Question about e8400 voltage and stability

[thepieguy]

I have my e8400 (E0) overclocked to 4.0Ghz, stable, at only 1.2625 vcore (in BIOS). Now, when I try to go to 4.2Ghz I just can't get it close to stable and I've tried as high as 1.425 vcore (in BIOS). So, is this typical of e8400 processors, to top out at one OC on very acceptable voltages but then require so much more voltage to get to the next level?

I will post my 4.2Ghz settings here if anybody could take a look and see if I've got anything wrong or anything I could try. My system specs are in my sig. I tested my RAM at 960mhz, so I don't think it's the problem. My 4.0Ghz OC used 1.2625 vcore, 1.2 vtt, 1.5 pll, 1.3 MCH. Here are the unstable 4.2 settings:


MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:. +0.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 4.2ghz


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 467
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 101


C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: 400
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.0D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 934 mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]


Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 5
tRCD ......................................... 5
tRP'........................................... 5
tRAS.......................................... 18


Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3 (auto)
tWTR.......................................... 3 (auto)
tWR............................................ 6 (auto)
tRFC........................................... 60 (manual)
tRTP........................................... 3 (auto)
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 0 (auto)


Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ 1066 for both channels


Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 12 (manual)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto 0
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto 0
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto 0
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto 0
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto 6
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto 6
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto 5
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto 8
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps


Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 12 (manual)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto 0
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto 0
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto 0
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto 0
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto 6
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto 6
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto 5
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto 8
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps


Motherboard Voltage Control

Load Line Calibration......................... [Disabled]
CPU














MCH/ICH







DRAM


Channel A Reference 0.900V............: 0.9 (auto)
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: 0.9 (auto)


Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]


Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled]

[kick]

Re: Question about e8400 voltage and stability

did you check this?

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/ud3p-8500-over-4-1ghz-posbile-30865/index3.html

Might be some info.
Just as an aside my ram needs 2.2v in bios to run 1000mhz and only 2.08 for 980,I wouldnt bother pushing it except the 3.5 Ghz/500fsb feels better than 3.43/490

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Question about e8400 voltage and stability

I would set ram voltage to 2.1 for now to be sure that is not part of the issue.

Then I would say try these changes, along with possibly more Vcore. You are using to much voltage and that is likely causing the failures >>>

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: 1.33-1.34


MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.24-1.28
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........; .76 (auto)
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: .9 (auto)
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............: 1.55
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: 1.14-1.2

[thepieguy]

Re: Question about e8400 voltage and stability

LSD, thanks for your suggestions. I just couldn't get them to work, in either the lower or upper ranges. I have to use termination of 1.38 with any of the other voltages you suggested in order to boot, but from there it seems far from stable. I am going to stick with 4.0Ghz since 4.2 is being difficult and I am not comfortable with the voltages needed and temps being generated!

Now, I am wondering if I might be able to tweak the timings on my RAM a little bit since I bumped them up for overclocking, but I'm not sure where to start or what to try. Do you have any suggestions? Here are my 4.0Ghz settings.

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:. +0.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 4.0ghz

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 445
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: 333
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.0B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 890 mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 5
tRCD ......................................... 5
tRP'........................................... 5
tRAS.......................................... 18

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3 (auto)
tWTR.......................................... 3 (auto)
tWR............................................ 6 (auto)
tRFC........................................... 56 (manual)
tRTP........................................... 3 (auto)
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 0 (auto)

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ 1066 for both channels

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 9 (manual)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto 0
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto 0
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto 0
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto 0
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto 6
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto 6
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto 5
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto 8
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 9 (manual)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto 0
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto 0
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto 0
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto 0
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto 6
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto 6
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto 5
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto 8
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
Load Line Calibration......................... [Disabled]
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.2625 (manual)

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: 1.2 (manual)

CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: 1.5 (manual)

CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: .76 (auto)



MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.3 (manual)
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........; .76 (auto)
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: .9 (auto)
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............: 1.5 (manual)
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: 1.1 (manual)

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.0v (manual)
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: 0.9 (auto)
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: 0.9 (auto)
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: 0.9 (auto)

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled]