Problem Overclocking P5K. Get constant few second freezing

[xAmritx]

Hey guys I have a problem overclocking.

Basically when I clock it to over 3.0ghz i get random freezes for like 3 seconds every min or so. I cannot pinpoint it to what it is. Mem test says my memory is fine.
I have the following setup:

CPU: E6600 Stock @ 2.4ghz
Mobo: P5K Deluxe Wifi
Memory: 2x1Gb Crucial Ballistix @ 4-4-4-12 timings (on 2.2volts)
Gfx: BFG 8800GTX OC2
HS: Thermal Take Ultra 120 with Scyth S-flex and Antec fan
PSU:HX620w

My temps are fine (idle 28-30 and lod 55ish) when overclocked to 3.3ghz. My voltages are fine, cpu voltage is auto in bios and pc probe, cpu-z and hardware monitor by cpuz people says it is at 1.45v.
Orthos is fine too, I run it in safe mode and I still get the freezes so I can understand what it is that’s wrong.
My bios revision is 0404.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to solve or a idea on what the cause of the problem is?

Thanks
Amrit

[xAmritx]

Oh and bios settings:
AI Overclocking Manual
CPU Ratio Auto
FSB Strap To North Bridge Auto
FSB Frequency 365
PCIE Frequency 100
DRAM Frequency 730
DRAM Command Rate 2T
DRAM TIMING CONTROL MANUAL
Cas# Latency 4Dram
Ras # To CAS # 4Dram
Ras# precharge 4Dram
Ras# active time 12Dram
RTRD AUTO
RRCT AUTO
RRCT AUTO
WRT AUTO
WTRD AUTO
RTPT AUTO
Dram Static Read AUTO
Transaction Booster Disabled
CLOCK overcharging mode AUTO
CPU SPREAD SPECTRUM Disabled
PCIE SPREAD SPECTRUM Disabled

CPU Voltage Auto
CPU Voltage Reference Auto
CPU Voltage Damper Enabled
CPU PLL AUTO
DRAM Voltage 2.2V
FSB Termination Auto
NorthBridge Voltage Auto
NorthBridge Voltage Reference Auto

[Thorsson]

My first suspicion would be something to do with the motherboard. When you say freezes does everything freeze, or just your KB & mouse? Have you set PCI to 33 and PCI-E to 100 manually?

[xAmritx]

Hey there m8.
Right everything freezes. Also i set the PCIE to 100 as stated above but have no clue where PCI setting is in bios....dont know if i have it.

ATM it looks like the pc is fine at 3.3ghz now. Gave it a restart and its been up for a bit and under normal usage its fine. Running orthos now and it seems fine. Temps at 52degrees celcius and vcore is at 1.44 and has so far hit a max of 1.45 and minimum of 1.44 according to cpuid HW monitor.

[Thorsson]

Maybe PCI is in a fixed ratio to PCI-E on that mobo.

If it's fine now, is the ambient temperature cooler than when it was freezing? It may actually be temps. What are you using to measure them?

[xAmritx]

It started again after i rebooted.
Temps are around 31 idle 51 load with the oc

[Thorsson]

I ask again. What are you using to measure those temps? Asus Probe. for example, tends to understate temperatures by some way. Get RealTemp and measure not only the temp, but also the distance to TjMax (useful to see if it's using the correct figure). Also try leaving the side panel of your case off, and see what that does to temps and stability.

If it's not temps then I'm afraid your OC is just not stable, and you will have to turn it down a notch or three, or start tweaking voltages upwards (which I wouldn't do until we know what your temps really are).

[xAmritx]

I use coretemp,real temps, cpuid hw monitor and asus probe for mobo...oh and TAT.

Can’t be my OC cos it did this at 3 GHz and at stock too sometimes. Orthos said it was fine for 12h and then again for 6h.

I was told on another forum, (clunks forum) to try swapping SATA cable with a non P5K one which luckily i had. So far no freezes again.

[Thorsson]

Is this a known fault with ASUS cables then, or just the ones from this board? Not heard of it before.

[Clunk]

Is this a known fault with ASUS cables then, or just the ones from this board? Not heard of it before.

Yes, Asus cables, and especially the ones that came with the P5K series and a few others round that time.

[xAmritx]

Hey everyone just wanted to update you all.
Looks like Clunks advice on changing SATA cables around WORKED!!!
So far no freezing since I last posted and I restarted several time during this time to make sure it wasn’t due to the OC.
While changing the cables around and messing about it also lead me to realise my airflow wasn’t good in the case. Normally with the 3.3 GHz OC I was idling around 30 degrees Celsius and using TAT to put 100% load on the cores it was hitting 60 degrees Celsius. This was with all 5 fans in my case (4 Tricool's and 1 Scythe S-Flex) at HIGH and a Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme!!!(Yes it was a noisy beast lol!). Well when I took the case off I notice a drop in temprature of 10 degrees!! So I turned my top exhaust fan of the P182 to intake air and now, at 3.3 GHz, my temps are idling 25 degrees with all the fans in the case set to medium (20 with everythign on high)! It’s so quiet and cool now!! On load it’s around 50 degrees Celsius!!
Thanks for all your help guys, its much appreciated!!!

Oh btw Clunk do you know if the performance of the SATA cabled provided by Asus are low compared to most others? Cos if so I might replace them