Help me get stable at 3.6ghz with Maximus Formula

[rob_cunningham]

Hi,

Just got hold of a Maximus Formula (X38) boards as i was having problems with my system which is now fixed (power supply issue) and actually prefer this board to my old one. I hear the Maximus Formula is similar to the Rampage Formula so anyone with knowledge of either boards would be great.

Anyway, I have a the following Spec and wish to stabilise at 3.6ghz:

Maximus Formula bios 1201
Q6600 G0 VID 1.25
2x2gb OCZ Reaper PC-8500 @ 1066 5-5-5-15
8800GTS
BFG ES 800w PSU
Xigmatek SD1283 cooler

I managed 3.0ghz on stock settings 24hr prime stable. and 3.6 seems far closer to being attainable on this board to my old one. I can get about 3 hours in prime before BSOD. Core temps reach 72c on 0&1 and 66c on cores 2&3. NB temps sits between 48-52c.

My bios settings are very basic at present:

Multi x9
FSB 400
Fsb to NB Strap 400
memory set to 1066 auto timings (5-5-5-15)
CPU 1.4v
DRAM 2.1v
CPU GTL Ref 0.63x
NB GTL Ref 0.67x
Loadline Enabled

Everything else left at stock at present. I have noticed that in bios my actual volts in hardware section reads:
CPU 1.38
CPU PLL 1.61
NB 1.63
FSB T 1.45
SB 1.056
these seem quite high to me, especially after research into other's who have achieved a stable 3.6.

That's my info. Can anyone point me in the right direction to stabilise please? I would just give a little extra voltage to CPU first but i am getting very near max load temps. Is the NB getting too hot at 50c? I fail Prime with BSOD can't remember what it said.

Oh and finally I have checked my memory is stable - i have run many passes in memtest.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

 

[ragsters]

50c is great especially with a NB voltage of 1.63. My NB voltage is like 1.34 and 50c is the idle temps.

 

[rob_cunningham]

50c is great especially with a NB voltage of 1.63. My NB voltage is like 1.34 and 50c is the idle temps.

so you don't expect it to be the NB failing me? do you have any tips to help me find some stable ground?

Obviously my CPU is getting near the max temp. I can increase the CPU voltage a little more 1.38v i don't believe is high at all for this sort of OC but the lower i can keep it the better.

 

[orangegator]

You're running it at the limit for air cooling for the Q6600. And since all chips aren't the same, it's not a surprise that you can't get it stable, especially at those temps. Just shoot for 3.5Ghz and be happy with it or get good water cooling.

 

[rob_cunningham]

You're running it at the limit for air cooling for the Q6600. And since all chips aren't the same, it's not a surprise that you can't get it stable, especially at those temps. Just shoot for 3.5Ghz and be happy with it or get good water cooling.

I agree I am at/near the chip's limit with air cooling. but i am still getting to grips with this board and don't know yet what it is capable of. I've dropped my vcore down to 1.36v (in CPU-Z) and i am gradually testing to see what settings i can adjust that can make small improvements on stability with a lower vcore. I've found lower the FSB to NB Strap down to 333 from 400 has helped a lot.

Ideally i would like to find the settings that will work most efficiently rather than just keep increasing the CPU voltage until i need to improve my cooling.

So if anybody knows about this board and can give some pointers towards some settings which helped them get stable without just purely using excessive CPU voltage then it would be great to hear from you.