Xeon L5639 Overclocking on X58

[DrDoug]

Well I copied these settings over but I keep getting 0x01A memory management BSODs.

What brand, speed and amount of RAM are you running and what is its current speed? I'm currently running 3x4GB Kingston HyperX 1600 XMP (not in XMP mode though) modules at 1440 with timings of 9-9-9-27-120-11-6-5-6-20 and at a command rate of 1T. These settings are fine for my RAM/system, not something to be tried on just any RAM. I would recommend running CPUz and looking under the Memory tab for the specs and speeds your RAM is rated to run at. If you can post a screenshot of that I (and others) could recommend some settings to try.

 

[Burpo]

Why leave CPU Voltage control on Manual instead of Offset or Dynamic? These boards do an excellent job of ramping up the juice when needed, without having a set voltage that's too high for idle. QPI settings are about right at 1.32-1.35 & pretty important for overclocking (I use 1.325) PLL is good also at 1.82 volts. RAM is Patriot 1600mhz and clocking higher than that at 1.64 volts

 

[CropDuster]

What brand, speed and amount of RAM are you running and what is its current speed? I'm currently running 3x4GB Kingston HyperX 1600 XMP (not in XMP mode though) modules at 1440 with timings of 9-9-9-27-120-11-6-5-6-20 and at a command rate of 1T. These settings are fine for my RAM/system, not something to be tried on just any RAM. I would recommend running CPUz and looking under the Memory tab for the specs and speeds your RAM is rated to run at. If you can post a screenshot of that I (and others) could recommend some settings to try.

3x2GB of ADATA XPG 9-9-9-24 @ 1.50 volts. I'll have to check the other specs when I get home from work as I don't remember them.

Why leave CPU Voltage control on Manual instead of Offset or Dynamic? These boards do an excellent job of ramping up the juice when needed, without having a set voltage that's too high for idle. QPI settings are about right at 1.32-1.35 & pretty important for overclocking (I use 1.325) PLL is good also at 1.82 volts. My RAM is Patriot 1600mhz and clocking higher than that at 1.64 volts

I'm a newb at overclocking, so I don't really know the mechanics of the different voltage settings. I appreciate the help and advice.

 

[DrDoug]

I like to lock the cpu voltage solid until I get my best clocks and stability, then I work on establishing the voltage curve. It just seems easier to me as it eliminates the variable voltage during stability testing of clocks/timings.

 

[Burpo]

Maybe it's just the Asus board that makes it easy.. I only tested for less than a day, and only had 2 blue screens during testing to find the max BCLK of my X5650.. It has been working daily every since without a hiccup. To tun 210 BCLK I had to set Offset to .41 volts and that was just too high for heavy constant loads with my single fan CPU cooler. Backed it down to 203 & +.30 volts & is a rock solid work horse without overheating.

 

[DrDoug]

Maybe it's just the Asus board that makes it easy.. I only tested for less than a day, and only had 2 blue screens during testing to find the max BCLK of my X5650.. It has been working daily every since without a hiccup. To tun 210 BCLK I had to set Offset to .41 volts and that was just too high for heavy constant loads with my single fan CPU cooler. Backed it down to 203 & +.30 volts & is a rock solid work horse without overheating.

My problem is that I'm never in a hurry and I want absolute stability due to the fact that my main system doubles as one of my business storage systems, so I take my time to make sure that I'm not going to have crashes right in the middle of important work or backing up/saving important data.

Patience pays off in the long run and I'm one patient mofo.

 

[Burpo]

I hear you.. It was obvious rather quickly that the CPU cooler was holding mine back. Once I saw that I dialed it back..

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

My problem is that I'm never in a hurry and I want absolute stability due to the fact that my main system doubles as one of my business storage systems, so I take my time to make sure that I'm not going to have crashes right in the middle of important work or backing up/saving important data.

Patience pays off in the long run and I'm one patient mofo.

That's a good thing. You should carry that over to your overclocking need. Just do a mild overclock. I'm thinking of just doing a 161 BCLK @ 23 (chip came in today, very excited - hope this one isn't dead either *knocks on wood*) That'll get me 3.7Ghz and that's good for a daily rig.. I'll probably take my i7 970 higher in my gaming machine. I hope to see 4.5-4.6Ghz on it.

 

[CropDuster]

3x2GB of ADATA XPG 9-9-9-24 @ 1.50 volts. I'll have to check the other specs when I get home from work as I don't remember them.

CPUZ screenies

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Well the X5660 works. Only thing is the temps are WAAAAY off. HWmonitor is reporting single digit Celsius readings on some of the cores with the others in the low teens Celsius. :hmm: I'm running P95 just to get the temps back to room temp. It might have just been from the cold, I'm hoping. Otherwise this thing seems fantastic! Straight up option for the 23x multiplier. No fussing with Having Speedstep and Turbo on! @ 135x23 I'm @ 3105MHz, .50MHz away from my previous setup with my L5639! WOW!!!

Gonna let this thing settle in for a few days before giving it a little overclocking. I'm sticking with 161 BCKL @ 23x for now. 3.7Ghz is fantastic for a daily machine with heavy gaming

:wub::wub::wub:

 

[DrDoug]

Some people like to push everything at once (cpu & memory) while oc'ing while I prefer to treat each 'area' separately. The first thing I do is push the CPU using fixed settings (like locking Vcore at a fixed point) while the memory 'follows' at just under spec settings. With this in mind and looking at your settings (compared to mine), the first thing I would do is drop your DRAM speed (currently 805/1610) down a notch, set a fixed Vcore (I'm using 1.296, which gives me about 1.285 in Windows) and resume testing. Leave your memory timings on auto for this initial testing and note the values in BIOS (all of them, as I show in this screenshot of my BIOS):

Some BIOS will not show the set values until after a reboot so do that before noting them if your BIOS is like that. My system kept trying to set lower timings (than spec) for the speed they were at (1440), which were not stable, so I ended up pulling the data for my memory timing from BIOS (by setting each speed manually, rebooting and returning to BIOS to note the values). My default XMP/1600 timings are: 9-9-9-27-128-12-6-5-6-20-1T and they are currently set as in the above screenshot. I left some settings on auto because they were the same as the spec settings so no need to manually set them. I tested the system at 1440 with the XMP/1600 timings set and the system was stable. After noting the timing differences between JEDEC spec #4 (685/1370) and the XMP/1600 values, since I was at 720/1440 I set my initial timings to: 9-9-9-27-114-10-6-5-6-20-1T. While it passed all tests (Prime95, IBT and various other benchmarking tools), the system hung at the shutdown screen. I rebooted and then set the timings to: 9-9-9-27-117-10-6-5-6-20-1T and tried again. Same thing, passes tests but hangs at shutdown. So I set my current timings: 9-9-9-27-120-10-6-5-6-20-1T and everything is working fine.

I am telling you all of this because before I could start working on the memory as detailed above, I first set it to below spec (a safe and known stable speed) and pushed the CPU up to where I am comfortable with my current cooling (have hit a max temp of 83*C running IBT on Very High with a ThermalTake Frio cooler). Since my memory speed options are (excuse the blur!):

My next step up in speed would be to push it to 1800, which is over spec for this memory. Since this computer is also a work system I would rather not push it that high. Because of that, my current options to push the memory higher would have to be upping the CPU speed. With my temps hitting 83*C, I would need to replace my cooler with a better one to do that (which I am considering if I can sell off my Frio).

In your case, I would do as I stated above: lock Vcore to around 1.28, set memory speed/timings one notch below top speed (2:8 ratio) and start pushing the BCLK up.

Then we take it from there! I hope this helps.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

You need to set that memory as low as possible so you don't push it and end up with corrupt data

 

[SkOrPn]

That's a good thing. You should carry that over to your overclocking need. Just do a mild overclock.

I'm the same way. I managed to get stable at 4.5 when I first got my 930, however over the years I have found that there really isn't a need for the highest possible clocks. By winter 2011/12 I had finally brought down my clocks to 3.8 and then in the summer I just stopped overclocking all together. Then this winter I decided to load my saved 3.8 overclock back up and I brought it down further to 3.6 ghz (200x18). Not sure why but I almost think it runs better at 3.6 then 3.8 or higher, is that crazy talk or what?

Anyway, I think I would like to finally get a hexa core and run it also at 3.6ghz if it will let me and then retire it to media server duties. Then I can see about finally upgrading to 4th gen i7.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I'm the same way. I managed to get stable at 4.5 when I first got my 930, however over the years I have found that there really isn't a need for the highest possible clocks. By winter 2011/12 I had finally brought down my clocks to 3.8 and then in the summer I just stopped overclocking all together. Then this winter I decided to load my saved 3.8 overclock back up and I brought it down further to 3.6 ghz (200x18). Not sure why but I almost think it runs better at 3.6 then 3.8 or higher, is that crazy talk or what?

No. Not at all. I had an i7 920 that would do 4Ghz. I settled around 3.8Ghz.. I think after a while we prefer stability over speed. I've never overclocked my 970 yet. Still feels fast at stock (3.2) although I run games based off the UE3 engine. UT3 is about the toughest game on the engine. UT3 likes a faster CPU, no doubt.

Anyway, I think I would like to finally get a hexa core and run it also at 3.6ghz if it will let me and then retire it to media server duties. Then I can see about finally upgrading to 4th gen i7.

H*ll yeah, dude! Do it! Get yourself a Xeon. They are fantastic!! I have a straight up option for running the 23x multipier. No having to make sure other CPU features are turned on to enable the higher multi. The only issue I have is the temp readings of the cores. They are back down to the teens and single digit Celsius readings :hmm:

 

[DrDoug]

CropDuster:

One note regarding your current memory timings (9-9-9-24-88...-1T) is that you are under your JEDEC #4 (685/1370) spec for tRAS (25). You are running your memory at 805/1610 with a tRAS of 24, which is probably one reason why you are having problems bumping your BCLK higher. If that is the case (your instability), your tRFC may also be too low. The OCZ Gold 1600 memory that I had in this before my recent purchase of the Kingston HyperX 1600 had a much lower tRFC (60) than my current Kingston memory but the OCZ was also running at a command rate of 2T, which really slows memory performance (compared to a rate of 1T). You are also running at a rate of 1T so you may need to bump the tRFC up a bit (mine is best at 120, which, oddly enough, is 2x that of the OCZ memory but at 1/2 the command rate of the OCZ).

Yin-yang...lol!

No. Not at all. I had an i7 920 that would do 4Ghz. I settled around 3.8Ghz.. I think after a while we prefer stability over speed.

I did the same thing with my old 920, 4GHz max and dropped it to 3.8 for daily use. I'll date myself a bit with this tidbit but I started hot rodding computers back in the day when you would take the time to test for the optimum drive interleave and then use DOS debug to set it...lol

I used to push my equipment to the bleeding edge to get the most out of it but with the performance then that was a necessity. With the power of computing today, I just don't feel the need and am more than happy with a good, stable overclock. Just under 4GHz on six cores with this X5650 is a pretty damned good oc for my needs.

 

[CropDuster]

CropDuster:

One note regarding your current memory timings (9-9-9-24-88...-1T) is that you are under your JEDEC #4 (685/1370) spec for tRAS (25). You are running your memory at 805/1610 with a tRAS of 24, which is probably one reason why you are having problems bumping your BCLK higher. If that is the case (your instability), your tRFC may also be too low. The OCZ Gold 1600 memory that I had in this before my recent purchase of the Kingston HyperX 1600 had a much lower tRFC (60) than my current Kingston memory but the OCZ was also running at a command rate of 2T, which really slows memory performance (compared to a rate of 1T). You are also running at a rate of 1T so you may need to bump the tRFC up a bit (mine is best at 120, which, oddly enough, is 2x that of the OCZ memory but at 1/2 the command rate of the OCZ).

Yin-yang...lol!



I did the same thing with my old 920, 4GHz max and dropped it to 3.8 for daily use. I'll date myself a bit with this tidbit but I started hot rodding computers back in the day when you would take the time to test for the optimum drive interleave and then use DOS debug to set it...lol

I used to push my equipment to the bleeding edge to get the most out of it but with the performance then that was a necessity. With the power of computing today, I just don't feel the need and am more than happy with a good, stable overclock. Just under 4GHz on six cores with this X5650 is a pretty damned good oc for my needs.

Thanks for the tips Doug. I'll play around with it some more this weekend. I actually dropped it back to stock right now just to see how well it runs.

I have another question regarding temps. Core temp is showing low 20s and even 18-19*C on Core 4 and 5 on desktop. That seems too low to be true given that my room temp is at least 20*C. HWInfo64 shows mid to high 20s which seems more realistic. I am running a 120mm radiator with two Corsair SP120s blowing through it FWIW.

 

[DrDoug]

Thanks for the tips Doug. I'll play around with it some more this weekend. I actually dropped it back to stock right now just to see how well it runs.

I have another question regarding temps. Core temp is showing low 20s and even 18-19*C on Core 4 and 5 on desktop. That seems too low to be true given that my room temp is at least 20*C. HWInfo64 shows mid to high 20s which seems more realistic. I am running a 120mm radiator with two Corsair SP120s blowing through it FWIW.

I observed the very same thing at stock speeds with my X5650; idle temps at or just above room temp. Even oc'd, my idle temps have only gone up a few *C, hardly any change. I was playing TF2 last night and I noticed my temps (@ 3.96GHz) were only hitting 37-42*C. With me being on air and you on water, we are probably seeing the same thing.

This chip is one cool cat.

One other note:

Regarding tRFC timing I stated above, I forgot that the timing for this is memory density dependent. With my doubling of my memory density (2GB OCZ modules swapped out for 4GB Kingston modules), my tRFC would be higher with the new modules. Being that I doubled the chip density with the change, it's no surprise that my tRFC timing had to double. This means that your tRFC should end up at about what my old OCZ 2GB modules required, a tRFC of 60.

So yin-yang indeed.

 

[Makaveli]

I observed the very same thing at stock speeds with my X5650; idle temps at or just above room temp. Even oc'd, my idle temps have only gone up a few *C, hardly any change. I was playing TF2 last night and I noticed my temps (@ 3.96GHz) were only hitting 37-42*C. With me being on air and you on water, we are probably seeing the same thing.

This chip is one cool cat.

One other note:

Regarding tRFC timing I stated above, I forgot that the timing for this is memory density dependent. With my doubling of my memory density (2GB OCZ modules swapped out for 4GB Kingston modules), my tRFC would be higher with the new modules. Being that I doubled the chip density with the change, it's no surprise that my tRFC timing had to double. This means that your tRFC should end up at about what my old OCZ 2GB modules required, a tRFC of 60.

So yin-yang indeed.

That was a very interesting post above on memory timings.

I would love to hear your thoughts on my own.

I'm using 2GB sticks

 

[DrDoug]

That was a very interesting post above on memory timings.

I would love to hear your thoughts on my own.

I'm using 2GB sticks

First let me say that you have some excellent RAM in your system.

The thing about JEDEC specs are that they are what a manufacturer is required to meet for that memory to post in a system. For some RAM, that point is not only the 'starting line' but it's also the 'finish line'. With other RAM, like your Mushkin, the manufacturer has exceeded the JEDEC spec and the info (sticker) on the modules state what it really is capable of. For RAM like that, JEDEC is the starting point and the rated speed/timings (sticker or XMP) are the finish line. If the memory does not have an embedded XMP profile, you will not see this spec in CPUz but it is still capable of XMP-like performance. I'm not on my X5650 system right now but I will post a screenshot of my memory and its XMP profile in CPUz as an example.

Basically, when I overclock I use both the JEDEC spec that's just below my current memory speed and the spec on the sticker (or XMP profile) to calculate where I want to be. If the XMP timings are higher (or lower) than the timings of the highest JEDEC speed rating then I hang between those timings until I hit the top rated spec speed, where I run at that spec. Timings and speeds are an intricate balancing act and getting the most out of your memory can be tough for RAM from manufacturers who don't test their modules thoroughly.

Mushkin doesn't have that problem, they are thorough in their testing and your modules show it. I would be surprised if you could squeeze more out of your RAM because it's running real sweet right now.

 

[MongGrel]

"Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep® Technology has revolutionized thermal and power management by giving
application software greater control over the processor’s operating frequency and input voltage. Systems
can easily manage power consumption dynamically."

Saves electricity when idling at 12X, and steps it up to 23 on single thread loads. Chip's a work horse, and not bad for gaming either..

Might still get one myself, now that I have finally gotten everything everything else on here stabilized and have the I-7 920 up and how I like it in the bedroom for a wireless HTPC.

Had been actually not using the main rig that much while I was playing with that one he he.

Might even cruise around and look for something hotter, could sell this one again at any rate to a bitminer maybe.

*edit* someone where I usually hang out was selling a X5675 for 375, someone else jumped on it before I saw it. Might have, heh.

 

[Makaveli]

Mushkin doesn't have that problem, they are thorough in their testing and your modules show it. I would be surprised if you could squeeze more out of your RAM because it's running real sweet right now.

I probably could run it at DDR1866 or DDR2000 with very loose timing but these tripple channel system's aren't really bandwidth limited so I choose low latency over raw frequency.

I could also go for more clock speed on my overclock but I don't want to push 1.4v thru my chip. In fact i'm very happy I was able to hit 4.2 and still stay under 1.3v

 

[Brekyrself]

Anyone provide some x58 awardflash help? I bought another foxconn bloodrage for another L5639 however it has an old bios version and won't post with the L5639.

Using my good board, Foxconn's windows based update utility keeps flashing the primary bios even though I tell it to flash the backup bios so I can simply swap that into the new board.

-Does anyone know the dos based awardflash command to force it to flash the backup bios slot?

-Can I simply "hot" flash it by booting up with the new bios chip, swap in the old bios chip, and flash?

-Long shot, but I would pay nicely for someone to flash these chips for me asap.

 

[Burpo]

If you don't have a dif CPU to get it up & flashed, maybe you can just buy one from Foxconn..

 

[mithmorgul]

So fellahs, been messing around with my L5639 still. I've been content for the longest running my system with only 8 of the 12 megs of RAM I have installed. I've tried to different sets of RAM and get the same result...oddly enough my old 920 system has exhibited this problem as well, but its been mysteriously resolved after nearly 7 years on my i7 920 system (purchased in 08). Do you guys think the RAM issue could be related to the L5639 not liking 1.65 volt for XMP profile? Should I try some 1.5 volt ram?

 

[mithmorgul]

I've tried both HyperX Genesis (Blu) Triple Channel ...its in the i7 920 system and is working...so not touching it...And now I've tried this PNY XLR8 6 x 2 gig models and they'll run at 1700 Mhz all day, but I'm missing 4 gigs. Tried reseating etc. Could try a windows reinstall. Anything outside of running it at some non standard profile at 1700 results in the system rebooting over doing RAM test on ASUS ROG MB. I'll see if I can post the OCed CPU-Z stuff.

On a side note...this system is used primarily for games, but I do some Handbrake etc quite often. For games in general I've noticed that, for instance, Unengine's Heaven doesn't really benchmark that much higher with the CPU set at its normal clocks AND the GTX clocked at its normal clocks. That is to say it does well whether I'm running my cards GPU OCed to 1.2 ghz /RAM at 3.005 ghz and the proc up to 212+ Bclk or at stock speeds. I'm curious if there is a bottleneck somewhere. I've dropped it down to stock speeds for now because the damn thing won't go into sleep mode, but the system is miserly (760 at idle is measured at about 12 watts and the proc in idle state must be less than 10 watts).