Successful OC + question... VERY COOL!

[thejez]

I figured it was about time to upgrade from my 300a 450 configuration and since it has worked PERFECTLY for me up to this point i figured i'd overclock again. So I got an ASUS CUBX and a P3 550e, and Some Micron -7E 133 CL2 ram. If you are wanting to OC your system BUY THIS SETUP... i got all the boxes, plugged the cpu in (with retail hs and fan) dropped the DIMM in and powered it up... worked perfectly @ 550 so i boosted the FSB up to 133 and posted 733 without issing a beat... not being satifisfied yet I upped the FSB to 140mhz and again posted 770 without a hesitation... and as far as I can see this is rock solid. I have never had an easier time overclocking... it was so easy I dont see why people would ever pay full price for a CPU.

SO i just want to say... if your gonna OC this SETUP was AWESOME for me...

BUT I HAVE A QUESTION... after playing a game for about an hour i checked the CPU temp and it was 111F. This seemed really hot to me seeing my 300a never really ever went above 100 ... but it IS summer and I dont have AC in my house running.

SO WHATS A SAFE TEMP FOR MY CPU???

THANKS!

 

[JellyBaby]

Your P3 550E can take up to 82C. I'd say if the idle temp is under 40C you're ok (my 650E is 34C). And under stress the average should be under 50C though you can peak into the 50s with no trouble. Everyone has a different "safe zone" and some may claim temps. into the 70s are fine...but I'm a bit more conservative.

 

[Klosters]

Congratulations, thejez! Quality components make OCing reasonably easy. Intel says that the maximum temps for the PIII 550 FC-PGA are: 85C internal, and 85C on the surface. The junction, aka internal temp as reported by the processor's internal diode can be a few degrees off, and may not be the exact internal temp of the CPU. This means that the core temp can be a little hotter or cooler than the value reported by the internal diode. Therefore I won't run my 550 FC-PGA at more than 80C.

80C and 85C are the maximum junction and surface temperatures for the 733 Mhz PIIIEB. As my 550 is running as if it was a 733EB, I have my temp alarm set for 79C. This may be overly cautious, but I've seen pics of a melted FC-PGA. Ugly!

Motherboard Monitor is the most popular prog to keep an eye on your temps and voltages. Can be found at: http://members.brabant.chello.nl/~a.vankaam/mbm . Hmonitor, a similar prog is available at: http://www.hmonitor.com .

 

[thejez]

well i guess i'm well within specs then since 111F is only 44C and I can go up to about 176F (80C) (that seems very hot). Thanks a lot for the replies... i still may through a drop of thermal grease on the cpu to see if it helps!


I'll reinstall motherboard monitor too for a while to keep an eye on it for a bit.

 

[BlueDeathscreen]

The main reason to add bigger heatsinks than the retail one is, generally, to add more stability. As long as your temperature is below, say, 55-60º C, you shouldn't worry (if the system is stable otherwise). But I personally wouldn't accept more than, as an absolute maximum, 60º C.

 

[Painman]

Not bad, really, for the retail sink + pad. For $15 you can get a golden orb cooler and probably be able to keep it at or under 40ºC load temp. I got mine at a computer show (I was surprised to see one there), but most folks order them over the net from 2cooltek or millisec.

-Pain

 

[thejez]

well just to give a little update on the OC... I am now running @ 150mhz FSB 825mhz CPU ... pretty awesome!!

Just gotta keep an eye on the ole temp now...