Sepyx

Hi,

My PC specification is:
Silverstone 1200Watt Strider - Modular
Asus P6T Deluxe
Intel Core i7 Extreme 965 - 3.2GHz
ICON Watercooling Kit
CORSIAR 6GB TR3X6G2000C7GTF
2x nVidia GeForce 285GTX
CL X-Fi Titanium Fatality Champion PCIE
VelociRaptor 300GB 10KRPM 16MB Cache
2X 1TB 7200RPM 32MB Cache
LG Blu-Ray-RW/HD-Rom/DVD+-RWwith Power
Windows XP Pro - 32 Bit Pro SPS 3

I received my 6GB TR3X6G2000C7GTF few days ago.

From Ai Tweaker I choose X.M.P

My computer booted-up without any issue. However, it failed all the tests (IntelBurnTest v2.1, Prime95 and Everest Ultimate Edition v5.02) with that profile.

I increased the QPI Voltage to 1.7v (This is more time efficient than increasing the QPI Voltage from 1.6v by .01 till you reach 1.7v because if 1.7v doesn’t work you know you have a problem and I had a problem.

After, trying many different settings the best overall values I got is as follow:

Ai Tweaker:
1- Ai Overclook Tuner [X.M.P.]
2- CPU Ratio Setting [27]
CPU 3.7GHz (overclock 16%)
3- Intel (R) SpeedStep Tech [Enabled]
4- BCLK Frequency [137]
DRAM Frequency of 1922 MHz
5- DRAM Frequency [Auto]
6- DRAM Timing Control [Auto]
7- CAS Latency [7]
RAS to CAS delay [7]
RAS PRE Time [7]
RAS ACT Time [18]
8- CPU Voltage [1.28125] (I put it manually because at [Auto] ASUS puts it at [1.31]
9- CPU PLL [Auto]
10- QPI/DRAM Core Voltage at [1.67500]
11- DRAM Bus Voltage [1.64]
12- Load-Line Calibration [Enabled]
13- CPU Spread Spectrum [Disabled]
14- PCIE Spread Spectrum [Disabled]
15- C1E Support [Enabled]
16- Intel Virtualization Tech [Disabled]
17- Intel (R) C-STATE Tech [Disabled]
All the other values are on [Auto]
Vcore 1.28v
+3.3V 3.18
+5V 5.17
+12V 12.19v
Motherboard Temp 42c ~ 43c
CPU Temp 32c ~ 50c

As you can see I had to bring down the DRAM Frequency to 1922 MHz but I also managed to tighten the CAS Latency from 7-8-7-20 to 7-7-7-18

Yesterday, I tried IntelBurnTest v2.1 at ‘Standard’ ‘Threads 16’ and ‘Times to run 30’ (since I have XP Pro 32 ‘Standard’ is the only option that I can use) it passed without any problem. I also, ran the Memtest86+ v2.11 8 pass with zero error (interestingly, for testing I brought my QPI/DRAM Core Voltage down from [1.67500] to [1.66250] but I got error on test 7 [Random number sequence]).

Today, to make sure that everything is stable with my pc again I ran the IntelBurnTest v2.1 at ‘Standard’ ‘Threads 16’ and ‘Times to run 20’ it passed without any error. The Memtest86+ v2.11 passed as well (8 pass with 0 error).

I used TurboV to check the voltages.

QPI/DRAM Core Volt [1.65625] Don’t know why because in BIOS I have it at [1.67500]
CPU Pull [1.80] In BIOS is [Auto]
ICH PCIE [1.5] In BIOS is [Auto]
IOH PCIE [1.5] In BIOS is [Auto]
ICH [1.1] In BIOS is [Auto]
IOH [1.36] In BIOS is [Auto]

I have two questions.
1- Is my present setting safe?
2- I’m happy with my setting but is there any way to improve it without destroying my pc?

Thanks
Speyx

TheKarmakazi

You could possibly try to reach 1000mhz 7-8-7 on a different divider. Overclock bclk higher, use a lower cpu multi, and use the 1:6 or 1:5 dividers. You are using 1:7 for those settings, and that divider iirc some people had trouble with.

Im no core i7 expert, but your voltages look ok to me. How are temps?

Sepyx

Thanks TheKarmakazi

But I'm kind of new to this overclocking.

I tried the lower CPU multi and higher bclk but my PC didn't boot!

How can I change it to 1:6 or 1:5 dividers?

Motherboard is 42c ~ 43c

CPU 32c ~ 55C

Sepyx

eva2000

Hi Sepyx and welcome

Sometimes setting CPU VTT (labelled as QPI/DRAM volts for Asus boards) will have the opposite effect of adding instability to the system. You can to find the right balance for QPI/DRAM (CPU VTT) and vdimm and this balance changes depending on memory ic type used and what cpu you pair it with. You might want to read Intel Core i7 920 Overclocking Introduction Guide on X58 and http://i4memory.com/f79/memtest86-v2-11-a-6/

Also GT modules like 7-8-7-20 more than 7-7-7-x as tRCD of 7 is lot more stressfull on mem controller than tRCD of 8 for some core i7 cpus' mem controllers.

Sepyx

Hi eva2000

Thanks for the welcome.

I have been reading alot about overclocking but still no joy!

What do you mean by "Also GT modules like 7-8-7-20 more than 7-7-7-x as tRCD of 7 is lot more stressfull on mem controller than tRCD of 8 for some core i7 cpus' mem controllers". I'm still a newbie.

In general is my setting OK or am I stressing my system? Should I put it back at 7-8-7-20?

Thanks

Sepyx

eva2000

Try 7-8-7-20 and see.. at certain frequencies 7-8-7-20 might even be faster than 7-7-7-20. But I haven't used your board so not sure in your specific case. As to what i mean is, 7-8-7-20 will be

1. more stable
2. require less voltage than 7-7-7-20
3. clock higher than 7-7-7-20

Sepyx

Hi eva2000,

Thank you for the explanation and sorry for my delay. I was testing my system.

Once again, I tried the X.M.P profile. My PC booted up but couldn't pass any test. I can't understand why as I thought X.M. P. should be stable.

At 1.66v DRAM Voltage and QPI Voltage of 1.6925v (7-8-7-20) the best I can get is 1936 DRAM Frequency . I also, managed to overclock to 3.84MHz by using the 'Manual' setting instead of X.M.P. The PC is stable.

CORSAIR is happy with max DRAM Voltage of 1.66v and max QPI Voltage of 1.70v anything above those numbers they don't recommand.

I personally think to get anything higher than 1936 DRAM Frequency the memory needs more than 1.66v

Do you think I'm doing something wrong or should I be happy and call it a day.

I need my PC 24/7 stable.

regards
Sepyx

eva2000

XMP profiles aren't much use for i7 cpus as the default/pre-programmed QPI Voltage (uncore voltage or what other non-ASUS boards refer to as cpu vtt volts) might not be optimal as each individual i7 cpu's memory controller will handle QPI/Uncore voltage differently, some i7 cpus like lower uncore voltage. Disable XMP and set the voltages manually you might want to start with vdimm 1.65v and QPI Voltage (cpu vtt/uncore) of 1.25-1.45v and see