[HELP] Phenom II X4 B55 Overclock

[jacosajh]

Okay, so I just successfully unlocked a Phenom II X4 B55 and started overclocking it. I'm pretty new to AMDs in general and even more, overclocking. I've been lurking a lot and reading as much as I can but I'm still really confused on a lot of terminologies (since they differ so much on various boards and such). I was hoping you guys could help me.

Currently, I have it running at 3.6ghz just by upping the multiplier. But I've read that some people are leaving the multiplier lower, but upping the FSB. I know upping the FSB also ups the RAM and everything else communicating with the CPU (right?), but I'm still kinda confused and would like this CPU tuned to near perfection since it's a present for my dad in another state, and would not have access to it if anything goes wrong in the future.

Current hardware:
CPU: Phenom II X2 (unlocked to B55)
Cooler: Cooler Master 212+
Mobo: MSI 870-G45
VGA: HIS HD5770
PSU: OCZ ModXStream 600W
HDD: 1TB Hitachi 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
RAM: 4GB G.Skill Ripjaws 1333mhz
Case: Rosewill Destroyer
Extra: PCI Wireless G Card

Soon to be Additional hardware:
AverMedia HD DVR
Asus DVDRW
Additional 4GB G.Skill Ripjaws 1333mhz

I ran prime95 for 8 hours and it was stable using the settings in the attached pictures. I would like to know if there is anything else I can tweak to make this better (i.e. some have used 240 FSB and 13 Multiplier for less heat?).

I would like to OC this to 4.0Ghz if possible!

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[richierich1212]

Well it has unlocked multiplier, just raise that for now. 3.9GHz should be attainable at that same voltage (small text, is it 1.4vcore?). Anyways I'm sure 3.8GHz should be plenty for your dad and since he lives in another state you'll want it 100% stable. Next you should raise the NB multiplier. 2600 to 2800MHz is perfect.

 

[superccs]

Try and find the max speed of each item individually at stock voltage:
CPU, ram, NB...

DO this by down clocking everything else and just pushing each item.

Once you find the upper limits of each item clock them all up and checks its stability.

 

[BD231]

Well it has unlocked multiplier, just raise that for now. 3.9GHz should be attainable at that same voltage (small text, is it 1.4vcore?). Anyways I'm sure 3.8GHz should be plenty for your dad and since he lives in another state you'll want it 100% stable. Next you should raise the NB multiplier. 2600 to 2800MHz is perfect.

Yeah don't push past 3700 to 3800 mhz. If you want to be even more safe I'd just keep the FSB/mem controller at stock and only OC the CPU. WAY Less chance of errors and I'm sure your dad would appreciate that far more than the extra speed he gets.

 

[fffblackmage]

It's not worth overclocking it if you're giving this to someone else. Too much risk of things going wrong and you won't be there to fix it if something does happen.

But to answer whether you should raise the base clock or just increase the multiplier, there's not much difference. It's just two methods of reaching the same goal.

 

[soccerballtux]

If you want to be even more safe I'd just keep the FSB/mem controller at stock and only OC the CPU. WAY Less chance of errors

lol never heard that one before care to back up your logic?

 

[jacosajh]

Some people have warned me about using an MSI board to overclock with. They said something about VRMs not having the same quality, and that it could catch fire. They even said that it can do that at stock, if I unlock 4 cores since they can't handle 125W? Or something like that?

Is this true? I'm really worried since I leave my computers on 24/7 (I will do that with this one until I give it to my dad) and would not want this to do catch fire while I'm away from home.

What about if I just leave it at stock speed with 4 cores? Will that be fine?

 

[jihe]

your dad's not going to notice the difference between 3.6 and 4g.

 

[SickBeast]

lol never heard that one before care to back up your logic?

I had to reinstall Windows because I had the HT too high. He's right.

That said, you do get a very nice boost by overclocking the CPU-NB. I have mine at 2400mhz along with the HT link. I had to do some minor overvolting on the chipset to get it stable, and I had to run my CPU-NB voltage just slightly lower than my CPU voltage.

 

[Sunny129]

I had to reinstall Windows because I had the HT too high. He's right.

That said, you do get a very nice boost by overclocking the CPU-NB. I have mine at 2400mhz along with the HT link. I had to do some minor overvolting on the chipset to get it stable, and I had to run my CPU-NB voltage just slightly lower than my CPU voltage.

speaking of the CPU-NB voltage, what is a safe upper limit? i mean most folks know the risk involved in pushing Vcore above ~1.5v, and know the risk involved in pushing Vmem past 1.65v (for DDR3 anyways). but i never hear anything about the voltage limits of other overclockable components, such as the CPU-NB, SB, and HT link. i know its a slightly OT question, but i think the info could be quite useful to the OP and others as well...

TIA,
Eric

 

[jacosajh]

Any thoughts about the unlocked cores / overclocking on an MSI board?