i just cant get it!

[311lovechild]

ok so i have just started overclocking (i am sure you havent heard this one before =) and i have grown really addicted to it. the problem is i cant seem to make anything stable now past a 400 fsb =( prime 95 errors out in the first 9 minutes or so stating that it was "looking for .4 not .5." also only one thread seems to fail on both large and small FFT.

i have tried everything to my knowledge and was hoping someone could please help me figure out what is going on. i would like to get a stable clock at 420 fsb but i am going to take this one step at a time!

another weird thing is that my motherboard tends to default to 800mhz ram. in the screen it is set to 2X multiplier but even when i up to to the next multiplier it will stay at 800... i have seen it recognize my ram at 1066 so i know it is possible.

here is what i have. help me out please

thanks!

mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP35C-DS3R LGA 775
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V
cpu: intell core 2 e8400
RAM: OCZ Reaper 4gb ddr2 1066 pc28500

bios

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/seaneboyzero/Picture034.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/seaneboyzero/Picture035.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/seaneboyzero/Picture033.jpg

 

[311lovechild]

bump?

 

[auscanzukus]

1st, you need to know about FSB straps. i.e. If 400mhz FSB is your strap, then you'll never ever be able to achieve stability at 400mhz. In this case, you want 401+.

2nd, your vdimm is way too low. Your other voltages are a tad low. Your ram can take up to 2.3v.

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_8500_reaper_hpc_edition

3rd, just cuz Joe Blow can run E8400@4Ghz at 1.35v doesn't mean you can. Every chip is different. I give mine up to 1.45v. Right now I'm at 4Ghz at 1.4v-ish. Prime stable. That's the point. Don't be afraid of high voltages. You have to take vdrop into account.

Try these:

DDR2/3 +0.30 (default is 1.8v)
PCI-E +0.10
FSB +0.20
G)MCH +0.275
CPU 1.28125

Boot up memtest for 1 pass, start windows, do super pi mod 2mb & orthosx2 or prime95 w/ 2 threads/instances for 8 hours:

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso
http://www.overclock.net/downloads/138140-super-pi.html
http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=200

If orthos/prime errors out in a short time, up vcore by a notch & rerun every test.

 

[georgy]

I think you can get 400 fsb stable with 1.225 volts on the cpu cause you have the same vcore as mine. I would put +0.25 volts on memory also. I'm also interested to get 420 fsb stable but it seems i need to put 1.3 volts and more on the cpu to get only a 200 mhz boost. It's kinda bad for me since i run it 3.6 ghz with 1.225 volts. Also i get temps of 38c idle and 53c load wich is bad considering i have a coolermaster 690 and a xigmatek cooler. I will lap my cpu and get a couple more fans :/

 

[311lovechild]

Ok cool! Thanks for the help I appreciate it! Right now I am just trying starting over and working on stability with a 8.5 clock on 401 (has been running smooth so far!). ill give the volt increases a test when I get off work and let you know how that goes.

 

[Mondoman]

... Don't be afraid of high voltages. You have to take vdrop into account.

Be very afraid of high voltages if you don't want your CPU to fry. It's worth reading the Intel datasheet for your model CPU.