i overclocked... - need suggestions

[alan2807]

Hello

This is my first try overclocking,need your thoughts and correction if i done it something wrong.
Here is what i'm done:

My CPU is intel quad Q9300 @ 2.50 GHZ
I increased FSB to 1600 (400 x 4) so now is working at 3.0 GHZ,i havent changed V so its all on AUTO,test is showing 1.225V ,temperature is between 56C to 69C at highest stress test.

Memory is Corsair 8500 - 1066 mhz,have 4 sticks 4x1GB
I heard that is best to have ratio 1:1,so i put it on linked-sync,so now is working at 800mhz(400 x 2) - 1.8V
Timing is 5-5-5-18 2T ,dont know much about, but i heard that is better to have 4-4-4-12 1T ,need some help with this

My motherboard is Asus Striker II formula 780i SLI

I run many tests and i didnt find any errors but because this is my first attempt to overclock need your thoughts and suggestions,so i can do it better next time and learn something new.

Tnx anyway

Btw sry for my bad English

 

[alan2807]

pls post your opinion

 

[Andrius]

1. General tools for overclocking.
CoreTemp : http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/
cpuid HW Monitor : http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php
cpuid CPU-Z : http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Prime95 : http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4363
(make sure you enable "Advanced -> Round Off Checking")
OCCT : http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download

2. Post detailed specs (or correct me on what I gathered so far):
CPU : Q9300 ( VID ),
stock intel cooler? (temperatures are good if you have stock cooling).
Mboard: Asus Striker II Formula
RAM: 4x 1GB Corsair (Dominator) 1066MHz DDR2

3. Auto voltage is a bad idea in general as motherboards tend to overvolt.
You should always overclock with manual control over voltages and frequencies (you can leave timings alone for now, EPP should do well enough on it's own).

Good luck.

 

[Shadow703793]

@OP: You will probably need to increase RAM Voltage esp. since running 4*1GB. Generally those RAM run at 2.1-2.2v. Since you are running 4*1GB you will probably need to set this to 2.2-2.3v.

Also add Memtest86+ to the OCing software list Andrius posted. Also download UBCD (which contains Memtest86+ and other helpful utilities for HDD diagnostics,etc)
Please run Memtest86+ at stock CPU,etc. This is esp. true for DDR2 1066 RAM since they are known to have some compatibility issues.

UBCD:
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[lcaley]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but isn't the command rate (1T/2T) something that is specified by the ram? I didn't think you could change that, but I don't know for sure.

 

[Andrius]

@lcaley
Some boards/chipsets allow you to change it. Intel chipsets usually don't have that option, while NVIDIA chipsets do.
X38/X48 is the exception I think.

 

[Shadow703793]

@lcaley:
You can change that. Most high end boards (ie ASUS STRIKER II Formula ) have 1T/2T option.@

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3267&p=6

 

[Andrius]

@Shadow703793
I know my GA-P35-DS3P doesn't have that option and most Asus P5K boards I've seen don't have it either so I think it's chipset/board dependant. I didn't research it further once I saw I didn't have it...

 

[alan2807]

Tnx for replies

Yes i have stock cooler,and it seems that on AUTO voltage is working very nice,always 1.216 - 1.232
Memory default voltage on 800 mhz is 1.8V,only if i would increase it to 1066 then it should be 2.2V,that's what i read in manual.
Already had those sw's,but couldn't run memtest86+ cause i have Vista x64 and it isnt compatible so i cant test memory,do u know any other program?

 

[Andrius]

Use the bootable CD with MemTest86 to test memory. There's an ISO image here : http://www.memtest86.com/memtest86-3.4a.iso.zip
You just have to boot from it and it will start the test.

Corsair Dominator has EPP so memory settings shouldn't be a problem anyway.

 

[Shadow703793]

@Shadow703793
I know my GA-P35-DS3P doesn't have that option and most Asus P5K boards I've seen don't have it either so I think it's chipset/board dependant. I didn't research it further once I saw I didn't have it...

By high end I meant things like the ASUS FORMULA,etc. And yes, this command rate feature seems to be limited to nVidia chipsets.

 

[lcaley]

I thought that the command rate was something native to a particular model of ram though. Like ram was built as 2T or 1T, but like I said, I really didn't know for sure. Thanks for clearing that up for me

Good luck with the OC to the OP, and if it makes you feel better, I didn't know English wasn't your native language until the last line of your post.

 

[Andrius]

By high end I meant things like the ASUS FORMULA,etc. And yes, this command rate feature seems to be limited to nVidia chipsets.

So I rechecked my stash of manuals : P5E, Rampage Formula, GA-X48-DS4, ... have it too. NVIDIA, X38, X48 appear to have it, P35 does not (at least not GA-P35-DS3P/DS3R/DS3L/DS4, P5K SE/-E/Pro/Deluxe/Premium, EDIT: BLITZ Formula).

 

[iluvgillgill]

the command rate you can change it.but it will be either sucess of fail.1T is very strict on the ram.if its REALLY GOOD then it might be able to do it.

and you need to up the ram voltage to 2.2V and set it to 4-4-4-12.i think should you should leave the command rate at 2T for now.

what heatsink are you using?your load temp seems abit high for those speed.

 

[iluvgillgill]

and you should never leave voltage at auto when you OC.because the BIOS will set either excessive voltage or not enough which will cause instability.