How hot is too hot at 5GHz?

[sandygws]

I'm running a 3960x on an Asus Rampage IV Extreme with the voltage set to 1.50. System seems stable at 5.05GHz.

Cooling is via a Corsair H100, but the idle temps are 45-55 across the six cores.

Running Prime95 or OCCT sends the temps soaring to 90+

These figures seem very high .. what temps should I expect with this setup?

I'm using the stock fans with the H100, plus the fans in the Obsidian 800D.

 

[Diogenes2]

Sounds about right for those settings and cooling set up ..

Unless you are running 100% 24/7 should be OK unless the 1.5v kills your CPU..

Do you have the Intel Performance Tuning Protection plan ?

 

[sandygws]

Thanks - that's good to hear

The PC is idle 95% of the time, with the cores sitting at 46 - 53 so I'm happy to let it stay on 1.5. Tried 1.40, 1.45 and 1.475, but saw the occasional BSOD.

At least with a feed of 1.5, it -seems- to be rock solid.

 

[Diogenes2]

Are you using ' offset ' voltage method, or do you have it manually set to 1.5 ?

 

[sandygws]

I manually set the voltage to 1.5v.

 

[Jman13]

How long do you keep your chips? I would think that 1.5V through the chip 24/7 (even when not at load) is going to cause some pretty rapid degradation. If you replace chips every 6 months or so, it won't be an issue, but if you're going to use this for 2 years, I would be amazed if it'll stay stable at that voltage for that long. Using offset voltage, at least, you can get it so that it'll idle at much, much lower voltage.

Of course, I'm rather cautious with my OCing, and I basically refuse to do manual voltage setting since I've experienced some sort of degradation on most of my overclocked CPUs at some point (usually just need to drop the speed a bit after a while), but I am pretty sure I won't need to do that with my current chip since it spends 90% of its life running at 1.6GHz and 0.9V.

 

[Smoblikat]

Those temps seem fine.............but you realize you are KILLING an 1100$ peice of equipment? Drop it down to 4.9 and see how much voltage it takes for that, it might be 1.4 or 1.45. The extra 100mhz wont help you, but the lower volts from going down to 4.9 will, especially since its an 1100$ chip.

 

[Smoblikat]

How long do you keep your chips? I would think that 1.5V through the chip 24/7 (even when not at load) is going to cause some pretty rapid degradation. If you replace chips every 6 months or so, it won't be an issue, but if you're going to use this for 2 years, I would be amazed if it'll stay stable at that voltage for that long. Using offset voltage, at least, you can get it so that it'll idle at much, much lower voltage.

Of course, I'm rather cautious with my OCing, and I basically refuse to do manual voltage setting since I've experienced some sort of degradation on most of my overclocked CPUs at some point (usually just need to drop the speed a bit after a while), but I am pretty sure I won't need to do that with my current chip since it spends 90% of its life running at 1.6GHz and 0.9V.

This, use offset. The only reason i dont use offset is because my voltage cant get low enough without using fixed .

 

[sandygws]

I'm not really bothered about how long the chip lasts; 3-6 months is fine.

I did speak too soon though:

"A clock interrupt was not received on a secondary processor within the allocated time interval"

Is it likely that insufficient voltage is leading to that BSOD?

 

[Topweasel]

Make sure you buy that Intel overclockers protection if your plan is to continue to throw that much power at it.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Why do you need 5ghz? It is more of an ego thing. Just keep at 4.5ghz, 1.3v or so will do it and keep you under 70c load and last a long time with good resale value. You won't even be able to tell difference except with benchmarks

 

[Subyman]

Good lord, I would crap my pants if my CPU ran at 90C daily.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

SB-E is a massive, hot chip. 90c is within spec, but still very warm. I'd look at maybe some better fans for the H100. Scythe gt ap-15 for example.

In my opinion an overclocked SB-E @5gz needs a custom loop with a 3x120mm rad at least

 

[SHAQ]

I think 1.5v is well within the voltage migration range. When you run CPU's above the VID range it can happen, but they should still run at the stock settings once it sets in. At 1.55v+ the CPU can die at any time without warning. I think the voltage would be more of a problem than the 90C temps.

 

[soccerballtux]

can anyone link to the spec sheet saying it's in spec? Because IMO it's most definitely not. Definitely not for 1.5v.

 

[Topweasel]

can anyone link to the spec sheet saying it's in spec? Because IMO it's most definitely not. Definitely not for 1.5v.

Not in the specs, but it is controlled through Throttling. The 3930k throttles at 89 degrees. The 3960 at like 96. So its within hard set allowances, don't know if I would consider it "spec".

 

[sandygws]

After some bios tinkering yesterday, I've left the OC at 4.7GHz on 1.4v. OCCT ran for an hour just fine and the load temps maxed out at 60. Prime95 ran overnight and reported no errors. Strangely enough, it appears that using the 'XMP' memory profile in the bios is the main cause of instability. Even though I bought two identical 4x4GB Corsair sets to make the 32GB, I guess there could be an issue there.

Best of all the idle temps are now at a healthy 28-33 degrees!

 

[SickBeast]

As nice as 5ghz is, it takes too much voltage to get there. 1.5v is too much, and 90C is way too hot.

I find my chip tanks if I try to clock it higher than 4.8ghz. It just needs too much voltage.