Need help on oc:ing Rampage IV formula and 4930

[Egill]

Hi
I'm new here, but I have been building my own computers since the 90ies, and overclocking most of my builds, so I have some experience. This is my first higher end machine with such an advanced mobo though. It seems to be rock stable at default speed and with just the memory overclock by XMP, but even a moderate 4.1 ghz OC is not stable and I would really appreciate some pointers on what I should do. The plethora of settings in bios is somewhat confusing to me....

Spec's
Asus Rampage IV formula with bios 4601 (earlier 4502, 4403)
Intel 4930 with Noctua Nh-D14 with Noctua paste
4x8 GB G.skill Ares F3-2133C10Q-32GAB CL 10-12-12-31-2, 1.6V - this memory is supported my the mobo, but there is no "(Ivy-bridge-E)"-designation http://www.gskill.com/en/configurator?manu=29&chip=28&model=68
Super flower golden King 1000W PSU (platinum, apart from the goofy name it is fairly good http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=252 )
Palit super jetstream 780 SLI with 331.65 drivers at pci-e 1 & 4 (3rd red slot)
256 gb Samsung 840 pro SSD as main harddrive + 2 mechanical drives mirrored raid configuration (windows raid)
Corsair m90 mouse, Corsair K60 keyboard, Overlord 27'' IPS monitor 2560x1440@96 hz, Corsair 600 case
Win7 64 professional (legit copy) I did a new installation for this build. Also running are Symantec end point protection & Corsair m90 mouse configuration program and Asus AI suite II. I have installed the latest drivers from Asus except that Intel managment engine as I don't trust it. I first had the Creative X-fi installed but removed it to see if that was the problem. Now I am just using the latest Realtek drivers from Asus.

Tests:
System at default speed (3.9 ghz), but with memory @ 2133 hz
Prime 95, tested stable for about 10.5 hrs, temperatures at about 60 deg. Celcius
Gaming: Bf4 & Bf3 stable

First goofing around
I overclocked using AI suite II to 4.3 ghz (memory is then set at auto which is 1333 mhz with timings 9-9-9-29-1, 1.5V), ran prime 95 and it seemed stable but when playing bf4 the machine locked hard after a while (not being able to make a crash dump, sometimes not even getting to the blue screen), I tried upping the voltage to the cpu, didn't help. Then I lowered the overclock to 4.1 ghz, but with the same result. I then started to make notes of the further testing.

After my first failures my prime suspect was the memory, so I tested that:
All 4 sticks of memory tested in memtest 5.01 at the same time, 10 hrs @ 1333 hz without errors using single core setting in memtest, I also ran half an hour at 2133 mhz without errors. A strange thing was that regardless if the memory was put at 2133 hz (XMP 10-12-12-31, 1.6V) or 1333 hz (auto, 9-9-9-24, 1.5V) in bios, memtest reported it going at "1550 hz DDR3101 with timings 19-15-15-31 @192 bit mode". Using multicore setting in memtest (all 6 cores) will crash it at test 7, but I believe this is an flaw in memtest (?).

4.1 ghz with TurboV Evo CPU level up
Asus PC diagnostics ok, memory running at auto (1333 mzh), Real temp showed 25-32C idle and 58-67C load with prime 95 (slightly lower, c. 58-60 C, reported in AI suite). It seemed stable until I also surfed around in firefox, after a while the computer locked up.

4.3 ghz with TurboV Evo CPU level up (vcore at 1.275V idle, going to 1.314 V at load)
Ran prime 95 for about 1 hour before blue screening (stop 0X00000124)

4.3 ghz, upping the Vcore to 1.28V in bios and changed some other settings (not really knowing what I did): cpu current capability auto to 130%, cpu power phase auto to extreme, VCCSA current capability 100 to 110%
I ran prime 95 and the temps eventually went up to 66-70 C (most commonly at 64-67 C). Prime 95 + surfing around was stable for 1 hr 15 min, but after shutting prime95 down and started gaming instead, the computer locked up after a while. Tried one more time with the same result.

I down clocked again to default and gaming was stable (well some soft crashes in bf4, which is expected, but no locking up).

I once again oc:ed to 4.3 ghz and ran prime 95 stable for 7 hrs. Probably locking up again when gaming (forgot to write down what happened).

Lowered oc to 4.1 ghz with TurboV Evo CPU level up, vcore was at 1.25 V
Locked up fairly quickly in prime 95

I tried upping the Vcore to 1.28V, but it locked up after 15 minutes in prime 95

My graphic cards (780 SLI) are factory overclocked and even though I used these with the same psu in my last computer (2500K@4.4 ghz, Asus p8p67pro, 8 gb Corsair vengance DDR3) without any stability issues at all, 4930 is more power hungry, so I figured the psu might not cope. So I disabled SLI in Nvidia control panel and then disconnected the lower graphic card by disabling that PCI-lane and removed the SLI bridge (the two pci-express power connectors were still connected though) and tried once again 4.1 ghz@1.28V, but it locked up when gaming again.

I tried using just the other graphic card, this time removing the pci power connectors, but locked up again when gaming.

Temperatures does not seem to be the problem. I am leaning towards that the cpu needs more current, but using fairly high vcore (1.28V) for such a light overclock as 4.1 ghz did not help. What do you suggest I try? Any settings in the bios that are relevant to try?

[HiVizMan]

Very detailed first post.

Please do not use BF4 as a stability guide, the game is as buggy as hell.

You basically only need to change three things to OC your system these days.

XMP profile for your ram as the mode of OC

The muliplyer in BIOS for your frequency and of course the voltage. Please do understand that some CPU's need a whole lot of voltage and others do not. Keep your eye on your temps and do not stress test your CPU for hours on end it is not good for it nor does it prove anything besides your CPU passed a stress test. I use stress tests for heat generation only.

[Ice009]

HiVizMan wrote:
Very detailed first post.

Please do not use BF4 as a stability guide, the game is as buggy as hell.

You basically only need to change three things to OC your system these days.

XMP profile for your ram as the mode of OC

The muliplyer in BIOS for your frequency and of course the voltage. Please do understand that some CPU's need a whole lot of voltage and others do not. Keep your eye on your temps and do not stress test your CPU for hours on end it is not good for it nor does it prove anything besides your CPU passed a stress test. I use stress tests for heat generation only.

What do you use to test if your OC is stable? I used to use Prime 95 and run it for 12+ hours, I guess that might be a bit much then? I've currently got my system running at stock clocks for the past 6 months as newer BIOSes messed with my system stability (I used similar voltages and settings). Some people want a rock solid system though and wouldn't want it to crash if doing something important, so I guess they would want to make sure it holds up under heavy stress. Would you recommend not having the system overlocked if you are doing critical work?

I also like making sure the system is stable so that it doesn't mess up driver installs and stuff like that.

[Egill]

Thanks for the reply.
Yeah, I know BF4 is not a very good test, when I am not overclocking it crashes from time to time, but overclocking is a different matter. It doesn't crash, it always makes the computer hang without any way to recover. I have to make a hard power off or press reset. I have also tested with bf3, which I have played a lot before without issues and it also locks up hard when overclocking.

So, your suggestion is manual overclock just using vcore and multipliers together with xmp for the memory? Considering it goes up to 1.314V at load when I set it at 1.28V in bios, I was thinking it isn't safe to set it higher, but perhaps I'm too cautious.

[HiVizMan]

The increase under load is due to your LLC being set to auto. I would use medium or regular (4 or 5) this setting is in digi+

Your guide for what is possible or what is acceptable is temperature. So you run a short stress test and keep an eye on temps. Bare in mind that the temps you get on a stress test are not representative of the temps you will get in normal PC use - they are always about 10-20'C higher.

[Egill]

I've done some more testing now, but not getting it stable

4.3 ghz, vcore 1.28V, Load Line C. Medium, hyper threading off, memory @2133 mhz - Playing BF3 the computer hangs after c. 10 minutes

Same settings as above except LCC High - I ran 2 rounds of Unigine Heaven benchmark which stresses the GPUs (76 & 80 deg. C), but not the CPU (just over 30 deg. C), no problems there. But playing BF3 I once again get a complete lock up after a few minutes.

4.3 ghz, vcore 1.29V, LCC high, I also reinstalled the graphics drivers - Locks up in BF3, I managed to check the temperature just before the lock up and it was only 45C or so.

[HiVizMan]

Do me a favour and download the ROG Realbench application and see if your system can pass two runs of the benchmark. That will stress your system harder than Prime95 does.

Looking at your voltages I would not be surprised that you need a touch more on the CPU vcore mate. Your temps are good.

[Egill]

I think you are right, yesterday I did try raising the vcore a bit more. I upped it to 1.30V, cpu current capability 130% and was able to play a few rounds of BF3 without issues. But after that, I ran prime 95 for a few minutes and it locked up when I also opened Firefox. Later I managed to play bf4 but it hang on one occasion. Still, temps weren't higher than when I used lower vcore.

I'll try the ROG realbench and also continue raising vcore a bit more still, even though I'm worried it might degrade the cpu faster. If I can't overclock it, the benefits over using the 2500K are small for what I do. Intel never promised that it would run more than stock speed so I can't really return it, saying I'm unhappy with its overclocking potential, now can I.

[HiVizMan]

Well if it is any conciliation I have a 2600K in my gaming system because it runs at over 5GHz on a H100i and gives me no hassels at all. With a single card Gen3 for the PCIe does not mean anything so win win for me.

As long as you are below 1.4 for the vcore you are good for 24/7 use my friend. Like I said temps must be your guide.

[Egill]

I raised vcore to 1.31V together with LCC high, cpu current capability 130% & VCCSA current capability 110% and ran the Rog realbench benchmark for 2 rounds without problems. I also ran the stresstest with 4, 8 and 16 gb memory for 15 minutes each without issues. I then played some bf3 and bf4 with no crashes, so it seems it is stable now.

I can live with 4.3 ghz, but will of course try and push it further, thanks for the support.