T-Bird 1.2G/266 stability probs at temps over 50C

[Brats]

I'm curious, my system is proving to be unstable when CPU temps rise up to or over 50C. Below that it's fine. I'm moderately overclocking my 1.2G/266 AXIA-Y on a Iwill KK266 by bumping the FSB to 144 (1.3G), keeping the default core voltage (and, even at stock FSB=133, Mult=9, 1.2G, it still becomes unstable at the same 50C).

Typical temps are 46C, but running Seti, etc., or when the outside temps get higher, it's becoming difficult to keep it under 50C. I'm using a Tornado II fan, with Artic Silver.

Is this unusual for the CPU to get flakey at only 50C?

Thanks,

Brats

 

[crypto1300]

Brats,
My 1.33GHz/266 TBird @ 1.4GHz/280 seems to run fine at over 50 degrees. Static temp is about 41-43 degrees & under load 51-53 degrees. I do have one of the AYHJA stepping TBirds using a GlobalWin WBK68 fan/heatsink w/ standard thermal goo. My previous 1.GHz Tbird (AVIA) also ran fine at 1.2GHz/266 at about 39-41 degrees static & 48-51 degreees under load. I hope this helps.

 

[Brats]

Thanks. Yeah, that helps. I makes me jealous . Does your CPU ever get hotter than that? Mine has "run" up to 57C, this was when I first noticed the problems, and I worked to get it down. Further, I remember (although I don't have it in front of me) that the "official" spec for this CPU allowed for temps up to around 90C. (That seems excessive). So, if my memory's correct, I should certainly have a bunch of margin at 50C or so.

 

[azdevil]

Hey, I feel your pain.
I cross my fingers when I try to o/c my 1.2 on a k7master. My temps are always 50 or higher. I am runing stable at 1314, I can get it to maybe 1344, but I have to run it at 1.8v. It gets unstable at anything higher. You may want to check you actual core voltage. I know at default, mine was giving me 1.8. I turned it down to 1.60 in the bios and it runs at 1.71. Saves me a few degrees. I'm thinking of trying water cooling, but it is quite an investment for what might not be much of an improvement. I also heard that the "fatal" temp is 90. Well I think I will run it at a mult. of 9 and just jack the fsb as high as I can, try to get better all system benifits and ram benchmarks.
Good Luck and keep cool

 

[WarCon]

Some chips just don't like to overclock with only default voltage, especially if they are already getting "warm". Try more voltage if you want stability. And is the Tornado II a good heatsink. I don't recollect hearing about it anywhere. Heatsinks make a ton of difference, even if the socket thermistor doesn't show it, a good heatsink may only lower the socket thermistor temps a few degrees, but make the difference whether you can overclock well or not. Soon we will have a better way to tell if the heatsink works or not, when the desktop A4 comes out and they build support for it in the motherboards. Then we will be reading the temps for an on-die thermistor, instead of the through the ceramic of the chip.

 

[Brats]

warcon:

<< And is the Tornado II a good heatsink. I don't recollect hearing about it anywhere. Heatsinks make a ton of difference, even if the socket thermistor doesn't show it, a good heatsink may only lower the socket thermistor temps a few degrees, but make the difference whether you can overclock well or not. >>



The Volcano II is a nice heatsink, but not the top-of-the-line. I picked it up with the CPU at newegg for just $8. You can read a couple of reviews of it at ocaddiction or at dansdata. It's made by Thermaltake, the guys who put out the not-so-grand Orbs.

However, given my temp problems, I think I need to upgrade my cooler, so I'm looking at a few right now.

My main concern, though, was that even at stock speed (1.2G) my chip is unstable at a reading of 50C. Perhaps my CPU is weak, or it could be my mobo sensor isn't giving me the true reading. I've been able, even at a summer outside temp of 95F today, to keep it under 50C and all's been fine.

Thanks,

Brats

 

[Pabster]

The CPUs are rated to 95C, but that's absurd. In reality, 60C is the cutoff. If you are at that, or approaching, you need better cooling. For me personally, 40C is a maximum. I'm currently running at 36C full load, and that's even a bit warmer than I'd like. That HS/F seems awful weak...

 

[WarCon]

Ahh I read the Tornado II fan on your first post and was confused. I have heard of a Tornado II case, but not a fan (heatsink fan). One thing to check is if your hsf is warm or even more than warm. That means its not dumping its heat real well. The thermistor on your mobo may be reading 50C but the die temp may be 60C or 70C or higher. No real way of knowing. But on my KT7A, if I even get close to 51C (only time I got that high was with the stock heatsink and it got warm in my room), I lock up usually. And right now I have noticed with my watercooler I can push the chips higher than they use to go with aircooling, but I have a lot lower temp that my chip goes unstable at. Probably do to the voltage I am running. (2vcore).