Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulWog
It's really weird how my CPU is working.
I got my CPU to work at 3.80GHz @ 1.4125v with prime95 for 30 minutes (I was impatient and wanted to do other things so I stopped it after that).
So I'm running it 24/7 at 3.8GHz @ 1.425v (just incase if there's an off-chance of instability at 1.4125). The voltage decrease from 1.45v has decreased my max temps by 1 to 1.5 degrees celcius.
But after 3.9GHz, I seem to have to crank the voltage harshly. While the temps don't rise too much compared to how much voltage I have to put in. I need 1.55v for just over 4.1GHz... and then to reach 4.2GHz I need more than 1.55v (about 1.575)... and then it keeps going up. This is all multiplier, no HT changes.
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Good work on using the CPU multiplier alone, this way you know that the CPU is what's unstable if you get a crash/error. It's the best way really.
That sounds about right too. 1.4125V for 3.8GHz is good, and so is 1.4250V for the extra margin of stability, especially since your temperatures must be good here. For reference, I can run mine at stock 3.4GHz, 3.5GHz, 3.6GHz and 3.7GHz on 1.3875V (just below stock 1.4000V). For 3.8GHz I need 1.4625V and for 3.9GHz I need 1.5125V, which is what I'm at now. I haven't really tried to push for 4.0GHz for fear of needing more than 1.5500V, which I don't want to set. In either case, it won't make any performance difference.
What voltages do you need for 3.9GHz and 4.0GHz to be stable?
Perhaps you can keep those 24/7 as long as the voltage isn't above 1.5500V and the temperatures are good. If you can have 4.1GHz stable with 1.5500V, it sounds to me as if 4.0GHz will need a bit below that, which is great. I say go for it if temperatures allow!
As a guideline, try to keep your full load temperature to a maximum of 55°C, no matter what.
That said, any thoughts on overclocking your CPU/NB too?
Once you're happy with your CPU overclock, set it back to stock and start cranking up the CPU/NB!
I've got mine at 2600MHz (from the default 2000MHz) with 1.3000V (1.1000V is the stock). Works great and provides a nice performance boost. You might even be able to get 2800MHz out of it. For this one, try to keep to a maximum of 1.4000V for the CPU/NB voltage and don't touch the NB voltage (you don't need to). Make sure you have good case cooling and that your Northbridge motherboard chipset has a heatsink at least!
EDIT: You don't tell us what motherboard model it is you have on your signature computer. From the details you entered, I'm going to assume it's mine - Asus M4A79XTD EVO. In that case, it's a good motherboard with nice chipset cooling so as long as you have decent case cooling, go for that 2600MHz CPU/NB with 1.3000V and test it out. Then you can try for 2800MHz if you want but 2600MHz is more than enough for a good boost. Once you're happy, overclock your CPU too and have both overclocks running - test for stability again just in case!