Maximum PC

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

Hey,

I've been playing around with some overclocking for a few days now and I'm not quite sure what to do about voltages. Let me break down how I go about OC'ing my CPU just to see if maybe you have a better method than what I'm doing. (specs at bottom)

First off I have my CPU* clock ratio set as high as it will go, 12.5, and my CPU frequency is set to 200 which gives me 2.5Ghz which is what my CPU is supposed to be at. So basically I will up the frequency in sequence of 10's (200, 210, 220, 230) all the while leaving the voltage on auto. Once I get into the OS I will launch CPU-Z, HWMonitor and run Prime95 through test 5 of the first iteration as a quick little test just to make sure something isn't wildly wrong. I am currently running my frequency at 230 which renders 2.875Ghz and it seems to be working just fine. The problem comes when I bump the frequency up to 240. My system wont make it past the boot screen, and I can't get into BIOS. So I removed the battery from my mobo** to reset everything and then changed everything back where I had it, frequency at 240, except this time I upped the voltage a little to compensate and the system still won't make it past the boot screen and not even into BIOS.

Should I keep upping the voltage until it works out or am I doing something completely wrong here? I am totally new to this so any advice you have would be lovely. Thanks.

~Josh

*Intel E5200 2.5Ghz
**Gigabyte EP45-UD3R
Xigmatek Rifle CPU Cooler
Corsair 400W PSU
Mushkin 4GB DDR2
Antec 300

Gailim · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject:

you shouldn't have your voltage on auto if your overclocking, find out what the default value is, and set it there. then try upping your speed.

how do you know you bumped the voltage if it was set on auto before?

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

It shows the default voltage setting out to the side, so I know what it is then go up from there.

Gailim · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:47 pm Post subject:

what is the default voltage? and what did you bump it too at 2.75?

also, did you remember to lower your ram ratio?

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

The default voltage is set to 1.23750V and when I changed the frequency I bumped it two notches to 1.25000V.
And I havn't done any reading on RAM in the BIOS so I don't know how to change that. I looked and didn't see anything in the BIOS about ratio relating to the RAM. I took a photo of the RAM setting in my BIOS so maybe you could guide me as of what to do.

Spartacus · Northwood Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 3414

what you want to do is bump the FSB without bumping voltage. Then boot up and run Prime95. Though hardcore overclockers set their stability standard by passing 24 hours of Prime and Intel's Linpack, that's really not necessary for stability under 98% of loads normal people put their CPU's under. If it passes a couple hours of just Prime then you're fine to continue OC'ing. If it crashes after less then a couple hours, go back into your BIOS, bump the voltage up one tick, and try again until it's stable, then rinse and repeat.

Gailim · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject:

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

Thank you Spartacus for that info.

Gailim,
My default RAM speed is 1066

System Memory Multiplier

Also here is a shot of the MCH Frequency Latch, I have no idea what that means...

Gigabyte · Team Creamsicles Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1797

Performance Enhance on Turbo doesn't look good. Not while OCing anyways.

The System Memory Multiplier controls the Memory Frequency. You can see your Memory Frequency change right below it. Keep it on 2 with relaxed timings until you're 100% certain the CPU is stable.

The advanced timings need to be looked at. Here's my Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 996587 @712Mhz in my P35 DS3R. I raised the (G) MCH OverVoltage Control and DDR2 OverVoltage Control +0.1.

It's fine to raise the CPU voltage a little. Moderation is the key in unknown territories. Manually set the PCIe Frequency to 100. Disable C1E, EIST, and all of the power saving features. I haven't worked with the Dynamic Energy Saver feature but that's something to watch out for. A BIOS update or the latest software might help. Reset everything to the default speeds and ensure its stable before you attempt a BIOS update. You probably don't need to rush into that just yet.

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

Thank you Gigabyte.

I made a few changes that you recommended and I've successfully been on the rise with my CPU overclock. Before I coudn't get past 2.875Ghz but now I'm running steady at 3.25Ghz and it's steadily going up. I'm hoping to get it in the high 3's if not higher.

The things I changed were my System Memory Multiplier to 2.00 and my MCH Frequency Latch to 333MHz I believe. I still havn't done much reading on the Memory side of OC'ing so I'm not to sure what all this means. If you have any links to some great articles that would help out a ton. I also changed my PCIe Frequency to 100 and turned off all of the Energy Savings features.

~Josh

Gigabyte · Team Creamsicles Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1797

A Guide to Memory Timing
Gigabyte X38/P35/P965 (DS* DQ* S3) Overclocking and General BIOS tweaking Guide
Memory Timings Explained W/ Suggested Timings & Memset VS. BIOS
The Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 - Redefining the High End?
ASUS ROG Rampage Formula: Why we were wrong about the Intel X48
Understanding RAM Timings
Everything You Need to Know About Dual Channel
Everything You Need To Know About DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 Memories