Overclocking Q8200

[killablade]

I need your help guys!

I got my Q8200 to 2.8 Ghz stable, but I can't get it any further.

When I push it further it posts but windows fails to load propperly...

I know it's not my memory being the bottleneck cuz I can get that stable at 960 mhz easy and it doesn't get anywhere near that with this OC.

My Vcore is 1.28 atm, might be able to get 2,8 stable with 1.26 though.

Memory voltage is at a stock 2.2.. my tracers eat volts 0.o

All the other things I left stock cuz I'm not a great overclocker and don't know exactly what to set em.. (I've read guides sure but still dunno)

Cooling is done by a Prolimatech Mega Shadow paired with two antec tricools in a push-pull config, so that's not the issue.

Motherboard is a MSI P45 Platinum. (the one with the huge southbridge cooler )

Help please!

Edit: And yes I know that the Q8200 is an absolute pain to OC compared to CPU's like the Q6600

 

[tinytomlogan]

the main thing you have not stated is your FSB dude, with a CPU thats only got a 7x multiplier thats the most important thing to be talking about.

Quads dont like high FSB so anything over 400 is a bonus.

 

[killablade]

Ah yeah my FSB is 400 (400x7=2,8Ghz) but i hope to get higher, i've seen OC's of like 3,5 Ghz on air with the Q8200 so I hope to get atleast 3 Ghz

 

[Rastalovich]

When u have 400x7, what is ur memory sweating at ?

 

[killablade]

800 mhz @ 1:1 but I had it running @ 960 mhz for a couple of weeks and it was stable then aswell...

 

[stockholm1984]

Try knocking the memory down to a lower ratio, might slow that down but boost the possible FSB you can nail. Either that or try some faster RAM if you can afford it or know someone with some going spare? I realise that's going to be pretty unlikely.

 

[killablade]

Sure I know someone that has but I dont need it since my memory is not the issue here.. I hit 960 Mhz with this memory and with this OC @ a 1:1 ratio its only running at 800 Mhz... so I can up the FSB to 480 without having to worry about my memory..

I think I will have to manually set some more voltages to get a higher OC since the only manually configured voltages now are the cpu vcore and memory, I just dont know which voltages and what to set them at.

 

[Hemicuda]

Could you list your MCH Core, MCH Reference, ICH I/O and ICH Core voltages? I also found with my Tracers that loosening off the tRD (might be "Static Read Value , or "Performance level") in RAM timings allowed me a bit more freedom in raising the FSB then went back and tightened RAM timings afterwards.

1:1 FSB/RAM is going to be the best dividerfor oc'ing

Does the MSI board suffer from a 400FSB "hole" - My Gigabyte mobo is stable as a rock at 399 and 401 but flakes out at 400.

My cpu isn't too dissimilar to yours...



Hopefully that links ok.

Oldish screeny, My final 24/7 config is 425 x 8 (3.4) @ 1.25625v Vcore (bios), 1.2375v actual, 1.2200v CPU termination, 1.54v CPU PLL,1.22v MCH Core, 1.55v ICH I/O, 1.14v ICH Core, DRAM voltage 2.00v (2x2Gb).

 

[killablade]

I have set all those voltages to auto because I don't know what to set those to. I'd be happy to set them to manual if you point in me in the right direction with the values...

 

[stockholm1984]

I apologise if I'm stating the obvious but when you say that there's no issue with temps cause of the cooler you're using I take it you have checked what temp your CPU is running at? What is the idle temp in its current state? Also, have you set the PCI-E clock to 100MHz? I left mine on Auto when I first overclocked my Q6600 and it kept bluescreening, heard that there can be a link between FSB and PCI-E speed and switching it to 100MHz sorted it. Don't know enough about it to know if it would affect your motherboard though.

 

[Hemicuda]

No problem.

First off I'll need some info :

Can you post a link to your Crucial Ballistix memory-you say they are 2.2v so I'm guessing they are 2x2Gb .8FE5 sticks -should be plenty good enough for a mild oc, but you might want to keep an eye out for the .16FD3 kit - Mine are good for 2.0v up to DDR2-1080, then 2.05-2.1v up to DDR2-1150- which gives you plenty of options with the memory dividers)

CPU : SLB5M (M0 stepping) or SLG9S (R0 stepping) ? Every cpu is different for OC and voltage but the stepping will give a good base to work from.

You mentioned that you were aiming at 3GHz - should be attainable on air (430 core/1720 FSB) dependant on Vcore.

Don't know your knowledge base regarding overclocking-so if any of this is too basic then yell out.

I always start out overclocking the RAM. Once I have stable RAM I can take that out of the equation with regards a failed stability test.

If you haven't already done so then load down Memtest86+ (download here http://www.memtest.org/ ) Tests your RAM at BIOS level for stability.

Download the .iso, burn a bootable cd. After you change RAM settings, reboot, change boot order to CD drive (save change), put the disc in and reboot.

A full pass (all tests) takes about 20-30min with 4Gb. I would look at 7 passes minimum. Tests 2 and 5 are the most likely to find RAM errors, so if need be you can run these individual tests a few times. Stop the test when you are satisfied. Change the boot order back (save changes) re-boot.

I would also download MemSet here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/MemSet.shtml a good monitoring software utility that you can use to find out the advanced timing settings of your RAM -it is designed for overclocking RAM from within the OS -something that I don't do, or encourage other to . That take care of the RAM. The rest of the utilities you need are for stress testing the CPU overclock to check for stability.

I use OCCT d/l here: http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download and LinX d/l here http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Benchmarks/LinX-benchmark.shtml There are other stress testing software utilities available such as Intel Burn Test (IBT) and Linpack- I'm sure many OC'ers on the forum would be quite happy to recommend any I may have missed.

I also use Crysis as it does have an uncanny ability to find instability where some of the recognised benchmarking software misses.

First order of business would be to have your RAM stable at DDR2-860 (So that you can go to 430 FSB at 1:1 CPU/RAM without having to worry about the RAM).

The way I overclock is not the only way. It's methodical and takes a lot of benchmarking, but I've only ever oc'ed for stable 24/7 operation- never for suicide runs or for sub-zero. There is bound to be plenty of experienced oc'ers on the forum and elsewhere-use their experience when you can.

In the meantime, download Memtest and Memset. I would set the CPU at Stock (333MHz) and use the 1:1.2 divider and use the JEDEC profile (4-4-4-12-2T) as a starting point for the RAM overclock. Leave the sub-timings on auto for the time being and input the RAM voltage for DDR2-800 (If Memset or CPU-Z list the DDR2-800 voltage as 1.8v then I would input 2.0V, if listed at 2.0-2.2 then input 2.2v into the DRAM voltage setting in the BIOS. Leave all other BIOS settings on auto- if you haven't had to increase MCH voltage already at 2.2v then most likely you will be fine for RAM voltage stability.

Post back when you have your DDR2-860 - Crucial modules should reach this easily at 4-4-4-12-2T- but test first.

 

[Hemicuda]

I apologise if I'm stating the obvious but when you say that there's no issue with temps cause of the cooler you're using I take it you have checked what temp your CPU is running at? What is the idle temp in its current state? Also, have you set the PCI-E clock to 100MHz? I left mine on Auto when I first overclocked my Q6600 and it kept bluescreening, heard that there can be a link between FSB and PCI-E speed and switching it to 100MHz sorted it. Don't know enough about it to know if it would affect your motherboard though.

Spot on with the PCIe clock. Setting to Auto is making the assumption that the clock is set at 100MHz -not necessarily the case. Setting manually to 100MHz removes that possibility. I've worked on a couple of the Asus X38's, a P5E and a Deluxe- both were more than a little picky with the Auto setting (and Vdroop, but thats another matter) as are Gigabyte boards.

 

[killablade]

I will have a look at the PCIe clock.

http://www.komplett.nl/k/ki.aspx?sku=380475

That is my memory although I dont know if I have the old version of the tracers (2.2v) or the new ones (2.0v)... I bought it at that shop though.

For stability testing I use OCCT, and I know about MemTest but havent rly used it with this memory yet lol

Ill test my memory at 2v 4-4-4-12, but can I burn memtest to a dvd or does it have to be a cd?

Also, idle temps of the CPU @ 2,8 Ghz are 42-38-38-37 ish,

Load temps are: 52-48-49-48 (2,8 Ghz)

As for my knowledge of overclocking, I already knew most of the things you stated in your post Hemicuda, but I don't have a lot of experience. I OC'ed and AMD Athlon 64 3800+ and my Q8200.

Apart from that I've read loads of things about it (guides, articles, etc)

 

[JPSG]

I can push 3.5ghz all in auto , with a P5Q PRO

 

[Hemicuda]

The older Ballistix are rated at 2.0v ( part no. BL2KIT25664AL80A.16FD3- double sided), the newer modules with the less effective memory chips are BL2KIT25664AL80A.8FE5 -single sided. I wouldn't get too hooked up on it at this stage-what you got is what you got.

From my viewpoint, I overclock to get a free performance boost. Pointless overclocking a CPU and RAM if the memory latency sucks- running at DDR2-860 with 4-4-4-12, tRD 8 makes sense , 5-5-5-15, tRD 9 does not - at the latter settings the RAM should be able to run at DDR2-1112 (430FSB, 1.67 divider).

Your link to the RAM specifies 2.0v - Run Memset or CPU-Z - if the EPP#2 profiles states 2.0v then you are overvolting the RAM - you should need 2.05v MAX to get to DDR2-1000. If you need 2.2v for RAM stability then most likely the Auto setting for the MCH (Northbridge) is pumping too much voltage- which is why you haven't had to increase it during your overclocking so far.

Memtest can be burnt to cd or dvd -it just needs to be bootable. If the BIOS allows booting from USB then you have the option of downloading the USB executable from the website also.

I presume you are also aware that disabling C1E and EIST during overclocking improves your chances of getting a stable oc (stops the multiplier from changing down at idle)- just enable them afterwards if you want them

 

[Hemicuda]

I can push 3.5ghz all in auto , with a P5Q PRO

Sounds like a sweet deal- does the P5Q find the minimum Vcore you need to run the OC stable ?, or find the tightest RAM timings you can run at the lowest voltage?

 

[JPSG]

Sounds like a sweet deal- does the P5Q find the minimum Vcore you need to run the OC stable ?, or find the tightest RAM timings you can run at the lowest voltage?

My ram timings are 5-5-5-15. I think it finds the minimal vcore because I left all the settings in auto only the fsb was changed to 500 to get 3.5ghz(500*7).

 

[killablade]

Got my cpu at 2,9 Ghz, now running stress tests!

CPU voltage at 1.27

Memory Voltage at 2.0 (830 Mhz 4-4-4-12-2T)

I set the MCH Voltage at 1.28, but I dont know if that helps me get a stable overclock lol

Stress test OCCT Linpack 1 hour done: 55-50-51-51

So it's pretty stable I think. I know you have to let a stress test run overnight for it to be called completely stable, but I just can't do that. If I would I wouldn't be able to get any sleep whatsoever

 

[siravarice]

Well I'm running mine at 3.2GHz on air. Got there easy. 3.3 was a tiny bit unstable so just left it at 3.2. I didn't overclock the ram, unlinked the overclocking so ram was left as is. The first time I did it I left them linked and couldn't get anywhere when they overclocked with the processor. I think my voltages are around 1.3. Originally they were higher but that was the lowest I could reduce them to without getting an unstable CPU stuffy. I never actually did stress tests though, but then again, I was kind of looking for a reason to buy a better CPU, that backfired as the thing is still running four months later and is vigorously used. Maybe you just have a bad processor? My motherboard is a, well it's all in the signature really.

 

[Hemicuda]

I set the MCH Voltage at 1.28, but I dont know if that helps me get a stable overclock lol

If it works then all good. Remember that you automatically oc the MCH when you oc the CPU. 1.28v seems a little high for 415FSB but that could be the peculiar to MSI- I haven't used an MSI board since the 965P (Gigabyte, EVGA, Asus and DFI) but am waiting on a reply from a friend who has had MSI boards (I think he has a P7N or P7N2 Diamond at the moment) to find out if MSI's MCH needs more voltage than other brands.

Might pay to monitor the Northbridge temp at that voltage.