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i7-920 OC fine tuning advice needed

Post Date: 2010-03-16
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neilkaz View Drop Down
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: i7-920 OC fine tuning advice needed
    Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 5:29pm
I copied the advice Justin gave to police215 for BIOS settings from another thread since I have a very similar system except my case is HAF922 and my stage 2 rad is 240mm.
 
I was under the impression that things were running too hot, so I gradually reduce CPU V-core to 1.275 Ghz and after better positioning my computer for better air flow, RealTemp reports temps that are about 1C  less than what I was initially getting when running only at 3.75 Ghz. Clearly my air flow situation can be further improved since with a big floor fan position to suck air away from the case, temps drop 3C more for the 4 cores to 70-73C
 
Previously this compuer was running my main number crunching app almost 24/7 and at 3.75 Ghz with core temps from 74-77C with no issues for the 3 months I've had it. How much higher than that can I go when running 24/7 ? I doubt much higher?
 
Here are my BIOS settings now for 4 GHz. Can I make any small tweaks to further improve cooling? If so I'd like to bump clock speed a bit higher (like most of us) since my apps run faster. Ot should I just run prime95 overnight as is and check stability?
Frequency Control
CPU Clock Ratio ( 20X ) BIOS says 20, but really is 21 per CPU-Z
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ( 191)
MCH Strap ( Auto )
CPU Uncore Frequency (Mhz) ( 16)
CPU Clock Skew ( 0 ps )
Spread Spectrum ( Disabled )
PCIE Frequency (Mhz) ( 105)

Voltage Control
EVGA VDroop Control ( Without Vdroop)
CPU VCore (Auto)  1.27500v
CPU VTT Voltage (Auto) +200mV
CPU PLL VCore (Auto)  1.800v
IOH PLL VCore (Not a line item)
DIMM Voltage ( 1.65)
DIMM DQ Vref ( +0mV )
QPI PLL VCore ( Auto ) 1.125v
IOH VCore ( Auto ) 1.25v
IOH/ICH I/O Voltage ( Auto ) 1.525v
ICH VCore ( Auto ) 1.1
PWM Frequency ( 800 Khz )

CPU Feature
Intel SpeedStep ( Disabled )
Turbo Mode Function ( Enabled )
CxE Function ( Disabled )
Execute Disable Bit ( Disabled )
Virtualization Technology ( Disabled )
Intel HT Technology ( Enabled )
Active Processor Cores ( All )
QPI Control Settings ( Enabled )
QPI Link Fast Mode ( Enabled )
QPI Frequency Selection 4.8GTs

Thx in advance and I am willing to take the time to try small tweaks.  .. neilkaz ..
 
 
 
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justin.kerr View Drop Down
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 5:47pm
If you tried 10 passes of Linx and it passed then go to 24 hours of prime95 blend test
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neilkaz View Drop Down
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 7:11pm
Originally posted by justin.kerr

If you tried 10 passes of Linx and it passed then go to 24 hours of prime95 blend test
 
Bad news here as two attemps with linX both only made 2 passes. Max temps were 78 to 82C. What do you suggest I do now?
 
thx .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 7:20pm
bump V core 2 clicks and re-try
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 8:53pm
Originally posted by justin.kerr

bump V core 2 clicks and re-try
OK no success bumping two clicks to 1.2875, but complete sucess bumped two more clicks to 1.3000 and actually a bit cooler with max temps 80,81,77,78.
 
I will now try down one click while I await your further advice. Is there anything else I can do to my settings before trying prime95 or do I have to make sure all is good with prime95 before any attempts to eek out small improvements?
 
Thx .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 9:00pm
don't go down any more clicks, now go for prime95 blend test
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 9:29pm
Originally posted by justin.kerr

don't go down any more clicks, now go for prime95 blend test
You are correct as not only did linX not make it one click lower, it also ran about a degree hotter !
 
Will start prime95 blended soon and let you know if it makes it til morning and if so, continue through the day.
 
tyvm .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 9:36pm
Linx is a fast way to get the overclock close, but Prime95 will determine if it is stable, problem is it takes soo long...
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 10:02pm
Originally posted by justin.kerr

Linx is a fast way to get the overclock close, but Prime95 will determine if it is stable, problem is it takes soo long...
Bad news as some of the 8 workers stop quickly with prime95. I am running the 64 bit version 25.9.
 
It seems that this isn't stable..what to try next?  thx .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 10:09pm
2 clicks up vcore, re-try  rinse and repeat as needed
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 10:22pm
Originally posted by justin.kerr

2 clicks up vcore, re-try  rinse and repeat as needed
OK..I've been through 3 iterations of this and V-core is up to 1.3375 and Prime95 is crashing even quicker..always seems to be due to rounding errors.
 
OS here is the usual 64 bit Win7 from DS and I am running the 64 bit Prime95 v25.9
 
Something seems really wrong .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 10:25pm
some chips need a lot more v core. that could be it, but it could be other voltages also. once you hit the 1.4 barrier and still no luck, then it is a different issue.
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 11:02pm
I had to go all the way to 1.393V to get prime95 to run all 8 workers. However, now things seem to hot, even with the floor fan to help cool, which is making things about 3C lower.
 
Max temps were 90,90,86,85C and this was after only about 10 minutes so I don't think it safe to continue prime95.
 
What else can I do ?  .. thx .. neilkaz...
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 11:08pm
lower the overclock,  cpu frequency to 185, then you will be able to lower the V core, and temps
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2010 at 11:53pm
Ok wih the freq at 185 the min V-core that I can keep prime95 running at for all 8 workers is 1.375V and Core temps maxed out at 82-87C. Isn't that a bit too high?
 
I'll work more on this tomorrow, but now for the $64,000 question... since my apps were running fine and faster when fully overclocked to 4.0 Ghz, and things were cool enough with 1.3V and linX was also fine, what issues will I have using those values to continue to run my apps, even though things aren't stable when based on prime95?
 
Thx so much for your continued attention and help .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 8:43am
must be stable, no exceptions. if it won't pass 24 hours of prime95 you will end up with a corrupted OS. must be stable, 3.0Ghz stable is way better than 4.0Ghz un-stable
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 10:16am
Thx, Justin..what is the max core temps I can run at when running apps almost 24/7 ? I don't think I want to be above 80C do I?
 
Anyhow.. I may have to reduce almost all the way back to the original DS 3.75Ghz.
 
Should I also lower some of the other voltage values I changed as well as PCIE frequency, and will that have any effects on lowering temp a bit?
 
Thx .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 11:12am
keep PCIe frequency at 105, other voltages will have very minimal impact on heat.
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 11:31am
Thx ,,,
 
Tonite I'll try with CPU freq 183 and see if I can drop V-core a tick or two as then I think I will be comfortable cool enough to run 24/7.
 
I'll keep PCIE at 105 and maybe take out a bit of the increases in the other voltages, noting I started with CPU freq 179.
 
A slight increase above 3.75GHz is better than none.
 
tyvm .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 7:40pm
OK I have reduced clock speed to 183 and things seem stable so far with prime95 and V-core down to 1.35V and I have temps that I can live with, but would like cooler. I will have to see if I can take a look at the Asetek rad and see if it is working out.It just seems to me that this is running too hot for Stage 2 cooling with temps maxing 82,84,79,80 C during prime95 and that it with a big box fan helping to suck hot air away from the case which is helping by 3 to 4C.
 
I want to let prime95 run lots longer before trying to further reduce V-core.
Here's my current settings and noting that I raised quite a few things intending more of an OC than I get from raising clock to 183 from 179, are there any voltages that I can back down a bit to try to improve temps while keeping stability ?
 
Frequency Control
CPU Clock Ratio ( 20X ) BIOS says 20, but really is 21 per CPU-Z
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ( 183)
MCH Strap ( Auto )
CPU Uncore Frequency (Mhz) ( 16)
CPU Clock Skew ( 0 ps )
Spread Spectrum ( Disabled )
PCIE Frequency (Mhz) ( 105)

Voltage Control
EVGA VDroop Control ( Without Vdroop)
CPU VCore (Auto)  1.35000v
CPU VTT Voltage (Auto) +200mV
CPU PLL VCore (Auto)  1.800v
IOH PLL VCore (Not a line item)
DIMM Voltage ( 1.65)
DIMM DQ Vref ( +0mV )
QPI PLL VCore ( Auto ) 1.125v
IOH VCore ( Auto ) 1.25v
IOH/ICH I/O Voltage ( Auto ) 1.525v
ICH VCore ( Auto ) 1.1
PWM Frequency ( 800 Khz )

CPU Feature
Intel SpeedStep ( Disabled )
Turbo Mode Function ( Enabled )
CxE Function ( Disabled )
Execute Disable Bit ( Disabled )
Virtualization Technology ( Disabled )
Intel HT Technology ( Enabled )
Active Processor Cores ( All )
QPI Control Settings ( Enabled )
QPI Link Fast Mode ( Enabled )
QPI Frequency Selection 4.8GTs
 
..thx .. neilkaz ..
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Posts: 5084 		  Quote justin.kerr Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 7:50pm
not really,  if you want more overclock you will need more cooling
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Posts: 156 		  Quote neilkaz Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 10:55pm
If you guys have any advice for what I can do myself to enhance cooling I'd appreciate it. HAP922 case and Stage 2 w/240mm rad here.
 
Anyhow, after much tweaking it seems the best I can do and keep acceptably cool is clock of 183 and this were stable with prime95 for 2 hours with V-core at 1.3375, but when I lowered it a further tick, almost instant failure and trying 184 also failed. Now to run prime95 overnight and into tomorrow.
 
Thx .. neilkaz ..
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