Whirlpool

I was trying to overlock my e8400 to 3.6, i was just wondering why the vcore shows up as a different figure every program i use coretemp compared to everest and fan speed.

Also in bios, why does the voltage show up as a different figure on the different bios screens, take a look:
i294.photobucket.com/alb...w3i/DSC00010.jpg
i294.photobucket.com/alb...w3i/DSC00009.jpg

And one more thing, is it possible to kill your cpu by giving too less vcore?

use CPU-Z, its more acurate for overclocking purposes.

Secondly, why are you running it at 1.125v (when stock is 1.225v)?
Since you are overclocking there really isnt an issue of giving too less vcore, i mean u keep increasing (to a point of course) until you are stable

Roony writes...

Secondly, why are you running it at 1.125v (when stock is 1.225v)?

Isnt the lower vcore, the better (If stable)?

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

Isnt the lower vcore, the better (If stable)?

wel yeah if you can get it stable. But good luck at getting it stable at 1.125v :P. well, there is no need to go below stock vcore. You said you tried to get to 3.6ghz. So put it back at 1.225v, and see if it is stable at 3.6ghz.

But go slowly, get upto maybe 3.2ghz and test. Then 3.4 and test etc etc. Some people have gotten to 3.6ghz on stock vcore, which is excellent.

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

And one more thing, is it possible to kill your cpu by giving too less vcore?

nope :)

i was just wondering why the vcore shows up as a different figure every program i use coretemp compared to everest and fan speed.

cpu-z has been proven to be very reliable for reading the core voltage. core temp displays the stock voltage of the cpu. does everest and speedfan display the same vcore?

Well i set the stock core @1.225V 3.6ghz, and cpu-z, everest and speedfan all say my vcore is 1.18V, so do i actually go by BIOS or those three programs? My guess is the programs cause they are all the same

Well technically all of them. Remember there are 3 main voltage "levels".
BIOS Setting -> Idle -> Load

Multimeter FTW :P

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

Well i set the stock core @1.225V 3.6ghz, and cpu-z, everest and speedfan all say my vcore is 1.18V, so do i actually go by BIOS or those three programs? My guess is the programs cause they are all the same

Go with CPU-Z it has shown to be reliable.
There is Voltage Droop between Bios & When going into Windows that's normal also the voltage will drop a little further when CPU is under load that is normal & expected.

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

What is your motherboard?

I have the cheap GA Ep35-DS3 mobo, how should i stress test my comp to see if it is stable now, would passing about 8 hours of prime95 large FFT be enough for it not to crash on me?

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

GA Ep35-DS3

I think this mobo has 'loadline calibration' feature in the bios, MIT section. Enable it, helps redunce vdroop.

8 hours of prime95 large FFT be enough for it not to crash on me?

Generally yes.

im sorry, but what exactly is the vdroop?

Also how do i know if i am stressing both cores of my cpu with prime95, is it just running 2 instances will stress both cores?

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

about 8 hours of prime95 large FFT be enough for it not to crash on me?

Small FFT.
And highly recommend to do 1 hour of OCCT, and a 32M run of SuperPi.
(I use HyperPI which is kinda like Prime, automatically runs 4 SuperPi's)

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

im sorry, but what exactly is the vdroop?

Vdrop is BIOS to Windows/CPU-Z Idle. e.g. 1.5V -> 1.48V
Vdroop is Idle to Loaded. e.g. 1.48V -> 1.44V

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

how do i know if i am stressing both cores of my cpu with prime95

Use Orthos or Prime v25.

dufflover writes...

Vdroop is Idle to Loaded. e.g. 1.48V -> 1.44V

let me guess this straight, so if i do have the 'loadline calibration' function and enable it, it should make load and idle voltage not change to dramatically from one another?

Yep that's the idea of it.

dufflover writes...

Small FFT.
Or Blend if your RAM is overclocked as well. :)

g1raffe writes...

Or Blend if your RAM is overclocked as well. :)

I got 800mhz RAM, so i dont think i need to blend test unless i decide to oc' higher. I am tempted to oc' more, but not to sure bout my temps, im thinking 3.8 possibly.

What do you guys think:
i294.photobucket.com/alb...w3i/Untitled.jpg

Note: Core#1 @54C Core#2 @50C have been like that pretty much through the whole time of prime95, is that normal, or do i have a core sticking problem? When idle both cores do go down to bout 39-42C.

anybody?

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

got 800mhz RAM, so i dont think i need to blend test unless i decide to oc' higher.

ive found that blend test also helps to tell if the cpu is stable or not. You should still do it maybe as a final test.

Note: Core#1 @54C Core#2 @50C have been like that pretty much through the whole time of prime95

Well thats normal, as its on load so it wont fluctate much at all.
Real Temp shows the accurate temps. And its looks normal and fine.

Thanks Roony, you have provided most input here, i think i have all the advice i need for the time.

Thanks everyone else also!!! Hope you all have a nice day ;)

Mine is stable at 1.38 OC'd to 4.01

Is that 1.38 in bios or cpu-z?

I'm having trouble getting mine stable at 4Ghz. I overclocked it last weekend and it prime95'd for an hour and a half, but now will BSOD randomly with the computer at idle. (sitting desktop with iTunes open listening to music sort of thing, or when also playing Crysis randomly)

Then Vista boots up again and tells me it's a cpu problem.

I've got 1.3625v in bios which is 1.312v in cpu-z at idle and 1.288v at load.

If you're running 1.38v in cpu-z that would explain why mine is unstable!

wippet writes...

I've got 1.3625v in bios which is 1.312v in cpu-z at idle and 1.288v at load.

Just increase it more, cpu is the reading you should look at, not bios setting. As your getting BSOD, your cpu is very unstable.

I was stable at 1.376 at 3.97ghz. But for some reason now its not :\ at the same voltage (computer would freeze for a few seconds at times so decided to restest), testing at 3.93ghz now :(

Yeah mine seems to be doing that too. It's stable and then a few days later, nup not stable anymore.

I'm a bit hesitant to increase the voltages more as I'm running at 70degrees during Prime95 now and that's with a Noctua U12P with two fans blowing out the 200mm top fan in an Antec 900. (Also getting fresh air from a 120mm side fan blowing in)

What temps are you getting?

wippet writes...

What temps are you getting?

i have the same noctua cooler, im getting 57C max load, that too with the noctua fan running at 900rpm (in antec p182 case).

Are you using Real Temp to check your temps?

70C is too high especially with your cooler.

Roony writes...

I was stable at 1.376 at 3.97ghz. But for some reason now its not :\ at the same voltage (computer would freeze for a few seconds at times so decided to restest), testing at 3.93ghz now :(

What board do you have?

s3n writes...

What board do you have?

GA x38 ds4. On a previous p35 board i could only get to 3.96ghz stable. Same case on my current board.

However ran the cpu at 8.5 multiplier (8.5x466) and bumped up the fsb. Was stable, been using for past couple of months. As of late, the system would freeze for a few seconds (not crash). Soi ran now at normal 9multiplier (9x440), and rested at 3.96ghz. Not stable.

My cpu seems to be moody, i hope no degradation. Ram is not an issue

My cpu seems to be moody, i hope no degradation. Ram is not an issue

How hot is your cpu temp ?

OptimusMe writes...

How hot is your cpu temp ?

57C max on load. Around 39C on idle

Roony writes...

57C max on load. Around 39C on idle

I'm running 60c on load, and my cpu running fine, so I don't think your cpu is dying.
What voltage is your cpu ?

I'm running at 1.7 Volt for couple of months.

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1914/spi32mzm0kx1qg1.jpg

OptimusMe writes...

I'm running at 1.7 Volt for couple of months

whoa! im at 1.376v idle, with 1.360v on load. Is your system still stable runnin at those volts?

Roony writes...

Is your system still stable runnin at those volts?

It's running stable so far.
We shall see how long it's gonna last. I hope it's last before my next upgrade :P

Thats very impressive 32M Super Pi stable at @4.860.
see if you can brake the 10 min. :)
What is your 1M super Pi time? do you have a pic.

OptimusMe writes...

I'm running 60c on load, and my cpu running fine

What Cooling are you using...that is incredible result keeping the cpu 60°c using 1.7v & load?

Any luck with Prime95/Orthos..how long does it last?

Hi Guys,

Sorry to Hijack but could use a bit of advice on my e8400. Have overclocked to 3.6 (9 x 400) stable now for 11+ hours on 1.2315 vcore (1.20 cpu-z)...45 idle, 54 load. The rest of my voltages on auto (using p5k pro mobo, 4g ddr2 800 ram).

this is my first overclock so I'm quite happy with this.

I have two questions though. Firstly, where to next? Should I now set my NB core to stcok and work up until stable? Or just leave all other voltages on auto if it is stable?

Secondly, my Ram is running at 800, if I choose to overclock to 4ghz how ill they affect my 800mhz ram? Do I need to tweak the ram for this to be a possibilty?

Any help would be aprreciated.

Cheers

illie77 writes...

The rest of my voltages on auto

set all volts to manual, so that your board doent give uneeded extra volts to the NB.

work your way up slowly, you might have to increase the volts onthe fsb and NB a notch.

As for ram, i guess you have it on 1:1 ratio. You ram would overclock beyond 400fsb so loosen the timings of the ram for now. WHen u find your desired stable overclock, then try to tighten the ram again if u can. Might have to increase the ram volt also as needed

illie77 writes...

45 idle, 54 load.

Hmmm, are you on stock cooling? cause mine 3.6ghz @1.225V idle/load 20C/40C, using thermalright ultima 90i cooler.

I have two questions though. Firstly, where to next? Should I now set my NB core to stcok and work up until stable? Or just leave all other voltages on auto if it is stable?

Im not too sure, but i heard it is not safe to leave voltages on auto when overclocking, better to set it manually

Secondly, my Ram is running at 800, if I choose to overclock to 4ghz how ill they affect my 800mhz ram? Do I need to tweak the ram for this to be a possibilty?

Well if you overclock to 4ghz, your ram should be running at a minimum 890mhz (445 *2), which would mean you probably need to up ram volts, depending on what brand ram you have, you may run into instability issues.

work your way up slowly, you might have to increase the volts onthe fsb and NB a notch.

Thanks for your quick reply mate. I'm a bit of a noob so bare with me. by fsb voltage do you mean 'fsb termination voltage'? So start all voltages at stock and work my way up

Roony writes...

As for ram, i guess you have it on 1:1 ratio. You ram would overclock beyond 400fsb so loosen the timings of the ram for now.

Yep, on 1:1 ratio. My current timings are 5-5-5-15, what would you suggest?

work your way up slowly, you might have to increase the volts onthe fsb and NB a notch.

Thanks for your quick reply mate. I'm a bit of a noob so bare with me. by fsb voltage do you mean 'fsb termination voltage'? So start all voltages at stock and work my way up

Roony writes...

As for ram, i guess you have it on 1:1 ratio. You ram would overclock beyond 400fsb so loosen the timings of the ram for now.

Yep, on 1:1 ratio. My current timings are 5-5-5-15, what would you suggest?

My apologies for the double post above, internet playing up.

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

Hmmm, are you on stock cooling? cause mine 3.6ghz @1.225V idle/load 20C/40C, using thermalright ultima 90i cooler

I'm using a Thermaltake BT 120 vx...those temps I quoted are using coretemp, realtemp shows 33 idle, 43 load.

depending on what brand ram you have, you may run into instability issues.

I using Transcend jetram ddr2-800 4g kit, can you see any potential issues with this?

Thanks

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

And one more thing, is it possible to kill your cpu by giving too less vcore?

that's like saying is it possible to kill yourself by smoking too little... the answer is no.

illie77 writes...

do you mean 'fsb termination voltage'

im not sure exactly what is written in the asus bios. But there would be one for fsb NB and ddr2 (also for pci-e which u dont have to touch)

So start all voltages at stock and work my way up

yes

illie77 writes...

I using Transcend jetram ddr2-800 4g kit, can you see any potential issues with this?

well it would be able to overclock, how much you will have to see for yourself. AS for ram timings, what i do is to leave the timings on auto, so that the bios loosens it up on its own. That way i dont have to worry about ram timings being an issue until i find my stable overclock. At the end then i tighten the ram and retest.

Thanks for the advice Roony, I'll give it a try now...post initial results soon

Roony writes...

AS for ram timings, what i do is to leave the timings on auto, so that the bios loosens it up on its own. That way i dont have to worry about ram timings being an issue until i find my stable overclock. At the end then i tighten the ram and retest.

If I set my timings to auto, will cpu-z display timings selcted by BIOS?

Roony writes...

i have the same noctua cooler,

Damn you're 10 degrees cooler and running .064v more with the same fan, what the hell?? Did you use the supplied Noctua thermal paste or something else? Also I'm using SpeedFan 4.33

I'll try lowering the voltages for the MCF or whatever it is as I've set them manually as well, or will they do nothing for the cpu temp?

I googled a bit before installing the heatsink and found that thermal paste the size of a piece of rice was supposed to be the way to do it, and the heat when in use would spread it around.

At stock voltage I was idling on 42 degrees and getting to 48 under load which was happy with (stock heatsink was 68) on load, but your temps would suggest I'm way out of the ballpark and must have installed it wrong.

illie77 writes...

If I set my timings to auto, will cpu-z display timings selcted by BIOS?

yes

wippet writes...

Did you use the supplied Noctua thermal paste or something else? Also I'm using SpeedFan 4.33

yeah used the same. I dont use speedfan. Try Real Temp, that is accurate.

but your temps would suggest I'm way out of the ballpark and must have installed it wrong

could be, just a small 4mm or so drop is enough. Perhaps try it again.

Thanks Roony. Two hours in, all stable with stock voltage. Will let it run for a few more hours then up it to 3.8ghz

illie77 writes...

Thanks Roony.

no worries. Im still confused about my own oc, now its again stable at 3.96ghz. moody chip lol. I hate testing so much. oh well

illie77 writes...

I'm using a Thermaltake BT 120 vx...those temps I quoted are using coretemp, realtemp shows 33 idle, 43 load.

Oh my mistake, i thought those were cpu temps, so those temps you indicated are core temp, then yours bout the same as mine, core#1/core#2 41C/39C idle 55C/52C load

~+SuFu_w3i+~ writes...

Oh my mistake, i thought those were cpu temps, so those temps you indicated are core temp, then yours bout the same as mine, core#1/core#2 41C/39C idle 55C/52C load

Yeah, not sure how accurate coretemp is, but have been using it from the begining so will stick with it now to keep my results true

illie77 writes...

Yeah, not sure how accurate coretemp is, but have been using it from the begining so will stick with it now to keep my results true

I heard real temp was most accurate for these 45nm chips, which shows roughly 10C lower than core temp.

Yeah, I've read that a couple of times too. I keep an eye on both but use coretemp as my constant.

illie77, have you seen this guide? Worked well for me with the p5k pro.

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/overclocking/2-c2d-overclocking-guide-beginners-p5k-add.html

Tom writes...

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/overclocking/2-c2d-overclocking-guide-beginners-p5k-add.html

+1 Nice Guide! Highly Recommended for Asus Boards.

Tom writes...

illie77, have you seen this guide? Worked well for me with the p5k pro.

Cheers Tom, I'll take a look. Have run into trouble at 3.87ghz, can't keep it stable for the life of me. I'll check out the guide. Thanks to all for the help!!!

RealTemp is tested/confirmed accurate using an IR thermometer at the heatspreader. So in a sense it confirms CoreTemp should be measuring the true core temperatures. I go by CoreTemp also because it's the core temps that are important for longevity.
I try keep it below 65 degrees @ load Orthos small FFTs – 70 max.

s3n writes...

I try keep it below 65 degrees @ load Orthos small FFTs – 70 max

what frequency are you running your chip at?
– It is an E8400 yes?

DigitalJedi writes...

what frequency are you running your chip at?

3.996Ghz

is it normal for my E8400 to need a really big voltage increase to get from 3.8GHz to 4GHz? at 3.8 I can have stable in Orthos 24+ hours at v1.3625 but for that 200MHz jump i cant get stable at all.

at v1.425 it was stable for 40mins but got a error and i don't really like putting it much higher. would something else be stopping me?

Jordo_6 writes...

at 3.8 I can have stable in Orthos 24+ hours at v1.3625 but for that 200MHz jump i cant get stable at all.

Sounds about right. I've read that to get close to the 4GHz mark you really need to up the voltage. Probably close to 1.4-1.5v but like you I'm a bit worried how that kind of voltage will affect the CPU lifetime

yes, i dont think it would be my FSB or my ram on my GA-P35-DS3P because I tried Orthos with all settings to make it 4GHz but i changed the Multiplier to 8 so the core was only 3.5GHz.

I did this to see if the ram or fsb was holding me back but they ran fine at the speed, just doesn't like it at 9x when it really is at 4GHz

Jordo_6 writes...

is it normal for my E8400 to need a really big voltage increase to get from 3.8GHz to 4GHz? at 3.8 I can have stable in Orthos 24+ hours at v1.3625 but for that 200MHz jump i cant get stable at all.

From what i have read its different for every CPU, some people are able to achieve lower higher speeds with lower volts.

Currently im 8 hours stable on Orthos at 4.0Ghz at 1.34V i started at 1.4V and have been slowly dropping it down ever since.

Jordo_6 writes...

at v1.425 it was stable for 40mins but got a error and i don't really like putting it much higher. would something else be stopping me?

What is the actual vcore, read by CPU-Z(idle and load)?

Go by that voltage, not what you set in the BIOS.

g1raffe writes...

What is the actual vcore, read by CPU-Z(idle and load)?

Go by that voltage, not what you set in the BIOS.

im not sure atm cause im not at home, but im pretty sure its around 1.3 when its 1.4 in the bios