AMD Overclock won't cold boot, any tips?

[newtekie1]

My latest AMD rig has an odd booting issue when overclocked. If I completely shut down the computer and then turn it back on, it will not POST. No beeps, nothing on the screen, nothing. I have to hold the power button down until it turns off, then quickly turn it back on, then it POSTs and boots just fine. If I restart the computer, it boots just fine. This is Rig4 in my sig if you need specs. Power supply is a Corsair HX850, and is only a few weeks old.

The only changes made in the BIOS are unlocking the 2 extra cores to make an x6, raising the multiplier to 18 to get 3.6GHz, and raising the core voltage to 1.4v. This problem does not happen with the multiplier at 17 or 3.4GHz. I've tried raising core voltage, but that didn't help. It is almost as if the voltage isn't applied correctly during the very initial boot phase or something, and I'm not sure if there is some voltage settngs I'm missing. I've tried raising the core voltage with no affect. And the 3.6GHz overclock is completely stable otherwise. I've tested for 24 hours with both OCCT Linpack and Prime95.

So any tips to get cold boots working?

Here are my settings in AiTweaker:

 

[cadaveca]

CPU_NB voltage, or memory, perhaps?

 

[Athlon2K15]

cpu NB @ 1.17v?

 

[newtekie1]

CPU_NB voltage, or memory, perhaps?

I bumped the CPU/NB Voltage from 1.1v to 1.13v. The memory is running at stock speeds and timings, it is supposed to run at 1.65v but runs stable at 1.6v. I bumped the DRAM voltage to 1.6125v just to make sure.

 

[suraswami]

Reduce the memory Frequency to 1333 and see if that helps.

 

[newtekie1]

Also, I've had the CPU voltage as high as 1.5v and it didn't help.

Reduce the memory Frequency to 1333 and see if that helps.

I'll give it a try.

Edit: Didn't help.

 

[cadaveca]

I bumped the CPU/NB Voltage from 1.1v to 1.13v. The memory is running at stock speeds and timings, it is supposed to run at 1.65v but runs stable at 1.6v. I bumped the DRAM voltage to 1.6125v just to make sure.

1600 MHz memory divider is NOT supported by AMD. I don't think it's really the memory...it's more than likely the memory controller. Could be why the CPU was down-binned, even, seeing as you are getting decent clocks.

Either try 1333 MHz, or up CPU_NB to 1.25v or so. Again, 1600 MHz on the AMD CPU is NOT stock, so will require an overvolt more often than not. It's actually easier to scale the HTT up with 1333 MHz divider for most CPUs(240 mHz, I think), as far as I can remember. There's a few ASUS boards that will do this htt clock when XMP is enabled on 1600 MHz XMP DIMMs(yes, I know XMP is not an AMD thing, but some ASUS boards support it anyway).

 

[newtekie1]

1600 MHz memory divider is NOT supported by AMD. I don't think it's really the memory...it's more than likely the memory controller. Could be why the CPU was down-binned, even, seeing as you are getting decent clocks.

Either try 1333 MHz, or up CPU_NB to 1.25v or so. Again, 1600 MHz on the AMD CPU is NOT stock, so will require an overvolt more often than not. It's actually easier to scale the HTT up with 1333 MHz divider for most CPUs(240 mHz, I think), as far as I can remember. There's a few ASUS boards that will do this htt clock when XMP is enabled on 1600 MHz XMP DIMMs(yes, I know XMP is not an AMD thing, but some ASUS boards support it anyway).

But why would it work at 3.4GHz(17 Multiplier) but not 3.6GHz(18 Multiplier)? Would the memory divider cause that?

And dropping down to 1333MHz didn't help.

 

[cadaveca]

maybe.

Coldboot things are buggers. could be simply that the CPU needs to be hotter to boot 3.6 GHz, for whatever reason. Or colder...liek I said cold-boot bugs are some of hte most frustrating thins ever. Could just be a BIOS fault, even.

 

[newtekie1]

maybe.

Coldboot things are buggers. could be simply that the CPU needs to be hotter to boot 3.6 GHz, for whatever reason. Or colder...liek I said cold-boot bugs are some of hte most frustrating thins ever. Could just be a BIOS fault, even.

Yeah, tell me about it, and it seems every rig I set up seems to have cold boot issues.

My celerons do the same thing, though I think those are just because they don't like higher FSB...

Anyway, I set the HTT to 240 like you suggested and went with the 1333 memory divider and tested and it looks like the bug is fixed. I'll have to shut it down and leave it overnight and test again on Monday(machine is at work) to know for sure, but I think it is fixed. Thanks you!

 

[scaminatrix]

The only thing that got my X2 555BE to boot at 1600MHz RAM (C7) was to raise the NB Frequency up to 2600. Still doesn't like cold booting though. My mate also just had loads of problems with his new rig - turned out to be NB frequency @ 2000MHz (running 1333MHz RAM @ C9). NB's at 2400MHz now and running better, but alas, still doesn't like to cold boot.
Don't forget NB Frequency Probably won't fix the issue but may help slightly.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Don't feel bad newtekie, getting the same issue with the new 0803 bios. At first I thought it was CPU-NB. All I have to do is cut all power to the board and come back to it 4-5mins later and power on.

 

[Hokum]

Long time lurker first time poster.

I get the exact same issue with my m5a97 pro and 960t. 20 x 200 no boot but 15 x 267 boots fine with the same settings (memory tweaked to be as close as possible).

Bios bug or an issue with be processors at high multipliers?

 

[Hokum]

I've just updated my M5A97 pro to the new 0902 bios and they seem to of fixed the multiplier issue. Try the new 0901 bios for the M5A99X it may fix your issue too.

 

[cadaveca]

Long time lurker first time poster.

I get the exact same issue with my m5a97 pro and 960t. 20 x 200 no boot but 15 x 267 boots fine with the same settings (memory tweaked to be as close as possible).

Bios bug or an issue with be processors at high multipliers?

I've just updated my M5A97 pro to the new 0902 bios and they seem to of fixed the multiplier issue. Try the new 0901 bios for the M5A99X it may fix your issue too.

High multi not booting is usually a PLL voltage issue. Specifically if it warm-boots fine.

Ig you look at the screenshot Newtekie posted, there is a heading listed as "CPU VDDA". If he had those settings, and the issues as you describe it, I'd increase CPU VDDA to 2.65v.

It's interesting, however, to hear that the BIOS fixed the issue. I wonder why. A current-limit increase, or was it a skew issue?

 

[Hokum]

It occurred at anything above stock multiplier even 16x200 wouldn't cold boot.

 

[cadaveca]

It occurred at anything above stock multiplier even 16x200 wouldn't cold boot.

That'd be something COMPLETELY different.



Probably just needed update to properly support the new CPU. I had no issues at all with 1100T on M5A97...hmm, although, I think that was an EVO, not pro. 960T should be the same core with disabled cores.

Does it unlock at all?

 

[Hokum]

Yeh it unlocks fine, but I leave it on four cores as the extra heat at 4 ghz over powers my Reserator cooling.