A few questions before greatly overclocking my Q9650

[jason4207]

I was going to run an memtest86+ to see how the ram was doing, but I don't have any blank CD's >< I'll run a Blend in the mean time. As for my timings, I had them at 5-4-4-12 but then I read this http://www.tweakers.fr/timings.html and thought I'd see if it'd boot following those formulas, and it did. I'll see what a Blend test does to it in any case.

Let y'all know how the 3.5v and 4.0GHz attempt goes too! Wish me some luck ;-)

PS I just saw I could boot memtest86+ from my usb drive (I think?), so I'll do that instead of a blend. memtest86+ is a much more hardcore RAM test is it not?

I'm not really sure, but Large-FFT is a little more concentrated for RAM/FSB than Blend. Blend just goes back and forth b/n Large-FFT and Small-FFT, so it never really stresses the CPU or RAM/NB very hard for more that about 15mins at a time.

I use Large-FFT, memtest86+ (via floppy or USB), and OCCT custom 2hr RAM test to stress test my RAM/FSB. I feel that any of these stress test is not better than another, but running them all is the best way to ensure total stability.

I just use Large-FFT for a few minutes at first to get in the ballpark, and once that passes overnight I run the others to ensure that I've covered it from every angle.

I think there is another one called HCI (or something) that is also supposed to be pretty good at stressing the RAM...haven't tried it yet.

 

[EarthDog]

Memtest ONLY tests the RAM as opposed to blend/large tests CPU along with it. At least thats how I understood it.

 

[dominatus]

./shrug, I'll run a memtest. I've always hear the blend described as the heaviest ram testing prime95 does but I dunno, I'm new ;-) In any case, 10 hour Blend with no errors at the same settings as the small fft I did.

 

[EarthDog]

Sorry if you mentioned this, but you say you ran it at those speeds (1066) and timings on memtest and it passed? But not in Prime blend? Correct?

 

[dominatus]

No, I've never ran a memtest. I had the ram at 1066 several posts ago before I realized I could do a "Sync Mode" with my bios. Now I'm running it in that mode at 425 FSB so the RAM is also (meaning 850 MHz). It did run a 10+ Hours small FFT and Blend test stable at the old settings of 3.6 GHz (x9 Multiplier 400 FSB) and the RAM is at 1066 (3/2 ratio) with 5-4-4-12-31 when I had it at those settings on July 19th. I've since been using the 1:1 ratio sync mode so I could get my FSB higher, which has worked. It now has ran a 10+ hours Small FFT and Blend test stable at these settings,

3.825 GHz (425 FSB) with a ratio of 1:1 (meaning ram was at 850 MHz) with timings 5-4-4-11-15
Voltages are:
Vcore 1.3v
FSB 1.3V
RAM 2v
NB 1.5v

All cores stayed between 54* to 59*

That is a summary of all that has happened, hope that clears up any confusion.
Ask any questions if not. Thank you all for all the input and comments, great help and encouragement!

 

[dominatus]

I ran memtest86+ for 2 passes (like 4 hours? I didn't really keep track) with no errors. I'll run it longer prob tonight / tomorrow to make sure. I think I like this "nForce 680i" underdog board. I really want to see how far it will go stable on air.

 

[jason4207]

Does 450FSB work? 445FSB will give you 4GHz, and might be possible.

Push it man!

 

[sandyduff]

You are so close to 4GHz!! Keep it up!!