EVGA X58 SLI3 & Xeon W3680 build & OC

[lexluthermiester]

Ok so I got my EVGA X58 SLI3 and W3680 all put together finally. I started playing with the OC'ing through BIOS and so far I am stable at 4.1ghz. My settings are at 25x166mhz at 1.35v. I haven't gone Any higher yet as I got busy today but would like to get to a stable 4.3 or 4.5ghz. I didn't mess with any other settings in the bios as I am not familiar enough to adjust them. Any suggestions would be appreciated

That's a solid start. Take some pictures of the BIOS screens and we'll walk you through fine tuning the setup for best results.

 

[rGBurninator]

Ok awesome! It will have to be Tuesday to get those pictures as I won't be available tomorrow to do it. Also, I tried running cinebench but the app just exits on its own after about 10-15 seconds of the render test. Not sure what that had to do with yet.

 

[Regeneration]

Underclock the CPU and start with the memory and uncore.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Underclock the CPU and start with the memory and uncore.

Why memory? AFAIK he's not OCing the memory. OCing memory has marginal benefits at best. Better to focus on the CPU itself.

 

[Regeneration]

Faster L3 cache and about extra 10GB/s in memory bandwidth.

 

[rGBurninator]

Yeah, I haven't touched the memory because for one I don't know what the numbers should be and two IDK if it is even overclockable (real word). I am using ECC 1333 10600E memory in a 4gbX6 configuration. From my readings it seems like it would more beneficial to have a 8gbX3 configuration, is this true? Also, before I went to bed last night I was brave and up'd the Multiplier from 25 to 26 and seems ok, except for the weird part of Cinebanch closing after the render starts.

 

[lexluthermiester]

From my readings it seems like it would more beneficial to have a 8gbX3 configuration, is this true?

It can be, but generally only if you're OCing the RAM. If not, it really doesn't matter much.

Also, before I went to bed last night I was brave and up'd the Multiplier from 25 to 26 and seems ok, except for the weird part of Cinebanch closing after the render starts.

That is likely a lack of voltage somewhere. Again screenshots of BIOS settings screen would help a lot. My guess is that the VTT or uncore voltage might need a slight bump, but without seeing where everything is at, it's only a guess.

 

[rGBurninator]

It can be, but generally only if you're OCing the RAM. If not, it really doesn't matter much.

That is likely a lack of voltage somewhere. Again screenshots of BIOS settings screen would help a lot. My guess is that the VTT or uncore voltage might need a slight bump, but without seeing where everything is at, it's only a guess.

I will get some pictures tonight when I get home and we can run through my BIOS. Appreciate all the help.

 

[antuk15]

4.4-4.5Ghz will be around ~1.4v on the vcore depending on the vdrop when under load.

Leave the RAM clock as low as possible and tune it afterwards, 1600Mhz CL7 is a nice sweet spot to aim for.

And I hope you have a good PSU, my Xeon x5650 (Also a 6 core CPU on x58) sucks so much power at 4.4Ghz it's scary!

 

[rGBurninator]

4.4-4.5Ghz will be around ~1.4v on the vcore depending on the vdrop when under load.

Leave the RAM clock as low as possible and tune it afterwards, 1600Mhz CL7 is a nice sweet spot to aim for.

And I hope you have a good PSU, my Xeon x5650 (Also a 6 core CPU on x58) sucks so much power at 4.4Ghz it's scary!

I'm sitting at 1.35v right now but will be doing some adjustments tonight to improve the CPU. I have a 700w PSU so I'm hoping that should be enough lol

 

[antuk15]

I'm sitting at 1.35v right now but will be doing some adjustments tonight to improve the CPU. I have a 700w PSU so I'm hoping that should be enough lol

I have a 700w PSU and when stress testing the coils wine

To get a quick and dirty overclock that I can work on and tune I do this

- Download Intel Burn Test
- Set Vcore to what I'm comfortable with running 24/7 and what my cooling can handle (In my case 1.4v)
- Increase clock speed by 100Mhz
- Go in to Windows and do 5 runs of Intel Burn Test with 'standard' ram tested
- If it passes the 5 runs with good temps increase clock speed by 100Mhz and try again with another 5 runs

Do that until you either hit the limit of your cooling or Intel Burn Test fails.

Then you can tweak and fine tune the overclock from there.

 

[xrror]

You're probably not going to hit 1600 memory with 1333 ECC unless you're just really lucky with the memory IC's

If you're running 166BCK then make sure to check what memory divider/mult you are running. If I remember x58 is like x6 x8 x10 etc.

At the stock 100Bck 133Bck what is the divider for 1333? (edit: duh it's x10 - thanks for the correction lexluther) I can't remember but cinebench crashing might just be your memory speed is too high for your 1333 sticks to handle.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I have a 700w PSU and when stress testing the coils wine

To get a quick and dirty overclock that I can work on and tune I do this

- Download Intel Burn Test
- Set Vcore to what I'm comfortable with running 24/7 and what my cooling can handle (In my case 1.4v)
- Increase clock speed by 133Mhz or 1 multiplier
- Go in to Windows and do 5 runs of Intel Burn Test with 'standard' ram tested
- If it passes the 5 runs with good temps increase clock speed by 133Mhz/one multiplier and try again with another 5 runs

Do that until you either hit the limit of your cooling or Intel Burn Test fails.

Then you can tweak and fine tune the overclock from there.

Had to correct you there as the 1366 platform runs on a 133mhz based bclk by default.

 

[antuk15]

Had to correct you there as the 1366 platform runs on a 133mhz based bclk by default.

You've not corrected anything..... at a 20x multiplier I increase my CPU clock by 100Mhz with just an extra 5Mhz on the BCLK.

 

[lexluthermiester]

You've not corrected anything..... at a 20x multiplier I increase my CPU clock by 100Mhz with just an extra 5Mhz on the BCLK.

You literally can't do that unless you have some seriously squirrelly mobo. ALL socket 1366 CPU's run on a 133mhz bclk. So unless you drop the bclk to 100mhz and raise your multi one step at a time, there is no way for you to do that.

 

[xrror]

Yea it's time to ask for the screenshot of the obligatory cpuz 4 square ...

example:

Spoiler

 

[rGBurninator]

Ok so I finally got some pics of the BIOS settings on my PC. Let me know if you need me to take any more pics. I don't want to get to crazy with this overclock but just enough to get me running at around 4.5ghz stable

 

[lexluthermiester]

Ok, the first screen is where most of the action is at.
CPU VTT Voltage needs to come up one step, +2mv
CPU PLL VCore needs to come up two steps to 1.825v
QPI PLL VCore needs to come up one step to 1.1125v

Then retest your Cinebench and see if 4.1ghz stays stable.
Also, download and run Intel Burn Test. Set the "Stress Level" to High and the "Time to run" to 2.

If both of these finish properly, you can leave the voltages alone and call it good at 4.3ghz. If you want 4.4ghz (166x27), give it a try and let us know how it goes. If continues to be stable, you're golden. If not, we can tweak the voltages a bit.
VTT up to +3mv
CPU PLL to 1.85v
QPI PLL to 1.125v

Pushing the voltages much higher can be risky and I rarely have done so even with excellent cooling. If this is going to be a daily driver system, I'd call it good at 4.3ghz if stable as that is a solid OC.

EDIT:
On screen 4, enable "OC Recovery" as that will make your efforts easier.

 

[rGBurninator]

So the VVT voltage goes up in ranges of 25, when you say +2mv are you referring to 200 or 2? Should I leave the vcore the same as well as the BCLK and multiplier?

 

[lexluthermiester]

So the VVT voltage goes up in ranges of 25, when you say +2mv are you referring to 200 or 2?

2mv. So if it goes up by 25mv steps, just go up one step.

Should I leave the vcore the same as well as the BCLK and multiplier?

Yeah, leave those the same.

 

[rGBurninator]

Ok so I set the VVT one step up to +25mv and the PC would freeze after windows logo. Dropped the multiplier down to 25 from 26 and it started plus passed both test.


Edit: also I selected without vdroop, should I have vdroop on?

 

[antuk15]

You literally can't do that unless you have some seriously squirrelly mobo. ALL socket 1366 CPU's run on a 133mhz bclk. So unless you drop the bclk to 100mhz and raise your multi one step at a time, there is no way for you to do that.

I'm currently at 200Mhz BCLK with a x22 multiplier which gives me 4.4Ghz

And I got there by increasing CPU by 100Mhz each time.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Ok so I set the VVT one step up to +25mv and the PC would freeze after windows logo. Dropped the multiplier down to 25 from 26 and it started plus passed both test.

Interesting, try dropping the VTT down one step below the starting point and bump the multi back up to 26, then try again.

 

[agent_x007]

As for Vdroop setting : It's up to you.
Without Vdroop = LLC Enabled,
With Vdroop = LLC Disabled.
I'd say you can have without Vdroop set if you are under 1,4V Vcore (since any spikes that overvolt above should be fine long term). If you plan to use this CPU 24/7 with Vcore above that value, depending on cooling, temp stability and actual Vcore required, you might be better off to have Vdroop disabled.

 

[freeagent]

At 200x21 1.35v my x58 would pull 400w at the wall running Linpack Xtreme. I have a 650 which is enough to run it at stock, and the rails tank when you try to oc