Need help with building an E8400 system. Upgrading after a year.

[BoboKatt]

Just a small question since your setup is much like mine for one of my computers. I have the same RAM as you.. same mobo and currently running a G0 Q6600 on it. To keep the speed at 4.0 GHz vs. your max OC?. how much lower were you able to lower your V on the CPU and subsequently the temps? I am trying to find out the "comfortable" cruising speed of that new CPU of yours... like the every day speed you would eventually want to come to. Is there a sweet spot you?ve found? I know every chip is different but it?s nice to get an idea.

4 GHz is simply stupid crazy beautiful as an every day machine. I could never have imagined this when I first got my e6600 way back when and even my Q6600 although it can do 3.6 GHz, it's still pushing it.

 

[Tempered81]

it's your 800mhz ram, apocalypse. I doubt it can handle 990mhz without giving errors in P95

 

[Apocalypse23]

Originally posted by: BoboKatt
Just a small question since your setup is much like mine for one of my computers. I have the same RAM as you.. same mobo and currently running a G0 Q6600 on it. To keep the speed at 4.0 GHz vs. your max OC?. how much lower were you able to lower your V on the CPU and subsequently the temps? I am trying to find out the "comfortable" cruising speed of that new CPU of yours... like the every day speed you would eventually want to come to. Is there a sweet spot you?ve found? I know every chip is different but it?s nice to get an idea.

4 GHz is simply stupid crazy beautiful as an every day machine. I could never have imagined this when I first got my e6600 way back when and even my Q6600 although it can do 3.6 GHz, it's still pushing it.

My sweet spot for stability and low temps has so far been

@ 445x9 = 4005Mhz
BIOS version 1004
CPU voltage setting from BIOS = 1.3250V
Memory (stock timings only worked well at 3600mhz (400:400) at 4-4-4-12 (2.2v specified on ram sheet), I set them to 5-5-5-12 (890Mhz @ DRAM voltage 1.90V)
can also go 5-5-5-15

Following are my sweetspot pics: Temps maxed for cores around 62C, idle temps were in the mid 40s.

http://aycu31.webshots.com/ima...014265940406457_rs.jpg

http://aycu12.webshots.com/ima...036970170961895_rs.jpg

http://aycu36.webshots.com/ima...025818380518750_rs.jpg

http://aycu40.webshots.com/ima...052412284118785_rs.jpg

http://aycu16.webshots.com/ima...099571322446255_rs.jpg

http://aycu27.webshots.com/ima...003603378005432_rs.jpg

 

[Apocalypse23]

I ran prime for 18 hours and no crashes, I have played games on this system and it is rock stable. I am very happy at this system, it is a Killer. Best of luck to all with their overclocks, please keep in mind that even reaching 4.0 ghz will be awesome for you and you don't have to push this chip above it since it requires much more voltage and better ram at that point. So 4.0 ghz is the sweet spot, for me atleast. Loving this chip!

 

[Mondoman]

Originally posted by: Apocalypse23
... I did however find that the CPU voltage of 1.4875V - 1.500V was better without any blue screens. I'll second 1.500V from bios again. So once again, it booted to windows fine but when i tested prime, it failed. Load temps went to 77C for both cores at one point. Idle temps were in the 50s. Check the following pics:


PS- from the bios CPU voltage set at 1.4625, 1.475, 1.4875, 1.500V , I was able to boot to windows, i pushed it till 1.5 for stability and prime failed. now CPU Z will report the temp at a max of 1.46V i think which was when i set it to 1.500V. .

Since 1.45V is Intel's "absolute maximum" limit for the e8xxx series, aren't you worried about permanent damage to the CPU?

 

[Apocalypse23]

Originally posted by: Mondoman

Originally posted by: Apocalypse23
... I did however find that the CPU voltage of 1.4875V - 1.500V was better without any blue screens. I'll second 1.500V from bios again. So once again, it booted to windows fine but when i tested prime, it failed. Load temps went to 77C for both cores at one point. Idle temps were in the 50s. Check the following pics:


PS- from the bios CPU voltage set at 1.4625, 1.475, 1.4875, 1.500V , I was able to boot to windows, i pushed it till 1.5 for stability and prime failed. now CPU Z will report the temp at a max of 1.46V i think which was when i set it to 1.500V. .

Since 1.45V is Intel's "absolute maximum" limit for the e8xxx series, aren't you worried about permanent damage to the CPU?

Read the post 1 post above your post. Those were older settings with older Bios, my newer CPU voltage is 1.325V and temps at 61C prime load for cores.