CPU Degrading?

[TheUnk]

So my 4.4GHz OC of my 3930K has become unstable. I've had this CPU for almost 3 years now. A few months ago my PC started pausing while gaming, a Prime95 test showed errors when at first it would run 24hrs solid.

I was hoping it was perhaps old thermal paste, dust buildup or something but the temps were all fine. So I dropped it to 4Ghz and everything was normal again.. But now over a month or so later the pausing started again. I still need to do more testing but I'm pretty sure it's the overclock.

Before I drop $500 on a new CPU, I wanted to hear what you guys think. What could I be missing? If it is the CPU dying, is there a new or upcoming platform that I should upgrade to instead of just a new CPU?

 

[BrightCandle]

I had the same thing with my i7 920. After a couple of years of running it at 4.0Ghz it slowly degraded and wouldn't run above about 3.8 Ghz. Then I had to bump the voltage a little and I replaced it with the 3930k. The higher the voltage and the higher the clock speed and the hotter the chop is the faster this process is going to happen. Overclocking accelerates a process that is always occurring in a CPU, its only going to get worse until it can't maintain stock speeds at all.

I suspect given the CPU you have you likely want something like Haswell-E as a replacement in a couple of months time.

 

[Burpo]

You didn't say what PS you're using. If it's been running for 3 yrs I'd look at it before the CPU.

 

[TheUnk]

Corsair HX1050. I'll check my Kill-a-watt tonight, last I remember checking the whole system would pull something between 700-800

 

[Idontcare]

Yep, sounds like your CPU has sufficiently degraded and is now on the slippery slope of failure.

 

[DigDog]

bump the voltage a bit.

chances are its the mobo thats degrading, not the CPU. at least so it was for my E6600.

 

[Grooveriding]

Sounds similar to how one of my 3930k chips went bye-bye. Started not holding its overclock, needing even more voltage to maintain a lower overclock and one day just outright died.

Did you buy the Intel overclock warranty ? If not, make sure you get one in the future, free replacement no questions asked.

 

[Ed1]

Just curious, how much voltage was it set too ?

 

[2is]

I'm going to place the blame on the motherboard. I had a Q6600 exhibit similar behavior where it would periodically need more and more voltage to keep it's OC stable. When I built my Ivy Bridge system, I moved that Q6600 to a different box with a different board and I was able to run it at the same OC speed and original voltage as I did back when it was brand new.

 

[blackened23]

So my 4.4GHz OC of my 3930K has become unstable. I've had this CPU for almost 3 years now. A few months ago my PC started pausing while gaming, a Prime95 test showed errors when at first it would run 24hrs solid.

I was hoping it was perhaps old thermal paste, dust buildup or something but the temps were all fine. So I dropped it to 4Ghz and everything was normal again.. But now over a month or so later the pausing started again. I still need to do more testing but I'm pretty sure it's the overclock.

Before I drop $500 on a new CPU, I wanted to hear what you guys think. What could I be missing? If it is the CPU dying, is there a new or upcoming platform that I should upgrade to instead of just a new CPU?

Sounds like your chip has succumb to electromigration. Were you over-volting it heavily 24/7?

Everyone is quick to brush electromigration off, but it can happen if you over-volt for 24/7 too long. Happened to 2 of my lynnfield systems. My suggestion is never, ever, ever use manual voltage to over-volt on a long term basis. This is very detrimental since even idle modes will use full voltage, this is not ideal. Using offset voltage or adaptive will help increase the lifespan a *lot*, use it, love it. You will only use full voltage at load and otherwise, you'll be using proper idle voltages which are very low and will lower temps and increase lifespan.

 

[amenx]

You didn't say what PS you're using. If it's been running for 3 yrs I'd look at it before the CPU.

I doubt there is any relation to his issue and state of PSU.

 

[blake0812]

I doubt there is any relation to his issue and state of PSU.

You'd be surprised.

 

[BrightCandle]

I never went about trying to isolate whether my issue was the motherboard or the CPU (or anything else for that matter). Once the CPU clock speed I could maintain started to drop I started to look for replacements. In theory maybe I could have gotten a new X58 motherboard for it and performance would have been restored, but maybe it wouldn't have fixed it and I would have a new motherboard that I wasn't going to use because the CPU needed replacing.

This is the problem throwing money at an old platform, you might be able to fix the issue cheaper than a new system, but you might find the CPU really is starting to degrade. Its a good time to consider the replacement, and if you can't work out which part it is without further purchases then its an easier proposition to just upgrade everything.

Could very well be a problem with the motherboard, or a PSU going bad. These are absolutely possible reasons for the CPU clock speed to drop off.

 

[chevmaro]

My Q6600 B0 won't hold an overclock anymore. I had it running @ 3.2 for years. I bought it when it first came out, how long ago was that? About a year ago it became unstable. Runs fine now at stock clocks only.

 

[Sattern]

I always have the feeling my CPU will blow after 8 years, but it keeps on running flawlessly.

It should recover eventually or it would otherwise be going down a painful and lonely death.

 

[Hans Gruber]

My Q6600 B0 won't hold an overclock anymore. I had it running @ 3.2 for years. I bought it when it first came out, how long ago was that? About a year ago it became unstable. Runs fine now at stock clocks only.

I ran my Q6600 at 3.6Ghz for years. My goal was to destroy it and run it into the ground. It runs at 3.3Ghz and has been retired to a backup computer. Over time that chip required minimal voltage increases.

I have a one year old i5 3570K and have shown no mercy upon this chip at 4.5Ghz 24x7. I imagine this chip will last a couple more years with minimal voltage increases. I use those massive 120MM heatsinks with big fans on them. That is my secret.

 

[TheUnk]

Sounds like your chip has succumb to electromigration. Were you over-volting it heavily 24/7?

Yeah it was manual 1.25, no offset.

 

[Ed1]

Yeah it was manual 1.25, no offset.

what voltage does those chips run at stock freq under load approx ?

 

[escrow4]

This reminds me why I don't OC anymore. Got a pair of stock non K 4770's, slapped them in and that is it (well, MCE on one board but eh).

 

[2is]

This reminds me why I don't OC anymore. Got a pair of stock non K 4770's, slapped them in and that is it (well, MCE on one board but eh).

I'm kinda with you on that. I still OC but keep it pretty mild. I have a 2600k and a 3770k both at 4.2GHz which they can do quite easily without the need for any extravagant voltage adjustments like LLC or PLL. My upgrade cycle is a lot longer than it used to be so I want these babies to last for a long time. Both the CPU and the motherboards and in my experiences, unless you're completely negligent with your OC, the board will fail before the CPU does.

 

[saratoga172]

Only OC I do is what the chip will handle without any voyage increases. Usually something like 4-500MHz. Recently though I haven't really seen any gains with OC so I leave it stock with the option OC down the line.

Do any of you guys really see any huge gains nowadays. I could see the benefit when you're looking at mid range i3's and i5's, but with the top tier i5 and i7 I don't think there are huge benefits. Just curious if the OC is out to good use or done for the fun of it.

 

[Idontcare]

Only OC I do is what the chip will handle without any voyage increases. Usually something like 4-500MHz. Recently though I haven't really seen any gains with OC so I leave it stock with the option OC down the line.

Do any of you guys really see any huge gains nowadays. I could see the benefit when you're looking at mid range i3's and i5's, but with the top tier i5 and i7 I don't think there are huge benefits. Just curious if the OC is out to good use or done for the fun of it.

OC'ing can be done for good use provided you have a time-to-answer situation riding on it, and you know how to detect/handle/isolate silent corruption.

Otherwise it is great to do for fun, and if you are gaming or otherwise doing non-productive entertainment type stuff then may as well OC if it makes a difference in the gaming experience (min framerates for example).