Post Your Overclock!

[Layback Bear]

I always use Arctic Silver not because I know it's better than what came with the hardware but because I don't know how good what came with the hardware is. A little to much will cost you 2 or 3 deg c, I have done it. With Arctic Silver their is a brake in period, I have tested it. I have never used anything other than A/S #5 Poly; if it's not broke don't fix it. I do replace it about every 2 years; it's time for a super cleaning inside the case anyway. I have read many reviews on testing other compounds but it's hard for me to give up something that works. This sounds like a commercial for Arctic Silver but it's not use what ever you want to.

 

[essenbe]

Layback Bear, I agree and usually never use anything but AS 5. But, I read several articles about how good Noctua's paste was, so thought I would give it a try. But, I did use AS5 on the cooler I had previously and had the same difference in core temps. Core 0 was still 8-10° cooler than the other cores. I'm just wondering if it is not just the way the chip is made. 2 pastes, 2 coolers and the same temp issue. I guess it is down to the CPU or the application method.

 

[GeneO]

Well I guess I should post this, as this is going to be history sometime next week. It is a Asus P7P55D-E Pro with i5-760 and 8GB of g.skill ripjaws 1600MHz 7-8-7-24 at 20x200 MHz. I am replacing this with a Asus P8Z68-V Pro (Gen3) + i5 2500k and 8GB Ripjaws X CAS 8 memory (yeah, I know, no imagination - but I wanted a PCIe 3.0 and Ivybridge path and it fit the bill). Bye bye P55. Hope to get a comfortable 4.5 on the new rig.

I am impressed with the Gflops I have seen from the i5 2500k, more than double what I can get, but am a little puzzled. Some of the circa 4.5 GHz i5 2500 overcclock IBT results I see posted here are 12o Gflops, while others are around 60. I find the 60s more believable as it is in line with other CPUs at the same frequency. What gives?

 

[profdlp]

...I am replacing this with a Asus P8Z68-V Pro (Gen3)...

That's the board I bought a month ago and so far it has been awesome. Easy and clean on the Windows installation, plus enough goodies to play with in the BIOS to keep you busy for a long, long time. I got the i7 2600k to go with it, but I think you'll put up some terrific numbers with the CPU you have selected - it seems to be an OCers favorite.

 

[Britton30]

Gene, can you change your tRFC to, say 34-38?

 

[GeneO]

Gene, can you change your tRFC to, say 34-38?

Last time I tried messing with the memory timings, my system and system disk got corrupted. Was really interesting looking when windows booted up, programs opening by themselves and all kinds of junk. LOL. Of course I had an image backup before I started. And it was the tRFC I changed I believe.

 

[GeneO]

OK, so how does Smartyeyeball get about double what I see others post (in GFlops > 120). Is it memory speed - hardly seems like that would double it.

 

[GeneO]

...I am replacing this with a Asus P8Z68-V Pro (Gen3)...

That's the board I bought a month ago and so far it has been awesome. Easy and clean on the Windows installation, plus enough goodies to play with in the BIOS to keep you busy for a long, long time. I got the i7 2600k to go with it, but I think you'll put up some terrific numbers with the CPU you have selected - it seems to be an OCers favorite.

That's good to hear! Got the CPU, should get the board Monday, don't know when the RAM will arrive.

 

[GeneO]

OK, so how does Smartyeyeball get about double what I see others post (in GFlops > 120). Is it memory speed - hardly seems like that would double it.

Ah I think I answered my own question. From an overclocking forum:

The 115-120 GFlops on an overclocked i5 2500k are achievable only with IBT including AVX (advanced vector extensions), see Intel® AVX - Intel® Software Network. IBT (in fact, Linpack) with AVX produces way more heat (about 10 deg) than prime95 with small FFT

IBT - Overclockers UK Forums

So it is the version of IBT - with (2.51 or greater?) or without the extensions that makes the difference for Sandybridge.

 

[A Guy]

I'm going to try Arctic Silver next time. I'm thinking about a new board and CPU, so we'll see.

Kip likes the MX-2 by Arctic Cooling. A Guy

 

[Britton30]

Patrick I think it is always wise not to have anything on auto when trying to reach a high overclock,

No offence mate, but you're teaching granny to suck eggs in this case

Manually entering all values is one of the first things I do.

It is good advice though - It's the same advice I always give (That's why I know it's good )

None taken. It must be good advice if you give it.
I thought I had read something where you had changed something to manual with better results is all. Of course I can't find it. May have been someone else tho.

I know you can overclock, I've seem those MaxxPI memory tests!

 

[Layback Bear]

GeenO I don't see your core voltage, what is it at?

 

[GeneO]

GeenO I don't see your core voltage, what is it at?

Ah, that is because I had Asus AI tool running at the time so CPU-Z can't obtain it then

It is 1.336V idle, 1.28V under IBT load. Approx a .06V Vdroop. Not too bad.
All power savings C states off, LLC disabled, and other voltages tweaked: Vtt 1.175V and PLL 1.8625V.

 

[essenbe]

I think another motherboard is in my future. It's very hard to overclock this one manually. easy if you use there auto overclock. But, it requires too much Vcore, I think. just playing around today. maybe I can get the vcore down some more and keep temps lower. I'm thinking about the Asus P8Z68 Deluxe GEN 3. Any thoughts?

 

[A Guy]

I think Kip liked it:

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?5928-ASUS-P8Z68-Deluxe-MB-Review&

A Guy

 

[profdlp]

See "My System Specs". I've only had it a month, but it has been excellent thus far.

 

[smarteyeball]

Yes, do you think that may be the problem? I heard it was excellent paste. And I applied it twice. Once just to see the coverage. Cleaned it and did it again, so I know the paste was right.

It's definitely in the Top 5 of pastes which is why I've always used it, but I've had the same results across several chips and two different Noctuas (NH-U12P and the NH-D14). I've always had one core that's ~10c cooler than the others and have a higher than average load temp than others using the same, or even less voltages :huh:

I do tend to overclock when the ambient temps are pretty high (28c-31c/82F-86F), but this cooler should still be performing better.

IC Diamond is another paste worth looking at.

None taken. It must be good advice if you give it.

It was well intentioned mate, so it's all good

 

[Layback Bear]

essenbe looks good with vcore at 1.296 if temps are okay. My understanding is i5 do run cooler than many Intel chips. I have seen some go above 1.4 vcore but who knows how long that will last. What is the listed max volts for a i5 chip?

 

[profdlp]

...IC Diamond is another paste worth looking at...

That's what I'm using. When I put it on my old system it saved me a couple degrees at idle. I haven't really stressed that machine since I rebuilt it to see what it's like under load.

 

[smarteyeball]

I'm thinking about the Asus P8Z68 Deluxe GEN 3. Any thoughts?

It's been a solid board for me as well.

You could always grab the PRO version to save few dollars unless you really want the USB 3.0 adapter. Otherwise there's no difference between the Pro and Deluxe version.

(I would have gone Pro if it was in stock at the time I bought my Deluxe. Although I do like the 'deluxe' name )

Alternatively, the new Z77 chipset boards are being released in time for Ivy Bridge around April. From my quick reading the only major differences are more PCI-E 3.0 lanes and 'native' USB 3.0

But then Gen 3 boards will take Ivy chips, the NEC USB 3.0 controller on the Asus has been great for me and unless you're planning on SLI/CF the gen 3 already has PCI-E 3.0 which is more than enough for a single GPU.

I have seen some go above 1.4 vcore but who knows how long that will last. What is the listed max volts for a i5 chip?

1.52v Max - but that's LN2/suicide run territory.

1.38v-1.425v for 24/7 air cooling.

That's what I'm using. When I put it on my old system it saved me a couple degrees at idle. I haven't really stressed that machine since I rebuilt it to see what it's like under load.

From what I've read the difference under stress is still only a few degrees between the other top pastes, but that's still pretty impressive considering what it's already up against.