Road To Overclocking

[mihir]

It sounds like you've already taken all of the appropriate thermal paste measures. If not, then definitely try to reapply a thinner layer of paste, and try something like Rosewill RCX-TC090PRO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200060&Tpk=Rosewill thermal compound
^Great paste - I was amazed at how easily it spread. It comes with a brush, and has a much thinner consistency then most pastes.

As for the temps: it depends how long it stays at 79C. If it stays in the low 70s after hours of CoreDamage (http://damage.vigilantesoftware.com/), and occasionally spikes up to 79, then you'll probably be fine. If it averages at around 79C running CoreDamage, then you'll have a bit of a problem. I fried my old Celly D after running it up into the 80s after a few minutes. Granted, I accidentally turned off thermal throttling in the BIOS, and it didn't quite "fry," but I definitely damaged it. I would suggest keeping it under 75C.

As a last resort, you could try liquid cooling. Of course, that gets pricey.

Also, make sure not to disable hyperthreading. You'll decrease performance significantly in apps that take advantage of >4 cores.

Yepp I have done all I can.I have all the possible thermal pastes available here.I have used the CM Thermal Fusion and also Arctic Cooling MX2.And also the paste which came with my cooler.Currently I am using the MX2 and I have applied it perfectly.I will buy another fan of a higher CFM something like Scythe Gentle typhoon or ultra kaze and use it as a push pull config.Currently I am using a single Push config with a really bad CM R4(blue).


What comments do you have on the voltages and the BCLK and the Memory,QPI,Uncore Multiplier.

Any ideas or suggestions.

 

[jasonn20]

If the PLL has been that high then just reset the bios and see what temps are with factory settings. If it is still not good then the cpu has been burned up.

 

[spynoodle]

Yepp I have done all I can.I have all the possible thermal pastes available here.I have used the CM Thermal Fusion and also Arctic Cooling MX2.And also the paste which came with my cooler.Currently I am using the MX2 and I have applied it perfectly.I will buy another fan of a higher CFM something like Scythe Gentle typhoon or ultra kaze and use it as a push pull config.Currently I am using a single Push config with a really bad CM R4(blue).


What comments do you have on the voltages and the BCLK and the Memory,QPI,Uncore Multiplier.

Any ideas or suggestions.

I personally don't know much about i7 BCLK, voltages, etc. I've only ever worked with NetBurst processors, so I can only suggest that you keep the voltage in the safe range recommended by other users. Google helps too.

A faster fan will probably help a bit. Since you have such a high ambient temperature, you need to push more air through. You might also want to try leaving your case open. Personally, I keep my case open and direct a crapload of fans toward the CPU cooler. Some people like to keep their cases closed, and create a sort of vacuum system of airflow throughout the case. For example, you could put a 92mm fan blowing out the back of your case, and then put a 92mm fan blowing air into the front of your case. Whichever system works better for you.

Also, as a side note, I think I'm poisoning myself keeping my case open. My motherboard is REALLY smelly.

 

[87dtna]

The temps seem just fine when you factor in a 37c ambient. You guys aren't taking into account thats ~16c more than a typicaly ambient in which case his max load temp would be ~63c with a normal ambient.

Anyway, try these settings for 3.8ghz-

BCLK Frequency - 200(MHz)
CPU multiplier- 19
Vcore- 1.30v
DRAM Frequency - 1,333MHz (6.66 multi, tighten ram timings)
CPU PLL Voltage - 1.70v
DRAM Voltage - 1.66V
QPI/DRAM Voltage - Auto

Leave QPI and Uncore speeds on auto as well.

I've found that most I7 920's don't like runnning 1600mhz ram speeds. By lowering the ram speed, you can run less QPI (VTT) voltage which will also lower your temps. Just tighten the ram timings. If your ram is 1600 9-9-9-24 than at 1333 just run 8-8-8-21 and it will be just as fast.

So prime95 small FFT those settings for atleast 20 minutes or so. If it's unstable, take Vcore to 1.325v. If it is stable, take the multiplier to 20 and test again for 4ghz. I would not have any problem running up to 1.3625v for a daily overclock except with your high ambient I think about 3.8ghz is all you are going to get to keep Vcore low and temps in check. But with that said, there's nothing that an I7 920 at 3.8ghz won't do FAST.

 

[mihir]

The temps seem just fine when you factor in a 37c ambient. You guys aren't taking into account thats ~16c more than a typicaly ambient in which case his max load temp would be ~63c with a normal ambient.

Anyway, try these settings for 3.8ghz-

BCLK Frequency - 200(MHz)
CPU multiplier- 19
Vcore- 1.30v
DRAM Frequency - 1,333MHz (6.66 multi, tighten ram timings)
CPU PLL Voltage - 1.70v
DRAM Voltage - 1.66V
QPI/DRAM Voltage - Auto

Leave QPI and Uncore speeds on auto as well.

I've found that most I7 920's don't like runnning 1600mhz ram speeds. By lowering the ram speed, you can run less QPI (VTT) voltage which will also lower your temps. Just tighten the ram timings. If your ram is 1600 9-9-9-24 than at 1333 just run 8-8-8-21 and it will be just as fast.

So prime95 small FFT those settings for atleast 20 minutes or so. If it's unstable, take Vcore to 1.325v. If it is stable, take the multiplier to 20 and test again for 4ghz. I would not have any problem running up to 1.3625v for a daily overclock except with your high ambient I think about 3.8ghz is all you are going to get to keep Vcore low and temps in check. But with that said, there's nothing that an I7 920 at 3.8ghz won't do FAST.

Thanks.Will try that.
I have read that 20 multiplier is not stable,are you sure it will be allright?.

 

[mihir]

The temps seem just fine when you factor in a 37c ambient. You guys aren't taking into account thats ~16c more than a typicaly ambient in which case his max load temp would be ~63c with a normal ambient.

Anyway, try these settings for 3.8ghz-

BCLK Frequency - 200(MHz)
CPU multiplier- 19
Vcore- 1.30v
DRAM Frequency - 1,333MHz (6.66 multi, tighten ram timings)
CPU PLL Voltage - 1.70v
DRAM Voltage - 1.66V
QPI/DRAM Voltage - Auto

Leave QPI and Uncore speeds on auto as well.

I've found that most I7 920's don't like runnning 1600mhz ram speeds. By lowering the ram speed, you can run less QPI (VTT) voltage which will also lower your temps. Just tighten the ram timings. If your ram is 1600 9-9-9-24 than at 1333 just run 8-8-8-21 and it will be just as fast.

So prime95 small FFT those settings for atleast 20 minutes or so. If it's unstable, take Vcore to 1.325v. If it is stable, take the multiplier to 20 and test again for 4ghz. I would not have any problem running up to 1.3625v for a daily overclock except with your high ambient I think about 3.8ghz is all you are going to get to keep Vcore low and temps in check. But with that said, there's nothing that an I7 920 at 3.8ghz won't do FAST.

Tried.Overclock failed.
And I had to set the DRAM Frequency to 1206MHz because once I set the base clock to 200MHz no option for DDR-1333MHZ.
It becomes 2200MHz.

Also The minimum PLL voltage I can set is 1.8.
It can't go any lower than that according to my bios.It won't let me set it to 1.7.

 

[87dtna]

The 19 multiplier failed or the 20 multi? I said try 19 first. Did you try 1.325v?

That makes no sense, 200 base clock should leave normal options for ram speeds....1333, 1600, and 2000. How can it even possibly be 2200? The multi's should be 6.66, 8, and 10. 10 would be 2000mhz. Something is screwy. What bios are you running?

EDIT- OK on the P6T deluxe the ram multi is 6 not 6.66. But for this troubleshooting I would leave the ram at 1200 then.

Just set PLL to auto then.

Did it atleast boot into the OS with those settings? Or no POST at all?


Can you take a picture of your screen in the bios?

 

[mihir]

The 19 multiplier failed or the 20 multi? I said try 19 first. Did you try 1.325v?

That makes no sense, 200 base clock should leave normal options for ram speeds....1333, 1600, and 2000. How can it even possibly be 2200? The multi's should be 6.66, 8, and 10. 10 would be 2000mhz. Something is screwy. What bios are you running?

EDIT- OK on the P6T deluxe the ram multi is 6 not 6.66. But for this troubleshooting I would leave the ram at 1200 then.

Just set PLL to auto then.

Did it atleast boot into the OS with those settings? Or no POST at all?

Can you take a picture of your screen in the bios?

The 19 Multiplier Failed and also I tried with 1.325 and.
And with 200 base clock I am getting completely different DRAM frequency.

I will take a picture and post it here.

My PC posted but it went directly to the screen of overclock failed and press F1 for BIOS and F2 for Default Bios.

 

[87dtna]

OK, well just to rule out Vcore as the reason for the failed overclock, use all the same settings but put the CPU's multi to 17 for 3.4ghz. If everything boots fine then we know it's simply a base clock reason and not the CPU's Vcore demands.

 

[mihir]

Tried 17 Multiplier and got a stable overclock.
After that tried this also Vcore 1.34 and BCLK - 193 Multiplier 21.Got an unstable overclock.
Currently Reverted back to my old overclock.
BCLK 183.VCORE - 1.312 Multi - 21.

My BIOS version was 2101 and now updated to 2209.

Here are some pictures of my BIOS. -

 

[87dtna]

I figured it out. With the P6T deluxe your CPU will cut the turbo multi under load. So 183x21 is 3.8ghz at 1.31v BUT under load it's only 3.6ghz. It will only stay at 21 for single threaded things. Anything multithreaded with cut turbo. But if you put in 200x19 for 3.8ghz you are really going to be at 3.8ghz under load. You need more Vcore for 3.8ghz to be truly stable. Try 1.3625v 200x19.

Your CPU is just a really crappy clocker, but the ambient temps have a lot to do with it though.

Your Bios screenshots require a magnifying glass to read....LOL.

 

[mihir]

I figured it out. With the P6T deluxe your CPU will cut the turbo multi under load. So 183x21 is 3.8ghz at 1.31v BUT under load it's only 3.6ghz. It will only stay at 21 for single threaded things. Anything multithreaded with cut turbo. But if you put in 200x19 for 3.8ghz you are really going to be at 3.8ghz under load. You need more Vcore for 3.8ghz to be truly stable. Try 1.3625v 200x19.

Your CPU is just a really crappy clocker, but the ambient temps have a lot to do with it though.

Your Bios screenshots require a magnifying glass to read....LOL.

So should I increase the vcore and set the BCLK to 200 and Multi to 19 or just leave it as it is and save the temps.

And how did you deduce the above about the turbo mode cutting off?(I have turbo mode turned off)

I updated the pictures,used some new site for uploading them previously and turned out that they were thumb uploads only.Sorry for that.


And yeah I officially have the worst Core i7 920 ever manufactured.

 

[87dtna]

Because I've owned the P6T deluxe and I just remembered that about it.

You said 183x21 was stable at 1.31v. 21 is turbo for a 920.

Just open CPUz, and then prime95 (or whatever you were usign to stress the CPU) and watch CPUz when you turn it on. The multi and clockspeed will drop.

Yeah 200 X 19 and increase the Vcore to like 1.3625. But thats really just to test to see if 3.8 can truly be stable. For your everyday overclock, I would leave it at 183x21 at 1.31v thats really not a bad OC.

 

[87dtna]

Just went back to look at the pics, turn XMP off!!!!!!! XMP screws your whole system up, it's the worst idea ever lol. Just set that to manual (if I remember right).

Retest everything, xmp could have been screwing it up the whole time.

 

[mihir]

Just went back to look at the pics, turn XMP off!!!!!!! XMP screws your whole system up, it's the worst idea ever lol. Just set that to manual (if I remember right).

Retest everything, xmp could have been screwing it up the whole time.

Ok will try that.
Sorry did not mention about XMP profile here.
My bad.

Because I've owned the P6T deluxe and I just remembered that about it.

You said 183x21 was stable at 1.31v. 21 is turbo for a 920.

Just open CPUz, and then prime95 (or whatever you were usign to stress the CPU) and watch CPUz when you turn it on. The multi and clockspeed will drop.

Yeah 200 X 19 and increase the Vcore to like 1.3625. But thats really just to test to see if 3.8 can truly be stable. For your everyday overclock, I would leave it at 183x21 at 1.31v thats really not a bad OC.

Did that,and it is showing a multi of 21 only and a core speed of 3.84 only constantly.

But I have the turbo mode off and have manually set it up 21 and I also have the speedstep off,CPU spread spectrum and PCI spread spectrum and C1E off.
Then how would it go back to a multiplier of 20 since except the CPU ratio settings set on 21 there are no other power saving options which can set it back to 20.
Are you sure about that??

 

[87dtna]

What are you using the stress the CPU?


The turbo cut is the exact opposite of speedstep and C1E. Speedstep and C1E lower the CPU's clockspeed and volts when there's no load. The turbo cut only cuts the turbo multiplier when the CPU is under heavy load, but only under heavy multithreaded loads. It keeps turbo speeds for single threaded apps.

I've had 2 P6T deluxe boards and they both did this....plus I've searched about it, there are special bios' out there so it maintains turbo.

The 21 multiplier IS turbo, it doesn't make sense to be able to turn turbo off and still be able to get the 21 multiplier. If turbo is off it should only allow you to go to 20.

Did you buy this board used? Perhaps someone already installed a hacked bios on it because this all is very weird.

 

[mihir]

I cannot turn on turbo if the speed step is disabled.

I bought this motherboard new but RMAed it once and got the current motherboard.
I just updated the bios to 2209 so i don't think it is hacked.

 

[87dtna]

Oh yeah thats right, I'm probably blocking this boards bios options out of my head because I hated it LOL

When was that 2209 released?

They must have fixed the turbo cut, too many complaints probably.

 

[mihir]

Oh yeah thats right, I'm probably blocking this boards bios options out of my head because I hated it LOL

When was that 2209 released?

They must have fixed the turbo cut, too many complaints probably.

I have seen you overclocking feats in the superpi mod and other thread and they are amazing and on a lot of different CPUs so now wonder why you can't remember the bios options on this one even having used this..I would have gone crazy confused if I was in your place using so many different motherboards.:good:


This bios 2209 was released on 2010.11.09 as per their site.


I read somewhere I don't remember that the Asus P6T Deluxe V2 was launched because there was some instability in overclocking in Deluxe V1 which was due to the SAS controller.

I don't know whether its true or not.

I use the Prime95 for stress testing.


PS whenever I put up a thread in the CPU/Overclocking Section you are the guy who helps me the most.Thanks.Is this you fav sub-forum??

 

[87dtna]

LOL.

OK well I never tried the 2209 bios, so that must be it.

I always disabled the SAS controller in the bios. It cuts about 15 seconds off the boot up time as well, that thing is soooo annoying. I forget what tab it's in though. Possibly boot tab, but it might be in advanced in a submenu. It's like hardware bootup or something like that, you'll see the SAS controller in there just disable it and you're good.

Yeah I've owned a gazzilion cpu's and also video cards. So those are really mostly the two I spend time in. Motherboards every now and then, but there again I don't remember the bios layouts of all those boards I've had so sometimes I can't help.