How do I overclock a Xeon E5440, is it Possible, and How?
How do I overclock a Xeon E5440, is it Possible, and How?
Hi, I'm using an E5440 with a GTX680 and want to play Overwatch with Ultra settings. The CPU is struggling under load, so I've reduced the settings a bit. I'm new to overclocking and haven't found suitable resources for my setup. I heard that Xeons might not gain much from overclocking, but I'm hoping for around a 10% improvement. I looked for an LGA775 CPU to replace the Xeon, but I doubt it would be worth the cost. I have a spare Ultra 120 Extreme cooler and an old Seasonic 750W cooler, which should work for overclocking if I can manage it. Could someone advise me if the E5440 is suitable for overclocking and how to proceed? Thanks in advance for any help.
It happened that I recently configured the same board using a S771 Xeon. It overclocks just like any S775 quad, but the main constraint is the FSB capacity, especially with the relatively low multiplier of 8.5. There are some unusual aspects:
To prevent errors and the boot-time message about an unsupported CPU, it’s advisable to flash a BIOS containing Xeon microcodes. This usually clears the Pentium 4 microcodes, though all standard C2D and C2Q microcodes remain intact. I didn’t bother modifying the BIOS myself by inserting the microcodes, as I had no reason to use Fernando AHCI or SLIC BIOS changes, so I found two premodified F9 BIOSes online.
It happened that I recently configured the identical board using a S771 Xeon. It performs an overclock similar to any S775 quad, though dual-channel setups are much less constrained by FSB limits. The main differences lie in some unusual aspects:
To prevent errors and the boot-time warning about unsupported CPU, it's advisable to update the BIOS with Xeon microcodes. This typically clears out the older Pentium 4 microcodes, though standard C2D and C2Q microcodes remain intact. I didn’t bother modifying the BIOS myself—just found two preflashed F9 BIOSes online: one from a Polish site with temperature monitoring issues, and another from schuck6566’s zip file, which functions well. Using a BIOS that falsely signals overheating will likely hinder further overclocking.
Once that’s done, proceed as with any other S775 overclock—ensure you have sufficient RAM, set it to the lowest multiplier (usually 2.00D), keep other settings at auto, and activate CPU Host Clock Control. Gradually increase the CPU frequency starting from 333, and if stability wavers, slightly boost the CPU Vcore before adjusting FSB further.
Eventually, you should reach a stable maximum FSB around 400–450, staying below 1.45v Vcore. If you hit 3.8GHz at 450, the chip will consume roughly 160W or double its rated TDP for that extra GHz. Some users worry about the 4-pin power connector, but it’s adequate for 240W.
At this stage, test memory latency—it will likely be quite high, which is typical for a 45nm processor on a 40-series chipset, even with DDR2-1066 5-5-5 or DDR2-800 4-4-4 (unless you run the memory at 6:5 or 5:4, which adds little value without an IGP). The optimal setting is under Advanced Timing Control for Channel A and B timing, using Static tRead Value. Reducing it to around 8 should bring latency closer to standard levels on 30-series boards. This might need a slight voltage bump for the MCH core and DRAM.
By the time you reach the 40-series era, most BIOS parameters are already set to defaults, so further tweaking is rarely necessary. This approach is quite old-school overclocking, far removed from today’s multiplier-only methods.
Absolutely, overclocking a 775/771 Xeon doesn't stand out from the rest of the components on the system.
I own a unit with an X5460 at 4.1 GHz (9.0x * 456 MHz) featuring 1.392v under full load and 1.408v in idle, powered by a Hyper 212 EVO with a temperature of 72°C during heavy use. It runs on 8 GB (four 2 GB modules) DDR2 at 912 CL6-6-6-21 with a 2T tRD=9 speed and a voltage of 2.1v. The system uses a GA-P35-DS3R Rev 2.1 BIOS, modified for Xeon microcodes, and includes pencilmod settings to manage voltage droop.
GeForce GTX 550 Ti is installed at 1202 MHZ with a boosted frequency and 3290 MHz memory. The BIOS settings are as follows: vCore at 1,45625 (showing 1.424v idle and 1.392v under load), DRAM voltage increased by +0.3v (resulting in 2.1v), FSB at +0.2, MCH at +0.2, and power-saving features turned off (C1E, EIST, etc.). Spread Spectrum is also disabled.
Ensure you have the latest BIOS updates, adequate cooling, and a reliable power supply. Keep in mind that some boards can experience significant voltage drops when pushing vCore beyond 500 MHz FSB with the appropriate components. The motherboard should handle it without issues, provided the settings are correct. It would help to consult a guide—ideally multiple ones—for best results.
These models aren't compatible with Xeons, especially the LGA775 variants.