Phenom II x4 955 BE Overclocking Questions

Kitsune

Kitsune

Member
So I am going to pick up my CPU here in about 2 hours and I do want to over clock it. It is an AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX.

My main question is what do I need to know about over clocking in order to get the most life (Obviously OC'ing is going to shorten the life span of it) and safe operation out of the CPU.
I want to over clock it to either a 3.8 or a 4.0 if that is within its bounds.

What would you guys suggest for the GHz for the best preformance on a slightly overstock Cooler?

I am going to be running an AC Freezer 64 Pro for the CPU cooler with artic silver 5 compound, and I am running it all on an MSI 870A-G5 with a 500W PSU and 2GB of A-Data Gaming Ram (To be upgraded asap)


I have a thermaltake V9 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_re=Thermal_take_V9-_-11-133-182-_-Product

that everything is in. is there anything else I should know that wasnt in my questions?
 
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Just use the multiplier to overclock, because increasing the bus clock also overclocks your ram and the hyper transport + north bridge clocks.

Well, most likely 3.8ghz will be bootable on stock volts (which should be 1.35). I suggest manually setting the voltage to 1.35, because auto may overvolt it unnecessarily. Also set the north bridge multiplier to 12 for 2400mhz and hyper transport to 10 for 2000 MHZ. Those are optimal for 3.8ghz. Then stress test the CPU for atleast an hour of prime 95 smallFFT while watching your temps. With 3.8ghz on stock volts (if it's stable) you probably won't even go beyond 50c or so. Max you'd want to run is 60c pretty much. Don't get scared if it ever does go over 60, but don't let it be there for very long. But if 1.35v isn't stable, try 1.375. Most likely, 1.375 should be the most you'll have to run, but in the unlikely event that you get a serious dud chip try 1.40.

If you become unsatisfied with 3.8, bump it up to 4ghz (20 cpu multiplier) and see if it's still stable on that voltage. If not, give it the next Vcore bump. After you find the stable Vcore, set the North bridge to 2600mhz (13 multi) and check again for CPU stability using the prime95 BLEND stress test for an hour. If it's not stable, increase the *CPU* north bridge voltage (not the chipset north bridge) slightly and check again for stability.

Max Vcore I would run daily would be 1.425v.
 
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I couldn't get mine stable at 3.8 until 1.45v. That seems to be the lowest that a lot of people can get away with. 4.0 is not a good idea on air. you have to run the voltages a bit higher than what most people will be willing to work with on air cooling.
 
Lol no I havent done it yet. Honestly it is a little intimidating at first x.x I am working on a few problems it is having first I was ignorant to think "HEY new system NO problems" Yeah, WRONG, But I did look at the page you sent and it looks like it could help :) So far it is BSOD something with the memory, I was running it in dual channel and this computer made it very clear, It doesnt like that. So I switched it back to single, and it seemed to like it ALOT better, Now I am working on a freash install of windows 7 :)
 
You may have to configure your ram in the bios to run at it's specifications as the timings and ram voltage are not always set correctly by default....
 
Hmm. Never thought about that. So many new things to learn with new technology. Things arent so simple anymore. I will take a loook at that when I get the O.S. installed or I guess even before really I guess I could do it now.... How would I go about doing that? My BIOS version is V17.6 062410
 
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Kitsune said:
Hmm. Never thought about that. So many new things to learn with new technology. Things arent so simple anymore. I will take a loook at that when I get the O.S. installed or I guess even before really I guess I could do it now.
Click to expand...

You can get the CPUZ utility and it will have your current timings in the memory tab...
 
I would suggest lowering the RAM multiplier down 1 and overclock using the FSB.

Higher clock with a lower multiplier will yield better performance than lower clock with higher multiplier.
 
87dtna said:
I've never heard of a C3 clocking that poorly. How about a CPUz screenshot?
Click to expand...

I can get that after I get back from break. Currently I only have my laptop. I checked with Joh06937 on his oc and his is a C3 as well and he has to be at 1.48v to be stable. I have checked around and a lot of people that are going over 4 are needing to go over 1.5v.
 
It really has to with how good of a batch you get as to how well C3 stepping chips run.... there are good batches/golden chips and not everybody gets one.... it seems the best time to buy is when chips are first released like the Phenom II 970 x4... the 965 c3 was awesome when it was first released but now it runs hot and needs more voltage which sucks for overclocking ... Intel also has better batches so it not just an AMD thing.. it is just how it is...
 
yeah, thats means you probably won't make it to 4ghz unless you got really lucky.

Do 3.6ghz first (18 multi) that may still run on stock volts or perhaps a slight bump to 1.375 needed. Then go for 3.8ghz, I'm guessing it will need 1.425 which is max voltage for 24/7 usage IMO.
So you may get 3.8ghz only, but thats not bad.
 
linkin said:
I would suggest lowering the RAM multiplier down 1 and overclock using the FSB.

Higher clock with a lower multiplier will yield better performance than lower clock with higher multiplier.
Click to expand...

I am currently Dinking around with the BIOS to figure it out since it wasnt real important in the operation of the past computers I have had but it is now :)

That is a hell of a lot better than 3.0 dual core on a p4 :) So I was thinking I will OC to 3.6 and stop. Why is it that mine is at C2 stepping and not C3? and is there anyway I can change that?

Also my cpu runs at about 35C and the system sits at about 21C according to the BIOS. once I get it up and stable I will give more details and maybe some screenies :)
 
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Have you checked your ram timings and voltage..???

can you post a link to your ram.. so I can get the specs...

edit**

It would be best to get your machine stable before OC'ing.... :)
 
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