Need some opinions on my AMD X4 955 OC 3.8GHZ

[mentalcrisis00]

Hello all

I'd appreciate some opinions on the 3.8GHZ OC I am trying on my AMD X4 955. I read the reviews on newegg and most said they got 3.7-3.8 GHZ OC by just upping the multiplier. I thought I'd try it, didn't really expect the system to boot. I've been running prime95 for an hour now and the cores are still running. I posted a pic with my temps and settings, it's at 3.8GHZ and 1.39 vcore. The vcore is running in automatic mode for now, i might try to get it down to 1.35v. I'm mainly concerned about my core temp, it's showing 55C at the highest. Is that too much? I don't have much experience with the modern AMD chips, I just came from an Intel C2D that ran much cooler in general.

 

[konakona]

should be ok as long as it passes prolonged stress tests. I think the AMD's publicly stated safe temp was 62C or something close to that.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

Thanks for the info, I took a quick peak on google to try and find the maximum safe temp/voltage for the X4 955 but couldn't find it. AMD's site is so hard to navigate so I couldn't find the specs there either.

So far it's running good, I might let it go all night and do a 12 hour stress.

 

[Rhoxed]

for amd's 125/140W procs 62C is the limit

for 95w/65w chips 71 is the limit

 

[heyheybooboo]

AMD Processor Specs


C2 Phenom 955 --- Voltages --- 0.875-1.5V /// Max Temps --- 62’C

C3 Phenom 955 --- Voltages --- 0.850-1.40V /// Max Temps --- 62'C


As noted the 95w 945, 925, 810 Phenoms are Voltages --- 0.85-1.40V /// Max Temps (C) --- 71'C





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[SlowSpyder]

Nice overclock, 3.8GHz should be a pretty quick chip. I'm guessing you'll be able to get more out of it with a good cooler and some more voltage. What cooler are you using?

Also, there's a good bit of performance to be had by overclockig the northbridge/L3 cache. When I was running some benches for Idontcare a while back, I found that when I got above ~3.4GHz performance didn't scale too well unless I overclocked the NB/L3. I'm guessing as the cores speed up if the NB/L3 speeds aren't increased the cores end up waiting for data. So definitely up the NB/L3 in addition to the cores.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

I'm using a thermalright ultra 120 heatsink on the X4 955.

I was actually impressed with the OC I was able to get. From all the reviews I read of the new AMD X4 chips I got the impression that it was very tedious to OC them. All I did was up the multiplier to 19x in the Bios and didn't touch any other settings, instant 3.8GHZ. Maybe I got a lucky chip or something, I ran prime 95 last night for 12 hours 20 minutes and all cores passed. The overall cpu temp reach 60C and cores went as far as 45C. I'm not sure which one to trust because the cpu/mobo temps are named TMPIN so I don't know which is which. Posted another pic below with the new numbers. I was thinking I might try 4.0GHZ but I'm not sure I want to push it.

@ SlowSpyder thanks for the tip on the NB/L3 OC I might try that after I do some research on it. My last e7400 build I was uncomfortable touching the northbridge voltage because I wasn't sure what the max specs were. I was still able to get 3.6GHZ on that and it ran cool so I was happy.

@ heyheybooboo cpu-Z tells me the stepping is 3 so that means my cpu is a C3 correct?

 

[konakona]

yep, does look like a C3. CPU-NB in phII is different from the NB in C2Ds. In fact there is a separate NB on those 780/790 boards. CPU-NB (or uncore) has the IMC and L3 cache in it, helps quite a bit in real life performance. You might need voltage boost to get up to 2.8-3.0.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

Just bumped the cpu to 3.9GHZ, 4.0 didn't run prime for more than a few seconds before crashing.

I'll run prime again tonight and edit this post with my numbers in the morning.

Edit System crashed at 3.9, I guess 3.8GHZ is the sweet spot cause I don't feel like upping the voltage past 1.4v. I'll just work on getting the lowest voltage I can. Thanks for the advice all.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Just bumped the cpu to 3.9GHZ, 4.0 didn't run prime for more than a few seconds before crashing.

I'll run prime again tonight and edit this post with my numbers in the morning.

Edit System crashed at 3.9, I guess 3.8GHZ is the sweet spot cause I don't feel like upping the voltage past 1.4v. I'll just work on getting the lowest voltage I can. Thanks for the advice all.

You probably could get 4GHz with some voltage, but you'd need a decent cooler to run 1.4+. But, the difference between 3.8 and 4.0GHz isn't going to be much different, only a real difference in benches I'd guess. If you're happy with 3.8GHz, look to the NV/L3 for more performance. Good luck.

 

[richierich1212]

Yeah what cooler are you using? Good overclock for doing almost nothing.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

I'm using a Thermalright Ultra 120/ MX-2 with a Xigmatek 1500RPM fan attached, one mounted as exhaust behind it, and an Antec tri cool above. The entire setup is in an Antec P180 case, I cut ventilation holes in the forward 5.25 bay covers which decreased my temps about 3-5C.

Bought the Ultra 120 from the FS thread actually, only paid $25 for it and it's been a great cooler so far.

 

[konakona]

Do the ventilation holes work with the front cover closed? Did you place an intake fan there? I am using a P180 on my i7 860 (main rig) also, but haven't got around to OC that thing yet. On the secondary rig I have a 965BE in antec 300. This one could use some help with thermals, but not willing to spend more $$$ on it. It's got a sunbeam CCF + 5v ultra kaze with tricools from behind and above both at the low setting.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

When the door is closed it does cut down on ventilation, but the front panel has ventilation slots on the sides so the door doesn't completely cut off the air flow. I imagine I'd see a degree here and there improvement with the door open but generally I keep it closed unless I need to open my optical.

I haven't put a fan up there yet but I was thinking about it, I have a spare antec tri cool 120mm that would fit perfectly. I made up plans to make a simple bracket that could mount the fan with the 5.25 rail system in the case. I imagine I might see better temps if I turned all the fans to full rpm but the noise is pretty unbearable. Right now I have total 7 fans inside my case, 1 tricool intake, 1 tricool top exhaust, 1 xig cpu fan, 1 xig rear exhaust, and 2 92mm Thermalrights for my GPU's Trad2. They're all on low or auto control and very quiet even at full load.

 

[konakona]

heh, I just got 4 (on the 300, that is), two of them being the ones that come with the case, one for lower intake and the last one on the cpu.