960T OC high Vcore

[mc6pack]

Hi,

Im got a newly aquired 960T running x4 (of 5) on an M4A87TD-Evo, the processor is not listed as supported but Thurbans are and it unlocked the cores fine.

Here's my issue,

Firstly im an OC noob, first ever manual OC was last week and ive been absorbing as much knowledge as I can since which is... not much rofl. Been working with PC's all my life so luckily my base understanding is sound.

So...
I plug the chip in and boot to BIOS, Vcore 1.36, in windows it spikes to 1.46 !
So I manually set Vcore to 1.2, 1.31 spikes in windows.
Disable Turbo, LLC, C1E, SS (everything else is set to auto) and manage to clock the following stable settings:
3200 (200x16) @ Vcore 1.2
3300 (200x16.5) @ Vcore 1.212
3400 (200x17) @ Vcore 1.24
3500 (200x17.5) @ Vcore 1.29
3600 (200x18) @ Vcore 1.34

I havent properly stress tested the set ups, just 5-10mins P95 an a run of 3DMark. Temps aren't a concern atm (212plus).

Im thinking of carrying on clocking up (as the reason I bought it was to run it as a 4.0ghz x4) but already pushed the Vcore higher than expected, at this rate a 4ghz OC is gonna require over 1.54v !!.. have i got a crap chip or is it possibly somet to do with the mobo ?

Im wantin this chip to last a year atleast, how high can I take the Vcore without putting this in jeopardy. The only specs I can find for its Vcore is HERE and states 0.825 - 1.4. There is only "product" info on AMD's site. Should I be following the Thuban specs ?

Here are some other OC's with same chip :

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2198258&highlight=960t&page=2
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=691289
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?p=3959395

Thanks in advance

 

[Rvenger]

I believe anything below 1.5v you will be OK for that CPU.

I would worry more about your 12v rail if that reading holds true.

 

[happy medium]

:thumbsup:

I believe anything below 1.5v you will be OK for that CPU.

:thumbsup:

 

[(sic)Klown12]

With proper cooling(high-end air or an all in one water-cooler) 1.55v seems to be ok to run full time as long as your motherboard doesn't have cheap VRMs. Thuban seems to be as tolerant of a high v-core as Deneb and I've ran both my X4 and X6 at 1.525v with no issues.

 

[mc6pack]

I would worry more about your 12v rail if that reading holds true.

Speedfan reads it dropping to just under 11.8 whilst running 3Dmark.

Its a brand new OCuk dual rail 80+ 650w.

 

[mc6pack]

thanks for the replies guys, feel comfortable going to 1.45 atleast now

 

[mc6pack]

Managed to get it running at :

3700 (200x18.5) @ 1.375
3800 (200x19) @ 1.41
3900 (200x19.5) @ 1.431

chickened out on 4ghz, got into windows but couldnt get it stable, i ran the Vcore upto 1.481v before I lost my nerve. I've clocked it back down to 3.7 for the time being, but im planning to OC my NB a bit in the next couple of days.

@ 3.9ghz


Thanks again for the help.

 

[mc6pack]

well for anyone interested, i finished my overclock, a simple change of DRAM to 1600 and NB to 2400 has given me a boost which im happy with. Im scoring a noticeably higher Physics score now at 3.7 than i was at 3.9 on 3DMark

As soon as the ol' bank balance is better there's a 4ghz overclock goin on.

 

[sm625]

i5-2300 level performance for $125. Not bad, except that you're burning about one whole penny an hour more compared to the intel equivalent. 9 hours per day times 365 equals about 3000 pennies per year.

 

[mc6pack]

i5-2300 level performance for $125. Not bad, except that you're burning about one whole penny an hour more compared to the intel equivalent. 9 hours per day times 365 equals about 3000 pennies per year.

Ive just built a 2600K system for a friend which is what prompted me to start looking into OCing as I dont really see the point in him having such a good chip if its gonna sit at stock for 3 years then get replaced.

I already had an AM3 Mobo running a x4 635 so the i5 upgrade would have been a few more pennies than 3000. The missus wouldn't have a sniff of it so near crimbo hehe im lucky I got my 960T tbh. I get your point tho

 

[mc6pack]

just to finish lol I decided to OC my 6870 aswell... result ?

Fastest in the world hahahahha

 

[tweakboy]

What kinda of temps are you getting ? What is your idle temp and what is your full load temp ?

The temp is what matters. Is there a option in the BIOS to stop vdrop ?

Also your CPU is fine so is your mobo. There might be a pencil vdrop trick for your motherboard "search google" ... I did pencil volt mod by finding a picture for my mobo and showing which transistor to color in with HB2 pencil. thx gl,

Look at your temps. You can get to 4Ghz but just need a higher voltage. I hope your cooling is good. Maybe you should open the side of your case so the CPU can breath, and couple degrees C it falls down. gl

 

[mc6pack]

My temps are good, 3.7ghz@1.383v - 34 idle/43 load (P95)using CM 212+. Tbh the chip seems to get unstable as soon as I hit the 3.8 mark. Have tried it with FSB OC and a mix but it just doesn't seem to like it, did all that 3.8 tests at 1.45v aswell to make sure it wasn't the issue. Probably something stupid and extremely noobish that i'm doing wrong but there you go.

The only thing that gets rid of the vdroop is LLC but it bumps the voltage up a bit extra. Is it really a problem ?

I think I may have just stumbled upon something with you mentioning the Vdroop.. when I get the CPU to boot into windows at #v does it need =#v @ load to stay stable ? srry I know im a noob and im looking into it myself atm

 

[mc6pack]

yeah well... total idiot here, LLC.. yeah, Load Line Calibration.. you'd think someone with a working knowledge of PC's would make the connection between a Vcore drop under load which results in reboots and LLC.

Thankyou Tweakboy.