Striker Extreme & Q6600 GO - OC'ing issues and help requested.

Chutney

Chutney

Chutney

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Joined
11 Dec 2007
Posts
28
First off to set the record straight, I'm a newb to OC'ing so please forgive me if I'm asking redundant questions and also for the long post, trying to give and get as much info as possible..

Current setup:

Processor: Q6600 GO 2.40ghz <- Currently running @ 2.70ghz
MOBO: Striker Extreme <- Running BIOS 1305
RAM: 4GB Corsair XMS2 6400 RAM (4 x 1GB Sticks = 2 x matched pairs) <- Timings @ 4-4-4-12 / 2T
GPU: 2 x 7900 GTX in SLI
HDD: 70GB WDRaptor
PSU: 650 Watt Enermax
Case: Antec P180
Windows Vista 32Bit (yeah I know, why 4GB RAM... Because I'm a newb ofc!)

Reasonable air cooling, but the processor currently has the stock Intel cooler. I did buy an Arctic Freezer 7 Pro, but had "clearance issues" when fitting (DOH!).

Testing Programs Used: CoreTemp & Orthos (2 instances out of separate folders)

This all runs fine at stock settings, but the reason I spent the cash on this was with OC'ing in mind. Been doing lots of research around various websites and have started to try it. However, I've come up against a problem that I cannot seem to resolve and was hoping to get some advice from those with a little more experience.

Using the settings below I am currently running at a stable 2.70ghz, tested over a few hours. However, I cannot push the FSB past 1205. Any higher and the system has difficulty posting, never mind getting to Windows. Something strange though, when it does post and I manage to get into the BIOS and look at the processor speed from the OC page; it reads the stock speed of 2.40ghz, even though the FSB is set above 1200 and should be running above 2.70ghz. I thought this may have something to do with the BIOS ignoring my FSB setting due to the trouble posting, any comment if this is normal?

I've read on a few sites that the board doesn't like OC'ing with 4GB RAM so took 2 sticks out, but it didn't make any difference. I've also run memtest86+ for a few hours on all 4 sticks and no reported errors.

Here are my current BIOS settings:

AI Tuning: Manual
Nvidia GPU Ex: Disabled
LinkBoost: Disabled

FSB - Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1200 -> tried various settings between 1200 up to 1333
MEM (DDR), Mhz: 800 -> Haven't moved this at all whilst OC'ing

Vcore Voltage:1.150 -> took this to 1.425 but still same problem
Memory Voltage: 1.950 -> took this to 2.2 but still same problem
1.2v HT Voltage: 1.20 -> took this to 1.35 but still same problem
NB Core Voltage: 1.20 -> took this to 1.40 but still same problem
SB Core Voltage: 1.50 -> took this to 1.5 but still same problem
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.20 -> took this to 1.35 but still same problem

*NOTE* Voltage changes were tried incrementally from what appearred to be stock, in a linked fashion ie. All moved 1 increment and then re-tried (until I got bored and just bumped them up as far as I dared). As above, this made no difference to the post problem, so I've now lowered them and the system still runs stable for over an hour testing on Orthos.

CPU Multi: 9x (Max value that Intel allow on these chips... ?)

CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
MCP PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled
LDT Spread Spectrum: Disabled

CPU Internal Thermal Control: Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
Enhanced C1 (C1E): Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Tech: Disabled
LDT Frequency: 5x

PCIEX16_1 Frequency (Mhz): 100
PCIEX16_2 Frequency (Mhz): 100
PCIEX16_3 Frequency (Mhz): 100
SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, Mhz: 200

Temperatures Idle & Load:

44 - 43 - 44 - 40

55 - 55 - 49 - 48


PHEW! Loooong post, but if you got this far, thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any advice.

P.S Merry Xmas too :D
 
They are not ideal for Quads or even 1333FSB Dual and Overclocking, EVGa had to revise the Mobo for Quads and freely swapped them over for peeps.

I hate my Striker its 1 buggy POS.

The best bios is 1303, new 1401 (not yet on site) is as bad as the 1305 POS.

You are going to hit many FSB holes and need run under or over them.
 
The board is undervolting the CPU, Use CPUZ to check the voltage in windows you may have to set the CPU voltage in the bios to 1.6v to even get 1.3v underload.
 
CyZMyAssBaby said:
which Bios is the striker currently using?

The stress program to use for quads is prime http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_9_91_19638.html Will stress all four cores in one instance (instead of using two instance of orthos)
Click to expand...

Current BIOS release from Asus is 1305 which I was running and thanks for the Prime95, seems much better than Orthos.


helmutcheese said:
They are not ideal for Quads or even 1333FSB Dual and Overclocking, EVGa had to revise the Mobo for Quads and freely swapped them over for peeps.

I hate my Striker its 1 buggy POS.

The best bios is 1303, new 1401 (not yet on site) is as bad as the 1305 POS.

You are going to hit many FSB holes and need run under or over them.
Click to expand...

Have now rolled back to the 1301 BIOS and I have to admit, it does seem more stable (not quite sure what I'm basing this on, it just does). Plus my CPU temps seem to have dropped by 5C under load.

I don't like the sound of FSB holes *groan*. I tried pushing the FSB to 1400, but again it wouldn't post. I'm a little scared of going higher, any recommendations on what FSB's to try?

Smirnoff said:
The board is undervolting the CPU, Use CPUZ to check the voltage in windows you may have to set the CPU voltage in the bios to 1.6v to even get 1.3v underload.
Click to expand...

Having checked at a few different settings I can confirm CPUZ reads the Core Voltage slightly lower than the BIOS, seems to be off by 0.1 i.e. 1.150 in BIOS and 1.04 in CPUZ.

Slightly confused by the 1.6v. If I'm running stable at 2.7ghz whilst only putting 1.150v into the CPU and still getting reasonable temps (my "ok" cooling considered), doesn't that mean I stand a better chance of OC'ing?
 
Chutney said:
Have now rolled back to the 1301 BIOS and I have to admit, it does seem more stable (not quite sure what I'm basing this on, it just does). Plus my CPU temps seem to have dropped by 5C under load.

I don't like the sound of FSB holes *groan*. I tried pushing the FSB to 1400, but again it wouldn't post. I'm a little scared of going higher, any recommendations on what FSB's to try?
Click to expand...


helmutcheese said:
The best bios is 1303, new 1401 (not yet on site) is as bad as the 1305 POS.

You are going to hit many FSB holes and need run under or over them.
Click to expand...



1303 Bios download link

http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/Stricker Extreme/SE1303.zip
 
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1303 BIOS updated and have posted passed the 1210 FSB marker, yay!

Hit a couple of those holes you mentioned, but am currently Prime95 stable for over 10 mins at 1250 FSB. Not a lot I know, but I'm just so overjoyed at getting passed that 1210 I just had to tell someone!!!

Thanks again :)

*EDIT* ROFL, that was meant to be 1250 (had a few beers in celebration).
 
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Chutney said:
1303 BIOS updated and have posted passed the 1210 FSB marker, yay!

Hit a couple of those holes you mentioned, but am currently Prime95 stable for over 10 mins at 1650 FSB. Not a lot I know, but I'm just so overjoyed at getting passed that 1210 I just had to tell someone!!!

Thanks again :)
Click to expand...

Thats good news, good luck with the o/c;)
 
@ Chutney, I have a E6850 GO (all are) so 1303 is best for me, try 1450FSB, I can do upto 1900FSB.

Im done with this Mobo, as soon as replacements are in store Im going to get Asus to change it over as it is buggy and does have a legit fault for RMA (non working GiG Lan Port), they know they model is a POS so does most in the know.
 
I use these boards everyday in builds, and these are the biggest POS anyone could buy, they will not overclock very well at all, buggy as hell, crash, freeze on splash screen, etc etc, we get 1 outa 3 that work ok ish.
 
Ok, 7 hours+ Prime95 stable on small FFT stress test @ 1333

Voltages:
VCore 1.25
Mem 1.95
1.2v HT 1.20
NB 1.20
SB 1.50
CPU VTT 1.20

Temps running 49 Idle and 69 Load.


Can get it up to 1380 FSB and Prime95 stable for 10 mins+. However, anything higher and Vista either won't load or I get blue screens. Tried upping all the voltages too, but it makes no difference to stability of Vista. Thought it might be a wall so tried to push through to 1450 FSB, but again Vista still won't boot.

Any recommendations (other than binning Vista that is :P)?
 
have you upped the voltage on your ram to 2.0v (your ram is specified to 1.8v- 2.2v)
Raise your NB to 1.45v. Leave Vcore and SB on auto for the time being.

(4gs apply more strain to the NB hence V increase)

(4gs of ram require a lot more work than 2gs when over clocking)

Try again and post back your results
 
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I think I'll whip out the extra 2GB when I get home from work. Windows only sees 2814 of my RAM anyway, due to the SLI set up.

Will give it another try this evening.

I think I'll also order a new cooler too, as the stock Intel one does seem to be running the temps pretty high.

Choosing between these two coolers:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-002-SB&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=821

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-015-ZA&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=821 (or the 9700, but it's out of stock atm)

Anyone got any recommendations on these and also on some thermal paste?
 
Tuniq is an excellent cooler, preferential choice over the zalman due to performance.

you may find this info useful http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQwMiwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

(Note The Thermalright Ultra 120 is typically seen as the best cooler. Due to manufacturing problems these coolers have been reported to have an uneven base. The base may require lapping to ensure an even/flat base)
 
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Dropped down to 2 sticks of RAM and bumped the Mem voltage to 2.0v.

Took NB to 1.55v and with FSB at 1400 it's not stable enough to run Windows for more than a few minutes, and fails in Prime95 within seconds. Tried loosening the timings on the RAM (5-5-5-15/2T) and still no good.

Whilst at my previously stable settings I did a blend test and a Large FFT test for just over an hour to see if the RAM did anything strange, not a single error. I don't feel that the RAM is holding me back, but as I've proven quite conclusively in this thread, I'm certainly no expert :D

I think I'm going to go for the Tuniq Tower as a cooler, just hope the damn thing fits. Hopefully have it in a few days and will see what difference it makes. Concerned at the moment about touching the voltages anymore, due to my current temps (two cores breached the 73C mark with my VCore on auto *YIKES*).
 
as you say wait for the new tuniq cooler and restart again sounds like good idea. When your new cooler comes in the guide above pay special attention to the correct mounting as described in that review.

another tip don't remove the sticker cover covering the sticky pad on the backplate as it really is a pain to get off your mobo should you need to.

If you have some artic silver remove the pre applied paste from the cooler using isopropyl alcohol and re clean the CPU using IA with cotton buds and reapply the Artic to the CPU only.

Use the artic silver guide for correct application http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appinstruct/as5/ins_as5_intel_quad_wcap.pdf. Do not spread, just place the cooler on and allow the weight of the cooler to spread the TIM for you.
 
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Cooler has been ordered and should arrive Saturday.

Just like to say thanks to all for your input espescially CyZMyAssBaby. I'll be back for more soon though :D
 
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