OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 & EP45-UD3P

[imprezastipwr]

Hello everyone. This is my first post here and this is the first system that I'll be overclocking:

Q6600 SLACR (G0)
EP45-UD3P
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) Model: TWIN2X4096-6400C5, DDR2 800 (PC2 6400), Cas Latency <script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newli ne('5'));</script>5, 5-5-5-18, 1.9V
Thermalright HR-01 Plus (CPU Heatsink) with AS5
Enermax Modu82+ 625W
HD4870 1GB
Antec P182SE
Windows XP SP2

I have already made some BIOS adjustments and performed stability tests based off of recommendations made through this forum and others.

From my current BIOS settings, I am able to get 1 hour stable on OCCT and 6 hours stable on Prime95. With a vcore of 1.51250 set in the BIOS, cpuz reads an idle of 1.456 and load of 1.408 or 1.392 (becomes 1.392 further into testing for some reason). My temps are around 28-32C at idle and 55-65C at load.

I have just recently formatted and my system and it has solely been doing stress tests for the past few days. The major issue I am currently having is that my system restarts out of nowhere during stress tests (no reported errors from the test programs, the OS, or BSOD). One of the possibilities that I have in mind are high load temps from stress testing, however I haven't seen a reported temp go above 66-68C. The other possibility I have come up with is that I need to further increase or decrease the voltage in some area(s). I have not really tweaked the system memory in the BIOS, but I have run an 8 hour memtest with no problems.

I have stress tested my system with a set vcore of 1.51875- all other BIOS settings identical. I was able to get 1 hour stable on OCCT and 4.5 hours on Prime95. If I can't figure out what's wrong with my current BIOS settings, I might have to go back to testing this increased vcore...

EDIT: I just ran coredamage for 5 minutes on this higher voltage 1.51875. Max temp was at 70C stable (higher than my other recorded temps) during the whole time with no system restart. So I'm not sure if the restart issue is being caused by high temps.

Aside from figuring out what's causing my system to restart, I would like to adjust the voltages and other BIOS settings to reduce CPU and system temps to a minimum, while maintaining system stability.

Some questions I have are along the lines of... would increasing CPU termination further in order to lower CPU vcore help reduce temps? Also, compared to my current system status, how much of a decrease in temps should I expect if I were to operate the Q6600 at 3.2GHz or 3.4GHz?

Any helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


Here are my current BIOS settings:

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
[URL="http://forums.tweaktown.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=69#"]CPU[/URL] Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine [URL="http://forums.tweaktown.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=69#"]CPU Clock[/URL] Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.58GHz (398*9)


Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 398
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900
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 ..............: 2.0D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800 796
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

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

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3 [Auto]
tWTR.......................................... 3 [Auto]
tWR............................................ 6 [Auto]
tRFC........................................... 42 [Auto]
tRTP........................................... 3 [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:0 [Auto]

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

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 11 [Auto]
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto] 
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 11 [Auto]
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto] 
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto] 
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto] 
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto] 
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.51250 (cpuz: 1.456 idle, 1.392 load)
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: 1.460
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: 1.500
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: 0.760 [Auto]
CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......: Setting not present

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.200
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: [Auto]
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: 1.590
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: 1.300

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 1.900
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: [Auto]
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: [Auto]
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: [Auto]

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: Setting not present
x C4/C4E State Support..................: Setting not present
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect .............. [Enabled]

[godto]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

use trap 333 ...2.0B ... you are not 400 yet ... will be more stable...
your MCH is too low ... try around 1.26 -1.35 ... and this way you can lower your Vcore voltage
you probably can lower your static read to 9 or even 8
set your comand rate to 2
Driving Strength -- 800 could even try 1066
on mine ... i need to set this to 4 ( tRTP ) .. seem more stable that way

that all i can see so far .. good luck

[mathewgx]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

I would say that you need to increase your vcore a little. But , why don't you enable load line calibration ? This way you'd need around 1.4125v in bios.

Also set your cpu termination to 1.4 or lower and and the cpu pll to 1.57 or 1.59.

[SpinachEater]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

I agree with godt0, MCH voltage could probably be bumped up to help stabilize your system. I would find a stable MCH value and then actually drop your vcore slowly to find the min voltage if you can. You don't want to be over volting if it isn't necessary.

What tends to happen is people keep bumping up their vcore and ignore their MCH voltage and end up using way more vcore than necessary.

I OCd with an x38 board and I had the same thing. In order to hit 3.4GHz, I had to bump the MCH up and then I was able to back the vcore down from where I had it at stable for 3.3GHz.

[imprezastipwr]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

Some suggestions that I've been receiving is that the problem could be my PSU. I tested the PSU voltages with a multimeter and they look accurate. I'll try the MCH voltage increase.

I was a thinking about trying LLC, but I became a bit skeptical after reading this snipet from an AnandTech article:

The first is that setting lower voltages with this option enabled actually results in a condition in which the CPU voltage under load is higher than the idle voltage. Imagine our confusion as we desperately struggle to understand why our system is Prime95 stable for days yet continues to crash under absolutely no load. What's more, in spite of the absence of droop and for reasons unknown, enabling this feature artificially raises our CPU's minimum stable core voltage at 4.0GHz from 1.28V to about 1.33V. As a result, our system uses more power under load than is otherwise necessary. Our efforts to reduce our processor's supply voltage backfired - instead of lowering the system's total power consumption we managed to affect a 20W increase.

With Load Line Calibration disabled in BIOS, setting a CPU Voltage VID of 1.38750 resulted in a no-load voltage of about 1.34V and a full-load value of 1.28V. Enabling this feature and lowering the VID to 1.35000V produced a constant CPU supply voltage, regardless of load (or so it seemed), of 1.33V. Setting a lower VID resulted in a blue screen during Windows boot. Idle voltage was relatively unchanged at about 1.33-1.34V but the full-load voltage required increased by 50mV with no benefit. As you might guess, we recommend you leave this option disabled.

Hopefully we've shown you enough to understand exactly why Voffset and Vdroop are important. Please give second thought to your actions if you're in the habit of defeating these essential system safeguards.

[cdelong]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

I don't have your memory but I have lots of hours of memory tweaking on this board with very stable results to 4.1ghz with my E8500.

leave load line cal disabled....

way too much vcore for your OC needs..... 1.400v should be plenty regardless of if your temps are OK under load. try 1.3875v

manually set your memory timings

Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 900
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 50
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 100


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto] 400
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.0D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800 796
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

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

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3 [Auto] 4
tWTR.......................................... 3 [Auto] 4
tWR............................................ 6 [Auto] 8
tRFC........................................... 42 [Auto] 58-62
tRTP........................................... 3 [Auto] 4
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:0 [Auto] 2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ 800

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 11 [Auto] 9
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 11 [Auto] 9
1.3875v1.30v1.35v1.300v

[imprezastipwr]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

I just tried the suggested BIOS settings from cdelong and got my first BSOD while loading the winxp.

I was able to get into winxp by increasing the cpu vcore to 1.400, but OCCT failed immediately. At 1.450, OCCT get an error after a minute. At 1.5000, the system restarted (same issue I was having with my previous settings). I'm currently testing OCCT at 1.50625 vcore.

As of now, I don't believe the adjusted memory settings had any effect on decreasing my required vcore or eliminating the reboot issue that I'm having.

EDIT: I finished testing with cdelong's suggested settings. Unfortunately, OCCT can't even finish a 30 minute run at a set vcore of 1.51875, which was stable for me with my previous settings.

[cdelong]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

sounds like 3.58ghz is not realistic for your chip. you should not need near that kind of voltage, nor should you expect your chip to live that long there.

try backing down to 3.4ghz w/ my settings. 1.400v for long term 24/7 use is as high as I would go.

[mathewgx]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

Your q6600 seems to need 1.4v or more (at load) for being stable at 3,6 (so do mine). So , if you keep llc disabled you need to give more than 1.5125v in bios. So , at idle you will have about 1.46v which will increase your temps.

Generally , it is very difficult to get stable at 3,6 with a q6600 having llc disabled. I have it enabled since i bought mine and i have no problem so far. Give it a try and see.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

Ya, I would say for sure more vcore, or enable LLC it is ok on 65Nm cpu's

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto or Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.58GHz (398*9)


Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 398
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 50-150
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 150-250


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.00B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800 796
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 5
tRCD ......................................... 5
tRP'........................................... 5
tRAS.......................................... 15/18

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3-4
tWTR.......................................... 3-6
tWR............................................ 4-6
tRFC........................................... 42 [Auto] 52-62 << Here is another issue, 42 is way to low for 2x2GB, have you loaded optimized defaults ever yet?  If not, please do so!  Load optimized defaults, and set your ram voltage only then save/apply/reboot BACK to the BIOS.  Do not load windows as you HAVE TO Set your SATA/Disk settings again after you load optimized defaults, then make all changes in MIT again

tRTP........................................... 3-5
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................800-1066 test both

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 11 [Auto] << Find and set your own stable setting for both A & B (6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH)

 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto] 
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 11 [Auto] << Find and set your own stable setting for both A & B (6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH)

 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto] 
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto] 
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto] 
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto] 
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.51250 (cpuz: 1.456 idle, 1.392 load)
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: 1.460
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: 1.500-1.65
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: 0.760 [Auto]


MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.200 << I would say add some here, normally for 2x2GB 1.24-1.28 would be best

MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: [Auto]
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: 1.590
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: 1.300

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 1.900-2.0
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: [Auto]
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: [Auto]
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: [Auto]

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect .............. [Enabled] <<< Disable for now, and remove any external USB Drives, ect to rule this out

[imprezastipwr]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Here is another issue, 42 is way to low for 2x2GB, have you loaded optimized defaults ever yet? If not, please do so! Load optimized defaults, and set your ram voltage only then save/apply/reboot BACK to the BIOS. Do not load windows as you HAVE TO Set your SATA/Disk settings again after you load optimized defaults, then make all changes in MIT again

42 is the optimized default. Should I still try increasing the tRFC value?

Also, do you think my system restarts during load are directly related to insufficient vcore?

I'll try testing more with LLD enabled. Hopefully I can drop the vcore and temps.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

Yes, it should be 52-62 for 2x2GB, so try 54 or so for now

Depends on your restart, sometimes not enough vcore can almost load windows other times it wont work at all.

Are you double or triple booting or what? Sometimes a double reboot is needed depending on what you change.

If you think it may be vcore bump it up several notches and see, if it instantly works then you know that is the issue. If not then it is likely another voltage or timing that is off

Keep in mind if you enable LLC your voltage is not going to drop as much as before so keep a eye on that. But provided your temps are good you can easily put 1.45-1.5 into that CPU

[imprezastipwr]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

I've started to test with LLC enabled, using Lsdmeasap's suggested settings. However, I'm still getting random system restarts 2-6 hours into P95 stress tests at large FFT's.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

Sounds like you need a bit more voltage somewhere is all

[imprezastipwr]

Re: OC Help: 3.58GHz Q6600 &amp; EP45-UD3P

Which area should I try adding more voltage to first? Isn't my CPU Termination too high already at 1.46? :(