Memory settings for i7 920 1st time builder

[newbuilder333]

With the help of many on these forums I have completed my build:

Intel core i7 920 @2.66Ghz DO batch A steeping
AsRock x58 Extreme motherboard
3x2Gb OCZ Gold DDR3 SDRAM 1600Mhz Cas 8 Timings: 8-8-8-24 @1.65v
Sapphire Radeon HD 5870
Corsair HX850 PSU
Xigmatech Dark Knight CPU Cooler
2x WD Caviar Black 640Gb HDD
Samsung CD/DVD burner
Antec 902 case
Samsung 2333 1920x1080 23” 5ns LCD

Initially the memory was recognized as 1033Ghz (which I expected) and I could not pass memtest86 v3.3 or the memory test in OCCT or the blended test in Prime95. Per some threads I read in these forums, the OZC forums, and the tomshardware forums, I changed the following settings:

DRAM voltage to 1.65v
VTT voltage to 1.34v
SpeedStep and Turbo Mode to disabled
Overclock mode to manual
Spread Spectrum to disabled
DRAM frequency to 800Mhz
Timings to 8,8,8,24 with tRFC at 80 and command rate at 2

Now the RAM shows up as 1600Mhz as it should and I passe memtest86, ran Prime 95 for 3 hours or so, and passed the memory test in OCCT. I just want to make sure I'm not missing a setting somewhere that is going to cause me problems down the road. I am new to this so I appreciate the help.

Also, under full load my cpu temp gets to between 70 and 72C. Is this too high? No overclocking at all on cpu yet.

Then I guess one step further, what do I have to adjust to overclock the cpu if the memory setting are correct?

Thanks for the help.

 

[newbuilder333]

Any help?

 

[newbuilder333]

Anyone at all?

 

[Asylum]

Your temps are pretty high at stock.
I would reseat my cooler before tring to overclock.

 

[PaulieG]

I wouldn't worry about the memory now. Just realize that as you overclock the cpu, your memory speed will increase. This may require you to loosen the timings a bit.

Your temps are a bit high, but some DO chips are just hot, even at stock. Just to be sure though, as Asylum said, you may want to reseat the cooler. If you have a hot chip, that Dark knoght may not be able to handle more than a mild overclock, as temps will increase with vcore.

 

[Gabkicks]

i have a very similar build. When I oc'ed the bus speed to 170, set the ram to 1360 and the ram auto'ed to 7-7-7-17 which is faster than the recommended speed. I then manually set it to those timings and left the rest of the timings to auto for ram. but it passed 20 runs of ITB and 12 hours of prime 95...

My temps are very high, so until i solve that problem, i dont think i'll go over 3.5

 

[mlee49]

The i7 clubhouse hase some good details on us i7 owners specs and tips. I suggest running your ram at 2:8 ratio or 1066 with your listed timings and increase your cpu frequency to overclock till you wish.

 

[Gabkicks]

yeah i think i'm currently running 2:8

 

[LittleLizard]

agree with asylum that your cpu is quite hot for not being at oc. Before any OC, reseat the cpu cooler.

Oh and the memory settings are fine

 

[newbuilder333]

Thanks for the input. I added a 120mm side intake fan to the case and seem to have shaved off about 2C from my temps. I should also note that the dark knight is facing upward toward the top mounted 200mm exhaust fan. Would changing it to face the back of the case where the 120mm exhaust fan is located help?

 

[Asylum]

Yes i would try that out. Thats mainly the way its designed to face and may seat better and give you better temps.

 

[newbuilder333]

I'll have to try that then. I seem to remember thinking it didn't look like it would fit that way when I built it but it must fit. Thanks for the help.

 

[Asylum]

Make sure you clean off all the old thermal paste from the heatsink and chip.
And just reapply a small amount when you go to reseat it.
Just put like a pea sized dot in the middle and let the heatsink spead it out for you.

P.S. The thanks button is located at the bottom left of the post.

 

[DRDNA]

Ram frequency is better on the i7 than tighter ram..... your best bet would be get the heat under control ....then you could try 200 BLK / Ram 1600 and CPU volts 1.28 to 1.375 lowest stable/ ram voltage is good where it is. this will give you 4.2GHZ in windows and 4GHZ in bios and you will be happy as long as your not getting hotter than mid 80's under heavy load .