After a few tweaks and reboots, we reduced our core voltage from 1.4250V to 1.3875V, increased our NB speed from 2.2GHz to 2.4GHz, and changed our clock multiplier from 15.5 to 16 giving us a 3.2GHz core clock speed. This is an instant 100MHz increase in core speed while decreasing core voltages by 3%, increasing NB clock speed by 9%, and improving memory latencies up to 6% (all important L3 cache). These results were completed with ACC on set and forget auto settings.
We have reached 3.3GHz on this CPU with further tuning of system settings including individual core tuning with ACC. While are initial 100MHz speed increase may not sound impressive, we must consider the fact that this CPU was right on the ragged edge of stability at 3.1GHz. We are now able to run higher NB clock speeds and higher core clock speeds at lower voltages while maintaining a fair amount of headroom for further performance improvements. Even more impressive (results tomorrow) is that fact that this CPU will now clock to 3GHz on stock voltages instead of 2.7GHz before tuning with ACC.
Looking good so far. Hope they make it with Captain Dirk.
Good news; I wonder how much of a limiting factor the NB clock is. I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was a significant bottleneck for the Phenoms. Maybe 45nm will help in this regard.
As you may know from this page of our Phenom review, among other sources, the Phenom architecture's memory access latency and overall performance is affected quite a bit by the speed of the chip's L3 cache. That cache runs at the speed of the chip's north bridge, not the CPU core clock, so there's some real performance potential hiding in the Phenom's north bridge clock.
Message edited by homerdog on 07-21-2008 at 03:01:39 PM
Captain Dirk "Open the Duron bays, and lets wreck havok with the Thunderbirds"
Good old, geek jokes. For our own good i hope it is successful.
hahahaha!!! i remember the days, brother!
maybe its just me, but i can't help but feel a nudge more hopeful with dirk at the wheel. and if sb750 turns out to be even half of what they said it would...looks like a good time for him to've taken the reins. this reflects well for the green camp!!!
now lets see those 780g boards come down in price around 10-15 bucks!!!
I hope they do a review of the system with a core2quad at 3.2ghz as well. I am fully aware which system would be faster, but I would like to see the results side by side for reference at the higher clock speeds. Nice to see a shed of light (small though it be) from the green guys (even though its more or less Anand producing the results lol) atleast we can see that there is something positive churning about.
I hope they do a review of the system with a core2quad at 3.2ghz as well. I am fully aware which system would be faster, but I would like to see the results side by side for reference at the higher clock speeds. Nice to see a shed of light (small though it be) from the green guys (even though its more or less Anand producing the results lol) atleast we can see that there is something positive churning about.
Best,
3Ball
^Agreed. I unfortunately hope people understand that if there is a review then you have to take OCing into account especially if you are considering this or a C2Q. My only question is whats the power drain and does the TDP raise along with the heat.
I am also pretty sure that certain CPUs will best it but a few tests would be nice. What sucks though is for those who bought a AM2 board just for the upgrade path and they wont be able to OC as easily like those who are willing to buy a new mobo if they had one before or are building a new system.
I don't think so but still the voltage isn't that bad. But they need to Prime95 stability test it for 8-12 hours before I believe its stable. Sorry but I cannot trust a OCing system made by the CPU company.
Just asking, since I'm not an expert at all: don't those memory benchmarks look "strange" if compared to C2Q's? The latency looks a bit high - and the read and write values a bit low -, if taking into consideration that it uses an IMC.
Just asking, since I'm not an expert at all: don't those memory benchmarks look "strange" if compared to C2Q's? The latency looks a bit high - and the read and write values a bit low -, if taking into consideration that it uses an IMC.
They look about right when considering the castrated NB (IMC and L3) clocks. Like I said earlier, this is something that will hopefully be addressed with Deneb.
Funny thing really that the southbridge has such a significant effect on performance... I'm really looking forward to the part two tomorrow
More of an issue of the fact that the clock generator on the sb600 and sb700 were craptastic, too much fluctuation and spikes on a core that is very sensitive to such things. Would be tolerable at stock speeds but causes lock ups and crashes while OCing. Looks promising, and if it does what it is suppose to, I'll be picking up a new 790fx board, or possibly a 790gx board soon.
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AMD Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition, ZeroTherm Nirvana 120 Premium CPU Cooler, MSI K9a2 Platinum bios 1.1b3 or P.0J, 4GB (2x2) Mushkin DDR2 1066 (pc8500) 5-5-5-15 2.05v RAM, Sapphire Toxic HD3870, Raidmax RX-700SS PSU, Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320gb SATA2 X
I just wanted to bump this thread because I'm tired of looking at that 'Phenom Flaky 3rd core' crap. That ... and because Anand & Gary have yet to follow up on their Phenom preview.
Hmm, so we know that Phenom can go that high, anyone seen any OC reviews of the nVidia 700 series boards for AMD?
No.
And it keeps getting harder to find reasonable, consistent and objective reviews of motherboards (and everything else). AT has been promising an mATX roundup for 6 months or more and they keep delaying it. The only conclusion is that they won't run it until G45 comes out (maybe next month?).
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