Slowly degrading?

Corey0808

Senior member
Sep 26, 2003
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As you can see in my profile I have an AMD mobile 2500+ @ 2.5gHz @ 1.7v. Back when I got it, it would pass prime95 no problem. Now after a few minutes it locks my system up. I don't believe heat is an issue. The highest temp on prime95 I saw before lock up was 49C. It is kind of hot outside. What do you guys think I should do? Thanks!
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
19
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It's the weather. My computer is the exact same; all winter it ran 2500mhz 100% stable. Then it got hot outside and I had to back it down to 2400mhz and reduce the voltage.
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
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Yes definately. At 2500mhz these chips pump out a ton of heat. My computer was actually warming my room up during the winter. I barely notice the 100mhz that I had to lose. You shouldn't risk stablilty for anything; you can lose your data and stuff.
 

Corey0808

Senior member
Sep 26, 2003
463
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Ok. I'll turn it down a notch :). I wonder how low of a voltage I can get for 2400mHz. What is your voltage at? I Was running SETI@Home fine, now it locks up after 12-13hrs or so hopefull it will run fine again.
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
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I was running 2500mhz at 1.80v. I'm currently running 2400mhz at 1.70v. From the sounds of it you have a better chip than me, or else you have better cooling. Try 1.65v to start, and slowly go down from there.
 

Corey0808

Senior member
Sep 26, 2003
463
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Yea... I have it at 1.65v @ 2400mHz. I did prime95 and it survived 4 hours with no errors. I decided to start up SETI@Home again, to see if it locks up. I hope it doesn't.

I just don't understand why it would be heat. The temperatures are well within the normal range. I just don't understand why it would cause it to not pass prime95 or run SETI@Home continuously. But, hopefully that's what it is
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
19
81
Originally posted by: Corey0808
I just don't understand why it would be heat.

Hot times, summer in the city. :p :beer:

Your ambient room temperature is probably higher, making things much more difficult for your HSF and CPU.
 

mindless1

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2001
8,723
1,735
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A couple of other things to consider are thermal compound degradation and motherboard capacitors wearing. Truth is that no board is meant to run a 2.5GHz chip overvolted. Granted they engineer margin into boards but certainly it reduces lifespan of the board sooner than CPU.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
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Sickbeast is correct the increased temps lower OC.

The approx formula is for every 10C you drop in temps = 100 more Mhz at same Vcore.