Core i7/X58 Overclocking Thread

[veedubfreak]

I've managed 4.2ghz so far, but i keep getting random freezes and bsods, i think its a memory issue though. Running 1.475v in bios, somehow it ends up at 1.55v in windows though. Should be able to push farther as temps are still under control, ive just been too lazy to care as this thing is so much faster than my q6600 ever was. Running at 3.2ghz (dummy overclock in bios) daily as its rock solid stable and still plenty fast.

[Lukee]

I've managed 4.2ghz so far, but i keep getting random freezes and bsods, i think its a memory issue though. Running 1.475v in bios, somehow it ends up at 1.55v in windows though. Should be able to push farther as temps are still under control, ive just been too lazy to care as this thing is so much faster than my q6600 ever was. Running at 3.2ghz (dummy overclock in bios) daily as its rock solid stable and still plenty fast.

Bring memory Multi to 6x and Uncore Mult to 15x. That should give you more stability.

[veedubfreak]

Ya, i think i also need to update the bios too. Its running 8x on memory and 16x on uncore.

[Lukee]

Ya, i think i also need to update the bios too. Its running 8x on memory and 16x on uncore.

Try it with the Uncore and Memory multipliers that I gave you first. I think that may do it regardless of the bios.

[SteveRo]

veedubfreak - I have standard kingston 1066 memory, no heat spreaders - I am using qpi x36, uncore x16 and memory x6 - it was suggested earlier in this thread that we might need to keep uncore/memory freq. ratio to 9/8.
rge - did I get that right?

[rge]

That was dejanh with the uncore to qpi ratio of 8:9 on i920's. uncore to memory is 2:1 or higher.

[Xello]

Xello,

So you recommend that I lower everything else except vcc, vqi/vtt and dram back to stock and give it a go?

I can give that a shot later this evening.

Yeah, i should have said before all other voltages on auto. There's a post on this thread from way back with someone who was using all sorts of voltage increases, cpu pll / qpi pll, IOH core increases, etc and some others from that page of the bios. I tried out his setting with all those tweaks and while it was stable, i then tried it with all of those on auto (just keeping the vcore, vtt, and dram), and it was also stable!

No point in raising values for the hell of it eh

[Lukee]

veedubfreak - I have standard kingston 1066 memory, no heat spreaders - I am using qpi x36, uncore x16 and memory x6 - it was suggested earlier in this thread that we might need to keep uncore/memory freq. ratio to 9/8.
rge - did I get that right?

Yep, you need to lower Uncore to 15x.

What pisses me off is if they allow an Uncore of 40X we'd be able to run 40x, 17x 8x @ 200 Bclk with no issues!!!

I think it's a conspiracy!!! why else would they go from 36x to 44x, 48x

[Xello]

If they allowed you to set your own multis, from 12 to 50 or whatever, everyone would be happier.

Is there a reason they only have for example 3 to choose from on QPI, does anyone know?

[ReverendMaynard]

965 = everything unlocked.

[Hot'n'Chilly]

And expensive...

[ReverendMaynard]

And expensive...

word, and they're grossly overpriced unless there are intentions of using DICE/LN2. All I've seen with the 965's are high assed multi's and weak bclk's. the guys who are taking 920's passed 4ghs are in the win this round.

[Xello]

965 = everything unlocked.

Aha, even inbetween the x36 / x44 / x48 for QPI? I figured it was just the cpu multi that was unlocked. That really increases the value of the 965 then, how many people are complaining about not being able to choose a certain multi for qpi etc.

They are pretty expensive though, £850 is the absolute cheapest i could find available here when i was buying.

Still, cheap as chips compared to the QX9770!

[dejanh]

I've managed 4.2ghz so far, but i keep getting random freezes and bsods, i think its a memory issue though. Running 1.475v in bios, somehow it ends up at 1.55v in windows though. Should be able to push farther as temps are still under control, ive just been too lazy to care as this thing is so much faster than my q6600 ever was. Running at 3.2ghz (dummy overclock in bios) daily as its rock solid stable and still plenty fast.

Just because your temps are under control does not mean you will be able to get higher clocks. After a certain point more voltage to your components will not gain you anything in OC ability. I cap out at 4.2GHz on air (good for bench, not for 24/7).

[Chicken Patty]

Just because your temps are under control does not mean you will be able to get higher clocks. After a certain point more voltage to your components will not gain you anything in OC ability. I cap out at 4.2GHz on air (good for bench, not for 24/7).

I notice that at 4.2 GHz @ 1.400v I am 100% stable, but after that it does not take small voltage incrementes to stabilize it, it takes a lot meaning that the chip is maxing out. This is where extreme cooling comes into play

[bmilos]

Please give me some pics about your watercool system and which brand do you use?

Here you go...

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...39#post3522239

[SteveRo]

reverandmaynrad: I have the 965 and so far several folks with 920s and 940s are doing better than I am.
QPI options for me on ggbt extreme mobo are: auto, slow, 36, 44 and 48.
Is this the same for the folks with 920 and 940s?
QPI needs to be much more adjustable - like uncore - x12 to x48.

[icecold316]

My I7(RMA) is going to be shipped out tomorrow, I hope that I get I7 B' batch, as it seems to run on low Voltage as per the members in this thread.

[Chicken Patty]

@ bmilos

got the same case as me, looks good, here is a few shots of mine:

@ GNU

Check out the pics if you'd like to, they are cell phone pics, but oh well, you can still see the system.

Mine consists of thermaltake pump and reservoir, Koolance 120.1 radiator, and Swiftech Apogee GTZ water block.

[bmilos]

reverandmaynrad: I have the 965 and so far several folks with 920s and 940s are doing better than I am.

I've noticed the same thing, but I have also noticed many turning HT off, which I am unwilling to do. As a photographer, I built this rig for editing and adobe CS4 seems to use the additional threads.

I think, after a month of obsessing over trying to find stability at 4.3 or above, I am officially giving up. I have put forth way too much time and effort. If, by some bios update or some other miracle, it becomes a possibility, great. If not, 4.2 @ 1.425 with load temps around 75 is fine. knowing that I can run at 4450mhz is somewhat of a prize.

I can no longer justify spending all my free time rebooting my freaking computer!

One thing that I am considering is just buying a SS. I hate throwing *more* money at a problem, but, at this point, anything to avoid the BSoD.

[Xello]

reverandmaynrad: I have the 965 and so far several folks with 920s and 940s are doing better than I am. QPI options for me on ggbt extreme mobo are: auto, slow, 36, 44 and 48. Is this the same for the folks with 920 and 940s? QPI needs to be much more adjustable - like uncore - x12 to x48.

So those multis aren't unlocked on the 965, that's what i thought.

[SteveRo]

Xello: For qpi I only get slow, x36, x44 and x48 and I'm not sure it is a processor locking issue.
I would hope it is a mobo bios issue that a bios upgrade can fix!

[btdvox]

Just because your temps are under control does not mean you will be able to get higher clocks. After a certain point more voltage to your components will not gain you anything in OC ability. I cap out at 4.2GHz on air (good for bench, not for 24/7).

Depends on what CPU and on much youve OC'd, 4.2 is def not the max for a 965. Prob 4.5- 4.6

[SteveRo]

From what I can tell so far - at least with the 965 (on air) - heat does seem to be the limiter -

[Hornet331]

reverandmaynrad: I have the 965 and so far several folks with 920s and 940s are doing better than I am.
QPI options for me on ggbt extreme mobo are: auto, slow, 36, 44 and 48.
Is this the same for the folks with 920 and 940s?
QPI needs to be much more adjustable - like uncore - x12 to x48.

Well qpi is no concern for your 965, cause you can keep the qpi clock at moderate settings and overclock basically with multis.