Overclocking MSI X58A-GD65

mariosx

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Nov 23, 2010
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Greetings to all!
I would like to overlock my computer properly in order to be able to achieve better perfomance in gaming
That is due to the reason I don't want to spend more money to this computer (I have already spent a lot)

My system build is:
Tower: CoolerMaster Cosmos RC-1000
PSU: CoolerMaster Real Power M850
CPU: Intel Core i7 920
CPU Cooler: CoolerMaster V8
Motherboard: MSI X58A-GD65
RAM: OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 Intel® i7 Triple Channel [3x2GB, 1600 MHZ, 8-8-8-24
SSD: A-Data X25 80GB by Intel (Model: SSDSA2MH080G1GN) [Sata 2]
VGA: Sapphire Radeon HD4870 1GB
HDD1: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS) [Sata 2]
HDD2: Western Digital 250GB [Sata 1]
HDD3: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB (WD6402AAEX) [Sata 3]
Optical 1: Samsung 223QRSMN DVD-RW [Sata ?]
OS: Windows 7 x64 Ultimate

As you can see my build can be considered high-end.

So far I have overclocked CPU to run at 3.0 GHZ and RAM speed at 1800 MHZ.
If I set CPU to run at a higher speed the system boots fine but the OS refuses to start

Also I have encountered some hang ups in games. I believe it's because of the automized RAM timings.

In order to overclock I have to access the "Cell Menu" in BIOS Settings.

The Cell Menu has exactly these options:
Current Core Frequency: 3.00 GHZ (150x20)
Current DRAM Frequency: 1800 MHZ
Current QPI Frequency: 4.8000 GT

->CPU Specifications (it has information about what technologies Core i7 920 supports)
->CPU Feature: Intel EIST, Intel C-State, C1E Support, Overspeed Protection, Hyper-Threading Function,
Execute Bit Support, Set Limit CPUID Max Val to , Intel Virtualiation Tech, INtel VT-d Tech
->Intel Eist: Disabled, Enabled, Auto
->C1E Support: Disabled, Enabled
->Adjust CPU Base Frequency (MHz): 100-400 mhz (Current: 150)
->Adjust CPU Ratio: 12-21 (Current: 20)
->Adjusted CPU Frequency (MHz): 3000 mhz

->Memory -Z: DIMM1,3,5 Memory SPD Information
DIMM 1 Memory SPD Infromation
Memory Type: DDR3 SDRAM
Max Bandwidth: DDR3-1066 (533 MHZ)
Manufacture: OCZ
Part Number: OCZ3X1600LV2G
Serial Number: 00000000
->X.M.P Support Information:
Code:
X.M.P Support
Max Bandwidth: DDR3-1800 (900 MHZ)
Memory Voltage: 1.65V
SDRAM Cycle Time: 1.111ns (1CLK)
DRAM TCL: 10.000 ns (9CLK)
DRAM TRCD: 10.000ns (9CLK)
DRAM TRP: 10.000ns (9CLK)
DRAM TRAS: 30.000 ns (27clk)
DRAM TRFC: 90.000 ns (81clk)
DRAM TWR: 15.000ns (14CLK)
DRAM TWTR: 7.555 ns (7clk)
DRAM TRRD: 6.000 ns (6CLK)
DRAM TRTP: 7.555ns (7clk)
SDRAM Cycle Time: 1.875 ns (1CLK)
DRAM TCL: 13.125ns (7clk)
DRAM TRCD: 13.125ns (7clk)
DRAM TRP: 13.125ns (7clk)
DRAM TRAS: 30.000ns (16clk)
DRAM TRC: 49.500ns (27clk)
DRAM TRFC: 110.000ns (59clk)
DRAM TWR: 15.000ns (8clk)
DRAM TWTR: 7.500ns (4clk)
DRAM TRRD: 7.500ns (4clk)
DRAM TRTP: 7.500ns (4clk)
Current DRAM Channel 1 Timing: 0-0-0-0
Current DRAM Channel 2 Timing: 0-0-0-0
Current DRAM Channel 3 Timing: 0-0-0-0

DRAM Timing Mode: Auto(1), Unlick(2), Link(3)
If set to Auto (1):
Advance Dram Configuration: Is grayed out
If set to Unlick(2):
->Advance DRAM Configuration:
Code:
CH1 1T/2T Memory Timing: 1-3
CH1 CAS Latency (CL): 4-15
CH1 tRCD: 3-15
CH1 tRP: 3-15
CH1 tRAS: 9-31
CH1 tRFC: 30-255
CH1 tWR: 0-15
CH1 tWTR: 0-15
Ch1 tRRD: 0-7
CH1 tRTP: 0-15
CH1 tFAW: 15-63
CH1 B2B-CAS Delay: 0-31

[color=#696969]Current CH1 tdrRDTRD,TWR,TRD,TRD etc... [/color]
->Channel 1 Advance Timing: Auto, Manual
---> If set to Manual these options appear:
CH1 tdrRdTRd: 3-9
CH1 tddRdTRd: 3-9
CH1 tsrRdTWRr: 3-17
CH1 tdrRdTWr: 3-17
CH1 tddRdTWr: 3-17
CH1 tsrWrTRd: 11-25
Ch1 tdrWrTRd: 2-8
CH1 tddWrTRd: 2-8
CH1 tdrWrTWr: 3-9
CH1 tddWrTwr: 3-9
CH1 tsrRdTRd: 4 or 6 DRAM clocks
CH1 tsrWrTWr: 4 or 6 DRAM clocks
CH1 Round Trip Latency:  1-255

Then I have Channel 2 and 3 which have the same options as Channel 1
->Extreme Memory Profile: Disabled, Profile 1, Profile 2. If set to a profile option "Extreme Memory Profiles Mode: Advance" appears
-> Memory Ratio: Auto, 3-8 (Current: 6)
Adjusted DRAM Frequency DRAM Frequency (MHz: 1800)
->Uncore Ratio: Auto, 6-20 (Current: 12)
Adjusted Uncore Frequency (MHZ): 3600


->QPI Configuration:
QPI Links Speed: Full-speed, Slow-mode (Current: Full)
QPI Frequency: Auto, 4.8 GT, 5.866 GT, 6.4 GT (Current: Auto)
->Clockgen Tuner:
CPU Amplitude Control: 700-1000mv (Current 900MV)
PCI Express Amplitude Control: 700-100mv (Current 900MV)
CPU CLK Skew: Normal, 100-1500ps (Current Normal)
IOH CLK Skew: Normal, 100-1500ps (Current Normal)
->Adjust PCI Frequency (MHZ): Auto, 37.3 42 (Current Auto)
-> Adjust PCI-E Frequency (MHZ): 100-200 MHZ (Current 100)
-> Auto Disable PCI/PCI-E Frequency: Enabled, Disabled (Current Enabled)

->CPU Voltage (V): Auto, +0.00-+0.630 (Details: when voltage is high the text is colored in red meaning that's its dangerous), -0.020- -0.320 (The text is colored in grey meaning that these options are safe) (Current: +0.300)
->CPU PLL Voltage (V): Auto, 1.00-2.43 (When voltage is high or very low, text is red-colored) (Current: 1.85)
->QPI Voltage (V): Auto, 0.88-1.83 (When voltage is high or very low, text is red-colored) (Current: Auto)
->DRAM Voltage (V): Auto, 1.20-2.77 (When voltage is high or very low, text is red-colored) (Current: 1.65) (Details say: "According to the INtel CPU spec, DRAM Voltage setting 1.65v may damage the cpu permanently. It is strongly recommended that you install the dram with the voltage setting below 1.65V. "
->DDR_VREF_CA_A,B,C: Auto, 0.510-1.225 (When voltage is high or very low, text is red-colored) (Current: Auto)
->DDR_VREF_DQ_A,B,C: Auto, 0.699-0.985 (When voltage is high or very low, text is red-colored) (Current: Auto)
->IOH Voltage (V): Auto, 0.76-2.64 (When voltage is high or very low, text is red-colored) (Current: Auto)
->ICH Voltage (V): Auto, 0.70-2.13 (When voltage is high or very low, text is red-colored) (Current: Auto)

-> Spread Spectrum: Disabled, Enabled

Text in blue means that these options are Disabled by me
Reasons: These technologies conserve power, I want to have better perfomance not to conserve energy.
Text in grey means that these options cannot be changed

Ouf, that all the options in Cell menu... This motherboard must have been designed for professional overclockers.
So any suggestions, any guides that I should follow?
I have heard and seen on the internet that Core i7 920 can reach 4,0 GHZ but not quite stable can I achieve such perfomance with good stability?
How do I get the real full specifications of these RAMs?
Should I enable some of the CPU features to conserve power and have a better temperature?
Should I enable also green power?

PS) Again to clarify it. I'm aiming for perfomance.
 

MaxGuerette

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Nov 10, 2010
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A quick and easy way is to up the base clock to 160mhz. Then just adjust your multiplier down some to fit your desired over clock.. the stock multiplier on 160 base clock may be too much for your setup but just try it out and see.. Check temps and then make adjustments accordingly.

Matching the base clock to 160 is the only way i could get my corsair memory to run stable on my gigabyte board. If i leave my stock multiplier of 21x on . it gives me 3.36ghz, which runs perfectly fine. Just turn turbo boost of if you are running on the hot side and dont want to push it any more.
 

mariosx

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Nov 23, 2010
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The bios reports that this CPU does not support 21x Multiplier.
However I have already tried running at base clock speed 160 mhz.
It does boot but Windows refuse to start and the system goes into a restarting loop.
(sometimes I hate windows when I don't know why they are acting like this)