Do I just have a crappy chip?

[Gurck]

I got my p4 2.6b about a year ago, and it's always run a bit hot - 55-60c under load, depending on the season and how long it's been since I dusted it. Retail HSF, and the temps are about the same now using paste as when it had the stock thermal pad on it. I have good case airflow, an intake fan blowing over my hdd and an exhaust fan under my psu, cables tucked away neatly & tied where applicable. Playing around yesterday I found that I can't even o/c it to 2800mhz (from 2667) without upping the voltage. It was stable at 3ghz (relatively; I didn't want to test its stability too much because of 60+ c temps) only at 1.6v, under that it'd error out of prime95 in under a minute. I didn't fool around much at 2800, just enough to find that 1.525 wasn't enough for that speed. Since even at stock speed the temperatures are a bit high, I decided to get a new HSF and it should be here this week. Now I'm wondering if I should even bother trying again? Or do you think I just have a lemon of a chip and should keep it at stock speed? Reading about people getting 2.8's to 3.5 without raising the voltage is what really piqued my curiosity and made me ask this. MB is an Asus P4PE.

 

[MichaelZ]

pointless. B models are pretty hot after OC. the ones with higher multipliers such as the 2.6, 2.8 and 3.06 get very hot.

you may be hearing about people getting 2.8s to run @ 3.5 but there's a fundamental difference, they have the C model which OC's like a champ. personally i wouldn't waste time and money on trying to OC a B model.

 

[myocardia]

Not true at all. There are people who are overclocking their 3.06B's around here to 3.5ghz with normal temps, and Thugsrook had a 2.4B that also did 3.5ghz. They don't get any hotter than the P4C's get. You, however, don't seem to have a good chip. You'd probably be quite happy with an overclocked 2.8C, assuming that 2.66ghz isn't fast enough for you anymore.

 

[MichaelZ]

I disagree. The percentage of good overclocking B models are a much lower than C. My 2.4B doesn't even get over 2700 unless I give it massive loads of voltage. Then again that could be blamed on my PSU tho. Nevertheless B models definatly run hotter assuming stock cooling. All the 2.8B model systems I've built at work are running 40 degrees idel with their x21 multiplier. C models on the other hand idel at 35 or so. The HSF feels warm to the touch where as the C model system after everything is up and running, the stock HSF doesn't feel warm at all. The temp diode reading of MBshave too much variation, physically touching the HSF you will feel the temp difference.

 

[Gurck]

Was afraid of that, thanks for the replies.

 

[smahoney]

I have also found that the 'c' series are much better overclockers than the 'b' series. My old 2.66B topped out at 3.2 on an Abit BH7 while my new 2.8C wnet to 3.5 on air and is now at 3.64 on water.

 

[CU]

I am thinking of getting a 2.8B to replace my 1.8@2.4 in my Epox 4g4a. I would have thought that if a B and C P4 were the same stepping and used the same heatsink/fan then they would run at the same temp. Actually I would have though the B would be cooler since it doesn't have HT. I read the D1 1.8 and 2.4B's overclock to 3+. I am trying to find information on the 2.8B though.

 

[CU]

I just looked it up on Intels website. The thermal guideline for the 2.8C is 69.7C and for the 2.8B it is 68.4C. The B model should run just alittle cooler given the same heatsink and fan. This information was found from ftp://download.intel.com/design/Pentium4/datashts/29864312.pdf. I would think that if they were both D1 steppings they would have the same chances of overclocking.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: CU
I just looked it up on Intels website. The thermal guideline for the 2.8C is 69.7C and for the 2.8B it is 68.4C. The B model should run just alittle cooler given the same heatsink and fan. This information was found from ftp://download.intel.com/design/Pentium4/datashts/29864312.pdf. I would think that if they were both D1 steppings they would have the same chances of overclocking.

If you are going to bother w/a non HT chip you may as well go 2.4A /1M/533. I tested one and got it up to 3.50A. The extra cash is a bonus. AND get good cooling to as it is a presscott.

 

[CU]

His MB is an ASUS p4pe. Asus doesn't list it as supporting prescotts. Do any 845's support them? So, the 2.4A is out. That means back to a P4 B or a new MB. I am trying to decide about this also. See my thread "maxing out an epox 4g4a" in this forum.