Core i7 920 overclocking guide

[Hodgstar]

Ok so I've got my new hardware, but my case has not arived yet.

My impatience has got the better of me so its plugged together on the desk here all al fresco style

now i've had a look in the bios to do some overclocking and WOW things have changed from ddr 1 days. so i have a few gazillion questions,

here are the 1st lot of settings i was looking at messig with

PLEASE ADVISE

Speed step:- enable/disable

ratio cmos setting:- 12-21

CPU Frequency setting:- 100-800

QPI links speed:- full speed /slow speed

DRAM frequency:- Auto /800mhz/ 1067mhz

command rate:- 1t / 2t

Just to set out my intentions i'm looking for 4Ghz plus stable on air:crazy:

I know thats probably i tiny bit hopeful but if you don't try you'll never suceed

 

[monkey7]

Speed step: disable

Ratio (i guess CPU multiplier?): as high as humanly possible

CPU frequency: depending on your OC, between 133 (stock) and 200 (4gHz w/ 20 multiplier)

QPI: anything that keeps the frequency between 4 and 7 gHz

DRAM: as close to stock as possible (use the multipliers; 6, 8, 10, 12, 14x)

Command rate: uhh... Uh... wouldn't really be able to tell you really T1 I believe

To add one:

QPI/VTT voltage: 1.35 safe max

 

[Hodgstar]

Ok so i messed about for a bit and very quickly got to Core speed 3990Mhz:boink:

Speed step :-disabled

Multi :-21

CPU freq :-190

qpi links speed :- full speed

DRAM freq :-auto

command rate :-auto

All voltages are on auto atm, CPU-Z shows core voltage as 1.424volts

1m super pi 10.437s

32m super pi 9m 33.593s

highest temp in real temp during super pi was 56 c but was mainly sub 50 c

 

[monkey7]

Nice clock already mate Keep in mind that superPI stability isn't real stability though. I guess your temperatures will skyrocket when you try running P95, be careful with that.

 

[Hodgstar]

Yep, you are right monkey,

lasted less then 10seconds prime95 @ 4ghz (200 x 20)

now i need to mess around and find what my best stable overclock is

Question, when using prime what do you guys use? blend with 8 threads??

 

[monkey7]

Yes, I use blend with all threads.

Many people on xtremesystems are having trouble with keeping their i7 at 200x20. I've ever heard a case where 200x20 wasn't stable, but 205x20 was. Try running 210x19.

 

[Hodgstar]

not getting any joy what so ever above 200

tried 210 x 19 couldn't get into windows

tried 210 x 18, to see if it was cpu limiting or memory, still couldnt get into windows

tried 205 x 19 got into windows and crashed as i tried to open CPU-Z

changed QPI link speed to slow still no joy

losened my timings fron 8-8-8-19 to 9-9-9-24 still no joy

put command rate to 2t still no joy

ram voltage is set to 1.660v which reads 1.648v in bios

 

[monkey7]

Sounds like either your cpu or your motherboard doesn't like high bclk's 199x20, mem multiplier 6x?

 

[Hodgstar]

i'm on mem multi 8x ATM

Think it may be a voltage issue, i'm getting some improved stability with tweaks to the CPU Vcore, just got to find the sweet spot hopefully been up to +0.300volts which seemed to be stable in prime but temps got to high, after a few mins, for my liking after (over 90 degrees c) so i stopped the test

CPU VTT- auto (1.408v)

DRAM V is 1.66v

 

[monkey7]

For a bench you could try cranking up the VTT to 1.6v, someone on xtremesystems had ran 1.65v on it for 2 months or so. Wouldn't do that for 24/7 though, max. safe from intel is 1.35.

I ran it at 1.65 for about three hours, didn't hurt anything. Just a red LED on my motherboard Running it that high did get me over my 3.8gHz (w/o turbo) wall though.

 

[Hodgstar]

Made loads of progress

It seems like many other people my 920 doesnt like the 20x multi, however it likes the 21x milti just fine

downloaded myself Cpu-tweaker then used it to get all the SPD timings for 800Mhz

and set them in my bios.

I am now @ 190 x 21= 3990Mhz

using 8 x ram multi

just ran prime for 20 mins no problems, highest temp was 84.

couldn't prime at 4Ghz before would crash after 1 or 2 mins

 

[monkey7]

Very nice, although I wouldn't feel comfortable at those temps

 

[Hodgstar]

yeah i kind of agree still got this old bohemoth of a self made water cooling case in the garage doing nowt!

wife didn't like it she said it was too big

I could rip the water cooling loop out of it and use it in the Lain li PC70 i should be getting on monday

 

[filthy]

Monkey, I would really appreciate that as I am a noob to overclocking.

 

[hgvm]

Hi

Is a power suplly of 800W enough for overclocking intel core I7 920 from 2.66Hhz to 3.8Ghz.

 

[retrogamer1990]

depends what other hardware, but I would say yes, as long as its a good stable branded one. (i.e NOT winpower or any other generic grey one)

 

[monkey7]

I'm running mine off a 700w coolermaster, so yes it's possible.

 

[Rastalovich]

Hi

Is a power suplly of 800W enough for overclocking intel core I7 920 from 2.66Hhz to 3.8Ghz.

Depends on the make/quality.

Asda special 800w probably wouldn't last 5mins with Jim.

 

[monkey7]

The PSU that does last 5 minutes with Jim is still to be invented

 

[hgvm]

Thanks for all the answers, the one that I was going to buy has a price of 40 $, so is probably a crap, I think I will buy a

Xion AXP-1000R14HE Power Supply.