Overclockers & Mikewarrior2: o/cing + Prime95 round off errors + temperatures question. Help appreciated!

[CamperJoe]

Hey guys,

Previously, while running @ 954MHz (9x106), I noticed that round off errors in Prime95 start popping out once my temperatures (as measured by mobo) hit 55c (ambient temp of 24c). After installing the WBK38 HSF + ASII, I upped the speed to 1007 (9.5x106) and get temps of 37c idle and 41c full load with ambient temps of 20c. Problem is, whenever ambient temps go up to 23c, full load temps shoot up to 44c and round off errors in Prime95 start popping out again.

Question is, what does this indicate? Is it an overheating issue? I don't want to think so as previously, round off error start popping out @ 55c but now, 44c is the limit. Is this normal with O/Ced CPUs? or could this be due to RAM, or do I just have a dud CPU? Suggestions will be greatly appreciated, especially from Mikewarrior2 the temp expert! Thanks!


Specs:
AMD T-Bird 800
MSI K7TPro2-A mobo @ 1.85v
2x 128Mb PC133 generic SDRAM

 

[Mikewarrior2]

The Round-off error indicates that your cpu is not 100% stable, but it may or may not be a heat issue. Have you tried upping the voltage?


Mike

 

[CamperJoe]

Mikewarrior2: yup, it's maxed out at 1.85v - that's as far as my mobo can go without getting dirty with voltage mods. Just a thought, but from your experience, does a SUDDEN rise in ambient temps of 4-5c in 5 minutes (i.e. crank up the heater) cause the CPU to be unstable?

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Hmm.... Never tried that severe a rise in ambient, but have noticed some 12c in 6 hour rises lately.

How is your case cooling? Your temps should still be okay, even considering that the pro2a is on the low end of "reading temps".


Mike

 

[Hanky]

Hey Mike,

I just checked your contributions to the Anandtech Forum FAQ and I think I found one little inaccuracy in the case cooling segment...you write AMD recommends 1 intake & 1 exhaust fan, but AMD only recommends the exhaust fan and says intake is not necessary:

Official AMD case cooling guide

Just wanted to let you know to possibly help make the FAQ better.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Thanks Hanky... I wonder if this has been changed recently, since I could have sworn that amd had 2 case fans recommended before(i'll have to look for the PDF file I have from before). Either way, the faq will only be reworded, as everyone should have a case fan for intake anyways, especially considering the heat of amd chips.


Mike

 

[LocutusX]

So what is the general consensus on Prime95 rounding errors, if there is any?

I've got a CPU that can run the Prime95 torture test for about 15 minutes before stopping with a rounding error. What I'd like to know if that is sufficient grounds to back off the speed, or just ignore it if it's not a big deal.

 

[MCS]

Personally I like everything that runs at the default speed 100% stable to also run at the overclocked speed with the same stability, else I do not call it a succesful overclock. If I get a Prime error I definitely back off the speed/raise the voltage!

 

[LocutusX]

My Prime95 problems are rather silly. At CAS3 it can run for at least an hour with no problems. At CAS2 it gets a rounding error after 10 to 20 minutes. This is ridiculous because I paid a bit extra to get some Micron which supposedly handled CAS2 @ up to 140mhz bus.

D'oh!