955 BE overclock limit reached?

[Guest]

I've been at this for days! Maybe someone can give me a heads-up:
So here's the issue: I can get it to 3.5ghz on 1.35ghz 38-42 c idle 53 load. 3.6 @ 1.36 55 c load, 3.7 gets stable at 1.41 ~59-60 load.

Any adjustment in northbridge results in a crash/bsod. Normally, at 3.2 ghz cpu, I can get the NB to 3ghz on 1.4v easily.

Ram timings at DDR3 1333 7-7-7-20-28-1t.

So my problem is: I can't get beyond 3.5ghz on a stable overclock. I'll be here with 3ghz NB since everything else fails.

Here's the equipment:
Crosshair III
955 BE
Zalman CNPS9900 (ocz freeze thermal paste)
OCZ dd3 1600 BE 4gb
Corsair 850tx
Sapphire 5850
Haf 922 (3 200mm fans, 2 140mm fans // negative pressure)

 

[Lmeow]

Well, try loosening the RAM timings, either 7-7-7-20-2T or 8-8-8-24-1T or something similar. Also, your temperatures are a bit too high for 3.7GHz, anything higher than 55°C is critical IIRC. Only things I can think of.

 

[Guest]

I realize that! Loosened the timings a little bit to 7-7-7-20-27-1t and got to 3612mhz >54c. I've also enabled CPU load line calibration. That seemed to have helped quite a bit! What do you suggest max load should be? I've read around a max of 60 for 3.8. Also, great avatar lol.

Edit- okay well i've got it to a stable 3737 mhz at 1.4v.

Idle temp is ~40-41 and load is ~58-59c according to pc probe II.

HW monitor and AOD reports different ranges: anywhere from 41-42c idle and 60-65c load. As for voltage PCPII shows: CPU ~1.4-1.42, CPU-NB ~1.41-1.43.

AOD shows: CPU Status 1.4, Board Status CPU Vcore ~1.46, CPU-NB 1.4v

I don't know which to trust Can't seem to get to 3.8ghz. What should I do to lower cpu temps? Loosen the timing some more?

So far:
CPU Speed 3737.4 mhz
Multiplier x18.5
Bus Speed 202.0 mhz
HT Link 2020.2 mhz
Dram Freq 673.6 mhz @ 7-7-7-20-27-1T

 

[hella-d]

I Have My Athlon X2 4400+ (Stock 2.3GHz) To 2.8GHz @ 1.45v And Rarely Even Approach 50C

Your Settings Seem Decent, Try Using A Larger HSF And Better Thermal Paste

 

[Lmeow]

Thanks for the compliment.

As for improving your cooling, I suggest either improving your case airflow with more fans, higher quality thermal paste/better spreading or better heatsinks as suggested by Hella-D. Loosening memory timings won't really help lower CPU temps, it only allows for further overclocking.

Really, you do not want higher temperatures. I suppose ~ 57°C is fine for max Prime 95 testing, but you do not want to go over that.

 

[welshmousepk]

well the chip can handle much higher voltages than that provided you get some decent cooling. as Lmeow suggested add some more fans may do the trick.

if you can keep the temps down, a vCore of 1.5 or thereabouts should allow for a much higher OC.

 

[4Ryan6]

I've been at this for days! Maybe someone can give me a heads-up:
So here's the issue: I can get it to 3.5ghz on 1.35ghz 38-42 c idle 53 load. 3.6 @ 1.36 55 c load, 3.7 gets stable at 1.41 ~59-60 load.

Any adjustment in northbridge results in a crash/bsod. Normally, at 3.2 ghz cpu, I can get the NB to 3ghz on 1.4v easily.

Ram timings at DDR3 1333 7-7-7-20-28-1t.

So my problem is: I can't get beyond 3.5ghz on a stable overclock. I'll be here with 3ghz NB since everything else fails.

Here's the equipment:
Crosshair III
955 BE
Zalman CNPS9900 (ocz freeze thermal paste)
OCZ dd3 1600 BE 4gb
Corsair 850tx
Sapphire 5850
Haf 922 (3 200mm fans, 2 140mm fans // negative pressure)

That memory > OCZ dd3 1600 BE 4gb, that you list = Timings > 9-9-9-24 @ 1.65v

In your OCing adventure have you even tried to run the memory at its rated specs?

 

[4Ryan6]

@ hollowtek That a breather from all your overclocking and read this and see if it helps you.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/258573-29-overclocking-black-edition-guide

 

[Guest]

wow great guide! I think i'm on the right track. P95 lasted till 7:58 minutes before i got an error on the fourth worker. But that's when my mom got on the computer and started opening up applications and what not. I'll lower it a bit and try again later today.

The rated spec for the memory is ddr3 1600 8-8-8-24, but it doesn't run at rated specification, sadly. It will always crash regardless of timings at stock frequency. It seems to work pretty well under cl7.

Temps are looking pretty good for CPU @ 1.38v. ~37c idle ~55c load. Going to lower FSB back to 200 and see if it will handle p95 any longer.

 

[diet_pepsi]

Those temps seem too high for the equipment that you are running (esp. at idle!).

I also have an HAF 922 case, a zalman cooler (9700 though), an extra GPU, and I don't have as many fans as you do and my temps at 1.4v are nowhere near yours.

What are your ambient temps?