E6400 Retail Overclocking

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: Gary KeyHave not tried a small 40mm fan yet or different cooling solution........ the best thing to do if you are running OC 24/7 is to add a good Northbridge cooler, Coolermaster Blue Ice NB comes to mind.....

I figured adding a fan would be the easiest way to improve the cooling. I attached a 40mm fan to the Northbridge with a couple of screws and it cools the heatsink very well IMO, even with +0.3 MCH.

PIC

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: Gary Key
We have the Ultra-120, still figuring out what fan to use.

You should mount two 120mm x 38mm / 100CFM fans.

But seriously, I think the fact that you can mount up to two of your choice of fans is quite an advantage. For instance, I currently mounted a 38mm thick fan spnning @1500RPM, and it's certainly quieter than 25mm fan @2000RPM.

 

[Addle]

Can anyone give me their opinion of this G.Skill memory for a E6400 on a GA-965P-DS3 ? I'm looking for good budget RAM.

 

[gobucks]

Originally posted by: Addle
Can anyone give me their opinion of this G.Skill memory for a E6400 on a GA-965P-DS3 ? I'm looking for good budget RAM.

i'd probably go for some of the OCZ memory on newegg's site instead. or the same $160 AR you can get a brand with better compatibility. just a thought. try this instead:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227089

 

[Madellga]

Gary,
Thanks for the thread. Would you please post the relevant BIOS settings you are using?

I'm an Intel noob and I got a DQ6 and a 6400 yesterday - any hints to start would be very helpful.

Regards

 

[Madellga]

Bump. Can anyone post BIOS settings (and version) for this good o/c?

 

[Rendition]

Be careful, the OCZ DDR2-800 RAM I bought didn't work with the DS3.

 

[Addle]

Be careful, the OCZ DDR2-800 RAM I bought didn't work with the DS3.

Yeah, thats what I've been hearing. I think I'm going to go with this, what do you guys think?

 

[Rendition]

My OCZ RAM was 1.9v too, so be careful. The DS3 manual says 1.8v (gee it would of been nice to know beforehand). I ordered 1.8v crappy 667mhz RAM, at least it will work. I hope.

 

[Madellga]

Based on some tips from Aldamon, I have suceeded now with my DQ6 also.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8299/dq6pluse640032ghzvdim195bli0.jpg

Using the DQ6 bios from this thread:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109719&highlight

I downloaded the F3E from this link provided there:
http://rapidshare.de/files/27992450/965PDQ6.F3E.html

The memory I'm using is this one, 2GB OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Platinum Revision 2
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/m.../ocz_ddr2_pc2_6400_platinum_revision_2

It was 10% more expensive than the cheap 667 available here (which was not on stock).

I'm now able to Prime95 for 8 hours, using the following hardware/setup:

Gigabyte 965-DQ6 bios F3E / C2D E6400 3.2GHZ@1.37V (8x400) / Thermalright SI-128 / 2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 800 4-4-4 @1.95V / EVGA 7950GX2 / Audigy 2 ZS / 2x250 GB Seagate SATA / Nec DVDRW 3540 / Enermax Liberty 620W / Antec P160

I learned since yesterday that high VDim (2V or higher) does not help - it was crashing soon. After going with just 1.95V, the system is now stable (8 hours on Prime95).

I will start now trying going up the FSB a bit and see if the mainboard/ram can handle it. I will try also lower CPU Overv and lower VDim.

The second huge difference was going from an Artic Freezer 7 to a Thermalright SI-128. Not only the CPU is 10C cooler, but it also helps with the Northbridge and Power regulators cooling. Best thing, very easy to install (NO TOOLS!!) and no need to take that idiot crazy bracket.

My target was 3.2GHz, so I'm pretty happy about it.

My bios settings are just like yours, just the MIT screen is a bit different:
CPU Rate 8x
CPU Host ENABLED
CPU HOST FREQ 400
PCI-E 100
CIA2 DISABLED
DRAM TIMING MANUAL
CAS 4
RAS TO CAS 4
RAS PRE 4
TRAS 15
ACT ACT DEL AUTO
RANK WRITE AUTO
WRITE TO PREC AUTO
REFRESH TO ACT 0
READ to PRE AUTO
MEMORY PERF NORMAL
DIMM OVERV +0.15V
PCI-E OVERV NORMAL
GMCh OVERV NORMAL
FSB OVERV NORMAL
CPU OVERV 1.375V

I will post some screenshots later today.

 

[tennesota]

Madellga: Thanks for posting your early results using the DQ6 board.

 

[gobucks]

Originally posted by: Rendition
Be careful, the OCZ DDR2-800 RAM I bought didn't work with the DS3.

yeah, i've heard that there are issues with this memory (and many others), but i think there is a workaround. you can buy a cheap 256MB stick of slow DDR2-533 (try to find cas 3 and 1.8V vdimm) to boot into the computer, update the bios to the F4C beta, then go into your bios and adjust the vdimm to 2.0-2.1V and set the cas to 5. then you can put in your PC2-6400 memory and it should boot fine. you can adjust your timings from there. this is an annoying workaround and hopefully they'll fix it with a bios update, but for now at least you can run fast ram in your system.

 

[intelcore2duogrid]

If the Thermalright SI-128 is the way to go (as opposed to Artic Freezer 7 or something else), what sorts of fans would I need to purchase? I'm looking at using this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811147030 and will not have any drives whatsoever in the machine. There will be no drives because I'm building a grid of these which will boot off the network and run the kernel in RAM. Am I correct that 450W should be plenty to significantly OC a 6300 when I won't have any drives?

I've ordered a couple E6300s to start playing around with, but was planning to make the move to E6600 for the remaining 28 or so machines I need to build. Planning to use DDR2 800 RAM.

 

[CoasterGuy]

 

[Madellga]

Originally posted by: intelcore2duogrid
If the Thermalright SI-128 is the way to go (as opposed to Artic Freezer 7 or something else), what sorts of fans would I need to purchase? I'm looking at using this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811147030 and will not have any drives whatsoever in the machine. There will be no drives because I'm building a grid of these which will boot off the network and run the kernel in RAM. Am I correct that 450W should be plenty to significantly OC a 6300 when I won't have any drives?

I've ordered a couple E6300s to start playing around with, but was planning to make the move to E6600 for the remaining 28 or so machines I need to build. Planning to use DDR2 800 RAM.

You need a 120mm fan. I'm using one from Enermax, it has fan speed manual control. I can make it silent, full speed or anything in the middle.

 

[sethhobrin]

Do you have a list of all bios settings you used to obtrain 8 x 440 with the E6400 and DS3?

 

[theteamaqua]

he's platform is ideal ...

also if he has week 25 its easier ...

mine would only go as high as 3.4GHz

yet another intel's propaganda

 

[Roy2001]

Originally posted by: OcHungry
...I don?t mean to be rude to you, but lately I see AT doing everything possible to promote Intel at the expense of AMD....

If you want to discuss benchmark, spend time and there are plenty of reviews on Core2 vs. Athlon.

If you don't have time, let me tell you the this: E6600 at stock speed beats FX-62. That is before OC.

If you want to further discuss this, open a new topic.

 

[Cuhulainn]

Originally posted by: gobucks

Originally posted by: Rendition
Be careful, the OCZ DDR2-800 RAM I bought didn't work with the DS3.

yeah, i've heard that there are issues with this memory (and many others), but i think there is a workaround. you can buy a cheap 256MB stick of slow DDR2-533 (try to find cas 3 and 1.8V vdimm) to boot into the computer, update the bios to the F4C beta, then go into your bios and adjust the vdimm to 2.0-2.1V and set the cas to 5. then you can put in your PC2-6400 memory and it should boot fine. you can adjust your timings from there. this is an annoying workaround and hopefully they'll fix it with a bios update, but for now at least you can run fast ram in your system.

No need for all that!

I have this OCZ memory. Just put 1 stick in to get the board to post, flash to the f4c bios, turn it off, put that 2nd stick in, and that's it. no adjustments necessary.

enjoy! :beer:

 

[Roy2001]

Gary,

Could you please clarify this? With stock BIOS (on current available DS3's), can we boot with DDR2 667/800 RAMS rated at1.9-2.1v?

I live in rural area. I already got OCZ DDR2-800 Plat RAMs (2.1v) and once CPU arrived I will order DS3 from newegg. It is hard for me to get 1.8v RAMs to boot in order to change BIOS to use DDR2-800 RAMs if it is not working.

Thanks for help,
Roy

 

[Cuhulainn]

Originally posted by: Roy2001
Gary,

Could you please clarify this? With stock BIOS (on current available DS3's), can we boot with DDR2 667/800 RAMS rated at1.9-2.1v?

I live in rural area. I already got OCZ DDR2-800 Plat RAMs (2.1v) and once CPU arrived I will order DS3 from newegg. It is hard for me to get 1.8v RAMs to boot in order to change BIOS to use DDR2-800 RAMs if it is not working.

Thanks for help,
Roy

uhhh, as I said before:

Originally posted by: Cuhulainn

No need for all that!

I have this OCZ memory. Just put 1 stick in to get the board to post, flash to the f4c bios, turn it off, put that 2nd stick in, and that's it. no adjustments necessary.

enjoy! :beer:

But if that wasn't clear enough..

The stock bios is F1 with DS3's shipping from NewEgg. It will boot with a single stick of this OCZ 2.1v, allowing you to access the bios menu. Then flash to more current version (I know that f4c works) that will provide the higher voltage to the DIMMs allowing you to install them both.

I got this info from OCZ support staff, and verified it myself when I set up the system in my sig last night. My system is now purring along with 2gigs.

But, if you don't want to take my word for it you can wait for Gary to answer. :disgust:

 

[Dulanic]

Same for me, it will boot with 1 stick, flash to F4C and youll be good after that.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
Same for me, it will boot with 1 stick, flash to F4C and youll be good after that.

Actually I had a rather different experience. I purchased the 4448@DDR2-667@1.8V OCZ from newegg and the DS3 from eWiz. The DS3 came with the F2 BIOS and would not boot with either RAM stick separately in any slot or with both of them in any configuration. Would not boot at all under any circumstances. Nothing. Note that this is with RAM specified to run at 1.8V and the OCZ tech I emailed couldn't explain why it wouldn't boot.

I had to go purchase cheapo DDR2-533 Kingston 512 stick at local CC, with that memory it booted right up on the first try. I then flashed to F4C, boosted the voltage +0.2V, set to CAS4 and shut down. Installed the two OCZ sticks and it came up properly, now have my CeleronD 325 running at 3.04GHz and waiting for my E6400 (due tomorrow).

 

[Zinthar]

Originally posted by: Gary Key

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: Gary Key
Have not tried a small 40mm fan yet or different cooling solution........ the best thing to do if you are running OC 24/7 is to add a good Northbridge cooler, Coolermaster Blue Ice NB comes to mind.....

What do you think of This Swiftech model?

I should have known Swiftech would be brought up.... LOL...... I have one of those on the way along with the CM Blue Ice and Blue Ice Pro and this monster - The Big One. - I am sure the Swiftech would work great, going to pull a cheap nb fan/heatsink off an old motherboard tomorrow and try it.

Gary recommended the Blue Ice Pro...but would it (being an oversized mofo) fit on the DS3 if I install a Scythe Ninja Plus??

 

[Madellga]

Originally posted by: Zinthar

Originally posted by: Gary Key

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: Gary Key
Have not tried a small 40mm fan yet or different cooling solution........ the best thing to do if you are running OC 24/7 is to add a good Northbridge cooler, Coolermaster Blue Ice NB comes to mind.....

What do you think of This Swiftech model?

I should have known Swiftech would be brought up.... LOL...... I have one of those on the way along with the CM Blue Ice and Blue Ice Pro and this monster - The Big One. - I am sure the Swiftech would work great, going to pull a cheap nb fan/heatsink off an old motherboard tomorrow and try it.

Gary recommended the Blue Ice Pro...but would it (being an oversized mofo) fit on the DS3 if I install a Scythe Ninja Plus??

Think about also the Thermalright SI-128. Easy to install - under 1 minute - NO TOOLS needed. And you cool around the CPU also.