Overclocking Escapades: socket AM2 Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor

[Tech Tweaker]

This CPU was very disappointing.

It doesn't overclock well, it takes a lot of voltage to get to its max (and isn't stable at its max speed), and it produces as much heat as one might expect from something like a nuclear reactor. This thing runs just ridiculously hot.

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor overclock settings
2.0GHz (stock): 1.15V (1.10V)
2.2GHz: 1.22V (1.175V)
2.3GHz: 1.26-1.28V (1.225V)
2.4GHz: 1.33V (1.28750V)
2.5GHz: 1.45V (1.40V)*unstable at any voltage

It hit load temps of 82°C on Core 0 and 88°C on Core 1 with Prime95 running (according to Hardware Monitor and Core Temp) when I was at 2.5GHz with 1.45V.

I'm wondering if there's some issue with the thermal material between the Core and Integrated Heat Spreader that is causing the thermal issues. I think they used solder on these CPU's, but might have been some form of thermal paste/thermal material? I remounted the heatsink and replaced the paste a few times, but it didn't help.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Actually looks like a picky Cpu. Try different cpu multipliers and see how it reacts to them. I know the 6400+ is no good at Multi of x10 (also a windsor core) and a really high reference clock. But as long as I have the cooling x9 works pretty good so does x11.

And some of these chips just hit a brick wall. Usually going from normal to extreme only gaining a couple hundred mhz. And some just don't like speed at all, but will run warm temps at an overclock without issues. I had an Opteron 165 that could just be cooking along 3ghz on 70c all day stability tested.

As they say, luck of the draw.

If you want to consider de-lidding it, I think it would be worth the attempt as some of these Cpus just love running over 1.6v Just don't forget that water block.

Also, don't forget to add chipset voltage as your overclocking on that. Not sure if you have a multiplier for that with your board and using this cpu.... just a thought.

 

[Tech Tweaker]

Actually looks like a picky Cpu. Try different cpu multipliers and see how it reacts to them. I know the 6400+ is no good at Multi of x10 (also a windsor core) and a really high reference clock. But as long as I have the cooling x9 works pretty good so does x11.

And some of these chips just hit a brick wall. Usually going from normal to extreme only gaining a couple hundred mhz. And some just don't like speed at all, but will run warm temps at an overclock without issues. I had an Opteron 165 that could just be cooking along 3ghz on 70c all day stability tested.

As they say, luck of the draw.

If you want to consider de-lidding it, I think it would be worth the attempt as some of these Cpus just love running over 1.6v Just don't forget that water block.

Also, don't forget to add chipset voltage as your overclocking on that. Not sure if you have a multiplier for that with your board and using this cpu.... just a thought.

This is what I'm looking at for Voltages.

I increased the CPU to NB HT Voltage (which I'm guessing is the actual NB voltage) from the stock 1.2V to 1.3V, and increased that NB to SB HT voltage from the stock 1.3V to 1.35V (as I don't know what it does).







The CPU<->MCP55 HT Speed is the multiplier for the HT Link speed/Northbridge speed.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Nb core/PCI-E I'd bump that a little bit see what happens. One or two clicks nothing extreme should be fine.

NB to SB HT looks good.

I'm running 1.95v DDR2 over here. Little bit of a fan flow on them there.

Really anything SB can be on auto. SB doesn't get OC'ed.

What about on the OC page? Are there voltage settings there as well?

EDIT:

For stability and high clocks you can tune the link Widths down as well. It doesn't usually help with Cpus that hit brick walls though.....

 

[ShrimpBrime]

The CPU<->MCP55 HT Speed is the multiplier for the HT Link speed/Northbridge speed.

Yes this is HT multiplier. No it's not the NB multiplier.

gotta remember HT link speed is separate from actual NB core speeds. I don't recall an option for NB multiplier unless using a board that's compatible with Phenom processors and I believe some boards would show it greyed out for Athlons and some would not display this setting unless Phenom processor was used.. It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure that's how it worked out.

So the chipset core voltage is what your looking for. Again, this may be dependent on the board and bios as well.

 

[Tech Tweaker]

Yes this is HT multiplier. No it's not the NB multiplier.

gotta remember HT link speed is separate from actual NB core speeds. I don't recall an option for NB multiplier unless using a board that's compatible with Phenom processors and I believe some boards would show it greyed out for Athlons and some would not display this setting unless Phenom processor was used.. It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure that's how it worked out.

So the chipset core voltage is what your looking for. Again, this may be dependent on the board and bios as well.

Sorry, I've kind of gotten used to socket 939 terminology, where the HT Link and the Northbridge were one and the same thing.

I'm guessing that's different with AM2 then?

Nb core/PCI-E I'd bump that a little bit see what happens. One or two clicks nothing extreme should be fine.

NB to SB HT looks good.

I'm running 1.95v DDR2 over here. Little bit of a fan flow on them there.

Really anything SB can be on auto. SB doesn't get OC'ed.

What about on the OC page? Are there voltage settings there as well?

EDIT:

For stability and high clocks you can tune the link Widths down as well. It doesn't usually help with Cpus that hit brick walls though.....

Wasn't really sure what to do with the NB Core/PCI-E setting, since I wasn't sure if that would be an important voltage to set, or if that is something that will even be affected by overclocking.

Pic of the JumperFree (overclocking) page is up now.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Sorry I'm in and out tonight.

It looks like that's an older NV chipset correct? If you had the spare coin, I'd point you into the direction of M3A32 or M4A785 M4A79 Deluxe or something of the sort for some superior overclocking, even on air cooling.

I feel as if this board lacks some features in the bios to really push hard, but seems to be doing ok at 289 bus frequency.

I'm going to look at the other windsors threads you've been posting and see what I make of the OCs. Maybe something will stand out in terms of Cpu walls or motherboard walls. I've seen lots of boards be just OK to overclock with while others tend to OC better given the AMD chipset and how new it is. NF4 was one of my favorite chipsets from NVidia, but never used one for AM2.

Also if you find an AMD chipset board, you want ACC and LLC in that bios or don't purchase it.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Ya that board tends to give you an average overclock of only 500mhz with your windsor cores. From reports of the heat, after you hit that 500mhz increase mark, the temps become an issue as well.

2 things you can do. Look for some cooler temps, and look for a board that's got a handful of features to help the OC process. But I'd try the cooling thing first and see what the board is capable of while you have control of temps.

A de-lid of these processors couldn't hurt temps much, but probably improve them somewhat, but ultimately this windsors get really hot @ 1.45v as your discovering. Even on liquid cooling, I don't use more than 1.5v with the 6400 as it can emit enough heat to stop the OC dead in the tracks. Hits 62c faster than Cinebench can complete..