First time overclock

[Kev32]

System details under my PC.

Got my replacement RAM from ebuyer so am up to a grand 8gb. Unfortunately I don't know how stable this Corsair Dominator stuff is with 4x2gb clocked to it's "guaranteed" state of 1066mhz. After 45 hours of uptime the PC crashed with a BSOD and refused to boot into windows until I reverted the BIOS settings back to default.

So I've decided to leave the DRAM settings at the normal 800mhz they were built for and go ahead and OC my CPU to a standard 3.2ghz. After reading some guides I knocked the FSB up to 400mhz from 333mhz and set the DRAM frequency to 800mhz. I left everything else including the voltages at auto. Got my 2 exhaust fans running on full and this is the stats for temps and voltages:



Does all look good?

[Kev32]

Bugger, first error on Worker#2 in Prime95 after 1 hour.

Anything I can do to stabilise?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would look to test the overclock with at least 25 iterations of IBT and at least 12 hours of OCCT with small and large data sets each. IBT is the best and quickest way to check for errors IMHO. I would look to loosen the RAM timings to their high settings first. Sometimes a slight bump by 0.1v may help the RAM unless this takes it out of spec. I would use Core Temp and CPU-Z to determine your CPU temperature and CPU and RAM voltages too.

[noobieocer]

i wouldnt set voltages to auto, i will do it manually so i can up and lower them so i can find out which is the limiting factor each time it crashes. have you set the ram voltage to the correct amount? if not set it to what ever it sayys on the sticker on the ram and them test it again. and set cpu voltage to apropriate amount.

[Kev32]

Should I still set the RAM to 2.1v even though I'm not running it at 1066? The machine sets them automatically to 2.2v when I set the DRAM to 1066 with timings 5.5.5.15. I don't know a lot about voltages but can over-volting damage hardware? And is this very possibly what I am doing and why my old RAM became faulty?

In other news, IBT lasted 111 seconds. >_<

I'm obviously doing something wrong. :/ I'm not sure where to start with the voltages though.

[Mblaster]

If you're not sure on the voltage for the RAM get onto Corsairs website and take a look at their recommended voltage, since the automatic voltage set by the motherboard may not be correct. Also while you're there check the RAM timings are correct too, should be on the same page.

And yes, running your hardware at a voltage beyond the manufactuers specifications can damage it, it will increase the temperatures, but chances are it'll be fine if you're not taking the piss. But that's a judgement call you have to make if you are overclocking (which is the only reason to run at higher voltages than standard).

[Kev32]

IBT passed 25 iterations without problem @ 3.2ghz with a DRAM of 800 and the DRAM voltages set to the packet stated 2.1v as well as the 5.5.5.15 ratings stated on the packet.

Vcore remains at 1.26v and NB seems to be a lot higher than stock (1.33) at 1.65v. Temperatures were at 59-63 degrees celcius at 100% load during IBT.

I'm guessing the DRAM voltage and timings was probably the problem? I'm going to stress it a bit with some games and then leave Prime95 to run over night I think.

Just a query but what does Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) refer to? Mine is at 52 clocks which seems quite high.

EDIT: First game I run crashes following a BSOD - PFN_LIST_CORRUPT. Why are things always so difficult for me. D:

EDIT: PC rebooted and then crashed with MEMORY_MANAGEMENT error. Then refused to even startup (fans just whirled with no screen activity) util I manually reset the CMOS.

So whilst the PC is fine with me pushing my CPU to the limits everything is faulted by my bloody memory. I originally had 4gb of the same memory, one module of which developed thousands of address faults. So I RMA'd both back and bought 2x2gb of the same memory from Scan.co.uk and ran it perfectly fine @ 1066mhz for an entire week. Get the replacement 2x2gb on tuesday and 2 days later the PC crashes forcing me to put it back to 800mhz. This memory is on the QVL for memory on the rampage formula running at 1066mhz. I therefore conclude there must be some problem with the DIMM slots which is A) making the PC unstable and B) destroying my memory somehow.

The PC is running fine (able to run games) with DRAM @ 800mhz and the voltage back down to 1.9 with latencies of 5.5.5.18.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

IBT passed 25 iterations without problem @ 3.2ghz with a DRAM of 800 and the DRAM voltages set to the packet stated 2.1v as well as the 5.5.5.15 ratings stated on the packet.

Vcore remains at 1.26v and NB seems to be a lot higher than stock (1.33) at 1.65v. Temperatures were at 59-63 degrees celcius at 100% load during IBT.

I'm guessing the DRAM voltage and timings was probably the problem? I'm going to stress it a bit with some games and then leave Prime95 to run over night I think.

Just a query but what does Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) refer to? Mine is at 52 clocks which seems quite high.

EDIT: First game I run crashes following a BSOD - PFN_LIST_CORRUPT. Why are things always so difficult for me. D:

EDIT: PC rebooted and then crashed with MEMORY_MANAGEMENT error. Then refused to even startup (fans just whirled with no screen activity) util I manually reset the CMOS.

So whilst the PC is fine with me pushing my CPU to the limits everything is faulted by my bloody memory. I originally had 4gb of the same memory, one module of which developed thousands of address faults. So I RMA'd both back and bought 2x2gb of the same memory from Scan.co.uk and ran it perfectly fine @ 1066mhz for an entire week. Get the replacement 2x2gb on tuesday and 2 days later the PC crashes forcing me to put it back to 800mhz. This memory is on the QVL for memory on the rampage formula running at 1066mhz. I therefore conclude there must be some problem with the DIMM slots which is A) making the PC unstable and B) destroying my memory somehow.

The PC is running fine (able to run games) with DRAM @ 800mhz and the voltage back down to 1.9 with latencies of 5.5.5.18.

Try overclocking with 4gb only and see if you have issues - even try changing the RAM around. Also run it at 800mhz.

[Kev32]

Alright tried what you said CAT. It appears that the PC will refuse to boot if the FSB is set to 400 and the latencies and DRAM voltage are manually set to their packet description.

I have booted up with the FSB set to 400 and the DRAM set to 800 with CAS timings of 5.5.5.18 and a voltage of 1.9. Games are running and IBT is busy going through 25 iterations.

Is the memory controller just being put under too much strain to work at higher timings? I'm still curious as to why my NB voltage is automatically set to 1.65v, should I manually set it it too 1.4v and test from there?

[no_numb]

That is quite odd I have kingston memory that is 800 standard and I overclocked to 1066 with out any problem at all (also states it will run at 1066). What power supply are you using?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Alright tried what you said CAT. It appears that the PC will refuse to boot if the FSB is set to 400 and the latencies and DRAM voltage are manually set to their packet description.

I have booted up with the FSB set to 400 and the DRAM set to 800 with CAS timings of 5.5.5.18 and a voltage of 1.9. Games are running and IBT is busy going through 25 iterations.

Is the memory controller just being put under too much strain to work at higher timings? I'm still curious as to why my NB voltage is automatically set to 1.65v, should I manually set it it too 1.4v and test from there?

You are using all 4 RAM slots so the RAM controller is probably under some stress already. I would look at reducing the NB voltage too and see if this has any effect. Have you tried adding a cooling fan to the NB as it could be overheating??

[Kev32]

CoolerMaster 850w

CPU seems to be perfectly stable, passes IBT/Large and Small FFT's. RAM seems to be the "problem". Guess it's time to troubleshoot with Prime95 for the entire night.

@CAT I get the same conclusions from running only 2 slots as well as 4 slots. NB Temperature never exceeds 48 degrees celcius even during IBT/Prime95 testing so I don't think it's that. Apparently 1.65v is the "standard" voltage for running an FSB @ 400mhz on x48 motherboards. This is according to my friend, the only teched up guy I have on msn annoyingly.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

CoolerMaster 850w

CPU seems to be perfectly stable, passes IBT/Large and Small FFT's. RAM seems to be the "problem". Guess it's time to troubleshoot with OCCT for the entire night.

@CAT I get the same conclusions from running only 2 slots as well as 4 slots. NB Temperature never exceeds 48 degrees celcius even during IBT/Prime95 testing so I don't think it's that. Apparently 1.65v is the "standard" voltage for running an FSB @ 400mhz on x48 motherboards. This is according to my friend, the only teched up guy I have on msn annoyingly.

Drop the RAM down to 800mhz and the loosest timings you can set in the BIOS and continue from there.Start at 1.9v and increase the voltage in 0.1v increments upto 2.1v if stability is not achieved.

Have you checked what speed your RAM is actually running at using CPU-Z? It could be that the "speed" settings are actually divider settings and your RAM is running out of spec. Also check which revision of the motherboard BIOS is compatible with the RAM.

[Kev32]

I'll give tuning the RAM a shot.

These are my RAM settings according to CPU-Z



The original BIOS that came with the mobo was not compatible with the RAM, but I updated the BIOS to the latest version about 3 weeks ago.

[DataMatrix]

Your NB voltage is fine, however mine is at 1.45v so you should try and get it nearer this figure, I'd set your ram to at least 2.1v but that should be on the package or the website.

For your CPU, check the intel box for it's max voltage, you can usually go higher than that but it is a good place to start (mine is 1.35v max but I'm running at 1.45v )

[Kev32]

PC hates me putting the CAS timings to 5.5.5.15 whilst the FSB is 400mhz. Boots up fine with DRAM voltage of 2.1 but is there any point to this if I'm running the DRAM frequency at 800mhz and CAS timings of 5.5.5.18?

My CPU is at 1.25v at the moment and there doesn't seem to be a problem, it has a max voltage of 1.45. Should I pop it up to 1.4 just for "unforseen stability"?