My i7 build

[Citizen Soldier]

Ram has the tendancy to never get set just right. Usually manual adjustment is needed.

i hear that. RAM can be annoying.

 

[Cigarjohn]

Nice system setup bro! Soon I will be taking pictures and submitting my new Super Computer Build.

Peace!

P.S. Can't wait for Microsoft to release windows 7. I hear a lot of good things with that XP built in emulator.

 

[SMiles]

Just a warning for anyone who uses xmp with an i7, especially when the profile is for 1600 or 2000mhz ram!

After you load the profile in the bios make SURE that you check your QPI/uncore/Vtt voltage. Many times people will load the xmp profile and it will raise the qpi voltage to a very high voltage.

Due to the fact that your uncore frequency has to be twice that of your memory frequency, to run 1600mhz on your memory means your uncore will have to be atleast 3200mhz. Generally what happens is people leave the uncore voltage on auto and without knowing it the mobo is running something like 1.6V which is NOT a good idea unless you feel like living on the edge and hoping your cpu lasts more than a year...

Just something to be wary of. I recommend setting all of the voltages yourself and leaving nothing on auto.

The MAX qpi voltage I would recommend is 1.4V. As for your ram voltage anything within .5V of your qpi voltage should be fine. Rather than using xmp profiles I would run your ram at the highest stable setting using 1.35V QPI, then set your ram bus voltage at like 1.68V and drop down your cas latencies 1-2.

 

[Lenny Brezhnev]

See, always someone wanting to CAP on XMP. Intel invented it for us enthusiasts, least you could do is give it a shot. I should have been clearer and said, "It's good for timings, not so great for voltages" Basic overclocking involves tweaking all voltages, so I don't think anyone ignores those settings, but trying to bump 18 latency settings back and forth? Puhlease, I'd rather watch paint dry. Where will he get his tRFC setting, guess? The SPD's don't list it in CPU-z, and it's not spec'd.

BTW, I run my 2000Mhz kit @1.65 just fine, and that QPI setting was fine for 32bit, but 64 bit needed a bit more.

 

[SMiles]

See, always someone wanting to CAP on XMP. Intel invented it for us enthusiasts, least you could do is give it a shot. I should have been clearer and said, "It's good for timings, not so great for voltages" Basic overclocking involves tweaking all voltages, so I don't think anyone ignores those settings, but trying to bump 18 latency settings back and forth? Puhlease, I'd rather watch paint dry. Where will he get his tRFC setting, guess? The SPD's don't list it in CPU-z, and it's not spec'd.

BTW, I run my 2000Mhz kit @1.65 just fine, and that QPI setting was fine for 32bit, but 64 bit needed a bit more.

Yeah sometimes people have no problem getting their QPI to 4,000 MHz, but generally it will require a decent amount of juice to make them stable. It is a lot easier to get your memory running at 2,000Mhz (especially considering most 2000Mhz memory is 9-9-9 unless you shell out the money for elpida hyper IC's) then it is to get your QPI to run at 4,000Mhz

Here is a link to a guide that gives some good starting points for most DDR2 memory.

http://www.thetechrepository.com/showthread.php?t=41

Because the i7 uses DDR3, dont treat these numbers as gospel, but they will give you a good place to start if someone does decide to get the most out of their memory

I pasted the important info below:

Remember to initially set the default timings for your modules, usually manufacturers quote the timings in the following order...tCAS, tRCD, tRP and tRAS IE: 5-5-5-15. This just so happens to be the order of the top 4 options in the Asus P5B bios, so if you are unsure just work down the list setting what you see quoted on the dimms and you will be good to go.

Dram Write Recovery time 6 is ultra lose and good for high memory overclocks, 4 is about as tight as most dimms will go, keep this in mind as you test.

DRAM TRFC simple rule for this option. If your memory is Micron IC based you may be able to go as low as 20, everything else we have found 35 works best. Options are 20 25 30 35 and 42. obviously 42 is very lose and will allow higher overclocks.

TRRD Options 0 to 15, around 10 is where most leave this, no big effect on performance.
Rank Write to Read delay Real important timing, start at 10 some dimms may even need 12, tigher for more performance.
Read to Precharge delay again important timing, start at 10 with some dimms needing 12, tighter for more performance.
Write to precharge delay again another important sub timing, same rules..start at 10 or 12, tighter for more performance.
Static Read Control Disable for moderate to high overclocks.

 

[Lenny Brezhnev]

Remember to initially set the default timings for your modules, usually manufacturers quote the timings in the following order...tCAS, tRCD, tRP and tRAS IE: 5-5-5-15..

Exactly, manually set your 8-8-8-24 and leave other timings on auto to see what you get. Your tRFC will be 50+, probably 74 or 88, which are common for CL8 DDR3 2Gb chips.

 

[King Roo]

wow thats a badass setup

 

[Sheeebbbzzz]

Very nice my friend, you are going to be very happy with your setup.