(4.6) My 2500k, GB GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 overclocking tales

[schott1984]

Details of setup are in my sig.

Below is my data thus far. I'm staying with 100x46, DVID of -0.07 for now. I've only had it pass 5 runs of LinX, but will do a 20 pass and a long prime95 test later.

EDIT: It did pass 20 runs LinX
EDIT: Ran prime95 while I was at work and it failed after 3hr 13min due to error.
I will now be backing down to 45x100 and re-testing. I don't want to increase voltage and temps at this point.

What exactly IS DVID? when it says -0.05, it's -0.05 delta from WHAT? And under what state? It seems to be approximately be the vcore at full load delta from 1.4

Is 81C absolute peak (I've had nothing else get it as hot as LinX) acceptable and safeish? HOW HIGH is safe to hit while testing with LinX?

Also, are these temps safe to let it run prim95 while I'm sleeping or at work?

Thanks for reading!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case fan data:
Bottom intake is always 100%

Side intake is always 100%

120mm 2000rpm front intake
80mm bottom intake (fixed)
120mm side intake (fixed)
120mm 2000rpm rear exhaust
(2) 120mm 2000rpm top exhaust
120mm (PWM 2000max) on front of H212+ cooler in push config

PSU intake from under case, exhaust out rear (bottom mount)
GPU intakes on bottom, exhaust out rear.

UNLESS NOTED, (FIXED) FANS ARE 100% IN ALL TESTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2500k@100x34
Ambient: 19-20C

Percentage is simply based on rheostat knob position, not actual fan rpm.

case fans off, 3 passes: 61C peak

all fans 100%, 3 passes: 58C peak

all but top fans 100%, top off: 59C peak

intake 100%, all exhaust 50%: 59C

intake 100%, rear exhaust 100%, top exhaust 50%: 59C peak
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambient: 19-20C
100x40, DVID @ -0.05
all fans 100%: 74C peak (passed LinX 3 passes)

100x44, DVID @ -0.05
all fans 100%: 79C peak (passed LinX 20 passes) (10.5hrs prime95 @ 68C peak)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambient: 20-22C
100x46, DVID -0.05
all fans 100%: 83C peak (passed LinX 5 passes)

100x47, DVID -0.05
all fans 100%: 85C peak, FAIL LinX after 6 minutes

100x46, DVID -0.07
all fans 100%: 81C peak (passed 5 LinX passes)

100x46, DVID -0.09
all fans 100%: 77C peak, FAIL LinX after 3 minutes

100x46, DVID -0.08
all fans 100%: 79C peak, FAIL LinX after 6 minutes

 

[Kenmitch]

What exactly IS DVID? when it says -0.05, it's -0.05 delta from WHAT? And under what state? It seems to be approximately be the vcore at full load delta from 1.4

DVID = Dynamic Vcore. DVID adds or subtracts voltage from the Vcore based off of the VID....Under load

Gigabytes uses this while other board makers use offset voltages.

Gigabyte boards have a vcore option (Normal) I believe. ???

Example: Based on my 2700k

At 42x my cpu's VID is 1.356v's under load

My 2700k is stable at 1.192v's tho. I have to use the offset voltage on my motherboard to drop the voltage. With my vcore on Auto I need to use a offset voltage of - 0.115v's to have a loaded vcore of 1.192v's under stress testing.

 

[schott1984]

Gigabyte boards have a vcore option (Normal) I believe. ???

Can't find a plain vcore (VID) option on mine...

 

[Kenmitch]

Can't find a plain vcore (VID) option on mine...

Haven't used a gigabyte board in ages....Figured they still did.

Looking at images of your bios I don't see a vcore option other than the DVID. This in your only voltages page? Looking at a overclock guide and it's the only screenshot of anything that allows voltage adjustments.

 

[schott1984]

Looking at images of your bios I don't see a vcore option other than the DVID. This in your only voltages page? Looking at a overclock guide and it's the only screenshot of anything that allows voltage adjustments.

Yep...

 

[Kenmitch]

Budget board = No thrills....I guess it includes the bios also

Looks like the board is setup to just run the vcore as normal. At least they had mercy and allowed the DVID adjustment.

What was your loaded vcore at during your stress testing?

 

[schott1984]

What was your loaded vcore at during your stress testing?

DVID is now -0.07 and makes VCORE = 1.28 while running prime95.

Passed 20 runs LinX last night, running prime95 currently while I'm at work. Prime95 doesn't get the temps anywhere near LinX levels somehow.

 

[Charlie98]

DVID is now -0.07 and makes VCORE = 1.28 while running prime95.

Passed 20 runs LinX last night, running prime95 currently while I'm at work. Prime95 doesn't get the temps anywhere near LinX levels somehow.

Oddly enough, that's about right where I'm at, only at 41x. I couldn't get it any higher without stability problems or heat problems.

No, the GB D2H-B3 doesn't have offset in the BIOS... I looked EVERYWHERE, just the DVID. Using GB's EasyTune6 voltage monitor, I finally figured out that DVID does change the vCore under load. You can also change the bus speed, but I had stability problems with that, even as low as 101.2MHz.

Even the GB EasyTune6 utility doesn't allow for offset voltage changes.

schott, if you are getting 4.6GHz and keeping your temps where they are at, with stability, it's a wonderful thing!

 

[Charlie98]

Prime95 doesn't get the temps anywhere near LinX levels somehow.

LinX is The heat tester... It got my CPU up to 91C once (4.4GHz at stock voltage.)

 

[Kenmitch]

DVID is now -0.07 and makes VCORE = 1.28 while running prime95.

Passed 20 runs LinX last night, running prime95 currently while I'm at work. Prime95 doesn't get the temps anywhere near LinX levels somehow.

That's not bad. What clock are you running at?

I couldn't get it any higher without stability problems or heat problems.

No, the GB D2H-B3 doesn't have offset in the BIOS... I looked EVERYWHERE, just the DVID.

The DVID adjustment is very similar to the offset adjustment on other motherboards. Looks to work the same way in the end for the most part.

The GB GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 is a basic motherboard. Although it does have some overclocking features in the bios it's not really designed to be a overclocking motherboard. Mild overclocking is doable but long term heavy overclocking will most likely burn out the motherboard.

 

[Charlie98]

The GB GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 is a basic motherboard. Although it does have some overclocking features in the bios it's not really designed to be a overclocking motherboard. Mild overclocking is doable but long term heavy overclocking will most likely burn out the motherboard.

I kind of gathered that... that's why I just backed down to a 4.1GHz OC and left well enough alone.

I'm impressed the OP got it up to 4.7!

 

[schott1984]

The GB GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 is a basic motherboard. Although it does have some overclocking features in the bios it's not really designed to be a overclocking motherboard. Mild overclocking is doable but long term heavy overclocking will most likely burn out the motherboard.

Think I'm safe at 4.6? I guess I don't really care if the board burns out. I got a good deal on it w/ cpu, memory, gpu on FS/FT, so I got it even though I would have preferred a better OCing board.

If it burns out will I be able to replace it without reinstalling windows?

 

[exar333]

Think I'm safe at 4.6? I guess I don't really care if the board burns out. I got a good deal on it w/ cpu, memory, gpu on FS/FT, so I got it even though I would have preferred a better OCing board.

If it burns out will I be able to replace it without reinstalling windows?

Is there an appreciable load temp difference at 4.5? Most of the SB CPUs I have used usually hit a point of diminishing returns between 4.4-4.8ghz (depending how 'cherry' the chip is). I literally hit 10C higher if I go to 4.7ghz, rather than 4.6.

With your temps just getting into the 80C territory with a relatively low ambient, you want want to play it safe and see how the temps work with a higher ambient, like ~25-27C. Test the worst-case and see how it reacts.

When I stress-test, I like to throw a space-heater in my office and get the temps to around 27C (~80F) to simulate a reasonable, but above-average or ideal temp. Then, any time you run less than that 'high point', its just running cooler.

 

[Kenmitch]

Think I'm safe at 4.6? I guess I don't really care if the board burns out. I got a good deal on it w/ cpu, memory, gpu on FS/FT, so I got it even though I would have preferred a better OCing board.

If it burns out will I be able to replace it without reinstalling windows?

It's an unkown. Most likely the power circuits weren't designed to handle more than ??? amount of watts being pumped thru them. The lack of heatsinks on the motherboard kinda prove this to some extent.

Similar board windows should take the swap most likely.

 

[schott1984]

With your temps just getting into the 80C territory with a relatively low ambient, you want want to play it safe and see how the temps work with a higher ambient, like ~25-27C. Test the worst-case and see how it reacts. When I stress-test, I like to throw a space-heater in my office and get the temps to around 27C (~80F) to simulate a reasonable, but above-average or ideal temp. Then, any time you run less than that 'high point', its just running cooler.

Can anyone tell me what's actually safe to hit during LinX stress testing? I can turn the heat up and see how high I get, but what kind of conclusion can I draw from this without knowing what's acceptable?

 

[exar333]

Can anyone tell me what's actually safe to hit during LinX stress testing? I can turn the heat up and see how high I get, but what kind of conclusion can I draw from this without knowing what's acceptable?

90C and the CPU will throttle. Most folks will say its 'OK' to hit the low 80's, but it is generally preferable to stay in the 70's if you can.

 

[schott1984]

My GPU isn't overclocked but now I'm getting a weird grey flicker in Skyrim when looking at some walls and doors up close.

Could the CPU OC affect this?
I've also updated BIOS and moved steam to my HDD, then used the boiled app to move skyrim back to SSD since last time I played it (when it didn't flicker).

 

[Puppies04]

LinX is The heat tester... It got my CPU up to 91C once (4.4GHz at stock voltage.)

Care to clarify what you mean when you say stock, Do you mean the voltage the cpu assigns in offset mode at x44 (+/- 0.00v) or actual stock voltage which I believe is about 1.2v.

 

[Charlie98]

Care to clarify what you mean when you say stock, Do you mean the voltage the cpu assigns in offset mode at x44 (+/- 0.00v) or actual stock voltage which I believe is about 1.2v.

Stock voltage = everything on auto. I probably used the EasyTune6 utility, they have a pushbutton OC for 4.47GHz... increasing the multiplier, and BCLK to 104MHz. It hit 92C in about 20 seconds and crashed shorty thereafter. The vCore was at 1.35v at that point, I believe.

 

[schott1984]

EDIT: It did pass 20 runs LinX
EDIT: Ran prime95 while I was at work and it failed after 3hr 13min due to error.
I will now be backing down to 45x100 and re-testing. I don't want to increase voltage and temps at this point.

Errored out in p95. I am reducing multi to 45 and re-testing at same DVID = -0.07.

 

[schott1984]

Errored out in p95. I am reducing multi to 45 and re-testing at same DVID = -0.07.

Passed 3h15m on prime95. I'll run longer later.

 

[Charlie98]

Passed 3h15m on prime95. I'll run longer later.

Did you do anything to your BCLK speed?

What are your C-states set at?

 

[Puppies04]

Stock voltage = everything on auto. I probably used the EasyTune6 utility, they have a pushbutton OC for 4.47GHz... increasing the multiplier, and BCLK to 104MHz. It hit 92C in about 20 seconds and crashed shorty thereafter. The vCore was at 1.35v at that point, I believe.

Doesn't surprise me, leave BCLK at 100 set voltage to 1.3 and see how high you can go stable. Should be anywhere between 4.2 and 4.6 depending on youir chip (from memory mine would hit 4.4 @ 1.3v). What cooler are you using and do you have adequate case fans installed?

 

[Charlie98]

Doesn't surprise me, leave BCLK at 100 set voltage to 1.3 and see how high you can go stable. Should be anywhere between 4.2 and 4.6 depending on youir chip (from memory mine would hit 4.4 @ 1.3v). What cooler are you using and do you have adequate case fans installed?

My attempts at raising the BCLK all ended in failure, and, after researching exactly what BCLK controls, decided a 100.2MHz BCLK was best in the long run.... that's why I was asking the OP what his was set at; I don't think this board handles a higher BCLK well.

I have 2 CPU fans on the 212+ and 2x 200mm/2x 120mm case fans... there is no problem with airflow in my case... My problem is CPU heat... as vCore went up, so did the temps.

 

[MadScientist]

OP,
Here's some info that may help in how to set offset voltage.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2194577&highlight=

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?2162-Overclocking-Using-Offset-Mode-for-CPU-Core-Voltage