3.8ghz to 4 ghz on an e8500 - Aircooled

Harblar · Oct 23, 2008

So I've read the starter guide to overclocking you've got posted here and I've got a few questions.

I'm trying to get my E8500 to 3.8 or 4.0 ghz. I've been able to get it stabilized at 3.2, 3.4, and 3.6. I start having problems at 3.8.

I'm using the chip on an Asus p5q-e Motherboard, with a thermaltake v-1 cooler, and 4gb of OCZ HPC Reaper DDR2 6400 5-5-5-15T 2.1v(stock).

Before I get to my specific settings I'm curious about a couple things. What's the better method to overclock: increasing the multiplier or increasing the bus?

Right now I'm running 400fsb x 9.5 = 3.8
I could also run 475fsb x 8 = 3.8

I'd like to run 1:1 and if I want to get to 4 I'm going to have to overclock the Ram to maintain 1:1, though I'm not sure how feasible that is with the ram I got. It's already charged up pretty good at stock settings.

Anyway, on to my current OC.

Code:

Ai Overclock Tuner ................. [Manual]
CPU Ratio Setting .................. [9.5]
FSB Frequency ...................... [400]
PCIE Frequency ..................... [100]
FSB Strap to North Bridge .......... [400]
DRAM Frequency ..................... [DDR2 800]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A1 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A2 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B1 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B2 ...... [Auto]
DRAM Timing Control ................ [Manual]
 1st Information : 
  CAS# Latency ..................... [5 DRAM Clocks]
  DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay .......... [5 DRAM Clocks]
  DRAM RAS# Precharge .............. [5 DRAM Clocks]
  DRAM RAS# Activate to Precha ..... [15 DRAM Clocks]
  RAS# to RAS# Delay ............... [Auto]
  Row Refresh Cycle Time ........... [Auto]
  Write Recovery Time .............. [Auto]
  Read to Precharge Time ........... [Auto]
 2nd Information : 
  READ to WRITE Delay (S/D) ........ [Auto]
  WRITE to READ Delay (S) .......... [Auto]
  WRITE to READ Delay (D) .......... [Auto]
  READ to READ Delay (S) ........... [Auto]
  READ to READ Delay (D)............ [Auto]
  WRITE to WRITE Delay (S) ......... [Auto]
  WRITE to WRITE Delay (D) ......... [Auto]
 3rd Information : 
  WRITE to PRE Delay ............... [Auto]
  READ to PRE Delay ................ [Auto]
  PRE to PRE Delay ................. [Auto]
  ALL PRE to ACT Delay ............. [Auto]
  ALL PRE to REF Delay ............. [Auto]
DRAM Static Read Control ........... [Disabled]
DRAM Read Training ................. [Disabled]
MEM. OC Charger .................... [Enabled]
Ai Clock Twister ................... [Auto] 
Ai Transaction Booster ............. [Manual]
  Common Performance Level ......... [Auto]
Pull-In of CHA PH1 ................. [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHA PH2 ................. [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHA PH3  ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHA PH4  ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHA PH5  ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH1  ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH2  ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH3  ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH4  ................ [Disabled]
Pull-In of CHB PH5  ................ [Disabled]
____________________________________

CPU Voltage ........................ [1.29375]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2) .... [Auto]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3) .... [Auto]
CPU PLL Voltage .................... [Auto]
FSB Termination Voltage ............ [Auto]
DRAM Voltage ....................... [2.1]
NB Voltage ......................... [1.36]
NB GTL Reference ................... [Auto]
SB Voltage ......................... [Auto]
PCIE Voltage ....................... [Auto]
____________________________________

Load-Line Calibration .............. [Enabled]
CPU Spread Spectrum ................ [Disabled]
PCIE Spread Spectrum ............... [Disabled]
CPU Clock Skew ..................... [Auto]
NB Clock Skew ...................... [Auto]
CPU Margin Enhancement ............. [Optimal Mode]

I had the CPU voltage at 1.275.
Running the Intel 64 bit Burn test showed no errors and a peak load temp of 61. Not bad. I ran prime 95 64 bit and thread#2 failed at 21 minutes. I restarted the computer to tweak the voltage up a little and it failed to post. I had to unplug the computer to get it to post and then enter in all the settings again. This time I bumped it up to the above values and it's been running stable for about an hour. (interestingly enough, prime 95 64bit small fft's seems to run about 5 degrees cooler at peak load then the Intel burn test at max stress) :screwy:

Anyway, is there anything I might be overlooking? If this proves stable what should I start tweaking next to minimize heat, or should I try going 500x8 and OC the ram?

So far I gotta say I'm really impressed with this chip.

karkas · Oct 23, 2008

Harblar said:
So I've read the starter guide to overclocking you've got posted here and I've got a few questions.

I'm trying to get my E8500 to 3.8 or 4.0 ghz. I've been able to get it stabilized at 3.2, 3.4, and 3.6. I start having problems at 3.8.

I'm using the chip on an Asus p5q-e Motherboard, with a thermaltake v-1 cooler, and 4gb of OCZ HPC Reaper DDR2 6400 5-5-5-15T 2.1v(stock).

Before I get to my specific settings I'm curious about a couple things. What's the better method to overclock: increasing the multiplier or increasing the bus?

Right now I'm running 400fsb x 9.5 = 3.8
I could also run 475fsb x 8 = 3.8

I'd like to run 1:1 and if I want to get to 4 I'm going to have to overclock the Ram to maintain 1:1, though I'm not sure how feasible that is with the ram I got. It's already charged up pretty good at stock settings.

Anyway, on to my current OC.

Code:

Ai Overclock Tuner ................. [Manual] CPU Ratio Setting .................. [9.5] FSB Frequency ...................... [400] PCIE Frequency ..................... [100] FSB Strap to North Bridge .......... [400] DRAM Frequency ..................... [DDR2 800] DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A1 ...... [Auto] DRAM Clock Skew on Channel A2 ...... [Auto] DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B1 ...... [Auto] DRAM Clock Skew on Channel B2 ...... [Auto] DRAM Timing Control ................ [Manual] 1st Information : CAS# Latency ..................... [5 DRAM Clocks] DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay .......... [5 DRAM Clocks] DRAM RAS# Precharge .............. [5 DRAM Clocks] DRAM RAS# Activate to Precha ..... [15 DRAM Clocks] RAS# to RAS# Delay ............... [Auto] Row Refresh Cycle Time ........... [Auto] Write Recovery Time .............. [Auto] Read to Precharge Time ........... [Auto] 2nd Information : READ to WRITE Delay (S/D) ........ [Auto] WRITE to READ Delay (S) .......... [Auto] WRITE to READ Delay (D) .......... [Auto] READ to READ Delay (S) ........... [Auto] READ to READ Delay (D)............ [Auto] WRITE to WRITE Delay (S) ......... [Auto] WRITE to WRITE Delay (D) ......... [Auto] 3rd Information : WRITE to PRE Delay ............... [Auto] READ to PRE Delay ................ [Auto] PRE to PRE Delay ................. [Auto] ALL PRE to ACT Delay ............. [Auto] ALL PRE to REF Delay ............. [Auto] DRAM Static Read Control ........... [Disabled] DRAM Read Training ................. [Disabled] MEM. OC Charger .................... [Enabled] Ai Clock Twister ................... [Auto] Ai Transaction Booster ............. [Manual] Common Performance Level ......... [Auto] Pull-In of CHA PH1 ................. [Disabled] Pull-In of CHA PH2 ................. [Disabled] Pull-In of CHA PH3 ................ [Disabled] Pull-In of CHA PH4 ................ [Disabled] Pull-In of CHA PH5 ................ [Disabled] Pull-In of CHB PH1 ................ [Disabled] Pull-In of CHB PH2 ................ [Disabled] Pull-In of CHB PH3 ................ [Disabled] Pull-In of CHB PH4 ................ [Disabled] Pull-In of CHB PH5 ................ [Disabled] ____________________________________ CPU Voltage ........................ [1.29375] CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2) .... [Auto] CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3) .... [Auto] CPU PLL Voltage .................... [Auto] FSB Termination Voltage ............ [Auto] DRAM Voltage ....................... [2.1] NB Voltage ......................... [1.36] NB GTL Reference ................... [Auto] SB Voltage ......................... [Auto] PCIE Voltage ....................... [Auto] ____________________________________ Load-Line Calibration .............. [Enabled] CPU Spread Spectrum ................ [Disabled] PCIE Spread Spectrum ............... [Disabled] CPU Clock Skew ..................... [Auto] NB Clock Skew ...................... [Auto] CPU Margin Enhancement ............. [Optimal Mode]

I had the CPU voltage at 1.275.
Running the Intel 64 bit Burn test showed no errors and a peak load temp of 61. Not bad. I ran prime 95 64 bit and thread#2 failed at 21 minutes. I restarted the computer to tweak the voltage up a little and it failed to post. I had to unplug the computer to get it to post and then enter in all the settings again. This time I bumped it up to the above values and it's been running stable for about an hour. (interestingly enough, prime 95 64bit small fft's seems to run about 5 degrees cooler at peak load then the Intel burn test at max stress)

Anyway, is there anything I might be overlooking? If this proves stable what should I start tweaking next to minimize heat, or should I try going 500x8 and OC the ram?

So far I gotta say I'm really impressed with this chip.

Theorhetically faster FSB can increase your memory bandwidth & some improvements in benching, but you generally don't see much if any improvements in real world use.

PLL volts could be tweaked, GTL are worth a try, but likely won't help since its a C2D, possibly term, but be careful, NB could go up to 1.4 if temps are ok. Gotta leave work so no time to be more elaborate tonight.

prime81 · Oct 23, 2008

Pull the FSB Term from auto and set her to 1.24-1.28. Auto setting tends to overvolt and can give your chip a reallllly short life.

CPU Ratio: 9.5
FSB: 400
NB Volts: 1.32ish
CPU Volts: Go ahead and run 1.3

The P45 boards are picky in overclocking, while they overclock very well... the cold boot is still a stability issue. If you can run a 1:1 ratio with the ram then that's great, but if your ram is not completely stable then that cold boot no post will happen.

jason4207 · Oct 23, 2008

Your RAM isn't made to be pushed hard, so stick w/ max multi (9.5), and keep your RAM 1:1.

Kivin · Oct 23, 2008

Some thoughts:

- Rule out the RAM with memtest. However, Small FFTs shouldn't make that a problem anyways...
- Use your Vcc room if you need it. Every chip has it's own personality and some just wont behave until you get over a Vcore hump.
- If the RAM wont stay stable, try increasing the MCH between 1.25 and 1.30... make sure your RAM is being given it's rated voltage.
- Check if your Mainboard has had any significant BIOS updates. I couldn't get mine to OC properly 'til I flashed.
- If it wont cold post, try loosening up the timings on your Reapers. Mine wont cold post at their rated 5-5-5-18/2.1v, but will at 5-5-5-20/2.14v at 1kmhz, or 2.18v at 1150mhz. They're 1150 rated sticks. (edit: OCZ has specifically said that 2008 models of Reapers will not respond well to > 2.1 V, so don't necessarily overvolt them just because I said so.)

3.8ghz to 4 ghz on an e8500 - Aircooled

Harblar

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prime81

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