TPU's Core i7 Overclocking and Feedback

[Fitseries3]

OK guys, this is really strange. So, before I boxed up the DFI, I decided to give it one more try. I took out 2 of the Ram sticks, cleared the cmos, and restarted. IT BOOTED!! So, thinking maybe it was a bad stick of ram, I repeated the one stick boot with each stick. Each time, it booted again. So, I put all of the sticks back in, and tried to boot again. No go. I once again received the post 88 code. So, I took 2 of the sticks out, and booted. This time, I went into the bios, and took the dram timings off of "auto" and set the timings manually. I shut down, then replaced the 2 other sticks. Started it back up and NOW it boots!! WTF? For some reason, this board does not like auto dram timings unless you're using just one stick. Anyone ever see this before??

buy my ram.

 

[n-ster]

hehe... but Fit.. you should've bought the 6gb of RAM at 85$ on newegg when it was that price...

 

[Fitseries3]

why you think im trying to sell them?

and buy? no... request. remember.. i have a hook up at crucial.

 

[n-ster]

oh really? Well it's not very surprising... since you have so many hookups but you get them FREE?!?! or a just a discount on the already VERY cheap RAM?

 

[PaulieG]

buy my ram.

LOL. Come on Fit. That's not helping. Thing is, each stick is passing memtest.

 

[Fitseries3]

give me an hour to crunch some ideas.

 

[Fitseries3]

LOL. Come on Fit. That's not helping. Thing is, each stick is passing memtest.

which slots are you using?

 

[PaulieG]

which slots are you using?

I checked that. I'm using 1,3,5. It won't even boot in yellow slots.

 

[Fitseries3]

is one ram slot dead?

1 _ 5

1 3 _

_ 3 5

did you manually set 1.65v in the bios then reboot with 3 sticks in?

 

[PaulieG]

is one ram slot dead?

1 _ 5

1 3 _

_ 3 5

did you manually set 1.65v in the bios then reboot with 3 sticks in?

No dead slots, and yes thats what I did manually. Hey Fit, by the way what's the prevailing opinions on safe vcore max on these chips?

 

[Fitseries3]

dood i've run on to 1.65v on my chips and they were fine.

 

[msgclb]

I checked that. I'm using 1,3,5. It won't even boot in yellow slots.

The manual for both the UT and DK doesn't explain which memory slots to use. Under the Technical Docs tab there's this pdf file.

The System Memory configuration Guideline

The manual shows the green slots as 2+4+6 but the above pdf file show them as 1+3+5. I believe this pdf file has the slot numbered wrong. At the bottom of this single post for the DFI LP UT X58 by eva2000 has some memory information that I believe also applies to the DK.

DDR3 Memory Configurations

* For 3 module triple channel, dimm slots 2+4+6

So you should be using the green slots that the manual shows as 2+4+6.

There's some memory tips in this single post that might also help with your DK.
Initial notes, findings and tips DFI UT X58-T3EH8

 

[Wile E]

OK guys, this is really strange. So, before I boxed up the DFI, I decided to give it one more try. I took out 2 of the Ram sticks, cleared the cmos, and restarted. IT BOOTED!! So, thinking maybe it was a bad stick of ram, I repeated the one stick boot with each stick. Each time, it booted again. So, I put all of the sticks back in, and tried to boot again. No go. I once again received the post 88 code. So, I took 2 of the sticks out, and booted. This time, I went into the bios, and took the dram timings off of "auto" and set the timings manually. I shut down, then replaced the 2 other sticks. Started it back up and NOW it boots!! WTF? For some reason, this board does not like auto dram timings unless you're using just one stick. Anyone ever see this before??

That happens on my X38 board with Crucial Ballistix. It will only boot with 1 stick on auto. It's not an uncommon issue at all.

 

[Thrackan]

??????????

you can get them from newegg and crucial.com

nothing special about them at all.

Wish I could get those sweet sticks in Europe...

 

[Binge]

Heh, I had the same problem with my board. Mine would not even run at the specified speeds/timings without manually changing the values, but when I did it definitely ran.

 

[Thrackan]

Btw, I found out when I ran my 2x2Gb on cas 6, it booted but only showed 2 Gb total instead of 4...
Sure beats not booting at all.

EDIT: man, Crucial has a EU shop too, but they convert dollars to euro's the way you should convert euros to dollars... €164 for a 2x3Gb 1066 kit

 

[Binge]

lol don't bother with that stuff. ick!

 

[Fitseries3]

geeez thrackan...

let one of us send you some. save the dollas.

 

[Binge]

Alright guys so I've been doing a lot of homework for a board that can actually overclock the i7 920 without killing itself. I e-mailed Biostar last night asking about the output specifications of their "exciting" 12 phase VRM. Check out these results:

MY EMAIL

I am inquiring as to information about this model's VRMs. I'd like to know the range of output voltage and maximum current from your 12 phase power setup. I am trying to understand how much margin I have when I am overclocking my i7. After stressing a number of boards this is the deciding factor in my next purchase.

-Robert

THEIR RESPONSE

Please find below reply.

TPower X58

1.VRM Output Voltage = Used CPU Vcore x 1.05.
2.Max. Current = 130A.

support@biostar-usa.com

So that is pretty interesting. Whoa 130A output current??? G-WIZZ!!! Let's see if that will handle an i7 920 @ 4.5ghz with voltage @ 1.47v

What I found was that the Biostar x58 T-Power by power specification is nowhere near being "tough" enough to do serious bench work or handle a 24/7 overclock @ over 3.5ghz. I hope this helps some folks.

 

[SystemViper]

GREAT WORK

It would be interesting to see the boards matched up like this so we could compare actual board to board.

 

[PaulieG]

Alright guys so I've been doing a lot of homework for a board that can actually overclock the i7 920 without killing itself. I e-mailed Biostar last night asking about the output specifications of their "exciting" 12 phase VRM. Check out these results:

MY EMAIL


THEIR RESPONSE


So that is pretty interesting. Whoa 130A output current??? G-WIZZ!!! Let's see if that will handle an i7 920 @ 4.5ghz with voltage @ 1.47v

What I found was that the Biostar x58 T-Power by power specification is nowhere near being "tough" enough to do serious bench work or handle a 24/7 overclock @ over 3.5ghz. I hope this helps some folks.

Hmm, not sure I'm buying this. There are several people here that are maintaining 4.0ghz+ 24/7 clocks. This is the DFI-Club equivalent for Biostar, and Rebel is an authority.

http://www.rebelshavenforum.com/sis-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=49

 

[Binge]

Well do the math yourself... Biostar told me the maximum rating their VRMs. Going above spec is what we do, but personally I would like to get a board that is for the enthusiast. For that I would need a board with a much higher rated output than 130amps. I mean yeah that 130amps could be significant and would probably handle 4.0ghz with HT off 24/7, but I don't see it lasting as long as I know both you and I want to own our i7s.

 

[Wile E]

130A at what other ratings? Something seems off here. A stock chip can take 130A depending on it's VID. I don't buy it, and think the tech that answered your email is an idiot.

 

[PaulieG]

130A at what other ratings? Something seems off here. A stock chip can take 130A depending on it's VID. I don't buy it, and think the tech that answered your email is an idiot.

I have to agree here. I'd like to know the other ratings. I'd also like to know how the numbers compare to others in the same class. Oh, and this board is considered an enthusiast class board.

 

[Binge]

Ok, based on what I asked that is the max output amplitude of their VRMs, and the output voltage of the VRMs is x1.05 the VCore. The tech may have been an idiot, but all he had to do was look at the white sheet and tell me the max output current of the VRMs... that is totally possible and idiot proof (we'd think). The point is each phase of a power system is rated for a certain ammount of amps. The new EVGA classified is open with their specs and their total output current is 400amps at 40amps per phase at 10 phases... if this has 12 phases at 11 amps per phase (rounding) then it makes sense.

If I write them another e-mail, what should I ask instead? I'm very interested in finding this information.

I have to agree here. I'd like to know the other ratings. I'd also like to know how the numbers compare to others in the same class. Oh, and this board is considered an enthusiast class board.

I only asked for the maximum output amplitude. That is a reasonable question to ask as it would be on the white sheet for the VRMs. I'm e-mailing other companies with the same question, and yes... I understand that this is enthusiast class... that's all the x58 is. It's enthusiast class. That's why even down to the $199.99 boards you see big beefy heat sinks and claims of sweet overclocking.