eVGA 790i and Q9450 -- Need Some Assistance

[Natalia]

I just got my Q9450 and my eVGA 790i today, and could use a bit of help getting it all setup.

So far it is not going as smoothly as I had hoped. One thing that seems to be weird, is that I really

haven't done anything to the BIOS so far, other than disable the onboard audio, enable RAID, and change

the boot sequence. Yet for some reason, half the time I boot into Windows, the computer locks up after

about 5 minutes. No BSOD, just locks up. What is weird is I have been able to run Orthos on all four

cores for about 3 minutes (I ended because I felt at stock speeds that was long enough), and also ran 2

MemTest's for 700MB each for about 7 minutes before I ended them.

Here is what I have setup in the BIOS so far. I am shooting to get 450 FSB by the end of this, if not

475+

CPU Multiplier 8x
PCIe _1 and _2 MHz Auto
PCIe _3 MHz Auto
SPP <-> MCP Ref Clock Auto
nForce SPP -> nForce MCP 5x
nForce SPP <- nForce MCP 5x

CPU Spread Spectrum Center
HT Spread Spectrum Auto
PCIe Spread Spectrum (SPP) Disabled
PCIe Spread Spectrum (MCP) Auto
SATA Spread Spectrum Down

FSP Memory Clock Mode Auto(1333)
Memory Timings Optimal
tCL Auto(7)
tRCD Auto(7)
tRP Auto(7)
tRAS Auto(20)
CMD Auto(1T)

tRRD Auto(4)
tRC Auto(28)
tWR Auto(12)
tWTR Auto(16)
tFAW Auto(17)

Limit CPUID MaxVal Disabled
Intel Speedstep Disabled
CPU Thermal Control Disabled
C1E Enhanced Halt State Enabled
Execute Disabled Bit Enabled
Virtualization Technology Enabled

CPU Core Auto(1.17V)
CPU FSB Auto(1.1V)
Memory Auto(1.5V)
nForce SPP Auto(1.3V)
nForce MCP Auto(1.5V)

GTLUREF Lanes 0-3 Auto



What is really weird, is the memory I purchased, OCZ PC12800 had on the item listing 7-6-6-24 @ 1.9V, yet

when I try booting with that, I don't have much luck getting Windows to load.


Any help and assistance with this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[Reinvented]

Are these 1GB sticks or 2GB ones? If it's 4 sticks, you really need to up voltages on the NB. Same thing as the 680i, otherwise you'll have problems clocking and getting it stable. And even at 1.9v, it might be a bit low. Have you tried just bumping that up to 2v?

[Natalia]

These are the ones I ordered:

OCZ 4GB (2GBx2) 1600MHz 7-6-6-24



But... based on what my BIOS is defaulting to, I think I really recieved these:

OCZ 4GB(2GBx2) 1333MHz 7-7-7-20


Then again, the sticker claims the former.

[dinos22]

first of all you have to run RAM in black slots

in terms of volts please leave all on Auto except for Vcore and vdimm. I assume you are trying to do 450*9 = 4050

so set your vcore to whatever your CPU is stable at those speeds (probably around 1.35v for most quads) >> you can always bump up or down depending on how good your CPU and coolin is

i also suggest slowly starting from 400*9 in bios and them moving in 10MHz increments to 450 to see where you get stuck

Also, are you sure your CPU can manage 450MHz FSB????


[EDIT]

CPU Multiplier 8x (ah ok 3.6GHz is the goal fair enough)
PCIe _1 and _2 MHz Auto
PCIe _3 MHz Auto
SPP <-> MCP Ref Clock Auto
nForce SPP -> nForce MCP 4x
nForce SPP <- nForce MCP 4x

CPU Spread Spectrum Center
HT Spread Spectrum Auto
PCIe Spread Spectrum (SPP) Disabled
PCIe Spread Spectrum (MCP) Auto
SATA Spread Spectrum Down
^^^^^ DISABLE ALL^^^^


FSP Memory Clock Mode Auto(1600)
Also unlink memory and run it at 1600
Memory Timings Optimal
tCL Auto(7 > also try 8)
tRCD Auto(7)
tRP Auto(7)
tRAS Auto(20)
CMD Auto(1T also try 2T)

tRRD Auto(LEAVE AUTO)
tRC Auto(LEAVE AUTO)
tWR Auto(LEAVE AUTO)
tWTR Auto(LEAVE AUTO)
tFAW Auto(LEAVE AUTO)

Limit CPUID MaxVal Disabled
Intel Speedstep Disabled
CPU Thermal Control Disabled
C1E Enhanced Halt State Enabled
Execute Disabled Bit Enabled
Virtualization Technology Enabled
i usually disable all for initial testing
and then enable 2nd, 3rd and 4th for 24/7 system

CPU Core Auto(1.17V ok if your CPU is stable at that >>> for FSB OCs i had to increase CPU voltage to reach ultrahigh dual core FSB....for quad cores 450 is pretty high)
CPU FSB Auto(AUTO)
Memory Auto(1.9V-2v <<< this undervolts on my board by 0.05v so keep that in mind)
nForce SPP Auto(AUTO)
nForce MCP Auto(AUTO)

GTLUREF Lanes 0-3 Auto
LEAVE GTL REF AT AUTO FIRST
and then later play with values on all four lanes slowly increase to positives first....one user found stability around 30 or 35 but it doesn't mean your setup will be the same

[Reinvented]

Could just be the EPP. Sometimes, the higher speed could be listed first, and that's what it's using. Since it's 1600, Auto won't cut it. By default, it uses the 1333 strap, which would make it 1:1 with memory and CPU. So, you'll have to unlock it and leave your CPU speed at stock (if you want, which you shouldn't cause this is XS). After that, just clock the memory to 1600 which is the stock speed, and you should be good to go!

[Natalia]

Could just be the EPP. Sometimes, the higher speed could be listed first, and that's what it's using. Since it's 1600, Auto won't cut it. By default, it uses the 1333 strap, which would make it 1:1 with memory and CPU. So, you'll have to unlock it and leave your CPU speed at stock (if you want, which you shouldn't cause this is XS). After that, just clock the memory to 1600 which is the stock speed, and you should be good to go!

In my BIOS it says that EPP is not detected.

So I should switch over to unlinked, set the memory at 1600, then do I leave the timings on auto? Or do I set those to what was listed? Auto sends them to 9.

As far as the CPU, I'd like to hit 3.8GHz Not easy given the 8x limitation.

first of all you have to run RAM in black slots

Ah, thought I was supposed to use RAM slots 0 (the one closest to the CPU) and 1 (the one two slots over with the same color).

in terms of volts please leave all on Auto except for Vcore and vdimm. I assume you are trying to do 450*9 = 4050

The Q9450 has a limit of a 8x multiplier

so set your vcore to whatever your CPU is stable at those speeds (probably around 1.35v for most quads) >> you can always bump up or down depending on how good your CPU and coolin is

i also suggest slowly starting from 400*9 in bios and them moving in 10MHz increments to 450 to see where you get stuck

Also, are you sure your CPU can manage 450MHz FSB????

So leave all the Voltages at Auto, and play with the CPU Core voltage till it is stable?



EDIT:

Also forgot to point out that the CPU is on water

[Reinvented]

Auto is good for voltages.

Setting timings is important too. So, just set the main ones up top. And leave the ones below on Auto. You can tweak them as you need to later for performance/benchmarks.

EPP profiles can still be accessed and read, and set accordingly the board depending on how tight or loose the timings for the board would be if set to Auto.

[dinos22]

natalia
just follow my guide and report back
yes black slots clock RAM properly

[Natalia]

natalia
just follow my guide and report back
yes black slots clock RAM properly

Jumping back to the BIOS in a sec.

Any idea what my CPU Core voltage should be at?

[dinos22]

Natalia i am not sure

you need to slowly start OCing to gage where the CPU is at

i would be surprised if it needed more than say 1.4v real voltage

these board droop you would probably have to set 1.5v in bios

but after you get the stability right then start lowering it to see where it craps out

[Natalia]

Give me a minute while I finagle my CMOS reset jumper. Something in those settings made the board not even make it past the RAID detection.

Can't get into BIOS. Be back in a few.


EDIT:

Back to stock again.

When I was in there, I forgot to ask:
What is HPET and do I want it enabled?

[Natalia]

Sure, the best setting for this board and the Q9450 is at 450fsb, so go ahead and set the following settings and voltages.

FSB = 1800 (450x8)
Memory = 1800 sync mode timings (8-7-7-24 2t)

voltages
cpu - 1.375
fsb = 1.35
memory = 2.00v
spp (NB) - 1.45
mcp (sp) - 1.550

also disable all the extra cpu settings like speedstep and c1e erc....

disable all of the spread spectrums as well and you should have a rock solid 3.6ghz cpu.....let me know how it goes.

Holy snap! Those settings worked on the very first attempt. Here I am sitting in Windows

Now I'll stress stest the bugger

[dinos22]

so your 4GB kit is running at 8-7-7-x 1800MHz
nice

use superpi to test RAM aside from your memory test

[Natalia]

4 instances of Orthos ran just fine.

The memory didn't make it past 10&#37; in MemTest.

Think it needs more voltage, or should I break the sync and take it down to 1600?

[5010]

Don't break the sync (more stress on SPP)

Boost SPP Voltage by .05V see if it helps any.

--

I'm still doing my el' massive GTLREF/FSB voltage vs. stability testing but I have to say preliminary results show that lower FSBV makes the biggest and BEST impact on long term stability. Sounds weird but thats what my numbers are showing, more than modified GTLREF, the lower the FSB voltage the better stability gets. (Maybe the board has a really bad ringback(sway))

[Natalia]

Should I try lowering my FSBV too?

Right now I'll try giving the SPP more voltage. Would it help to change the ratio? i.e. 3:2 ?

EDIT:

I should clarify that MemTest can't make it past 1&#37; not 10% as I stated.

[RunawayPrisoner]

Try lowering your FSBV (VTT?). Someone just reported that Anandtech's QX9650 died from VTT too high.

[Natalia]

Try lowering your FSBV (VTT?). Someone just reported that Anandtech's QX9650 died from VTT too high.

Thanks! That actually fixed it. (set it to auto which dropped it from 1.35 to 1.30)

Right now sitting at 60&#37; on MemTest of 1000 MB

[dinos22]

Thanks! That actually fixed it. (set it to auto which dropped it from 1.35 to 1.30)

Right now sitting at 60% on MemTest of 1000 MB

yeap auto values tend to select reasonably good volts even for older gen boards

good to see you finding stability

[5010]

790iU seems to really like low VTT. Good to see you got over that hump there.

I'm down to testing GTL's @ 1.20V FSB w/ a Q6600 of all things and it seems more stable than ever so far. :shrugs:

[dinos22]

i've found VTT helpful for FSB OCs on my dual cores and when i have P1 and P2 options enabled in bios

i actually run my benchmarks at 1.45v (max value)

[5010]

i've found VTT helpful for FSB OCs on my dual cores and when i have P1 and P2 options enabled in bios

i actually run my benchmarks at 1.45v (max value)

Q6600 + p03 bios here, the world ends for me @ 1630FSB

Tried P03R2 even but the Q6600 issues still exist for me with that too.

[Natalia]

Oh
My
God....!

So I played with Quad-SLi for about 4 days before I got my 790i, DDR3, and my Q9450.

It made such a HUGE difference in the Quad SLi. I thought it was goint to help, but dang!

[GAR]

so how is the stability testing going natalia???

[Natalia]

so how is the stability testing going natalia???

Ever since I put the CPU FSP on Auto for voltages, its passing all the tests


One question though. Sometimes my main monitor, the one that is being powered by the Quad-SLi, will start flickering really fast, then the computer will seize.

Does my SPP need more voltage? Or do I need to increase the MHz on the PCIe lane _1 and _2 ?