My i7 overclocking journey/failure?

[Sekkai]

Specs:

i7 920 processor, d0 stepping
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P Motherboard
12 GB OCZ Gold RAM
GTX 295 Video Card
Corsair 850W PSU
Antec 1200 Full Tower Case
Prolimatech Megahalem Heatsink with AS5 thermal compound



I reset my CMOS Switch and then changed these settings:

36x QPI Linkspeed
6x Memory Multiplier
36X Uncore QPI Linkspeed
13x Uncore Frequency
Turbo Boost Tech on, Speedstep/C1E on, Turbo Performance Enhancement On


Starting off from a base clock of 133 and 1V VCore, I started raising the baseclock by intervals of 10. These were my findings:

VCore: 1, Baseclock: 143 --- boots into Windows, Prime95 runs without issue, 3 GHz achieved (143*21)
VCore: 1, Baseclock: 153 --- doesn't boot into Windows
VCore: 1.01250, Baseclock: 153 --- Bluescreened at login screen.
VCore: 1.05, Baseclock: 153 --- boots into Windows, Prime95 runs without issue, 3.212 GHz achieved (153*21)
VCore: 1.1, Baseclock: 163 --- boots into Windows, Prime95 runs without issue, 3.422 Ghz achieved (163*21)
VCore: 1.1, Baseclock: 173 --- bluescreen before login
VCore: 1.125, Baseclock: 173 --- Prime95 bluescreens upon running
VCore: 1.13750, Baseclock: 173 --- boots into Windows, Prime95 runs without issue, 3.632 Ghz achieved (173*21)
VCore: 1.2, Baseclock: 183 --- Prime95 bluescreens upon running
VCore: 1.21250, Baseclock: 183 --- boots into Windows, Prime95 runs without issue, 3.842 GHz achieved (183*21)
VCore: 1.2750, Baseclock: 193 --- boots into Windows, Prime95 runs without issue, 4.053 GHz achieved (193*21)
VCore: 1.3, Baseclock: 200 --- bluescreens upon Windows login


At the higher levels, the overvoltage lights turned green as well on my mobo.

And now for the anger-inducing part:

VCore: 1.275, Baseclock: 200 --- bluescreen
VCore: 1.25V, Baseclock: 193 --- bluescreen
VCore: 1.21250, Baseclock: 183 --- doesn't boot
VCore: 1.25, Baseclock: 183 --- doesn't boot


What on earth is going on? Did I do something incorrectly? My old setups stopped working.

I am back at default settings but with .95V right now, 2.8 GHz at load, because I'm damned scared I am going to break shit.

 

[faxon]

more details can be found here. http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2331162&enterthread=y

also if you are getting 4GHz @ 1.275vcore that is friggin amazing. that's even better than my Q9650 (1.3vcore bios for 4GHz 445x9). like i said in the other thread, sounds like you need more bclk voltage, i just dont honestly know what it's called in your bios lol

 

[Sekkai]

But the problem is that at those levels, my overvoltage lights were turning on (even if I was able to boot into Windows, run stability tests, etc)

And now, for some reason, my old settings aren't working.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Whats the voltage on your ram? Ram timing could be fast since your increasing bclk and not adjusting timings and adding more voltage to you ram. Probably need a little bump to QPI. I got my i7 @3.62 stock voltage easy. I actually had it 3.8 at one time on stock voltage but it was unstable and I don't have a heatsink that was capable of a handling that speed with a slight voltage bump so I left it where its at. You really should read up on overclocking an i7 so you won't be so in the dark about the whole process. There is no reason with a beast of a heatsink like the megahalems and a D0 stepping you can't have a stable 4.0 ghz easy.

 

[Sekkai]

I *am* reading guides. Thing is, I get these overvoltage lights and I'm not even putting additional volts in there.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I wouldn't pay much attention to the overvoltage lights. I'm guessing thats some feature with your mobo. Check your voltages in the bios, then in windows with cpu-z and the program that came with your mobo. If its all ok then I would disregard the lights. Are you adjusting your ram timings and adding voltage as necessary? Did you increase qpi voltage?

 

[Sekkai]

The only things I am changing are the things I've listed in the first post -- everything else is Auto/whatever comes at stock with resetting the CMOS.

I'm not really sure I properly understand the process of adjusting VCore, QPI/Vtt, IOH voltage, DIMM voltage, etc, nor do I understand RAM timings.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I really wouldn't know where to begin as far as explaining all of it. Do some research, there are some good articles on ram timings, voltage, etc. Learn how a i7 chipset works and why. Even reading some guides on overclocking socket 775 would give you a good idea of whats going on. I'm sure someone could tell you overvolt this, run your ram at this, etc.. but what good has that done you? You need to know why your doing what your doing. Heck start a ram timing thread.

 

[Sekkai]

I know that I need to understand the process, but none of the sources I have found truly get into the process. I don't even know what a memory ratio means -- what's the MATH behind it? I need some sort of mathematical relationship between everything.

I don't know when I need to increase VCore versus QPI/Vtt versus IOH versus DIMM, and I don't know if my overvoltage lights are a bad sign, etc. I haven't found definitive answers to these general questions anywhere.

 

[Sekkai]

Anyone have any answers regarding these voltage settings or Uncore settings?

 

[Sekkai]

What are some default values I can set at stock levels, and what should my adjustment process be?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Some info on voltages like VTT at bottom of page

 

[Sekkai]

Thanks. It doesn't seem like there is much room for increasing it, lol.

But in general, if my overvoltage lights are on, and the system still crashes even though my temps are good, what is causing it?

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: Sekkai
And now for the anger-inducing part:

VCore: 1.275, Baseclock: 200 --- bluescreen
VCore: 1.25V, Baseclock: 193 --- bluescreen
VCore: 1.21250, Baseclock: 183 --- doesn't boot
VCore: 1.25, Baseclock: 183 --- doesn't boot

What on earth is going on? Did I do something incorrectly? My old setups stopped working.

On your old setup, Baseclock: 193 did not work until VCore: 1.2750
I think you got your voltages wrong when going back down.

What were your load temps at 4.053? If they were too high run it at 3.8 and be happy

 

[Shmee]

check my post in your other thread. especially for 12 GB of ram, try around 1.3 V QPI VTT for your higher OC's. If your chip is like mine, you may need even more if you want to break 200 BCLK.

For a high OC, start off with something like 1.375 Vcore, and back off later if stable. that way you can find a sweet voltage spot later (or realize that even 1.375 isnt enough )