Preamble
Hiya Guys, I've been lurking on these forums ever since I started my research on the next
DFI board to buy back in June, and here's my first
post. I must say that Clunk's is an awesome forum, replies are straightforward and no-nonsense! I'm a student in Singapore and the exams are finally over! Which means I now have the time to tweak the settings to my satisfaction (:
Basically, I have 2 major problems:
1. Values from the
IntelBurnTest do not match on stock
BIOS settings (i.e. No overclock), which I take to mean that my system is not stable right out of the box.
2. I can't seem to get a 24/7 stable overclock on 3.6Ghz (400x9) on a reasonable
vCore (1.3v), OCCT passes for 1hr, but Prime95v256 fails in 4 minutes =x
My eventual goal is to hit a 24/7 stable overclock on 4Ghz (445x9) at the lowest possible voltage settings, I know this will take a long time, but that's what I love about overclocking.
Introduction
My system specs are in my profile, which can be accessed with the button above.
I've gone through all of the overclocking guides in the 'Guides Section' as well as read the living review for the
DFI LT X48-T2R, which I believe is almost the same thing as my board.
Prior to this overclocking endeavor, I've managed to get my previous E6750/ASUS P5B Deluxe to 3.8Ghz (475x8) on 1.375v, 28hrs Prime95 stable. I haven't done any overclocking for a year now, and am really rusty around the edges.
My computer has since shifted to somewhere without air conditioning, thus I cannot afford as high a
vCore as before due to temps.
Temperatures
It's hot and humid all year round in Singapore, room temperatures vary between
27 - 32c (all temps are in Celsius).
At time of writing, my room temperature is
28c, and my case ambient is
29c, measured with an off-the-shelf room thermometer from the local hardware store.
I use an Antec P180B which has a separate compartment for the
PSU and hard disk.
The main compartment is cooled with 2xNoctua P12s @ 1300rpm on the intake and 2xScythe S-Flex 'F's @ 1600rpm for the exhaust.
The bottom compartment is cooled with a Scythe S-Flex 'F' on the intake with the
PSU fan for the exhaust.
The
CPU is cooled with a Thermalright TRUE120 mounted with the 'coin mod' that involves adding coins between the retaining clip and the heatsink base for added pressure. I have added roughly 6mm this way. The thermal paste used is Arctic Cooling MX-2 spread thinly on the processor IHS with the provided
DFI 'thermal paste helper', essentially a laminated cardboard piece.
The fan used is a Scythe Ultra Kaze 120x120x38mm @ 1800rpm, which I read is especially good for heatsinks with closely spaced fins as it has a high static pressure.
Idle temps on stock settings hang around
43c, while Load temps are
58c, hitting
62c max (all temps measured at stock settings).
The
NB,
SB and MOSFets are cooled with the provided 'Flame-freezer' made by Thermalright that is included with most 'UT' series boards. The
NB heatsink has been remounted with Arctic Cooling MX-2 as well.
NB temps are
44c max on Load.
System Information
I'm using an Intel Xeon E3110 (3.0Ghz/6MB L2 Cache) Batch no. Q806A227, 1.25v Max.
Running on the latest UT X48-T2R
BIOS dated 2nd October 2008 (10/02/08).
Here are some screenies from
CPU-Z for the lowdown on
CPU rev., SPD timings etc. etc.
Stock BIOS settings
Now that you understand more about my system, here are my stock
BIOS settings,
new settings added in the latest
BIOS are highlighted in
blue.
Code:
CPU Feature
Thermal Management Control: Disabled
PPM(EIST) Mode: Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
CIE Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled
Core Multi-Processing: Enabled
Exist Setup Shutdown: Mode 2
Shutdown after AC Loss: Disabled
CLOCK VC0 divider: AUTO
CPU Clock Ratio: 9x
Target CPU Clock: 2997
CPU Clock: 333
Boot Up Clock: Auto
DRAM Speed: 333/667
Target DRAM Speed: DDR2 667
PCIE Clock: 100mhz
PCIE Slot Config: 1X 1X
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled
Voltage Settings (BIOS readings)
CPU ViD Control: Auto 1.2200v (1.23v)
CPU VID Special Add Limit: Enabled (What does this do anyway?)
CPU VID Special Add: Auto
DRAM Voltage Control: 2.100v (2.06v)
SB Core/CPU PLL Voltage: 1.510v
NB Core Voltage:1.265v (1.29v)
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.100v (1.12v)
Vcore Droop Control: Enabled
Clockgen Voltage Control: 3.45v
GTL+ Buffers Strength: Strong
Host Slew Rate: Weak
GTL REF Voltage Control: Disable
x CPU GTL1/3 REF Volt: 113
x CPU GTL 0/2 REF Volt: 110
x North Bridge GTL REF Volt: 110
DRAM Timing
Enhance Data transmitting: AUTO
Enhance Addressing: AUTO
T2 Dispatch: AUTO
Clock Setting Fine Delay
DRAM CLK Driving Strength Level 6
DRAM Data Driving Strength Level 8
Ch1 DLL Default Driving Strength Level 0
Ch2 DLL Defaul Driving Strength Model 0
Fine Delay Step Degree 5ps
Ch1 Clock Crossing Setting: AUTO
DIMM 1 Clock fine delay: Current
DIMM 2 Clock fine delay: Current
Ch 1 Command fine delay: Current
Ch 1 Control fine delay: Current
Ch2 Clock Crossing Setting: AUTO
DIMM 3 Clock fine delay: Current
DIMM 4 Clock fine delay: Current
Ch 2 Command fine delay: Current
Ch 2 Control fine delay: Current
Ch1Ch2 CommonClock Setting: Auto
Ch1 RDCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch1 WRCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch1 Command to CS Delay: Auto
Ch2 RDCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch2 WRCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch2 Command to CS Delay: Auto
CAS Latency Time (tCL):5
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD):5
RAS# Precharge (tRP):5
Precharge Delay (tRAS):15
All Precharge to Act: AUTO
REF to ACT Delay (tRFC): AUTO
Performance LVL (Read Delay) (tRD): AUTO
Read delay phase adjust: Enter
Ch1 Read delay phase (4~0)
Channel 1 Phase 0 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 1 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 2 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 3 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 4 Pull-In: Auto
Ch2 Read delay phase (4~0)
Channel 2 Phase 0 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 1 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 2 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 3 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 4 Pull-In: Auto
MCH ODT Latency: AUTO
Write to PRE Delay (tWR): AUTO
Rank Write to Read (tWTR): AUTO
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD): AUTO
Read to Write Delay (tRDWR): AUTO
Ranks Write to Write (tWRWR): AUTO
Ranks Read to Read (tRDRD): AUTO
Ranks Write to Read (tWRRD): AUTO
Read CAS# Precharge (tRTP): AUTO
ALL PRE to Refresh: AUTO
As said above, values from IntelBurnTest did not match on the above settings
Should I be worried?
Currently running MemTest86+ Test #5 to check if my
RAM is the problem, will update with results soon.
Overclock BIOS settings
Code:
CPU Feature
Thermal Management Control: Disabled
PPM(EIST) Mode: Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
CIE Function: Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled
Core Multi-Processing: Enabled
Exist Setup Shutdown: Mode 2
Shutdown after AC Loss: Disabled
CLOCK VC0 divider: AUTO
CPU Clock Ratio: 9x
Target CPU Clock: 3600
CPU Clock: 400
Boot Up Clock: Auto
DRAM Speed: 333/667
Target DRAM Speed: DDR2 667
PCIE Clock: 100mhz
PCIE Slot Config: 1X 1X
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled
Voltage Settings (BIOS readings)
CPU ViD Control: Auto 1.27500v (1.31v)
CPU VID Special Add Limit: Disabled (What does this do anyway?)
CPU VID Special Add: 100.23%
DRAM Voltage Control: 2.100v (2.06v)
SB Core/CPU PLL Voltage: 1.510v
NB Core Voltage:1.356v (1.390v)
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.100v (1.12v)
Vcore Droop Control: Enabled
Clockgen Voltage Control: 3.45v
GTL+ Buffers Strength: Strong
Host Slew Rate: Weak
GTL REF Voltage Control: Disable
x CPU GTL1/3 REF Volt: 113
x CPU GTL 0/2 REF Volt: 110
x North Bridge GTL REF Volt: 110
DRAM Timing
Enhance Data transmitting: AUTO
Enhance Addressing: AUTO
T2 Dispatch: AUTO
Clock Setting Fine Delay
DRAM CLK Driving Strength Level 6
DRAM Data Driving Strength Level 8
Ch1 DLL Default Driving Strength Level 0
Ch2 DLL Defaul Driving Strength Model 0
Fine Delay Step Degree 5ps
Ch1 Clock Crossing Setting: AUTO
DIMM 1 Clock fine delay: Current
DIMM 2 Clock fine delay: Current
Ch 1 Command fine delay: Current
Ch 1 Control fine delay: Current
Ch2 Clock Crossing Setting: AUTO
DIMM 3 Clock fine delay: Current
DIMM 4 Clock fine delay: Current
Ch 2 Command fine delay: Current
Ch 2 Control fine delay: Current
Ch1Ch2 CommonClock Setting: Auto
Ch1 RDCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch1 WRCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch1 Command to CS Delay: Auto
Ch2 RDCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch2 WRCAS GNT-Chip Delay: Auto
Ch2 Command to CS Delay: Auto
CAS Latency Time (tCL):5
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD):5
RAS# Precharge (tRP):5
Precharge Delay (tRAS):15
All Precharge to Act: AUTO
REF to ACT Delay (tRFC): AUTO
Performance LVL (Read Delay) (tRD): AUTO
Read delay phase adjust: Enter
Ch1 Read delay phase (4~0)
Channel 1 Phase 0 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 1 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 2 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 3 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 1 Phase 4 Pull-In: Auto
Ch2 Read delay phase (4~0)
Channel 2 Phase 0 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 1 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 2 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 3 Pull-In: Auto
Channel 2 Phase 4 Pull-In: Auto
MCH ODT Latency: AUTO
Write to PRE Delay (tWR): AUTO
Rank Write to Read (tWTR): AUTO
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD): AUTO
Read to Write Delay (tRDWR): AUTO
Ranks Write to Write (tWRWR): AUTO
Ranks Read to Read (tRDRD): AUTO
Ranks Write to Read (tWRRD): AUTO
Read CAS# Precharge (tRTP): AUTO
ALL PRE to Refresh: AUTO
CPU temps stay at 63c with 1.31vCore on load and that worries me.
vCore limit problem
I am also experiencing the same problem as geo69 described
here.
The moment I save and exit from
BIOS after setting
CPU ViD Control to 1.3v from 1.2985v, it restarts, powers up for one second and switches off.
I have circumvented this by using
ViD Special Add, but it isn't a long term solution right?
Queries
Regarding thermal paste application:
Did I do it right? Did I put too little by spreading it thinly across the IHS? =x
44c seems like a suckass Idle temp to me..
Regarding my IntelBurnTest failure:
What could be the problem?
Overclock settings:
Do you guys have any overclock
BIOS setting templates to offer before I start on the long and ardous journey of trial and error?
The latest boards have settings wayyy more complicated than those in the days of 965 chipsets!
Do I need to play with
GTL settings? I read the guides and still am clueless about
GTL and reference settings and what not ):
Many thanks to any of you in advance who bothered to read this thread and gave me suggestions! 
Cheers!
Need help on OC with E3110/DFI UT X48-T2R!
running on 333/667 strap. Should I try 400/800? Would it help?
Linear Mode
