Questions about overclocking

[DrMrLordX]

If you are using the motherboard auto-OC option, then yes, because it messes with your voltages (often by too much). Sounds like it is mostly a dust and TIM issue. Now, bear in mind, very small amounts of TIM, when properly applied, can lower temperatures rather than raise them, but if there isn't enough, then yes, that's a problem.

Not sure that case fans will help you that much yet, but removing the dust and cleaning/reapplying TIM could further improve your situation. Just remember that more TIM doesn't necessarily mean better temps. You want to cover the IHS with as thin a layer as possible.

Bottom line, though, is that your CPU temps shouldn't change all that much just from an increase in clock speed. If you do it by hand without adjusting voltages, it should still idle at around 32-33C and reach about the same load temperature.

On a side note, I decided to take my sad little Sempron 140 through a no-volt overclock again to see what it would do (it's been awhile). Following my own guide, I got:

CPU: 3471 mhz
NB: 2403 mhz
RAM: DDR3-1424 or so

The RAM overclock is pretty weak, but C2 chips like ours choke on memory speeds above DDR3-1600 - DDR3-1700 most of the time. Mine topped out at DDR3-1666 with auto settings which set really loose timings for that speed (9-9-9-30).

But, all that is without any change in voltage.

 

[blake0812]

The ride never ends. When I change power profiles the temperatures change drastically. Just opening Chrome makes it hot. This is seriously driving me crazy. I'm not using the OC feature anymore, but the voltages change from 1.320 to 1.328 constantly. I'm really hoping for this fan to come in sooner, along with the TIM before I throw this thing out the window.

 

[blake0812]

This is just from restarting Windows.

 

[DrMrLordX]

So you're saying that, at idle, the voltage jitters between 1.32 and 1.328v? I guess that's not terribly strange. It could be related to your power supply or motherboard. Do you still have all the power-saving features disabled? The standards default vcore for your chip should be 1.35v. You're running at a low voltage. That being said, the listed temperature is abnormally high for doing something as light as Chrome (or anything else that puts you at 3% CPU utilization). How hot does it get when you run something like Prime95 Large FFTs @ stock?

 

[blake0812]

So you're saying that, at idle, the voltage jitters between 1.32 and 1.328v? I guess that's not terribly strange. It could be related to your power supply or motherboard. Do you still have all the power-saving features disabled? The standards default vcore for your chip should be 1.35v. You're running at a low voltage. That being said, the listed temperature is abnormally high for doing something as light as Chrome (or anything else that puts you at 3% CPU utilization). How hot does it get when you run something like Prime95 Large FFTs @ stock?

Around 64C. I'm thinking that the layer of TIM isn't enough and it keeps getting hot because of it. Come to think of it, i've swapped the CPU out many times, so it could be that it rubbed off or something of the like.

 

[DrMrLordX]

You do know that you're supposed to clean off all the old TIM and reapply each time you mount the HSF, right? That would be a big part of your heat problem.

 

[blake0812]

You do know that you're supposed to clean off all the old TIM and reapply each time you mount the HSF, right? That would be a big part of your heat problem.

Sorry if I confused you but I haven't applied any yet. I've never applied any at all. I'm still use the TIM that was preapplied on the heatsink that came with the processor.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Yeah, that's what I thought. You can't remove the HSF and then put it back on without cleaning off the TIM/pad that's already on there. You have to clean off the CPU heat spreader (IHS) as well. 91% or better Isopropyl alcohol and coffee filters. Then you apply new TIM. If you don't have any TIM, then you shouldn't take the HSF off until you do. That would explain the temps.

 

[blake0812]

TIM came in and idling at 30C and at load runs at 40C! :biggrin:

Time to overclock

 

[DrMrLordX]

That sounds much better. And as before, I recommend you do a stock volt overclock by hand to start. Good luck!

 

[blake0812]

Overclocked it to 3.45GHz and after awhile everything was spazzing out. Chrome would crash right when I open it, and Steam had missing text. These are my BIOS settings

 

[DrMrLordX]

I think we can safely assume that 3450 mhz is not stable. Back your HTT off by 5 mhz and try again.

 

[blake0812]

I think we can safely assume that 3450 mhz is not stable. Back your HTT off by 5 mhz and try again.

I'm not getting an option to go down by 5 mhz. I'm only getting an option to go down by a factor (x9, x8, x7 etc), though I'm assuming it's because of the motherboard and it's stupid "OC" gimmick.

Also is it normal to go up to around 47C? It makes me a bit anxious that I put too much or too little TIM.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Do you have an option called FSB or HTT? The default value should be 200 mhz.