Gigabyte GA-EP41-UD3L - Help Overclocking Please

[uggitt]

I am having trouble overclocking my intel 9550.  Can some one help me with settings as if I just up the fsb by more than 10 the pc will not boot.  Any instructions/Guide on what to do would be most appreciated, Mark

Asus V-72 heatsink
CoolerMaster 460W eXtreme Power PSU
Nvidia Geforce 8600 gts pcie card
2 x sata hard drives
1 x sata dvd r/w
1 x ide dvd r/w drive

Deatils from Everest below:

Motherboard:
      CPU Type                                                QuadCore Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550, 2833 MHz (8.5 x 333)
      Motherboard Name                                  Gigabyte GA-EP41-UD3L  (3 PCI, 3 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN)
      Motherboard Chipset                                Intel Eaglelake G41
      System Memory                                    
      DIMM1: OCZ OCZ2V8002G                          2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM  (5-6-6-18 @ 400 MHz)  (4-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz)  (3-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz)
      DIMM3: OCZ OCZ2V8002G                          2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM  (5-6-6-18 @ 400 MHz)  (4-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz)  (3-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz)

Processor Properties:
      Manufacturer                                      Intel
      Version                                               Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU
      External Clock                                    333 MHz
      Maximum Clock                                  4000 MHz
      Current Clock                                     2833 MHz
      Type                                              Central Processor
      Voltage                                           1.0 V
      Status                                            Enabled
      Upgrade                                           Socket 478
      Socket Designation                                Socket 775

[oggmonster]

You will probably need to raise CPU volts. http://processorfinder.intel.com/List.aspx?ParentRadio=All&ProcFam=0&SearchKey=9550 click on the apropriate one which matches your sSpec number (should be on side of processor box and on cpu itself) that will tell you what safe volts you can operarte within. You may also have to raise FSB and NB volts.

[uggitt]

Thanks for the reply.  I upped the cpu voltage from 1.25 to 1.28 and tried at 3.00ghz, system would not boot.  Not sure where the North bridge timmings are?  I would of thought it would be easy to raise the cpu to this.  I have noticed that the memory timing changes from 800 to about 840'ish (forgot to write it down).  Could this be the problem?

Mark...

[uggitt]

Any one with any info on the memory speed going up

Should it or is there a setting so the fsb goes up on its own without increasing the memory speed.

I'm new to this and thank any one who can help

ugg....

[oggmonster]

Hey sorry I haven't been around much personal problems and such like getting in the way!

Are you using the latest BIOS? If not update to latest one, then take things from there.

[uggitt]

Thank you for the reply.  I have the F4 bios which seems to be the most up to date bios.

Regards


Mark

[oggmonster]

If you leave memory as default and put the FSB at 400. This will make your fsb:ram 1:1. Put the multi at x7. This should give you a speed of 2.8ghz. This is near enough the default speed of the q9550. Becuase of this you should be able to have the voltage pretty low. Once you get it to boot on 2.8ghz, try increasing the Multi (each 1x increase will be 400mhz). Though when you do this you may have to increase voltage. Once you get upto 8.5 multi it will give you a speed of 3.4ghz.

Let me know how you get on, on another note, I'm not sure what that board is like for overclocking quads?

[uggitt]

Thanks for the reply.

I have tried that and the pc will not boot.  I think its the board so I am going to leave it at stock.  The pc is quick enough anyway but just wanted to see if I could get a bit more out of the cpu.

Regards


Mark

[oggmonster]

So it wont even boot at stock speed with non-default settings? (fsb 400 multi x7)

[uggitt]

Hi, I tried it again as settings you said, system will not boot on the following setiings

cpu multiplier = 7

fsb = 400

I think the board is no good for overclocking, worst luck....

Mark

[oggmonster]

Hmm this really is strange. Could possibly be a slightly underpowered psu? Unlikely though. Try just using 1 stick of RAM, unplugging graphics card and using onboard. Compleatly disconnecting all dvd drives and just having your OS HDD plugged in. Then obviously keyboard, mouse + monitor.

If you can get anywhere with that it could possibly be psu problems. If not, put everything back to stock, run memtest + prime95 (on all options).

Other than that i'm pretty suck, anyone else wanna help?

[uggitt]

Sorry for posting in the other forum.  Just baffled why I can't get it to work at a bit faster speeds.

I am just going to try and start the pc with nothing but the essentials atached to the motherboard.

Mark

[uggitt]

I removed all drives, cards etc and fans and got exactly the same results.

8.5 x 343 is the max.

I tried lowering the memory speed and could not get past the 343 fsb.

I think you might be correct with the fsb limit.

Regards


Mark

[oggmonster]

Put everything back to stock, run memtest + prime95 (on all options). If you have (or can borrow) a different PSU try that. Otherwise it is looking that like board hits a FSB wall

[uggitt]

I tried it with another psu.  It is a cheap branded 500w but same problem.

I am going away for 10 days but will try the memtest and prime95 test when I get back.

Thank you for your help and will post my results when I get back

Mark