Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

[iceet]

Hi all, I'm new to these forums. I recently began overclocking my X3220 on a GA-EP45-UD3L. Here are my specs:
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td height="26" valign="top" width="25%">CPU
Intel Xeon X3220
</td> <td valign="top" width="25%">Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3L</td> <td valign="top" width="25%">Memory
8GB PC2-8500 OCZ2G10664GK </td> <td valign="top" width="25%">Graphics Card
BFG Geforce GTX 260 OC</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Hard Drive
WD500GB</td> <td valign="top">Power Supply
Corsair HX620</td> <td valign="top">Case
Antec</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">CPU cooling
Tuniq Tower 120</td> <td valign="top">OS
Windows 7 x64</td> <td valign="top">Monitor
Acer H233H</td></tr></tbody></table>
I need help optimizing my OC.
Here are my current settings:

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

That isn't very long test at all? Why did you say you are stable, or am I misunderstanding you?

You need to run Prime95 or Orthos, one at a time only, for 12-24 hours or so not a few minutes.

Try these changes

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 356Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100

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

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

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 3.00A << Set 2.40B for now, or try leaving what you have already
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1068
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................6
tRP'...........................................6
tRAS..........................................18

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........................................... 3-5
tWTR.......................................... 3-6
tWR............................................ 4-8
tRFC...........................................74-80
tRTP...........................................4-5
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ 1066

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:6-8
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.........................:6-8
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
Load line calibration......................[Disabled]
CPU Vcore….……….........................1.4681V
CPU Termination….........................1.3-1.42
CPU PLL………………….......................1.550V
CPU Reference..............................Auto

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….........................1.26-1.34
MCH Reference….…….....................Auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.…..........................Auto
ICH I/O………………..........................1.550V
ICH Core…………...…….....................1.14-1.2

DRAM
DRAM Voltage …….........................2.1-2.15V
DRAM Termination .….....................Auto

[iceet]

Re: Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

That isn't very long test at all? Why did you say you are stable, or am I misunderstanding you?

You need to run Prime95 or Orthos, one at a time only, for 12-24 hours or so not a few minutes.

Ahhh I see...I was doing stability testing incorrectly this whole time. I thought having both Prime95 AND Orthos would accelerate the process but I was wrong.

I will input your settings into bios and attempt stability testing the correct way and get back to you.

Thanks lsd.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

Yes, you need to test for much longer for starters. 4-8 hours shows you are fairly stable, 10-16 shows you are very close, and 24-x shows you are for sure stable.

Quicker is not going to tell you anything, and running two similar test like that at once is actually slowing things down and could cause errors in itself.

If you want quick testing, and you have a good cooler, try LinX for 10-20 passes with All/Max memory chosen

[iceet]

Re: Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

I managed to get Prime95 to run stable for 4 hours with the following settings. Load temperatures hover around the 65C mark for the hottest core in CoreTemp. I am looking to further optimize my system if possible.


Current Settings @ 3.4GHz:
Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 378Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100

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

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

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.40B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 907
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................6
tRP'...........................................6
tRAS..........................................18

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD..........................................Auto (3)
tWTR.........................................Auto (3)
tWR...........................................Auto (6)
tRFC..........................................Auto (54)
tRTP..........................................Auto (4)
Command Rate (CMD) ...................Auto (says 0, is that ok?)

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................Auto

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................Auto (7)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto
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
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto

Channel BCPU-Z Readings: Idle: 1.492V, Load: 1.44Vyou recommended 1.26V minimum, should I change?you recommended 1.14V minimum, should I change?

[Lsdmeasap]

[iceet]

I am apprehensive about using Load Line Calibration after extensive research, can it shorten CPU life?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

Great to hear man!!

LLC is only scary because of a few reported CPU's dying a long time ago, which were never proven to be caused by LLC directly.

I suggest using it, then you will be able to use less Vcore at Idle. See how you are stable now for 6 hours at 1.44 Vcore under load? All you need to do is enable LLC, then adjust your BIOS Vcore until again under load you get 1.44V, which will be much less at idle then you are using now.

It is safe, I have always used it myself and never have any problems on any systems. It is up to you of course, but I'd use it so you can use less vcore overall

[iceet]

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

Ya that is ok temps, and actually not that bad.

Keep in mind you never will load your computer like Prime95 does, only when using prime95 :)

Keep testing, you may be able to lower the Vcore more still, and maybe Vtt a little too

[iceet]

Re: Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

Further optimizations:

Vtt: 1.3V
MCH Core: 1.2V

Was able to run Prime95 for 12 hours before I stopped it.
I was wondering, do you think I may be able to increase my memory frequency to what its rated at, 1066 MHz, or would that introduce too much instability? What would be a good System Memory Multiplier to begin testing at?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Need help optimizing X3220 (Q6600) OC on GA-EP45-UD3L

Nice to see you were able to lower thing a bit, surprised to see MCH Core come down that low with 8GB.

You may be able to get more out of your memory, but not sure with 8GB. I do know you would need to loosen things up and raise voltages again though before trying, and then you might only get 50-100 or so more Mhz, so it might not be worth all the hassles it would take to try but it's up to you.

I'd either try more FSB using the same memory multi, or try using 2.66D from the FSB you are on now, that would give you 1005Mhz. You will need to loosen up the timings though for sure, especially tRD, MCH Core will need to be raised again, and you may need a tad more tRFC