Opteron 165 overclocking help

[Job]

Posted this in 'general hardware' for some reason - probably get more response here!

My system gets the BSOD when running @2.81 under 1.5V on the CPU - this is beginning to annoy me - I managed to boot in to windows at 2.9, only to have to creep the settings down bit by bit when it kept crashing. Now at 2.81.

I know this is still pretty good, this annoyance for me is mostly because I had it running at 2.61 with value ram, and was expecting a bit more of an improvement now I've found myself some PC4000 and a water-cooler.....grrrr

Is there anything I can do to take some of the stress away from the CPU and creep it back up again (something obscure in the BIOS)? There is an option which lets you multiply the Vcore by a certain percentage (eg, 1.5V * 110%) but I have no idea what this does!

 

[robertk2012]

I wouldnt bump up the vcore anymore as you are already at a pretty high number..............Yeah and for the guy who posts after me and says that cpu life doesnt matter......well im going to keep that thought to myself.

Be a little more specific on your settings. What dividers are you running? have you tried a lower divider and seeing what happens? Have you ever checked to see if your prime stable?

 

[TrevorRC]

What kind of PSU are you using? Not pointing any fingers yet... but it's always a possibility.

Some Opterons don't like certain memory dividers.. go to 100:200, then see how high it goes.

What are temps like?

--Trevor

 

[compgeek89]

If you're on water 1.55v is fine... presuming it actually keeps temps below 45C

 

[Job]

The mem divider is at 4/5 at the moment, which makes my RAM run at the rated speed of about 250mhz - there is one lower divider I can use, but the Opteron wont let me go any lower than that - although I doubt its the memory thats causing the problems.

My PSU is an ADDA (never heard of them either - was a donation) 500W - although it has never flaked on me before in the 18months I've had it - though I've never pushed as high as this before.

And, no, I'm not prime95 stable at my current settings - I'm trying to tweak so that I am, but general-use applications don't cause me any problems, and I passed several other CPU stress tests with no problem; so I'm not going to lose too much sleep over it at the moment.

Temps are icy cold - 18-22 idle 33-35 load, using ITE and BIOS readings

robertk2012 - how'd u get urs so high?

my HTT multi is x3
ram is 4/5
timings are 3-4-4-8
voltage is 1.51 Vcore, 2.7 RAM

I've just noticed something a bit odd - 'speed fan' is rating VCore 1 at 1.51 and VCore 2 at 1.30 - what the hell is VCore 2? Cpu-z rates both cores at the same voltage! There aren't some obscure settings for separate cores are there?

it's a puzzle - want it to go faster but somethings not adding up, I've read of some ppl getting the chip over 3Ghz, but I can't see how they've managed that

 

[Job]

Sorry compgeek - didn't see you there! You're one of those ppl I mention at the bottom of my last post! Any tips? Plus, how can I find out my stepping without removing the chip?

Thanks,

 

[compgeek89]

You'll have to remove your WB to see the stepping.

Try Upping vcore to 1.55

Try lowering HT multi to 2x (or 2.5x if your board supports it)

VCore2 is probably our chipset vcore (Else, its your LDT), but if so its definitely being read incorrectly because the nforce4 chipset is 1.5v. I keep mine @ 1.6v

Go ahead and drop you RAM that last divider as well.

 

[starwars7]

what is your highest CPU OC that is actually prime stable so far?

 

[Job]

Originally posted by: starwars7
what is your highest CPU OC that is actually prime stable so far?

Highest Prime stable is around the 2.6 mark - but the extra 200mhz is definitely noticeable with general applications (haven't dared trying games on it yet tho - 3dmark06 crashed at 2.85 after about 30secs) - regarding the chipset or LDT voltage, thats a good point, as I have left that at stock voltage (1.3) - I might creep that up a bit and see if I get some increased stability. Unfortunately though, my chipset temps are starting to near 50 degrees under load, so I'll have to try and cool it a bit more. Will let you know if it makes any difference

 

[nealh]

IMHO..chipset temps and pwmic temps are not critical
chipset is rated to no less than 60C(also pretty sure it is higher but the guys at dfi say stay 55C or lower) and I doubt you will ever get close...50-55C is fine, PWMIC are rated to over 100C...some have found it can help stablity...never mattered for me and like 4 different opterons

I have hit 64C on PMWIC with large fft for 15 hrs with no issues

So chipset stay below 55C(hard to get this high anyway), PWMIC stay below 60C

Cpu temps are a issue..since everyones ambients, cases and mobos will be different...some mobo read ltemps too low by as much as 10C

Try to keep cpu temp below 50-55C(many will argue this), vcore 1.5-1.5v max...if using DFI NF4 mobo this overvolt underload....mine overvolts by 0.02V
ignore winxp vcore in software..what you set in the bios is what you get at idle

Now first thing you need to do is find max cpu speed...lower ram to 100 or 133 divider and set cpu speed and run small fft and increase till prime 95 fails...I personally like Prime 95 to run no less than 4 hrs prior to increasing speed

once you get max..run small fft for 8hrs to max sure this is stable..then go back and change ram speed

I believe firmly the opterons can be very finicky with ram speed because of the memory controller....not all cpu will do 1:1 or close
I have a 170 that will do 2600 with ram at 1:1 but 2700 needs ram at 225

make sure LDT is to 3x and stay under 1000, set ldt voltage to 1.3, chipset to 1.6v, ram vdimm whatever you need

also many have found you are better off setting vcore not 1.5v but to like 1.375 *110% or some other combo and you will get better stablity

Not all 165s will do 2600, 2700,2800,2900, 3000..no matter what you see here

I have a 165 that will do 3.0ghz from another very trusted person but it my setup and have no idea why max speed is 2800 prime 95 stable..I can run at 3.0ghz but prime fails immediately

vcore 2 is LDT voltage ...ldt stock is 1.2v....you must have set 1.3v which is good some.. I have found 1.4v is helpful

 

[Job]

Right - when I get home, Vcore and chipset voltages are goin up - RAM speed and LDT are going down -

Will try and find max speed - hoping that all the money I spent on cooling and performance RAM won't be wasted!

Let you know how it goes

 

[nealh]

Originally posted by: Job
Right - when I get home, Vcore and chipset voltages are goin up - RAM speed and LDT are going down -

Will try and find max speed - hoping that all the money I spent on cooling and performance RAM won't be wasted!

Let you know how it goes

You are doing great...165@2.6+ is great..alot people report awesome results ...but not everyone does that well

Ocing is a pain in the ass ..it can be fun but it can be stressful when you want what you cant get....

 

[compgeek89]

Yea, only the CCB1E/CCBBEs hit 3ghz, I went through 6 dual cores before I got my 3ghzer!

 

[Blades]

Do you by any chance have a CCBWE 0604TPMW? I do.. Right now its at 295x9 with a 5/6 Mem div, HTT3x.. I have a MSI mobo and an Enermax 500W PSU. Vcore is at 1.45 @ 31C idle. My motherboard is a MSI Diamond Plus with 1.22 bios. I too am having problems with 1.5 - and it doesnt seem to be a matter of temps. Enough babbling tho, I should make a sig..

Anyways, I can't decide on whether this is a dud stepping or not. By no means would I call a ~50% overclock a dud - but... you know. Finicky. This is however, a very rare stepping. My TCaseMAX is 57C and my TDP is 75W. Anyone viewing, feel free to PM me or post yours if you think it might help make sense of the values.

Just thought I'd chime in since my problem seems similar to yours.

PS: Thanks to NealH for a very informative post. Its probably going to clear up this issue.. I'll give it a go once my AC gets fixed!!

 

[nealh]

My pleasure...beware of temp comparisons...My temps tend to run higher than others ..I live in FL with my AC set to 76C..my office is one of the warmest in the house and therefore my ambients are not as good...

Also mobo temp sensors suck...not sure why they cant get this iisue fixed but it is true for every mobo manufacturer!!!

 

[Job]

ok - upped ldt to 1.4 and chipset to 1.6 - much more stable so far at 2.8 - will keep u posted

 

[Job]

Am Prime 95 stable at 2.8 - trying for 2.85........