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Overclocking i7 950

Forum Index > Tech Support
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Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
November 21 2011 00:24 GMT
#1
A friend helped my OC my CPU to 4ghz last year, but i had problems a little while back that i couldnt figure out, so i reset it to 3.06(3.2)ghz because i thought it was a potential cause, but it turns out it was just windows causing mass bluescreening for no reason and it was fixed with OS reinstall.


Anyways, im gonna overclock it again, all the cooling etc is set up, a little worse than it could be (not stable at 4ghz w/ prime95 unless hyperthreading is disabled or its the middle of winter) but hyperthreading is worthless in sc2 and skyrim, and i have also noticed xsplit running on hyperthreaded cores and lagging out stream unless i restart it a few times and it runs on 2 logical cores when assigned them, which is annoying.


So, what should i be aiming for? Im looking up my RAM voltage atm, there seem to be a lot of different ideas around the web about the CPU and LGA1336 is a bit outdated now, wasnt sure where to post a thread to get someone who actuly knows what they are doing, so i guessed TL was the place.


From what i remember ~1.35vcore is about the max i could go for temperature reasons, was using 200x20 OC before (is 167x24 ok or suggested for any reason?) I know the basic stuff, but i dont really know what to go for in terms of qpi/uncore voltage, probably another setting or two. My RAM is rated @1600mhz, 1.65v


Im 30 mins into Prime95 atm, 64c max @3.2ghz and whatever voltage the default turbo uses for reference and also using a gigabyte motherboard.


Il reboot now and take a look at the settings, could prob just throw in 200x20 1.35v and auto the uncore voltage, see if it boots, why not right?



Greatly appriciated though if anyone who actuly knows what they are doing posts here
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Nyovne
Profile Joined March 2006
Netherlands19135 Posts
November 21 2011 00:28 GMT
#2
Moved to tech.
ModeratorFor remember, that in the end, some are born to live, others born to die. I belong to those last, born to burn, born to cry. For I shall remain alone... forsaken.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
November 21 2011 00:32 GMT
#3
Thanks, i didnt really want to post it there incase it was considered a random bad thread or something
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 00:36:35
November 21 2011 00:36 GMT
#4
Aparantly most of the 1336 cpu's had multipliers on cpu, qpi and RAM locked, to confirm, my cpu/motherboard doesnt
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
mahnini
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
United States6862 Posts
November 21 2011 00:45 GMT
#5
multi's aren't unlocked. even if you try to change it in your mobo it won't do anything.
the world's a playground. you know that when you're a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it.
Boblhead
Profile Joined August 2010
United States2577 Posts
November 21 2011 00:48 GMT
#6
On November 21 2011 09:45 mahnini wrote:
multi's aren't unlocked. even if you try to change it in your mobo it won't do anything.


The only 1366 cpus that are unlocked are the extreme series processors. Your CPU can hit 4.0 easy, and 4.5 with nice watercooling. If you got a good chip 4.5 is doable with watercooling.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 00:55:26
November 21 2011 00:53 GMT
#7
Well, ive got an i7 950, and ive booted before at 167x24 and validated CPU-Z even @4008mhz. The reason i posted that was because people were saying most cpus were locked on some other website but some were not, i think this is one case?


Anyhow i just booted at 200x20, massive problems aside from my RAM randomly being set to 7-7-7-20 latency (manually set 9-9-9-24 1.6v) and forgetting to use the adjust vdroop thing for 1 attempted boot, gonna go run cpuz and try prime95


Also, had to set qpi voltage to auto because i couldnt boot with that, what should it be set to? someone was mentioning 1.3v in a guide while ive heard in others it should be >=vcore, my motherboard has different colored options past ~1.33 but i cant boot with ~1.3 and i dont want to throw like 10 different voltages at it and continuously restart for no reason when i dont know what im doing
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 01:21:35
November 21 2011 01:03 GMT
#8
Crashed 20 seconds into Prime95 at ~78c with the bluescreen message "A clock interrupt was not received on a secondary processor within the allocated time interval" - Got this a long time ago, im pretty sure that is why i was eventully running 167x24, it was narrowed down to motherboard not handling higher baseclocks well or something? Im not sure, but il test the 167x24, i dropped memory and qpi multis to acceptable levels and booted straight in without issues


edit:

I lost a multiplier to turbo mode (which i have disabled) but that is an easy fix, going from x23 to x24 on same voltages wont affect temps in a massive way as far as i know, heres a validation anyway

[image loading]


Stable @85c 15 mins in, temps higher than i would like, i think they could be probably be lowered by taking the qpi volage from auto but i cant get it to boot without it, any suggestions?
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Phayze
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada2029 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 01:35:52
November 21 2011 01:21 GMT
#9
81 is too high for first gen i7's. The general rule with first gen i7's is dont go over 80 for a 24/7 OC. You're going to need to get better cooling IMO. Hyperthreading adds 5-6 degrees to your load temperatures, if you dont have a great heat sink i'd recommend keeping it off and getting a higher stable OC. Also I'd turn turbo off if you are using the max multiplier of 23.

I get to 3.8Ghz without any voltage changes on my 950 (166x23, with 1333ram, with ram at the lowest multiplier so you might be able to get the same). I'd recommend you try that. Make sure to under clock your uncore multiplier, you can increase it later but it's a very minor performance increase. I'd stick to keeping the bclk low and use a high multiplier but some other configurations will work better. Just dont OC your ram if it's not high end.

I'm 4.2Ghz at 1.26v and I get 70max with a Noctua NH-U12P SE2.

And to Mahnini, all i7's are unlocked...

What stepping is your 950? is it a d0?
Proud member of the LGA-1366 Core-i7 4Ghz Club
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 01:26:10
November 21 2011 01:24 GMT
#10
On November 21 2011 10:21 Phayze wrote:
81 is too high for first gen i7's. The general rule with first gen i7's is dont go over 80 for a 24/7 OC. You're going to need to get better cooling IMO. I get to 3.8Ghz without any voltage changes on my 950. I'd recommend you try that. Make sure to under clock your uncore multiplier, you can increase it later but it's a very minor performance increase.

I'm 4.2Ghz at 1.26v and I get 70max with a Noctua NH-U12P SE2.

And to Mahnini, all i7's are unlocked...



Thats on Prime95, xsplit will usually be around ~70-80% CPU because you need to leave it plenty of room (if you ever hit 100% it will drop frames and cause system-wide stuttering and performance issues, even with affinity only on ~2 cores), I doubt it will go anywhere near those temps during actual usage.


I also heard that you was fine below ~90, but il take that into account, thanks.



What should i put Uncore at?


What about qpi/vtt voltage?


Sorry to say i dont even know what stepping means
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Phayze
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada2029 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 01:38:48
November 21 2011 01:25 GMT
#11
Just keep your uncore stock (or close too it by downclocking it after you change your bclk) for testing stability. It barely impacts performance anyways so it's not worth the heat. Qpi doesnt really matter. It's always going to be alot higher, I personally am not given much options to downclock qpi/vtt.

Start by only going for CPU speed, downclock everything else. Work on those after. In general stay under 80. But i'm sure you would be fine with 85. Dont feel like you need to use the high multiplier, if you have a decent mobo you could find a better clock with a lower multiplier.

And the general recommendation is never go over 85 with first gen i7's. Not sure if it was just a stigma or what was with it, but 90 is definitely NOT the number. The intel spec rated temperature was alot lower for first gen i7's compared to the old quads.

Anyways, theres more i7 overclocking guides on the internet than any other generation of processors as far as i've seen. You'll find better information in those written guides then here.

I get 3.8Ghz at stock, 1.35V for 3.8Ghz on a D0 is wayyyy overkill. Try 1.22-1.26V. I think you're not stable because you're overvolting (and in doing so going over 80degrees)

Stepping is just the series of production the processor was made in, a0,b0,c0,d0, d0; d0 was the latest and most power efficient i7 near the end of their lifespan, and with that was the best overclocker.
Proud member of the LGA-1366 Core-i7 4Ghz Club
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 01:39:30
November 21 2011 01:38 GMT
#12
On November 21 2011 10:25 Phayze wrote:
Just keep your uncore stock (or close too it by downclocking it after you change your bclk) for testing stability. It barely impacts performance anyways so it's not worth the heat. Qpi doesnt really matter. It's always going to be alot higher, I personally am not given much options to downclock qpi/vtt.

Start by only going for CPU speed, downclock everything else. Work on those after. In general stay under 80. But i'm sure you would be fine with 85. Dont feel like you need to use the high multiplier, if you have a decent mobo you could find a better clock with a lower multiplier.

And the general recommendation is never go over 85 with first gen i7's. Not sure if it was just a stigma or what was with it, but 90 is definitely NOT the number. The intel spec rated temperature was alot lower for first gen i7's compared to the old quads.

Anyways, theres more i7 overclocking guides on the internet than any other generation of processors as far as i've seen. You'll find better information in those written guides then here.



Honestly i cant even remember what stock was for uncore and having a little trouble looking it up, stupid problem i know.


There is a flat option in my bios for qpi/vtt voltage which ive been leaving on auto because i have no idea what to put it on, thats why i mentioned it, i want it as low as possible for stability and ive heard auto gives a massive amount of unneccesary breathing room.


I went to 167x24 because my mobo was failing @200x20 and i wasnt sure what it would be stable at, do you have any other suggestions for it?


It is infact a d0
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Phayze
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada2029 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 01:39:53
November 21 2011 01:39 GMT
#13
Lower your voltage! Stock voltage for i7-950 is 1.181V! You should have no trouble hitting that 3.8Ghz stable at 1.22-1.24V!
Proud member of the LGA-1366 Core-i7 4Ghz Club
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
November 21 2011 01:39 GMT
#14
On November 21 2011 10:39 Phayze wrote:
Lower your voltage! Stock voltage for i7-950 is 1.181V!



Ok ok i get it shit is it that bad
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Phayze
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada2029 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 01:45:47
November 21 2011 01:40 GMT
#15
Not really. There should be no damage, just 1.36V + is used for like 4++Ghz overclocks with water cooling setups.

Try 166x23 (3.8Ghz) at like 1.21V or 1.23V, and test for stability. You want to keep QPI/VTT voltage .02 below vcore. So if you are at1.23vcore, try 1.21Vtt. This is because by overclocking your bclk you also overclock your qpi. So the voltage has to be adjusted as such. You should easily be able to stay well under 1.3V under 4ghz with a d0.
Proud member of the LGA-1366 Core-i7 4Ghz Club
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
November 21 2011 01:45 GMT
#16
On November 21 2011 10:40 Phayze wrote:
Not really. There should be no damage, just 1.36V + is used for like 4.8Ghz overclocks with water cooling setups.

Try 166x23 (3.8Ghz) at like 1.21V or 1.23V, and test for stability. You want to keep QPI/VTT voltage .02 below vcore. So if you are at1.23vcore, try 1.21Vtt. This is because by overclocking your bclk you also overclock your qpi. So the voltage has to be adjusted as such.



Running that @1.265 (i restarted before your post) and qpi/vtt still on auto, testing now
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Phayze
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada2029 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 01:51:31
November 21 2011 01:47 GMT
#17
Good, you booted with the same overclock, but .1v less. Don't start voltage high and lower it. In general start voltage low and add more based off stability. D0's are OC beasts. Turn HT and turbo off. Turbo will mess with stability if you dont know what's stable and what's not. But thats a personal opinion. I have HT on, turbo off. I personally like stable performance.
Proud member of the LGA-1366 Core-i7 4Ghz Club
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
November 21 2011 01:49 GMT
#18
Its stable @ 75c after 5 minutes, will probably go up a couple degrees but its still a massive cut, should i drop a bit more along with qpi/vtt?


I cant seem to add a 24'th multiplier because of turbo mode "reserving" it or something, so i think im gonna enable that too on restart
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Phayze
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada2029 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 02:01:24
November 21 2011 01:52 GMT
#19
Yes, 24th multiplier is reserved for turbo, and only available on the 980/980x+ series. The gulftowns. I like turbo off. 1.26V should be fine with turbo on though. I'd personally keep lowering the voltage with turbo off till around 1.21V or whenever you're unstable and find the minimum voltage you need to run 3.8Ghz. Having turbo on will require more voltage, and doing it this way you can easier identify correct estimate voltages for a higher overclock. 4-4.4Ghz is easily possible with a d0 assuming you stay under 80. Staying at 3.8Ghz is fine, but I feel you are still overvolting a little @ 1.26v.
Proud member of the LGA-1366 Core-i7 4Ghz Club
Phayze
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada2029 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-21 02:23:21
November 21 2011 02:11 GMT
#20
[image loading]
Just loaded an old profile. 1.2V with HT on, 3.8Ghz. I used it for months when I first got my 950. Most certainly stable. I was able to use stock voltage too but if I recall correctly I had crashes after like 10 hours of p95. This is why I feel 1.26V is still a little too high.

Once you get your lowest stable voltage at 3.8ghz, start raising the bclk and voltage incrementally. Test for like 5 mins p95. Get to the clock you want, then start dipping back the voltage until your are unstable again. Once you're there just dip back the bclk or increase the voltage a tiny bit. Remember to keep qpi/vtt .02 lower than vcore!. It seems like you (or your friend) just randomly chose 1.36V as a good number and put in a random OC. Since you got a good 3.8 ghz OC almost (imo voltage too high) , it acts as a good reference. As you barely need any voltage to hit 3.8/4Ghz, and when you start going over 4 that's where you're going to need to put in more power.
Proud member of the LGA-1366 Core-i7 4Ghz Club
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