Intermittent Overclock Failures with i7-920

[TomG628]

I completed my first homebuilt with the help of someone knowledgable so that I could have a top system for Flight Sim X.
It includes an Asus P6T mb, i7-920 - 2.67 ghz cpu, Corsair Dominator 3X4gig (12 gb) 1600 DDR3 ram, Corsair 750TX power supply, and a EVGA GeForce GTX275 1792 mb GDDR3 graphics card. I am also using a Noctua NH-U12P double fan cooler in push pull configuration.

We overclocked in several steps up to 4.0 ghz, and the overclocks seemed to be stable as long as I leave the computer on or wake from sleep mode, or restart from within windows. If I shut down completely, and then startup later, sometimes it does successfully, or at times I get nothing at first - no beep, and nothing on the screen, and I am forced to shut the power off and then retry. That's when I get the "overclock failed" message telling me to reconfigure Bios settings. The last few times it happened rather than going in bios, I shut off the power on the front of the case, and someone suggested I also shut off the power on the back of the psu and then turn it back on. Then when I restarted with the front power button it booted up fine.

This failure happens only on cold startups and not with the "restart" option in Windows. It also doesn't happen all the time from a complete shutdown. I could startup 3 or 4 times just fine and on the next time nothing at first, power off, and then the failure. I have tried different bios and cpu voltage settings, and am currently at cpu voltage 3.0. I also tried 3.125 for 4.0ghz but was warned not to go too high. I am not very tech oriented and had to be talked through all the steps which I did with no problem. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Tom

 

[videl]

Dude! what do you mean you have your cpu voltage at 3.0?!?? That's would be crazy high...it would fry it... do you mean 1.30v?
And the reason you are having these issues is because your pushing this configuration a bit much...if you lowered your oc to 3.8ghz you would probably stop having theses problems...

If you still want to keep it at 4ghz check to see if you did these things:
1. Have you hired your pcie clock a little like from 100 to 110 or 112?
2. Did you raise the cpu vtt voltage any?
3. Did you raise your qpi link voltage?

If you haven't done these things, try and see if you can get it any more stableby doing them...good luck 😉

 

[TomG628]

Dude! what do you mean you have your cpu voltage at 3.0?!?? That's would be crazy high...it would fry it... do you mean 1.30v?
And the reason you are having these issues is because your pushing this configuration a bit much...if you lowered your oc to 3.8ghz you would probably stop having theses problems...

If you still want to keep it at 4ghz check to see if you did these things:
1. Have you hired your pcie clock a little like from 100 to 110 or 112?
2. Did you raise the cpu vtt voltage any?
3. Did you raise your qpi link voltage?

If you haven't done these things, try and see if you can get it any more stableby doing them...good luck 😉

You're right. My mistake. I meant to say 1.3. Yes, we started from around 3.2, then I think 3.6, then 3.8 with the same results and various voltage settings. Thanks. Tom

 

[videl]

I'm sorry I'm not exactly catching on...what are you referring to when you're saying "we started from around 3.2, then I think 3.6, then 3.8 with the same results and various voltage settings" are you talking about the cpu clock speed?

 

[TomG628]

I'm sorry I'm not exactly catching on...what are you referring to when you're saying "we started from around 3.2, then I think 3.6, then 3.8 with the same results and various voltage settings" are you talking about the cpu clock speed?

Yes,
These were the cpu speeds he overclocked me to in steps. I know I am currently at 3.8ghz with cpu voltage at 1.275, QPI/Dram is 1.35 bclk 200, and PCIE at 100. Thanks.

 

[henydiah]

Check setting ram timming + voltage ram. If no beep , you must clear cmos it can make default your system.
Remember in oc high clock need disabled : C1e, eist, spread spectrum,
Ready . . . oc again

 

[BeCoolBro]

Yes,
These were the cpu speeds he overclocked me to in steps. I know I am currently at 3.8ghz with cpu voltage at 1.275, QPI/Dram is 1.35 bclk 200, and PCIE at 100. Thanks.

Up the volts and stress test.It is apparent that you have an unstable oc.1.27v for 3.8ghz is kind of low after all.Try 1.29v and if that fixes your problem,you're ok.I'd also check the ram.Make sure it is running at manufacturer timings and same or lower clock speeds.

 

[TomG628]

Up the volts and stress test.It is apparent that you have an unstable oc.1.27v for 3.8ghz is kind of low after all.Try 1.29v and if that fixes your problem,you're ok.I'd also check the ram.Make sure it is running at manufacturer timings and same or lower clock speeds.

Thanks for the help. I am new to overclocking and need to be walked through step by step if you don't mind. All my settings are in the AI Tweaker menu of BIOS. My problem only happens with cold starts after shutdown. I am fine restarting within Windows 7. I have the ASUS P6T mb My memory timings are set according to specs. Here are my current settings:

AI Overclocking tuner - manual, cpu ratio setting - 19.0, BCLK freq. - 200, PCIE Freq. - 100, DRAM Freq DDR - 1603, UCLK - Auto, QPI Link Data Rate - Auto, CPU volt. -1.275, CPU PLL Volt. - auto, QPI/DRAM volt - 1.35, IOH volt - auto, IOH PCIE - Auto, ICH volt - auto ICH PCIE volt - auto, DRAM BUS Volt. - 1.66, Load line calib - enabled, cpu diff. amplitude - auto, CPU spread spectrum -disabled, PCIE Spread Spectrum - Auto.

DRAM Timing: first info 9-9-9-24-6-128-148-24-6
Second info: 2N, 59,62,62
Third info: 6-6-18-10-10-10-7-6-4-7-7-4

I have Corsair DDR3 12 GB (3X4gb sticks) ram. I do not know what any of these settings mean, just how to set them, and someone in another forum was telling me what to enter. Thanks. Tom

 

[BeCoolBro]

Take a look at this.Put m/b voltages at suggested levels.Put the cpu voltage(vcore) at 1.3v.Stress test with LinX or IBT(15 loops).If it's stable,run an 8h prime 95 blend test.If that's stable too,you're golden.

 

[TomG628]

Best answer selected by TomG628.