4.2 GHz.....must be doing something wrong!

[Mace2004]

OK, for those that remember I'm building a new rig and, based on so many great inputs here, I've finished the build and am in the middle of OCing right now.  Again, based on inputs here's what I ended up with:

Win7 Ultimate (RTM)
Intel E8500 CPU (3.16GHz) E0
EVGA 790i FTW Motherboard
OCZ Vendetta 2 cooler
4GB (2x2GB) OCA Reaper RAM (1800, 8-8-8-27, 1.95v)
EVGA 260 Core 216 Graphics
Tempest case

So, the results so far:
CPU Freq:  4.18GHz  (+1.02GHz)
FSB:  440 (1720)
VCore: 1.30 (shows 1.24 in CPUZ)
SB 1.32V
NB 1.50V
FSBV 1.325V
RAM: running unlinked just slightly below spec(1760 [1:2 ratio] 8-8-8-27, 1.95V)

Temps (under Prime95 load):
TCase 54-57degC
Cores: 59-64degC

The scary part of this is that almost everything is running at or below default voltages and I've yet to see any faults or failures so I know there's still headroom.  I first bumped the CPU to 3.8GHz with no problems but it seemed a bit warm with VCore in Auto (1.35V).  Lowered VCore (1.30V) and NB (1.56V) which cooled things off about 5 deg and then bumped the CPU to 4.18 with the same voltages and ran a full 24hour P95 torture test.  Cores actually stay about 60degC with a few minutes at 64deg occasionally.  Ambient is 24-25degC.  I'll probably keep the 4.18GHz and see about dropping the voltages a bit again just to keep things cool.

Pretty damn happy so far 

[Mace2004]

Haven't had a lot of play time to finish moving all my files over to my new rig and tweaking the voltages down but did run 3dMark06 for comparisons with my old Dell slide projector.

Old: Dell XPS Gen3 3.4GHz P4 with EVGA 9600GT = 4,971

New: Core 2 Duo E8500 4.18GHz with GTX 260c216 SSC (factory OC'd) = 17,653

Still need to load the drivers for my stick and pedals before I can really go on line with AH but did do some off line testing (yes, you really can fly with a mouse) and with all AH settings maxed (including AA, self-shadow, etc.) and V-synch on I stayed a rock solid 60Hz (monitor refresh rate).  With V-synch off (just to see) I blew up all the hangars for max smoke and flames and, along with the ack got no lower than 88fps.

I still plan on taking some time this weekend to see about bringing the voltages down a bit more for temp and may try OCing the graphics card a bit.  I may also try playing with the memory a little also as the board will support up to 2000 (currently it's near stock 1800).  Any suggestions?

[TilDeath]

on the 790i FTW when under Frequency/Voltage Control > System Clocks  Disable anything that says "... Spectrum", there are 5.  Here also you can decrease the CPU MULTIPLIER so your dont OC your processor to far.

Frequency/Voltage Control > FSB & Mem Config  the FSB - Memory Clock Mode choose Link  and push the FSB MHz up up and away to reach your desired level.

This board can hit over 2200MHz for FSB and if your memory can take it, it will drag up with the FSB.

Good luck

TD

[Mace2004]

Thanks for the input TD.  I've already had the spread spectrum stuff disabled and have been playing with the settings you mention.  

I'm concerned about the FSB voltage, it needs to be at 1.550V (which is the first red option in the bios) just to stabilize the FSB at 2000.  It seems perfectly stable at 1800-1900MHz and 1.4V.  How high can the FSB voltage actually go for a 24/7 system?  Elsewhere I've seen very strong advise against going above 1.4V with the 45nm chip but don't see any other way to reach the FSB speeds you're talking about (2200+).

My memory is Reaper (OCZ3RPR18004GK) running at it's EVP of 1.95V.  Linked I cannot get the memory above 1600MHz due to the fact I can only get to 2000 on the FSB (linked looks like it's selecting a 5:4 ratio) and that's with the FSB at the previously mentioned 1.550V.  In Memtest86 I can run the Reaper at 1900/8-8-8-27 (2T) but it's not stable above that at 1.95V.  How much voltage can I send across the Reaper safely?  I think that I saw a previous post of yours with some OCZ memory running at 1.5 or 1.6 above spec which would be about 3.5V, is that right?  Also, should I losen the timing to something like 9-9-9-27?

Right now, I'm running this (stable):
CPU 4.27GHz VCore 1.30V (CPUZ of 1.24V)
FSB 1800
MEM 1800 (linked and synched)
All the other voltages are in auto (SPP 1.32V, MCP 1.5V and PLL 1.5V)

Mace

[sethipus]

Mace, what resolution are you running at?  1920x1200?

[Mace2004]

The new rig is plugged into a 3:4 display at 1280x1024 with hi-res texture pack while I finish the setup then it'll take it's place of honor sitting on top of my old Dell which will make a nice table.  I run AH at 1680x1250 with hi-res on my widescreen.  Don't see any reason why the GTX260 shouldn't handle that just as well.