AMD 955 Phenom II Safe Overclocking Temps & Voltage?

Using this system 24/7 what temps or voltage would you suggest? Room temp stays between 72-75F all year around. So far i have changed out the cooling system from a heat sink to a liquid cooling setup. As of now at 3819.3MHz and 1.50 Volts i stay at around 96-100C. Under load running prime i stay around 52C but at some point i had hit 56C during the 24Hour run. I have had this system stable a 3900.0MHz but had to push the temps to 1.65Volts. At 3.9GHz i was idle at 39-41C and under load would hit upwards 58C. What is safe? AMD states 62C as max. Were should i load in at? Here are some shots of the unit in question.
Also the fans are moving a really good amount of air out the rads.

Message edited by AGirlsBuild on 09-04-2009 at 10:06:45 AM

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my Phenom stays 42C @ 3.8ghz idle. Goes as far as 56C/57C while running prime or rendering. I"m using the Mugen 2 cooler, but strangely i didn't have to bump up the voltage at all to be running at 3.8ghz. i have to raise it up @ 4.0ghz to remain stable. 4.1ghz is a bit tricky and too hot for my taste.

i'd say that as long as you stay below 60C for 24/7 you should be okay. i do my rendering/animations @ 3.8ghz/56C all the time. no issues whatsoever.

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godless wrote :

my Phenom stays 42C @ 3.8ghz idle. Goes as far as 56C/57C while running prime or rendering. I"m using the Mugen 2 cooler, but strangely i didn't have to bump up the voltage at all to be running at 3.8ghz. i have to raise it up @ 4.0ghz to remain stable. 4.1ghz is a bit tricky and too hot for my taste.

i'd say that as long as you stay below 60C for 24/7 you should be okay. i do my rendering/animations @ 3.8ghz/56C all the time. no issues whatsoever.

I thought it was weird i had to raise the voltage on this as well. I have a 945 on air and i have not had to move the voltage any @ 3.6GHz. Maybe i have not got the hang of this MSI bios yet. I think i'm going to go back and try things again.

Reply to AGirlsBuild

1.65v is waaaaay to high for that clock speed. Normally 1.5/1.53v is used for 3.9/4.0Ghz...But it really depends on the motherboard... As far as temps go you do not want to go higher than 65c. With your WC setup you should be getting temps around 48c max at load (4.0Ghz) 1.5v.

Yesterday I tested a 955be using a AC Freezer 64 (AIR) and temps never reached 54c at 4.0Ghz 1.525v (ambient at 28c) ...

What paste did you use for the waterblock? Can you post your Bios info as far as the CPU,NB,SB and chipset voltage?

Btw, you have a hell of a PC there [:jaydeejohn:5]

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by OvrClkr on 09-04-2009 at 09:39:58 PM

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

maybe you had a bad luck and got one of the crappy phenom 955 that doesn't overclock much. heck, @ 3.6ghz i can even turn DOWN the voltages and still be stable. tried this @ 1.35 volts. 3.2ghz can be as low as 1.2volts.

No, its not that.. He just needs to tinker with the Bios settings till he finds his sweet spot... This is normal, specially when you are using a new mobo with a confusing Bios... Same thing happend to me last year when I changed my mobo... You just have to practice till you get the hang of it....

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

OvrClkr wrote :

1.65v is waaaaay to high for that clock speed. Normally 1.5/1.53v is used for 3.9/4.0Ghz...But it really depends on the motherboard... As far as temps go you do not want to go higher than 65c. With your WC setup you should be getting temps around 48c max at load (4.0Ghz) 1.5v.

Yesterday I tested a 955be using a AC Freezer 64 (AIR) and temps never reached 54c at 4.0Ghz 1.525v (ambient at 28c) ...

What paste did you use for the waterblock? Can you post your Bios info as far as the CPU,NB,SB and chipset voltage?

Btw, you have a hell of a PC there [:jaydeejohn:5]

I can not get it stable at 3.8GHz unless i set the CPU Voltage at 1.52V if i even go 1.51V it will not hold. I've tried using the Multiplier and even FSB and a combination of both. I used ZALMAN ZM-STG1. CPU is currently 1.52V. This on an MSI 790FX-GD70 NB is set to auto and SB auto. Chipset voltage is auto. I had not raised the voltage on the chipset due to not pushing it that hard the first few times and using the multiplier. Current settings:

Reply to AGirlsBuild

My bio's shows a CPU voltage at 1.52V but in the OS on CPUZ and Hardware Monitier i get about .1 to .2 neg. Volt difference.
Under Load no more than a few minutes.

Message edited by AGirlsBuild on 09-04-2009 at 10:51:51 PM

Reply to AGirlsBuild

here's my screenshot if it helps you a bit.
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513 [...] save1p.jpg

Message quoted 2 times

godless wrote :

here's my screenshot if it helps you a bit.
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513 [...] save1p.jpg

Thanks, I'm trying to drop the multiplier and push on the FSB and so far i can run at 1.45V Stable.
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums [...] 2a7181.png

Reply to AGirlsBuild

godless wrote :

here's my screenshot if it helps you a bit.
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513 [...] save1p.jpg

That screenshot is showing that the CPU is pulling about 1.336v, of course this is not 100% accurate but that is nowhere close to 1.5v@ 3.8Ghz

Another thing is that you normally have to set all your voltages to get a stable system, you cannot leave the NB on Auto, well at least not on the boards I have used... Auto is normally used when you are at stock clocks.... Once you push the CPU past 1.4v it is recommended that the NB voltage be more or less the same as the CPU voltage. Note: It differs on every mobo but I am just giving you an idea....

Yes, try dropping the multi and raising the FSB and check temps... you should be able to get at least 220 and your Ram of course will be running a tad faster as well....

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

yeah, whenever i want to get to the 4.0ghz-4.2ghz+ range i need to up my fsb speed. for it to remain stable i need to raise the nb voltage.

OvrClkr wrote :

That screenshot is showing that the CPU is pulling about 1.336v, of course this is not 100% accurate but that is nowhere close to 1.5v@ 3.8Ghz

Another thing is that you normally have to set all your voltages to get a stable system, you cannot leave the NB on Auto, well at least not on the boards I have used... Auto is normally used when you are at stock clocks.... Once you push the CPU past 1.4v it is recommended that the NB voltage be more or less the same as the CPU voltage. Note: It differs on every mobo but I am just giving you an idea....

Yes, try dropping the multi and raising the FSB and check temps... you should be able to get at least 220 and your Ram of course will be running a tad faster as well....

Thanks, Trying it now.
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums [...] 46f219.jpg
I will play with it some more and let you know. Thanks again Guys

Message edited by AGirlsBuild on 09-04-2009 at 11:49:55 PM

Reply to AGirlsBuild

Let me know how it goes and remember to check your temps every nown then.....

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

OvrClkr wrote :

Let me know how it goes and remember to check your temps every nown then.....

One last question. NB Voltage or HT Voltage? If i push the NB up close to the CPU voltage i go into the red as it runs currently at 1.112V. Should i be pushing the HT Link? This bio's is way different then i'm use to.

Message edited by AGirlsBuild on 09-05-2009 at 12:02:09 AM

Reply to AGirlsBuild

HT multi should be at 10x 2000MHZ if I am correct
NB volts at the same value as the CPU volts or a tad lower but never higher....

I am about to go home and fire up my comp...BRB....

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

adjust the nb in increments. don't try to match the cpu voltage right away. on my msi i adjust the nb voltage. never tried the ht.

Message edited by godless on 09-05-2009 at 12:08:08 AM

He can adjust the NB voltage to the same value as the CPU voltage and he will be fine as long as he does not over-volt.... i have done it on the same MSI Platinum that you have among other boards.. its not very different than the board I am using ATM...

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

OvrClkr wrote :

He can adjust the NB voltage to the same value as the CPU voltage and he will be fine as long as he does not over-volt.... i have done it on the same MSI Platinum that you have among other boards.. its not very different than the board I am using ATM...

Please now, She LOL

I have adjusted the voltages as you have suggested. I still can't get it stable even at a lower O/C with out setting the Bio's to 1.38v to 1.40v @ 3.6GHz. Stuck on this one.

Message edited by AGirlsBuild on 09-05-2009 at 03:47:58 AM

Reply to AGirlsBuild

Do you think maybe the temps are holding me back? The heat under load pours off the rad. But the mesh on top the case is tight and i think it is forcing the hot air back around the rad and sucking it back through. At 3.6GHz with 1.38v i'm loading at 48C (118F). Room temp is 72-73F. Idle temps are around 35-36C (96-98F).

Message edited by AGirlsBuild on 09-05-2009 at 03:28:45 AM

Reply to AGirlsBuild

My bad, well guess what.... There is nothing cooler than a girl with a water-cooled PC....lol.....

Anyways did you change the voltages on the NB?

Your room temp is fine, don't worry about that....

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by OvrClkr on 09-05-2009 at 03:33:41 AM

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

OvrClkr wrote :

My bad, well guess what.... There is nothing cooler than a girl with a water-cooled PC....lol.....

Anyways what are your temps at 3.8Ghz?

Max i have seen it hit is 55C @ 3.8GHZ.

Reply to AGirlsBuild

I changed the NB to match the CPU voltage as i raised it from stock up to 1.38V.

Reply to AGirlsBuild

you don't have low overclock because the cpu is overheating. the heat is the result of higher voltage. more voltage , more heat. you keep pumping more voltage into it trying to get the cpu stable. but in my opinion you can't get anymore oc out of it is because the chip itself doesn't overclock well. think of all the professional reviews of phenoms where people cannot hit the 4.0ghz mark. are they idiots, no. just the chip is not as good. i can hit 4ghz easily. some cpus overclock well, some don't .

Message quoted 2 times

55c at 3.8GHZ is too hot for a watercooled PC. I have my CPU at 3.856GHz and the max load is 52c on AIR

Private message me and I will figure this out......

Message edited by OvrClkr on 09-05-2009 at 03:38:28 AM

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

godless wrote :

you don't have low overclock because the cpu is overheating. the heat is the result of higher voltage. more voltage , more heat. you keep pumping more voltage into it trying to get the cpu stable. but in my opinion you can't get anymore oc out of it is because the chip itself doesn't overclock well. think of all the professional reviews of phenoms where people cannot hit the 4.0ghz mark. are they idiots, no. just the chip is not as good. i can hit 4ghz easily. some cpus overclock well, some don't .

That's what I'm starting to think on this CPU. As i have pushed a 945 to 3.8GHz without a problem on the same board. The more heat you displace the more voltage you can give.

Reply to AGirlsBuild

Exactly, what I do not understand is that you are getting higher temps at 3.8Ghz on water compared to others on AIR....

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

guess im one of the lucky ones that has a really good phenom 955. i just ordered a second one from zipzoomfly, hopefully the second one will be just as good. lol

She does not have a faulty chip, the 945 cannot be compared to the 955.. The 955 is a tricky little bastard and it takes more time to get the settings right.....

The only thing that comes to my mind is re-paste the CPU and re-seat the water block....

Message edited by OvrClkr on 09-05-2009 at 03:46:44 AM

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

repasting the cpu and reseating the weter block will not make the cpu more stable. you will lower the heat. but the fact remains that she is applying way too many volts into the cpu and its still not stable. it doesn't matter how well she can cool it at this point. the chip has got nothing more to give, even with the water cooling setup.

i'm not saying the chip is faulty. it's not. it runs at 3.2ghz stable. that is advertised. the overclocking potential of each processor differs and is not guaranteed in any way. she simply hit the overclocking potential of this specific chip.

Message quoted 1 times

godless wrote :

you don't have low overclock because the cpu is overheating. the heat is the result of higher voltage. more voltage , more heat. you keep pumping more voltage into it trying to get the cpu stable. but in my opinion you can't get anymore oc out of it is because the chip itself doesn't overclock well. think of all the professional reviews of phenoms where people cannot hit the 4.0ghz mark. are they idiots, no. just the chip is not as good. i can hit 4ghz easily. some cpus overclock well, some don't .

One thing is that the CPU won't overclock past 3.8Ghz and another is that the CPU will overclock past 3.8 but the temps are not tolerable. Peeps who cannot overclock past 3.8Ghz still get good temps so that is not the case here.....

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

godless wrote :

repasting the cpu and reseating the weter block will not make the cpu more stable. you will lower the heat. but the fact remains that she is applying way too many volts into the cpu and its still not stable. it doesn't matter how well she can cool it at this point. the chip has got nothing more to give, even with the water cooling setup.

i'm not saying the chip is faulty. it's not. it runs at 3.2ghz stable. that is advertised. the overclocking potential of each processor differs and is not guaranteed in any way. she simply hit the overclocking potential of this specific chip.

If she was getting BSOD's at 3.8/3.9 or 4.0Ghz then your statement would be correct, what I do not understand is the fact that under water she should be getting temps around 45c @ 3.8Ghz....not 55c+ .....

------------------------------ 550 @ 4.0 Ghz 1.425v
BFG GTX 260 (216)
4GB G.Skill @ 940MHz
Thermaltake TP 850w
Reply to OvrClkr

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