GA-EP45T-DS3R DDR3-1600 So far so good

[profJim]

Post your current 440/1407 bios settings and let's see if we can help get your system stable. Be specific about what problems you're encountering; reboot/reset loop? failed stress testing? Which tests and what types of errors? BSODs?

You might do better using the 3.33D memory multiplier and lower your cpu host frequency so that you're running 9 x 420 = 3.78GHz and 3.33 x 420 = 1400MHz with tRD one notch lower. There are many other possibilities....

[ghost707]

I like your attitude Professor; "Let's tweak that sucker!"

Are you happy now? I am officially a tweak junkie.

[ghost707]

My first try at going past 1400 was with all the same settings (last template displayed) except for MCH core set at 1.26 and Vdimm at 1.88.
System booted into windows fine, but does a drunk routine where it takes more than a minute to automatically load Easytune (normally loads in 7~10 seconds) so there was no sense in going further.

Shall we try this?
I have loosened the timings

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster .............: [ Auto ]
CPU Clock Ratio .....................: 8 X  
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.................: +0.5  
CPU Frequency .......................: 3.57GHZ (420x8.5)

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control...............: [ Enabled ]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 420  
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100 
C.I.A.2 .............................: [ Disabled ]

Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive......................: [ 800 mV ]
PCI Express Clock Drive..............: [ 900mV ]
CPU Clock Skew (ps)..................: [ 0ps ]
MCH Clock Skew (ps)..................: [ 0ps ]

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance..................: [ STANDARD ]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [ AUTO ]
System Memory Multiplier ............: 3.33D  
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1400
DRAM Timing Selectable ..............: [ Manual ]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time.....................: 8 
tRCD ................................: 8 
tRP'.................................: 8 
tRAS.................................: 24 

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD.................................: 5 
tWTR.................................: 5 
tWR..................................: 9 
tRFC.................................: 60 
tRTP.................................: 5 
Command Rate (CMD) ..................: 2


Channel A
Static tRead Value...................: 8
tRD Phase0 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ...............: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)...............: 9 [ AUTO ]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...............: 7 [ AUTO ]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...............: 8 [ AUTO ]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)...............: 8 [ AUTO ]

Channel B
Static tRead Value...................: 8
tRD Phase0 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ...............: 0 [ AUTO ]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment................: 0 [ AUTO ]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)...............: 9 [ AUTO ]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...............: 7 [ AUTO ]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...............: 8 [ AUTO ]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)...............: 8 [ AUTO ]


Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type...............
CPU
CPU Vcore............................: 1.31875V
CPU Termination….....................: 1.260V
CPU PLL..............................: 1.570V
CPU Referen..........................: 0.760V [ AUTO ]


MCH/ICH
MCH Core.............................: 1.260V 
MCH Reference........................: 0.778V 
MCH/DRAM Ref.........................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
ICH I/O......................….......: 1.570V 


DRAM
DRAM Voltage ........................: 1.880V
DRAM Termination ....................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
Ch-A DATA VRef.......................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
Ch-B DATA VRef.......................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
Ch-A Address VRef....................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]
Ch-B Address VRef....................: 0.750V [ AUTO ]

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3...............: [ DISABLED ]
No-Execute Memory Protect...........: [ ENABLED ]
Load-Line Calibration...............: [ DISABLED ]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E).............: [ DISABLED ] 
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) .........: [ ENABLED ]
CPU EIST Function...................: [ DISABLED ] 
Virtualization Technology...........: [ ENABLED ] 

USB Legacy Support..................: [ DISABLED ]

***Edit*** system did not like that at all - double post and then dropped the FSB down to 333. I think my MCH Ref is too low.

[profJim]

OK TJ several thoughts, first let's find your memory's limit using:
430 x 9 = 3.87GHz
430 x 3.20 = 1376MHz
Keep tRD at the current setting for now. (we really need to see your bios settings)
To take your cpu out of the tweaking occasion, using an 8x cpu multiplier might help, but your cpu should easily be able to do 3.87GHz without any fancy tweaks.

If you have any problems, detail the problems and include your bios settings.
If the 430 setup can't be made stable, you'll lower the cpu frequency by 5MHz and try again. Your test settings will use memory timings that are somewhat loose until your system is stable and passes moderate stress testing.

If you're not familiar with saving multiple bios profiles, check out this post for some basics.

Food for thought: creamesoda's Everest memory scores in post #43 blow away the "Big Bruin" scores.

If you have any problems with this approach, refer to the bottom line in my signature.

[profJim]

Stay with your 420 posted setup but try:
tRFC = 64
MCH Ref = Auto
ICH Core = 1.20 (it's not showing in your posted settings)

After you've tried these settings, if necessary:
MCH Core = 1.28
Dram Voltage = try lowering it a bit by 0.02 several times

I'll check back later this evening. Hopefully others will chime in with additional suggestions.

[ghost707]

You're the Professor,
Creamsoda has that board going so fast the paint is peeling off.

Although hank123 has everyone beat in the monster voltage department.

[ghost707]

Hey, who stole my ICH core voltage?
Seriously though, remember this is a ds3r - not an Extreme - what you see is what you get- I have no ICH Core setting.

[ghost707]

Well ProfJim,
I tried several different combinations.
tRFC=70 throughout - with above template.

Set MCH core to 1.28, RAM to 1.86 - double post and red warning box in bios telling me no go.

Set MCH Core to 1.26, RAM to 1.88 - double post and red warning box

Set MCH Core to 1.30, Ram to 1.88 - double post and no display. Had to shut off power at power supply switch. Unplugged power cord, cleared cmos, then booted back up, loaded optimized, rebooted -

Set MCH Core to 1.28, RAM to 1.90 - system started booting - did not make it to Windows - rebooted - no display.Had to shut off power at power supply switch. Unplugged power cord, cleared cmos, then booted back up, loaded optimized, rebooted, had a shot of Jack Daniels ( I had a shot of Jack Daniels as well).

For some reason - the system does not like the 3.33D. Although the real culprit seems to be that 1400 barrier.
Creamsoda was right - hitting 1400 is a monster.
Using the 3.20B was a cakewalk. It seems overclocking the FSB is not a problem. Getting the Ram to run a higher multiplier is the fly in the ointment.

Edit to add: MCH ref set to auto throughout - since my first try of ref 74 @1.2 Vtt failed.

[creamsoda]

Edit to add: MCH ref set to auto throughout - since my first try of ref 74 @1.2 Vtt failed.

you shouldn't just give up after 1 try. Set vTT to 1.20v, set MCH ref to .700v, then raise vtt back up to 1.24v

use 2.40B or 3.20B RAM frequency. 6-6-6-18, tRead = 9

Try that and run OCCT large/Prime large, and tell me how it goes.

[ghost707]

Creamsoda,
Thanks for the input - I have been thinking maybe Vtt was too high - so was going to attempt lowering and see the results.
I have not given up, this has been a fun learning experience and does give me a better perspective of the interaction of different motherboard components.

Real life has been intruding on my time, hopefully will have some more data to post this evening.