New X2 3800+ Overclocked ~2700Mhz +~10V%

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
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Specs:
Asus A8N-E
X2 3800+ W/ Zalman CNPS9500
X800GTO2 Unlocked and OC
Antec Sonata II W/ 450W Smartpower II And front panaflo fan

I have three choices for the setting I'll be running. I would like the cpu to live for at least 5 years (other uses like server).


Option 1: 2600Mhz at 1.39V.....47C Load
Option 2: 2650Mhz at 1.45V.....51C Load
Option 3: 2700Mhz at 1.49V.....54C Load
...Ambient Temperature 20C

Which one should I use that'll be able to live at least 5 years. Also, do you think I installed the heatsink poorly since I am using the 9500.
 

Beef Taco

Senior member
Jul 26, 2005
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My vote, is for option 1. I dont think that the vcore increase/heat increase that is needed/added to gain an extra 100mhz just isn't worth it in my mind.
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,314
690
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Definitely Option 3. :D It'll still last longer than 5 yrs. Compare the speed of 2.6GHz and 2.7GHz for yourself, and see if you feel any difference. In my case, I was able to do 2.64GHz @Stock voltage, but it felt so much slower than 2.8GHz for some reason.
 

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
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hmmm....still can't decide....are the temps too high for a Zalman 9500
 

alanore

Member
Jan 1, 2006
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Could just be down to a calibration error of the temprature sensor. How much tim did you use on the CPU?
 

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
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Originally posted by: alanore
Could just be down to a calibration error of the temprature sensor. How much tim did you use on the CPU?

What do you mean? The time i used before taking the temperatures?
 

Absolute0

Senior member
Nov 9, 2005
714
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Option 1. Temps over 50 aren't that great. X2s run hot, i'm betting your temps are caused by poor IHS contact. In many cases, removing the IHS on an X2 will decrease temps around 10C.
 

Hail The Brain Slug

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2005
3,882
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TIM = thermal interface material?

I vote for option 1, but I'm on the conservative side. Anything to keep it closer to stock voltage.
 

JustStarting

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2000
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I'd try to bring the temps down a little before deciding for sure. What are you using for thermal paste- ASII, AS5 or just some white grease?? Try ASII, AS5 or Ceramique and reseat the 9500. Don't overtighten the 9500 but make sure it is seated well.

I used to have a WC rig and swap CPU's quite often. I could tell when I didn't screw the waterblock down tight enough. My temps were about 5C higher than normal.

What's your case airflow like? You should have at least one 120mm fan or two 80mm fans in the front and at least one fan in the rear, plus the PSU fan. How many fans does your PSU have? Three is nice!! I always put a 80mm case fan in the side of my case right about level with the CPU socket.

I've been giving my old XP2100+ (1470mhz stock), 1.85v and running it at 2255mhz since the day it was new (about 4 years) and it's still kicking at 32C idle, and no higher than 40C under load. Stock voltage was about 1.7v I believe.

Keep it under 50C and let it eat all the voltage you need for a good OC.
 

DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,901
12,967
136
No sense in going up .1v on your vcore just for 100 mhz of speed. 2600 mhz is just fine
 

potato28

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: Unkno
Originally posted by: alanore
Could just be down to a calibration error of the temprature sensor. How much tim did you use on the CPU?

What do you mean? The time i used before taking the temperatures?

Thermal interface material, like Arctic Silver 5 or Ceramique.
 

allies

Platinum Member
Jun 18, 2002
2,572
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Originally posted by: Unkno
Specs:
Asus A8N-E
X2 3800+ W/ Zalman CNPS9500
X800GTO2 Unlocked and OC
Antec Sonata II W/ 450W Smartpower II And front panaflo fan

I have three choices for the setting I'll be running. I would like the cpu to live for at least 5 years (other uses like server).


Option 1: 2600Mhz at 1.39V.....47C Load
Option 2: 2650Mhz at 1.45V.....51C Load
Option 3: 2700Mhz at 1.49V.....54C Load
...Ambient Temperature 20C

Which one should I use that'll be able to live at least 5 years. Also, do you think I installed the heatsink poorly since I am using the 9500.

I'm also using a 9500... I don't think you installed it poorly. Once you start feeding Dual Cores more volts they put off a lot of heat. Right now I'm running 2.4 ghz at 1.3v, temp under load is 39 degrees ambient is somewhere around 21. I ran for a little while at 2.52 GHz with 1.37v, load temp was ~44 degrees.
 

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
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I used about 1 1/2 uncooked grains of short-grain white rice (followed insruction on the AS5 site). Also, could it just be a bad temperature sensor, since I noticed that my power sensor is incorret (jumps from 30C to 60C in 1 second and vice versa). How would i check the correct temperature (or near it), i tried putting my hand between the 9500 and my exhaust fan and the air was only warm...


The case i'm using is the Sonata II with Antec Smartpower2.0 PSU. Two fans on the psu (one exhaust, other intake) and i have one 120mm exhaust fan and one 120mm intake fan.


Allies: Did you undervolt your X2, since the stock voltage is 1.35V
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
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I'd do the 2.7 GHz.

54C under load is perfectly fine, & under 1.5V is awesome.
 

TheoPetro

Banned
Nov 30, 2004
3,499
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ok as long as its working and not shutting down because of heat id say your set. you prob shouldnt listen to me because i do stuff to my hardware for an excuse to buy newer stuff :D . makes for a pretty poor college kid.
 

imported_michaelpatrick33

Platinum Member
Jun 19, 2004
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Originally posted by: KBTuning
i thought you didnt want to go over 1.45 w/ dual core.

1.35-1.40 + 1.35-1.40(.10) (10% overvolt is usually very safe from what I have read) = 1.48-1.56Vcore. This is for the X2 3800+ anyway. I would guess 1.475 is the sweet spot for air cooling and 1.5-1.55 for watercooling (even though lower temps still is safe with too much voltage).

I have my X2 4400+ at 2640 watercooled on an old Koolance PC2 system at 1.472. One core is really bad and 2640 is stable at 1.472 while the other I have hit 2850-2900 at 1.55vcore (Prime 95 Core 0 fails immediately while Core 1 goes forever ... well 24hours).
 

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
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well, the voltage is okay....but i'm worried about whether the temperatures are correct, it seems a little high for the 9500...