Q9450 & P35 trying to OC

Re: Best CPU Stress Test Program?

What is your VNB? I think your problem may well lie here.

Have you tried a different divider? 1:1 isn't the "be all and end all"

What timings have you set?

Have you tried 400MHz FSB* 7.5 multi? Your chip does 0.5 in the multi, yes?

Was version was the Memtest? memtest86+ V2.11? Have you tried running your memory unlinked at its default speed while doing prime blend?

Auto should run four threads but change it to four to be sure.

A quick skim around the net says your VCore is about right for 3.0GHz, the fact that it will do small fft's seems to verify that, when you get the stability sorted you may even be able to lower it.

;)


OT: we asked David for an oc forum and yet people still use general, not picking on you personally as you're not the only one, it is just an overall comment on users of the forum.
:confused:

wow, didn't even know about the OC forum, thanks for the heads up...

edit: now I'm lost, where is this OC forum...?

:confused:
 
Re: Best CPU Stress Test Program?

What is your VNB? I think your problem may well lie here.

Have you tried a different divider? 1:1 isn't the "be all and end all"

What timings have you set?

Have you tried 400MHz FSB* 7.5 multi? Your chip does 0.5 in the multi, yes?

Was version was the Memtest? memtest86+ V2.11? Have you tried running your memory unlinked at its default speed while doing prime blend?

Auto should run four threads but change it to four to be sure.

A quick skim around the net says your VCore is about right for 3.0GHz, the fact that it will do small fft's seems to verify that, when you get the stability sorted you may even be able to lower it.

;)


OT: we asked David for an oc forum and yet people still use general, not picking on you personally as you're not the only one, it is just an overall comment on users of the forum.
:confused:


Default NB v = 1.33 but after raising it 2 notches I was able to get 1h of prime95 stable (blend), as to compared to before it failed after 5 min. Wasn't able to do it longer as I had some stuff to do last night. Intel Burn test failed after 3-4 passes. I had Threads set to 4 and did Maximum as a stress lvl.

I don't believe I ever tried anything else then 1:1 ratio. From what I was able to get on the net people were saying to get 1:1 ratio stable first and then work from there.

I have P35 LP UT DFI MOBO and my timings are the following:

(5-5-5-15) I Set Enhanced Data Transmitting and Addressing to "Fast". Ch1/Ch2 Clock Crossing and Ch1Ch2 Commom Clock to "More Aggreessive". tCL,tRCD and tRP to 5. tRAS to 15 and tRFC to 52. Left everything else on auto till I get my over clock stable.

In regards to "400MHz FSB* 7.5 multi?" I don't have the .5 (unless dot "." is a different key in BIOS)

I did MemTest about 8 month ago, 3.2 was the version I used. Apparently there are two websites one with 3.5 version and the other one with 2.11. 3.5 doesnt seem to work for most people. I downloaded 2.11 and did a quick 2h test about 2 and 1/2 loops with no errors. I believe i seen somewhere 10+ loops is a good number to have, so I will run the test overnight today just to be sure. By the way the test was "default" is it ok? or do I need to run a specific type of test?

"Have you tried running your memory unlinked at its default speed while doing prime blend?" Not sure what you mean? What you mean by unlinked? I do believe 8 month ago I was trying to shoot for 400FSB * 8 = 3200Ghz and that gave me a 1:1 800 divider I did some blend tests with those settings long time ago and it didn't go so well...

In regards to the OC section, I was able to find it, should I just create a new Thread there? I really want to get this OC stable and im sure I will have a ton more questions and will need a lot of help :) Please keep posting.

Thanks
 
Re: Best CPU Stress Test Program?

In regards to the OC section, I was able to find it, should I just create a new Thread there? I really want to get this OC stable and im sure I will have a ton more questions and will need a lot of help :) Please keep posting.

Thanks
I would pm one of the mods and ask them to move it there personally.


... snip ...

OK, first off, I've never owned a DFI board so some of your bios setting options are alien to me :)

I'll start at the top of your post and work down, OK ;)

VNB ... 1.33v is good, I can relate to that, it appears (at first look) to be a little low for what you are trying to achieve, I get lost at "raising it two notches" as I have absolutely now idea what "two notches" equates to in volts or what the actual final VNB is. If you saw an improvement (as you stated) in Prime95 blend then this was obviously a requirement but as you state that IBT failed I have to ask .... what are your settings? A failure with four threads at maximum stress level would indicate a lack of VCore to me.

1:1 is still pertinent to a degree with DDR2 but don't be afraid to try different dividers, your memory at 1:1 may be holding your cpu overclock back, there must be an option in your bios that allows memory/cpu divider selection other than 1:1

"(5-5-5-15) I Set Enhanced Data Transmitting and Addressing to "Fast". Ch1/Ch2 Clock Crossing and Ch1Ch2 Commom Clock to "More Aggreessive"

This means absolutely nothing to me as I'm not familiar with DFI bios options, perhaps I should Google for a P35 LP UT DFI bios guide lol :p

Regarding your multi/bios, you have no half step option at all? Your multi choices are 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 ? bummer

Memtest - use Felix's memtest86+ 2.11, the other one is a pretender ;)

Unlinked memory - means your memory doesn't oc when you raise the FSB, instead you choose the speed at which it runs by way of a divider, you state you once tried it at 400*8 for 3.2GHz at 1:1 and the divider gave you DDR2 800MHz (effective 1600MHz) , your memory modules at DDR2 533MHz (effective 1066) would struggle to have run at that. if this is correct I'm actually surprised it booted tbh

I think we need to ensure we're talking the same talk with regards to dividers, multis, memory speeds, voltages before we continue, please list the following

VCore
VDIMM
VNB
FSB
DDR memory speed (e.g. DDR2 533 = 1066MHz)

Lets get to some common ground and work from there
 
Re: Best CPU Stress Test Program?

@Folder, I really appreciate your help in this. Thank you.
To help you help me, he is a very good BIOS walkthrough, it lets u see all my BIOS setting…etc Very detailed IMOP.

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/hardware/3203-dfi-bios-guide-intel-chipset-based-motherboards.html

The VNB increments are .4 so from 1.330 two clicks are 1.41v. I currently have it at 1.45v (3 clicks) about to do some testing.

My Multis are 6,7 & 8 If I enable an option called "CPU N/2 Ratio" I can do 6.5, 7.5 & 8 (Never new that :) I will try 7.5 * 400 = 3.0Ghz that will give me Dram 333/667 = DDR2 801

I did Memtest 2.11 overnight and b4 I went to college it has finished 9 passes with no errors about 6h running. It's still running so I will have about 17 passes when I get home, about 15h total. (BIOS on default)

In regards to the divider..etc I guess I must of gat confused or something, because u right there is no way in hell I could have had 1600Mhz effective, I guess what I was trying to say, I had 800Mhz effective.

This is the link to my RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
4GB (2 x 2GB)
DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
2.0V - 2.1V

Default:

My Vcore is 1.2200v (auto bios)
My Dram V is 2.10v (raised it to default)
VNB = 1.330 (Default)
VTT = 1.100v (default)

OC settings:

FSB 400*7.5 = 3.0Ghz
Vcore = 1.22v (default)
NB = 1.45 (raised 3 notches)
Manual ram timings.

Here are pics of all my bios settings and dividers...etc

FSB/Muli
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00091.jpg
Volts
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00076.jpg
NBV
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00078.jpg
Vtt
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00079.jpg
SBv
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00081.jpg
SBv 1.05
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00083.jpg
Dram Speed
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00086.jpg
&
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00087.jpg
Ram Timings
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00072.jpg
&
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00074.jpg

Here are two links to my old posts on DFI forums, this is just for some extra database of what I had tried before. But I don't want this to be confusing…etc so we might be better of just to start clean like you sad, but anyways if u have time:

http://csd.dficlub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6657
http://csd.dficlub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9419

EDIT:

I just spend the last hour playing around with NBv + Vcore + Timings and I am absolutely not a single step closer to where I was 8 month ago when I was trying to OC. I'm really starting to think that there is something wrong with my system.... God... I7 looks so much better and an X58 looks bad ass! maybe its time to start doing some savings.
 
Question: When you oc do you leave your VCORE set to auto?

This is a very limited strap selection and may be part of the issue.

img2257013.png


At default you should be using 333/1066, do you?

Later in the Clunk article he refers to 400/800 and 400/1066 straps, do you have those options?

EDIT:

Clunk said:
Joking aside though, it seems that the Q9450 is a real pig to overclock, regardless of the board. I'm wondering if there is a BIOS fix for this, or if they really are just poor clockers?

This doesn't sound very promising :(

You might do better (and more cheaply than i7/X58) with a different cpu.
 
Ya i know this CPU is not the best for OC, but I seen bunch of people getting 3.4Ghz-4Ghz from it.

I leave the Vcore on auto yes. But I did change the Vcore in the last hour when I was messing around with settings and no luck.

When the system is not OC and eveything on default, my Dram Speed is set to auto, giving me 800Mhz the divider for that is 333/800. if I change to 333/1066 it will give me 1066, but that is not this MOBO's default speed...

With the 7.5 x 400 = 3.0Ghz I have 333/667 = 801 if I change the divider to 333/1600 it will give me 1280Mhz

This MOBO's default is 800 so I don't see why it should be 1066?

I dont have any 400/800 straps.

here are my selections:

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00086.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/DSC00087.jpg

The only time I will upgrade this PC is when I be getting I7, otherwise its pointless i think... I mean this PC does for me what it need to do, but it would be nice to make it faster u know?
 
Try setting the VCore manually to say 1.25V for 3.0GHz

I wouldn't take the NB over 1.5V without some serious cooling on the chip.

VTT (FSB voltage) can really shorten the life of your cpu if it is too high, I personally don't like even approaching 1.2V but people do run higher, for a small oc like you're attempting 1.1V should be sufficient anyway

1066MHz is your memory speed, by setting the strap to 333/1066 you run your memory at its rated speed, 333MHz is the FSB frequency (quad pumped 1333MHz), 1066MHz is the memory frequency (Double Data Rate 533MHz).

Try setting your tRFC to auto for now, 52 may be too agressive

I mean this PC does for me what it need to do, but it would be nice to make it faster u know?
I know, I overclock all my puters

Seems funny that you don't have the 400MHz straps, are you running the latest bios?
 
So with 7.5*400 = 3.0Ghz you want me to try 333/1066? because that will give me 1280Mhz.

According to CPUZ I have the latest BIOS, but I did notice on the boot screen it showing me something different... here is the ss, I think I will ask this question on the DFI forums. CPUZ showing me Version 6.00PG dated 09/19/2008 this is the latest version according to DFI BIOS website.

http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/MALOI2006/Bios/?action=view&current=DSC00088.jpg

I will do the changed and come right back :)


EDIT:

I did the changes. Prime95 Blend failed (core 4) after about 10 seconds
 
I must be missing something here, the 1066 strap gives 1280MHz memory frequency?

There must be another setting there somewhere that is multiplying the frequency

If you read post #10 in the clunk thread/guide you'll see that the memory should run at the strap setting e.g. 1066MHz not 1280MHz

So at default, 2.66GHz with 333/1066 the FSB should be 333MHz (quad pumped to 1333MHz) and the memory should be 1066MHz
 
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