Help overclocking my new rig

[mrquick42]

First off here are the specs on my new PC build:

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R
CPU: Core 2 Duo E7300
PSU: Corsair 550W (12V single rail @ 41 amps)
RAM: OCZ Reaper 2 x 2G 1066 2.1V
GPU: Asus EN9500GT TOP/DI (factory overclocked model)
HDD: Samsung 500GB SATA
Optical: Sony OptiArc DVD burner
Case: NZXT Tempest
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro 92mm
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1

This is my first build from the ground up and my first foray into overclocking as well so I've learned quite a bit in the last few weeks but I still have a long way to go.

Right now I am running stable @ 3.4GHZ (400FSB X 8.5), 800MHz RAM with 5-4-4-12 timings. Advanced settings are all disabled with the exception of No-Execute Memory Protect and CPU thermal monitor 2. Performance Enhance is set to Standard, PCI Express is set to 100MHz. I have most of the motherboard voltage settings set manually as well:

Vcore: 1.35
MCH : 1.3
DRAM: 2.1
all other voltages are manually set to stock settings

I want to push this overclock a little bit but nothing too crazy. My main issue right now is that I can overclock the CPU to 3.6 GHz (very stable)but the memory has to stay @ 800MHz 5-5-5-15 (or thereabouts). If I want to run the memory @ 1066 MHz 5-5-5-18 (stock specs) I can only get the CPU to 3.2GHz before I start having POST problems.

I'm looking for some suggestions on which direction to go. I mainly use this computer to game (WoW, CS:S) and watching DVDs. Will I see better performance with:

1) A higher CPU overclock and trying to tighten the memory timings @ 800 MHZ

OR

2) A lower CPU overclock and 1066 MHz memory

OR

3) Can I have the best of both worlds with some minor tweaking.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[NimrodAUS]

go with 1. Higher Ram Mhz really make such little difference its not worth it. Leave your ram at 800 and tighten your timmings and increase your cpu to 3.6 that would be an awesome increase from what that cpu does stock.

[mrquick42]

My attempt at 3.6GHz (400 x 9) with the RAM running at 800MHz 4-4-4-12 went OK, not great.

It booted fine, loaded windows fine, but had a hiccup in the stress testing. I ran 2 sessions of Prime95, 1 blend test, and 1 in-place large FFT test. The in-place FFT test went 7 hours before I shut it down, the blend test had one of its workers fail after 2 hours 51 minutes with a bad rounding error. The 2nd worker on the blend test was still going strong at 7 hours when I shut it down.

VCore was set at 1.35
MCH at 1.26
RAM at 2.1

I did not make any advanced changes to the memory timings and all other settings were as I described them earlier in the thread. Any ideas where I might need to make a tweak to get this stable, a little more MCH voltage maybe?

[NimrodAUS]

I would perhaps see what happens if you run the ram @ 800MHz 5-5-5-15. But I also first probably run memtest86+ V.211 on both sticks to see if there is any errors going on with them? They should be able to run at stock speeds as long as you can get the devider right?? IDK But run memtest.

[Lsdmeasap]

What full settings are you using that are failing for you and I will advise optimal back for ya >>>

This is Just a template I use to ask people their settings, pay no attention to the numbers in it, replace with yours

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto or Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 


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

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


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


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

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

Set all Suggested below to highest Values first.  Then later you can lower, one at a time, testing as you go

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................
tWTR..........................................
tWR............................................
tRFC...........................................
tRTP...........................................
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
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< 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.........................:6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< 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….……….........................:Auto if not overclocking, if you are overclocking please do find and set your own voltages

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: << If overclocking Please set to stock, Auto overvolts this way to much.  Optimal range for overclock would be 1.2-1.5 depending on Vcore, try to keep at least .1 under vcore.  Auto is fine if not overclocking

CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: << If overclocking Please set to stock, Auto overvolts this way to much.  Optimal range for overclock would be 1.5-1.65.  Auto is fine if not overclocking

CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: <<< .64% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly 

CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:<<< .67% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly 

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: << 
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............: 
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] Enabled if you use Vmware/Virtual PC

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled] *Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB