overclocking GA-EP45-DS3R

[johnwaller]

I am looking to overclock. I have:

GA-EP45-DS3R bios F8
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 (using Zalman 9700)
CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

No settings have been touched in bios, so everthing is at default values; including my memory which is still at 5-5-5-18 in bios.

I am looking for a simple overclock. I want to go for 3.8 Ghz so my memory timings would match for 1:1 at 400 Mhz .

I know I need to change voltage for DDR2 to 2.1V for 4-4-4-12 and that I need to change CPU frequency to 400 Mhz. I aslo know I need to disable few options in the bios (not sure which ones though).

There are a lot of AUTO settings. Not sure if and what settings I should adjust (especially voltages).
I am great at following directions. I hope somebody could help or point me to place where I could instructions to this kind of overclock.

Edit: I just found OC guide from Lsdmeasap. Looks good.

[mxcrowe]

You can check my settings for a very similar board at:
http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/post...45-ds3l-27417/
You would set your CPU clock at 400 and the multiplier at 9.5 (using the fine control for the 0.5). My settings are stable, with the exception of the "resume from S3" bug. LSD may give further guidance on settings - he is looking at mine to see if we can squeeze a bit more out of the memory timings.

[Lsdmeasap]

Is this ram 2x2GB? If so you will not get 444-12 timings, maybe 544-12/15 but not likely.

If you do want me to post you some settings for 3.8 I can but I just wanted to let you know the above before you started messing around in there and made your board unbootable.

Let me know and I will post you some settings

Here you go, try these ranges for 3.8 >>>>

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................: .5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3800 (400 X 9.5 = 3800GHz/3.8GHz)


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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 800mv
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900mv
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 100-150ps (may not be needed at all)
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 200-250ps (may not be needed at all)


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [400]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: [2.00] <<< 400 FSB X 2.00 = 800Mhz Ram Freq
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5

tRCD .........................................5 (can test 4 but if you do use the highest Advanced settings below)

tRP'...........................................5 (can test 4 but if you do use the highest Advanced settings below)

tRAS..........................................15/18 (Can test 12, same as above statement)

5-4-4-15 may work
5-4-4-18 may work
5-4-4-12 will likely not
5-5-5-12 likely will work

The below are Ranges, Set to the highest suggested the later lower ONE AT A TIME testing after each move.

Advanced Timing Control [Press Enter]
tRRD...........................................3-4
tWTR..........................................4-6 (9-11)
tWR............................................ 3-5 (7-12)
tRFC...........................................52-62 (48-50 may work)
tRTP...........................................3-6
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:7-10
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:<<< Leave for all below as well
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.........................:7-10
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:<<< Leave for all below as well
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….……….........................: 1.325V << all up to you and your board/chip/cooling. I only need 1.32 for mine to do 4.2Ghz. A good starting try would be 1.325, if it fails raise it until it does not (Do this will all ram at highest settings). Keep a eye on your temps as well. 3.8 is not usually to hard to get at, but I have seen some having to use above 1.35. Like I said all up to your Chip, board and cooler


CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: <<< Leave
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: <<< Leave
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: <<< Leave
CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:<<< Leave

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: << add +0.1 or 0.2 for 2x2GB
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........; <<< Leave
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< Leave
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: <<< Leave
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: <<< Leave

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: Set to 2.1V
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) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

[vinconair]

Hi LSD,

I just built a new system with the EP45-DS3 and an E8400. Following your template above, tried 9 x 400mhz for 3.6ghz but could not get a POST. I was running

CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 400 Mhz

(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: 400 Mhz
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800 800

with CPU Vcore at 1.35 (other voltages on Auto) still no go. I'm running G.Skill DDR2 6400 (800Mhz) 5-5-5-15 RAM.

A few questions I have after reading your post:

The DDR2 sticks I have are rated for 1.8-1.9V... do I need to push this up to 2.1 ~ 2.2 as most settings recommend?

Should the (G)MCH Frequency Latch be set to 400Mhz or 333Mhz?

I would expect that my ram could run fine at DDR2 800Mhz, would I need more volts on the Vcore? I am running a Noctua NH-U12P and temps at stock speeds are 28, 38 degrees.

If you have any suggestions that would be much appreciated.

[Lsdmeasap]

If the sticker on your ram says 1.8 or 1.9 then that is the MAX warrantied on the sticks. But 2.0 would be safe as well as 2.1 Likely but I would use a fan at 2.1 on G.Skills

Do not use 2.2 unless you do not care about a warranty. And it is generally not needed even if that is the spec on the ram. Anyone reading this and using 2.2, please put a fan on your ram now. Thanks

2.1 is a general amount most rams use. Yours may or may not need 1.9-2.0 even. They are rated for 555-15 at 1.9 so they should for sure do it if they are not DOA sticks. Which Model # is it?

You can try 333 or 400, depends on your FSB. Both should work though, I would try 400 first since you are using 400 FSB

EP45 has a huge Vdrop and Vdroop from what I have seen, so likely 1.35 is way less once you get into windows and you will need to set this higher in the BIOS

For 2x2 sticks of ram, if that is what you have you will need to add some MCH voltage and be sure trfc is set to 52-62 manually

And of course these will need to be disabled that are disabled below for stable overclocking >>>
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled] << Can be left enabled
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled] << Can be left enabled
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

[LokiIX]

the 3.6ghz oc with the higher timing settings and lower volt settings seems to give me BSOD's saying IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL :S

[Lsdmeasap]

Please give us your current full settings that fail and we can advise back. Be sure you are using the latest BIOS as well

[Chike]

@Bluesky29

Read this post for initial stock settings, follow steps 1-4 for providing some more information, preferrably in your own thread.
Run some stress tests on the system with stock settings, 8+ hours Prime95/Orthos blend torture, or OCCT medium dataset, IBT(IntelBurnTest) at max stress level for 5-10 runs.
Watch core temps wirh RealTemp or CoreTemp.
HWMonitor (CPUID) and SpeedFan provide more monitoring outputs.

Begin with that and users will be able to advise you further.
I'm in the opinion that just throwing numbers will do you no good. A template with a setting from a similar system may or may not work and should only be used as a reference anyway.
Knowing what you are doing may take you to places you have not imagined :-)

Your system has the pontential to do 4GHz (relatively) easy, and beyond.

EDIT: "newest BIOS" is a bit bogous, which one exactly?