Core i7 overclocking raise mult, BClock, or Both?

[raptorx]

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[djt]

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[macca22au]

If I can return to the topic.

Nick, I wimped out on overclocking my i7 940.  Instead I have used the in-built TurboV and settled with an increase of 6%.  I understand that is not a clock speed as such, but like a turbine cuts in when the load comes on.

With the GTX280 it is giving a very good performance with the Matrox TH2Go and is closer to all over smooth than I have ever enjoyed before.

I would be grateful for a 'cookbook' recipe to overclocking to say 3.2ghz - no more as at this stage I don't want to buy a new case and additional cooling.

[jwenham]

[quote]If I can return to the topic.

Nick, I wimped out on overclocking my i7 940.

[NickN]

[quote]If I can return to the topic.

Nick, I wimped out on overclocking my i7 940.

[macca22au]

OK, last naive question.

The hyperthreading option in nVidia I know about, but where in the CPU - or its software do I find the Intel hyperthreading technology so I can turn it off.

Then I shall try my first overclock ever ....  virginity can't last for ever.

[NickN]

HT is enabled/disabled in the BIOS under the ADVANCED CPU CONFIGURATON features

Typically when a user intends to clock the following items are all DISABLED


Intel SpeedStep Tech Disabled
Intel Turbo Mode Tech Disabled
CPU Spread Spectrum Disabled
PCI Spread Spectrum Disabled
C1E Support Disabled
Intel Virtualization Tech Disabled
CPU TM Function Disabled
Intel HT Technology Disabled <--- Hyperthreading (Note: Enabled for video encoding., disabled for coolest temp in clock as FSX has no i7 type HT support)
Intel C-State Technology: Disable




The only issue I see you may need to deal with is memory speed. As I recall you said that you purchased DDR3 1066 memory (if I am not mistaken). Most people who clock purchase 1600 memory so they can clock and run higher mem speed at the same time.


As you increase the BCLOCK the memory speed will increase and you will need to adjust it so it is not unstable and running as close to 1066 as possible

In example.. if the CPU MULTIPLIER is 21 and BCLOCK is set to 155 that would produce a CPU speed of 155 x 21 or rounded 3260MHz (3.26GHz) at the same time the base memory multiplier is more than likely 8 because 8 x 133 (default BCLOCK) = 1066 <--- your DDR3 memory speed

NOTE: Default BCLOCK is actually 133.25 but you do not see the fraction in the BIOS


OK so if you went to 155 x21 for CPU then the memory would run 155 x 8 or 1242 which is too high for those sticks so you must DROP the memory speed (multiplier) to obtain a speed that would be stable for your 1066 memory. It can probably be a bit higher than 1066 and sometimes you must accept lower

So in the case of 155 we drop memory multiplier to 7 and get a memory speed of 1087. That may or may not be unstable since its over 1066

Since that pushes out memory speed up over what may be unstable (you must test to see if it is or not) Another direction would be to see if the CPU multiplier of 22 is available.. if it is use it instead and DROP BCLOCk

so at 22 x 150 BCLOCK our CPU speed is now about 3300 or 3.3GHz and our memory speed if we go to the 7 multiplier would be 150 x7 or about 1050 which is UNDER 1066 and should be perfectly stable at the same time



Understand?



You will no longer be using TURBO functions

[macca22au]

Nick:  after reading the book that came with the P6T, then following your instructions by stopping all those other cpu functions, I raised BClock to 155.

Incidentally I did say initially my RAM was 1066, but later corrected that to say it is actually 3x2 gig of 1600 OCCZ DDR3.  Therefore I have had no stability problems.

spu-z tells me that I have o'clocked and I am getting a stable 3.41ghz. Seems the multiplier is x52.

My question is whether this will be too hot for conventional air cooling (there is an additional fan installed) and therefore I should change the multiplier or drop the BClock.

But so far a pretty impressive outcome for a septuagenerian.  Thank you very much for your patient instruction.

[NickN]

DDR3 1600?

OK, now thats different... !!

If you have the heatsink replaced with a Thermalright 120 Extreme 1366 or something equal to that you can run 4GHZ (4050MHz) and DDR3 1600 on that system



TEMPS require you LOAD TEST the system and monitor for 1 hour

Use this BETA program called OCCT

http://www.ocbase.com/download.php?fileext=beta

install

the CPU OCCT 1 hour automatic test is fine

do not mess with any other test in the list.,.. its a beta program and those are new.. just the first option CPU: OCCT

In the OPTIONS click the yellow settings icon and see if the temp is set to 80c.. if it is you are ready

Click the ON button... a 1 minute pause will occur then the stress test will begin

It will crash and halt the test if there is

A: Instability

B. You hit 80c

you have to check the GRAPHS (should be in the OCCT folder in your Documents) if you crash and not sitting right there to see what the temp was when it crashed.. if it was not 80c then it was instability that caused the crash.. that would indicate Vcore most likely

If it hits 80c but was stable you either have Vcore too high or your cooling is not sufficient for the speed/vcore you are trying to run, one of the two

In your case if you hit 80c since you did not change Vcore (CPU VOLTAGE) and only changed BCLOCK then the BCLOCK is too high. You need a better CPU heatsink to run higher BCLOCk

If you crash and temps did NOT exceed 80c then the QPI/DRAM VOLTAGE needs to be set to 1.35v and the DRAM VOLTAGE to 1.65v and try the test again

Those are 2 different BIOS settings, DONT mix them up...

Use RealTemp v 2.90 or above to watch temps at the same time you run OCCT or jsut to check the system from time to time

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/3/1 ... mpBeta.zip

just make sure TJMAX is set to 100 in RealTemp and it will do the rest in displaying your temps

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost. ... ostcount=1



Keep in mind, you CAN NOT damage the processor unless temps hit 100c and 80c is where the thermal limit system kicks in to slow the processor so we dont want to do 80c or higher.


If you do not hit 80c running OCCT you will never hit 80c running FSX.. probably 15-20c LOWER. We use OCCT to ensure we cant go over 80.


Use CPUz 1.49 or above to verify CPU and memory speed/timing

http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpuz_149.zip

its just unzip and run CPUz.exe.. check the CPU and MEMORY  tabs





hey COnGRATS! you overclocked!

[macca22au]

No longer a virgin, but pleased, as unlike the other activiites this brings a sense of achievement and a glow of lasting pleasure.

I used the OCCT test and the temp never once went above 71 with the cores loaded to the high 98-99%.  I was not surprised as I did some long flights earlier and the system remained stable.

I know, I know that fps means nothing but I do use it as a guide.  I get 25-35 plus over complex areas with add-on aircraft but I am still getting some stutters.  Does anyone have TBM and other numbers for the i7/GTX 280 combination that seem to work.  I am running my scenery sliders at VDense and Dense, and traffic at 20% each.

[NickN]

raise BCLOCK again to 160 and check temps in the load test. As long as it does not hit 80 you good to go

Based on BCLOCK 155 @ 3.41 the multiplier is 22



The CPUz tab MEMORY should show you your memory speed and memory timings. Check those and tell me what they are



TBM 70 should be fine but it can come up to 80 as well. That is a test and see situation

Bufferpools can go either way... Some can not use the reserved amount, others can however BP is not a cure all for every type of stutter in the sim. It typically only deals with large amounts of autogen trees and buildings and making turns over them.

I assume you saw the tuning guide

http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_p ... ?TID=29041


With the Matrox you are still pushing the limits but at least now you have the muscle behind the screen resolution to drive it


You can also clock the video card a bit too. I am not sure what the base clocks are on the model card you have right now. GPUz will display those

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

[raptorx]

Well, I can't get my system stable at anything beyond 4.0GHz @ 1.4 vcore and 1.375 vQPI.  I've tried a few different multiplier/bclock combinations and nothing works.  Temps are no issue, nothing get's beyond 65 deg C so far.  Memory runs between 1600 and 1700 no problems according to hours of memtest.  So it's got to be the cpu.

I'm a little dissapointed in this chip now. :-?  I thought I would at least get to 4.2 GHz eventually w/o too much trouble.  All I'm going to get is 4.0GHz out of a 965???

-Jim

[NickN]

who twisted your arm to buy the 965?

where did you see that there was any promise of getting anything out of the chip over 4Ghz? There is nothing promised to anyone using i7 they will get that far either.

are you aware those who bought a 920 and 940 dont get to see 1600+ and 1700 memory speeds?

it may be a combination of motherboard and memory or it could be thats just the luck of the draw on the slug you purchased.

One thing is for certain.. you ask the average 920/940 owner what temp they are seeing @ 4GHz and it isnt 65c

not sure exactly what you are unsatisfied with at this point..  OK, what if you made it to 4.2? what does that mean? does that mean 10 more frames in FSX? Would we be satisfied with 4.2 and be upset 4.5 was not obtainable?

[raptorx]

Well,

I certainly didn't expect to be taken out to the woodshed because of my comments about my chip.

Nick, why do you have to answer this like so?

[NickN]

[quote]Well,

I certainly didn't expect to be taken out to the woodshed because of my comments about my chip.

Nick, why do you have to answer this like so?