Core i7/X58 Overclocking Thread

[burningrave101]

I run a vDIMM of 1.65

I'm trying to find the QPI / Uncore / CPU VTT (they are all the same right?) voltage, but I cannot find it. I'm using an Asus P6T Deluxe, anyone know what this setting called on this board?

I do have QPI/DRAM @ 1.4... but dont think thats the same setting or is it?

On the Asus P6T Deluxe QPI/DRAM is the same thing as QPI/VTT. ASUS just made it confusing by putting the DRAM part.

[Classic Satch]

Strange problem I just noticed on my P6T bios with my 920. It won't let me raise the CPU Ratio (miltiplier) above 20. It says something about a min od 12 and a max of 20. Is there a way of getting around this???

20 is the maximum on a 920. 21 is reached by using the Turbo mode. Other than that, there isn't any way to bump it. It's hard-wired into the chip.

[Hot'n'Chilly]

Question, is a higher Multiplier generally a better way of getting a stable OC, vs using a lower one with a very high BLCK...?

[d1eseL]

yes

[Classic Satch]

Question, is a higher Multiplier generally a better way of getting a stable OC, vs using a lower one with a very high BLCK...?

I've had better success with a high Bclk and lower multiplier. But everyone's situation is different.

[dejanh]

Got my new chip today, straight from the beast's mouth

Currently running 64-bit Prime stable (small, large, and blends tests) with 4-cores/8-threads at 21x200MHz (no turbo, straight 21x200MHz on the Core i7 940) with DRAM at 1603MHz with 7-8-7-20-1T timings at 1.40800V CPU/1.65681V DRAM and 1.35000V QPI/DRAM (VTT)

It's an "A" chip btw and I forgot to mention that this is all on pure air. No WC, no fancy cooling at all...

Nice "silent" system too, fans on low.

[The-Fox]

Whats the thing with the A/B chips ?
My i920 is an "A", does that mean anything ?
Full stepping is: 3837A766

[dejanh]

Whats the thing with the A/B chips ?
My i920 is an "A", does that mean anything ?
Full stepping is: 3837A766

They are all C0/C1 steppings, and all revision A chips, but they seem to come in two flavors so far ####A### and ####B###. The "B" chips seem to have more consistency in terms of requiring lower voltages for higher clocks.

[safan80]

Got my new chip today, straight from the beast's mouth

Currently running 64-bit Prime stable (small, large, and blends tests) with 4-cores/8-threads at 21x200MHz (no turbo, straight 21x200MHz on the Core i7 940) with DRAM at 1603MHz with 7-8-7-20-1T timings at 1.40800V CPU/1.65681V DRAM and 1.35000V QPI/DRAM (VTT)

It's an "A" chip btw and I forgot to mention that this is all on pure air. No WC, no fancy cooling at all...

Nice "silent" system too, fans on low.

cmon a screenshot of your load temps with the tool of your choice running 1 hour.

[mremulator]

Got my new chip today, straight from the beast's mouth

Currently running 64-bit Prime stable (small, large, and blends tests) with 4-cores/8-threads at 21x200MHz (no turbo, straight 21x200MHz on the Core i7 940) with DRAM at 1603MHz with 7-8-7-20-1T timings at 1.40800V CPU/1.65681V DRAM and 1.35000V QPI/DRAM (VTT)

It's an "A" chip btw and I forgot to mention that this is all on pure air. No WC, no fancy cooling at all...

Nice "silent" system too, fans on low.

As I thought, it looks like that extra multiplier does the trick at the same voltages.

dejanh... your Corsair RAM looks like it may perform better than mine, as mine will only do 1600MHz @ 8,8,8,24,1T and not 7,8,7,20,1T. I also have exactly the same mobo as you.

Also bearing in mind your observations... why are you not running 22x190 instead of 21x200??

Getting my i7 940 tomorrow.

[The-Fox]

Those Corsair are a real letdown I must say.
My OCZ can go upto 1650Mhz @ 7-7-7-18 1T.
And so far I only managed to go up to 1850Mhz @ 8-8-8-18 1T, 1.64v and it seems like I stopped because of my uncore.

Not bad for 1333Mhz Ram

[mremulator]

Those Corsair are a real letdown I must say.
My OCZ can go upto 1650Mhz @ 7-7-7-18 1T.
And so far I only managed to go up to 1850Mhz @ 8-8-8-18 1T, 1.64v and it seems like I stopped because of my uncore.

Not bad for 1333Mhz Ram

Yea, I've always had OCZ RAM, however the Corsair was all I could lay my hands on here in the UK when I built my rig about a month ago.

What's the part # for the OCZ you are using Fox?

**EDIT** Forgot to say... gotta be real carefull with memory timings & i7, because I have corrupted Windows on my RAID0 array (2x WD Velociraptors) twice now. Good thing I have a backup!

[safan80]

Yea, I've always had OCZ RAM, however the Corsair was all I could lay my hands on here in the UK when I built my rig about a month ago.

What's the part # for the OCZ you are using Fox?

**EDIT** Forgot to say... gotta be real carefull with memory timings & i7, because I have corrupted Windows on my RAID0 array (2x WD Velociraptors) twice now. Good thing I have a backup!

I haven't has any timing problems it's the memory ratios you have to watch out for.

[mremulator]

I haven't has any timing problems it's the memory ratios you have to watch out for.

Just pointing out what happened to me when I tried 7,8,7,20,1T @ 1600MHz (8x200), 3200MHz Uncore & 3600MHz QPI with my Corsair kit.

[The-Fox]

Yea, I've always had OCZ RAM, however the Corsair was all I could lay my hands on here in the UK when I built my rig about a month ago.

What's the part # for the OCZ you are using Fox?

**EDIT** Forgot to say... gotta be real carefull with memory timings & i7, because I have corrupted Windows on my RAID0 array (2x WD Velociraptors) twice now. Good thing I have a backup!

The kit Part# is: OCZ3P1333LV3GK

or if you want the long one: OCZ DDR3 Triple channel Platinum, 1333Mhz 7-7-7 3GB

Btw, haven't had any issue with windows on any timing/ram speed

[mremulator]

The kit Part# is: OCZ3P1333LV3GK

or if you want the long one: OCZ DDR3 Triple channel Platinum, 1333Mhz 7-7-7 3GB

Btw, haven't had any issue with windows on any timing/ram speed

I could have bad RAM, however, it passes several runs of Memtest & hours of Prime (large FFTs for memory). ??

[Splave]

^ must not be the ram then?

[dejanh]

cmon a screenshot of your load temps with the tool of your choice running 1 hour.

I'll get you the screenshot but it will have to be later as I have to go to work now But I'll try to get it to you tonight. If it is tool of my choice, I will use Arena chess test. I like that the best and it seems to simulate real-life workload the best, plus it loads all 8 threads at 99.9% constant. For now, I can say the temps get to about mid-80C (depending on how hot the ambient is, and I usually keep mine pretty warm for my tropical plants, about 23C).

As I thought, it looks like that extra multiplier does the trick at the same voltages.

dejanh... your Corsair RAM looks like it may perform better than mine, as mine will only do 1600MHz @ 8,8,8,24,1T and not 7,8,7,20,1T. I also have exactly the same mobo as you.

Also bearing in mind your observations... why are you not running 22x190 instead of 21x200??

Getting my i7 940 tomorrow.

I'm running 21x200MHz because I cannot run the memory at 1600MHz with 190MHz BCLK. It is either below or above. Running 1900MHz on the DRAM is not possible unless I really loosen the timings to like 9-9-9-24-2T and up the volts somewhat.

Also, I am not sure which observations you are refering to, but if I remember correctly rge and myself found that running a higher BCLK with a lower multiplier requires less volts than other way around...am I going back on myself here?

Those Corsair are a real letdown I must say.
My OCZ can go upto 1650Mhz @ 7-7-7-18 1T.
And so far I only managed to go up to 1850Mhz @ 8-8-8-18 1T, 1.64v and it seems like I stopped because of my uncore.

Not bad for 1333Mhz Ram

I was doing 1800MHz with the Dominators at 8-8-8-24-2T stable before (never tried to tighten the timings) so I'd say they are okay.

[Xello]

I'm running 21x200MHz because I cannot run the memory at 1600MHz with 190MHz BCLK.

Yeah exactly, with limited memory multipliers once you have your desired cpu clock you're basically limited to 2 specific bclks to achieve it, one higher with your memory closer to spec or one lower with vastly under / over clocked memory which isn't usually possible or desirable. Identicle bandwidth can be achieved however through timings and using the spare headroom to push up uclk, so the underclock is a possibility, but it's basically more hassle to end up with the same results so not much point/

They need unlocked memory multi.

[Hornet331]

They are all C0/C1 steppings.

There are no C1 or C0/C1 steppings, all Ci7 shiped are C0, dont belive everything cpu-z shows.

[dejanh]

There are no C1 or C0/C1 steppings, all Ci7 shiped are C0, dont belive everything cpu-z shows.

Bah, I know that. They are all C0. I just said C0/C1 because I know that there are people that will come here and say "Mine says C1! Does that mean I have a different stepping?".

Yeah exactly, with limited memory multipliers once you have your desired cpu clock you're basically limited to 2 specific bclks to achieve it, one higher with your memory closer to spec or one lower with vastly under / over clocked memory which isn't usually possible or desirable. Identicle bandwidth can be achieved however through timings and using the spare headroom to push up uclk, so the underclock is a possibility, but it's basically more hassle to end up with the same results so not much point/

They need unlocked memory multi.

Agree completly. I am just a keaner and I want my memory to run at its specs, for the sake of round numbers lol

[GenTarkin]

I just purchased an i7 920 and its still in the box, I dont have mobo or RAM yet.
Im planning on getting the gigabyte EX58-UD3R for it. I will be using stock cooler to start for a while. I plan on buying 1333MHZ RAM some inexpensive 3x1GB modules for it.
The processor is a newer "A" chip. Its not a "B" =(
I have a 500watt PC P&C PSU and will be putting this with a HD4850 512MB

What OC's can I expect out of this machine? somewhere in the 3.5ghz area? hopefully?
I am new to the i7 architecture and I know there are tons of things to tweak. I have been doing this on AMD's for a while, so I understand the concepts of all the individual clocks. But with the i7 Im kinda starting from scratch so I can play with something new. So, after doing fine tweaking (I hope that UD3R board is capable of) I aim to hit some higher clocks on upgraded cooler down the line. I would be happy with a flat 4ghz later on. For now what can I expect on stock cooler?

[Xello]

With stock cooler you're always temperature-bound, i believe you will be able to go between 1.3 and 1.35v which should guarantee you 3.5ghz, unless you have the worst chip ever seen

[Aberration]

I could have bad RAM, however, it passes several runs of Memtest & hours of Prime (large FFTs for memory). ??

Are you using the ICH10 for RAID? From what I have seen RAID corruption has always been the NB being pushed too hard, or at not enough voltage.

It may be how the whole ICH/IMC works now.

[mremulator]

Are you using the ICH10 for RAID? From what I have seen RAID corruption has always been the NB being pushed too hard, or at not enough voltage.

It may be how the whole ICH/IMC works now.

Yea 2x stripes (4x HDD's) on the ICH10R controller. Should I be raising the ICH voltage from AUTO settings?