Overclocking the Phenom II 920 X4!

[RyanGreener]

Okay, I finally got it installed and I'm loving the speed. I have a couple of basic questions:

1. I found out which core would fail first due to lack of voltage and it was #3, so I disabled it and now I'm running 3 cores. Will anything happen in the long run to my CPU if I keep it disabled for awhile? I know Phenoms are normally chosen by having disabled cores, but I just want to make sure. I am running 3 cores for reduced heat and higher overclock, as I only need 2 cores (but I might as well have the 3rd one anyway).

2. I want my CPU-NB to be at 1.3V since I heard that's a safe 24/7 limit for many years, so what's the typical highest NB Frequency I can have? 2300? 2400? 2500?

I hear the crit temperature is 60, but not to let it go over 55, so I plan on keeping these temps low. I am aware I have a C2 stepping chip, but I'm not worried. Thanks for any advice!

 

[RyanGreener]

New update. Sometimes when stress testing, I won't get a BSOD or anything, but my computer will randomly restart. Does this mean my CPU-NB is not high enough for my CPU-NB Frequency? Or is this some random issue with disabling a core?

 

[richierich1212]

If it's randomly restarting that's most likely a power supply related issue. What psu do you have? And what mobo?

 

[RyanGreener]

If it's randomly restarting that's most likely a power supply related issue. What psu do you have? And what mobo?

Seasonic 520W PSU, and MSI 785GT Motherboard. Both were totally fine before. I'm not running anything power intense anyway. I only have a lowly nVidia 9600GT, so I doubt power is the issue. It ran on overclocks before on this mobo as well, and the TDP was definitely higher too (since it was older tech).

 

[RyanGreener]

Well, I disabled TWO cores and overclocked it a bit. It MIGHT have been a PSU issue....assuming 520W is the real rating, multiplied by .80 (assuming 80% efficient) that is 416. Full load overclock for a PII is probably around 200-250, then add the other misc stuff I have and the GPU and that might set it off past the 416W mark. Guess I won't ramp up the voltage much.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Could be a failing MB. Also, did you check your bios to make sure it supports the CPU? Test your memory also. Lots of issues can originate at the memory level.

 

[busydude]

Well, I disabled TWO cores and overclocked it a bit. It MIGHT have been a PSU issue....assuming 520W is the real rating, multiplied by .80 (assuming 80% efficient) that is 416. Full load overclock for a PII is probably around 200-250, then add the other misc stuff I have and the GPU and that might set it off past the 416W mark. Guess I won't ramp up the voltage much.

That is not how they measure the rating. At 80% peak efficiency that 520W PSU actually consumes 650W from the wall.

 

[RyanGreener]

That is not how they measure the rating. At 80% peak efficiency that 520W PSU actually consumes 650W from the wall.

Good to know. Well, it doesn't randomly shut down anymore...weird. My motherboard was fine as always and I did test memory. I think it's my Northbridge voltage. I set CPU-NB to 1.3V, and it seems to BSOD everytime my HT is over 2400, so I'm lowering it to see what 1.3V is good for.

 

[busydude]

My NB speed is currently at 2400 Mhz at stock voltage. Its YMMV and since mine is a c3 stepping chip it can go higher than yours.

 

[soccerballtux]

I always had my computer random-rebooting when I had overclocking errors. Usually was more temp related than anything (over about 55C and at or over 1.5v). I could run 3.8Ghz with 1.55v until I hit 55/56C. Now, at 1.47v I can run 3.5ghz all day with 2.6ghz CPU-NB running at 68C.

 

[RyanGreener]

I always had my computer random-rebooting when I had overclocking errors. Usually was more temp related than anything (over about 55C and at or over 1.5v). I could run 3.8Ghz with 1.55v until I hit 55/56C. Now, at 1.47v I can run 3.5ghz all day with 2.6ghz CPU-NB running at 68C.

Hey, what type of CPU-NB voltage are you running? I am running at 1.3V and it seems anything higher than 2250 MHz causes it to fail due to CPU-NB reasons, and not the CPU itself. (Tested it by keeping clock speed similar for passing, but higher NB frequency).

 

[richierich1212]

Hey, what type of CPU-NB voltage are you running? I am running at 1.3V and it seems anything higher than 2250 MHz causes it to fail due to CPU-NB reasons, and not the CPU itself. (Tested it by keeping clock speed similar for passing, but higher NB frequency).

Well what is your memory speed set at?

 

[RyanGreener]

Well what is your memory speed set at?

I have a 4x1GB DDR2 setup that is rated at 800 MHz, and I set the memory speed to be from 600-800.

 

[soccerballtux]

Hey, what type of CPU-NB voltage are you running? I am running at 1.3V and it seems anything higher than 2250 MHz causes it to fail due to CPU-NB reasons, and not the CPU itself. (Tested it by keeping clock speed similar for passing, but higher NB frequency).

+0.2v

Also, you can let it get hotter than 60 (their dual core variants are OK to 73C like Intel's...meaning that the silicon can take it, as long as you've got the cooling for it...IMHO), just note that it may affect stability and yours may function like mine.

 

[RyanGreener]

+0.2v

Also, you can let it get hotter than 60 (their dual core variants are OK to 73C like Intel's...meaning that the silicon can take it, as long as you've got the cooling for it...IMHO), just note that it may affect stability and yours may function like mine.

You think I should run it at 1.32V? Is that a magic # that seems to work or what? lol.

Also, what do you mean "let it get hotter"? The CPU or the CPU-NB? I don't know how to measure CPU-NB temperature, but in my BIOS, none of the temperatures hit over 60C. My CPU voltage itself is currently at 1.475V. I have very adequate cooling as well.

 

[soccerballtux]

You think I should run it at 1.32V? Is that a magic # that seems to work or what? lol.

Also, what do you mean "let it get hotter"? The CPU or the CPU-NB? I don't know how to measure CPU-NB temperature, but in my BIOS, none of the temperatures hit over 60C. My CPU voltage itself is currently at 1.475V. I have very adequate cooling as well.

+0.2 would put the CPU-NB at 1.4v. I think. Your math (1.32v) would be if you were adding +0.02v.

Temps-- nah, I'm not referring to either/or, just the whole thing together. I guess I'm saying what I'm saying because some people said "YOU'LL DAMAGE THE CHIP IF YOU GO OVER 55C, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD COOLING", which is simply not the case. They also said it @60C, and at 63C (at least they were following the AMD specs on the 63C thing, but the AM3 chips can go up to 71C IIRC) Sometimes I wondered if they said that so that they could keep people from taking their OC crown. Or something.

 

[RyanGreener]

+0.2 would put the CPU-NB at 1.4v. I think. Your math (1.32v) would be if you were adding +0.02v.

Temps-- nah, I'm not referring to either/or, just the whole thing together. I guess I'm saying what I'm saying because some people said "YOU'LL DAMAGE THE CHIP IF YOU GO OVER 55C, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD COOLING", which is simply not the case. Sometimes I wondered if they said that so that they could keep people from taking their OC crown. Or something.

O wow I didn't even pay attention to that. Also, my motherboard does not allow me to hit over 1.376V for CPU-NB, and I hear having higher than 1.3V isn't good if you want a 24/7 stable/reliable/longevity setting.

My load temps haven't hit over 50C yet

 

[busydude]

24/7 stable/reliable/longevity setting.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2106073

Some good info you might be interested in.

 

[RyanGreener]

Yeah, I was aware of most of that stuff. I don't know much about overvolting the CPU-NB though....most don't talk about specifics. They just say to overvolt it to XX Amount and hope it works

 

[soccerballtux]

haven't had any 24/7 stability issues with mine

 

[RyanGreener]

How long have you had yours as 1.4V?

 

[Snobok]

Good luck with the overclocking!

 

[busydude]

They just say to overvolt it to XX Amount and hope it works

The reason is because AMD specifies the safe operating range for its CPU's. According to AMD, the safe max operating voltage is 1.425V. You have to keep temps in control no matter the voltage though.

Read this data sheet. Page 47 has details of your processor.

 

[soccerballtux]

How long have you had yours as 1.4V?

long as it's been running.

 

[RyanGreener]

The reason is because AMD specifies the safe operating range for its CPU's. According to AMD, the safe max operating voltage is 1.425V. You have to keep temps in control no matter the voltage though.

Read this data sheet. Page 47 has details of your processor.

Actually I checked AMD's website, and the safe max operating voltage for my processor was 1.5V. Or are you referring to CPU-NB? I was looking at that whole thing and I was a bit confused