Time to Feed the Beast...

Kazeko · Jan 4, 2008, 05:36 AM

Well, I'm currently testing 400x9 @ 1.43v under heavy load and I've discovered a few things and had a few questions, if someone could help.

1. This RAM REALLY does not like the Transaction Booster, at all. Such to the point that I CANNOT get it to post with the Transaction Booster enabled. This normal? Perhaps I got shafted with some lower-binned D9's? (Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2-8500 is supposed to be D9GMH)

2. FSB speeds >400 have been a pain, though my time spent with it has been relatively limited. In order to get it to post, I've really had to crank some voltage into the Northbridge, and I'm only slightly better off than the old 680i SLI board in that regard - atleast I get a BSOD rather than just a lock up. (Well, and the box-stock .2ns drop in RAM latency with no change in clocks was cool too.) Perhaps there's a setting I'm missing? (I tried some settings ChaosminionX had posted elsewhere, and couldn't even get it to post.)

I'm very unfamiliar with CPU GTL and Northbridge GTL - perhaps I should be altering this more than northbridge voltage - I hesitate to turn the CPU PLL up too far, and I'm gathering that Northbridge temps beyond 45C can be unstable, so... Any thoughts?

Maybe I'm trying to take the wrong bridge, so to speak - Most of the SB voltages are on Auto.

Was at...

450x8
DDR2-900
CPU PLL - 1.6v
FSB Term - 1.4v
NB Voltage - 1.49v
Loadline Calibration - Enable
FSB Strap: Auto
Basic Timings - 4-4-4-10-2T (Secondary settings untuned)
Static Read - Disable
AI Clock Twister - Light
Transaction Booster - Disabled (0)

All of the other voltages left on Auto.

3. Upsides - Overclocks seem to have a far greater impact on this board than it did on the 680i. Beyond 369x9 on the old 680i had little to no real effect.

I'm really anxious to see what else I can do with a little more time and some assistance from those far more experienced than myself.

Note: this post was put together very quickly, I may have been a bit spotty or missed a setting or two. My appologies if I did.

Neshi · Jan 4, 2008, 11:09 AM

I've noticed, with alot of overclocking on review/guide sites, that transaction booster makes an overclock unstable and is better turned off...

ChaosMinionX · Jan 4, 2008, 07:08 PM

Transaction Booster requires higher NB voltages, goto 1.55v on NB and see how she does

Anyways heres what I run atm....

BIOS 0907
Extreme Tweaker
Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 8
FSB Frequency :450
FSB Strap to North Bridge :333mhz
PCI-E Frequency: 115
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-901
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 4
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 4
RAS# Precharge : 4
RAS# ActivateTime : 10
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : 30
Write Recovery Time : 3
Read to Precharge Time : 3

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : 7
Write to Read Delay (S) : 3
Write to Read Delay (D) : 5
Read to Read Delay (S) : 4
Read to Read Delay (D) : 6
Write to Write Delay (S) : 4
Write to Write Delay (D) : 6
DRAM Static Read Control: ENABLED
Ai Clock Twister : LIGHT
Transaction Booster : DISABLED (1)

CPU Voltage : 1.43750v
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.5v
North Bridge Voltage : 1.53v
DRAM Voltage : 2.12v
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.4v
South Bridge Voltage : 1.125v
Loadline Calibration : ENABLED
CPU GTL Reference : .63x
North Bridge GTL Reference : .67x
DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO
DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : AUTO
SB 1.5V Voltage : AUTO

NB LED Selection : NB Volt
SB LED Selection : SB Volt
CPU LED Selection : CPU Volt
Voltiminder LED : ENABLED

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Granted that is BIOS 0903 - However, 0907 was a very minor update, nothing really to do with performance.

Kazeko · Jan 5, 2008, 03:37 AM

Dear CMX,

<3.

Loaded temps running P95 is at 61C max (only two cores, others <60C) with only one fan pushing through my 120 Ultra. (The clips for the second come in tomorrow.)

You solve all my problems sir, and for that... lessthanthree.

Gracias Sir. Muchas Gracias.

I'm curious to see how stability tests work, with the differing VID. I may need to turn up the voltage slightly, though it seems pretty stable. Still has a load of testing to roll through.

I'm anxious to see what limits I can push, without blowing the system up, but this gives me an excellent base-line to see what affects what.

Seriously man... Your guidance has been indispensable. To a very literal definition of the term, "indispensable." I thank you kindly.

ChaosMinionX · Jan 5, 2008, 03:44 AM

Glad to help

, and your very welcome.

Post if any problems arise.

Kazeko · Jan 5, 2008, 07:07 AM

Will do.

I plan on trying for 533x7 in a while, purely for benching purposes, but that will likely boil down to me parking my computer outside in sub-zero weather.

And again, thank you sir. Made my day. Off to P95 this for the next 12+ hours on a blend.

Jan 4, 2008, 05:36 AM	#1
Kazeko DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 174 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Time to Feed the Beast... Well, I'm currently testing 400x9 @ 1.43v under heavy load and I've discovered a few things and had a few questions, if someone could help. 1. This RAM REALLY does not like the Transaction Booster, at all. Such to the point that I CANNOT get it to post with the Transaction Booster enabled. This normal? Perhaps I got shafted with some lower-binned D9's? (Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2-8500 is supposed to be D9GMH) 2. FSB speeds >400 have been a pain, though my time spent with it has been relatively limited. In order to get it to post, I've really had to crank some voltage into the Northbridge, and I'm only slightly better off than the old 680i SLI board in that regard - atleast I get a BSOD rather than just a lock up. (Well, and the box-stock .2ns drop in RAM latency with no change in clocks was cool too.) Perhaps there's a setting I'm missing? (I tried some settings ChaosminionX had posted elsewhere, and couldn't even get it to post.) I'm very unfamiliar with CPU GTL and Northbridge GTL - perhaps I should be altering this more than northbridge voltage - I hesitate to turn the CPU PLL up too far, and I'm gathering that Northbridge temps beyond 45C can be unstable, so... Any thoughts? Maybe I'm trying to take the wrong bridge, so to speak - Most of the SB voltages are on Auto. Was at... 450x8 DDR2-900 CPU PLL - 1.6v FSB Term - 1.4v NB Voltage - 1.49v Loadline Calibration - Enable FSB Strap: Auto Basic Timings - 4-4-4-10-2T (Secondary settings untuned) Static Read - Disable AI Clock Twister - Light Transaction Booster - Disabled (0) All of the other voltages left on Auto. 3. Upsides - Overclocks seem to have a far greater impact on this board than it did on the 680i. Beyond 369x9 on the old 680i had little to no real effect. I'm really anxious to see what else I can do with a little more time and some assistance from those far more experienced than myself. Note: this post was put together very quickly, I may have been a bit spotty or missed a setting or two. My appologies if I did.

Jan 4, 2008, 11:09 AM	#2
Neshi S.N.A.F.U. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 3,386 Rep Power: 183 System Specs	I've noticed, with alot of overclocking on review/guide sites, that transaction booster makes an overclock unstable and is better turned off... __________________ If one does not attach himself to people and desire, never shall his heart be broken. But then, does he ever truly live? Life is just too damn short for if's and maybe's

Jan 4, 2008, 07:08 PM	#3
ChaosMinionX USB 3 dot oh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,911 Rep Power: 47 System Specs	Transaction Booster requires higher NB voltages, goto 1.55v on NB and see how she does Anyways heres what I run atm.... BIOS 0907 Extreme Tweaker Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual OC From CPU Level Up : AUTO CPU Ratio Control : Manual - Ratio CMOS Setting : 8 FSB Frequency :450 FSB Strap to North Bridge :333mhz PCI-E Frequency: 115 DRAM Frequency: DDR2-901 DRAM Command Rate : 2T DRAM Timing Control: Manual CAS# Latency : 4 RAS# to CAS# Delay : 4 RAS# Precharge : 4 RAS# ActivateTime : 10 RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3 Row Refresh Cycle Time : 30 Write Recovery Time : 3 Read to Precharge Time : 3 Read to Write Delay (S/D) : 7 Write to Read Delay (S) : 3 Write to Read Delay (D) : 5 Read to Read Delay (S) : 4 Read to Read Delay (D) : 6 Write to Write Delay (S) : 4 Write to Write Delay (D) : 6 DRAM Static Read Control: ENABLED Ai Clock Twister : LIGHT Transaction Booster : DISABLED (1) CPU Voltage : 1.43750v CPU PLL Voltage : 1.5v North Bridge Voltage : 1.53v DRAM Voltage : 2.12v FSB Termination Voltage : 1.4v South Bridge Voltage : 1.125v Loadline Calibration : ENABLED CPU GTL Reference : .63x North Bridge GTL Reference : .67x DDR2 Channel A REF Voltage : AUTO DDR2 Channel B REF Voltage : AUTO DDR2 Controller REF Voltage : AUTO SB 1.5V Voltage : AUTO NB LED Selection : NB Volt SB LED Selection : SB Volt CPU LED Selection : CPU Volt Voltiminder LED : ENABLED CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled Granted that is BIOS 0903 - However, 0907 was a very minor update, nothing really to do with performance. __________________ ::Heatware:: How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg! Last edited by ChaosMinionX; Jan 4, 2008 at 07:14 PM.

Jan 5, 2008, 03:37 AM	Thread Starter #4
Kazeko DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 174 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Dear CMX, <3. Loaded temps running P95 is at 61C max (only two cores, others <60C) with only one fan pushing through my 120 Ultra. (The clips for the second come in tomorrow.) You solve all my problems sir, and for that... lessthanthree. Gracias Sir. Muchas Gracias. I'm curious to see how stability tests work, with the differing VID. I may need to turn up the voltage slightly, though it seems pretty stable. Still has a load of testing to roll through. I'm anxious to see what limits I can push, without blowing the system up, but this gives me an excellent base-line to see what affects what. Seriously man... Your guidance has been indispensable. To a very literal definition of the term, "indispensable." I thank you kindly. Last edited by Kazeko; Jan 5, 2008 at 03:44 AM.

Jan 5, 2008, 03:44 AM	#5
ChaosMinionX USB 3 dot oh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,911 Rep Power: 47 System Specs	Glad to help , and your very welcome. Post if any problems arise. __________________ ::Heatware:: How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg!

Jan 5, 2008, 07:07 AM	Thread Starter #6
Kazeko DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 174 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Will do. I plan on trying for 533x7 in a while, purely for benching purposes, but that will likely boil down to me parking my computer outside in sub-zero weather. And again, thank you sir. Made my day. Off to P95 this for the next 12+ hours on a blend.