Mild OC settings question

[jabbrun]

Hello everybody,

I'm experimenting with mild overclocking of my Phenom II X4 960T Black Edition.

My system is as below:
Phenom II X4 960T Processor
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler
Gigabyte GA-870A-USB3 Motherboard
Seagate SATA 6Gb/s 1TB Hard Disk
2 x 4GB Corsair DDR3 1333 Value RAM
Sapphire HD 6790 Graphic Card
Cooler Master Elite 311 Case
Lite-On 24x DVD Writer
Silverstone 500W Strider Essential Power Supply

I have raised the multiplier so that the CPU runs at 3.6Ghz (200 x 18). I set the memory timings manually on the motherboard. However, I let the motherboard control the voltage for the CPU, memory, NB & HT. I also put the NB & HT speed on Auto.

I ran the Prime 95 torture test (Blended) for about 5 hours and everything was fine. My question is should I leave the voltage settings on auto or should I manually set it? Also should I manually set the NB & HT speed or leave it at auto? Currently NB & HT speed is at 2Ghz (200 x 10), since the CPU multiplier is raised should I also raise the NB & HT multiplier and to what figure?

I'm still trying to learn more about overclocking so I'm just doing mild overclocking first. Hope you guys can help me. Thanks in advance.

 

[rage33]

If your only changing the multiplier you're generally safe to leave most settings on auto. If you choose to change FSB speeds then I would manually set voltages and speeds, to ensure you have full control of all your settings.

 

[jabbrun]

When I OC to 3.8Ghz one core failed the Prime95 test, when I OC to 4.0Ghz Windows 7 BSOD, that means I have to increase the voltage right?

If I raise the NB & HT multipliers do I have to increase the NB voltage too?

 

[rage33]

When I OC to 3.8Ghz one core failed the Prime95 test, when I OC to 4.0Ghz Windows 7 BSOD, that means I have to increase the voltage right?

If I raise the NB & HT multipliers do I have to increase the NB voltage too?

Also don't forget to adjust you're LLC (load line calibration) to high, extreme, or ultra. this could be why the 3.8GHz test failed.

And also everything BigMack70 stated.

 

[jabbrun]

Where do I adjust the LLC? I can't find it on my motherboard's BIOS.
One more thing, what is the max voltage that the Phenom II can safely take before it generate too much heat or act weird or blow up?

 

[rage33]

Every bios is a little different but LLC is usually in your "ai tweaker" or "advanced OC" section, its kinda hard to say and if you have an older motherboard it may not be an option. But I would think you're Gigabyte board would have an option. Don't take you're CPU past 1.5v maybe 1.55v max recommended

 

[jabbrun]

I'll have to check about the LLC on my Gigabyte motherboard..is it a profile setting or something?
Should the NB & HT be the same figure or they are independant of each other? How do I know what the NB figure for my motherboard should be? I can't seem to find it in the manual.

 

[rage33]

your stock NB/HT should be 2200Mhz @ 1.0 or 1.1v most likely, I could be wrong but that sound about right. You might want to try going to gigabytes website and see the specs of you're board. the LLC should be a setting not a profile, check your power settings in the bios.

 

[rage33]

+1^

 

[jabbrun]

If I raise the CPU-NB multiplier and it becomes unstable will it have the same effect like when the CPU was unstable (ie cannot load Windows or BSOD or failing the Prime test)? What symptoms should I look out for?

 

[jabbrun]

I just noticed that my BIOS have voltage setting for NB Voltage and CPU NB VID..which voltage should I increase if I raise the NB multiplier to make it more stable?

 

[jabbrun]

I managed to take my CPU to 4Ghz (200 x 20) with 1.45V. Ran Prime95 for about 7 hours with no errors (max temp 42C). My CPU NB remains at 2Ghz (200 x 10) with voltage set at Normal. I set the RAM as per stock specification as its just Corsair Value Select RAM and I didn't want to push it too hard. Maybe next time when I get better RAM I'll push my OC further. I want to thank BigMack70 and Rage33 for talking me through my experiment. Peace.

 

[jabbrun]

Best answer selected by jabbrun.