i7 920 @ 3.8Ghz - Do have the best settings?

[DaneGuy]

I'm a first time OC'er. I have my system up to 3.8ghz. I ran the burn in app in Sisoft and the computer crashed once but when I reran it with all other applications closed it ran continuously for 1/2 hour. I'm wondering if I have the best settings. Here's what I have:

i7 920
Noctua NH-U12P
3GB 1600 Dominators
Asus P6T

These are my settings - I'm showing what I changed from stock:

AI OC Tuner: Manual
Speedstep: Disabled
BCLK: 190
PCIE: 100
DRAM: DDR3-1523MHz
CPU Voltage: 1.3
QPI/DRAM Core V: 1.35

Advanced Tab:
C1E Support: Disabled

I think that's all I've changed. The temps get as high as 78C on full load.

Anything else I should tweak? Should I go for more?

Thanks!!

 

[Dodger1]

78C would have me just a bit concerned. Here's a look at my results:

http://i581.photobucket.com/al.../3990.jpg?t=1234966079

I loaded all of my 920's 4 cores by running the Prime95 In-Place large FFTs test and my highest temp was 62C. IMO, it's not a great idea to run any o/c that's not 100% stable; so I'd suggest downloading Prime95, selecting the In-Place large FFTs test and by all means run at least 4 torture tests.

If your current oc does not completely pass that test, completely means it doesn't crash at all, you might want to try the following bios settings:

AI manual mode:

BCLK frequency - 190
Dram frequency - 1523 MHz
CPU voltage - 1.31250
UCLK frequency - 3047 MHz
DRAM bus voltage - 1.64
QPI/DRAM core volt - 1.39375

Advanced settings:

CIE support 0 Disabled
Intel Virtualization - Disabled
CPU TM - Disabled
Execute Disable - Disabled
Inter HT - Disabled

One other point, I'd suggest using the latest version of RealTemp, or CoreTemp to monitor your temps. Those programs are about as accurate as you can find but I prefer RealTemp because it records your minimum and maximum temps history.

Good luck and let's see your results.

 

[DaneGuy]

Question: Why do you disable hyperthreading?


EDIT: I changed to the settings you listed and ran Prime95 for about 15 minutes. The highest temp I got was 78c again. I don't know how you get those low temps! I'm idle at 50C.

 

[alcoholbob]

Now I keep hyperthreading on personally but everything I've seen HT will decrease gaming fps by a little although obviously it easily makes it up with a larger increase in productitivy.

 

[DaneGuy]

Thanks. I'll try with it on.

I'm a little concerned with my temps. When I had it set up to run at 4ghz my idle was about 40c. Now, I'm running at 3.8mhz and my idle is consistently 48-50c. What gives?

 

[Elganja]

Originally posted by: Dodger1
78C would have me just a bit concerned. Here's a look at my results:

http://i581.photobucket.com/al.../3990.jpg?t=1234966079

I loaded all of my 920's 4 cores by running the Prime95 In-Place large FFTs test and my highest temp was 62C. IMO, it's not a great idea to run any o/c that's not 100% stable; so I'd suggest downloading Prime95, selecting the In-Place large FFTs test and by all means run at least 4 torture tests.

If your current oc does not completely pass that test, completely means it doesn't crash at all, you might want to try the following bios settings:

AI manual mode:

BCLK frequency - 190
Dram frequency - 1523 MHz
CPU voltage - 1.31250
UCLK frequency - 3047 MHz
DRAM bus voltage - 1.64
QPI/DRAM core volt - 1.39375

Advanced settings:

CIE support 0 Disabled
Intel Virtualization - Disabled
CPU TM - Disabled
Execute Disable - Disabled
Inter HT - Disabled

One other point, I'd suggest using the latest version of RealTemp, or CoreTemp to monitor your temps. Those programs are about as accurate as you can find but I prefer RealTemp because it records your minimum and maximum temps history.

Good luck and let's see your results.

enable HT and see your temps raise ~10C....

My setup:

New memory just got here, results very good...

Running at 21*180 = ~3780... temps are as follows (17 hours into prime large fft's)

avg: 62,65,65,60
high: 65,67,66,62
vreg's are ~60C

I'm pretty happy and I doubt I will push it any further on air... my goal was to stay under 70C under load and I have achieved that, this i7 ROCKS!

This is my entire setup:
Mother Board ( EVGA X58 X3 SLi )
Drivers ( Latest )
Bios ( SZ1A )
CPU ( 920 i7, Batch 3839A )
CPU Cooler ( TRUE Ultra Lapped w/ AS5 )
Memory ( OCZ Gold 1600 )
PSU ( Corsair 850TX )
GPU ( 295 GTX )
Drivers ( Latest )
CPU Clock Ratio ( 20X )
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ( 180 )
CPU Uncore Frequency (Mhz) ( 17x )
Spread Spectrum ( Disabled )
PCIE Frequency (Mhz) ( 100 )

Memory Feature
Memory Control Setting ( Enabled )
Memory Frequency ( 2:8 )
Channel Interleave Setting ( 6 Way )
Rank Interleave Setting ( 4 Way )
Parameters
tCL Setting ( 8 )
tRCD Setting ( 8 )
tRP Setting ( 8 )
tRAS Setting ( 24 )
tRFC Setting ( 74 )
Command Rate ( 1t )

Voltage Control
EVGA VDroop Control ( Without VDroop )
CPU VCore ( 1.2825 )
CPU VTT Voltage ( +150 )
CPU PLL VCore ( 1.80 )
DIMM Voltage ( 1.65 )
DIMM DQ Vref ( +0 )
QPI PLL VCore ( 1.15 )
IOH VCore ( 1.15 )
IOH/ICH I/O Voltage ( 1.6 )
ICH VCore ( 1.15 )
PWM Frequency ( 800 )

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

 

[QuantumPion]

Originally posted by: DaneGuy
Thanks. I'll try with it on.

I'm a little concerned with my temps. When I had it set up to run at 4ghz my idle was about 40c. Now, I'm running at 3.8mhz and my idle is consistently 48-50c. What gives?

Did you disable intel speedstep?

 

[DaneGuy]

Hmm. I'd definitely try your settings if I knew what all that meant on an Asus board.

 

[DaneGuy]

Gonna go check now.


EDIT: Speedstep is off

 

[Dodger1]

Did you set all the items that I suggested in your A1 manual mode exactly as I outlined? It's really important to have the Dram bus voltage and the QPI/DRAM core voltage within a maximum spread .5, or less. Mine are set at a .24625 spread, just to be on the safe side.

If you use Riva Tuner you can find out what ambient temperature of your case is and that's critical. If you don't have that program it's a free download. Once you're got it up and running the top of the screen shows your video card and right below that , to the right, is "Customize" click on it and open up hardware monitoring. Mine shows an ambient of 33C but what does yours show?

Your CPU cooler is a good one but could you tell me exactly how you applied the TIM (Thermal Interface Material) and how much TIM you used?

The reason I disabled HT because when I disabled it, it reduced my temps ~ 4C across the board. But when I'm not really pushing my oc I turn it back on.

If your idle goes down at 4GHz what effect does it have on your load temps?

 

[DaneGuy]

I will double check and get that info and get back to you in a bit.
Thanks!!!!!!!

EDIT:

Ok, I double checked my settings. I had a couple off. My idle temp is still 50C. Under load it went up to 78C.

The ambient temp is 44C.

I have the push/pull setup pushing the air horizontally towards the fan on the back (which is also pulling).

For paste, I put a dab about the size of a piece of rice on it and then push down with a lot of pressure. It was difficult to keep the thing still.....

 

[Dodger1]

Your ambient is 11C higher than mine, which would definitely account for some of your increased temps. What case do you have and are you absolutely certain that when you mounted the two fans on your Noctua you set them up in push/pull?

Let's try this little test before you do anything else. Go to your bios and set your BLCK to 150, then run the test and let me know what your CPU temps are at that level.

 

[DaneGuy]

Keep everything else as it is now or go back to defaults and then change to 150?

 

[Dodger1]

Originally posted by: DaneGuy
Keep everything else as it is now or go back to defaults and then change to 150?

Try going back to the defaults on everything, including you BLCK.

 

[DaneGuy]

Originally posted by: Dodger1

Originally posted by: DaneGuy
Keep everything else as it is now or go back to defaults and then change to 150?

Try going back to the defaults on everything, including you BLCK.

Ok, I took everything back to defaults.

Here are my temps now:

Idle - 40-45c
Load - 60-65c

 

[Dodger1]

Thanks, I should have asked you to do this before making you run around in circles changing this and that.

Go to this url http://www.legitreviews.com/article/880/11/ and take a peek at the temp charts.

You're pulling 45C at idle, their pulling 31.75C, your pulling 65C at load and their pulling 61C. Same processor, same default 2.66GHZ.

Now take a look at the overclocking temps: your pulling 50C at idle, their pulling 37.74, your pulling 78C at load and their pulling 74C. Same processor but this time their oc'ed to 3.5GHZ but you're oc'ed to 3.8GHZ.

One thing that's blatantly obvious about this whole thing, aside from my V10 remarkable temps is that your idle temps are a heck of a lot higher than theirs.

I don't know what their ambient temp was but I'll bet it was close to mine; which simply means that either you've got the thermostat in your residence set to an unreal level, or the airflow through your case is simply dismal. Try opening up both sides of your case and putting a fan next to it, so it blows straight through the case. Now check your ambient temp, run the Prime95 test again and let us know the results.

BTW, what case do you have and for future reference, it would be great if you added your complete system specs in your signature, like I've done. That way if you have a question everyone can see what your components are.

FYI, my case is a Cooler Master HAF, with three 230mm fans, one 140mm fan and one 120mm fan. However, case fan management is almost a science because the end goal is to change the air inside your case as frequently as possible; to remove the heat generated by the CPU, Video card, PSU etc. So just having umpteen zillion fans might not accomplish all that much if. as an extreme example, all the fans were blowing in.

 

[DaneGuy]

Wow. Based on what you've said, and that link, my temps are a bit off.

I did what you said and pulled out a big fan and pointed it into the case.
Idle is now about 35C.
Load is now about 55C.

That's at least a 5c different.

Other than keeping my house fan on high next to the computer, I guess I need to redo my fan setup. Here's the mess that is the inside of my PC:
http://www.freeimagehosting.ne...age.php?863070a83d.jpg

I'm wondering if I need to reseat my sink too. . . . ugh.

 

[DaneGuy]

UPDATE:

I moved a fan from the bottom to the middle of the case and turned the exhaust fans on high. Now idle is 38-40 and load is 55-59. That's not oc'd. The fans are really loud now. I may have to buy some quiet fans.

EDIT: OC'd to 3.8. Idle: 46-48. Load: 70

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: DaneGuy
Wow. Based on what you've said, and that link, my temps are a bit off.

I did what you said and pulled out a big fan and pointed it into the case.
Idle is now about 35C.
Load is now about 55C.

That's at least a 5c different.

Other than keeping my house fan on high next to the computer, I guess I need to redo my fan setup. Here's the mess that is the inside of my PC:
http://www.freeimagehosting.ne...age.php?863070a83d.jpg

I'm wondering if I need to reseat my sink too. . . . ugh.

If I remember the name of the fan I just bought at fyrs the other day I will let you know...It does 84cfm at 14db and appears to be coated with a substance that makes dust not stick to it....

I wonder iof the antec top exhaust fan interuprts the right to left air motion you are trying to achieve.....Maybe try rotating the fan to shoot up on the cpu and turn the back exhaust fan into AN INTAKE FAN....

 

[DaneGuy]

Originally posted by: Duvie

Originally posted by: DaneGuy
Wow. Based on what you've said, and that link, my temps are a bit off.

I did what you said and pulled out a big fan and pointed it into the case.
Idle is now about 35C.
Load is now about 55C.

That's at least a 5c different.

Other than keeping my house fan on high next to the computer, I guess I need to redo my fan setup. Here's the mess that is the inside of my PC:
http://www.freeimagehosting.ne...age.php?863070a83d.jpg

I'm wondering if I need to reseat my sink too. . . . ugh.

If I remember the name of the fan I just bought at fyrs the other day I will let you know...It does 84cfm at 14db and appears to be coated with a substance that makes dust not stick to it....

I wonder iof the antec top exhaust fan interuprts the right to left air motion you are trying to achieve.....Maybe try rotating the fan to shoot up on the cpu and turn the back exhaust fan into AN INTAKE FAN....

14db!?!? That would be sweet. It's too loud for me now. Plus, I'm getting cold with all the air blowing around! I need to direct the air away from me. . . .

I'll try changing the fan to see what that does.

Thanks!

 

[Duvie]

http://www.excaliberpc.com/571...ixtrema-pro-120mm.html

try a few of these!!!

I dont have this exact model, but they have a few variations of ones...some are adjustable...some are 70cfm, 80cfm and 90cfm....all in common is the large blades, small center, hydro bearings....very nice....pushes same air as my antec tri-cools on high but the same db as the antec on low speed but pushes 30cfm more at that speed.

 

[Dodger1]

Dane,

I took a peak at the photo of the inside of your case and I know why your ambient temps are so high.

Here's a pic of the inside of my case. Notice that I've tucked/moved the majority of my wires out of the way of the airflow from front to back and from top to bottom. The front fan on my HAF is an inlet fan, the rear is an exhaust, the very bottom fan is an inlet and the very top is an outlet. That setup allows for the cases air to be changed frequently, as verified by my ambient temp.

http://i581.photobucket.com/al...x/008.jpg?t=1235449808

Your wiring on the other hand is, well you get the drift.

If you scroll down at this url http://www.silentpcreview.com/article254-page3.html to the bottom of the page, that is what you want the inside of you case to look like. If you do something fairly close to that, you won't have to buy any new fans, your ambient temps will drop, your CPU temps will follow suit and you should be happy .

BTW, when you mounted the fans to your cooler, I'm assuming you setup the push/pull so the air flows directly to your rear exhaust fan, which needs to be cleaned? If you set it up in the other direction, you're moving all that heated air directly into your case; which is a huge mistake.

FYI, small cable ties are cheap and there are tons of articles online, and at this site, that offer all kinds of valuable advice on wire management.

 

[DaneGuy]

Awesome. Thanks! I'll see what I can do. I guess my spaghetti wiring wasn't that great after all. . .

 

[Dadofamunky]

Another note, Dane, not exactly related... you did use the right amount of thermal paste for your heat sink, so that's fine. But if you have another occasion to remove your HSF, consult your Asus motherboard manual for the precise procedure for installing the Socket 775 HSF. It's not as hard as you think and you should not have to use a lot of pressure to set the unit properly. In my Asus board's manual, their procedure is about two pages, has several photographs and it works like a charm. The LGA 775 HSFs are not as hard as everyone thinks but you do have to know exactly how to do it. It has to do with TURNING the four mounting connectors a certain way rather than FORCING them on. I finally mastered the procedure as I had to do several successive motherboard swaps during an ultimately unsuccessful troubleshooting procedure. (My eventual solution for the problem was sh*tcanning Windows Vista.)

Also note that I have had temp issues with my system. My idles are now from 35-40 degrees. But I had to set up a second fan blowing onto my CPU/HSF assembly and mod my case.

Also, I recommend getting a fan controller for $25 or more. FrozenCPU has a good selection.

 

[DaneGuy]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
Another note, Dane, not exactly related... you did use the right amount of thermal paste for your heat sink, so that's fine. But if you have another occasion to remove your HSF, consult your Asus motherboard manual for the precise procedure for installing the Socket 775 HSF. It's not as hard as you think and you should not have to use a lot of pressure to set the unit properly. In my Asus board's manual, their procedure is about two pages, has several photographs and it works like a charm. The LGA 775 HSFs are not as hard as everyone thinks but you do have to know exactly how to do it. It has to do with TURNING the four mounting connectors a certain way rather than FORCING them on. I finally mastered the procedure as I had to do several successive motherboard swaps during an ultimately unsuccessful troubleshooting procedure. (My eventual solution for the problem was sh*tcanning Windows Vista.)

Also note that I have had temp issues with my system. My idles are now from 35-40 degrees. But I had to set up a second fan blowing onto my CPU/HSF assembly and mod my case.

Also, I recommend getting a fan controller for $25 or more. FrozenCPU has a good selection.

Thanks! I think I'll reseat my sink when I get a chance just to be sure I did it right.

I had to lower my fans a bit. I was freezing!! I need to find a better way. . .

Are there automatic fan controllers or would I have to change the settings by hand?