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

[devoh]

Here is my 4.12G 25 hrs stable config..

*************************************
*************************************
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P (Rev. 1.1) - F9
*************************************
*************************************

******************************
MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) 
******************************
Robust Graphics Booster ..............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ......................: [8X]
x Fine CPU Clock Ratio................: +0.0
CPU Frequency ........................: 4.12GHz( 515x8.0)

********** Clock Chip Control ********

>>>>>  Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control................: [Enabled]
x CPU Host Frequency(Mhz).............: [ 515]
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........................: [  350ps]
MCH Clock Skew........................: [  200ps]

******** 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.........: 1030
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)..........: [Manual]

>>>>> Standard Timing Control
x CAS Latency Time................5...: [5]
x tRCD ...........................5...: [   5]
x tRP.............................5...: [   5]
x tRAS...........................18...: [  15]

>>>>> Advanced Timing Control.........: [Press Enter] 
x tRRD............................3...: Auto
x tWTR............................3...: Auto
x tWR.............................6...: Auto
x tRFC...........................52...: Auto
x tRTP............................3...: Auto
x Command Rate (CMD) .............0...: Auto

>>>>> Channel A Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter] 
x Static tRead Value..............7...: [ 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............: [AUTO]

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..............7...: [ 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............: [AUTO]

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.................: [Disabled]
CPU Vcore..............1.25000V.......: [1.31875V] 
CPU Termination........1.200V.........: [1.200V]
CPU PLL................1.500V.........: [1.570V] 
CPU Reference..........0.760V.........: [Auto]
>>> MCH/ICH
MCH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.260V] no not a typo 
MCH Reference..........0.760V.........: [0.740V] 
MCH/DRAM Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]
ICH I/O................1.500V.........: [1.57]
ICH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.20]
>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage...........1.800V.........: [2.020V] (One up from default - DDR18V = 2.016V in PC Health Status)
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]

[D-an-W]

My current 530x8 template...

*************************************
*************************************
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P (Rev. 1.0) - F9
*************************************
*************************************

******************************
MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) 
******************************
Robust Graphics Booster ..............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ......................: [8X]
x Fine CPU Clock Ratio................: +0.0
CPU Frequency ........................: 4.24GHz( 530x8.0)

********** Clock Chip Control ********

>>>>>  Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control................: [Enabled]
x CPU Host Frequency(Mhz).............: [ 530]
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.........: 1060
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)..........: [Manual]

>>>>> Standard Timing Control
x CAS Latency Time................5...: [5]
x tRCD ...........................5...: [   5]
x tRP.............................5...: [   5]
x tRAS...........................18...: [  15]

>>>>> Advanced Timing Control.........: [Press Enter] 
x tRRD............................3...: Auto
x tWTR............................3...: Auto
x tWR.............................6...: Auto
x tRFC...........................52...: Auto
x tRTP............................3...: Auto
x Command Rate (CMD) .............0...: Auto

>>>>> Channel A Timing Settings.......: [Press Enter] 
x Static tRead Value.............11...: [ 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............: [Auto] <-- Had to change to Auto to make stable above 513FSB

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.............11...: [ 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............: [Auto] <-- Had to change to Auto to make stable above 513FSB

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.................: [Disabled]
CPU Vcore..............1.27500V.......: [1.38125V]
CPU Termination........1.200V.........: [1.300V]
CPU PLL................1.500V.........: [1.570V]
CPU Reference..........0.760V.........: [Normal]
>>> MCH/ICH
MCH Core...............1.100V.........: [1.360V]
MCH Reference..........0.760V.........: [0.743V] (0.680V with CPU Termination @ 1.200V)
MCH/DRAM Reference.....0.900V.........: [Normal]
ICH I/O................1.500V.........: [Normal]
ICH Core...............1.100V.........: [Normal]
>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage...........1.800V.........: [2.020V]
DRAM Termination.......0.900V.........: [Normal]
Channel A Reference....0.900V.........: [Normal]
Channel B Reference....0.900V.........: [Normal]

******** 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]

[grishkafool]

Good Job devoh... glad to see your making some serious progress.

[devoh]

Looks like my rig is going to stop around 4.3Ghz.. I'm testing 4.25 right now, and I'm getting temps of 70 in prime95 torture, 80+ in IBT. Not to mention I tried 4.28GHz and I was 1.4+ Vcore with 1.3 Term... sigh.. But honestly 4.25G is a nice bump so if that's as far as my rig wants to go, oh well.

I am doing 500x8.5.. I will have to bench it after it is proven stable. D-and-W 530x8 template is intriguing also... may have to try going for that.


-devoh

[BoombasticSloth]

Nothing wrong with 500x8.5 my friend. 4.25gh is a great oc so congrats. With prime given out 70c in heat, I think you are making the right judgement call.

[devoh]

I never did check the flatness of my CPU.. if it's nice and flat, lapping the heatsink may drop me a few extra degrees.

-devoh

[devoh]

Hey Gang

what are your thoughts on MCH Reference? I have usually gone one notch below standard.. I see D-and-W was at .68 with a CPU term of 1.2 ... So I thought I would give it a try and I "seem" to be ok at .68 and/or .74.. But I bet that is below spec.. so what's your feelings on this? go low if it stays stable? or does that make the higher voltages for MCH Core and CPU for overclocking more.. if .74 is like a reference gound and the CPU is 1.5.. the difference is 1.5.. but if you are using .68 and .74 is considered reference ground and you cpu is 1.5.. then the difference is 1.56 Does this make any sense? sigh....

-devoh

[Psycho101]

Indeed it probably would. The TrUE is slightly convex. I'd still lap both though, as it'd only add another 40 minutes or so to the job and you can be sure of a completely flat surface to mate the lapped heatsink to.

Heatsink lapping can be awkward though, and I find heatsinks much more likely to "snag" on the sandpaper, causing them to slip from my grip at times. They're also a little more difficult to get right. I had to re-lap my old Scythe Minè, as the first time I did it, I actually made temps worse.

I've had the best results on both my Core 2 CPU's with a lower than stock MCH ref. On my E7400 (@ 3.9GHz) I'm currently running 0.720V @ 1.2VTT, with a VTT of 1.400V. At 0.740V I was prime stable for 12 hours, but any attempt to extract large .rar files resulted in corruption warnings and extraction failure. A drop to 0.720V sorted it and maintained Prime stability, which I have now tested to 24 hours blend, 12 hours small FFT and 12 hours large FFT, with 50 runs of IBT on max stress for good measure. Strangely at 0.700V it hangs on boot, and at 0.680V Windows 7 displays a Windows NT style white loading bar, then re-starts, followed by a boot loop. My Q8200 was also happiest with it lowered, but only to 0.740 @ 1.200V VTT for 3.4GHz @ 486 FSB.

[Octopuss]

I tried browsing around for explanation of the voltages and couldn't find anything - could you give me some pointers please? The note about lower than default MCH ref cauth my attention. Perhaps this way I could save some voltage going into MCH...

[Psycho101]

A brief explanation:

VTT is FSB voltage. The voltage of the signal used for CPU to MCH to RAM communication and visa versa. Setting the right level of VTT combined with reference voltages may result in stability where there was none previously, and may let you reduce Vcore.

CPU and MCH Ref: These are the voltages at which signals are sent down the FSB, as a simplistic explanation, they control the difference between a high and low signal state, used to transmit data. Raising or lowering can "clean up" the data transmition between CPU MCH and RAM etc, and bring stability.

PLL: Clock generator voltage. PLL stands for phase locked loop and it is the primary circuit in the processor that sets the overall clock. PLLs are used anywhere that a device is clocked against a reference (the FSB) where the resulting clock (CPU speed) is higher than the reference clock (FSB). Higher PLL may give a higher or more stable FSB. Too much can kill your chip. Stay under 1.65V, preferably no more than 1.61V.

MCH core: NB voltage. More isn't necessarily, though it is generally true that as you increase FSB you may have to increase this too.

ICH I/O: PCIe voltage. Not worth messing with really. If you experience GFX problems or trouble with network addapters and USB devices, try 1.57-1.59V

ICH Core: Southbridge voltage, same as above but also influences Intel SATA ports.

MCH/DRAM reference, DRAM Termination, Channel A ref and Channel B ref can all be left on auto for the most part. Auto will set them to 0.5 * VDIMM for you, which is where they should be. As with VTT, if you set VDIMM to stock 1.8V (it's stock for DDR2, not necessarily right for your sticks) and then set the DRAM references to 0.900V, as you increase your VDIMM, references will scale upward. So at 2.0V VDIMM, refs will be 1.0V. Leave them on auto for now though.