My phenom II x2 555BE (unlocking and OC'ing results)

[runninkyle17]

NB, HT link, and ram all at stock. Just wanted to make sure my CPU was stable at 3.8GHz before I push it more. Will probably try to get it to 4.2GHz. Max voltage I want to mess with on air cooling is 1.5v, but my mobo is a budget board and has a little vdrop, so when the Crosshair IV or MSI's 890FX board comes out I am sure this baby will scream. Not bad for a $90 CPU!!!

CPU Model Used: AMD Phenom II x2 555BE (unlocked to quad cores, all cores at 3.8GHz)
CPU Full Stepping: C3 stepping Batch: CACAC AC 1004 EPMW
CPU Frequency: 3.8GHz
CPU Vcore: 1.46v
NB Frequency: ??? (first time clocking AMD's not sure where to find this, FSB is at stock 200MHz though)
HT Link Frequency: 2000MHz (for stability)
Memory Frequency: 800MHz (for stability purposes at this point)
Memory Configuration 2x2gb
Memory Unganged
Motherboard: Asus M4A785-M
Cooling Type: Ultima 90 w/ yate loon 120mm fan
Windows 7 x64 Pro

 

[Chappie]

nice!!!

I would love to OC my unlocked Phenom II x3 to those levels...but with my stock heatsink and no way to monitor temps I just can't do it now.

That a great oc though!!

Chappie

 

[konakona]

That's a nice overclock, congrats! My (unfortunately C2) only does 3.8... I think it is the heat barrier, core contact freezer just can't keep up with the heat it seems, the cpu craps out in OCCT north of 55C or so.

CPU-NB has been shown to matter in many situations including games, most AM3 chips should be able to get up to 2600-2800 range from what I have seen. It has a separate voltage setting of its own apart from the vcore. You can check what it's running at under the memory tab of cpu-z (labeled "NB Frequency").

In bios settings, they would give you multipliers in a not-so straightforward manner (mine goes in increments of 200 ranging from 800 to 7000). The way you calculate the actual CPU-NB clock is: (whatever is given in bios / 200) * your reference clock

Actually, I have made a simple excel file last nite to calculate cpu/ram/htt/cpu-nb from ref and multis/divs. Here you go if you need it: http://www.filefront.com/15802583/phII%20overclock.xlsx

 

[richierich1212]

Nice. Now try bumping up the NB!

 

[soccerballtux]

Wow dude, that's awesome.
agree with richierichRR, I would start increasing the CPU-NB/L3 cache/uncore. You'll get a 10% performance improvement from going to just 2.6ghz, a little more if you can hit 2.8ghz. I've been giving mine +0.2v for quite a while FYI, so I bet you can do the same without having any problems.

 

[bigpimpatl]

I have the same stepping as you, and I finally got a motherboard that will do it justice. can't wait for my cooler to come!

did you buy yours at frys?

 

[richierich1212]

Just ordered one of these badboys from the 'Egg today. Can't wait.

 

[richierich1212]

Ok currently prime testing my unlocked 555 (batch 1004BPMW from Newegg) @ 4GHz/2.8GHz NB w/ 1.49vcore.

 

[StrangerGuy]

My 1008 GPMW can't unlock . Now currently running dual-core 3.8GHz / 2.6GHz @ 1.4V / 1.25V. 52C IBT load temps with Hyper 212+.

 

[slag]

microcenter has a new promo right now. 99 bucks for the 555 and get a gigabyte motherboard, ga-ma78lm-s2h board that has the 710 sb chipset that will unlock these cpus, for 7.99 after instant rebate and a 10.00 MIR. so, basically the board is 17.99. I'm going to pick up a combo this weekend I think and see if it works better than my pII 720 BE combo. Whichever is slower will go to my son.

 

[richierich1212]

I've also managed to use PhenomMsrTweaker to run my 555 @ 2.4GHz w/ only 0.944v in low power mode, and back up to 4GHz w/ 1.47v in high performance mode. My previous 550 could only run @ 1.5GHz with the same voltage.

 

[maddy143ded]

Hello,
I have Amd Phenom II X2 555 CPU on a GB GA-MA785-US2H DDR2 mobo. i have had successful Unlock to a B55 CPU using ACC.
but the trouble is i don't have anything to monitor the CPU Temps while its running in Quad mode. I have already tried the following softwares to monitor the temps.
Coretemp, HWMonitor, HWinfo32, Real Temp, Everest, Speedfan. I simply don't get the temps for the 4 cores. or any CPU related temps and have to rely on the mobo temps which r different then the actual core temps.
My desktop is housed in a place with ambient temps ranging from 25c - 38c over the 24 hours. and we have a prediction for very hot summer. in this temp conditions I am using my older AMD Athlon X2 3600+ cooler as this ones seems to give me lower temps then the stock Phenom cooler while in dual core mode. at stock speeds and @ 1.25v with CnQ ON, my idle temps range from 34c to 39c. and load temps range from 40c - 50c. I have 3, 80 mm fans cooling my case. I am currently afraid to run on the Quad core mode because of lack of temperature monitoring. If someone here has any solution for this issue then it would be very helpful to everyone here.
ps: my Desktop runs 24 hrs a day on a daily basis. I use it to keep 5 FF windows running with high Quality Flash applications and a Opera window with anywhere from 8 to 20 Tabs constantly. all this runs about 5 - 40 % cpu usage and about 80% of 2GB ddr2 667 Ram.
also i got a stable overclock of 3.8G @ dual and have tested Quad @ 3.6Ghz waiting for better temp monitor before going higher in Quad mode.
unable to go higher then 3.8 @ dual mode because of the cheap ass memory. and some inexperience with NB. any help would be welcome to break the 4g barrier.:hmm:

 

[richierich1212]

People have said add around 3-5degrees C to the X2 load temps in order to get a ballpark figure for your X4 temps.

 

[maddy143ded]

I too have read that somewhere, but still my high ambient temps make me worry about burning out the CPU without knowing..
currently i am thinking of getting a CM 212+ as it is said to have decent cooling performance and is readily available here for ~40$ its a bit above my budget but i may get it..
i currently use the CPU at stock and undervolt it so as to save on power and( I ont need the high performance but I may need multi cores so as to run the heavy Flash games round the clock. in multiple browsers.)

 

[hondaf17]

Holy cow, so the OP got all 4 cores running at 3.8Ghz?!!? And RichieRich1212 got all 4 cores running at 2.4 Ghz?!!? Why the big difference??

 

[busydude]

Holy cow, so the OP got all 4 cores running at 3.8Ghz?!!? And RichieRich1212 got all 4 cores running at 2.4 Ghz?!!? Why the big difference??

RichieRich undervolted his CPU

managed to use PhenomMsrTweaker to run my 555 @ 2.4GHz w/ only 0.944v in low power mode, and back up to 4GHz w/ 1.47v in high performance mode

 

[hondaf17]

Got it, thanks. So is it safe to say that if you get a dual core at stock speed of 3.2, if you're successful at unlocking to quad cores, your stock speed for all four cores will stay at 3.2, and then you can OC? I would've assumed (I guess incorrectly) that to unlock 4 cores the stock speed would drop. If that's not the case and you're able to unlock to 4 all at a stock of 3.2 then this processor at $100 is a steal, and a better deal than the X3 720 which has 3 cores stock at 2.8ghz, correct?!!?

 

[busydude]

The frequency doesn't change if you unlock it.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3730

you get a dual core at stock speed of 3.2, if you're successful at unlocking to quad cores, your stock speed for all four cores will stay at 3.2

That is a big if. I was not able to unlock extra cores of 555 so don't count on it.

 

[Reincus]

I too have read that somewhere, but still my high ambient temps make me worry about burning out the CPU without knowing..
currently i am thinking of getting a CM 212+ as it is said to have decent cooling performance and is readily available here for ~40$ its a bit above my budget but i may get it..
i currently use the CPU at stock and undervolt it so as to save on power and( I ont need the high performance but I may need multi cores so as to run the heavy Flash games round the clock. in multiple browsers.)

That's why you find out what your max OC is with your original cores. Say you want your temp threshold at 55C. Get your max overclock at 2 cores that takes you to 50C. Then unlock the cores. If you are stable at that max OC then count yourself lucky, and you won't be exceeding that 55C threshold. Most people can't run their unlocked cores to the same OC as the base cores, but milage various, and anything under that clock speed will definately be safe.

 

[slag]

put in the 555 BE, hybrid on, auto for cores, booted up with 4 cores. Its a CACAC processor, CPMW from microcenter.

I'm sitting at 18 clock multiplier right now, stock voltage, cpuz reads 3.62 ghz. Going to try to push it higher.. of course.

One question so far. Does DDR2 in these motherboards work in a dual channel mode, or can I put in 3 sticks and have no performance difference? I'm on a GA-MA785GM-US2H mainboard.

 

[Reincus]

They use matched pairs, so a 3rd one will lower performance

 

[hondaf17]

I'm also sitting at 18 clock multiplier right now, stock voltage, at 3.62 Ghz. Only my 3rd core would unlock (4th core unstable).

It failed Prime at 19 clock multiplier at 3.82Ghz with stock voltage. Considering some of you guys have gotten up 20 clock multipliers, should I start increasing the voltage to try and make it stable at 19 or 20 clock? I have a Hyper 212+ and max temps are only 47-48C so I have headroom there.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Go for it. Any voltage that is +10% of stock or less is something you can usually consider "safe" as long as the temps aren't insane. Sounds like you've got a little headroom left. You messed with the NB speeds yet?

 

[ShawnD1]

That is a big if. I was not able to unlock extra cores of 555 so don't count on it.

Did you try disabling some bios features? My 550 will not unlock unless I disable C1E.

 

[konakona]

I got myself a 555BE a while ago. It's doing 3.8/2.8 @ 1.45v/1.44v