LGA-775 GA-EP35-DS3P (rev 2.1), Q9550 e0 overclocking advice please?

[Schaki]

I'm trying to overclock this cpu, Quad 9550 e0, with this motherboard but it is not going too well really and I need advice on what settings to test. Currently running stable at 3.6ghz (this cpu have been confirmed by several others to easily get up and above 4ghz, though probably on other boards.) but it wont run stable at any higher settings and even hangs while windows is loading or wont boot at all or go back to the default settings for overclocking which means stock settings.

My setup is as follows below:

GA-EP35-DS3P (rev 2.1) with latest bios. Cpu and cooler: Q9550 e0. Thermaltake Ultra 120. GPU: Geforce 8800 GTS 512mb. Ram Mushkin Redline XP2-8000 2x2Gb 5-5-5-15. PSU: Corsair HX520w. Storage: Samsung 850 Pro 256gb and Seagate Constellation 2tb.
I've read a bit in other threads around the net regarding this board and the DS3L as well and heard that others also is having the same or similar problem with overclocking this board.
It have been a while since last time I tried but I have tried several times in the past with the same disappointing and somewhat frustrating result but I'm prepared to give it a last GO since this setup run Windows 10 quite well and I'm in no hurry to build a new rig.
But I've tried the things I could have thought of and would appreciate some advice on what to do.

Below is linksto Bios-pictures which shows the settings I uses. It is the Digital photography review website if anyone wonder what site it is.

MB Intelligent tweaker. First half. https://g4.img-dpreview.com/4F06A9AD...DBCAF27A35.jpg
Second half of MB intelligent tweaker https://g4.img-dpreview.com/3D1B44F2...63CA14360A.jpg
Advanced Bios features https://g4.img-dpreview.com/633A2464...8492203CFF.jpg
Integrated Peripherals https://g2.img-dpreview.com/93607257...717E018D93.jpg
Power management setup https://g3.img-dpreview.com/17D7DE7C...FC34D10749.jpg

[profJim]

Check out the first half of the Socket 771 Mod Xeon X5460 GA-P35-DS3L Overclock thread where I helped Luke with his Xeon cpu overclock. It is a very long thread but it has a lot of useful information.

My Q9650/P35-DS4 (9.0 x 450 Mhz) system has been solid with 8GB of memory running at 1080 Mhz with moderately aggressive memory settings. I do not enable Load Line Calibration (LLC) in either of my P35/P45 systems.

Later tonight I'll copy my P35 4.05 Ghz bios settings and post the settings for you. With your 8.5x cpu multiplier, your system should run at 3.825 Ghz with 1080 Mhz memory speeds. Many of my memory settings were set to Normal and I set Performance Enhance to Extreme. Naturally your system will probably require a few minor bios tweaks.

To help my older systems run for as long as possible, I do not run either of them at their maximum stable overclocked speeds.



The HWiNFO Temperature screen-shot was taken while the LinX stress test was running.

[profJim]

1. 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.
2. Part of your overclocked stability problems are probably caused by some of the M.I.T bios voltage settings set to NORMAL.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Init Display First = PEG might speed up your boot process.
7. 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.

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

[Schaki]

Great thanks :) I'll test these settings and report back how the progress go.

[Schaki]

1. 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.
2. Part of your overclocked stability problems are probably caused by some of the M.I.T bios voltage settings set to NORMAL.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Init Display First = PEG might speed up your boot process.
7. 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.

1. Yes I've run the memory Multiplier set only to 2.0 so that Mhz speeds stay below what might be too high speeds for the memories. I keep doing so to make sure it is not a hindrance in in my attempt to overclock the cpu.
2. Yes that may be a possible source to the problem. I tested with these recommended settings but still I'm not getting any higher.
3. I set Static tRead Value to 10, 12 15 and even as high as 25 but it didn't seem to make any improvement. I really thought this could have been a potential problem as Instability and boot problems are what I get when I try to go 3.7ghz (fully stable on 3.6ghz however) or higher. Usually it freezes or even while Windows it booting up and sometimes I get bluescreens. On some occasions it won't 'Post' on boot and revert to default FSB, memory multiplier (auto), and Timings for for the Ram.
4. I tried with both Standard and Extreme I couldnt spot a difference.
5. I've set it to Disabled as well now.
6. Same there also now.
7. Today I made sure that I loaded Optimized before I started and set the board up accordingly.

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.

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

[profJim]

With your psu power cable unplugged from the wall outlet, disconnect each internal psu cable, one at a time at each end and inspect each pair of electrical contacts, where you are looking for any signs of corrosion, damage or cables that are not fully seated. You might need to test your system with a borrowed power supply to see if a different psu magically fixes the problem. With HWiNFO running you will be able to see if any of the voltages are not right.

My P35-DS4 settings are for a 450 MHz setup. I suggest that you increase your FSB in 5 or 6 MHz increments starting with your 424 MHz current setting. With your 8.5x cpu multiplier this will result in a modest cpu overclock that is about 50 MHz higher and you might find that the following settings might be stable:

DDR2 OverVoltage Control_______________: [+0.20V] <-- 1.80 + 0.20 = 2.00 volts 
FSB OverVoltage Control________________: [+0.05V] 
PCI-E OverVoltage Control______________: [+0.10V] 
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control_____________: [+0.10V] <-- too high or too low will cause instability and/or boot problems

You can also set Loadline Calibration to Disabled and manually set CPU Voltage Control to ~1.37 volts to see if this helps.

Another option is to change your cpu multiplier from 8.5x to 8.0x to see how high you can go with your FSB while you temporarily keep to cpu speed somewhat lower. You could also try booting with a single 2GB memory module in the #1 memory slot.

Right now I have no idea which settings you changed.
Providing detailed information is needed, otherwise you are wasting your time and mine.

[Schaki]

With your psu power cable unplugged from the wall outlet, disconnect each internal psu cable, one at a time at each end and inspect each pair of electrical contacts, where you are looking for any signs of corrosion, damage or cables that are not fully seated. You might need to test your system with a borrowed power supply to see if a different psu magically fixes the problem. With HWiNFO running you will be able to see if any of the voltages are not right.

My P35-DS4 settings are for a 450 MHz setup. I suggest that you increase your FSB in 5 or 6 MHz increments starting with your 424 MHz current setting. With your 8.5x cpu multiplier this will result in a modest cpu overclock that is about 50 MHz higher and you might find that the following settings might be stable:

I've now inspected the electrical contacts, these on the cables from the psu, and the motherboard, using a flashlight to make sure that I saw the contacts clearly, but I can't find any corrosion

DDR2 OverVoltage Control_______________: [+0.20V] <-- 1.80 + 0.20 = 2.00 volts 
FSB OverVoltage Control________________: [+0.05V] 
PCI-E OverVoltage Control______________: [+0.10V] 
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control_____________: [+0.10V] <-- too high or too low will cause instability and/or boot problems

You can also set Loadline Calibration to Disabled and manually set CPU Voltage Control to ~1.37 volts to see if this helps.

Another option is to change your cpu multiplier from 8.5x to 8.0x to see how high you can go with your FSB while you temporarily keep to cpu speed somewhat lower. You could also try booting with a single 2GB memory module in the #1 memory slot.

Right now I have no idea which settings you changed.
Providing detailed information is needed, otherwise you are wasting your time and mine.

I've now applied these settings even though I in a hindsight is not sure I that got the (G)Mch Over voltage Control to what it should be. I couldn't find +0.10V, only +0.25V as lowest, thinking that perhaps the available +0.100V possibly was the correct value. But now in hindsight I believe more and more that that I may well have got that setting wrong.

I got the system to boot at 3.7 ghz on my second attempt. On first attempt it began to load Windows but for some reason restarted in the middle of it and then booted up properly on the second attempt.
Below is my current settings, using HwInfo
https://g2.img-dpreview.com/7FA89A22...D0CD1D00AF.jpg
Also a Html-report if you prefer that instead. Qore 2 Quad 9550 @ 3.7ghz. Current settings.HTM :: Free File Hosting - File Dropper: File Host for Mp3, Videos, Music, Documents.

[profJim]

The text below is copied from the EP35-DS3P v2.1 user manual.
I have added bold fonts and changed the text color to red to make it easier to see.
I also added the "(normal + nn settings)" text at the end of each bios setting to show how many bios options each setting offers.

The default Normal settings are often OK with stock settings and low overclocks.
With moderate to high overclocking many or most of the bios settings need to be set manually.


Please describe in detail which stress testing programs you run and how long each program is run when you are testing the stability of your system each time you overclock your system higher and/or lower.


EP35-DS3P v2.1 M.I.T. System Voltage Control Options



DDR2 OverVoltage Control

Allows you to set memory voltage.

• Normal Supplies the memory voltage as required. (Default)
  
  
• +0.05V ~ +1.55V Increases memory voltage by 0.05V to 1.55V at 0.05Vincrement. (normal + 31 settings)
  
  

Note: Increasing memory voltage may result in damage to the memory.



PCI-E OverVoltage Control

Allows you to set PCIe voltage.

• Normal Supplies the PCIe bus voltage as required. (Default)
  
  
• + 0.05V ~ +0.35V Increases PCIe bus voltage by 0.05V to 0.35V at 0.05V increment. (normal + 7 settings)
  

FSB OverVoltage Control
Allows you to set the Front Side Bus voltage.

• Normal Supplies the FSB voltage as required. (Default)
  
  
• +0.05V ~ +0.35V Increases FSB voltage by 0.05V to 0.35V at 0.05V increment. (normal + 7 settings)
  

(G)MCH OverVoltage Control

Allows you to set the North Bridge voltage.

• Normal Supplies the North Bridge voltage as required. (Default)
  
  
• +0.025V ~ +0.375V Increases North Bridge voltage by 0.025V to 0.375V at 0.025V increment. (normal + 15 settings)
  

[Schaki]

The text below is copied from the EP35-DS3P v2.1 user manual.
Please describe in detail which stress testing programs you run and how long each program is run when you are testing the stability of your system each time you overclock your system higher and/or lower.


EP35-DS3P v2.1 M.I.T. System Voltage Control Option.

I'll probably use the latest version of Prime 95. I've run a Torture test with it once for about three or four hours with no error @ 3.65ghz. I used the Torture-test standard settings. Is that ok or would you advice me to perhaps alter some settings or maybe even use some other Stress testing program to test the stability?

[profJim]

Prime95 is my main stress testing tool, but I have strong opinions on how long each of the three Prime95 tests should run:

• up to 3 hours with no worker errors = the system is marginally stable
• up to 6 hours with no worker errors = looking good so far, but still not good enough
• up to 9 hours with no worker errors = the system is reasonably stable
• 12 - 24 hours with no worker errors = this is as good as it gets

I use the older 27.7 or 28.5 versions of Prime95 with my older systems.
My test procedure is to first run LinX or IBT (IntelBurnTest) only for about 15 - 25 minutes as a preliminary stress test. With my 8GB of ram I select the memory size = 3072 or 4096MB, but with your 4GB ram you will need to run with less than 2048MB, probably using about 1792MB.

I've had (and seen) many LinX or IBT clean runs, only to have Prime95 fail after 30 minutes or sometimes several hours later. When I'm working my way up the overclocking ladder I don't move on to the next step until each of the three different Prime95 tests have no worker errors for at least 3 - 6 hours.

There are also some additional stress tests that could include graphics, gaming and zipping and unzipping a large 20 - 40GB folder that has a mix of a lot of small medium and large files, where there must not be any errors in the single large zipped file and no errors when unzipping the large file to another location.

I use 7-zip for my zipping stress tests.