Vcore/CoreTemp Question

[Bobby16314]

Am I correct in my assumption that I can overvolt the Vcore as much as needed to be Prime stable, as long as I "try" to shy away from Tjmax by maybe 5-10C or so on the safe side and keep the board temp reasonable ?..Don't really wanna take it up to PROCHOT# on a regular basis and have it engage the TM ckt..Tj is 90C with a Tc of 71C on this Q6600 (GO) according to Intel..As it is now, Vcore is @ 1.560 (CPU-Z) stressed out w/Prime95, and my cores hover in the high 60 - low 70C's (Coretemp)..Can pass 3Dmk06 every time no problemo, but i'm not Prime stable for only about 5 min's (no core errors, just BSOD)..The rig ALWAYS works PERFECT under everyday normal to moderate heavy load, but the small FFT's is a bit more than it can swallow..Just would like to get it to run Prime stable overnight.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

BSOD sounds something like a memory or mb issue and NOT sure, but I think that is too high a vcore for long term use.

First run memtest86 vX.XX at 1:1 and see if that works. Start by lowering your multi and the ramp up the fsb. Try to get a base first; know when/where your fsb/nb crap out at (start at stock voltages then work them up) If you pass memtest a few times, boot into OS next with that same setting, then Prime95 using Large FFTs to stress the MB subsystem; find the wall, then work your way up. That'll narrow things down your CPU settings in bios.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: Bobby16314
Am I correct in my assumption that I can overvolt the Vcore as much as needed to be Prime stable, as long as I "try" to shy away from Tjmax by maybe 5-10C or so on the safe side and keep the board temp reasonable ?..Don't really wanna take it up to PROCHOT# on a regular basis and have it engage the TM ckt..Tj is 90C with a Tc of 71C on this Q6600 (GO) according to Intel..As it is now, Vcore is @ 1.560 (CPU-Z) stressed out w/Prime95, and my cores hover in the high 60 - low 70C's (Coretemp)..Can pass 3Dmk06 every time no problemo, but i'm not Prime stable for only about 5 min's (no core errors, just BSOD)..The rig ALWAYS works PERFECT under everyday normal to moderate heavy load, but the small FFT's is a bit more than it can swallow..Just would like to get it to run Prime stable overnight.

You are correct excepting that you also cannot overvolt above the Intel max of 1.55V (which includes Vcc overshoot, hence the max VID is 1.50V and the max overshoot allowed is 0.05V for a max transient time of 25microseconds).

See pages 17-21 in the Intel® Core?2 Extreme Quad-Core Processor QX6000? Sequence and Intel® Core?2 Quad Processor Q6000? Sequence Datasheet.

This is assuming your objective is to overclock your rig without putting it's Vcc, Tcase, and TJmax parameters into the "red zone" where lifetime expectations will fall below Intel's lower guard-band for acceptable in-field fails.

Rest assured though that raising your voltage (by any amount) and elevating processor temps (by any amount) is decreasing the lifetime of your CPU faster than it would have otherwise been decreasing by way of lower volts and lower temps.