profiles)
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-5-5-15-20 @ 333 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-5-5-18-24 @ 400 MHz
EPP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
EPP profile #1 (abb) 4.0-4-4-15-xx-2T- @ 400 MHz (2.200 Volts)

Hagar · 11 Oct 2011 at 15:55

ram timings will make little difference and if overclocking I would leave them loose.

You have an 8x multiplier on the CPU and a bus clock of 333MHz. First target is to get 400MHz bus clock or 3.2GHz with the memory running 1:1 (DDR2 2 x 400Mhz = 800Mhz).

After that you need to reduce the memory multiplier to stay within the rated memory speed.

Up to 480MHz a memory divider of 1.2 will give 480 x 2 / 1.2 = 800Mhz. So above 400Mhz busclock up to 480 use a 1.2 divider or lock the memory at 800MHz if possible on your board

425MHz busclock gives 3.4Ghz
450MHz busclock gives 3.6Ghz

Go up in 5-10Mhz steps until unstable. You may increase vcore in steps up to 1.37V but keep one eye on temperatures.

Run cpuz, coretemp and IBT (or prime) between each voltage step to check stability.

When you reach the limit, go back a frequency step or two and run prime for a couple of hours and monitor temperatures.

Chazaxl · 11 Oct 2011 at 18:29

nkata said:
ram timings will make little difference and if overclocking I would leave them loose.

You have an 8x multiplier on the CPU and a bus clock of 333MHz. First target is to get 400MHz bus clock or 3.2GHz with the memory running 1:1 (DDR2 2 x 400Mhz = 800Mhz).

After that you need to reduce the memory multiplier to stay within the rated memory speed.

Up to 480MHz a memory divider of 1.2 will give 480 x 2 / 1.2 = 800Mhz. So above 400Mhz busclock up to 480 use a 1.2 divider or lock the memory at 800MHz if possible on your board

425MHz busclock gives 3.4Ghz
450MHz busclock gives 3.6Ghz

Go up in 5-10Mhz steps until unstable. You may increase vcore in steps up to 1.37V but keep one eye on temperatures.

Run cpuz, coretemp and IBT (or prime) between each voltage step to check stability.

When you reach the limit, go back a frequency step or two and run prime for a couple of hours and monitor temperatures.

Ok, great thanks. Do I increase voltage on the ram to 2.2 or leave at 1.8V?

Hagar · 11 Oct 2011 at 19:37

Chazaxl said:
Ok, great thanks. Do I increase voltage on the ram to 2.2 or leave at 1.8V?

Try it at 1.8, it should be fine, though increase it up to 2.2 max as necessary

Chazaxl · 11 Oct 2011 at 20:22

nkata said:
Try it at 1.8, it should be fine, though increase it up to 2.2 max as necessary

Thanks - what 'trigger' tells me that the ram voltage needs pushing up?

Hagar · 11 Oct 2011 at 23:21

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18327730

this useful post on this forum today may help

fowler002 · 12 Oct 2011 at 01:21

what is the motherboard? saying x48 doesn't tell us much, I have the dfi lanparty lt x48 t2r which I had problem getting the q9450 to 3.6ghz with.

3.2ghz or so was easy enough without much increase in the vcore etc, 3.4ghz+ was like pulling teeth but eventually managed it.

Chazaxl · 12 Oct 2011 at 21:43

fowler002 said:
what is the motherboard? saying x48 doesn't tell us much, I have the dfi lanparty lt x48 t2r which I had problem getting the q9450 to 3.6ghz with.

3.2ghz or so was easy enough without much increase in the vcore etc, 3.4ghz+ was like pulling teeth but eventually managed it.

Asus Rampage Formula iirc. Im on 3.2GHz now on 400 FSB, very easily. The mobo doesnt seem to allow 1MHZ adjustments or 5, its just got 4 coarse settings but not yet bothered to check.

Chazaxl · 13 Oct 2011 at 10:50

Ok, found that you can write the FSB in the Bios, not a option list like other mobos. Currently running stable at 410 FSB without too much effort and slightly higher voltages.

Question, my ram is now also running at 410 FSB although I have told it:-

FSB Strap to North Bridge: [400M]

Do I have an issue here with the RAM running at higher FSB?

This is my RAM:-

http://www.ocztechnology.com/ocz-ddr2-pc2-6400-reaper-cl4-4gb-edition-eol.html

Also - what voltage should I give the RAM, I think the two options are 1.8V and 2.2V, spec seems to say 2.1V.