E7200 Voltage Question

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I got my e7200 to 4ghz stable. Here are my current voltages:

VCore: 1.38750 (in bios, cpu-z reports 1.36V idle)
Dram: 1.89V
HT: 1.36V
NB: 1.46
SB: 1.54

I have the processor on an asus p5n-d. I'm just worried that running it at these voltages, with vcore and ht both being so close to 1.4V, might shorten the life of the processor. If my usage for it may extend to 4 or 5 years, is this a problem? Additionally, will running it at such high voltages and frequencies 'train' the transistors to be tolerant to voltages, ie: not let me run stock speeds at the below stock voltage I currently can?

Also- what exactly does HT do? I didn't need to increase it from 1.2V to get my fsb to 1700MHz (while testing mobo to see if I could hit 4ghz, so cpu multi was set to 6x), nor did I really need it to get the processor stable at 4037MHz.... I know not to go over 1.4V on it, and that it is Vtt, or the termination voltage between the processor and the NB, but in what situations does a change of HT voltage do something? I put it up to 1.36V so I could let my vcore down .115V and still be stable- not sure if it even did that

 

[Foxery]

Originally posted by: Comdrpopnfresh
I got my e7200 to 4ghz stable. Here are my current voltages:

VCore: 1.38750 (in bios, cpu-z reports 1.36V idle)
Dram: 1.89V
HT: 1.36V
NB: 1.46
SB: 1.54

Intel's specs show a max safe Vcore is 1.36, so 1.38 isn't bad. I'm not sure why you boosted your SouthBridge; this shouldn't be necessary, as it has no connection to the CPU or RAM.

I'm just worried that running it at these voltages, with vcore and ht both being so close to 1.4V, might shorten the life of the processor. If my usage for it may extend to 4 or 5 years, is this a problem? Additionally, will running it at such high voltages and frequencies 'train' the transistors to be tolerant to voltages, ie: not let me run stock speeds at the below stock voltage I currently can?

Shortened lifespan is always a risk. 4-5 years might be pushing your luck, but it's hard to say for sure, since most of us dump overclocked systems in <3 years... before we find out.

The "training" you refer to is actually caused by minute damage to the transistors, so yes, the chip's stability at low voltages will eventually suffer. This should also take several years to occur, though.

 

[error8]

First of all, there is no need for 1.46 V on your north bridge, to keep the E7200 at 4 ghz. Find a lower voltage that keeps the cpu stable. I must say, I have no idea what HT voltage is. Maybe that is VTT on your mobo and is not that high anyway.

In my opinion, if the cpu stays bellow 70 C under load with 1.38 V, then it should last some time. How much? Well there isn't a soul on this Planet that can tell you that. It might last 5 years or it might die after 1 year, or even earlier. Time will tell.

I have mine at 1,46 V since June and is still going strong. It never gets over 67 C ( load) and I hope I can have it for one year. If it dies, it dies and I'll be forced to buy another one, but I need it at 4 ghz, not at 2,53 ghz. If it lasts until next spring/summer, then my overclock worth it.

If you want to keep it for 5 years, maybe you should back down the voltage and clocks a bit, although this cpu will be worthless in 2013. Oh and there is no "high voltage training" for your transistors. They will degrade faster with higher then nominal voltages going through them. What does that translate into? Again, nobody can tell you....

 

[nyker96]

just stay 1.4v or lower you should be fine, get some decent cooler and nice case ventilation.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

1.4v for? vcore and/or vtt? I've been trying to stay 1 'notch' below for both. I'm just tempted... because I know there is still room in vcore, ht, and nb voltages, and my motherboard can go to a higher fsb. It looks like I might be able to do 4.1 or 4.2 on the e7200. But then again, isn't it past the 3.6-3.8 range there is no tangible performance increase, except on benchmarks?

My temperatures concern me the most, although they are fine by the standards I've heard from others. But I still think I'll get a good razor, and see if the ihs or hsf are flat. I tend to think the hsf is, but the ihs is concave. So when I'm on break, I'll probably lap, and hopefully be able to loosen thermal constraints. Maybe even keep my current speeds, without as much voltage.

 

[error8]

Uhm...VTT voltage doesn't improve overclocking on your E7200, by much. That voltage works great with quads and E8XXX series, but for E7XXX chips, it hardly helps with overclocking.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

so then whats a good voltage checvking/changing heirarchy to find stability? here's what I've been doing

set fsb, up NB volts until stable- cpu mulit set to 6x, ram unlinked
after max fsb @ certain volts are found, find fsb speed desired (to reach 4ghz for instance) @stable voltage
reduce fsb to stock 1066, set cpu multi to 9.5x, keeping nb volts at what was found above
increment fsb by cpu speed brackets (100-200mhz speed bumps), finding stable vcore along the way

I understand sb is independent of this process, but do I have it right? and where does HT/Vtt come in? (if at all, as alluded to previously)

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I can't take the 65C load temps @ 4ghz... so I'm currently @:
1700MHz FSB
9x cpu multi
1.35 Vcore
1.2 HT/Vtt
1.2 NB
1.5 SB
and running contently with idles ~40 and loads ~ 54 @ 3826MHz

I know it is hard to predict and quantify if my voltages will kill things or reduce longevity, but it these setting better? I feel I hit a very stable fsb setting- I had to give it 1.44V on NB to do 1650! Everything above is @ the lowest voltage my board can run, less the CPU. Idk, but I think some are lower than stock...