RIVE, 3960X & my 1st overclock, to 4.3: Suggestions? And guidance for 4.5?

[Howie]

Hi guys, this is my first post to get some feedback on an overclocking attempt. I initially tried to go up to 4.5, but things just didn't seem to be stable (enough) even though at first all seemed well. I have achieved what seems to be a solid 4.3 using the settings below. I'm not a gamer, so gaming scenarios and loads will not apply. I won't be pushing this computer too hard most of the time, but do expect to have a lot running at the same time. I'd like to be able to bump up to a higher OC for specific tasks, like audio ripping/encoding (not professional) and batch image file conversions etc.

1) I would very much appreciate any comments or suggestions regarding this existing overclock and,
2) Any advice for best adjustments to push this to, say, 4.5?

My current 4.3 OC has VCORE between 1.344-1.352 volts at load (and 0.856 V at idle.)
With air conditioning running for stress tests, maximum temperature of my hottest core, with 15 hours of Prime95, was 82 degrees centigrade. Running AIDA64 (which is where I read my temps and voltages,) that stress test generally kept temperatures in the mid to high 60s, maximum hit 73 degrees. (I do realize these stress tests are not normal, everyday computing scenarios, and I am keeping perspective when evaluating the term "stable.") I also used Intel Burn Test.

Also, before CPU overclocking, but with XMP memory setting selected, I ran 3 cycles (12 hours) of Memtest86, with with no errors reported. I'm now entering my XMP values manually, however.

Unfortunately my 6th CPU core runs about 10 degrees hotter than my lowest, and usually 6-7 degress hotter than the next warmest core. At "idle" on this 4.3 overclock, the hottest core temp is around 34 degrees.

Here are my settings, and thanks in advance for your suggestions! 🙂

Extreme Tweaker menu:
Ai Overclock tuner: Manual
CPU Level up: Disabled (default)
ClockGen full reset: Enabled (default)
Turbo ratio: By all cores
By all cores (can adjust in OS): 43
Bclk freq: 100 (default stock speed)
CPU Strap: 100 (default stock speed)
CPU Clock gen filter: Auto (default)
Memory freq: DDR3-1866
Extreme tweaking: Enabled
EPU power saving mode: Disabled (default)

Extreme 0V: Disabled (default)
Bclk skew: Auto
CPU Vcore V: Offset mode
Offset mode sign: -
CPU Vcore offset V: 0.010
VTT CPU V: 1.100
2nd VTTCPU V: Auto (default) (1.056V actual shown on screen)
CPU VCCSA Voltage: Manual Mode
CPU VCCSA Manual Voltage: 1.100
DRAM V (chA, chB): 1.500
DRAM V (chC, chD): 1.500
CPU PLL V: Auto (1.793V displayed on screen)
PCH 1.1v: Auto (1.100V displayed on screen)
VTTDDR voltage (chA, chB): Auto
VTTDDR voltage (chC, chD): Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIe Spread Spectrum: Auto (default)
(xxxx Tweaker's paradise settings all default)

CPU Performance settings submenu:
CPU Ratio: Auto (default)
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology: Enabled (default)
Turbo Mode: Enabled (default)
Turbo Mode parameters; Power limit control: Auto (default)

DRAM timing control submenu:
Rampage Tweak: Auto (default)

CAS (tCL): 9
RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 10
RAS Pre time (tRP): 9
RAS ACT time (tRAS): 27
DRAM command mode ("command rate"): 2
Latency boundry: Auto (default)
RAS to RAS delay (tRRD): 6
Ref cycle time (tRFC): 160
WRITE recovery time (tWR): 15
READ to Pre time (tRTP): 8
FOUR ACT WIN time (tFAW): 26
WRITE to READ Delay (tWTR): 8
Write latency (tCWL): 8
The rest set at "auto" (default)


DIGI+ Power Control submenu:
CPU Load-line Calibration: Medium
CPU Current Capability: 120%
CPU Voltage Frequency: Auto (default)
VRM Over Temperature Protection: Auto (default)
CPU Power Duty Control: T.Probe (default)
Vcore MOS volt. Control: Auto (default)
CPU Power Phase Control: Optimized
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled (default)
CPU Vcore Boot Up Voltage: Auto (default)
VCCSA Load-line Calibration: Regular
VCCSA Current Capability: 120%
VCCSA Fixed Frequency: 300 (default)
CPU VCCSA Boot Up Voltage: Auto (default)
CPU VTT Switching Freq: Auto (default)
CPU VTT Over-Current Protection: Auto (default)
DRAM-AB Current Capability: 120%
DRAM-AB Voltage Frequency: Auto (default)
DRAM-AB Power Phase Control: Optimized
DRAM-CD Current Capability: 120%
DRAM-CD Voltage Frequency: Auto (default)
DRAM-CD Power Phase Control: Optimized
PCH 1.1V Switching Freq: Auto (default)


Advanced menu.
CPU configuration submenu:
Intel Adaptive Thermal Monitor: Enabled (default)
Hyper-threading: Enabled (default)
Active Processor Cores: All (default)
Limit CPUID Maximum: Disabled (default)
Execute Disable Bit: Enabled (default)
Hardware Prefetcher: Enabled (default)
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch: Enabled (default)
DCU Streamer Prefetcher: Enabled (default)
DCU IP Prefetcher: Enabled (default)
Intel Virtualization Technology: Enabled (default)

CPU power management submenu:
CPU Ratio: Auto (default)
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology: Enabled (default)
Turbo Mode: Enabled (default)
CPU C1E: Auto
CPU C3 Report: Auto
CPU C6 Report: Auto
CPU C7 Report: Auto

SATA configuration submenu:
Hot Plugs: All Disabled (default)

APM submenu:
ErP Ready: Disabled (default)

Monitor menu:
Anti Surge Support: Disabled

[HiVizMan]

I am surprised that you are struggling to get to 4.5GHz.

All I would do is set my memory.

Set the multi to 45

LLC to medium

Vcore to offset
+ 0.02

F10 and let it boot to OS.

[EruKaze]

HiVizMan wrote:
I am surprised that you are struggling to get to 4.5GHz.

All I would do is set my memory.

Set the multi to 45

LLC to medium

Vcore to offset
+ 0.02

F10 and let it boot to OS.

I'm trying this on my formula board now but is it normal for the Core Voltage to at 1.376v in stress in AIDA (with Heaven benchmark running in the background)

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Hmm really all that looks good to me but the voltage seems a bit on the high side of average (from what I have seen) for 4.3...so maybe you simply have a thirsty CPU...no problem. If you offset a higher negative no do you get straight 101 bsod?

There is often a point where offset needs to go from negative to positive the higher you go up the frequencies...so maybe for 4.5 you will need to swap to positive values...

For me 15 hours of prime is like 14 hours forty minutes too much....but each to their own. Try RealBench.....

One thing....I have seen at least twice 3960Xs behave a lot better when CPUPLL was actually lowered a bit....try 1.7 or 1.6 as an experiment

have you got both CPU ATX 8 pin and 4 pin plugged in?

[Howie]

Thanks HiVizMan and Arne.

HiVizMan: When you say, "All I would do is set my memory." I'm not sure what you meant. Change it further from where I have it?

Arne: I will do some more experimenting! I know I could boot up to 4.5 with the negative offset at .005, but I never pushed the negative offset limits at 4.3 to the point of getting a straight BSOD. Part of that was not wanting to have too low an idle voltage. I do recall in the past, early trials a year ago (but without all the other manual settings in place,) where having too much negative offset would crash the system when at idle, due to too low a voltage.

As for the ATX connectors: Looks like just the 8-pin is connected. I didn't build this rig myself, and wiring is very tightly bundled down. I know most of the guys here probably built their own computers, but I had an opportunity to get a custom built from Maingear, and I'd rather try to use it "as is" in terms of cabling and not start pulling all their clean build apart. What's the significance of the ATX 8-pin vs both 8-pin plus 4-pin ?

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Some people have noted that power delivery is smoother with both 8 and 4 pins connected..less fluctuation less peaks.

0.840v is my idle just for reference...never crashed at idle I don't think it's a problem with relatively small offsets like -0.005 or -0.01I reckon you could increase offset for 4.3 a bit still.

was 4.5 with -0.005 not stable then?

[Gottex]

Howie , my chip is not the best one where you can run high OC (4.8) with low voltage, but I'm pretty happy with what I've got for a year already 😉

12 hours Prime 95 AVX, 20 passes LinX AVX
under heavy load (monitored with voltmeter):
vcore - 1.48
vtt - 1.20
vcсsa - 1.21
dram - 1.66

Just in case if you wanna go for manual volts, all you gotta do in my config is to change the following:
vcore - 1.424
vtt - 1.16250
vccsa - 1.140















http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/Gottex/media/MEGA%20NEW%20OFFSET/130529162850_zpsef379f3c.png.html

[HiVizMan]

Sorry for not being clear Howie - by set the values manually I mean set the frequency and the timings in the memory section, or if you wish simply select XMP profile for your memory and then follow the rest of how I suggest.

[mrmojorisin]

Maybe just change your offset sign from negative to positive? That is the advice I got a while back and It worked for me.

[Howie]

Thank you for the feedback, guys! I've been experimenting, and mostly based on Arne's lower voltage experiences, I've tried increasing the negative offset to see if my system would boot. So far I've tried -.020, -.030, and -.040 and have been able to boot to Windows. There seems to be no problems with BSOD when voltage drops at idle. I credit the additional manual adjustments for this, as earlier attempts a year ago did not have comprehensive manual settings dialed in.) I haven't done extensive stress tests, but initially it seems to show that I certainly could run at 4.3 with less voltage. The voltage readings I had for the three offset levels are:

-.020 1.336V under load, 0.848V idle
-.030 1.320-1.328V under load, 0.840V idle
-.040 1.312-1.320V under load, 0.832V idle

Next I will try going the other direction for the 4.5 GHz level, and see how I do. But do you suggest continuing to reduce the voltage until Windows won't boot, just to have a sense of what level offset is clearly too far?

Unfortunately in this process, while putting the system in and out of SLEEP to test that part of stability, I encountered a serious sounding Event Log error whenever the system is put to sleep. I have asked about it in the 4102 BIOS thread, but it's something I feel I would like to resolve before continuing my tests. That issue I have detailed here: http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?33141-New-bios-4102!&p=272237&viewfull=1#post272237 (I hope the hyperlink option works 😛 ) The error itself, Event ID 12, Source: HAL, reads, "The platform firmware has corrupted memory across the previous system power transition. Please check for updated firmware for your system."

Thanks, everyone, for your help and support !! 🙂