So, as a Veteran Overclocker, the first thing I do when I get a new system is:
1) Drop the CPU Multi to it's lowest (in this case 8X)
2) Drop the RAM to it's lowest (in this case, 400MHz)
3) Drop the HT to it's lowest (in this case, 4X NB and 200MHz HT)
Then, leaving everything on default settings (but actually put in BIOS as a setting - i.e. VCORE 1.3 instead of AUTO, RAM latencies at their SPD for the MHz, etc.) I'll begin raising the FSB by 10MHz at a time until it won't POST, drop it back down 5 and raise it in 1MHz increments till I find the MAX FSB ... so mine (with the Phenom 9850) is 284.
Then, I'll drop that back down and start with the HT (and NB in this case) - raising it using the NB multiplier until it won't POST, keeping the HT as high as possible ... leaving me at 2600 MHz NB and only completely stable to Windows at 2400MHz NB and 2000MHz HT)
Then I'll begin with the RAM by loosening all the main latencies 3-4 notches (where possible) and raising the MHz *AND* HTT (or FSB) until it won't boot all the way into Windows, then tightening the latencies, rebooting between each and every change all the way into Windows, running Everest Ultimate Memory Benchmark and SuperPi each time to test stability (quick and dirty - the OCCT and Orthos Stressprime comes later!) - in this case, 1175MHz was my RAM's MAX MHz at 5-5-5-18-2T 2.2V
So, with all my MAX limits outlined, I'll being putting it all together, tweaking the RAM, *all* the voltages, etc., using the following formula: (which is *still* AMD's little secret equation
)
(CPU Multi) * (FSB) = (CPU Freq)
(CPU Multi) / (Memory Divider) = (Divisor Ratio)
(CPU Freq) / (Divisor Ratio) = RAM MHz (* 2 = DDR)
(NB Multiplier) * (FSB) = NB MHz and keeping the HT < or = NB at all times
So, this is where I've gotten stuck.
Below is a screenshot from about 20 minutes after I got done installing everything in my case. That was stable enough to pass 6 hours of Orthos Stressprime at priority10 and validated the CPUz for it too.
CPUz Validation http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=346741
It clearly shows an overclock that's decent, but just not the best - I know this system is certainly capable of more than that!
**EDIT: CPUz shows my RAM inaccurately as DDR2 800 RAM, when, in fact, it's Corsair Dominator 8500C5D (handpicked myself)
Anyway, here's the catch: I haven't got it to boot all the way into Windows with that high of an overclock (even using the *same exact* settings!) since that screenshot. The temps are even a little better since the AS5 has started working after a couple days...although I do think they're still too high at 45*C idle and ~59*C under full load.
Sooo.....wtF?
(thanks for the input!)
Psychlone