Overclocking Using DDR2-1066 On AW9D-MAX/ E6600

[TJS]

I've been trying to figure out why MrSmith can't get past 3.195GHz using an E6600/ AW9D-MAX/ Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066 RAM. He's covered all the bases for his pc's setup, but can't seem to break the 3.2GHz barrier, and using watercooling I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to...

After thinking about what happened (hitting a 'wall' that shouldn't be there), I remembered a previous experience with my AMD pc. I used DDR-500 and could do 250FSB (HTT), but couldn't go further than the 2.5GHz... hit a 'wall' when I was positive I could go higher. I later saw a monitor program that I was using... my HTT was through the roof, and after backing it down to 800MHz from 1GHz, I could go higher with my FSB and all was well, eventually topped out at 2.8GHz stable. My HTT was up over 1GHz again, so I figured the FSB raised it back up with the higher setting and no performance lost.

I'm fairly certain that the Northbridge Strap is the key, having to lower it to 800MHz from 1066MHz... but I'm stuck from that point. I'm having troubles figuring out how the FSB/ RAM/ NB Strap correlate. If anyone can help me out with this I would be most grateful.

 

[FragTek]

Wirelessly posted (LG Fusic: Opera/8.01 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/2.0.4719/1378; en; U; ssr))

make sure strapped at 1066, eist and c1e are disabled, and that u have bios 1.2 or 1.3 beta flashed. also make sure u r running ur vmch at no less than 1.85v. let us know how u get on!

 

[TJS]

I'm afraid that's the problem, Frag... the strap is at 1066. My theory is that the strap needs to be brought down to 800, but I don't know what divider his RAM should be set at (533/667/800). I can't seem to make my AMD pc's settings analogous to the way Intel BIOS settings work .

TJS

 

[Mr. Smith]

Hey, are you talking about me? Why I oudda lol.

The short answer is I am a really bad overclocked. Also, my pc is being really freakin awkward.

I overlooked a few settings in the bios. C1E, Vanderpool etc are now disabled, ram at standard settings, vcore at 1.375v, mem 2.2v, strap at 1066, ram at pc6400... Clock multi at 9, clock freq 355 - seems ok - idle temps runs high though - 40 deg C but load temp (memtest/prime95) is 45-49 deg C! Thing is memtest just came up with an error saying I had either bad ram or mobo... There is also a REALLY annoying intermittant noise coming from my psu that will eventually force me to remove it and destroy it with my bare hands.

What is HTT and what is/how do I set vmch? Is vmch the one that seems to be tied in with pci-e volts in this bios? I left that at 1.5 as I figured the gfx card would get fried...

I give up. On the up I'm going to get the 8800gtx soon w00t!

 

[TJS]

I believe you're right about the vmch being tied into the pci-e, default 1.5V... forgot to ask FragTek why so high (1.85V?). I keep mine at 1.55V, no problems.

I wouldn't worry about the RAM being called bad, the mobo may have trouble Memtest'ing 1066 rated DIMMs. I don't think RAM above DDR2-800 is 'officially supported'.

3.6GHz: I guarantee you I'll have it figured out before the weekend is over.

TJS

Edit: HTT is the HyperTransport bus used by AMD, basically the same thing as the FSB (in most AMD BIOS, it's still referred to as the FSB... probably so it doesn't confuse people).

 

[Mr. Smith]

I believe you're right about the vmch being tied into the pci-e, default 1.5V... forgot to ask FragTek why so high (1.85V?). I keep mine at 1.55V, no problems.

I wouldn't worry about the RAM being called bad, the mobo may have trouble Memtest'ing 1066 rated DIMMs. I don't think RAM above DDR2-800 is 'officially supported'.

3.6GHz: I guarantee you I'll have it figured out before the weekend is over.

TJS

Edit: HTT is the HyperTransport bus used by AMD, basically the same thing as the FSB (in most AMD BIOS, it's still referred to as the FSB... probably so it doesn't confuse people).

Ah, I have never had an AMD/know nothing about them.

Right, same settings as before only 1.4v cpu core, 1.51v vmch (still reluctent to crank that up - afraid of killing my gfx card) clock freq now 360...

Stability testing - sisoft sandra2007 'burn in' is fine at above settings, memtest (two running) - fine, dual prime95 = baaaad, temps touch 69 deg c after 7ish mins and I kill it... Why does prime run so hot and not other stability testing software?

EDIT: I'm thinking something is wrong with this cooling/cpu/pc - idle temps taken from uguru fluctuate dramatically - e.g they can be anything from 27-30 deg C idle (that is at 3.19ghz) which goes to about 50 def C load. From there 3.2/3.3ghz idle temps are reading 40/43 idle, 60-69 deg C load (I kill it once temps begin to reach 69). Maybe I should ditch AS5 and get coollabs liquid metal...

 

[Mr. Smith]

STABLE! Thanks to ze Germans at Coollabs, and I got the new bios (13, cheers for the linkage TJS)

I know we are S.T fans here, but thewatercoolingshop rock! Ordered Coollabs Liquid Pro 3pm at work, it arrived 9am this morning on standard postage.

The product is a pain in the ass to apply, I had read the 'battle of the goop' on here but I was NOT prepared for the results. I was idleing at 40 deg C last night, now its 29!!!!!! Load on dual prime is 40ish! WTF! This is the shizz.

This is just preliminary testing, but on same settings as last night; 1.35v cpu, 2.25v ram, 4:5 divider, 4-4-4-12, 360x9, its running prime almost 30 degrees cooler! STABLE! Maybe the AS5 I bought on fleabay was fake? I'm going to clock up as high as I dare, stick prime on, get to the gym and see if everything still works when I get back. w00t w00t!

 

[JN]

Yep the Cool labs paste really does knock around 10oc off your temps. After doing that 'Battle of the goop' review i've never used another paste.

best way to apply it is using a bit of kitchen roll. Just place a small blob on the IHS, and spread it over. I normally then add another tiny blob to the middle just so it makes good contact if the IHS is concave.

Only thing I don't like about it is that it stains copper after a while. Doesn't drop the performance, but just makes blocks look a bit ugly (until you lap them that is )

 

[Ham]

Sounds like that AS5 was dud. Was gonna say your temps are stupidly high for water but you beat me there.

I use the TIM that alphacool give out and its bl***y great.

 

[TJS]

Someone post a link to the goop battle, would like to see it also... might pick up this Cool Labs stuff.

Good to hear your temps dropped, HerrSmith, maybe the AS5 was out of date? Let us know how the overclocking goes in the next week. Glad the beta BIOS is working out too, helped me with the tRFC to get past 390FSB.

I'm thinking my theory on the PSB being knocked down to 800 was bogus; went through a myriad of settings in my BIOS to see what was what, but I guess the higher memory doesn't need to have a divider and/or lowering the NB strap to 800 from 1066, even at higher FSB's.

Out of curiosity, what is the highest 'rated FSB' anyone has seen with C2D's and 975X chipsets? Would like to know the ceiling.

TJS

 

[JN]

Someone post a link to the goop battle, would like to see it also... might pick up this Cool Labs stuff.

Here you go mate. I really like the stuff. Its a cheap way to get a massive drop in temps, and if you apply it with kitchen roll it only takes a couple of minutes to put on.

 

[BUFF]

Out of curiosity, what is the highest 'rated FSB' anyone has seen with C2D's and 975X chipsets? Would like to know the ceiling.

TJS

Hipower had an AW9D-MAX past 500fsb but it had a few Vmods & extreme cooling ...

 

[Mr. Smith]

Here[/B'] you go mate. I really like the stuff. Its a cheap way to get a massive drop in temps, and if you apply it with kitchen roll it only takes a couple of minutes to put on.

Agreed, at 7 squid delivered it is probably the cheapest and best purchases I have made. As for application I put my finger in a plastic bag after trying a myriad of other things - that was the best solution for me. The product has such weird properties - its like mercury, you seem to just push it about, then all of a sudden it turns into a liquid mirror and just spreads.

As for my oc'in, even though temps are under control, above 370*9 is unstable to the point it will boot into xp but will spaz out and restart. Jacked the volts up to 1.475 to cpu, didn't fix it.

What is a safe cpu voltage - more precisely, what is a dangerous voltage?

Also, my ram is on 2.3v - how much could the dominator take? I found raising this helped my system... So atm I'm stuck on 3.3ghz. Stable.

I'll keep playing - 3.6 is mu holy grail at the moment.

Herr Schmitt

 

[FarFarAway]

I'd say on air 1.5 is the safe voltage and 1.6 on water (though some would say less on water)

 

[JN]

I'd say on air 1.5 is the safe voltage and 1.6 on water (though some would say less on water)

1.675v here :freak:

 

[Mullet]

Agreed, at 7 squid delivered it is probably the cheapest and best purchases I have made. As for application I put my finger in a plastic bag after trying a myriad of other things - that was the best solution for me. The product has such weird properties - its like mercury, you seem to just push it about, then all of a sudden it turns into a liquid mirror and just spreads.

As for my oc'in, even though temps are under control, above 370*9 is unstable to the point it will boot into xp but will spaz out and restart. Jacked the volts up to 1.475 to cpu, didn't fix it.

What is a safe cpu voltage - more precisely, what is a dangerous voltage?

Also, my ram is on 2.3v - how much could the dominator take? I found raising this helped my system... So atm I'm stuck on 3.3ghz. Stable.

I'll keep playing - 3.6 is mu holy grail at the moment.

Herr Schmitt

RAM - 2.35 would be my max without any form of active cooling on the dimms....mine is running at 2.2v

 

[FragTek]

1.675v here :freak:

Yeah but ur cheating with chilled water

 

[Mr. Smith]

Just reading xtremesystems to see if there was any additional info about oc'in with the max in this thread.

There is an issue with the guys 8 pin 12v connector... Which made me think - I am using a 4 pin 12v connector from my Hiper Type R.

Is this why I can't get a decent oc? I'm at 3.4 now but its not stable - it wont prime or super pi 32m...

If using a 4 pin in an 8 pin plug is the cause of this instability - where am I going to get a hiper 8 pin?

Help! Hopefully it doesnt matter but as a nooby I don't know.

Another thing, vmch & pcie - its at 1.55v. What does this do? Volts to pcie and vmch. What is vmch? How high will this safely go? More importantly, will it help my oc?

Tank you

 

[BUFF]

The pins all run to common traces on the back of the PCB so 4-pin/8-pin shouldn't really matter.

You probably want to increase mch voltage a bit.

 

[FragTek]

Umodded MAX's top out at about the 430 area.... Hipro volt modded every last thing he could find and was able to squeeze 500 out of it.