E8400 won't overclock

[PinkPanther1970]

I just build a new machine with an E8400 processor, the Gigabyte EP35-DS3 motherboard and 2Gb of OCZ platinum rev.2 DDR2-800 (4-4-4-15).
Having read all the stories about how easy it is to overclock this processor, I decided to have a go at it.
Result: 0
My computer does POST, starts XP and then just restarts.
I tried 400*9 (which is a minimum that everyone seems to be getting) at different Vcore settings (between 1.22 and 1.30), but the machine refuses to go beyond the XP start up screen.
DES and EIST are disabled, I flashed the BIOS to F2.

Am I the only one who isn't able to overclock this processor?
Does anyone have the same combination of processor and motherboard who could give me his detailed BIOS settings?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Start off slow first of all, you cannot just jump into 400fsb and expect it to just work. Did you follow the guide stickied at the top of this forum?

 

[PinkPanther1970]

Graysky's guide? Yes, I did.
Most people go directly for 3.6ghz with this processor and some even without touching anything in the BIOS (except for the FSB, of course).
Some are even getting up to 4.5ghz on the stock cooler.
I installed the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro and I'm getting core temperatures of about 35-36 °C at idle.
But it won't let me overclock.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

was this a previous install of XP or a fresh install with the 8400?

 

[PinkPanther1970]

Complete new system, so fresh install.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

hrm. I'm shooting in the dark here as I'm still on s939 relishing in the glory days of AMD but, I'd try from scratch, with defaults and manually set all defaults, then start a little slower, just for the sake of experimentation, and make sure only test one item at a time, i.e. don't try to overclock the FSB, memory and total CPU speed simultaneously. Drop the multi and change the ram divider to check if your cpu/mobo are capable of running 400fsb at any frequency then bring ram divider and then multiplier back up to see where the hang-up is.

 

[PinkPanther1970]

I've been searching all over the internet and found something that might offer a solution.
It seems that people with a Gigabyte motherboard that were unable to overclock at all, no longer have any problem to do so after setting "Legacy USB storage detect" to [disable] in the BIOS and disconnecting their USB external HDD.
I will try that tonight.
But, if this is indeed the solution, does that mean I won't be able to use my external USB hard drive if I want to overclock?

 

[gingerstewart55]

Did you remember to boost the voltage on your memory instead of leaving at its stock 1.8V? IF you are leaving it at its stock voltage, it may be part of your problem.

But, you never begin overclocking by jumping in at a high FSB setting without first making sure your computer is stable at stock speeds.....what if you have a bad stick of memory? Too many variables involved to figure it out with just "My 8400 won't OC." and nothing else.

BTW......the 8400 cpu WILL overclock like a banshee.....4GHz is easily attainable by almost every motherboard/memory combo out there.......

 

[PinkPanther1970]

I raised the voltage of the memory to 2.0v.
I ran prime95 at stock and the system is stable.

I found the problem with the external USB drive here (last 2 posts): Legacy USB storage detect

 

[Anubis]

its not just the gigabite mobos that have an issue with legacy USB storage things

im on a ABIT ip35-E and my 8400 wouldent even boot at 100% stock settings when i had a D-Link USB2 4 port hub plugged in, it would hang at the bios screen for like 2 min and then fail to ever load windows

i have not tried it with a normal USB HDD yet


strangest/stupidest issue i have ever seen

 

[PinkPanther1970]

Originally posted by: Anubis

it would hang at the bios screen for like 2 min and then fail to ever load windows

One thing I noticed: the external USB HDD momentarily spins down and start up again when XP starts up. It didn't show this behaviour on my old machine.

 

[Anubis]

i can test with a USB HDD when i get off work, i dont use them much anymore but now im kind of curious if itll cause the same issue as the silly USB Hub

 

[DerwenArtos12]

This explains a lot. Customer system started hanging on stock settings when he attempted to use his external hard drive about 4 months ago. I just pulled the drive to test it and it turned out fine so I slapped it in his system and the problems went away. I had assumed that his enclosure was the source of the problem but, this makes a little more sense.

 

[PinkPanther1970]

Just done some testing.
Disabled the setting in BIOS and shut down the external USB HDD.
Went straight for 400*9 and system started without a single problem.
I restarted the HDD and restarted the system, everything still fine.
So the system is working at 3.6ghz with the external HDD working and the BIOS setting "Legacy USB storage detect" disabled.
So, what is the use of this BIOS setting and can I harm my external HDD with this setting disabled?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: PinkPanther1970
Just done some testing.
Disabled the setting in BIOS and shut down the external USB HDD.
Went straight for 400*9 and system started without a single problem.
I restarted the HDD and restarted the system, everything still fine.
So the system is working at 3.6ghz with the external HDD working and the BIOS setting "Legacy USB storage detect" disabled.
So, what is the use of this BIOS setting and can I harm my external HDD with this setting disabled?

The bios setting is used to boot from external USB hard drives, makes no difference in windows operation.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
The bios setting is used to boot from external USB hard drives, makes no difference in windows operation.

:thumbsup: Just have the USB drive disconnected at boot-up. After BIOS has selected you primary boot drive, you can add external storage.

 

[Xvys]

You won't be able to o/c your system much with 4-4-4 timings unless you increase the ram voltage a bunch. Better to loosen the timings to 5-5-5-15 or 5-6-6-18 with 2.1v, whille testing to eliminate the ram as an o/c roadblock. Then increase the FSB with more cpu voltage (to 1.365v) and increase the NB to 1.40v or 1.55v to stabilize the system. After you have reached your max. FSB, then you can tighten the ram timings back to 4-4-4 or 5-5-5 and set the ram voltage as low as possible while maintaing stability with those timings.

 

[jhbball]

I'm actually having some difficulty overclocking an e8400 as well. I can't get 3.6 ghz @ 9x4 to be stable @ 1.3vcore. Everything turned off in the bios. Tested the ram at a lower multiplier just fine, to be safe. I'm currently sitting at 3.4ghz @ 225x8. I'm using an Abit IP35-e. Any suggestions? More Vcore?

 

[djplayer]

I guess I'll subscribe to this thread for some assistance.. I have a Gigabyte P35 DS4 version 2.0 running the newest version of bios. My cpu is the e8400 which is currently running 3.6ghz @ stock voltage. my ram is currently stable @ 940mhz 5-5-5-15. But.. if i push the ram even a hair higher.. 980mhz I believe.. I will get locked during windows bootup..

I have pushed my e8400 well into the 400ghz+ range.. by increasing the voltage just slightly, on air cooling..

gigabyte p35-ds4
intel e8400
4gb ddr2 940ghz 5-5-5-15
2 x 150gb WD Raptors
320gb WD Caviar
evga 8600gt
vista/ubuntu/osx leopard triple boot.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: jhbball
I'm actually having some difficulty overclocking an e8400 as well. I can't get 3.6 ghz @ 9x4 to be stable @ 1.3vcore. Everything turned off in the bios. Tested the ram at a lower multiplier just fine, to be safe. I'm currently sitting at 3.4ghz @ 225x8. I'm using an Abit IP35-e. Any suggestions? More Vcore?

check the thread on this motherboard in the motherboard section, it's incredibly thorough!