Safest maximum Vcore for Q9550 ?

lenix · Oct 6, 2008

What's up,

I'm overclocking my Q9550, already achieved 4.0Ghz at 1.37V ( unstable at 1.36 ).. so what would be my maximum limit on the vcore ? any ideas?

One more question, should I play with "FSB Strap to Northbridge" while overclocking the cpu ? ( because I'm only playing with 2 options, the frequency and the vcore )

Many thanks to anyone who would clear this up for me

mdamda · Oct 6, 2008

Intel's processor finder page states 1.3675 or something very close to that as a maximum voltage VID for those chips.

Since that's a VID value, that probably means you can run it higher (some do by a large amount), but I personally wouldn't want to do so.

ChinStrap · Oct 6, 2008

what are your temps like loaded? IIRC these cpus can handle like ~70*c

if your under that, IMO you still have room to go

ghost_recon88 · Oct 6, 2008

ChinStrap said:
what are your temps like loaded? IIRC these cpus can handle like ~70*c

if your under that, IMO you still have room to go

Remember that voltage kills chips faster then temps do.

lenix · Oct 6, 2008

ChinStrap said:
what are your temps like loaded? IIRC these cpus can handle like ~70*c

if your under that, IMO you still have room to go

@4GHZ My temps was around 59-60C under full load ( taken by RealTemp during an intensive cpu test that almost lasted 10 minutes).. All under air, I'm using a Thermalright IFX-14

So I take it that it's not really safe to go above 1.37 ? Well, I'd like to hear feedback from people who actually own a Q9550 and did some experiments

Thanks for replies guys!

pascalbrown · Oct 6, 2008

I'm running my Q9650 at 1.4v which is completely safe in my opinion. I've seen plenty of people running 45nm quads at over 1.5v for benching sessions and running up to 1.45v for 24/7 use. The only dead chip I've ever read about was murdered by too much vtt not vcore! The biggest question to ask is can you afford to replace it if it does die? You've got a great clock there at 4GHz so perhaps stop and be happy? It's hard I know... we're addicts!

wsA.w337$mok3 · Oct 6, 2008

vcore q9550

i dont go past 1.38 its done after that ..air

karkas · Oct 6, 2008

lenix said:
What's up,

I'm overclocking my Q9550, already achieved 4.0Ghz at 1.37V ( unstable at 1.36 ).. so what would be my maximum limit on the vcore ? any ideas?

One more question, should I play with "FSB Strap to Northbridge" while overclocking the cpu ? ( because I'm only playing with 2 options, the frequency and the vcore )

Many thanks to anyone who would clear this up for me

If you want to know about strap settings, they can be extremely beneficial and often go underutilized. Here is a fantastic Anandtech article about it. It is a little hard to digest, but if you can get through it and understand it you can really maximize your OC.

Lukee · Oct 7, 2008

Nice guide. I'd love to see something with DDR3 though.

Dapman02 · Oct 7, 2008

Is that cpuz voltage reading or bios reading.

Brolloks · Oct 7, 2008

I have found that any voltage below 1.5 is fine, in fact above that it makes no difference to the OC. For 24/7 I keep my 45nm quads at 1.4 or less
The Q9650 I have now only needs 1.4 to do 4.4 GHz

OldSkool · Oct 7, 2008

Brolloks said:
The Q9650 I have now only needs 1.4 to do 4.4 GHz

I'd say that's insane.......but it's you.

(still that's insane

)

RaV3N · Oct 7, 2008

My Q9550 hits 3.5 noo problem with the voltage set a 1.31 in the bios. But when stress testing it doesnt go over 1.28 and even lower in CPU-Z. I was a little confused by this. Im reading the voltage with Asus Probe II

OldSkool · Oct 7, 2008

RaV3N said:
My Q9550 hits 3.5 noo problem with the voltage set a 1.31 in the bios. But when stress testing it doesnt go over 1.28 and even lower in CPU-Z. I was a little confused by this. Im reading the voltage with Asus Probe II

You are referring to vdrop, it's completely normal. If you have the ability to enable Loadline Calibration on your Mobo, you can get rid of that.

sil40sx · Oct 7, 2008

Q9550 C1 stepping stable here @ 4Ghz with 1.3vcore
i didnt read all the post above me, but i think you need to play around more with the mobo volts. for my settings I bumped + 0.1 volts for FSB, NB, SB, and CPU PLL.

edit: i meant + 0.1 to 0.3volts

sil40sx · Oct 7, 2008

OldSkool said:
You are referring to vdrop, it's completely normal. If you have the ability to enable Loadline Calibration on your Mobo, you can get rid of that.

+1
I think most Asus mobos have this setting (Loadline Calibration)

RaV3N · Oct 7, 2008

OldSkool said:
You are referring to vdrop, it's completely normal. If you have the ability to enable Loadline Calibration on your Mobo, you can get rid of that.

Yes i heard all about loadline calibration, but reviews and posters always say there is nothing good from it?? And how can i benefit from getting rid of vdroop? MY voltage will shows as in the bios??

Nebulous · Oct 7, 2008

RaV3N said:
Yes i heard all about loadline calibration, but reviews and posters always say there is nothing good from it?? And how can i benefit from getting rid of vdroop? MY voltage will shows as in the bios??

I don't know, but I have loadline calibration enabled and my vcore is solid as a rock. Locked in @ 1.32v and it doesn't even flinch under load.

If the vdroop mod is done correctly, you should see minimal to just about zero vdroop in the bios. Be advised tho that there will be some voltage fluctuation as this is normal.

RaV3N · Oct 7, 2008

Nebulous said:
I don't know, but I have loadline calibration enabled and my vcore is solid as a rock. Locked in @ 1.32v and it doesn't even flinch under load.

If the vdroop mod is done correctly, you should see minimal to just about zero vdroop in the bios. Be advised tho that there will be some voltage fluctuation as this is normal.

Oh ok. But if Asus Probe says my voltage is at 1.28 is it really at 1.28? Cause in the bios its set higher.

sil40sx · Oct 7, 2008

compare it with CPU-Z. i think CPU-Z shows vcore accurately for 45nm chips. -someone correct me if im wrong pls

Safest maximum Vcore for Q9550 ?

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