Need help overclocking x5650 with an intel dx58so

[DukeOvilla]

I recently built a PC with an x5650 and an intel dx58so motherboard. I can't overclock like at all. Any time I do it wont come on and tells me the OC is unstable. My cooling is very good btw.
I think it has something to do with the RAM which is 12GB (4*3) CL 11 1600mhz. The automatic profile has it at CL 9 1333 but if I adjust things to CL 11 1333 or 1600mhz, things don't work. They don't work if I leave it at the automatic profile and overclock at all either. RAM runs at 1.5 volts

I can't use the CPU multiplier (cap is 20), just the base clock. Set the CPU voltage to 1.3 when I was trying to achieve (any) overclock last night, was going to adjust down.

All power saving features disabled, I have it set to have low vdroop.
Only other voltage I can adjust is the IOH Voltage which is at the default 1.1.

BIOS is the latest version.

 

[cin19]

For ocing Xeon cpu, you can't use the CPU multiplier, only use the BCLK setting. Also the Xeon can support up to 1333mhz too, so you can't set it to 1600mhz, but you may up to 1400mhz something like that by increasing the BCLK. I added the link for how to ocing the Xeon ( for E5620) so that you may have the ideal. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/xeon-e5620-overclocking-westmere-ep,2767-2.html

 

[Elysian890]

Try decreasing your RAM frequency from 1333 to 1066 and then using the BCLK to overclock it back to near 1333, disable the auto profiles and set everything manually

Increasing BCLK by 10% should give you ~1173MHz RAM (assuming you set RAM to 1066)
20% = ~1280MHz
25% = ~1333MHz

 

[The Original Ralph]

what cin19 said X2

i have a 5960X and could not OC it until i set the RAM at 2133, which is the max it will support per intel's specs - didn't know that when i purch'd 3200 OC ram

once i set RAM at 2133, i was able to OC to 4.2 and could probably go higher but i'm happy at 4.2 - it's very stable there

 

[DukeOvilla]

Ok, so I get get it to boot into windows, but even though the bios says I'm running 3.5Ghz, windows cpu z only says 3GHZ and no core voltage...

 

[DukeOvilla]

Also turned on speed step, and it shows the speed at 3.3Ghz and voltage at 1.254...
I set it to 3.5 and 1.3 though... That's what the bios says! What's wrong here!

 

[DukeOvilla]

Ok, as it turns out the bios does not know how to properly calculate the frequency and shows 3.8 for an actual value of 3.6ish.
It's base clock * multiplier, right?

 

[cin19]

Maybe your intel MB does not support the x5650 officially, even though they have lga1366. So you can use the cpu but the MB will recognize it as other cpu. http://processormatch.intel.com/Processors/CompatibleProcessors?componentName=dx58so

You may try update the chipset driver for the sensors so the cpu-z may read the right specifications. You will see the driver is not for your MB, but you still can install it.

Add: yes, base clock * multiplier.

 

[DukeOvilla]

Updated my chipset driver with the official update for this board.

Ok, new problem. I can't seem to get this to act stable. I set the voltage to 1.325 but CPUz says it's like 1.266/1.277. I'm having difficulties setting this to be anything stable.

I put in different better RAM, it's manually set to 9-9-9-24 t2 1.62v and I'm keeping it under 1333mhz. This at least lets me get into windows with some overclocking but then things crash!

 

[cin19]

May try enable the XMP profile to solve the RAM setting problem. For the RAM voltage, 1.325V does cause the PC unstable definitely, because it is the under voltage, also because you oc, the voltage should be up, and not decreased. Also your RAM is cl11 1600mhz 1.5V, if you want to manually setting, may try 9-9-9-27 or 9-9-9-28 ( not 9-9-9-24) 1.525V at 1333mhz, if the PC is unstable, up the voltage by 0.025V until the pc runs stable. But recommend to use XMP profile.

 

[DukeOvilla]

This motherboard has no XMP profiles or anything. It's an intel intel dx58so. It is the x58 chipset (best of lga 1366) so I should be able to get some overclocking.
I'll adjust the timings like you said.

 

[DukeOvilla]

I don't think the ram has an xmp profile anyways... Top speed is only 1600mhz.

 

[cin19]

Sorry, because I read the manual page 14: DDR3 1333 or higher memory support on this desktop board requires
compatible XMP-enabled memory or advanced knowledge of BIOS and
manual memory tuning. Individual results may vary. That why I said use XMP.

 

[DukeOvilla]

Sorry, because I read the manual page 14: DDR3 1333 or higher memory support on this desktop board requires
compatible XMP-enabled memory or advanced knowledge of BIOS and
manual memory tuning. Individual results may vary. That why I said use XMP.

Well that's strange. But I think perhaps it calls it "automatic profile" and not xmp.
I think I can set it manually well enough though. Here is the rundown of what I have access to in the BIOS...

Baseclock (multiplier stuck at 20 for xeons)
CPU Voltage.
CPU Power settings.
RAM multiplier, timings, and voltage.
QPI Voltage.
IOH Voltage.
PCIE clock speed.

 

[cin19]

Recommend to let IOH Voltage, PCIE clock speed along, or like set to auto. BCLK =20, change the RAM timing, voltage, cpu voltage, etc.
I found one thread, may take a look at it. I don't read all. https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/help-overclocking-xeon-5660-need-to-change-old-i7-930-settings.2371758/

 

[DukeOvilla]

Recommend to let IOH Voltage, PCIE clock speed along, or like set to auto. BCLK =20, change the RAM timing, voltage, cpu voltage, etc.
I found one thread, may take a look at it. I don't read all. https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/help-overclocking-xeon-5660-need-to-change-old-i7-930-settings.2371758/

Ok, working on this, making some progress. Could you tell me what memory uncore is?

 

[DukeOvilla]

Think I figured out the RAM, which is acting stable now at the 9-9-9-27 1336mhz
base clock is 167 to give me 3.675ghz (1.3, 1.289 with vdroop) using automatic voltage with an offset of 122mhz
So far stable, Temps don't seem to go above 80c

 

[DukeOvilla]

3.85Ghz at the same voltage, running fine so far as I can tell. Going to bust out prime95 now.

 

[cin19]

Recommend to let IOH Voltage, PCIE clock speed along, or like set to auto. BCLK =20, change the RAM timing, voltage, cpu voltage, etc.
I found one thread, may take a look at it. I don't read all. https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/help-overclocking-xeon-5660-need-to-change-old-i7-930-settings.2371758/

Ok, working on this, making some progress. Could you tell me what memory uncore is?

Sorry, I don't know that. I don't see it on other MB. But good to know you figured out the RAM setting.

 

[DukeOvilla]

Recommend to let IOH Voltage, PCIE clock speed along, or like set to auto. BCLK =20, change the RAM timing, voltage, cpu voltage, etc.
I found one thread, may take a look at it. I don't read all. https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/help-overclocking-xeon-5660-need-to-change-old-i7-930-settings.2371758/

Ok, working on this, making some progress. Could you tell me what memory uncore is?

Sorry, I don't know that. I don't see it on other MB. But good to know you figured out the RAM setting.

Hey! So I'm running Prime 95 right now. Just earlier I turned on the power saving features to lower idle temps and power usage. CPU-Z shows it hit 4ghz very briefly now and then when it's ramping up and down and doing its thing. Is this normal? Still have it set to run at 3.85 Ghz @ 1.3 (1.29 with vdroop).

Also speccy showed my 7GHz for a brief second on one core... I'm not sure I believe that.

 

[cin19]

Up and down is normal, but not in 7 ghz.

 

[DukeOvilla]

Alright, I think I'm good dude! Thank you!

 

[888uno888]

So how is your oced Dx58so? I bought the same specs but havent received them yet. Curious.

I read somewhere that the board wont bclck over 160??