Need some help with e7300.

[Mekhollandt]

I just purchased an e7300 for the purpose of overclocking, and I'm quite miffed about my present results. I've searched and searched, and can't seem to find someone who hasn't been able to at least get to 3.16ghz on stock voltage. But for some reason, the moment I start overclocking, this thing is unstable.

I've been an AMD guy before this, my last processor being a 9850be which is now being strictly used in another machine to render. However, I do like my WoW, and the faster the CPU, the better, even if it's only two cores.

Which led me to buy an e7300, along with a Gigabyte EP45-UD3R. I started slow, setting everything up as I have been told here and other forums. I set up my Ram, which is Corsair 1066 xms2, and manually entered the timings. I then set-up all of the necessary disables (such as CPU Enhanced Halt-C1E). Leaving the Processor at stock speed and voltage, I ran a preliminary Prime95 test, and let it run for about an hour, just to make sure the cores were good and not bunk to start with.

I increased from there to 3.00ghz, setting it to 333x9, and tweaking the MCH strap and ram so they are at a 1:, PCI Express Frequency to 100 for safety reasons, and so on and so forth -- the necessary changes for OCing on this particular set-up. Prime95 ran for a second then crashed. Tried upping the volage -- crash. A little more --crash.

Last night, I actually had this up to 3.6ghz, which is strangely the most stable. The Prime95 would run for about 2 minutes on both cores, 1 would error out and the other would continue for the 15 minutes I would eventually let it run just to see. If I can get this 3.6 stable I would be happy, though 3.8-4.0 would be best. My cooling is good, and it ran at 37 degrees at startup and 55 degrees when Prime95 was at full load, so I know its not a cooling issue. The Case also had 6 fans in it, and the PSU is a Ultra 1000watt X3. Listed below are my relavant settings. If someone could look over them and maybe spot something I've missed, please, shoot me a reply.

Note: I've bolded headings and everything I changed.

In the Advanced Bios Features Tab:
CPU Enhanced Halt: Disabled
C2/C2E State Support: Disabled
C4/C4E State Support: Greyed Out/Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2): Enabled
CPU EIST Function: Disabled

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) Tab:
Robust Graphics Booster: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio: 9x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio: +0.0
CPU Frequency: 3.6GHz (400x9)

***Clock Chip Control***

>>>Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control: Enabled
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz): 400
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz): 100
C.I.A.2: Disabled

>>>Advanced Clock Control
Advanced **** Control: Press Enter (Haven't Messed With This At All)

***DRAM Performance Control***
Performance Enhance: Standard
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) Auto
(G)MCH Frequency Latch: 400MHz
System Memory Multiplier (SPD): 2.66D
Memory Frequency: 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD): Manual

>>>Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time: 5 [5]
tRCD: 5[5]
tRP: 5[5]
tRAS: 15[15]

>>>Advanced Timing Control: Press Enter (Haven't messed with this at all either)

***Motherboard Voltage Control***

>>>CPU
Load-Line Calibration: Enabled
CPU Vcore: 1.20000V [1.36250V]
CPU Termination: 1.200V [Auto]
CPU PLL: 1.500V [Auto]
CPU Reference: .760V [Auto]
>>>MCH/ICH
MCH Core: 1.100V [Auto]
MCH Reference: .760V [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Reference: 0.900V [Auto]
ICH I/O: 1.500V [Auto]
ICH Core: 1.100V [Auto]
>>>DRAM
DRAM Voltage: 1.800V [2.100V]
DRAM Termination: .900V [Auto]
Channel A Reference: .900V [Auto]
Channel B Reference: .900V [Auto]

Here are my system specs for you guys to see.
Intel E7300
Gigabyte EP45-UD3R
2x2gb Corsair XMS2 1066
BFG Geforce 260 Core 216 Maxcore
Ultra 1000watt X3

Thank yo for your help.

 

[evongugg]

Your vCore should not go over 10% for longevity of the processor.
Your memory voltage should be 2.1v or 2.2v depending on what you bought.

 

[evongugg]

1) disable CIA2
2) disable C1E
3) disable Virtualization Technology
4) disable CPUID
5) disable No-Execute Memory Protect

 

[Mekhollandt]

I appreciate the reply, but I returned the e7300 in favor of an e8400 which I've had a lot easier time overclocking (to 4ghz, 1.328 vcore, 540*7.5, 2200 FSB, 1100mhz Ram, with a stable Prime95 of 24 hours).