Is 1.52v really safe for Sandy Bridge?

[SickBeast]

I'm reading conflicting information. Some people are saying that 1.35v is the max safe voltage for Sandy Bridge CPUs and others are quoting Intel directly saying that the chips can take 1.52v.

My 2500k will do 4.8ghz at 1.45v and I can probably hit 5ghz at 1.5v. I'm wondering if I should drop it back to 4.6ghz at 1.35v just in case. I have excellent cooling and I'm hitting 65C under full load at 4.8ghz.

 

[Joseph F]

Not for long-term stability.
Under water, it'll last longer, but I wouldn't pump 1.52V through it on air.

 

[SickBeast]

Yeah I'm dialing it back a bit. Thanks for the reply.

 

[tweakboy]

That voltage is way too high. Even under water 1.52v. You are stable ? 1.52 should give you 5000Mhz ,,,, but watch the temps....

 

[Kenmitch]

Yeah I'm dialing it back a bit. Thanks for the reply.

I'm kinda a little paranoid also.

My 2550k wil do 5ghz @1.43v's but dropped her down to a conservative 4.8ghz @1.38v's to be safe....Figure I can up it later if needed anyways.

I'm comfortable up to 1.40v's for 24/7

Kinda makes a person wonder how the 1.35v's is percieved as safe but adding a measly .05v's is in the danger zone.

Kinda wish sites would overclock and use 1.5v's or so to see how long the chip can hang! As in days,weeks,years of use.

 

[Puppies04]

There just isn't the information avaliable in the public domain to make a call on "max safe" SB voltage. There are people on this forum running 1.4-1.5v through their chips 24/7 but that doesn't mean it is safe.

At the end of the day it has to come down to personal choice, I am happy running up to 1.4v through mine but if I brick it I will replace it. If you feel you don't want to take that risk (and any type of overvolting past stock carries a risk) then leave it at stock. Anyone telling you anything other than stock is safe needs to show you concrete data to back up their claims and as I said nobody you will speak to will have that sort of data.

 

[Kenmitch]

Yeah I'm dialing it back a bit. Thanks for the reply.

Hmm....Another option would be to go for the insurance plan I guess.

The Performance Tuning Protection Plan being offered by Intel is a chance for you to experiment with the overclocking features of your processor without the worries of what will happen if you push the procesor too far. The Plan allows you a single processor replacement, hassle-free, from our customer support. This is in addtion to your standard 3 year warranty. In other words, if it fails under normal usage, we will replace it under the standard warranty; if it fails while running outside of Intel's specifications, we will replace it under the Performance Tuning Protection Plan.

http://click.intel.com/tuningplan/

Just figured I'd post it for those whom may not have seen it or remember it's even an option.

 

[SickBeast]

I'm not the original owner of the cpu so I don't think I even have a warranty.

 

[Joseph F]

You can still get a tuning plan from Intel. You don't need a receipt or proof of purchase to get one.
(I think)

 

[SickBeast]

I'll think about it. If I did that I would probably try for 5ghz.

 

[tweakboy]

Guys if you dont have proper cooling PLEASE! Dont raise your voltage more then 1.35 and watch the temps.

These CPUs can go up to 100c I believe then shut down comp or bsod shutdown.

Running your CPU @ 80c load ,,, it will work but for how long ? if you upgrade once every 2 years your set then..

 

[tweakboy]

Your not telling us your temps with 1.35v and with 1.52v on full load.

Im guessing your 1.35v is 60's 70's max full load. If you change to 1.52 and run stability test again ,, it will give you a bsod or shutdown the comp. You probably hit 90c .... hmm

 

[fstime]

1.35V and ~75C seems like the max sweet spot for daily use.

I would just dial back to 4.5 ghz and run somewhere around 1.28V (maybe lower depending on your CPU).

You will never notice a difference.

 

[SickBeast]

Your not telling us your temps with 1.35v and with 1.52v on full load.

Im guessing your 1.35v is 60's 70's max full load. If you change to 1.52 and run stability test again ,, it will give you a bsod or shutdown the comp. You probably hit 90c .... hmm

At 5ghz at 1.5v I hit 71C.

At 4.8ghz at 1.45v I hit 65C.

At 4.6ghz at 1.4v I hit 60C.

 

[fstime]

What are you using to monitor your temps?

And what kind of cooling?

 

[soccerballtux]

At 5ghz at 1.5v I hit 71C.

At 4.8ghz at 1.45v I hit 65C.

At 4.6ghz at 1.4v I hit 60C.

1.4v is much much better than 1.5v...

 

[SickBeast]

What are you using to monitor your temps?

And what kind of cooling?

Open Hardware Monitor, and I have a Nzxt Havik 140 heatsink. It's a beast.

 

[SickBeast]

I think I'm actually going to leave this chip at 4.4ghz and stock voltage. It's not worth doubling the power consumption for 600mhz, plus I might degrade the chip.

For anyone that's wondering, though, the Havik 140 is an awesome heatsink.

 

[Kenmitch]

Open Hardware Monitor, and I have a Nzxt Havik 140 heatsink. It's a beast.

Dual fans = 2.3lbs

Does that sound correct? Going by newegg specs.

As far as voltage goes I live by my Avatar from now on. I'm just gonna purchase the warranty for my 2550k and hope it doesn't blow up my motherboard.

 

[fstime]

I think I'm actually going to leave this chip at 4.4ghz and stock voltage. It's not worth doubling the power consumption for 600mhz, plus I might degrade the chip.

For anyone that's wondering, though, the Havik 140 is an awesome heatsink.

What kind of thermal paste did you use and what application method (dot, line, X, etc)?

Those are great temps.

 

[SickBeast]

What kind of thermal paste did you use and what application method (dot, line, X, etc)?

Those are great temps.

I used the Cooler Master paste that came with my old 212+.

The way I install paste is to put a small dab in the middle of the CPU that's about the size of a grain of rice. Then I saran wrap my index finger and spread out a thin layer over the core.

On stock volts at 4.4ghz I'm only hitting 55C.

It's a cheap heatsink as well. I paid $45 for it.

 

[SickBeast]

Dual fans = 2.3lbs

Does that sound correct? Going by newegg specs.

As far as voltage goes I live by my Avatar from now on. I'm just gonna purchase the warranty for my 2550k and hope it doesn't blow up my motherboard.

Yeah that sounds right. The fans are 140mm each.

It's tempting to keep the CPU at 5ghz but I think logically it's better at 4.4ghz. Down the line when I need more speed I might do it though.

 

[ehume]

I think 71c at 1.5v is actually kind of nice. I think if I had a SB I'd try that . . . along with the Intel insurance plan.

I wonder if they made that plan so they could gather data -- on our dime -- about what it takes to make their cpu's blow up?

 

[SickBeast]

I think 71c at 1.5v is actually kind of nice. I think if I had a SB I'd try that . . . along with the Intel insurance plan.

I wonder if they made that plan so they could gather data -- on our dime -- about what it takes to make their cpu's blow up?

It's not bad but it costs 100w of extra power which will add up on the energy bill.

 

[ehume]

It's like leaving a 100w bulb lit.