What's a good / safe overclock for daily use?

[integramodder]

I just assembled the following SYSTEM:

Antec - SOHO File Server - SX1045BII
MSI - Internal 52x24x52/16x Combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM Drive - XA52P
Tuniq - Tower 120 P4 & K8 CPU Cooler -
Intel - Core 2 Duo E6420 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 - BX80557E6420
Sony NEC - Optiarc, Black, 2MB Cache SATA 18X DVD±RW DVD Burner - BX80557E6420
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s WD5000AAKS
Western Digital - 74GB Raptor 8MB Buffer 10000RPM Serial ATA - WD740GDRTL
Seagate - 300GB Retail Box Ultra DMA100, 8MB Buffer, 7200RPM - ST3300083A
Seagate - 500GB Retail Box Ultra DMA100, 8MB Buffer, 7200RPM - ST3500084A
ASUS - LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - P5B Deluxe
Ultra - V Series, 500 Watt ATX - ULT31841
Corsair - 2GB Kit DDR2-800 XMS2-6400 Xtreme Performance Memory - TWIN2X2048-6400C4
eVGA - GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP - 640-P2-N821-AR
ENCORE - PCI Wireless Adapter - ENLWI-G(2)




I used THIS guide to help me overclock. Currently its running pretty stable with the following settings:

CPU Frequency - 450 MHz
DRAM Frequency - DDR2-900 MHz
PCI Express Frequency - 100 MHz
PCI Clock Synchronization Mode - 33.33 MHz
Spread Spectrum - Disabled
Memory Voltage - 2.15 V
CPU vCore Voltage - 1.425 V
FSB Termination Voltage - 1.400 V
NB vCore - Auto
SB vCore (SATA, PCIEE) - 1.60 V
ICH Chipset Voltage - 1.215 V
Multiplier - 8

Overclock - 169 %
CPU Speed - 3600 MHz
RAM Speed - 900 MHz




I haven't performed the stability tests yet, but just basic system use for about 20 minutes was fine. I want to know if this is too much for the system considering it usually doesn't get turned off. Most of the time its just idling, but its also my file server, so minimal load will be exerted on it.

Thanks for the input...

 

[integramodder]

http://www.poldim.com/temp/chimera,%20new,%20status.jpg

Status from CPU Temp and CPU Z.

 

[n7]

Run some Orthos.

If you expect it to run 24/7 w/o running stability testing, you might just be pushing your luck a little.

Very nice OC though

 

[integramodder]

Originally posted by: n7
Run some Orthos.

If you expect it to run 24/7 w/o running stability testing, you might just be pushing your luck a little.

Very nice OC though

I'm not planning on running it without stability tests...just want to find out if this overclock is OK to run 24/7 or if I should tone it down...

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: integramodder

Originally posted by: n7
Run some Orthos.

If you expect it to run 24/7 w/o running stability testing, you might just be pushing your luck a little.

Very nice OC though

I'm not planning on running it without stability tests...just want to find out if this overclock is OK to run 24/7 or if I should tone it down...

You won't know unless you start testing for stability

 

[jkresh]

If you can run dual prime 95 or orthos for 24+ hours then its probably fine, if not then it depends on how important stability is to you, if an occasional error is ok and it runs for a couple of hours then you could leave it, if it crashes after a few minutes then you need to either up the voltage or lower the clockspeed.

 

[integramodder]

http://www.poldim.com/temp/chimera,%20new,%20status.jpg

This is currently 147 minutes into it and is past test 9 on the 14K.

 

[integramodder]

ttt

 

[n7]

Very nice.

I assume 3.6 GHz wasn't as stable as you thought ?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Why do you need an insane overclock on a file server anyways? They are not CPU-intensive, and if anything, one would rather wish to save power if it is on 24/7. Then again, I'm guessing that the OP is doing this more for bragging rights than for practical reasons.

 

[Roguestar]

I'd say it's fine for daily use if
- you've tested it for at least 24 hours, preferably Orthos blend
- it is not particularly highly overvolted
- temperatures are fine

:thumbsup:

 

[integramodder]

Just woke up to find this: http://www.poldim.com/temp/chi...0new,%20status%202.jpg

It failed the ORTHOS test 9 hours 16 minutes into the test. Any suggestions on what can be done to make it stable at this speed?
Temps were 56C during full load yesterday, but the temp in the room was between 76F-80F. Now that its cooled down in here the room to ~68F and its at idle the temps were 22C.


The computer is going to be used for very limited gaming and pretty strenuous CAD work. Some of these assemblies have over a thousand parts so I'd like to keep at high a stable performance as possible.
I also need to get a soft lead pencil and do the pencil mod. See if that helps any...

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: integramodder
What's a good / safe overclock for daily use?


The computer is going to be used for very limited gaming and pretty strenuous CAD work. Some of these assemblies have over a thousand parts so I'd like to keep at high a stable performance as possible.

Observations...
1. "OCing" and "100% stability" shouldn't be used in the same sentence.
2. Critical projects shouldn't be run on an OC'd machine.
3. I'm not against OCing at all. For gaming, bragging or whatever... OC till the cows come home. But for real world projects, stick with defaults.
4. Hold on until late July, then buy a faster CPU.
5. The whole point of OCing back in the day, was to sort of get something for nothing.
The CPU's were higher priced, yet some lower cost processors could OC to the higher level.
OCing is all about getting the maximum out of the minimum... 100% stability was never the number 1 goal.
If they could get their CPU blasted to the outer limits, OC'rs had no problem living with 90% stability.

 

[integramodder]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: integramodder
What's a good / safe overclock for daily use?


The computer is going to be used for very limited gaming and pretty strenuous CAD work. Some of these assemblies have over a thousand parts so I'd like to keep at high a stable performance as possible.

Observations...
1. "OCing" and "100% stability" shouldn't be used in the same sentence.
2. Critical projects shouldn't be run on an OC'd machine.
3. I'm not against OCing at all. For gaming, bragging or whatever... OC till the cows come home. But for real world projects, stick with defaults.
4. Hold on until late July, then buy a faster CPU.
5. The whole point of OCing back in the day, was to sort of get something for nothing.
The CPU's were higher priced, yet some lower cost processors could OC to the higher level.
OCing is all about getting the maximum out of the minimum... 100% stability was never the number 1 goal.
If they could get their CPU blasted to the outer limits, OC'rs had no problem living with 90% stability.

I never mentioned 100% stability.
I don't work for NASA.
Cool.
Since I'm doing the stability tests now would generally mean I already have all of my components.
This is exactly what I'm trying to do.

 

[Ruger22C]

"4. Hold on until late July, then buy a faster CPU."

Why late july, is there a always a price drop around that time?

 

[n7]

9 hours w/o an error is pretty good.

Personally, that's more that stable IMO.

But some feel you need 12+, or 24+, etc.

Unless you're running some pretty damn intensive stuff on there, the chances of it failing during general use are pretty much nonexistent based on your results.

Each to their own though.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Ruger22C
"4. Hold on until late July, then buy a faster CPU."

Why late july, is there a always a price drop around that time?

Not always... just this July 22nd

 

[integramodder]

Originally posted by: n7
9 hours w/o an error is pretty good.

Personally, that's more that stable IMO.

But some feel you need 12+, or 24+, etc.

Unless you're running some pretty damn intensive stuff on there, the chances of it failing during general use are pretty much nonexistent based on your results.

Each to their own though.

We've got very similar systems....your processor and video are a step above...


I'll try to load up the bulk of my software tonight and see how she runs with CAD and what not. If its stable I'm just going to leave it alone and call it a day.

I did the pencil mod this morning before I left, and now ran a couple tests and it definitely decreased the amount of CPU vCore drop shown on CPU-Z.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: integramodder
I never mentioned 100% stability.
I don't work for NASA.

* What is a "high a stable performance as possible"?
* Is your "pretty strenuous CAD work" important?

 

[integramodder]

Stable enough is when it does not crash daily. If it crashes once a week or less, thats fine with me. I'm a save junkie and wont be killed by it. The amount of downtime I will incur from crashes will be easily made up by the 60% boost in performance. If I find it crashing more than I'd like, then I'll tone it down.
Its important enough to pay for this upgrade.


Current status: I started it up on another ORTHOS run earlier today and its currently crunching along forover 10 hours...

 

[integramodder]

As far as I'm concerned, it passes the ORTHOS test with flying colors: http://www.poldim.com/temp/chi...0new,%20status%203.jpg
32.5 hours on each core.