Safe 965 BE C3 temps and voltages?

[bk1]

I will put my questions first, but welcome any comments or discussion on build and OC methodology.

1.I am wondering what others here would consider safe Vcore voltage and core (or CPU) temperatures for this CPU?

2.How much more headroom do I have here for a safe and stable overclock?

3.Am I missing anything important?

Build:
AMD 965 BE C3 (currently at 3.8Ghz - 19.0 multiplier)
Cooler Master 212+ (1 fan)
Asus M488T-V EVO/USB3
2 X 2GB G.Skill Ripjaws F312800CL9D-4GBRL (ddr3 1600)
HIS Radeon HD 5770
Antec Earthwatts 500W (continuous) PSU (Antec Sonata case)

I need this machine to last a while as I am a small business owner and things are a bit tight so I will be a bit more conservative on overclocking (can't afford to burn things out) than many of you.

It took a bit of playing to get the RAM stabilized at rated speeds (1600) and timings (9-9-9-24 2T). Manually set the timings in the bios and bumped the ram voltage to 1.6. (manufacturer covers to 1.65 http://www.gskill.us/forum/showthread.php?t=7329). This ran stable for 30 hours (normal usage) before I moved the multiplier above 17.

Currently the machine is running stable at 3.8GHz (19.0 multiplier) with the Voltage set to 1.4V in the Bios. CPUID hardware monitor shows the Vcore at 1.46V (brief max 1.48V) CPU-z at 1.464 while running prime95.

Core temperatures (CPU and Case fan set to 100%) are running at 55 C. CPU temperature is running 2-3 degrees lower.

I have been following 4ryan6's overclock guide http://www.tomshardware.com/s/AMD-Black-Edition-Overclock-by-Raising-Multiplier-Guide/
-I am not planning on doing 24hr burn-in test. I have been running prime95 for about 15-20mins each move of the mulitplier.

I initially tried running ASUS's OC utility but killed it once i saw where it was running the voltage. It had the machine briefly over 4GHz.

Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

[4Ryan6]

It took a bit of playing to get the RAM stabilized at rated speeds (1600) and timings (9-9-9-24 2T). Manually set the timings in the bios and bumped the ram voltage to 1.6. (manufacturer covers to 1.65 http://www.gskill.us/forum/showthread.php?t=7329). This ran stable for 30 hours (normal usage) before I moved the multiplier above 17.

The link from G.Skills forum you provided is not the memory you have it is F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH, your memory F3-12800Cl9D-4GBRL will run1600mhz 9-9-9-24 at 1.5V.

Your memory was specifically designed to run 1600mhz at lower voltage, why would you bump it to 1.6V.

The 965BE C3 should be able to run 4.0G @ 200 X 20X at somewhere close to 1.45Vcore.

I need this machine to last a while as I am a small business owner and things are a bit tight so I will be a bit more conservative on overclocking (can't afford to burn things out) than many of you.

That's exactly why I wrote the guide so the user could stop where they needed to and stay on the conservative side if that's their intentions.

Feel free to PM me if you need to.

 

[bk1]

When I set the ram to its rated 1600 at 1.5v I would get an instant BSOD when I started prime95. when I bumped the voltage to 1.6 and raised CPU-NB 0.1V it stabilized.

 

[kedakari]

When I set the ram to its rated 1600 at 1.5v I would get an instant BSOD when I started prime95. when I bumped the voltage to 1.6 and raised CPU-NB 0.1V it stabilized.

G.Skill advertises 1.5v - 1.65v

A lot of places will just list them as 1.5v

 

[bk1]

I spent a while last night playing with this. I had a stable overclock (40 min of prime95 before I shut it down for the night) at a 20x multiplier with the vcore set to 1.45, however CPID hardware monitor was consistently showing it at 1.50 to 1.52 which is getting a little higher than I want to run long term. So set it back to 19.5x multiplier with a vcore of 1.425.

I still would like to see what others consider safe core voltages (Vcore), or a link elsewhere where that is discussed1

Any suggestions on further overclocking? Is it worth the time to mess with the bus speed, push the northbridge further, or run the memory faster?

I am going to start overclocking the GPU now, i'll have to watch what that does to my thermal profile.

I'll leave this thread open for a day or two and see what other ideas and answers others have.

 

[simon12]

I would stick with that at 3.9GHz as you need the machine to last and you find you need alot more voltage to get only 100MHz more. I would recommend a maximum voltage of 1.5 and try to keep load temps below 55C though 62C is the max rated from AMD.

 

[saint19]

1- The voltage depends of temps, 1.55V on air is safe if your temps are below 55ºC.
2- All that you can do with 1.55V on CPU, remember the temps.
3- Disable Cool'n'Quite and C1E, at least while you get an stable overclock.

Test must be at least 2 hours for check stability.

 

[bk1]

Best answer selected by bk1.

 

[saint19]

This topic has been closed by Saint19