My X2 3800+ does 2.8GHz @ 1.4v.. Should I try further? :)

[KDKPSJ]

First of all, I think I should say I love 2006-produced X2's. It seems like they, including mine, do very well. Mine is 0601 LDBHE (E4). It's dual Prime (both Small and Large FFT) stable for 8+ hours @ 2.8GHz w/ 1.4v. It's cooled by Thermaltake BT and so-so case cooling (Because I'm silent PC lover Currently I can't hear anything in 6 ft radius).

Now, the question is.. What's safety voltage limit for my current cooling? It's 30 idle and 48 under load in a fairly warm room. This is my first X2, and I've heard the safety voltage limit is fairly lower than single cores, but couldn't find actual number. So, what would you guys suggest?

 

[buzzsaw13]

You're getting better temps than my Opty 146@1.45V, you should be able to feed it a little more voltage!

 

[Jules]

try 24 hours of prime.

 

[DrMrLordX]

General rule of thumb is to stay at or below 1.45v vcore with air cooling on an X2. And, yeah, try a 24-hour dual-prime(small FFT) first before you declare it stable. However, if you're going to continue messing with voltage and bumping up HTT, I don't see any reason to prime it for that long until you've settled on a clock speed.

 

[Absolute0]

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
try 24 hours of prime.

What's that going to prove? 8+ hours is more than enough

Good overclock OP

Safety volts... run up to 1.55 24/7 is pretty safe in my book, just keep the temps under 50c, that's like safety helmet safe.

 

[sygyzy]

How do you determine a safe window when overclocking? Do the same rules apply to all chips? Is it like 20% over stock voltage is ok? Or what?

 

[KDKPSJ]

Thanks for all the comments, guys Yes, I'll do longer prime when I get chance. That was what I have planned anyway.

To sygyzy --- I don't know. It seems like it varies a lot. That's why I am asking around. X2, default vcore ranged between 1.35 - 1.4, 1.5v - 1.55v is about 10% that seems like safety limit.

 

[CP5670]

How do you determine a safe window when overclocking? Do the same rules apply to all chips? Is it like 20% over stock voltage is ok? Or what?

There isn't any clear answer to that. I generally use 15% over the minimum stock voltage as my safe limit (on air cooling), so that's about 1.5V for dual cores, but everyone seems to have a slightly different opinion on this.

 

[Absolute0]

Here are my limits for 24/7 use

1.55v load under 50c

1.60v load under 45c

1.65v load under 40c

1.7v phase change

So the more volts you use, the cooler you gotta keep it

 

[n7]

I hate you

(Actually, i hate how poorly my X2 OCs )

You can crank that up some more.

I'd say 1.5V is fine for that CPU, & as long as temps don't get over ~60C, you've got nothing to worry about.

You might just hit 3 GHz :Q

 

[Doctorweir]

Wow...2.8 with a 3800+...nice one
Your voltage and temps are very safe. I would however (out of overclockers curiosity) have a look at the max clocks at up to 1.5v and 55C load temps (or until prime gives errors).
For long term I would suggest you keep your current settings and perhaps crank up more when you need the power in like 1 year or so

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: Absolute0

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
try 24 hours of prime.

What's that going to prove? 8+ hours is more than enough

Good overclock OP

Safety volts... run up to 1.55 24/7 is pretty safe in my book, just keep the temps under 50c, that's like safety helmet safe.

24 hours.

 

[ronnystrauss]

my opteron 165 ( practicalyl the same thing as x2) is at 1.55v

 

[imported_ST]

--

 

[ronnystrauss]

he prolly doesnt have a ram divider and didnt drop the thing from 5x to 3x

 

[atybimf]

Great overclock Dae! I wouldn't recommend anymore than 1.55v. Although, in your case, I'd probably stick at where you are because a 100mhz or so increase won't be worth the higher temps and lower lifespan of the higher volts.

 

[kmrivers]

I second doing a 24 hour prime. I am seeing this kind of thing a lot lately. "I ran dual prime for 6 hours, so it's stable... blah blah". Prime is known to fail in the later hours, say 14, 15, etc. 8 Hours is not enough to consider it stable. 24 and thats it. 48 if you really want to make sure.

 

[atybimf]

Originally posted by: kmrivers
I second doing a 24 hour prime. I am seeing this kind of thing a lot lately. "I ran dual prime for 6 hours, so it's stable... blah blah". Prime is known to fail in the later hours, say 14, 15, etc. 8 Hours is not enough to consider it stable. 24 and thats it. 48 if you really want to make sure.

Personally, 12 hours is enough for me. It all depends on your definition of "stable".

 

[Amaroque]

I would read this thread before you go cranking up voltages too much. I can POST at over 3 GHz with 1.4 Vcore. However, I'm quite happy with 2.8 GHz, and defult Vcore.

 

[Unkno]

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth

Originally posted by: Absolute0

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
try 24 hours of prime.

What's that going to prove? 8+ hours is more than enough

Good overclock OP

Safety volts... run up to 1.55 24/7 is pretty safe in my book, just keep the temps under 50c, that's like safety helmet safe.

24 hours.

if your using a system for 24/7, 24 hours of prime is essential

 

[Duvie]

You should send it to me and get yourself another one!!!!

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth

Originally posted by: Absolute0

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
try 24 hours of prime.

What's that going to prove? 8+ hours is more than enough

Good overclock OP

Safety volts... run up to 1.55 24/7 is pretty safe in my book, just keep the temps under 50c, that's like safety helmet safe.

24 hours.

36 hours.





Oh wait. I meant to say 360 days.



I mean, if you use your system 360 days a year, 360 day of Prime95 is essential.


Edit: Geez.. I love prove my OC'ing with Prime95 screenshots, but this arguments over xx hours+ vs yy hours+ get old real quick.. get the point?

 

[mordantmonkey]

There was a big thread about this in highly technical, including posts from some intel engineers. Basically voltage is THE biggest factor in shortening the life span of your CPU. regardless of low temps, voltage will shorten your cpu life more than anything else.
basically high clock and temp are linear to shortened life span, while increasing voltage causes exponential life span decrease.
also the more you increase voltage the less you get back in clockspeed. I wouldn't run my 146 over 1.45 but i'm sure 1.5v will run for many years...

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Originally posted by: Absolute0
Here are my limits for 24/7 use

1.55v load under 50c

1.60v load under 45c

1.65v load under 40c

1.7v phase change

So the more volts you use, the cooler you gotta keep it

really? my load is 45c @ 1.45 volt but im too scared to go higher

 

[Doctorweir]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
There was a big thread about this in highly technical, including posts from some intel engineers. Basically voltage is THE biggest factor in shortening the life span of your CPU. regardless of low temps, voltage will shorten your cpu life more than anything else.
basically high clock and temp are linear to shortened life span, while increasing voltage causes exponential life span decrease.
also the more you increase voltage the less you get back in clockspeed. I wouldn't run my 146 over 1.45 but i'm sure 1.5v will run for many years...

Another reason for using Cool n' Quiet (controlled by RMClock of course...).
I also think 24 hours of prime does not prove more than 12 hours. I mean, it depends on the use of your rig. Do you game 24/7? In my case the box sits in the corner must of the time idle with torrent open or serving files. It can do that with 1v core...so much for lifespan
If you crunch numbers 24/7 however, that's another story...