Q9550 trying for 4ghz

[orlywutlol]

I got this Q9550 a few months back and tried for 4ghz but whatever I threw at this chip I couldn't get it stable so I settled for my current overclock. (3.825ghz) I am actually quite impressed with the DS3L flavor of this board. I was told that I may not even get to as far as I am now.

Well I have the itch to try for 4ghz again. But I am sure I'd have to do some major tweaking with the more advanced settings to try and get this stable. Just looking for any helpful insights on where to begin. Any Ideas?

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  CPU Clock Ratio                      [8x]<o:p></o:p>
  Fine CPU Clock Ratio               [+0.5]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  CPU Host Clock Control           [Enabled]<o:p></o:p>
  CPU Host Freq                         [450]<o:p></o:p>
  PCI Express Freq                      [100]<o:p></o:p>
  C.I.A.2                                     [Disabled]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  [B]Advanced Clock Control<o:p></o:p>[/B]
  CPU Clock Drive                      [800mv]<o:p></o:p>
  PCI Express Clock Drive           [900mv]<o:p></o:p>
  CPU Clock Skew                      [0ps]<o:p></o:p>
  MCH Clock Skew                     [50ps]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  [B]DRAM Performance Control<o:p></o:p>[/B]
  Performance Enhance               [Standard]<o:p></o:p>
  Extreme Memory Profile           [Auto]<o:p></o:p>
  MCH Freq Latch                      [400mhz]<o:p></o:p>
  System Memory Multiplier         [2.00D]<o:p></o:p>
  Mem freq 1066 [900]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  DRAM Timing Selectable          [Manual]<o:p></o:p>
  CAS Latency Time       5          [5]<o:p></o:p>
  tRCD                           7          [5]<o:p></o:p>
  rRP                              7          [5]<o:p></o:p>
  rRAS                            20         [15]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  [B]Advanced Timing Control<o:p></o:p>[/B]
  tRPD                            4          [4]<o:p></o:p>
  tWTR                           4          [4]<o:p></o:p>
  tWR                             8          [4]<o:p></o:p>
  tRFC                            68         [68]<o:p></o:p>
  tRTP                            4          [4]<o:p></o:p>
  Command Rate             0          [2]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  [B]Channel A timing settings<o:p></o:p>[/B]
  Static tRead Value        11         [11]<o:p></o:p>
                                                  [Auto for rest]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  [B]Channel A Driving Settings<o:p></o:p>[/B]
  Driving strength profile  [Auto for everything]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  [B]Channel B settings are the same as A<o:p></o:p>[/B]
  [B]<o:p> </o:p>[/B]
  CPU Vcore                  1.150v               [1.2875v]<o:p></o:p>
  CPU Termination          1.200v              [1.300v]<o:p></o:p>
  CPU PLL                     1.550v              [1.550v]<o:p></o:p>
  CPU Reference            0.805v              [Auto]<o:p></o:p>
  <o:p> </o:p>
  MCH Core                   1.100v              [1.360v]<o:p></o:p>
  MCH Reference           0.760v              [Auto]<o:p></o:p>
  ICH I/O                        1.550v              [Auto]<o:p></o:p>
  DRAM Volt                  1.800v              [2.000v]<o:p></o:p>

I changed the CPU Skew to 100ps, MCH Skew to 250ps and my vcore to 1.3250v from the bios settings I have posted. I managed to boot into windows and run OCCT for about 25 - 30mins at 4ghz until I got an error on one of my cores. Not quite sure where to go from there.

[orlywutlol]

Re: Q9550 trying for 4ghz

Been doing some on and off testing the past few hours. Managed to get (465x8.5) 1 hour OCCT stable. I changed some ram settings and vcore. Here are my current settings. Temps are 71 71 66 66 so they are getting up there. I'd really like that 4ghz but I cant seem to get it stable no matter how many volts I throw at it. I dont know where else to go from here. I presume I'd need to tweak more of the advanced settings. My CPU PLL is set at the default 1.55v for my board. The next notch up is 1.65v. Is t his setting safe? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: [8x]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.[+0.5]
CPU Frequency ...........................:  3.95ghz


Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: [465]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: [100]

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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 800mv
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900mv
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< [50ps]
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< [250ps]


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [333mhz]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: [2.40B]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: [1116]
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................[5]
tRCD .........................................[5]
tRP'...........................................[5]
tRAS..........................................[15]

Set all Suggested below to highest Values first.  Then later you can lower, one at a time, testing as you go

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................[4]
tWTR..........................................[4]
tWR............................................[8]
tRFC...........................................[54]
tRTP...........................................[4]
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:[2]

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................[Auto]

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:[8]
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto 
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto 
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto 
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto 
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:[8]
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto 
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto 
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto 
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto 
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps

Motherboard Voltage Control

CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................:[1.3375v]
CPU Termination…..... [1.320]
CPU PLL…………………....[1.55]
CPU Referen.…………....[Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: [1.380]
MCH Reference….…….0.760V...........; [Auto]
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............: [Auto]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: [2.10v]


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) ...........: [Disabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled] Enabled if you use Vmware/Virtual PC

[casecutter]

Re: Q9550 trying for 4ghz

That combo is most likely unable to pull this much of an overclock off. Keep the PLL voltage 1.65V or less and just optimize it for the highest stable clocks you got. Anything over 3.8GHz will never be felt and to me, anything over 3.2Ghz is a waste. I always optimze all my systems at 3.2GHz and get them running as cool and quiet as possible. Good luck!