New system, first OC results

[Spblue]

I finally got my new system yesterday (ordered from NCIX on Dec 8th *cough*).

This is my first "high-end" system and also the first time I'm attempting any serious oc'ing.

Intel Core 2 Duo e6750
Asus P5K-E/WI-FI
Crucial Ballistix 8500 2x1GB
Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme with 2xScythe fans and Shin-Etsu goop

Here's what I got after a few hours of testing...



I got a few questions for all the experienced overclockers on here. I've set the CPU voltage at 1.41v in the BIOS (although cpu-z reports 1.392). Is that too high to run 24/7? I could boot with 3.8Ghz, but after about 20 mins Orthos gave me a checksum error and I didn't dare set the voltage any higher. What kind of margin are we talking about here? What's the maximum "safe" value?

Also, at Anandtech they had their cpu running at 3.9Ghz and 47C under full load with the same heatsink and case. My core temp is way higher, it hovers between 54C and 56C. Is this normal, or maybe I didn't install the heatsink properly? I think I might have put too much goop on there.

You guys think I could get this to run at 3.8Ghz 24/7? It seems like such a nice round number, I hate that 3.73Ghz crap.

[MpG]

First issue is your temperatures. 65 degrees at load is a good cut-off, so you've got some headroom still. If you haven't done so already, pop the heatsink and double-check how the TIM is spreading. Too much can be just as bad as not enough.

Voltages: You're definitely okay up to 1.45 Vcore. Give it a few more ticks and I wouldn't be surprised if that gets you what you want. Just watch your temperatures as you do. Don't trust software voltage reports, BIOS or multimeter only.

[sswilson]

That's a pretty sweet "first" OC!!!!

To the question of temps.... I'd say do some benching where you are stable and record the temps, then re-mount your HSF and have a look at your temps again. (If I remember correctly that TIM requires a bit of cure time).

As far as "safe" volts go..... that's based more on temps than anything else, and only you can decided what too much is.....

If it were me.... I'd keep going until TAT load temps hit a max of 60C (you're getting close to that now), but I suspect that most folks with a newer C2D would draw the line around 1.5V.

[Spblue]

Originally Posted by MpG

Voltages: You're definitely okay up to 1.45 Vcore. Give it a few more ticks and I wouldn't be surprised if that gets you what you want. Just watch your temperatures as you do. Don't trust software voltage reports, BIOS or multimeter only.

Thanks, that's reassuring. I bumped it to 1.45v and it did the trick. I tried 1.425 first, but I still got an Orthos error so I had to bump it some more.



Woo! 3.8Ghz.

System was stable after 1 hour Orthos, though I'll probably leave it on when I go to bed to make sure I don't get a fluke error. Also running the RAM at 1:1 (950Mhz) at 4-4-4-12 timing, same rating as 800Mhz.

Gives me a 12444 score in 3DMark06, I'm happy for now. I guess I'll find time this week to OC my 8800GT as well. Thanks for the help!

[BALISTX]

3.8GHz Nice first OC. What case are you using?

I might want to create a sig with your rigs specs.

[Spblue]

I just updated my sig, now that I have something better than an AMD 2800+ to put in it.

[belgolas]

nice overclock there.

[Prof. Dr. Silver]

WOW..that just makes me sick! Hahahaha....my E6850...does not want to run any faster than 3.6GHz.....which it does well btw.... but I've gone all the way up to 1.55V !! Your temps are awesome and let me just say it once again...never trust CPU-Z on the core voltages! And one more thing...How did you get the multi @ 8 ??? Mine absolutely does not want to run on anything else but 9 and as far as I know these new E6x50 sereis were locked on 9?

[Spblue]

Well, the 8 multi is the default for the 6750, so it wasn't a big accomplishment on my part.

From what I could find before I bought the cpu, the 6550 has a max multi of 7, the 7750 is 8 and the 6850 has a max of 9. I specifically bought the 7750 instead of the 6550 because of the 8 multi. I'd have bought a 6850 if they were cheap, but at $120 more, the extra x1 multi wasn't worth *that* much to me. At 7 with a 6550, you need truly insane bus speeds to get high OCs.

My cpu doesn't seem to mind lower multis though. For example the speedstep thingie often lowers my multi to 6 and the computer remains stable. I didn't know that cpus could have problems being *underclocked*.

I guess I was lucky with that cpu, especially with people complaining that newer cpus are harder to OC. I wonder if it could go higher with water cooling, but it's quite a hefty price tag to find out so I think I'll stay with air for now.

So my temps are good? I thought they were quite a bit higher than most other people with ultra 120s. I didn't bother to remove the heatsink yet to check my goop spread, it's such a hassle...

[magictorch]

The P5KE and the E6750 work well together!!

I have a E6750 at 3.4 with only 1.25 volts on that board and it runs orthos stable 3.6
with 1.35volts.

BTW seems like the newer 6750 (made in the last few months) are getting very good results. Also for stability setting the NB to 1.4v and CPU PLL to 1.5v helped, (FSB termination voltage is on auto but should set it manually).