- Your Mushkin memory is rated for 1000 Mhz and it might not be stable at 1066 - 1080 Mhz speeds. I have used 4 x 2GB Mushkin 1066Mhz Blackline memory modules in both of my systems up to 1080 Mhz speeds.
- Part of your overclocked stability problems are probably caused by some of the M.I.T bios voltage settings set to NORMAL.
- Static tRead Value (aka tRD or Performance Level) = 10 is overly conservative and results in somewhat lower memory performance. Lower tRD settings improve memory performance but setting it too low will cause instability and/or boot problems.
- Performance Enhance = Standard is what I used when overclocking. When I reached my final O/C settings I did additional stress testing with the Turbo and Extreme options but I can't say if either of these settings made a noticeable difference.
- I prefer to set Full Screen LOGO Show to Disabled so that I can view the POST screen information and immediately see if anything is not correct.
- Init Display First = PEG might speed up your boot process.
- A few forum members have had O/C problems because they used the Fail-Safe bios defaults instead of the Optimized bios defaults before they made bios changes for their overclock.
The bios template below has settings that worked for my system and should be reasonably close to the settings that will be stable on your system.
Code:
CPU = Core2Quad Q9650, E0 SLB8W , cpuid=1067A [core stepping, sSpec, batch]Motherboard = P35-DS4, rev: 2.0
BIOS Version = F14, Cpu Cooling: Cooler Master Seidon 120Xl AIO push/pull water cooling
Ram = 4 x 2GB Kingston HyperX T1 PC2-8500 (1066MHz, 2.2 – 2.3 volts max)
Q9650 @ 4.05GHz [450 x 9.0] L2 Cache = 12MB
(Stock settings: 333 x 9.0 = 3.00GHz)
__________MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster________________: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio _______________________: [ 9x]
Fine Clock Ratio ______________________: [0.0]
CPU Frequency_____________________________4.05GHz (450 x 9.0)
CPU Host Clock Control_________________: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)_______________: [450]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)____________: [101]
Performance Enhance____________________: [Extreme]
C.I.A. 2_______________________________: [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)_________: [2.40]
Memory Frequency(MHz)____ 800 _________: [1080]
DRAM Timing Selectable___(SPD)_________: [Manual]
**** Standard Timing Control ****
CAS Latency Time_______________4_______: [5] <-- aka tCL
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay________4_______: [5] <-- aka tRCD
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay______4_______: [5] <-- aka tRP
Precharge Delay (tRAS)________12_______: [15]
**** Advanced Timing Control ****
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_______ 3 ______: [Auto]
Rank Write to READ Delay______ 3 ______: [Auto] <-- aka tWTR
Write to Precharge Delay______ 6 ______: [ 4 ] <-- aka tWR
Refresh to ACT Delay__________ 52 _____: [ 68 ] <-- aka tRFC or Refresh Cycle Time
Read to Precharge Delay_______ 3 ______: [ 5 ] <-- aka tRTP
Static tRead Value____________ 7 ______: [ 7 ] <-- aka tRD or Performance Level
Static tRead Phase Adjust_____ 0 ______: [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD)_____________________: [ 2T ] <-- aka CpC or CR [n/a some models]
**** Clock Driving and Skew Control: ****
CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control________: [???mV] <-- n/a P35-DS4
CPU Clock Skew Control_________________: [Normal] <-- n/a P35-DS4
GMCH Clock Skew Control________________: [Normal] <-- n/a P35-DS4
**** System Voltage Control: ****
System Voltage Control_________________: [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control_______________: [+0.35V]
FSB OverVoltage Control________________: [+0.15V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control______________: [+0.25V]
FSB DeOverVoltage Control______________: [?.??V] <-- n/a P35-DS4
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control_____________: [+0.25V]
CPU GTREF Voltage Ratio________________: [0.???] <-- n/a P35-DS4
Loadline Calibration___________________: [ Auto ] <-- n/a P35-DS3L
CPU Voltage Control____________________: [1.37500]
Normal CPU Vcore_________________________ 1.26250V
**** Advanced BIOS Features: ****
Limit CPUID Max. to 3__________________: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect______________: [Enabled]
HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability______________: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)________________: [Enabled] <-- normally disabled while overclocking
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2)_____________: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function______________________: [Enabled] <-- normally disabled while overclocking
Virtualization Technology______________: [Disabled] <-- Must be enabled for VMware/Virtual PC)
Full Screen LOGO Show__________________: [Disabled]
Init Display First_____________________: [PEG]
Integrated Peripherals:
SATA AHCI Mode_________________________: [Enabled]
SATA Port0-1 Native Mode_______________: [Enabled]
Legacy USB Storage Detect______________: [Enabled] <-- Must be enabled to flash from USB)
______^^^^^ sometimes causes overclocking problems
Power Management Setup
HPET Support___________________________: [Enabled] <-- windows High Precision Event Timer
HPET Mode______________________________: [64-bit] <-- or 32-bit