Gigabyte 990FXA-UD5, AMD FX-8120, F3-14900CL9Q2-32GBZL

[SpacemanSpliff]

I recently upgraded to this memory set (F3-14900CL9Q2-32GBZL) from a 16GB 1600 set that I passed on to my sister (F3-12800CL9Q-16GBXL). I've seen some rigs that are close to mine on here, and have tried tweaking the settings near what they've recommended but I still can't dial mine in to run stable at either 1600 or 1866... I'm really itching to see how far I can push the system with the 32gb set, but having to stay with 1333 is not going to cut it in the long run... Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated!

My Build:
Gigabyte 990FXA-UD5
AMD FX-8120 w/ Corsair H80 closed loop liquid cooler
Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 Vapor-X OCL 1GB-DDR5
32GB Ripjaws Z DDR3-1866 w/ Kingston HyperX KHX fan (max flow 15 cf/m)
Lepa G900-MA 900W 80+ Gold modular ps
WD Black 1.5 TB 7200 rpm HDD
AZZA Hurrican 2000 full tower case

[Tradesman]

First just to verify, do you have the F3-14900CL9Q-32GBZL? That's the 4 stick x 8GB = 32GB set? or do you have the F3-14900CL9Q2-32GBZL (with the 2 after the 'Q' in the model #? which is an 8x4GB set inwhich case, with 4 slots on the mobo you are actually trying to run 16GB. I'll assume either a typo (or you are testing me ) and you have the 4x8GB set. To start I doubt you'll get an 8120 stable at 1866 as these CPU's aren't as strong as the 8150 (which also isn't none for being able to run 32 @1866), these are rated up to 1 STICK PER CHANNEL AT 1866 (2 sticks total) with 4GB sticks...with 4GB sticks most 8150 and most 8120s can run 4 x4GB at 1600, and a few can run 1600 w/ 4x8GB which normally takes raising DRAM voltage + 0.075 or more and taking the CPU/NB up around 1.4...could try that at 1600, and if no joy try loosening the base timings at 1600 to 9-9-9-26. Another option would be to try 1333. AMD CPU's just don't have as strong an MC (Memory Controller as do their equivalent Intel counter parts)

[SpacemanSpliff]

Yeah, my bad on the typo I do have the 4x8GB set. I'm getting ready to try another run of settings to see if I can at least get the RAM running stable at 1600.... I'll post the settings used and the result when finished.

[SpacemanSpliff]

So my last try at 1600Mhz has worked and is stable thus far to get the 32GB set (4x8GB, model F3-14900CL9Q-32GBZL). I achieved it using the following Bios Settings:

CPU Clock Ratio - 3100Mhz
CPU/NB Frequency - 2400 Mhz
CPU Core Boost Enabled - 4000 Mhz
CPU Host Clock - Auto 200 Mhz
PCIe Clock Auto
HT Link Width Auto
HT Link Frequency - 12x = 2400Mhz
DRAM EOCP Disabled
Mem Clock Manual 8x 1600Mhz
System Voltage Manual
CPU PLL Voltage Control - Normal 2.5V
DRAM Voltage - 1.5V
NB Voltage - Normal 1.1V
HT Link Voltage - Normal 1.2V
NB/PCIe/PLL Voltage Control - Normal 1.8V
CPU/NB VID - +.05V
CPU Voltage Control - +.05V

Dram Configuration:
CPU Host Clock - Auto 200Mhz
Memory Clock Manual - 8x, 1600Mhz
DCTs - ungauged
2T Timing
CAS Latency 10T
RAS to CAS Delay 11T
RP Time 10T
Min RAS Time 28T
TwTr Command Delay 6T
Trfc 0 (DIMM 1,3) 300ns
Trfc 1 (DIMM 2,4) 300ns
WR Time 12T
Precharge Time 6T
Row Cycle 40T
RAR to RAS 5T

ProcOdt (ohms), DQS, Data, Mem Clock, Addr/Cmd, CS/ODT, and CKE Drive Strength settings all at Auto

Addr/Cmd, CS/ODT, and CKE Setup Time and Fine Delay all on Auto settings

Channel and Bank Interleaving enabled
DQS Training Control - DQS Skip
CKE Power Down - Disabled
Mem. Clock Tri-stating - Disabled

I use NovaBench to test my benchmarks and ran my first test with the memory clocked at the mobo's native standard 1333Mhz settings and the CPU clocked at 3400Mhz (scored a 1291) ...

RAM (250)
-Speed 6,174 MB/s

CPU (579)
-Floating Point ops/sec: 211,479,272
-Integer ops/sec: 547,373,624
-MD5 Hashes/sec: 809,171

GPU (403)
-3d Frames/sec (4x AA)- 1,126

Hardware (59)
-Primary Partition cap: 1,397 GB
-Write Speed- 83 MB/s

The second run I just did after getting the settings dialed in for the RAM clocked to 1600Mhz and the CPU running at it's native 3100Mhz setting (scored a 1216)...

RAM (251)
-Speed: 6,467 MB/s

CPU (522)
-fp ops/sec: 196,569,784
-integer ops/sec: 487,154,720
-MD5 hashes/sec: 717,339

GPU (385)
-3D frames/sec (4xAA): 1,080

Hardware (58)
-Write speed: 79 MB/s

Thanks for the tips and ideas to Tradesman (and also GSKILL TECH for your input on other threads I've read)... For the time being this is a stable starting point for anyone with this 32GB RAM set, a Gigabyte 990FXA, and an FX-8120 to start from. Stay tuned for updates on the improved CPU overclocking now that I have a stable baseline for the RAM at 1600Mhz.

[Tradesman]

Sweet! and thanks for sharing your settings, that will be a big help to others!

[SpacemanSpliff]

I'm currently running stable with the CPU oc'ed to 4100Mhz atm...

My last NovaBench score was 1304...

RAM @ 1600Mhz
CPU @ 4100Mhz

RAM - 253
-Speed: 6,889 MB/s

CPU - 581
-fp ops/s: 209,154,092
-int ops/s: 552,546,072
-MD5 hash/s: 820,662

GPU - 411
-3D fps (4xAA): 1,148

Hardware - 59
-write speed: 83 MB/s

Bios settings updated:

CPU clock x20.5 = 4100Mhz
CPU Core Boost x20.5 = 4100Mhz
DRAM voltage 1.54V
CPU/NB VID + .1V (1.35V)
CPU Voltage +.1V (1.5125V)

I ran the AIDA 64 Extreme Edition stability test and after a 40 minute run at 100% load the CPU temp ranged from a min. of 28C to a max of 59 C. I'll probably dial it back to 3600 or 3800Mhz for prolonged use when gaming to keep the max core temps down below 50 C. I play Skyrim, MW3, LOTRO, and Planetside 2 most often, all at high/ultra settings at 2x anti-aliasing.

My next upgrade in the summertime is going to be going from my current Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 to the Sapphire Vapor-X 100352VXSR Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 along with possibly upgrading to the new line of Gigabyte AM3+ mobos once they're released.

Thanks again for the help guys. I hope my tinkering helps others have a much easier time getting dialed in should they have a similar setup.

[Tradesman]

I'm sure it will, and want to say thanks on behalf of the other members and congradulate on a great looking system

[SpacemanSpliff]

So after I have updated to the latest bios from Gigabyte for the mobo I have been able to run my memory set at 1866, but I'm still trying to tweak it so my pc doesn't freeze up while playing MW3 and Skyrim. The latest setting that work are below...

CPU Clock Ratio - 3100Mhz
CPU/NB Frequency - 2400 Mhz
CPU Core Boost Enabled - 4000 Mhz
CPU Host Clock - Auto 200 Mhz
PCIe Clock Auto
HT Link Width Auto
HT Link Frequency - 12x = 2400Mhz
DRAM EOCP Disabled
Mem Clock Manual 9x 1866Mhz
System Voltage Manual
CPU PLL Voltage Control - Normal 2.5V
DRAM Voltage - 1.525V
NB Voltage - Normal 1.1V
HT Link Voltage - Normal 1.2V
NB/PCIe/PLL Voltage Control - Normal 1.8V
CPU/NB VID - +.075V
CPU Voltage Control - +.075V

Dram Configuration:
CPU Host Clock - Auto 200Mhz
Memory Clock Manual - 9x, 1866Mhz
DCTs - ungauged
2T Timing
CAS Latency 10T
RAS to CAS Delay 11T
RP Time 10T
Min RAS Time 28T
TwTr Command Delay 6T
Trfc 0 (DIMM 1,3) 300ns
Trfc 1 (DIMM 2,4) 300ns
WR Time 12T
Precharge Time 6T
Row Cycle 40T
RAR to RAS 5T

ProcOdt (ohms), DQS, Data, Mem Clock, Addr/Cmd, CS/ODT, and CKE Drive Strength settings all at Auto

Addr/Cmd, CS/ODT, and CKE Setup Time and Fine Delay all on Auto settings

Channel and Bank Interleaving enabled
DQS Training Control - DQS Skip
CKE Power Down - Disabled
Mem. Clock Tri-stating - Disabled

[Tradesman]

Looking good, if having trouble with primarily just the games, might check for possible beta GPU drivers, guru3d.com is a good place to look

[GSKILL TECH]

Set CPU-NB frequency and HT Link frequency back to AUTO and it should work better.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[damric]

Be more much generous with cpu-nb volts. It helped stabilize my fx-4100 massive ram oc.

[SpacemanSpliff]

Most recent stable run (figured out that the problems I was having with crashes were due to a failing DIMM stick, so I've been running 2 of the 3 healthy ones without incident for the last couple weeks)



I'm pretty sure I can get higher on the overclocks, but I've heard confliicting stories about the max safe temps for the AMD FX-8xxx series CPUs... AMD's official max temp rating is 62C, but I've heard others say that they're safe up to 80-90C. In the run I did in IBT for the stability test at 4228MHz, the max temp the CPU reached was 60.4C... if it is indeed accurate to follow AMD's suggestion, I really don't want to push it any further until I can upgrade my cooling setup.

Thoughts and/or suggestions?

[Tradesman]

Better to be safe than sorry

[zeroarmy27]

Nice work! I think I'll continue tweaking my memory after reading this thread. I want to share some experience which I hope helps answer your questions. I also think you got a high-quality chip since your IMC is letting you push 4 high-density DIMMs @ 1866. Gratz.

I can attest to an FX processor not going above ~61C without crashing very quickly.

For the sake of reference, my setup is very close to yours. I have a Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3, AMD FX-8150, with a G.Skill F3-12800CL9Q-16GBRL kit installed. The Bulldozer chip does not tolerate high temperatures. If I push over 60C for too long, I'm guaranteed a BSOD. I don't like going over 50C for longevity's sake, so my max multiplier is set at 19.5 for ~3.9Ghz.

When measuring temperatures for the CPU, use the processor's core temperature sensor(s), not the board's! The board temps will be higher than the processor's actual temp. The FX temp sensors are not accurate until ~40C, so you will see low readings until you put it under a decent load.

If your UD5's northbridge runs hot like the UD3 does, I can walk you through an easy way to keep it cooler with almost no effort. Gigabyte's solution to applying thermal compound is ridiculously depressing. Modifying it has helped considerably with overclock stability.

[Tradesman]

zeroarmy27

Any tips on keeping the heat down would be appreciated by many