Can't push Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 to 3.16GHz when it's already unlocked; need urgent assistance
Can't push Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 to 3.16GHz when it's already unlocked; need urgent assistance
Martell1977 offers some useful tips. It seems you might be struggling to understand certain points, particularly the lengthy post I wrote earlier. In my prior message I omitted mentioning that after discovering the quickest stable CPU overclock, start reducing RAM voltage gradually until the system starts acting erratically, then gradually raise the RAM voltage by 0.010 volts and perform another test, using SiSoftware Sandra for both CPU and RAM checks. Here are a couple of videos: the first has loud music that distracts, while the second uses an Intel board but provides vague advice from an expert, such as recommending a good power supply or specific RAM for overclocking—this might still offer some guidance.
I've looked for an OC motherboard but only found a Gigabyte GA EP43-US3L which is DDR2, though I still have more time to search for other options. I'm planning to go with the EP43 because these boards are no longer being manufactured.
Link: http://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-E...-rev-12#ov
It depends on your budget and willingness to wait for delivery. There are some choices on eBay, though most are international and around $80.
Check the list to confirm it lists DDR3 and allows you to reuse your RAM. If you prefer, there are more options for switching to DDR2, but performance will be lower since DDR2 is significantly slower.
It might be a bit late to ask, but what multiplier and FSB did you use to reach 4.0GHz in your first scenario? Reaching a 4.0GHz boost at 667x6 wouldn't be the same as doing it at 421x9.5. The multiplier only influences CPU speed, while the FSB impacts all components, including RAM. If it was something extreme like 667 FSB with a 6x multiplier, it would make sense that it wouldn't boot properly.
First, I suggest "under-clocking" the RAM so that its frequency matches closely with the FSB rate—keeping it near a 1:1 ratio for FSB to DRAM. This prevents unintended overclocking of the RAM beyond manufacturer limits as you raise the FSB speed. You can adjust the multiplier and verify that the new frequency stays within the specifications listed on the RAM.
Second, as Martell1977 and Danra mentioned earlier, it's better to make gradual adjustments to your overclock rather than making a sudden jump from 3.16GHz to a sharp 4.0GHz. This approach helps identify specific problems or instability sources.
I break my stability checks into two areas: one for CPU-related issues and another for the network card and RAM. Typically, I run Prime95 in smallFFTs alongside CPUz, speedfan, and coretemp to monitor usage, temperatures, and voltages. Any errors or BSODs often indicate a lack of sufficient Vcore. Issues in Memtest would suggest needing to address the NB strap, NB voltage, RAM voltage, or RAM timings. Usually, I avoid changing RAM timings and voltages, so those are the only adjustments I make.
Also, I wouldn't recommend purchasing a new motherboard, especially not one you might pay $80 for on eBay. E8500 boards have proven reliable at low voltages, with many running smoothly at 4.0GHz around or just above 1.20V. The E8500 model I own is currently at 3.6GHz @ 1.216V, which seems too high for its voltage. This was also achieved on an older GA-G31M-ES2L board I found for under $10 on Cragslist.
This might be a bit late to ask, but what multiplier and FSB did you use to reach 4.0GHz in your first scenario? Reaching a 4.0GHz boost at 667x6 wouldn't be the same as doing it at 421x9.5. The multiplier only influences the CPU speed, while the FSB will impact all other components, including your RAM. If it was something extreme like 667 FSB @ 6x multiplier, it would make sense that it wouldn't boot properly.
First, I suggest "under-clocking" the RAM so that the FSB-to-DRAM ratio stays close to 1:1. This prevents unintentional overclocking of the RAM as you raise the FSB speed. You can adjust the multiplier and verify that the new frequency remains within the specifications listed on the RAM.
Second, as Martell1977 and Danra mentioned earlier, it's better to make gradual adjustments to your overclock instead of making a big jump from 3.16GHz to a sudden 4.0GHz. This approach helps identify specific issues or instability causes.
I break my stability checks into two areas: one for CPU-related instability and another for the GPU and RAM. Typically, I run Prime95 in smallFFTs with CPUz, speedfan, and coretemp enabled to monitor usage, temperatures, and voltages. Any errors or BSODs usually indicate a lack of sufficient Vcore. Issues in Memtest would suggest problems with the memory strap, voltage, RAM voltage, or timings. Of course, I rarely change RAM timings or voltages, so I focus on the strap and voltage.
Also, I wouldn't recommend purchasing a new motherboard, especially not for a pricey second-hand one from eBay. The E8500 series has proven to work well at low voltages, with many running at 4.0GHz around or slightly above 1.20V. My current E8500 build is at 3.6GHz @ 1.216V, which seems too high. This was done on an older GA-G31M-ES2L board found for under $10 on Cragslist.
I tried to follow the advice from Danra and Martell by making small CPU frequency adjustments and successfully reached 3.26GHz at 1.268V. I didn't change RAM settings, keeping it auto at 1.5V. However, when I increased the CPU frequency beyond 3.26 to 3.27, the PC would fail to boot. I can increase the CPU voltage but can't push the frequency further than 3.26, which suggests the RAM might be the issue.
Another concern was that after reaching 3.26GHz at 1.268V, stressing the CPU with CPU-Z didn't trigger any BSODs or failures. I stopped the stressing after 30 minutes and then tried Need For Speed Rivals, but the FPS dropped significantly and sometimes the game would freeze. So I had to downclock the CPU to its stock settings.
The question remains: why is my FPS low when using an E8500 CPU? In fact, the FPS should be much higher. Anyone know what's wrong with the FPS calculation after testing? The Windows performance mode is set in the power options, and the Energy Saver feature on the board reduces CPU frequency and voltage by default since I first installed it.
Regarding temperatures, I'm using a Cooler Master Seidon 120V Plus with two fans running at full speed. My core temperatures were between 43-45°C, while the motherboard stayed around 30-32°C. The CPU temperature was 40°C or higher.
[Link: http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-...120v-plus/]
It is completely feasible to boost just the CPU and even lower the RAM clock speed.
Second, the energy-saving features activate only when you install and use Gigabyte's Easy Energy Saver program.
Third, you don’t have to raise the Vcore unless Prime95 reports problems or a BSOD appears. If you’re making gradual changes, you’ll likely hit errors in Prime95—such as a single core failing at 0% instead of 100% when voltage drops. After that point, your PC will likely crash with a BSOD within about half an hour of stress testing.
It was wise not to mess with RAM configurations, but you must adjust the memory multiplier. If your RAM is standard, keep its frequency at or below 1333MHz. Adjust the memory multiplier accordingly, and it should work well for most systems. In rare cases, some overclocked setups have proven more stable when RAM is underclocked.
You’ll need to run Memtest to check for memory or Northbridge issues. Save Memtest on a bootable USB drive and perform a single pass. If your RAM is running at or below 1333MHz but Memtest finds errors, consider increasing the Northbridge voltage by one level. This is unlikely unless your system’s FSB is below 400 after the E8500.
An overclocked CPU should maintain performance unless it becomes unstable and generates errors.
For clarity, my E8500 runs at 3.7GHz (9.5x multiplier & 390 FSB), Vcore set to 1.250V (dropping to 1.200V under load due to Vdroop), DDR2 at 2.0V and 936MHz (2.4x multiplier), with voltage set to "normal". This was achieved on my budget motherboard.
It would also help if you could share more specifics about your BIOS settings—such as CPU multiplier, FSB speed, memory multiplier, memory frequency, and any other adjustments you made beyond the defaults.
Take the RAM OFF AUTO. Set it manually to whatever the setting is that keeps in at stock speeds. I would also remove the 2gb module to make sure that the issue isn't linked to RAM module compatibility.
Temps look very, very good, so no worries there. When stress testing with a program like Prime 95, I suggest running it for more than a hour. I ran it for almost 5 hours on my system and found a error. I backed it down from 3.6ghz to 3.5 and it was good for all 5 hours.
Did you take the PCIe off auto as well? You don't want to OC the PCIe bus and it will automatically increase as you OC the CPU. Same for the RAM.
Martell1977:
Disable the RAM auto setting and adjust it to the default stock speed. Also consider removing the 2gb module to rule out compatibility issues. Temperatures are excellent, no concerns there. During stress testing with a program like Prime 95, I recommend running it for over an hour. I tested it for nearly five hours and found an error. Lowering the RAM speed from 3.6ghz to 3.5 was successful for all five hours. Have you also disabled the PCIe auto setting? It’s best not to modify the PCIe bus, as its speed will increase automatically when you adjust the CPU. Same applies to the RAM. I set the PCIe frequency to 100 MHZ initially and hope to record a short video in my BIOS settings so you can guide me on the correct RAM configuration. I’m struggling to understand anything in the BIOS and am worried about damaging the system, so I’ll leave the RAM settings for you after uploading the video and will follow up with a PM. Thanks again for your help—I’ve been searching for answers since joining. 😀
LowlySkeleton shared some insights on the topic. It's indeed feasible to boost just the CPU and even lower the RAM clock speed. The energy-saving feature only activates when you install and use Gigabyte's Easy Energy Saver software. You don't have to raise the Vcore unless Prime95 reports errors or BSODs appear. If you're making gradual changes, expect initial issues in Prime95—such as a single core running at 0% instead of full speed when voltage drops. After that, your PC may crash with BSOD within about 30 minutes during stress tests.
It's wise not to mess with RAM settings, but adjusting the memory multiplier is necessary. If your RAM is standard, keep its frequency around or below 1333MHz. Match your memory speed accordingly; otherwise, minor overclocking might actually improve stability in some cases.
You'll need to run Memtest to check for memory or Northbridge problems. Save a bootable USB with Memtest and run it. A single test should reveal any issues. If errors are found despite running at or below 1333MHz, consider increasing the Northbridge voltage by one step—though this is rare, especially after the FSB reaches at least 400 on an E8500.
An overclocked CPU should maintain performance unless it becomes unstable and generates errors. For context, my E8500 runs at 3.7GHz (9.5x multiplier, 390 FSB), with Vcore at 1.250V (dropping to 1.200V under load due to Vdroop), DDR2 at 2.0V and 936MHz (2.4x multiplier), with normal voltage settings. This was done on a budget motherboard.
It would help if you shared more details about your BIOS settings—CPU multiplier, FSB speed, memory multiplier, memory frequency, and any other adjustments beyond defaults.
Just for clarity, I'm overclocking my E8500 to 3.7GHz (9.5x multiplier, 390 FSB), Vcore at 1.250V, DDR2 at 2.0V and 936MHz (2.4x multiplier), with normal voltage. This was done on a cheap motherboard.
If you're open to it, uploading a short video about your RAM configuration would be easier for us to assist with. Right now, I'm worried about potential system issues or errors, so I might downclock slightly but still face performance drops in games and high FPS demands. My graphics card is also running at near maximum speed.
Thanks again! 😀