WildcatWhiz

Hi forum,

I just acquired a new desktop built on the above components. I've done some overclocking research, and here's where I am at right now.

CPU @ 3.6GHz 1.275 volts (FSB is 400MHz 9x)
RAM @ 800MHz stock voltage (Memory multiplier at 2x)

My goal is to reach 4.0GHz CPU (445MHz 9x) and RAM at 1068 (Memory muliplier at 2.4x). My RAM and board are designed for 1066, so the RAM overclock shouldn't be an issue. Also, I have a RAM cooler on both sticks. I'll bump up the voltage to 2.1v as recommended by Corsair.

My only problem is heat! Currently, with 3.6GHz, my processor is idling at 38/32 in Real Temp. That seems kinda high to me based on what I have seen other people get. I'm using the stock heat sink. Fans are at variable speed. LianLi case.

I was able to boot into 4.0GHz with 1.4v as listed above, but idle temps were in the high 50s, if not 60s. Some forums I have read @4.0GHz said MAX was 60...That worries me a tad. It was stable, but just toasty!

Should I set all my case fans to 100%? Clean and re-apply the CPU thermal grease with AS5? (I think it has the stock paste, again, I didn't build the machine myself.) New CPU cooler (Zalman)?

Any advice would be great!

Thanks.

D3TH.GRUNT

your idle temps right now arent that bad for 3.6Ghz, but you most definetely neeed to get a new coole rif you wanna hit 4Ghz! trust me, also is your e8400 a E0 or a C0? cuz you dont need to go to 1.4v to hit 4.0Ghz. Yeah, get a new cooler tho, dont get a zalman, they are outdated, get either a xigmatek dark knight, a true, or a tuniq tower. These coolers will allow you to hit 4.0Ghz easily. Also, your ram will hit 1066 with 2.1 volts, i have dominators, and they do fine @5-5-5-15.

angrysasquatch

If you want 4+ ghz, get a new heatsink. I wouldn't trust the stock past 3.4. The high temps won't make a high clock unattainable, it will just be damaging to the cpu. Below 70 is safe, thinking 60 is the max is a bit paranoid.

Idle temps don't mean anything, they usually have no bearing on load temps (the important ones), and are usually quite variable depending if speedstep or c1e (cpu throttling) is applied.
Nobody cares if your car makes 5 hp at idle, the power only matters when you step on it

Increasing your case airflow won't decrease the CPU temp much.

Zalmans are crap. Overpriced and sub-par cooling.

The best air cooler is the thermalright ultra 120 extreme, aka the TRUE for short. Probably overkill for a dual core though. A Noctua NH-U12P is a good choice, as is a xigmatek s1283. Of those heatsinks, TRUE > noctua > xigmatek.

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chavez885

Like others have already said, if you want 4.0, you'll need a good cooler (the xiggy is MORE than enough). I'm sure you can hit 4.0 with less than 1.35 volts and have good temps.

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WildcatWhiz

Thanks everybody for the sounds advice.

I'm a little strapped for cash, so buying a $50 heatsink is a little tough. I did, however, pick up 4 additional 80mm case fans from Rat Shack for $6! (They were on clearance.)

I boosted the intake and the exhaust (particularly over the cpu) and I got my idle temps to drop to 35/30. Not bad.

I tried pushing it to load by playing some WoW for about an hour, and the highest temperature either core hit was 68. For the most part, however, temperatures stayed in the mid to high 50s.

Is this safe? Eventually I'll replace the thermal grease on the stock cooler, and then invest in a better cooler.

Thanks a ton. These forums are great.

smokinbonz

personally i dont think its safe 68 is too high even when gaming which usually isnt a great load for the cpu, Id say when you least expect it youll smell something and that my friend would be something frying . I say go for a cheap ac freezer 7 pro like i have i think it would suffice for now and the future. Usually around $30.00

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WildcatWhiz

Update!

Hey all, so I met my goal of 4.0Ghz! I ended up getting a budget CoolerMaster Vortex 752 heatsink, lapped it, and here's where I'm at:

CPU E8400 C0 @ 4.0GHz 1.350 volts (FSB is 445MHz 9x)
RAM @ 1068MHz (2.4x multiplier) 2.1v
Temps @ idle low to mid 30s @ load low 50s.

That said, I want to take it a bit further! Perhaps 4.2Ghz. I realize past 4.0, the C0 chips need a LOT more voltage.

I'm willing to take the Vcore up to 1.4v, but not much more. I tried 4.2Ghz w/1.4Vcore, but OCCT failed within 2 minutes. Might something else need more juice? Northbridge?

Any help is appreciated. This forum rocks.

Technophobe

Possible, but I would bet it's the CPU voltage still. My C0 E8400 needed over 1.4 even to get to 4GHz. Got a E3120 to replace the E8400 and can get 4GHz easy with 1.22v (with exact same system components with the E8400).

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