New build, help me with my BIOS settings

I just got done building my new system, and it runs great, but the BIOS has me utterly confused.


Here's the pertinent HW:

Intel Core i5-750
MSI P55-GD65 LGA 1156
G.SKILL Trident 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000)
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 5770 1GB
Thermaltake Frio x2
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX



Now I'm just looking to do a mild overclock and get my RAM running at the right speed (doesn't even have to be 2000, I was thinking more like 1600 with tight timings).


What has me confused is when it POSTs it shows the CPU is running at 16x200=3200, and then it says OS Speed 21x200=4200. Now I thought the FSB, or whatever it is, was supposed to be 133, not 200. I haven't changed any settings yet (except for DRAM voltage). When I go into the BIOS sure enough the bus speed is at 200, and it won't let me change it.

Also, when I run CPUID monitor in windows it's telling me that my CPU VCORE is 1.43V. Isn't this a little high? I looked in the BIOS and the VCORE is set to "auto" and it won't let me edit that value either.


When I pull my overclock info with PC Wizard it's telling me my GPU frequency is 400, when the card should be running at 860 by default. And I looked in the catalyst control center and it's listed at 400 there too. I even told it to overclock to 875 and applied the settings and everything still says it's at 400. This has to be an error because I don't think it could even run that low, and I played Dirt 2 on ultra settings @ 1680x1050 and it doesn't even skip a beat.


Then my RAM, PC Wizard says it's running at PC3 10700 @ 667mhz and the "RAM ratio" is 10/2. I've looked all through the BIOS and the only thing it will let me adjust is the timings.

I changed my DRAM voltage from 1.5V to 1.65V in the BIOS, but when I look at it in MSI's control center it still says it's at 1.5V


And in PC Wizard I was just looking at my voltages and it says my +12V is at 7.56V, which is either wrong, or my PSU is crap. The fan in it does rattle like hell, so I'm already pissed about that..


I know I have to be able to set all of this stuff in the BIOS, but this damn thing is confusing as hell, and it won't even let me edit the values I need for some reason.



I started to run Prime95 last night until I saw my CPU temps hitting 83°C+, that's when I noticed the VCORE was so high.




What is going on here? Somebody help me. How are all these settings screwed, shouldn't it have loaded default settings from the start?

 

anyone? Bueller?



I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 if that helps..



I would settle for help with just one of my issues.. or even a good monitoring program that's going to give me voltage readouts including DRAM so I can double check things.

 

Not a ton of help here, but as far as using PCwizard to check all this info... personally, I'd download the newest version of Everest Ultimate 'cuz it's likely to have updated info for new motherboards. The Ultimate version is not free, but you'll get free full functionality for 14days (I think). Also, it's been my experience with hardware/voltage monitoring software that it is frequently inaccurate, and I've had one program give me one set of readings, and another give a whole different set of readings. I would try the voltage readings in Everest Ultimate, and MSI's own utility, and then look at HWmonitor and compare the readings between these programs. As for overclocking, RAM timings, etc, that isn't my cup-o-tea, so I can't do much here, but you might check the MSI web site and see if a BIOS update is available that addresses any of the issues you're having. Also, most serious OCers will tell ya that the newest BIOS is usually (but not always) best.... GOOD LUCK!!! Keep us posted!
:-D

 

One of the first things I did(after installing all new drivers) was to update the BIOS to the most recent version. I'll grab Everest and see what it says. MSI's own utility is crap as far as I'm concerned. In fact I think it may be part of my problem. I think just running it, it started changing my settings. I was trying to see what it did, and when I clicked on one of the tabs the computer crashed and instantly rebooted. I think just clicking on the tab to see what was in there it automatically ramped up my CPU speed to the point that it crashed the system. Which is horrible. No program should just arbitrarily decide that it can safely overclock your system to a certain point and just take you there instantly. I've always taken the slow cautious approach, and had much success at it. If the program just said it's an i5 so it should be able to run at 4.2ghz with 1.43V then I'm pissed, because to me that isn't safe. Sure my system is stable, and I'm not having any problems per say, but I can't run Prime95 in fear of melting my $200 processor. And I don't want to have to crank up the fans on my cooler because it gets quite loud at 2500rpm. I would be happy with 3.6ghz, but so far I can't see how to get there.

 

I got Everest.. and it confirms what's going on. Apparently my system came with a rather impressive overclock right out of the box. If fact, a little more overclock than I'm comfortable with. I suppose if I ran my fans at max speed everything would be fine, but that's too loud for my taste.


The system is stable, so I guess I shouldn't complain too much about plugging in an i5 and having it run at 4.2ghz without having to touch a thing. But what if I had installed the stock heat sink on this thing? It would be toast right now.



And it looks like my video card is reporting 400mhz because it downclocks itself when idle to save power? I hadn't heard about this until now..


Now if I could just get my RAM up to speed, I know what timings I want to run if I can just get the speed clocked right.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=139308&stc=1&d=1276743428

 

Okay, I think I've got a handle on things now. Running Prime95 overnight just to make sure. I might be able to go lower with the VCORE, this is just the lowest I've set it so far. I'm running the RAM at its advertised speed for now(DDR3 2000 9-9-9-24). I tried setting it at 1600 and lowered the timings but it wouldn't post, so I'll just work on that later..


First I ran 3DMark Vantage to get my max GPU temp(scored GPU-10918 CPU-17450). Everything seems in check to me.