E8400 Overclock

[BrownMofo]

I just received my new system today and I've been reading a lot of about overclocking. After I spent basically all day reading random threads on AT and on a few other forums I decided to give it a try. Before I begin these are my specs

Intel E8400 (@ 3.401MHz atm - 9x378)
Dell 0PP150 nForce 650i SLi Mobo
4GB DDR2 800Mhz Dual Channel

I've been running Core Temp 0.97.1, Real Temp 2.41, CPU-Z 1.44.2 and my Task Manager to watch my CPU and and temperatures. As far as my idle temps go Core Temp tells me 48°C and Real Temp tells me 38°C. I'm noticed that Core Temp sometimes sits at high as 70°C while I'm running Prime95 to stress test my CPU. Usually there is a steady 65°C but it does tend to go up. What confuses me now is that Real Temp tells me my cores go no higher then 60°C while they sit at around 55~57°C. Basically Real Temp is always around 10°C below - which is accurate?!. According to CPU-Z the core Voltage is currently at 1.392V and I haven't changed any voltage so it should be at stock.

The thing that is worrying me is that I feel this is way too hot for just a 3401MHz overclock. Tomorrow I will take the time to take pictures and upload them for you guys to see but it's currently 6:30am and I've been up all night messing around with this so I'm fairly tired. All I'm basically trying to do is get the most out of my current system.

The reason I have a dell motherboard in case anyone is wondering is because I am using an XPS system which I decided to buy because of the customer support and warranty. If there is any information I forgot to mention I'm very sorry I'm nearly falling asleep.

 

[Mango1970]

I don't pretend to know much about the new 8400's but is your Vcore set to auto? I mean 1.392V is HUGE voltage (well for me anyways). My Q6600 G0 is running now at 3.2Ghz and my Vcore is set at 1.2875 in bios and in CPU-Z with Vdrop etc., is 1.272 -- I set he Vcore and all other voltages manually. On my Asus P5K-E Wifi if I leave my voltages to AUTO and I overclock it freaking sets all my volts at way higher than I actually require. It might be a good starting point... leave on auto... read all the temps and start dropping Vcore and test test test till you get your lowest amount of Vcore that will keep your system stable at the OC you want. Then play with the other V's.

In regards to Real Temp and CoreTemp, I use CoreTemp for the simple fact I have always used it and I need something to compare my previous temps on my current system. There was a writeup as to how Real temp might actually be a more accurate reading but no idea as of yet if the consensus on the new 45nm chips are reading correctly yet.

 

[BrownMofo]

I lowered my vcore and according to CPU-Z they are currently at 1.280 - I noticed my temperatures were lowered by almost 10°C!

 

[tacoturtle]

I thought I should post my experience with the e8400 and a 650i:

My PRE 3.8 oc set up was:

ViewSonic VG2030WM 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD 300 cd/m2 800:1 1680 x 1050

XION Onyx XON-301 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower - cut out the black backing on the front panels to let air flow come through

ABS Tagan BZ Series BZ800 ATX12V / EPS12V 800W Modular w/LED +3.3V@26A,+5V@26A,+12V@64A(6 Rails),-12V@0.8A,+5VSB@3.0A

ASUS P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI 1333/1066MHz (FSB: 1606mhZ x9 1.2125Vcor 2.013Mem 1.5NB, Def SB)

E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W 45nm (3.61Ghz idle 31/36 load 44/48)

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler 2500RPM/45CFM

Fans:

5x120mm fans, 3x80mm on External PSU

Thermaltake Extreme Spirit II North Bridge Chip Set Cooler - 4500rmp, 3.47 CFM, 19dBA, 3pin LED

Cooler Master Blue Ice South Bridge Chip Set Cooler - 5000rmp, 4.5 CFM, 26dBA, 3pin LED

2gig - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800Mhz 5-4-4-12 2T 1.9v(2.013v @803Mhz)

1x - EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit 500MHZ/1600MHZ 96 Stream Processors 2560x1600 (OC:600MHZ/1000MHZ) 46c Idle 55-65c Load

Sound Blaster Audigy 4 [A800] Sound Card

Linksys LNE100TX(v5) Nic Card

Memorex DVD Reader

Western Digital External USB 250gig Hard Drive

Logitech G5 Lazer Mouse

N52 Nostromo Key Pad

Generic Keyboard

3dmark6 - 11692 after oc@3.8=12290

1.
1.2125Vcore
2.013 mem
1.393 NB
Linked and Synced
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
5-5-5-12-2T
= NO BOOT

2.
1.218Vcore
2.013 mem
1.393 NB
Linked and Synced
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
5-5-5-12-2T
= NO BOOT

3.
1.218Vcore
2.013 mem
1.393 NB
Linked and Synced
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
5-5-5-12-2T
= NO BOOT

4.
1.218Vcore
2.013 mem
1.563 NB
Linked and Synced
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
5-5-5-12-2T
= NO BOOT

5.
1.225Vcore
2.013 mem
1.563 NB
Linked and Synced
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
5-5-5-12-2T
= NO BOOT

6.
1.218Vcore
2.013 mem
1.563 NB
UNLinked
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
Mem Timings AUTO
= NO BOOT

7.
1.33 Vcore
2.35 mem
1.563 NB
Linked 1:1
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
Mem Settings AUTO AND 5-5-5-15-2T
= NO BOOT

8.
1.36 Vcore
2.35 mem
1.563 NB
Linked and Synced
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
Mem Settings AUTO AND 5-5-5-15-2T
= NO BOOT

9.
1.4 Vcore
2.35 mem
1.563 NB
Linked/Synced
FSB 1650 - mem at 825MHZ
Mem Settings AUTO AND 5-5-5-18-2T
= NO BOOT

From here out I tried setting timings to 5-5-5-18-2T trc from 22-24 with noboots.
I also tried a config I saw that a guy had for 4.0 on the same board and cpu:

10.
1.36vcore
Mem Voltage Auto
1.563v nb
vocre offset +100mv
unlinked, fsb 1650
pci-frequency 101 then put back to 100
= NO BOOT

I tried variations on the above with timings from 5-5-5-15-2T to 5-5-5-18-2T
I think I also tried the trc at 28 once. Im not trying for 4.0 at the moment, but rather to figure out why it wont go past 3.6. I think cooling is not the issue, I have plenty of cooling. I havent tried to lower the memory yet, I'll try that to see what happens.


11.
Unlinked
fsb 1650
mem 667-770
mem 5-5-5-18 2T trc 24
1.3v vcore
2.25v mem
1.56v nb
= NO BOOT

12.
Link
1:1
fsb 1650
mem to AUTO
left trc 24
=NO BOOT

13.
Same as above except
5:4 ratio
=NO BOOT

14.
Same as above except
3:2 ratio
=NO BOOT

15.
Same as above except
Linke and AUTO
= NO BOOT

16.
mem auto
unlinked
1650 fsb
mem 825
=NO BOOT

17.
Same volts as above
Linked and Synced
fsb 1625
mem settings:AUTO
=BOOOTTTSS!

cpuz yields:
3656.8 core
406.3 bus
1625.2 rated fsb
mem:
406mhz
1:1
5-5-5-31 trc 22 2T

18.
Linked and Synced
1635 fsb
817.5 mem reported
mem set to auto timings
= BOOTS, but freezes at windows screen
- hitting reset didnt work at this point. Had to hold power button for 6 seconds

19.
Linked and Synced
1630 fsb - Actual reported 1629.6 in bios ?????
814.8 mem reported
mem set to AUTO timings
= BOOTS, but freezes at windows screen

20.
Linked and Synced
1629 fst
814.8 mem reported
mem set to AUTO timings
= BOOTS, locked up shortly after running cpuz

I then tried some 6-6-6 timings, and set 5-5-5-31-2T and hangs at windows boot up.

I noticed I cant set the trc past 31 in my bios, is this whats holding back the ram to 1629? Ok, enough overclocking. Off to cod4 land to vent.


21.
FSB 1750
Linked And Sync
1.36vcore
2.25v mem
1.56v nb
memory auto timings
=Booted and in windows
CPUZ:
3937.9 cpu
437.6 bus
1750.2 rate bus
Mem Timings:
5-5-5-31 2T Trc 24
Cpu Idle: 33c
core 1 idle: 44c
core 2 idle: 36 c

22.
FSB 1700
Linked And Sync
1.36vcore
2.25v mem
1.56v nb
memory auto timings
=Booted and in windows
CPUZ:
3825.8 cpu
425 bus
1700 rate bus
Mem Timings:
5-5-5-31 2T Trc 23
Cpu Idle: 33c
core 1 idle: 41c
core 2 idle: 36 c
OCCT:
Cpu Load: 37
core 1 load: 56
core 2 load: 50

23.
FSB 1700
Linked And Sync
1.36vcore
2.17v mem
1.56v nb
memory auto timings
=Booted and in windows
CPUZ:
3825.8 cpu
425 bus
1700 rate bus
Mem Timings:
5-5-5-31 2T Trc 23
Cpu Idle: 33c
core 1 idle: 39c
core 2 idle: 34c
OCCT: (25 minutes then i stopped it)
Cpu Load: 39
core 1 load: 58
core 2 load: 50

24.
FSB 1700
Linked And Sync
1.25vcore
2.17v mem
1.56v nb
memory auto timings
=Booted and in windows
CPUZ:
3825.8 cpu
425 bus
1700 rate bus
Mem Timings:
5-5-5-31 2T Trc 23
Cpu Idle: 30c
core 1 idle: 37c
core 2 idle: 32 c
OCCT: (10 minutes then i stopped it)
Cpu Load: 37
core 1 load: 54
core 2 load: 48

25.
FSB 1700
Linked And Sync
1.225vcore
2.17v mem
1.56v nb
memory auto timings
=Booted and in windows
CPUZ:
3825.8 cpu
425 bus
1700 rate bus
Mem Timings:
5-5-5-31 2T Trc 23
Cpu Idle: 31c
core 1 idle: 36c
core 2 idle: 31 c
OCCT:
=Dies after 10 seconds
code 1 and code 4

26.
FSB 1700
Linked And Sync
1.23125vcore
2.085v mem
1.56v nb
memory auto timings
=Booted and in windows
CPUZ:
3825.8 cpu
425 bus
1700 rate bus
Mem Timings:
5-5-5-31 2T Trc 23
Cpu Idle: 31c
core 1 idle: 36c
core 2 idle: 32c
OCCT:
msg said CRASHED

27.
FSB 1700
Linked And Synwc
1.2375vcore
2.08v mem
1.56v nb
memory auto timings
=Booted and in windows
CPUZ:
3825.8 cpu
425 bus
1700 rate bus
Mem Timings:
5-5-5-31 2T Trc 23
Cpu Idle: 31c
core 1 idle: 37c
core 2 idle: 33c
OCCT:
Cpu Load: 32
core 1 load: 48
core 2 load: 43
= CODE 4 msg and it stopped

28.
FSB 1700
Linked And Sync
1.24375vcore
2.08v mem
1.56v nb
memory auto timings
=Booted and in windows
CPUZ:
3825.8 cpu
425 bus
1700 rate bus
Mem Timings:
5-5-5-31 2T Trc 23
Cpu Idle: 30c
core 1 idle: 37c
core 2 idle: 32c
OCCT: (3 minutes then I stopped it)
Cpu Load: 35
core 1 load: 52
core 2 load: 48
= OK

This was the process I used. If I had just went to 1700fsb in the first place, it would have saved me about a months worth of reading and trouble shooting.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

make sure the bios is up to date