Time to Overclock

[Jordan]

Hey all! So today I got a well deserved TTL rollocking for not having any overclock on my PC. So how about an Overclocking log?

I will be logging all my changes and findings along the way.

First up I'm starting to reduce the volts. Then running with OCCT see the lowest volts I can run at stock.

The specs are an Intel 17 950, Asus Sabertooth X58, Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz and a Noctua U12P SE2.

Here's the current stock clocks:

 

[tinytomlogan]

come on son its 10pm now!

 

[Jordan]

Still stable at 1.200, 1.175, 1.150 and 1.125 Volts

come on son its 10pm now!

I'm going dad! I've broken out the coffee!

**Im only running quick tests on these and then I will run a 30 minute killer run once I think I have found its lowest point**

 

[Devo234]

if i remember correctly the old 950s use to overclock pretty well dint they?

 

[Damien c]

The 950's were really good overclockers iirc.

My old 950 did 4.2ghz with a 21 multi and 200 BLCK, using 1.325v and everything else was auto iirc.

Max temps on a 360x35mm rad was around 75c per core.

It would do 4.5ghz using 1.45v but I didn't like the temps.

Hopefully you should get some decent clocks out of the cpu.

I might even have to upgrade my brother in laws pc to get my hands on the 950 again with some better cooling and see how far I can push it.

Good luck!

 

[tinytomlogan]

Ive told him to start with 200bclk then work the multi up

Boys got some learning to do!

 

[Jordan]

I have continued down and to 1.075V and that wasn't stable, I then went up in increments of 0.010 and continued to crash and until returning to a stable point of 1.100V. I'm now running a long test to ensure stability.

Here are the current bios settings while testing for the lowest stable stock voltage.







OCCT ran for 30 minutes and had no issues at 1.100V, so that's the lowest stable stock clock I can run.



-----------------------------------

I have now adjusted the RAM timings to 9-9-9-24, and I will also adjust the voltage. (Pics to follow)

 

[tinytomlogan]

Note to J -

theres a lot of telling us what you are doing and not a lot of asking what you should be doing.

If a test is running you can be typing. Use your time wisely, get people involved.

 

[Jordan]

After following the 1155 overclocking guide as a base line and setting my RAM timings, I can't find a direct RAM voltage control, I have options for the DRAM Bus voltage, QPI/DRAM voltage or DRAM frequency. Is this just a case of different wording for a different socket?

 

[tinytomlogan]

Well DRAM frequency isnt going to be voltage......

 

[Jordan]

Ok guys!

So after the testing for the lowest volts I can run at stock I have gone into the BIOS and changed the RAM timings to 9-9-9-24, and also changed the RAM volts to 1.5V.





I have now started to go through the bios and change a few of the options, I have currently disabled Speedstep, enabled Loadline calibration and changed the UCLK frequency to 3200. And turned the CPU voltage back ready for overclocking.



Are there any other changes that I need to make before moving on? And in relation for using a 200 BLCK what kind of Ratio multiplier should I be aiming towards?
Many thanks.

 

[tinytomlogan]

http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=30557

Use that for reference, your QPI wont need to go high like that for 1600 mem though.

Start with a multi set to 15 and then work your BCLK up 150 -180 /90/200

200 is the sweet spot - keep an eye on the memory you need to change the divider too - @ 200bclk your memory will have a divider that will tie straight into 1600.

working the multi up with the volts your CPU cooler will be the only limitation, we can always turn the magic cupboard out here to replace yours, but tbf we both know the whole lot needs doing


**FYI to the regulars**

He really has no clue so please dip in and help him, I need him to understand why these forums are a crucial tool in his training and learning

 

[Damien c]

J, Tom will be able to offer great advice as will most on the forum all you need to do is ask about stuff and people will help.

My overclocking with LGA1366 cpu's always went one way.

Test everything at stock for a few days to make sure it all worked and if it did I started overclocking it.

I always jumped in feet first going for the 4.0Ghz overclock and all I ever had to change was a few settings.

I bumped the BLCK to 200

The multi to 20

Threw 1.275v in to the cpu

Set the ram at 1600mhz with 1.65v as that is what it was rated at.

Set the QPIDram Voltage to 1.35v

Turned on LLC (Load Line Calibration)

Then tried to boot in to Windows.

If it booted then I ran Prime until it BSOD and then I would bump the voltage up to 1.285v, and repeated until it was stable.

Probably not the best way to do it, but it always seemed to work out fine but it did normally take me a week to finally get it all finished, as I was having to use the pc at the same time as trying to overclock the cpu, so if I needed to work I turned the overclock off and did my work, and then went back to it when I had the time.


Will be interesting to see what you manage to get out of yours in the end.

 

[Jordan]

OK folks, so following the advice given I set the BCLK to 200, and I am currently running 3.4ghz at 1.25V with a x17 multiplier, but I think I need to change a few options still as the temperatures are very high (average 78 load, 48 idle) at quite a minor overclock. I looked at changing the QPIDram Voltage but my RAM is running at 1.5V and I wasn't sure what voltage I need to go for. I have posted the latest OCCT test and bios setting and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you guys.

 

[Damien c]

What CPU cooler are you using?

 

[Jordan]

What CPU cooler are you using?

The Noctua U12P SE2 dude.

 

[hmmblah]

Wow, it's been so long since I touched my clocks I'm having to relearn it all. 4GHz (folding stable) is my 24/7 clock on my i7 930. Those temps you are seeing now at 3.4GHz are way too high for that clockspeed. What were your temps when your CPU was at stock? Are your fans at 100% (12v as well)? What TIM are you using?

 

[Jordan]

Wow, it's been so long since I touched my clocks I'm having to relearn it all. 4GHz (folding stable) is my 24/7 clock on my i7 930. Those temps you are seeing now at 3.4GHz are way too high for that clockspeed. What were your temps when your CPU was at stock? Are your fans at 100% (12v as well)? What TIM are you using?

It generally averages at 35, and running the fans directly from the motherboard. I'm using Arctic silver 5, maybe it would be worthwhile doing a TIM change as I haven't removed the heat sink since I originally built the PC over three years ago.

 

[Damien c]

A TIM change would be worth it since it's been so long.

You might also want to invest in a better cooler as the LGA1366 chips were quite hot.

A H100i would be a decent choice, or the NH-D14.

 

[Jordan]

A TIM change would be worth it since it's been so long.

You might also want to invest in a better cooler as the LGA1366 chips were quite hot.

A H100i would be a decent choice, or the NH-D14.

Cool, I've got the NTH1 that came with the cooler so I'll have a go with that. I'll post an update ASAP with the new temps. Cheers guys