XFX 780i and Q9650
XFX 780i and Q9650
I own the XFX 780i and Q9650 combo. Over the last six months, I've maintained a stable overclock at 3.6GHZ using stock voltage. My Zalman 9700 showed idle at 26C and full load between 43-47C, consistently across three different programs. I've been exploring and discussing increasing the clock to 4.0GHZ while adjusting the voltage.
From the BIOS, I adjusted the memory settings and tested them; then I returned to BIOS and raised the FSB speed to 1800, achieving a clock speed of 4.05GHZ with a voltage of 1.375. The FSB was set to 1.4. This follows the standard OC BIOS configuration for this processor/Mobo setup.
I observed that after changing voltages, the system would revert to stock values (1.3) for both V-core and FSB. Using Windows XP 64, I opened CPU-Z and confirmed the 4.05GHZ clock, but the core and FSB voltages stayed unchanged. A stress test with OCCT caused immediate instability—my computer froze, and I had to restart it.
After a reboot with default settings, I encountered a BSOD initially, followed by occasional freezes during startup. When I reverted to BIOS and saved my last configuration, Windows launched smoothly, but CPU-Z only displayed stock voltages for FSB and V-core. I adjusted accordingly, concluding that the only way to access Windows was through the saved overclock settings.
Anything else seems to freeze?
Recent actions without success:
- Reset CMOS jumpers
- Replaced CMOS battery
- Updated BIOS for XFX 780i
It appears the CPU is running at overclock, but the BIOS prevents me from entering V-core or FSB voltage settings. Games like Flight Simulator X become unstable immediately. Temperatures remain consistent at 29°C idle and 43°C load.
I increased the processor speed first, then gradually raised the voltage. During this process, the actual voltage showed the stock value even though I set it to 1.375. The stock voltage is 1.3. It's hard to determine if it was stable since I only did a stress test once before everything changed.
The stock settings are configured as "auto". This means the module is letting you choose the voltage on its own. The voltage chosen by the module might reach up to 1.45v in certain situations, so you could unintentionally reduce the voltage when you believe you're increasing it.
It's clear you've pushed it too far, right? So it's adjusting certain aspects.
I reviewed the changes and noted the adjustments made to the BIOS for achieving version 3.6. The specific modifications are listed below:
- Updated RAM settings to match the required specifications.
- Adjusted boot order to prioritize the correct device.
- Verified compatibility with Corsair RAM DDR2 800.
Let me know if you need further details!