Voltage Descrepancy

[Jedi940]

I am performing what I will call my first knowledgeable overclock on my e6600. So far I am at 395 X 9 giving me a core speed of 3.55 GHZ I am still testing for stability right now.

BIOS SETTINGS
Vcore = 1.54
FSB = +.2
MCH = +.2
Memory +.2

Memory timings have been relaxed to 5-5-5-15 although with the memory only running at 790mhz, I should have no problem bumping it back to 4-4-4-12 after I find my stable overclock.

Temps under TAT using Prime95 for stress
core 0 = 62
core 1 = 59

Now I know that voltage on the vcore is high, but in CPU-z I am getting a reading of only 1.46 - 1.47

First of all, can CPU-z be trusted to give correct voltage readings?

Second, am was reading about pencil mods. Can one be done on the GA-965P-DS3? will this help to keep voltage the same from the bios setting to the actual output? If it can be, does anyone have a link with a tutoroial or pictures on how to do it?

I was at 1.53v and it was stable for 2.5 hours. I bumped up the voltage another +.00625 and it just memory dumped at about the two hour mark while the previous crash was due to a rounding error and I was able to shut down the computer properly. Why the sudden hard crash I wonder? I plan to stop the voltage increases at 1.55v

I was hoping to reach 3.6 - 3.8 but that looks like it might not happen. Any suggestions you have will be helpful. right now i am trying to reach the maximum possible stable overclock and then i will back it off for efficiency.

The rest of my system should be listed in my sig. for cooling, I am using the thermalright ultra 120 extreme with a scythe s-flex fan at 63cfm.

 

[genec57]

the difference in voltage is called vDroop. The latest version of CPu-Z accurately reports vcore.
I don't know about the pencil mod - I have heard about it but don't need it. The Asus P5K deluxe has answered vdroop.
I think your stability issues simply need more voltage. There is no difference that I am aware of as to which error you got. They both indicate instability.
You don't say what cooling solution you are using. I assume air and I expect you are about as far as you are going to get with air cooling. I was able to get 3.8 with my e6600 on water but all chips are different.
Oops, I see your cooling now - good air solution but you likely need water to get higher oc.

 

[Jedi940]

So, if cpuz is recording the voltage correctly, at 1.47 even though I have the bios set at 1.54, can i safely bump the voltage up above 1.55. That is what intel says is the max voltage for the chip before damage occurs.

cooling is a thermalright ultra 120 extreme with sythe s-flex fan at 63cfm

 

[genec57]

I feel ok with vCore as high as 1.55 measured for short periods. with air cooling I doubt that you will be able to get that high without excessive temperature. You should not exceed 25c under the tjunction which in the case of the e6600 is 85c. The voltage I show in my sig I kept only long enough to get stable. I am now at 3.6 and vCore of 1.47. One advantage of the quad chip for oc is the tjunction of 100c which gives a lot more head room.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Limit Vcore to 1.5 max in BIOS. Your chip is already running out out gas. Keep max temp under 60C when you run TAT/S&M heat/Orthos Large mode.

 

[Jedi940]

I wasn't going to go over 1.5 in the bios until i realized that the chip isn't even using 1.5 volts. It is only up to 1.47. I think I could get to 3.6 GHz if I could get the chip to use the actual 1.5v. so far, temps are fine. they only get too high if i use tat to stress test. using Prime95, I only get up to about 60C. In addition to this, I will eventually get a NB Cooler. Right now I have a fan zip tied to the factory HS that I had lying around. Then When I get the NB cooler, I will take my Ultra 120 extreme back off and lap it in order to get some more head room.

Should I consider a Pencil mod in order to loose the vDroop that I get. the differnce between 1.54 (BIOS) and 1.47 (CPU-z) is considerable. If I could get rid of that I would definitely not go over 1.5v

genec57. With your Q6700 at 3800 with 1.58v, was that measured using cpuz or set in the bios with actual voltage less?

 

[genec57]

That was measured. I backed it off as soon as I confirmed it was Othos stable. The temps were in the mid-sixties at that point.

 

[Jedi940]

so I i set the voltage to 1.6 or so in the BIOS but get actual readings of around 1.5, do you think I will be ok?

 

[genec57]

You are not likely to have a catastrophic failure but watch your temps very carefully. I agree with SerpentRoyal that your chip is probably about maxed, particularly on air. If your load temps get as high as 65 I would immediately back off and drop the vCore.
3.5 ghz was the best I could ever safely get with the e6600 under air with a lapped Tuniq tower.

 

[Jedi940]

Well, I did it. I have it stable at 3.55 GHz going on 4+ hours without errors. CPU-z is showing voltage levels at 1.472 to 1.480 with the bios being set at 1.55. Temps are steady at 59C with Prime95. This is with the side of my case off however. With it on, I get temps around 62C. The problem is being an older case, the 2 80mm fans at the back just can't keep up with the processor and the heat from the other components. I will probably mod the case by drilling a few holes in the back and fitting it with a 120 mm fan to increase airflow. In addition, I will try to put at least one of the side fans back in. Hopefully this will help keep temps where they are with the side of the case off. I might try to push to 3.6 so that I can have my memory run at full speed but I am pretty pleased with my temps and speed right now. Thanks for all your help!!