Can I get my Temps down?

[gampamu]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

The max safe vcore for the Q6600 is 1.5V.

[Psycho101]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

According to Intel it is. But according to INtel it's a 2.4GHz CPU. I'm not saying give it a sh1t load more voltage, but if temps are good, and you need say 1.55V to be stable, I see no problem using it.

Max Vcore for my chip is 1.3625V, and I'm using 1.4240. It hasn't blown up yet.

Definately watch temps though. And in theory, if running over 1.5V, as said, kiss your warranty goodbye.

[VorLonUK]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

The max safe vcore for the Q6600 is 1.5V.

Personanally I would NOT exceed the "Absolute Maximum Ratings" of any CPU, as those max values are stated for a reason.

However and you are cutting it very fine, the Q6600 according to this data sheet:- http://download.intel.com/design/pro...s/31559205.pdf has a maximum VCC (Core voltage with respect to VSS) of 1.55volts. Info on Page 17 at section 2.5.1

It's always worth not forgetting too, that overclocking (by increasing voltage & frequency) carries a risk. So if you really can't afford to replace that new shiny CPU don't overclock!

[Psycho101]

[VorLonUK]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

For sure Psycho101, it is about common sense. Often though you will get people on here who have spent a small fortune on some nice quality components and from the outset will attempt an overclock, without first seeing if their system works at stock/default.
Then they will take "x" figure as read from some source on the net that they x amount of volts to get their cpu running at a 50% overclock.

I've always tried to advise that if you are going to overclock, that you do it in small increments, keep an eye on temperatures, software & hardware errors etc and only increase any voltages IF and when you have to, making sure you never exceed the manufacturers "Absolute Maximum Ratings".

However, although I do overclock albeit it modestly, i'll rarely get involved in overclocking posts. It's not as if i don't have any experience or knowledge to share, but I feel most of the overclocking posts that end up with people who are plagued with problems, have simply self inficted it upon themselves.

I much rather help people with what I call the "real problems". That's why I almost cringe when I see overclocking posts with people wanting to take their shiny new CPU and fry it, just so they can squeeze an extra 20Mhz out of an already heavily overclocked system.

[DarrellS]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

I can't seem to get it any higher without it crashing so I'm just going to play it safe and stay at 3.2Ghz. That gives me pretty decent encode speeds and still runs pretty cool.

I was just hoping to get it to 3.8Ghz to to do an encode test and drop it back down but it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to do it since I don't know what settings to change to make it happen. Even with liquid cooling since heat doesn't seem to be an issue now.

[Psycho101]

[gampamu]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

DarrellS, sorry you couldn't achieve stability at 3.6G. From what I have seen, that's a tough clock for 1.325 VID chips.

VorLonUK and Psycho101, I am familar with the Intel voltage specs for the Q6600. The 1.55V is the absolute maximum voltage, whereas the functional operation condition maximum is 1.5V (i.e., max VID). This is what Intel says about operating a chip between these voltage maximums, quoted from the same page of the document you sited:

At conditions outside functional operation condition limits, but within absolute maximum and minimum ratings, neither functionality nor long-term reliability can be expected. If a device is returned to conditions within functional operation limits after having been subjected to conditions outside these limits, but within the absolute maximum and minimum ratings, the device may be functional, but with its lifetime degraded depending on exposure to conditions exceeding the functional operation condition limits.

I am pretty adventurous with my own chips and I push the vcore beyond both the functional and absolute limits from time to time, but I do so with a full acceptance of the potential risks. When recommending a vcore to others, I would always site the functional maximum for the chip.

[Psycho101]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

Agreed totally. Wasn't trying to say that people shouldn't take care and be cautious with voltage. As always, using the least possible Vcore for a given clock speed is essential, and over volting components into oblivion to run high speeds 24/7 can at the very least risk your investment.

Note that I do advocate a little over volting, as long as it's for a substantial (200MHz or above usually) performance increase. But I also advocate getting cooling in check. Every degree counts to me, especially when one pushes the boundaries as regards to voltages.

[DarrellS]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

I probably could've gotten it stable at 3.6Ghz by maxing the voltage but I wasn't really concerned with running at 3.6Ghz, especially at that voltage. I was more interested in getting 3.8Ghz to run long enough to do the x264 benchmark for the 5 or 10 minutes it would've taken but it wasn't happening.

I am interested in buying the Q9550. I wouldn't think that overclocking that to 3.8Ghz would be a problem at all. Waiting for the price to drop a little more. Obviously the 920 I7 would be better but I can't afford to replace everything.

I don't do a lot of H264 encoding right now so 3.2Ghz will do me for now. 75fps for 1280x720 or 670fps (wow) for 640x480 DivX encodes is pretty fast.

[Psycho101]

Re: Can I get my Temps down?

670FPS is awesome. Not done any DIVX encoding in a long time. I backed up my entire DVD collection a couple of years back.

Q9550's if you're lucky enough to get an E0 stepping should do around 3.6GHz on standard VID, and go up to maybe 4-4.3GHz. 4GHz is achievable under the magic 1.3625V. Heaven knows the kind of frame rates you'll get with DIVX encoding at 4GHz on a Quad. It'll definitely fly.