Can't get 3.6Ghz with E6600/EP45-UD3P

[nate911]

I can't seem to get my E6600 to 3.6Ghz :(...I get a BSOD on Windows startup or sometimes a few minutes into Windows at that speed.
With my previous mobo (680i), I was stable at 3.4Ghz with 1.30625v (1.288v CPU-Z) so voltage shouldn't be too much of an issue...even setting it to 1.4V yields the same result at 3.6Ghz. (Also, yes the RAM is stable if you were wondering)
These are the settings I tried for 3.6Ghz...

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9.0x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3600Mhz


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 400 Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< Default?
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< Default?
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 0


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................15

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................Auto
tWTR..........................................Auto
tWR............................................Auto
tRFC...........................................Auto
tRTP...........................................Auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH - Auto
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH - Auto
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................:1.35v

CPU Termination…..... tried multiple... 1.26, 1.28, 1.30, 1.32V-none worked .. at most a few seconds into Orthos before BSOD
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V
CPU Reference.…………....Auto

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.28V
MCH Reference….…….Auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.….....Auto
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V
ICH Core…………...……1.100V

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.840V
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: <<< Leave
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: <<< Leave
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: <<< Leave

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Enabled]
Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled]

Any suggestions?

[Lsdmeasap]

We need your exact settings to best advise, like your actual Clock Drive voltages, and what you have set for tRD (Static tRead Value). Since you do have tRD on Auto, please post a screenshot of Memset

While you wait try less MCH Core (maybe 1.18-1.24), and a bit more CPU PLL

[nate911]

Originally Posted by Lsdmeasap

We need your exact settings to best advise, like your actual Clock Drive voltages, and what you have set for tRD (Static tRead Value). Since you do have tRD on Auto, please post a screenshot of Memset

While you wait try less MCH Core (maybe 1.18-1.24), and a bit more CPU PLL

The Clock Drive voltages are set at 700mV.
Should I bump up the PPL one notch or more? (the next notch is 1.57)
Here's a screenshot of my settings at 3.4Ghz.



Thanks for the quick response!

[Psycho101]

Clock drive settings of 700/700 = failsafe defaults. This may have happened if you flashed the BIOS recently, then forgot to load optimized defaults, save and exit afterwards.

I'd load optimized defaults right away, re-enter most of your settings but try Lsdmeasap's recommendations. PLL is ok up to 1.61V.

[nate911]

loaded optimized defaults, thanks.

I still don't really know what to do, too many voltages
Tried to mess around with VTT (1.30, 1.26) with 1.35 vCore but I still got a BSOD on startup. I used 1.26 MCH Core also.

[Psycho101]

You're still on quite conservative Vcore. Your chip can handle up to 1.5V. Try giving it 1.4V and enable Load Line Calibration.

Dual cores also seem to like lower than default MCH ref voltages. With the 1.4Vcore, set CPU Term to 1.2, then set MCH ref to 0.740V. Now increase CPU Term to 1.34V. You will see MCH Ref inrease in value. This is fine, it scales as a % of CPU term.

Also consider setting a fixed Static tRead rather than auto As auto is setting 9, and you're having problems, set both channels to a value of 10 for now. I'm 99% sure tRead isn't an isue though, and auto is setting this very conservatively. You'll likely be ok with 8 or even 7, but after you get stable.

Trying the 2.00B system memory multi may be beneficial, or it may have the opposite effect. D is intended usually for FSB of 400+, so B is still within tolerance for your settings.

One final thing to change. Please enable Thermal Monitor 2. It doesn't cause any stability issues. It's purely there to protect your CPU. It's responsible for initiating thermal throttling when your CPU reaches its TJMax. Without it your CPU may commit suicide by overheating through over zealous clocking or even simply a failed CPU fan.

[gampamu]

I agree with Psycho101 regarding your Vcore being conservative. My 1.25V VID Q6600 needs 1.3875V for 3.6G on my UD3P board. If the VID of your chip is higher, it's likely you will need more vcore than that.

Regarding the other voltage settings, I was able to get by with lower settings at 400x9: 1.2V VTT, 1.5V PLL, and 1.16V MCH using my 4x1G Kingstons. Higher voltages actually caused the system to be unstable.

Good luck.

Edit: I misread and thought you were running a Q6600. Regardless, I believe what I said above should be still apply to your E6600. There is often not much difference between overclocking the Q/E6600's, except the duo's can often manage a slightly higher FSB.

[nate911]

Originally Posted by Psycho101

You're still on quite conservative Vcore. Your chip can handle up to 1.5V. Try giving it 1.4V and enable Load Line Calibration.

Dual cores also seem to like lower than default MCH ref voltages. With the 1.4Vcore, set CPU Term to 1.2, then set MCH ref to 0.740V. Now increase CPU Term to 1.34V. You will see MCH Ref inrease in value. This is fine, it scales as a % of CPU term.

Also consider setting a fixed Static tRead rather than auto As auto is setting 9, and you're having problems, set both channels to a value of 10 for now. I'm 99% sure tRead isn't an isue though, and auto is setting this very conservatively. You'll likely be ok with 8 or even 7, but after you get stable.

Trying the 2.00B system memory multi may be beneficial, or it may have the opposite effect. D is intended usually for FSB of 400+, so B is still within tolerance for your settings.

One final thing to change. Please enable Thermal Monitor 2. It doesn't cause any stability issues. It's purely there to protect your CPU. It's responsible for initiating thermal throttling when your CPU reaches its TJMax. Without it your CPU may commit suicide by overheating through over zealous clocking or even simply a failed CPU fan.

Originally Posted by gampamu

I agree with Psycho101 regarding your Vcore being conservative. My 1.25V VID Q6600 needs 1.3875V for 3.6G on my UD3P board. If the VID of your chip is higher, it's likely you will need more vcore than that.

Regarding the other voltage settings, I was able to get by with lower settings at 400x9: 1.2V VTT, 1.5V PLL, and 1.16V MCH using my 4x1G Kingstons. Higher voltages actually caused the system to be unstable.

Good luck.

Edit: I misread and thought you were running a Q6600. Regardless, I believe what I said above should be still apply to your E6600. There is often not much difference between overclocking the Q/E6600's, except the duo's can often manage a slightly higher FSB.

I'll try all those and report back, however temps are becoming a problem if I go past 1.35, but I'll try. I think my case is the problem :(. In my first post my stable voltage for 3.4ghz was 1.288 in CPU-Z...my CPU is a 'golden chip' so I would think a .2Ghz bump wouldn't require much voltage increase, but I'll play around with it. My VID is 1.2625v by the way. Maybe I should start lowering voltages with 3.4ghz then start trying for 3.6Ghz?

[susanpret88]

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