FX-55 Overclocking Results

[WillBurt]

Here's the setup:
DFI Lanparty NF4LI-DR
2x1Gig Cosair XMS
AMD Athlon 64 FX55 San Diego 1GHz FSB Socket 939 (2.6GHz out of the box)
WD Raptor 74gig 2nd Gen.
XFX 6600GT (this is not a gaming rig)
Antec RaidMax Case
ASUS X-Mars Heat Pipes CPU Light Cooler for Socket 754/939/940 - OEM (this thing rocks!!!!!)


The results:
S&M was used to test the processor. Default VCore for this CPU and Mobo setup was 1.44V. It remained stable at 1.44V until about 2.77Ghz which is damn good. That's an automatic 177MHz FREE without having to much at all. I was very impressed, that's so close to being a FX-57. I upped the VCore of the CPU to 1.47V and proceded on my overclocking. At 2.81GHz it's started to hiccup some and temps were starting to climb (115-120 degreees F. at load). I then set the VCore up again one last time. My end results were 2.83Ghz at 1.52V and very very stable. Now my questions, do I risk upping the voltage a tad more to try and squeeze more out of it? Or should I be satisfied with my 230MHz gain? Anyone?

 

[the cobbler]

230mhz is not by any means a huge overclock, but that's a great start. And 1.52v isn't much for voltage if you're shooting for max stable. Personally I have my reservations regarding S&M vs. Prime or OCCT as a long-term stability tester. But that's just me...and in the end I find that Prime-stable doesn't necessarily mean video stable, so extended gaming has been my final stability test after 24 hours Prime. Just a suggestion.

Your temps are nearing the danger point for 24/7 operation, though, with the stock cooler. You should pick up a Thermaltake BigTyphoon or Scythe Ninja or similarly effective aircooler, and use some Arctic Silver 5. This will drop your temps probably 10-15C at idle and load and allow you to push your CPU furthur. You shouldn't have any problem running in the 1.55v-1.6v range for 24/7 operation with good temps, which will allow you go much higher with the CPU. People will warn you not to feed these cores 1.6v, but realistically if you have any intention of replacing your CPU in the next 2-3 years, you should be fine.

 

[WillBurt]

I'm using Artic and Asus X-Mars.. yea I'm kind of scared to reach that 1.6v range b/c this processor is so damn expensive... thanks for the advice

 

[StrangerGuy]

Since the gain is small with the voltage increase, I recommend sticking to 2.77GHz at stock voltage.

Although I must say that the overclock isn't really impressive.

 

[WillBurt]

It could be higher.. trust me. But I'm anal on temperature. These things run pretty hot out-of-the-box. Now, if this was liquid cooled 3Ghz wouldn't be a problem I would assume.

 

[the cobbler]

Originally posted by: WillBurt
It could be higher.. trust me. But I'm anal on temperature. These things run pretty hot out-of-the-box. Now, if this was liquid cooled 3Ghz wouldn't be a problem I would assume.

actually, I was aware you are using the X-Mars. Just fwiw, it must not rock that much, because my $50 TT BigTyphoon has never broken 46C under load, and that was at 1.678v running Prime for 24hours. Right now my idle/load temps are ~23idle/41load @ 1.534v and 2.7ghz.. Which is why I suggested scrapping that thing for something (much) more effective, and much quieter to boot. I haven't seen any tests or reviews that put the X-Mars anywhere near the top of the heap. as a matter of fact, a couple reviews suggest that it is only marginally more effective than the A64 stock cooler. Just a thought.

as far as the FX-55 running hot out of the box, that's not really true. It runs just as cool as any other .09u process A64, like my Venice. You might be thinking of X2 cpus, who do of course run hotter than single-cores.

my guess honestly is that you probably won't reach 3.0ghz even under water, because your CPU doesn't appear to scale very well: extra .1v almost just to get another 50mhz= you are very near the upper limits. Mine scales really well up to 1.6v and 2800mhz, then hits the wall and another 30mhz requires ~.75v. serious law of diminishing returns at those upper reaches of speed, lol.

 

[Vegitto]

Why'd you get an FX if you aren't using the unlocked multi? If you want 2.8 GHz, just up the multi to 14.