GA-EP45-UD3P - Won't boot with 450FSB

[D-an-W]

Hi Folks, done a couple of upgrades over the last couple of days (See sig) which has left me @ 4.04GHz with the new E8400 (Mostly thanks to the fanatical Lsdmeasap), template below.

I am currently at 449FSB and initially it looks pretty stable but I can't for the life of me get it to boot at 450FSB. Strangley though once into Windows (Vista 64) I can raise the FSB and it still appears pretty stable.

Has anyone come across this kind of issue before and solved it?

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Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P (Rev. 1.0) - F9
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******************************
MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) 
******************************
Robust Graphics Booster ..............: [Fast]
CPU Clock Ratio ......................: [9X]
x Fine CPU Clock Ratio................: +0.0
CPU Frequency ........................: 4.04GHz( 449x9)
********** Clock Chip Control ********
>>>>>  Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control................: [Enabled]
x CPU Host Frequency(Mhz).............: [449]
PCI Express Frequency(Mhz)............: [100]
C.I.A.2...............................: [Disabled]
>>>>> Advanced Clock Control..........: [Press Enter] 
CPU Clock Drive.......................: [800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive...............: [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew........................: [  0ps]
MCH Clock Skew........................: [  0ps]
******** DRAM Performance Control ********
Performance Enhance...................: [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile(X.M.P.)........: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch................: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)........: [2.00D]
Memory Frequency(Mhz).....800.........: 900
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)..........: [Manual]
>>>>> Standard Timing Control
x CAS Latency Time................5...: [ 5]
x tRCD ...........................5...: [ 4]
x tRP.............................5...: [ 4]
x tRAS...........................18...: [12]
>>>>> Advanced Timing Control.........: [Press Enter] 
x tRRD............................3...: [ 3]
x tWTR............................3...: [ 4]
x tWR.............................6...: [ 6]
x tRFC...........................52...: [54]
x tRTP............................3...: [ 3]
x Command Rate (CMD) .............0...: [ 2]
>>>>> Channel A Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter] 
x Static tRead Value.............10...: [ 9]
x tRD Phase0 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase1 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase2 Adjustment ..........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase3 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x Trd2rd(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2wr(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2rd(Different Rank)..........5...: Auto
x Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..........8...: Auto
x DIMM1 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DIMM2 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DDR Write Training..................: Auto
>>>>> Channel A Driving Settings......: [Press Enter] 
x Driving Strength Profile............: [1066MHz]
x Data Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Up level...........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Up Level...........: Auto
x Data Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Down level.........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Down Level.........: Auto
>>>>> Channel B Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter] 
x Static tRead Value.............10...: [ 9]
x tRD Phase0 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase1 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase2 Adjustment ..........0...: Auto
x tRD Phase3 Adjustment...........0...: Auto
x Trd2rd(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2wr(Different Rank)..........6...: Auto
x Twr2rd(Different Rank)..........5...: Auto
x Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..........8...: Auto
x DIMM1 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DIMM2 Clock Skew Control (ps).......: Auto
x DDR Write Training..................: Auto
>>>>> Channel B Driving Settings......: [Press Enter] 
x Driving Strength Profile............: [1066MHz]
x Data Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Up level...........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level..........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Up Level...........: Auto
x Data Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Cmd Driving Pull-Down level.........: Auto
x Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level........: Auto
x Clk Driving Pull-Down Level.........: Auto
****** Motherboard Voltage Control ******
Voltage Types..........Normal...........Current
-----------------------------------------------
>>> CPU
Load-Line Calibration.................: [Enabled]
CPU Vcore..............1.27500V.......: [1.39375V]
CPU Termination........1.200V.........: [1.300V]
CPU PLL................1.500V.........: [1.570V]
CPU Reference..........0.760V.........: [Auto]
>>> MCH/ICH
MCH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.240V]
MCH Reference..........0.760V.........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]
ICH I/O................1.500V.........: [1.570V]
ICH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.200V]
>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage...........1.800V.........: [2.080V]
DRAM Termination.......0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel A Reference....0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel B Reference....0.900V.........: [Auto]
******** Advanced BIOS Features ********
Hard Disk Boot Priority...............: [Press Enter]
First Boot Device.....................: [USB-HDD]
Second Boot Device....................: [Hard Disk]
Third Boot Device.....................: [CDROM]
Password Check........................: [Setup]
HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability.............: [Enabled]
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) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.....................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology.............: [Disabled]
Delay For HDD (Secs)..................: [ 0]
Full Screen LOGO Show.................: [Disabled]
Init Display First....................: [PEG]
******** Integrated Peripherals ********
USB Keyboard Function.................: [Enabled]
USB Mouse Function....................: [Enabled]
USB Storage Function..................: [Disabled]

[profJim]

More info is needed:
Reboot/reset? Boot loop? BSOD? Freeze? (if so, where?)
Include:
- link to your ram's specs.
- Memset screen-shot using SPD and ">>" tabs.
- cpu-z main screen-shot
- EasyTune6 screen-shot ---> TUNER tab ---> ADVANCE tab ---> VOLTAGE tab

Make one change at a time, then test.
1) Change your ram's primary timing to 5-5-5-18. <--- while over-clocking
2) Increase Cpu Termination up 1 click.

Have you run Memtest86+ on your new ram? How long?
Have you done any stability/stress testing? How long?
Is 2.08 dram volts over spec?

Your bios settings are not acceptable ....it's easy to read, there's no ambiguity about AUTO vs manual settings, and the columns line up perfectly.

[Psycho101]

As per profJim's questions really.

DO you have a PC Speaker plugged into the board's speaker port? Some cases have them either bolted to the case or they come in the accessories kit.

To be honest the only beep code I've ever gotten is the continuous short beeps. The manual says "Continuous short beeps: Power error" however there's nothing wrong with my power supply, connections etc, which means short beeps are also Morse code for "Aaaaagh! your settings are wrong, I'm not going to boot till you switch me off at the wall.... and then only from the backup BIOS"


I'd suspect RAM first off too. 5-4-4-12 is tight for a 100MHz (DDR) overclock. Your RAM could verry well be up to it, heck if it's D9 IC's then it'll do 5-5-5-15 @ 1100-1200 DDR. You also have 4 sticks. It may be possible that it wants another tick or two of MCH Core voltage.

Also if the BIOS info you posted is 100% as it apears in your bios, the board, if left to its own devices would set tRead=10. I'm not saying it's right, but it could be (sounds like 9 SHOULD be fine, 450 FSB is hardly huge).

Without altering any voltage settings, set your RAM to 5-5-5-15/18 and tRead to 10.

Can you boot now? If yes, then change each timing back one at a time, 5-5-5-12 then 5-5-4-12, then 5-4-4-12, tRead back to 9. Actually change tRead back first. 99% of my reboot loops and beeping fits have been through damned bloody stupid tRead setting.

To try and eliminate the processor as the culprit, you could lower your multiplier to 8. If it boots with your ambitious RAM timings then you could need more vCore, VTT etc.

Final suggestion: you have a FSB hole. It's not serious, no doctor required. Try raising FSB to 455 or 460, lowering CPU multi if you think you might have processor issues if jumping FSB speed up rapidly.

Any time you hit a wall in overclocking, look for the weakest link. Look over BIOS settings and think "What am I pushing my luck on? Have I tightened stuff up so much it's fit to burst or do I have something clocked past specs other than the CPU?".

[Bee_Dee_3_Dee]

Your bios settings are not acceptable ....it's easy to read, there's no ambiguity about AUTO vs manual settings, and the columns line up perfectly.

I think its pretty ProfJim. :p...........

[profJim]

His upgrade includes 4x1GB Ballistix Tracer 2.0 volt DDR2-800 ram, the same ones Lsdme recently reviewed.

His current bios settings are based on Lsdme's suggestions, probably for 8 x 401MHz.

In his previous thread, he was struggling to o/c to 3.20GHz using value ram. The o/c portion starts with post #12.

[D-an-W]

Wow, thanks folks!

Sorry about the tidy template Jim, I am kind of anal like that (Thanks BD3D )

I will try some (ALL!) of your suggestions right now but first...

If 450FSB is set the board reboots before going into Windows just after the Updating....... message at the end of POST.

My new RAM is detailed here

The new proccessor is "Boxed Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E8400 (6M Cache, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB) LGA775 BX80570E8400"



We ran some tests in Windows yesterday, SuperPI, Memtest, Prime and InterBurn not for very long but initial results were good (DIdn't fail straight away as they did with the old gear when Overclocked!).

[tonus]

Psycho101 maybe is right.You have 4 sticks ram and MCH core is low.

[D-an-W]

Just tried 5-5-5-18 with tRD10 then 11, both still failed at the same point, I even got this message from Windows Boot Manager on one attempt...

File: \Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

Status: 0xc0000221

Windows failed to load because the kernel is missing...

It seems to be after POST when it "looks" at the HD for the files to boot the OS (I could be talking total garbage too though!).

8x450 (3.60GHz) gives the same error so I guess it's not a CPU issue...right?


EDIT:

5-5-5-18 along with MCH Core 1.26, 1.28 & 1.30 give the same error, I also tried it with tRD 10 (MCH Core 1.28), still the same.

[profJim]

Dan,
We need to know what your o/c goal is.

Right now your memory timings are too tight and need to be set to 5-5-5-15.
Leave tRD = 9. 10 would be OK (it's no big deal right now).
Set the following to AUTO:
tRRD
tWTR
tWR
tRTP

Boot your system and do your stress testing.
Any problems? Detail them, how long did they run? error messages? boot issues?
Include screen shots whenever possible. It's best to post the updated bios unless there's only 1 or 2 suggested changes.
"I did what you told me to do" doesn't cut it, it will waste everyone's time.

Anal can be good, but then again ..... oh, never mind.

[profJim]

Ignore my post above. I've had the same message on rare occasions.
Use your current settings but LOWER MCH core to 1.20. if that fails, lower it to 1.15 and try again.

Please detail the stability testing you've done so far with your new gear.
cpu/mem speeds: Programs? Elapsed time? etc.
FWIW, most E8400 setups I've seen here stop at 3.9+GHz.