Ok, my Q9550 is here

[xxJackxx]

Ok, time for a new thread. I just picked up the Q9550 and put it in. Set defaults in bios and it booted fine. Just for fun onh the next boot I set it for 4.0 modeling the settings off of someone else's post. It loaded to the boot screen, but then a BSOD. So it looks promising that I van get there. Basic settings as follows.

vcore 1.275 (seemed low but I thought I would try it)
vtt 1.3
pll 1.5
mch 1.36
dram at 2.02 5-5-4-12
8.5 x 475 fsb (2.0D strap)

A few questions on the Q9550 as I don't want to fry it already and I know it will take less volts than the Q6600 did.
1. LLC on with a Q9550? I have it off at the moment, I have seen mixed opinions on a 45nm chip.
2. Safe vcore for a Q9550 at 4.0?
3. What kind of mch volts is good for 475 fsb with a pair of Mushkin 991619 (996619)?

I can fill out the complete list of bios settings later if needed. Thanks for any help.


A quick update. I backed the RAM off to 5-5-5-15 and bumped the vcore to 1.3 (show 1.254 in Windows) and it is running at 4.0 Now to see how stable it is...

2nd update. Had to bump the vcore 1 more notch to 1.30625 because of a BSOD on 3Dmork 06 on the CPU test. It now passes 06, vantage, and the Steam video stress test. Temps seem to be in the mid 40's most of the time. Core 0 did hit 60 at one point but didn't stay there.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

MCH does not need to be that high, 1.2-1.24 should be plenty

LLC is fine, use level 1

Safe Vcore would be 1.4-1.45, above that should not be needed really.

[xxJackxx]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

I figured the MCH might be high, I am used to that old 8GB of unstable RAM. I'll try to lower it. I don't think I'll need the LLC, it seems to be good so far. The vcore also seems to be good at 1.30625 though I have not tried prime95 or IBT. What games I have tried seem to work so far. I'm very happy with the new parts!

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Vcore may be OK, but if you do not use LLC you might have a big droop under load. I suggest Level 1 LLC

Glad to hear you are enjoying your new system!

I saw your thread at Mushkin too, those guys are great too so if you have any issues feel free to ask them and they can help too!

[xxJackxx]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Yes, Mushkin is great, I wish I had gone with them to start with. MCH down to 1.2, still runs, will have to stress it later.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is meant by Level 1 LLC? I know the option for LLC has Enabled and Disabled. Do I just enable that, or am I missing something?

[yuu]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

New boards have advanced LLC options, if you have Enabled only it is probably the same as Level1.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Sorry, yes I meant Load Line Calibration.

And yes your board may only have enabled/disabled, if that is the case use enabled - if you have advanced options choose level 1

[profJim]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Please post your bios settings using the template if you have questions or problems.
It will also help to include the following screen-shot:
Memset using the SPD and ">>" tabs
cpu-z CPU and Mainboard screens (several instances can be run at the same time)
EasyTune6 --> TUNER tab --> ADVANCE tab --> VOLTAGE tab (only the Voltage tab is needed)
CoreTemp screen [for your cpu's VID (Voltage ID)]

[xxJackxx]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Let me start this post by saying that I am not having any particular problem so far, though I have not done any serious testing. Games seem ok now, which is why I did the upgrade. However it couldn't hurt to have someone look over my settings as I know less about the Q9550 than I did the Q6600.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Motherboard:Gigabyte Model:GA-EP45_UD3P Rev#:1.0 Bios Version:F10
Cpu: Intel Q9550
Ram: 2x Muskin 991619 (996916) - 2GB DDR2 PC2-8500 5-5-5-15 Blackline
Power Supply Unit: Antec SG-850 850 Watts

note: replace all ?? with the value displayed in your bios.
----> Replace "Auto" with manually set values.

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster -------------- : [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ---------------------- : [8]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio ----------------- : [0.5] <-- ignore if not available
CPU Frequency ---------------------: 4.04 <-- this is set by your bios

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control --------------- : [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) --------------: [475]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) ---------- : [100] <--- Set to 100, never leave this on Auto

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

Advanced Clock Control ------- [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive ---------------------- : [800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive -------------- : [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew (ps) ------------------ : [0ps]
MCH Clock Skew (ps) ------------------ : [0ps]

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance ------------------- : [Standard] <--- set to STANDARD when overclocking
Extreme Memory Profile --- (X.M.P.) --- : [Disabled] <--- Leave this Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch ---------------- : [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier -------------- : [2.00D] <-- this is the setting that you are using
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ---------------- : [950]
DRAM Timing Selectable ---------------- : [Manual] <-- set to MANUAL for overclocking

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time -------- 5 ---------- : [5]
tRCD ------------------- 5 ---------- : [5]
tRP --------------------- 5 ---------- : [5]
tRAS ------------------- 15 ---------- : [15]

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD ------------------- 4 ---------- : [Auto]
tWTR ------------------- 4 ---------- : [Auto]
tWR --------------------- 6 ---------- : [Auto]
tRFC ------------------- 68 ---------- : [Auto]
tRTP ------------------- 5 ---------- : [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) -------------------- : [2] <--- Auto or 0 is OK

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength --------- : Press Enter <--- press ENTER to modify memory sub-timings when overclocking

Channel A
Static tRead Value --------------------- : [9]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto] <-- leave this and below set to 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] ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value --------------------- : [9]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto] <-- leave this and below set to 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] ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps

Motherboard Voltage Control
CPU
Voltage Types------------ Normal -------- Current -----
Load-Line Calibration ----------------- : [Disabled]
CPU Vcore --------------- ?.????? ---- : [1.30625]

CPU Termination --------- ?.???V* ----- : [1.30]
CPU PLL ----------------- ?.???V* ----- : [1.50]

CPU Reference ----------- ?.???V* ----- : [Auto]
CPU Reference2 ---------- ?.???V* ----- : [N/A]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core ---------------- ?.???V ------- : [1.20]
MCH Reference ----------- ?.???V ------- : [.8]
MCH/DRAM Ref ------------ ?.???V ------- : [1.01]
ICH I/O ----------------- ?.???V ------- : [Auto]
ICH Core ---------------- ?.???V ------- : [Auto]
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ------------ ?.???V ------- : [2.02]
DRAM Termination -------- ?.???V ------- : [1.01]
Channel A Reference ----- ?.???V ------- : [1.01]
Channel B Reference ----- ?.???V ------- : [1.01]

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 -------------- : [Enabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ------------- : [Disabled]

Edit: I have been able to lower the CPU Termination Voltage to 1.24 from 1.3. Really liking this chip.

[faust1200]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Not to Hijack this thread but since we're duscussing LLC, Lsd, can you tell me the difference between LLC 1 and LLC 2......I'm assuming one allows more vdroop than the other but from the descriptions on the BIOS I'm unsure which does what. Thanks.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Looks good!

You can manually set these now if you want

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD ------------------- 4 ---------- :3-4
tWTR ------------------- 4 ---------- : 3-6
tWR --------------------- 6 ---------- :4-6
tRFC ------------------- 68 ---------- :52-62
tRTP ------------------- 5 ---------- : 3-4
Command Rate (CMD) -------------------- : [2] <---Set 2, test 1 later

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength --------- : Press Enter <- Set 1066


@ Faust1200

Level 1 is normal LLC like you used to use when it was only enabled/disabled. Example idle Vcore 1.4 - Load Vcore 1.385/1.39

Level 2 adds more Vcore under load than the idle voltage, and the amount can vary. Example Idle Vcore 1.4 - load Vcore 1.44

[xxJackxx]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

I have read in other posts on this forum that the 1066 driving strength profile in the F10 BIOS is unstable on this mobo so I am going to leave it auto. Did some more gaming last night. Dropped VTT all the way to 1.2 but the game froze. Windows did not though, so 1.24 it is. The CPU shows 1.264 volts vcore in Windows. I cannot believe this thing runs at 4.04 Ghz at this voltage! I'm sure the Mushkin RAM helps a lot with that. I'm sure I could go higher with water cooling but I've spent enough money. For now. ;)

I'd like to thank everyone that helped. I'm going to call this one good.

[xxJackxx]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Ok, I lied. I finally had some time to run Prime95 and IBT. Both failed. I went ahead and turned on LLC and it is fine now. I should have listened. :P This did allow me to drop VTT to 1.2 and vcore to 1.3 though so I won't worry about it too much. Does anybody want to recommend a better cooler? The CNPS 9700 is ok for idle. Gets a little hot on load.

[profJim]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

Make sure that your case is deep enough for the top tier coolers. Many are about 160mm tall, measured from the top of the cpu.
Check out the cooler reviews at the best sites, such as Hardocp, xbitlabs, PC Perspective, etc.
The Prolimatech Megahalems Rev B has been at or near the top of list for some time now.
Two of the newest Zalman coolers have received very good reviews.

Make sure that the cooler you choose won't have clearance issues with the 1st memory slot.
Don't cut corners with an everyday 120mm fan. Noctua and Scythe are two of the top rated fans.
My Scythe S-Flex fans (1600 rpm) have been excellent. Their 1200 rpm S-Flex fans offer about 15 - 20% less air flow.
Let us know which cooler you choose and how it works out.

[Chike]

Re: Ok, my Q9550 is here

What are core temps under Prime95 and IBT?