GA-X58A-UD3R need help getting past 3.8GHz

I have a i7 920 D0 w/ a GA-X58A-UD3R and Corsair 1600 3x2GB. I was able to get to 3.8Ghz really easily but I haven't been able to get to 4.0 or 4.2GHz. Temps are fine, typically 62-64C Max under 100% load (Prime95). Once I go to CPU ratio of 20 or 21 the machine will freeze on Prime95 after just a 1-2 seconds, sometimes then followed by a BSOD, so it posts and boots but no 100% load. I figured its the vCore and I've gone up to 1.33125 and still hasn't improved.

I saw a post here talking about changing the Load-line Calibration (mine is Standard) and the Dynamics Vcore (never done this, I just change teh CPU vCore).

Any tips where to go next?


My stable 3.8Ghz settings are below:

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [19 ]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech ................. [Disable]
CPU Cores Enabled .......................... [All]
CPU Multi Threading ..........................[Enable]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ................. [Disable]
C3/C6/C7 State Support ................... [Disable]
CPU Thermal Monitor ........................ [Enable]
CPU EIST Function ............................ [Disable]
Virtualization Technology ................. [Disable]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT .................... [Enable]

Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed ..............................[x36] 7.2GHz
Uncore Frequency ..........................[x17] 3400MHz
Isonchronous Frequency ...............[Enable]

Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control .................. [Enable]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) .........................[200]
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ............. [100]
C.I.A.2.................................................. [-]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800]
PCI Express Clock Drive ................ [900]
CPU Clock Skew ............................ [0]
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0]

Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance .......................... [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ........... [Disable]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........... [ 8]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............. [Quick]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ..................[8]
tRCD ......................................[8]
tRP ........................................[8]
tRAS ......................................[24]
CR..........................................[2]
B2B........................................[-]


Advanced Voltage Control:
CPU Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping
Load Line Calibration .................... [Standard]
CPU Vcore ......................................[1.275]
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v .................[1.295]
CPU PLL 1.800v ..............................[1.80]
PCIE 1.500v ...................................[AUTO]
QPI PLL 1.100v ..............................[AUTO]
IOH Core 1.100v ............................[AUTO]
ICH I/O 1.500v ...............................[AUTO]
ICH Core 1.1v ................................[AUTO]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v .............. [1.64]
DRAM Termination 0.750v.......... [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]

My Settings for this board are as follows, give these a try but I would try for 200blk not 205blk to start with, dont leave any voltage on Auto, if you not manually adjusting it set it to normal, you will have to give some nb voltage manually though, this will be no good on normal (stocks).

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [19 ] 21
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech ................. [Disable] Enabled (Required for x21)
CPU Cores Enabled .......................... [All] All
CPU Multi Threading ..........................[Enable] Enabled
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ................. [Disable] Disabled
C3/C6/C7 State Support ................... [Disable] Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor ........................ [Enable] Disabled
CPU EIST Function ............................ [Disable] Disabled
Virtualization Technology ................. [Disable] Enabled
Bi-Directional PROCHOT .................... [Enable] Enabled

Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed ..............................[x36] 7.2GHz x36 7.38ghz
Uncore Frequency ..........................[x17] 3400MHz x17???? x16 3280mhz (set twice you ram speed ie my ram is at 1640mhz = 3280mhz uncore)
Isonchronous Frequency ...............[Enable] Enabled

Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control .................. [Enable] Enabled
BCLK Frequency (MHz) .........................[200] 205
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ............. [100] 101 (extra +1 or 2 helps stabailize overclocks sometimes)
C.I.A.2........................................... ....... [-]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800] 700
PCI Express Clock Drive ................ [900] 700
CPU Clock Skew ............................ [0] 0
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0] 0

Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance .......................... [Standard] Extreme
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ........... [Disable] Disabled
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........... [ 8] 8
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............. [Quick] [Quick]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ..................[8] 9
tRCD ......................................[8] 9
tRP ........................................[8] 9
tRAS ......................................[24] 24
CR..........................................[2] 1
B2B........................................[-]


Advanced Voltage Control:
CPU Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping
Load Line Calibration .................... [Standard] Level 1
CPU Vcore ......................................[1.275] Normal
Dynamic Vcore Adjust (DVID)............[0.000] +0.125 (resulting vCore = 1.312)
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v .................[1.295] 1.28
CPU PLL 1.800v ..............................[1.80] 1.84 (no more than 1.88/1.9v, counter balances VTT)
PCIE 1.500v ...................................[AUTO] Nornal
QPI PLL 1.100v ..............................[AUTO] Nornal
IOH Core 1.100v ............................[AUTO] 1.26
ICH I/O 1.500v ...............................[AUTO] Nornal
ICH Core 1.1v ................................[AUTO] Nornal

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v .............. [1.64] 1.66v
DRAM Termination 0.750v.......... [AUTO] 0.83 Half of RAM voltage
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO] 0.83
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO] 0.83
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO] 0.83
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO] 0.83
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO] 0.83
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO] 0.83

Thanks Seanie.

I see you are using the "Dynamic Vcore Adjust". Why this approach, rather than just up the vCore?

Also I'm air cooled (Thermalright Venomous X) if it matters (looks like you are water).

Thanks

this is prolly gonna sound mad, but using the DVID as I find it works better with the Loadline calabration, it more solid if that makes sense. Yes im on water, as long as your air cooler is a good'n you should be fine, just keep an eye on your temps, after all you said in your original post you have already had 1.33v vcore which is more than im putting through.

Welcome to the Forum! http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=491697 swtrader
Glad to have this thread.
I'm going to have mine up and running this weekend so I'll be using those settings for a basemark too.

swtrader said:

Thanks Seanie.

I see you are using the "Dynamic Vcore Adjust". Why this approach, rather than just up the vCore?

Also I'm air cooled (Thermalright Venomous X) if it matters (looks like you are water).

Thanks

Click to expand...

Let us know how it goes for the both of you and good luck

Got mine put together today.
Going to run it stock until tomorrow. Let the AS5 cure.
I don't know what it is with Gigabyte boards and some usb devices.
This one had a boot loop until I started un-plugging usb's.
Determined, for some reason, it was the Nostromo n52 gamepad hooked up to a powered usb hub. Plugged the gamepad in the usb in the I/O and it's all good.

Not had any probs like that with this Gigabyte board at all, did with my Foxconn board though, would get stuck in a boot loop whenever I had a USB key or USB hard drive plugged in during boot regardless of my boot settings in the bios, maybe it just an x58 thing.

Just reading this post just want to see how that Gigabyte board performs.

wingman99 said:

Just reading this post just want to see how that Gigabyte board performs.

Click to expand...

Said this before in another thread somewhere, its the best x58 board ive owned so far out of 3 and the best part is its the cheapest.

Seanie's Show said:

Said this before in another thread somewhere, its the best x58 board ive owned so far out of 3 and the best part is its the cheapest.

Click to expand...

I also heard it overclockes better than the UD5, what other 3 boards did you try thanks.

sorry this is the third board, but the other two was a Foxconn Bloodrage and an Anus Rampage 2 Gene.

Using most of Seanie's settings.. I'm gonna play on it for awhile at these settings. This isn't under the best of room coolings so I'm not going to push it(just yet). This is my main/gamer not my bench'r. But when I get to the limit with the R2E, I'll put this one to the test.
I like where they put the pci-e slots. I like where they have the pci and pci-e x1 slots, not being covered up by the video cards.

Seanie, why did you change the CPU clock Drive and PCIe clock Drive values. I thought 700mV was more of a default/fail safe for the mother board and the 800/900 were more typical.

CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800] 700
PCI Express Clock Drive ................ [900] 700

swtrader said:

Seanie, why did you change the CPU clock Drive and PCIe clock Drive values. I thought 700mV was more of a default/fail safe for the mother board and the 800/900 were more typical.

CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800] 700
PCI Express Clock Drive ................ [900] 700

Click to expand...

I didnt change them the board did as I overclocked it.

Well when I change the CPU vCore and Dynamics vCore my vCore goes to 1.39 (per CPU-Z). Much higher than your values.

Wonder why the big difference.

Load Line Calibration .................... [Standard] Level 1
CPU Vcore ......................................[1.275] Normal
Dynamic Vcore Adjust (DVID)............[0.000] +0.125 (resulting vCore = 1.312)

Maybe the PSU difference.

swtrader said:

Well when I change the CPU vCore and Dynamics vCore my vCore goes to 1.39 (per CPU-Z). Much higher than your values.

Wonder why the big difference.

Load Line Calibration .................... [Standard] Level 1
CPU Vcore ......................................[1.275] Normal
Dynamic Vcore Adjust (DVID)............[0.000] +0.125 (resulting vCore = 1.312)

Click to expand...

It says above resulting vcore 1.312v which is what I get, however if you are hitting 1.39v its more likely to be the vid (stock voltage) of your cpu being different to mine rather than your PSU, no two CPU's are exactly the same.

Seanie's Show said:

It says above resulting vcore 1.312v which is what I get, however if you are hitting 1.39v its more likely to be the vid (stock voltage) of your cpu being different to mine rather than your PSU, no two CPU's are exactly the same.

Click to expand...

That is true no two cpus are the same however what you are seeing is the volts being supplied to the cpu.

You cant see the current being used on your screen, what that means you cant see what the cpu is using for power. To see your stock vid you need to use realtemp.

The only difference in your motherboards is the +12v supplied voltage from your PSU because both VRM's are the same with your two boards.

All you both have to do is compare both your +12v rails at idle and load.

OK, just to update you, I tightened my timings on my RAM to 8-8-8-24-2T, just to make things a bit faster, had to adjust voltages a bit to stabilize things a bit, but finally got their in the end, only had to adjust NB, RAM voltage and Increase in QPI PLL, I found out via a bit of research that this voltage is still a very dangerous voltage but is linked to IMC in the CPU and helps greatly if you are looking to overclock your RAM, anyway, here's my settings and a little proof, Max temp was 79oC, with the hot weather we are having here at the moment, im very very pleased with those temps, I will be priming overnight tonight, but im pretty sure it will pass that with ease.


Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [19 ] 21
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech ................. [Disable] Enabled
CPU Cores Enabled .......................... [All] All
CPU Multi Threading ..........................[Enable] Enabled
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ................. [Disable] Disabled
C3/C6/C7 State Support ................... [Disable] Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor ........................ [Enable] Disabled
CPU EIST Function ............................ [Disable] Disabled
Virtualization Technology ................. [Disable] Enabled
Bi-Directional PROCHOT .................... [Enable] Enabled

Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed ..............................[x36] x36 7.38ghz
Uncore Frequency ..........................[x17] x16 3280mhz
Isonchronous Frequency ...............[Enable] Enabled

Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control .................. [Enable] Enabled
BCLK Frequency (MHz) .........................[200] 205
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ............. [100] 101
C.I.A.2........................................... ....... [-]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800] 800
PCI Express Clock Drive ................ [900] 900
CPU Clock Skew ............................ [0] 0
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0] 0

Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance .......................... [Standard] Extreme
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ........... [Disable] Disabled
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........... [ 8] 8
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............. [Quick] [Quick]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ..................[8] 8
tRCD ......................................[8] 8
tRP ........................................[8] 8
tRAS ......................................[24] 24
CR..........................................[2] 2
B2B........................................[-]


Advanced Voltage Control:
CPU Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping
Load Line Calibration .................... [Standard] Level 1
CPU Vcore ......................................[1.275] Normal
Dynamic Vcore Adjust (DVID)............[0.000] +0.125 (resulting vCore = 1.312)
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v .................[1.295] 1.28
CPU PLL 1.800v ..............................[1.80] 1.84
PCIE 1.500v ...................................[AUTO] Nornal
QPI PLL 1.100v ..............................[AUTO] 1.14v
IOH Core 1.100v ............................[AUTO] 1.30v
ICH I/O 1.500v ...............................[AUTO] Nornal
ICH Core 1.1v ................................[AUTO] Nornal

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v .............. [1.64] 1.68v
DRAM Termination 0.750v.......... [AUTO] 0.84
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO] 0.84
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO] 0.84
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO] 0.84
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO] 0.84
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO] 0.84
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO] 0.84