Gigabyte EP35-DS3P Overclocking issues

[slugzkea]

UPDATE: crashed at 4ghz. upped vcore, frames in drop zone again.

UPDATE: Reverted back to stock, applied load calibration. Load calibration bumped up volts once I started hitting above 3.4ghz, going from 1.225 to 1.236. Now what i've been doing since I'm in the 3.71ghz zone is applying the vcore manually to match what load calibration has been setting it to.

Example: in bios, for 3.51ghz, bios read 1.236v but in windows, vcore reads 1.225v. Once instability kicks in, I would manually set the bios's vcore to 1.236v and stability seemed okay. Before, I would never touch the vcore (would also be at default) and load calibration would just notch it up once in a while depending on what frequency I set the CPU to.

[slugzkea]

UPDATE:

Okay I figured it out. the FPS drop is caused by too much northbridge and FSB voltage.

This board does not need much increase, I was able to sustain 4.07ghz without touching the northbridge and FSB voltages.

I've read in other forums that in order to achieve +4ghz with DS3 boards, you need 0.30 past default on FSB and northbridge. Well with this board, that is wayyy too much.

Now at 4.43ghz, my FSB is at 1.50 past default, and my northbridge is at 1.50 past default.

So the FPS drop issue is northbridge thermal-throttling i guess.


UPDATE: Reduced NB and SB voltage to 1.0 past default due to instability issues.
Now to run some benchmarks! (y)

[slugzkea]

I RMA'ed this board for a rampage. If you apply more than 1.4vols to the northbridge it limits your FPS by 30-50fps.

This board is great for stock, and a cheesy OC but other than that, it's not an enthusiasts board.

[BenchZowner]

I RMA'ed this board for a rampage. If you apply more than 1.4vols to the northbridge it limits your FPS by 30-50fps.

That doesn't exactly pinpoint a motherboard issue.
I have the board here for review, so... I'll share my own experience soon.

[dinos22]

why are you increasin NB volts in first place
GB boards don't need an increase in NB anyways. They will give you great FSB and RAM speeds at stock voltage believe me

also for future reference users should select Turbo graphics in bios in case of slowdowns....that causes very poor 3D scores and could have been a possible problem

[slugzkea]

why are you increasin NB volts in first place
GB boards don't need an increase in NB anyways. They will give you great FSB and RAM speeds at stock voltage believe me

also for future reference users should select Turbo graphics in bios in case of slowdowns....that causes very poor 3D scores and could have been a possible problem

Poor gaming fps and scores was not the problem, stability was.

[zsamz_]

I RMA'ed this board for a rampage. If you apply more than 1.4vols to the northbridge it limits your FPS by 30-50fps.

This board is great for stock, and a cheesy OC but other than that, it's not an enthusiasts board.

good call