How does this 2600K OC look?

[Krynj]

Overclocking is relatively new territory for me, as I've only overclocked one chip before (Q6600).

I'm trying to get as much out of my 2600K as possible. I've got a Noctua NH-D14, and an Antec Lanboy Air.

(screenie taken at 100% load. Temps in low/mid 60s)

Just by tinkering on my own, I managed to reach 4.7GHz with HT enabled. I can do few passes in Cinebench R10, but Prime95 makes it lock up. My Vcore is at 1.385, so I'm not sure how much higher I can go without hurting the CPU. This system will be used primarily for 3D rendering, so 100% load overnight or for days on end will be a common scenario.

Are there any other areas I should add a bit of voltage to to stabilize the OC? Also, in the above picture, it says core voltage is 1.128, but the BIOS says 1.385. Does that mean it's actually only supplying 1.128v, and 1.385v is the max it will draw?

Anybody got any tips? I know I've got sufficient cooling, I'm just a little wet behind the ears with in-depth overclocking. My Q6600 was a snap. Upped the multiplier and barely touched the voltage.

And before I forget, motherboard is a GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD4.

 

[Athadeus]

Your voltage is either drooping a lot while under load, or is at idle state while the multiplier is somehow still up (unlikely). That much droop is probably causing instability, although the processor is getting slightly more than the reading. As for solution, enable/increase the LLC (load line calibration level), or you might have to drop your multiplier a little. That's also assuming your memory settings are all good. You might want to post screenshots of BIOS and the CPU-Z memory tab if you want more help later today.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Ok OP you did do the PLL bios upgrade right?

 

[Beace]

CPU-Z is known for showing wrong core voltage with Sandy Bridge. Google for 1.56.4 (it's not available on the main website) and it should hopefully fix that problem.

Personally I would not be using 1.385 core voltage, I plan on using this CPU for like 3 years, and don't want to risk anything.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

http://hwbot.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15952

there you go

---------------- Now playing: Agnes - On and on (Benny Benassi Remix) via FoxyTunes

 

[Krynj]

Ok OP you did do the PLL bios upgrade right?

I'm not sure. I did one BIOS update that I got from GIGABYTE's website. I wasn't aware of a PLL BIOS upgrade. There are about a dozen links on that site. How do I know which one I need?

I believe my memory settings are incorrect as well.

Memory tab:

SPD:

Thanks for the tips fellas.

 

[Krynj]

I'm hoping most of the problem is Vdrop and CPU-Z just not reading my voltage correctly. I just formatted last night, and forgot to static my IP, so I can't remote in to try out the new CPU-Z. I know I can get this chip stable at 4.7/4.8 with HT enabled and maintain reasonable temps.

Nothing worse than being at work and wanting to frig with your system.

 

[Viper GTS]

You're running 4 DIMMs, have you increased the memory voltage? I need a little over 1.6V to get my 1.5V rated memory stable at its rated timings. Loosening the timings solved the problem as well.

Viper GTS

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Overclocking is relatively new territory for me, as I've only overclocked one chip before (Q6600).

I'm trying to get as much out of my 2600K as possible. I've got a Noctua NH-D14, and an Antec Lanboy Air.

(screenie taken at 100% load. Temps in low/mid 60s)

Just by tinkering on my own, I managed to reach 4.7GHz with HT enabled. I can do few passes in Cinebench R10, but Prime95 makes it lock up. My Vcore is at 1.385, so I'm not sure how much higher I can go without hurting the CPU. This system will be used primarily for 3D rendering, so 100% load overnight or for days on end will be a common scenario.

Are there any other areas I should add a bit of voltage to to stabilize the OC? Also, in the above picture, it says core voltage is 1.128, but the BIOS says 1.385. Does that mean it's actually only supplying 1.128v, and 1.385v is the max it will draw?

Anybody got any tips? I know I've got sufficient cooling, I'm just a little wet behind the ears with in-depth overclocking. My Q6600 was a snap. Upped the multiplier and barely touched the voltage.

And before I forget, motherboard is a GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD4.

The highest F number for your board which doesnt say no pll override. That simple setting is a 700mhz overclock difference

---------------- Now playing: Tiësto Feat. C.C. Sheffield - Escape Me (Avicii Remix) via FoxyTunes

 

[Krynj]

During a period of time where I couldn't even get Windows to boot, I had the RAM set to 1.65. It wasn't booting, but I'm fairly certain it was because I didn't have enough voltage going to the CPU. Since I've been able to boot to Windows I'm at 1.5v on the RAM (I think. Can't check right now.) I can do a couple Cinebench passes, but Prime95 makes it take a dump.

I followed a little guide at Bit-Tech.net (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2011/01/07/how-to-overclock-the-intel-core-i5-2500k/1) that was written for the 2500K, which didn't seem to work very well for my 2600K, which I kind of expected.

 

[Diogenes2]

The highest F number for your board which doesnt say no pll override. That simple setting is a 700mhz overclock difference
http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/

Could you explain what you are saying here ?

 

[Diogenes2]

I'm hoping most of the problem is Vdrop and CPU-Z just not reading my voltage correctly. I just formatted last night, and forgot to static my IP, so I can't remote in to try out the new CPU-Z. I know I can get this chip stable at 4.7/4.8 with HT enabled and maintain reasonable temps.

Nothing worse than being at work and wanting to frig with your system.

I know school is still out on safe vcore for SB, but Intel publishing a vid spec of 1.5, makes me believe this is a better batch of silicon than what most people want to believe ...

I have the Asus P8P67 Pro, so I don't know if you have the same BIOS options, but for vcore I use a + offset of .35 and Load-Line Calibration set to high ..

When I was running P95 for 8+ hours vcore in CPU-Z showed around 1.44..

I have been Folding@Home 24/7 for the last week and Vcore shows 1.41..
Temps stay below 70 with ambient of 22..

As far as 1.4 being safe - I guess I'll find out in the days to come..

 

[Krynj]

Could you explain what you are saying here ?

I believe he's referring to this thread:
http://hwbot.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15952

And downloading the latest BIOS for my board (re: top of the list), that doesn't have (no PLL override) appended to the end of it.

At least that's my understanding.

 

[Krynj]

Oh the joys of having a girlfriend that knows how to set a static IP. Finally able to remote in and grab the new CPU-Z.

I'll have to check the BIOS and see what my RAM voltage is. I haven't touched any other voltages, so I'd like to see if I can increase voltage elsewhere to stabilize, rather than add more to the CPU.

 

[Beace]

I know school is still out on safe vcore for SB, but Intel publishing a vid spec of 1.5, makes me believe this is a better batch of silicon than what most people want to believe ...

I have the Asus P8P67 Pro, so I don't know if you have the same BIOS options, but for vcore I use a + offset of .35 and Load-Line Calibration set to high ..

When I was running P95 for 8+ hours vcore in CPU-Z showed around 1.44..

I have been Folding@Home 24/7 for the last week and Vcore shows 1.41..
Temps stay below 70 with ambient of 22..

As far as 1.4 being safe - I guess I'll find out in the days to come..

Got a question about this. It's my understanding, offset means Auto +/- whatever your offset is.

With your numbers, that'd mean Auto gives a ~1.1V, and then the +0.35 offset you have adjusts up to the 1.4-1.45V you mention. But, why would Auto voltage only be 1.1V on a 4.9 GHz overclock? Doesn't seem to add up to me. With an offset of +0.35 I'd have expected like 1.7-1.8V on 4.9 GHz, unless it automatically reduces the voltage on its own for safety reasons.

 

[Diogenes2]

My default at idle is about 1.1, the offset method appears to limit the amount over voltage - to .35 in my case.. I just adjusted till I got a stable OC ..
When I left CPU volts on auto, it would ramp up to 1.5 and beyond..

 

[Diogenes2]

......................

I'll have to check the BIOS and see what my RAM voltage is. I haven't touched any other voltages, so I'd like to see if I can increase voltage elsewhere to stabilize, rather than add more to the CPU.

All my other voltages are essentially at default or left on auto ..

Having your CPU volts at 1.38 at idle, seems to be a waste. It should idle much lower than that ..

But of course you should do what works best for you ..

 

[Krynj]

Well, now this is interesting. In BIOS I'm set to 1.4 flat. I figured I'd go higher in the BIOS to account for Vdrop.

I use Core Temp to monitor my temps, and while idling, Core Temp shows the VID jumping around the 1.2xx neighborhood. But CPU-Z reports 1.404v and it doesn't budge. Under load they both read somewhat the same.

Idle:

Load:

I don't think CPU-Z is giving it to me straight here. As I type this, my temps are in the low 30s. Although I'm not under load, wouldn't 1.404 be generating a little more heat? Or is it just reading my BIOS setting, and the VID is what the actual draw actually is?

Edit: Guess the fluctuating VID is just GIGABYTE's version of Speedstep adjusting my voltage.

Also want to mention that I'm using one of the BIOSes from this thread, which seems to be helping IMO.
http://hwbot.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15952

 

[MrTransistorm]

I don't think CPU-Z is giving it to me straight here. As I type this, my temps are in the low 30s. Although I'm not under load, wouldn't 1.404 be generating a little more heat? Or is it just reading my BIOS setting, and the VID is what the actual draw actually is?

Edit: Guess the fluctuating VID is just GIGABYTE's version of Speedstep adjusting my voltage.

CPU-Z is showing the correct, current Vcore. 1.404V won't generate much heat at idle because your multiplier is at x16.

When it drops under load, that's vdroop. Judging by the amount of droop, LLC may not be on. Do you have LLC enabled in BIOS? Unfortunately the UD4 and lower boards only have one level of LLC, and I've read somewhere that it's not working properly on those boards (I don't know if it's been fixed yet).

The VID (that Core Temp is showing) is what the CPU reports to the motherboard at any given frequency. Since you set your Vcore manually in BIOS, this has no effect. If you had set your Vcore to auto or normal (with appropriate DVID offset), your Vcore would follow the VID as it changes.

Regardless, 1.368V under load @4.8GHz is not too shabby. Since it appears that you have power-saving features enabled (EIST, etc.), you might try setting your Vcore to normal and apply an offset DVID setting. With a little experimentation you can find an offset that will give you the same load voltage, and it will drop to 1V or less at idle. If you can get it to be stable using DVID, it will run nice and cool at idle. This is how I have mine set up.

 

[Krynj]

I believe I have LLC on. I'll take a look later on tonight.

Maybe I should try setting my Vcore to auto within the BIOS? And I'm not sure what you mean by DVID offset. I don't recall seeing any settings for that in the BIOS.

I still can't get it 100% stable at 4.8GHz though. I can do casual computing, and even one or two passes in Cinebench, but it locks up when it sits at 100% for a minute or so.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[MrTransistorm]

I believe I have LLC on. I'll take a look later on tonight.

Maybe I should try setting my Vcore to auto within the BIOS? And I'm not sure what you mean by DVID offset. I don't recall seeing any settings for that in the BIOS.

Dynamic Vcore (DVID) is directly under the CPU Vcore setting in BIOS. To activate it, you set CPU Vcore to "Normal." The DVID setting is just an offset adjustment to the auto Vcore. You'll have to experiment with it a bit to achieve the same load voltage you had with a fixed Vcore.

I needed a DVID offset of +0.085V to achieve 1.404V under load @4.8GHz with LLC Level 1. It was running a little hot, so I backed down to 4.7GHz 1.392V under load w/DVID set to +0.070V. This is where I will stay 24/7 until I can afford watercooling.

For yours, since your VID and load Vcore are close to each other, you can probably use a lower DVID offset. Probably around +0.040V.

I still can't get it 100% stable at 4.8GHz though. I can do casual computing, and even one or two passes in Cinebench, but it locks up when it sits at 100% for a minute or so.

Thanks for the tip.

Ah, I was under the impression that you had it fully stable. In that case, work on getting it stable with a fixed Vcore first before playing around with DVID offsets. When you say it locks up, do you mean that the screen freezes or is it a BSOD? If it's a BSOD with a 101 code, you need more Vcore. If it's 124, you need either more Vcore or more QPI/VTT voltage.

What are you using for stability testing? I recommend Prime95 set to Blend. If it's not stable, it'll usually fail within a couple of minutes.

My VID @4.8GHz is 1.388V, while yours is 1.3661. You should be able to achieve stability @4.8GHz with slightly less Vcore than I did. Granted I'm getting my VID from Real Temp instead of Core Temp, but they should both report the same number since the mapping of VID code to voltage is well-defined in Intel specs.

 

[Krynj]

Ok. So, stable at 4.5. Going to try for 4.6, also noticed that my BIOS has flashed itself back to the factory BIOS. Going to use one of the OC BIOS that was linked earlier in this thread and give that a shot.

I set my Vcore to auto, and gave my DVID a +0.070v.

MrTransistorm, what are your temps under 100% load? And why are my temperatures per core varying so much?

Load:

Idle:

 

[Accord99]

And why are my temperatures per core varying so much?

It's normal for Sandy Bridge, I assume it's because core #0 has the unused and cool graphics component on one side, while cores #1 and #2 are neighbored on both sides by hot CPU cores.

 

[Beace]

Those temps looks fairly high to me, considering you got a high end air cooler. I get 60-65C under load, and ~32C when idle. That's with 4.6 GHz, 1.29Vcore (manual) and a Cooler Master Hyper 212 (which is a budget cooler for a third of the cost of a Noctua). Though with that said, I don't think 75C is anything to worry about really, just a bit peculiar.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

I believe he's referring to this thread:
http://hwbot.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15952

And downloading the latest BIOS for my board (re: top of the list), that doesn't have (no PLL override) appended to the end of it.

At least that's my understanding.

Then get the earlier version for it who doesnt have the string attached to it lol