MSI X48C Platinum OC setting from DDR1200 to DDR1600

Question

I'm finally back.  I got depressed about that last attempt with my X48C Platinum setup with Corsair XMS3 1600 MHz.
The problem was that MemTest checked it out fine, but I was getting lock-ups.  On retesting errors would only be reported on the 10th pass --- which took some time to find out.  Everything sat on the shelf and I was the butt of many jokes with my MSI board.
I've popped for some Mushkin DDR3 1600 MHz and am just burning it in @ DDR1200.
MemTest is reporting RAM bandwidth @ 5,211 MB/s which is acceptable, however I'd like to see a stable performance around 5,800 MB/s.
This Mushkin is 9-9-9-24.
What I'm having trouble with now is the OC setting to get even a single pass with this Mushkin.
Could you guys help out with some simple, straightforward tweaks necessary for the BIOS for running this RAM @ DDR1600 ?
Thanks a bunch. 
Klaus.s

Answer 1

I just received a hand-delivered letter from my MOM, and she says I should include some more information.
So here goes.
CPU = x9770 @ 3.20 GHz
BIOS = 7.4  12082009
RAM = 4096 or 2x 2048
Advanced = MPS 1.4
CPU = Virtualization Technology = Enabled (VMM can utilize additional HW caps) [I don't know what this is or if it's a good thing for stable performance]
CPU = Execute Bit Support = Disabled (Force XD feature flag to always return 0) [I don't know what this is or if it's a good thing for stable performance]
CPU = Set Limit CPUID MAXVAL to 3 = Disabled (Some OS's cannot handle >3) [I'm going to install Win.XP.Pro.32-bit]
Chipset = HPET = Disabled [I don't what this is, or if it's a good thing for stable performance]
Chipset = DRAM = Non-ECC (Options are ECC or Non-ECC) [I'm kind of onto this.  ECC is for 24x7 service such as web-servers that don't have the option for re-boots, and does a constant hot-sector swap/test thingy to ensure constant CRC checks or some-such, right ?]
Chipset = Ative State Power Management = Disabled (PCI-E L0 & L1 Link Power state) [I don't know what this is or if it's a good thing for stable performance for my NVidia GeForce GTX 295 -- just one]
Trusted Computing = TCG/TPM Support = NO (Enable/Disable TCG (TPM 1.1/1.2) [I'm sorry.  I don't know what this is or if it's a good thing for stable performance.  I've got about 3 other books that'd be nice to read in the sun between some gaming, but it'd be kind of nice if there was a nice little reference material in the User Manual instead of having to go to Google for every little thing that may or may not be relevant, especially in some kind of priority ---- as in is this something that is on the front burner and I should turn it on to get some water boiling, or should I just let this simmer on the back burner because it's not really all that relevant and other settings are going to demand attention now for immediate results.  I hope you can get my simple point.]
H/W Monitor CPU = 38
H/W Monitor System = 31
H/W Monitor CPU fan = 1915  [seems a little fast, but maybe after I get everything else tweaked I'll come back to this & turn this down somehow]
H/W Monitor CPU = 1.272 - 1.280v
H/W Monitor 3.3v = 3.328
H/W Monitor 5v = 4.961
H/W Monitor 12v = 12.144 - 12.232
H/W Monitor 5v SB = 4.992
H/W Monitor Icore = 16.xxx - 29.xxx A
H/W Monitor I 12v = 1.983 -3.320 A
H/W Monitor 51 - 156%  [Well it seems like the voltages are nice & tight.  Where I have put the "-" is because the values flicker around.  My science teacher would love to have a fit over this, where the decimal is reported to 3 places, but the value in the 1st place would be all that is required, or worse.  Anyhow, at least there are no sparks flashing up or smoke bellowing out.]
CELL MENU = DOT = Disabled [I'm sorry, yet another of many acronyms that I'm not familiar with.  I guess I'm going to need a link to some FAQ that wasn't available when the manual was being printed.  Sure wouldn't mind though.  It just seems that what is required on my part, isn't just the money to buy all this 'stuff' but the time to invest in sorting through a lot of reading, studying and experimenting.  Sure would be nice to just click on DRAM Frequency = 1600 MHz, and all the associated voltages and whatnot sync to match what is required. Maybe I could take this experience and start writing some comic books or something.]
CELL MENUS = Intel EIST = Disabled (GV3 Technology) [I'm sorry, just another item in the don't know what this is, never seen it before, don't have it on the other Quad core motherboard, and have at least the modicum of a clue that it might just be relevant to know more about this.  I'm looking forward to reading the forthcoming links.]
CELL MENU = CPU FSB = 400 (200 - 800) [Wow.  This'd be nice to crank up, but am I simply going to get a constant series of black screens, and then have to press the CLR button on the back of the board, and have to re-enter all the values in the BIOS all over again.  Now this would be some valuable information to know just the range of possibilities, instead of poking around in the dark for endless hours.  Ranges can be good, but maybe just a hint of practical ranges would be just that much better.]
CELL MENU = CPU Ratio = 8 [Now this is one that I've fiddled around with quite a bit, and the ratio on the MoBo goes all the way to 60, but I have had the guts to save this value on an exit to boot.  With the rocking CPU, I'm sure I can get nosebleeds, but just what that ratio is, well, that would be nice to know a practical value that won't cause black screens or a lump of pins that winds up on the top of the lava-lamp for topical discussion.]
CELL MENU = Advanced DRAM = By SPD = Enabled [This Muskin is supposed to be some honking RAM, so maybe it's best to leave the chips sort this out for now, but then maybe again, just maybe there are some practical values to insert here that are realistic and more functional than what has been pre-programmed into inert silicon & gold.  Right now I simply do not find it within the grey matter between by ears at this moment.  Not in the User Manual either.]
CELL MENU = Advanced DRAM = MCH Read Delay (tPD) = Auto (Other choices 4 - 15) [Now I sense that this might be close to the 9-9-9-18 ratings, however I'm not brave enough to just set this to 9.  There seems just too many other settings what with the voltages etc to know just what practical options would be viable, again, without a lot of time to experiment.]
CELL MENU = Advanced DRAM = 1N/2N = Augo (Other choices 1N & 2N) [Seems like something associated with latency, just that I don't know what is practical & viable.]
CELL MENU = FSB/MEMORY Ratio = Auto (Other choices are 1.20, 1.60, 2.00, 1.00, 1.33) [Well I do like a short list of options.  What would be nice to understand here in chart like form, is what kind of CPU ratios, RAM speeds, FSB speeds & FSB/RAM ratios are viable.  I've seen these done nicely in review forums or magazines where people are paid by the hour or month to sit with just one motherboard, or maybe get the info from the Engineers that tested the MoBo, and actually print that practical performance chart in the User Manual.  Then I could use this handy guide to follow the edges of practical options and know that I'm going to get a viable result and start putting all this hardware to use instead of idling while I'm in the BIOS on this MoBo, while I'm using another computer to browse the Internet with a lot of my time that I'd rather see invested in actual entertainment.  It isn't that I don't like the guys that provide such valuable handy practical advice here, but seeing that crowd of animated emoticons staring back at me, I'm beginning to feel like some character out of "Waking Life" not knowing if I'm creating some sort of animated dis-reality.  If you haven't seen "Waking Life" it's a thought provoker right up there with the original "Matrix," and was my first exposure to Alex Jones -- he does a marvelous job of driving around in that convertible car that can drive through water.]
CELL MENU = Adjusted DRAM Frequency = 1200 [this is greyed out.  at least it can run at this speed with a lame no-brainer BIOS effort.  I guess this is the experience that F1 driving teams go through.  My MOM could probably drive one of those @ 160 MPH with my dead, planted in the ground DAD as a mechanic, but to get 240 MPH requires a truck load of information, experienced techies, loads of time, trial, trial, trial, trial & more trial.  But hay, at least next year I can say when someone asks about all these BIOS settings that I can't remember what they were other than to leave them alone -- they worked to get it running -- and fiddling with them anymore isn't going to do anyone any good.  When Charlton Heston returns in the future to this planet overrun with talking apes, they too can pick this up in wonder and won't know any more that I will next year.]
CELL MENU = Auto Disable DIMM/PCI Frequency = Enabled [This one confuses me, because I thought that the FSB has the RAM, the CPU & maybe even the video card, and managed by the 'HUB' maybe the SB, but I keep mixing the SB & the NB, but one of these.  Then the one 'HUB' communicates to the other 'HUB' which handles the PCI slots, the SATA drives, LAN, sound, PS/2 ports, USB and I guess the eSATA port.  So wouldn't it be best to just leave alone the PCI frequency because all those devices can so easily start to loose track of the triggering voltages & start mixing up the '0'-bits from the '1'-bits and lock up?  Well, I suppose that's coming up with those magical URL links.  My brain could use a bit of exercise, just that I wasn't expecting this much mental activity before the fun began.]
ANYhoo....  I hope this exercise will drag me kicking & screaming just a little bit closer, not to the doll that wants to take me dancing, but to the games that I have waiting on the DVD's, and be able to drag some arrogant friends over to drool over the frame rate count & response, especially with the up times & lack or roar of noisy fans .... but maybe I'm projecting too much out of this digital hobby.  Maybe I'll get a hint of my future out of this experience.
Thanks for taking the time to follow my escapade to tweak the DRAM frequency form 1200 MHz to 1600 MHz, get that FSB up a bit, and see what this Quad-Core can handle for a CPU Ratio without cooking the whole combination into non-existence.