Trouble OC'ing QX9650 on 790i Ultra

[Lenoge]

First off, let me thank those of you taking the time to stop in by giving you a lion. >:3
Sweet, lets roll.

Recently I just built a new rig for the family:

EVGA 790i Ultra Mobo
Intel QX9650 Proc
1066Mhz DDR3 Patriot Mem 2x1gb
1100 Modular PSU
2x 9600GT MSI - SLI
Ultra ChillTec Thermoelectric CPU Cooler
Antec 900 Case
3DMark06: 19005

So, now the problem:
When browsing around, I've noticed that many people have been able to get their QX9650's all the way up to 4.6Ghz. Truly spectacular, and that's on air cooling. Surely the majority of you have seen this floating around.
The highest clock I've been able to achieve stable was 4ghz. At about 1.32-1.34v, the temps are fine. Idle sits around 42-44c and full load at 52-54c.

Current clock config is 1600fsb @ 10x multi. I currently run the memory at either 1066, 1333, and managed 1600 by some means or another. Everything runs stable at 1.7v.

At first glance, it seemed the issue was the cooler - Which still seems to be part of the issue. But, even when OC'ing to just 4.1-4.2ghz, everything goes bizarre. OS loads fine, but 3DMark06, Sandra Burn-in, and Toast all fail after running a short time. Still, temps are fine even under 100% load. I'd say average of about 55c. Though, as most people with this cpu cooler know, the damn peltier can't be manually set. The cooling varies based on it's control unit programming.

Any suggestions on getting the clock higher? My goal is 4.5ghz as of the moment. It just seems like there's something I'm missing...

[choppy]

although this isnt a direct answer, remember the first rule of oc'ing: not all chips oc the same. eg. my e2140 m0 stepping wont go over 358 fsb whilst others have got it 400+

[Lenoge]

although this isnt a direct answer, remember the first rule of oc'ing: not all chips oc the same. eg. my e2140 m0 stepping wont go over 358 fsb whilst others have got it 400+

Yes, you do have a point there.
I do believe one thing I'm not doing correctly is increasing the FSB voltage accordingly. It's hard to find an accurate value. Right now it's at 1.45v - with the previously mentioned settings running stable at 4ghz. Actually, come to think of it, I think 1.45v is the max allowed...

[choppy]

The highest clock I've been able to achieve stable was 4ghz. At about 1.32-1.34v, the temps are fine. Idle sits around 42-44c and full load at 52-54c

if u can hit 4gig with ~1.33v and u need 1.45v to go higher, that aint worth it imo

[Lenoge]

if u can hit 4gig with ~1.33v and u need 1.45v to go higher, that aint worth it imo

Yea, it puts a hurt on. That's for sure.
I'll keep toying with it though, there's many settings I haven't messed with yet.

[giginiello]

Hi,

Can you tell me if you got it to successfully work and what were the EXACT settings in the BIOS. I am new to overclocking and have the same board and CPU but would love to overclock it. I am using water. Thus far I have not even hit 10,000 on 3DMark06 (though I am using two 7950GTs) which I plan to swap out soon. I do however have 4 gigs of corsair RAM. Please help, if you could tell me the exact settings, that would be great.

[DaMulta]

There is a difference in running pi at 4.6 and running say 3dmark 06 stable at 4.6. Most of those people that do 4.6 on air I bet is VERY VERY VERY unstable. I haven't even been able to hit 4.6 stable in 06/

---<Setup

On air around 4 is what you should be looking for.

Just watch your temps and bump the voltage on it.

Hi,

Can you tell me if you got it to successfully work and what were the EXACT settings in the BIOS. I am new to overclocking and have the same board and CPU but would love to overclock it. I am using water. Thus far I have not even hit 10,000 on 3DMark06 (though I am using two 7950GTs) which I plan to swap out soon. I do however have 4 gigs of corsair RAM. Please help, if you could tell me the exact settings, that would be great.

You need to give us your entire setup list.

[giginiello]

Here is the EXACT list:

QX9650
EVGA 790i Ultra
4 x 1gig 18000 Corsair DDR3 Ram
7950GT BFG TECH x 2 SLI cards
Fatal1ty Xtreme Gamer Sound Card

Custom watercooling includes two zones, one for CPU, one for GPU:

two swiftech 655 variable speed adjusted pumps
two reservoirs
one Black ice quad RAD
one Black ice dual RAD
one acetal Black supreme CPU block
1/2 tubing

Again, dont blast on me for the cards, I am waiting for the 9800 Ultra's to come out before I make the move on upgrading them. And when they do, I will watercool them with a Danger Den setup no doubt.

[REVHEAD]

The problem isnt the chip, its the 780i Mobo, they dont play well with Quads, if you really want a good overclock you need to use an intell based mobo like the x38 or x48 , your never going to get a good overclock wioth Quads on a Nvidia board this is fact.

Your chip should be able to do 4.8 on air , if SLI is that important to you then your stuffed, go the Crossfire ATI path and your QX will love you for it.

[Wile E]

The problem isnt the chip, its the 780i Mobo, they dont play well with Quads, if you really want a good overclock you need to use an intell based mobo like the x38 or x48 , your never going to get a good overclock wioth Quads on a Nvidia board this is fact.

Your chip should be able to do 4.8 on air , if SLI is that important to you then your stuffed, go the Crossfire ATI path and your QX will love you for it.

Only some nVidia boards don't clock the quads well, and that's only because the fsb won't go too high with them. He has an unlocked chip, so that's shouldn't be a problem. Not to mention, he has a 790 board, not a 780. 790 boards do play nice with quads for the most part.

And there is no way in hell he will do 4.8GHz on air. lol. I can't get 4.5GHz bench stable on water with mine.

[giginiello]

At this point I am looking for someone to tell me what settings to start at (the exact settings in the BIOS). At least I can start small to get a stable overclock. I want to overclock like Overdrive PC, Falcon NW, Voodoo and all the others. If I can at least get that much. With my current configuration, what should my benchmark on 3DMark06 be?

[trt740]

First off, let me thank those of you taking the time to stop in by giving you a lion. >:3
Sweet, lets roll.

Recently I just built a new rig for the family:

EVGA 790i Ultra Mobo
Intel QX9650 Proc
1066Mhz DDR3 Patriot Mem 2x1gb
1100 Modular PSU
2x 9600GT MSI - SLI
Ultra ChillTec Thermoelectric CPU Cooler
Antec 900 Case
3DMark06: 19005

So, now the problem:
When browsing around, I've noticed that many people have been able to get their QX9650's all the way up to 4.6Ghz. Truly spectacular, and that's on air cooling. Surely the majority of you have seen this floating around.
The highest clock I've been able to achieve stable was 4ghz. At about 1.32-1.34v, the temps are fine. Idle sits around 42-44c and full load at 52-54c.

Current clock config is 1600fsb @ 10x multi. I currently run the memory at either 1066, 1333, and managed 1600 by some means or another. Everything runs stable at 1.7v.

At first glance, it seemed the issue was the cooler - Which still seems to be part of the issue. But, even when OC'ing to just 4.1-4.2ghz, everything goes bizarre. OS loads fine, but 3DMark06, Sandra Burn-in, and Toast all fail after running a short time. Still, temps are fine even under 100% load. I'd say average of about 55c. Though, as most people with this cpu cooler know, the damn peltier can't be manually set. The cooling varies based on it's control unit programming.

Any suggestions on getting the clock higher? My goal is 4.5ghz as of the moment. It just seems like there's something I'm missing...


most QX9650 chips will do 4.0ghz for 24/7 use and 4.2ghz rarely on air. Those are most likely benching speeds but are not stable.

[giginiello]

I just want to overclock to see how high I can get the damn thing going. I have a great watercooling system. But it would be a waste of money if I dont overclock. I need help bigtime with the overclocking as I am new to this.

[trt740]

I just want to overclock to see how high I can get the damn thing going. I have a great watercooling system. But it would be a waste of money if I dont overclock. I need help bigtime with the overclocking as I am new to this.

4.0ghz is already one 1 ghz that already a heck of a overclock.

[Lenoge]

Apologies for not being around to give you some info on my settings.

I've had a hell of a time working this month. Anyway, when I get back home I'll post some info up about my current settings.

[giginiello]

Thanks Lenoge. Much appreciated

[warhammer]

It is a hit an miss with OC on these mobo there is a new bios coming that will hopefully address some of the issues.

Try it with 2 sticks of ram (black slots) and Disable the following:

CPU thermal control
C1E Enhanced Halt state
Execute Disable Bit
Virtulization Technology
and all spread spectrums

[nflesher87]

no time atm to help on the OC but bump for a damn sick PC and cooling setup, I bet your idle/load temps don't flucuate more than about 5C!
good luck bro