Gigabyte GA X38 DQ6 Blog

[supershanks]

Hi nilo123,

Re PSU I think you should be ok with your existing unit.
If you want further confirmation try
eXtreme Power Supply Calculator eXtreme Power Supply Calculator The pro version includes the option to see 12v loading which is the key factor. I usualy look for my PSU to be around 80% loaded , this means that the PSU is able to run fairly cool , without losing efficiency, so that a steady 12v voltage is maintained.

I'd try 9x400@ 2.66C = 8:6 = Mem = 1064 use the bios settings you see below the Prime shot & coretemp picture. Just change the System Memory Multiplier 2.66D to 2.00B

If you don't fancy going so high initially , then try a lower clock 400x8 for example again with 2.00B memory multiplier.

Let us know how it goes

[nilo123]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I'll try these specs as you suggested and after that I'll run super PI. Right?

Then, I'll post my results.

One thing: How do you get the full list specs from BIOS? Do you take note on a piece of paper? Or do take some photos of them and then write them here in the posts?

[supershanks]

I'll try these specs as you suggested and after that I'll run super PI. Right?

Best use Prime95 which will test your stability of both the CPU & memory. Running SuperPi is ok but is really just a benchmark of how fast your memory is.

How do you get the full list specs from BIOS?

Copy & paste the Relevent Bios Template (eg no3) Then just put in your settings from your own bios.

[nilo123]

Cheers.

I've downloaded Prime95 25.7. Can't find 64bits version.

I'm using Vistax64 Ultimate. Does it make any difference?

[supershanks]

No from v25.6 it's 64bit compatible as far as I know.

[nilo123]

ok.

see u later.

[nilo123]

OK, I'm back again.

I put the specs u gave in BIOS with a multiplier of 8, which gives a CPU speed of 3.2GHz. Great!!!

I'm running P95 since 2 hours ago and system seems running smoothly and stable.
Do u think is enough running P95 for 2 hours only?
If not, how many hours it should be running to confirm safe stability?

One thing I notice in BIOS is when I change DDR voltage, it appears a pink blinking warning saying the system is overvolted. Is this normal?
Does it have any problem?
This pink warning disappears only when I put it to normal.

Another issue is a new spec that appears in my BIOS in section "System Voltage Control" called "Loadline Calibration" which I set to "Auto".
Is this right accordingly to the specs you gave, because in your specs this setting does not appear.

Thanks,
Nilo123

Here some pics:

[supershanks]

That's pretty good going then, you can probably try lowering your CPU Voltage Control & rerunning prime. try selecting small ffts & run for say an hour. If it's stable, then repeat. If you have the patience , do this till it fails. the voltage before the failure is the one you should run with.
Note: this is equivalent of running 2 hours of blend, which also tests ram with large ffts.
You'll find that your CPU temps will drop a bit which is all to the good.

yes

"Loadline Calibration"

i an extra setting, which wasn't available when I did those tests. leave it on enabled or Auto is fine.

this is your memory OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Titanium 4GB Edition Dual Channel ?? If so your voltage is rated at 2.2v which means an overvoltage of (2.2v-1.8v(Std Jdec Voltage))= +0.40v . If your using the +0.35v from my settings then that's great. Basically you can run up to 2.25v(+0.45v) with that ram without breaking your warranty , that's the key and you can ignore the colour changes in bios. I have a set of Cellshock ram that run at 2.30v & the bios always show red, though 2.30is their rated voltage, so don't worry

[nilo123]

Thanks. You have been great!!! Without ur help, I could not understand nothing about OCing and of course to do it.

And believe me that I have read plenty of information about these issues in a lot of forums, including here in this forum.

Because I was not capable of understanding things related with DDR timings, CPU and DDR voltages, and many other things related with BIO specs that I really do not know what they are for.

Here a pic of P95, using whole ur specs, with a multiplier of 8x:



Yes, this is my memory: OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Titanium 4GB Edition Dual Channel.

I'll follow ur advice about lowering CPU Voltage, as u suggested me, maintaining whole other specs. Or can I also increase at same time the multiplier to 9x?

Sorry, some more doubts I still have:

1 - Should I increase the DDR voltage to 2.25v? Is it worth to do it? Why?

2 - Is it advisable to upgrade BIOS when the system is overclocked? Or should I set before my default values in BIOS and then upgrade it? And then after that, start again the whole overclocking process?

Cheers,
Nilo123

[supershanks]

No problem, just spread the word

Or can I also increase at same time the multiplier to 9x?

You could try that probably later , but remember that's a bigger overclock of the cpu, it may not be stable as it is now. Now your CPU is stable we just want to se if we can lower vcore (cpu voltage) and reduce those load temps a bit.

1 - Should I increase the DDR voltage to 2.25v? Is it worth to do it? Why?

No I'd leave it at that. You have the comfort of knowing your undervolting ram , compared to manufacturer's spec. You have some in reserve if you OC further & increase the Ram speed.

2 - Is it advisable to upgrade BIOS when the system is overclocked? Or should I set before my default values in BIOS and then upgrade it? And then after that, start again the whole overclocking process?

It's safer to flash with default settings. However when you do flash, you will lose any saved settings. So copy that template & print it out to record your OC settings before you flash.