P45 Overclocking Help

[911medic]

So I killed my P5B-E (P965) motherboard, and replaced it with the Gigabyte listed in my sig (P45). The old board OC'd my E4300 (65nm) to 3GHz pretty easily, at stock voltage, but would go no further, even with lots of voltage.

With the new board, I have added more RAM: went from 2 x 1GB DDR2 800 (running slightly OC'd) to adding 2 x 2GB of the same speed/timings/voltage memory, for a total of 6GB, running at stock speed/timings (5-5-5-15).

OC'ing on this new chipset is proving to be a challenge, and I'm hoping for some experienced P45 OC'ers to lay some advice on me. Fiddling with the CPU Termination/Reference and MCH Core/Reference voltages is a whole new ballgame for me. I read here that you need to keep the ratio of CPU Reference to CPU Termination voltages at ~.67 for 65nm CPUs, and the ratio of MCH Reference to MCH Core at ~.69, so that is what I've been attempting to do when I adjust those values.

I'm running the latest (F5c Beta) BIOS for the board.

• I initially set all voltages manually to their stock values, disabled EIST/C1E, set PCI-E to 101 MHz, and it POSTS/Boots/Primes no problem.
• Test #2: Increased FSB to 266MHz (2.4GHz), changed System Memory Multiplier to 3.00A (keeps memory @800MHz), and bumped vDIMM to 2.0V (yes, I know I'm not OC'ing the memory yet but I did it anyway; will try to lower later). POSTS/Boots/Primes fine. Max temp in CoreTemp is 54C.
• Test #3: Bumped FSB to 280MHz (2.5GHz), SMM set to 2.66D (747MHz DDR)--No POST.
• Test #4: Same as above, with vCore increased to 1.35V--No POST.
• Test #5: Same as above, with vCore increased to 1.40V--No POST.
• Test #6: FSB to 300MHz (2.7GHz; thought I'd try it to see if there was some kind of FSB "hole"), SMM to 2.66C, Load Line Calibration enabled, vCore and vDIMM still set at 1.4V/2.0V respectively--No POST.
• Test #7: Same as above, but tried SMM of 2.66D--No POST.
• Test #8: FSB to 333MHz (3.0GHz; was beginning to wonder if I needed to stay at the strap levels of 200/266/333/400, so thought I'd try it), SMM @ 2.40B (800MHz DDR), LLC enabled, vDIMM @ 2.1V, vCore @ 1.4V--POSTs/Boots into Windows fine, one core fails P95 Blend after 8 minutes.
• Test #9: Now I'm playing w/Term & Ref voltages. FSB still @ 333MHz, SMM @ 2.40B (800MHz DDR), LLC disabled, vCore 1.4V, vDIMM @ 1.8V (decided to try stock V since memory is not OC'd), CPU Term @ 1.3V, CPU Ref @ 0.863V, MCH Core @ 1.3V, MCH Ref @ 0.903V---POSTs/Boots into Windows, P95 BSOD instantly.
• Test #10: Same as above, but bumped vCore to 1.40625V--POSTs/Boots fine, P95 BSOD instantly.
• Test #11: Same as above, but bumped vCore to 1.4125, LLC enabled, vDIMM @ 2.0V--POSTs/Boots fine, P95 fails on one core after 2.5 hours; other core ran for 8+ hours w/o error. Temps: 34/37 idle, 66/66 load.
• Test #12: Same as above, but CPU Term @ 1.32V, CPU Ref @ 0.881V, MCH Core @ 1.38V, MCH Ref @ 0.956V. POSTs/Boots fine, P95 has been running for 2 hours so far w/no errors. Temps: 34/37 idle, 66/66 load.

Below are my current BIOS settings. I feel like I'm flailing around in the dark here, somewhat. Anybody see anything simple I'm overlooking? Yes, I realize I make too many changes between each test...but I'm wondering if I'm doing anything really wrong in adjusting these voltages. I fully expect to get different OC results with the extra memory I'm adding (i.e., having to add more voltage to get the same result). But I honestly don't know if I'm doing things right with these new (to me) Termination/Reference voltages. There's also a LOT more memory timing/drive/skew adjustments than I'm used to, but I'm not really OC'ing the memory at this point, so they shouldn't affect things, right?

Any help is appreciated...

BIOS Settings:

(SETTINGS CHANGED FROM DEFAULTS ARE BOLD)
MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio .............................: [9X]
CPU Frequency ...............................: 3.00GHz (333x9)

Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: [333]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: [101]
C.I.A.2 ............................................: [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive..........................: [700mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive...............: [700mV]
CPU Clock Skew ....................: [0ps]
MCH Clock Skew ...................: [0ps]

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance.......................: [Standard]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch..................: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)......: [2.40B]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) 800...........: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)..........: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time 5...................: [Auto] <--These default to 5-5-5-15,
tRCD  5.......................................: [Auto]   so I left them on Auto.
tRP  5..........................................: [Auto]
tRAS  15......................................: [Auto]

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD  4............................................: [Auto] <--These default to 4-3-6-52-3-2T.
tWTR  3...........................................: [Auto]       I don’t know what they all do, 
tWR  6.............................................: [Auto]       so I left them on Auto.
tRFC  52...........................................: [Auto]
tRTP  3............................................: [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) 0.................: [Auto]

Channel A
Channel A Timing Settings
Static tRead Value........................... 7 : [Auto] <--All of these were left at defaults, 
tRD Phase0 Adjustment.................. 1 : [Auto]        since I have no idea what they do.
tRD Phase1 Adjustment.................. 0 : [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ................. 0 : [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment.................. 0 : [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank).................... 6 : [Auto] 
Twr2wr(Different Rank).................. 6 : [Auto] 
Twr2rd(Different Rank)................... 5 : [Auto] 
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)................. 8 : [Auto] 
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control................: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control................: [Auto]
DDR Write Training…………………………..: [Auto]

Channel A Driving Settings
Driving Strength Profile…………………….: [Auto]
Data Driving Pull-Up Level………………..: [Auto]
Cmd Driving Pull-Up Level…………………: [Auto]
Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level………………….: [Auto]
Clk Driving Pull-Up Level…………………..: [Auto]
Data Driving Pull-Down Level….………..: [Auto]
Cmd Driving Pull-Down Level….…..……: [Auto]
Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level…….……….: [Auto]
Clk Driving Pull-Down Level……….……..: [Auto]

Channel B
Channel B Timing Settings
Static tRead Value........................... 7 : [Auto]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment.................. 0 : [Auto] <--Yes, this is different than channel A
tRD Phase1 Adjustment.................. 0 : [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ................. 0 : [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment.................. 0 : [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank).................... 6 : [Auto] 
Twr2wr(Different Rank).................. 6 : [Auto] 
Twr2rd(Different Rank)................... 5 : [Auto] 
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)................. 8 : [Auto] 
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control................: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control................: [Auto]
DDR Write Training…………………………..: [Auto]

Channel B Driving Settings
Driving Strength Profile…………………….: [Auto]
Data Driving Pull-Up Level………………..: [Auto]
Cmd Driving Pull-Up Level…………………: [Auto]
Ctrl Driving Pull-Up Level………………….: [Auto]
Clk Driving Pull-Up Level…………………..: [Auto]
Data Driving Pull-Down Level….………..: [Auto]
Cmd Driving Pull-Down Level….…..……: [Auto]
Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level…….……….: [Auto]
Clk Driving Pull-Down Level……….……..: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
CPU
Load Line Calibration……………………..: [Enabled] 
CPU Vcore….……….......1.325V.........: [1.4125V] 
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V.........: [1.320V] 
CPU PLL…………………....1.550V.........: [1.550V]
CPU Reference.…….....0.805V.........: [0.881V] 

MCH/ICH
MCH Core………………...1.100V...........: [1.380V]
MCH Reference….…….0.760V..........: [0.956V]
ICH I/O……………..........1.550V….........: [1.550V]
ICH Core………….....……1.100V...........: [1.100V]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage …..…....1.800V...........: [2.000V]

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect..........: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2).........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function...........................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect .............: [Disabled]

[Dr.Nick]

Disable all these;
Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect..........: [Disabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2).........: [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function...........................: [Disabled]



Edit- Sorry lost some of my post there. But have you tried running only the 2x2GB sticks? Also you can't hit the same 3GHz on the gigabyte?

[TheBigOne]

Undervolted the NB to 1.25V
Set multiplier to x8 at 1500 fsb 3Ghz or try x9
1.35V vcore anything higher is going to overheat and cause electromigration
Get better ram with 4-4-4-12 and set to 5-5-5-18, you have more headroom.
Had the Q9650 at 4.0 ghz stable

[911medic]

Originally Posted by Dr.Nick

Disable all these;
Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect..........: [Disabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2).........: [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function...........................: [Disabled]



Edit- Sorry lost some of my post there. But have you tried running only the 2x2GB sticks? Also you can't hit the same 3GHz on the gigabyte?

Thanks for the advice. I'll try disabling the No-execute and TM2 settings, but I didn't think they had any impact on OC'ing stability. I have not tried running just the 2x2GB sticks, as I wanted to keep the full 6GB.
I can hit 3GHz on the Gigabyte board, but not at stock voltages. The old board was plug & play at that speed at stock voltage. As a result, I'm having to try to learn about these other voltage options the P45 has, and that's where I'm stumbling.

I reached 3GHz and was P95 stable for ~2 hours in Test #12 above. Then, just for kicks I thought I'd try going back into the BIOS, setting all the voltages to "auto" and trying 3GHz, just to see what the BIOS set voltages to. Booted right up, and all of the voltages were higher than I had set in Test #12. Failed P95, though, w/BSOD. So, I tried going back to what seemed to work in Test #12 (I had saved the BIOS settings to CMOS), but those very settings that had Primed away happily for a couple of hours now refused to even POST.

So, I began working my way down in FSB to try to get stable. I reduced FSB (keeping all other settings the same as Test #12) 5MHz at a time down to 300, no POST. I finally gave up and dropped it back down to 266MHz, as I was out of testing time for the day, and needed a functional PC.

Very frustrating. BTW, the "auto" voltages were not so high as to fry anything. vCore was something like 1.4625v, vDIMM was ~1.9v, etc. Not way out of spec, and temps were fine. So, I don't know what's going on.

[911medic]

Originally Posted by TheBigOne

Undervolted the NB to 1.25V
Set multiplier to x8 at 1500 fsb 3Ghz or try x9
1.35V vcore anything higher is going to overheat and cause electromigration
Get better ram with 4-4-4-12 and set to 5-5-5-18, you have more headroom.
Had the Q9650 at 4.0 ghz stable

Getting different RAM's not an option, unfortunately. If it turns out to be impossible to get back to 3GHz with what I have, I'll have to live with something slower. I may consider Dr. Nick's suggestion to run only 4GB, if I have to, but I can't switch to something else entirely.
My temps at 1.4v have been OK. Mid-30's idle, mid-60's during P95. This is in a 76F room, so I don't think they're terrible...
I'll try lowering the MCH voltage to 1.25v, but stock is 1.10v so I don't know if I could call it "undervolting." I'll also play around with the multi/FSB some and see if I have success w/lower multipliers.
Thanks.

[TheBigOne]

I would removed 2gb of that ram first and put a fan on the chipset to cool it, I know that board is able to hit 3.8ghz stable, I use to own that board
If you want to just hit 3Ghz change CPU Clock Ratio to x9
Try this

Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 12
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:0.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.33


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: enabled
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............:266
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100

C.I.A.2 .................................:disabled

***Advanced Clock Control
CPU Clock Drive...........................:800mv
PCI Express Clock Drive.................:800mv
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................:0ps

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................:standard
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....:auto
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............:266mhz
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 3.00a
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................:auto

***Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................:5
tRCD .........................................:4
tRP'...........................................:4
tRAS..........................................:12

***Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................:3
tWTR..........................................:3
tWR............................................:10
tRFC...........................................:52
tRTP...........................................:3
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:0

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................:auto

***Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:5
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:auto
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:auto

***Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:5
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:auto
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:auto

Motherboard Voltage Control
Load Line Calibration.....................Enabled
Voltage Type.………... Normal
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................:1.35v
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......:1.200
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......:1.550-auto
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: 0.805-auto
CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......: 0.760-auto

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........:1.25V
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........:0.760-auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........:-----
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............:1.550-auto
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............:1.100-auto

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.1v
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............:---
Channel A Reference 0.900V............:---
Channel B Reference 0.900V............:---

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: -------
Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: --------

[Dr.Nick]

I leave these on Auto; even at 500fsb I don't have to change them. I also do the same for all mem settings.

MCH/DRAM Ref
ICH I/O
ICH Core

Tbh you should try running MemTest. If that passes try to oc the fsb while keeping the cpu as close to defaults clocks as possible. Find your highest fsb/ram clocks before throwing the cpu into the mix

[911medic]

Yeah, you're right. I need to devote more time to this than I had hoped. Between the new mobo and more memory, my expectations of just going back to the settings I had are not realistic. Hopefully within the next couple weeks I can find some time and do this right.
Thanks.