[CPUReaction] AMD Phenom II 940 Black Edition - Overclocking / The Beginning... [Archive]

EnJoY

01-25-2009, 09:34 AM

AMD Phenom II 940 Black Edition Processor
Everyone else has a thread, so why not?

http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/stepping_closeup.jpg

The goal of this thread is not to teach or to impress. I am brand new to AMD's Phenom processor, so any learning or excitement drawn from this thread is entirely unintentional and merely a positive side effect of my efforts. ;) Let's get started...

Here are the specs:

AMD Phenom II 940 BE - Retail (CACVC AC 0848FPAW *0120)
DFI DK 790FXB-M2RSH - 12/26 Official Bios
2x2GB G.Skill F2-8800CL5D-4GBPI - Heat Spreaders Removed.
ATI 4850 1GB PCI-E
BFG 800W ES Series
Seagate 7200.10 500GB SATA300
Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme Black Edition (2x 120x38MM SanAce Push/Pull)

Special thanks goes to JonnyGuru/BFG (800w ES), Denny/G.Skill (4GB 8800's), and Matt & Simon/AMD (940 BE/4850 1GB).

Let's start it out with some pics while I was setting up the bench.

First, the new toys!
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/pII_toys.jpg

The new 940 BE direct from AMD!
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/pII_closeup.jpg

DFI board and chip mounted on my new HSPC tech bench. :)
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/pII_boardcpu.jpg

The TRUE Black Edition! (get it?)
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/pII_blackedition.jpg

Pretty new G.Skill PC2-8800 4GB PI kit. Pity those fancy heat spreaders won't fit under the TRUE.
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/pII_gskill8800pi.jpg

Off they go!
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/pII_gskill8800pi_naked.jpg

And a nice close up of the nakedness. Mmmm..PowerChip. :up:
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/pII_gskill8800pi_naked2.jpg

Finally, the bench is all set up and ready to go. :)
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/pII_benchsetup.jpg

EnJoY

01-25-2009, 09:35 AM

Getting started...

First we try max overclock using only the multiplier and taking the memory and HT bus out of the equation.

Is 4GHz supposed to be this easy? This is 1.475v set in AOD.
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/4ghz_32m_sm.jpg (http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/4ghz_32m.jpg)

What about the max overclock in the less than two hours I had spent with the system? This was 1.55v? BSOD shortly after, 1.6v allowed superpi 1m.
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/4.2ghz_cpuzvalid.jpg

http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/492619.png (http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=492619)

Northbridge overclocking...this is where the efficiency is! 3055MHz running 32m.
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/3055mhz_nb_32m_sm.jpg

I was able to hit ~3125MHz before it locked up on me. I'm fairly certain I can run prime at 3000MHz give or take 10MHz. Next I will try and see where the max of both cpu and northbridge clocks meet with some stability.

EnJoY

01-25-2009, 09:36 AM

So I had a solid idea of where the CPU and Northbridge clocked when left independent of one another. But how did they fair together? I'm still tweaking, but this is the product of several hours of trial and error and BSOD's. ;)

Let's see some Cinebench R10:
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/3927mhz_2772mhz_cinebenchmulti_sm.jpg

I didn't like this one, so I played with it a bit more and while I lost a few MHz on the CPU, I gained a few more on the Northbridge clock:
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/3910mhz_2843mhz_cinebenchmulti_sm.jpg

And just because I was curious, some Pi 1M:
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/3910mhz_2843mhz_spi1m_sm.jpg

For pi, the only tweaks implemented for priority @ realtime and killed explorer.

Here's a 32m run:
http://media.thetechreactor.com/staff/enjoy/3910mhz_2843mhz_spi32m_sm.jpg

chew*

01-25-2009, 09:45 AM

mongoled

01-25-2009, 09:53 AM

Nice setup and clocks, are those monsterous 120mm deltas??

:slobber:

You should add those to the system specs

:D

EnJoY

01-25-2009, 09:54 AM

Looking good bud :up:

A little birdy told me that they are sending me a true for my chip monday :D they mentioned something about sacrelidge, and other choice words about my vindicator.

The Bench is nice how much did it run ya?

Thanks, I only had a few hours to play but already I've remembered how much easier AMD overclocking and tweaking is than Intel. I already feel like I have a solid grasp of how everything works, whereas I still fumble with Intel stuff. I was exhausted last night, as you know, so I'll hopefully have some more time to get on it today after work.

The TRUE with the SanAce's is truly magnificent. Better than most watercooling. :up:

$110 for the tech bench I think? Can't recall, Xoxide had the E-ATX black model in stock so I grabbed it. :)

Nice setup and clocks, are those monsterous 120mm deltas??

:slobber:

You should add those to the system specs

:D

They are in the specs, and they aren't Delta's. ;)

chew*

01-25-2009, 09:58 AM

Thanks, I only had a few hours to play but already I've remembered how much easier AMD overclocking and tweaking is than Intel. I already feel like I have a solid grasp of how everything works, whereas I still fumble with Intel stuff. I was exhausted last night, as you know, so I'll hopefully have some more time to get on it today after work.

The TRUE with the SanAce's is truly magnificent. Better than most watercooling. :up:

$110 for the tech bench I think? Can't recall, Xoxide had the E-ATX black model in stock so I grabbed it. :)

They are in the specs, and they aren't Delta's. ;)

It's like riding a bike :)

Yah my deltas aren't that beefy, they are moderate gutted from network servers and free. I have 2 newer net shelters in the garage, Those fans are beasts and may come in handy.

We will have to see what that baby can do under DI. :D

EnJoY

01-25-2009, 09:59 AM

It's like riding a bike :)

We will have to see what that baby can do under DI. :D

Better yet, let's make sure we can get Dumo involved next time and try for some LN2. :up::eek:

chew*

01-25-2009, 10:32 AM

Better yet, let's make sure we can get Dumo involved next time and try for some LN2. :up::eek:

Yah I wouldn't mind learning a few new tricks as well :)

Trunks

01-25-2009, 10:36 AM

keep it coming :)
I got the same cpu stepping.

HondaGuy

01-25-2009, 11:14 AM

keep it coming :)
I got the same cpu stepping.

Same stepping here also,, Cant wait:up:

Dumo

01-25-2009, 11:24 AM

Nice set up Enjoy:up:
Been 2 weekends having fun with phenom here too:)
Definitely we have to set up time with Chew to torture these toys.

chew*

01-25-2009, 11:34 AM

Nice set up Enjoy:up:
Been 2 weekends having fun with phenom here too:)
Definitely we have to set up time with Chew to torture these toys.

I will call around for prices/availablity in my area for LN2, DI costs me $1 a pound 10LB minimum, it lasted 4 hours.
Could reuse Kneaded rubber eraser but it only cost $10 to insulate a whole board. Cheap fun.

Dumo

01-25-2009, 11:50 AM

chew*

01-25-2009, 12:05 PM

Yep, the fun stop at the cooling limit for this cpu. At least now I can open a beer while waiting for 3D '06 to load without worrying about cold bug @ -189C:)

Too bad, my cascade is gone because this phenom can compete with Intel albeit at higher Mhz.

Got any cascade building skills? I have 2 mach 1's here and Liquidfrostbyte chiller here that Chilly 1 made.

Lightman

01-25-2009, 12:26 PM

You started like a true athletic EnJoY :clap:

Pretty craze voltage for 4GHz I think! Mine is good only up to 3.87GHz at that voltage albeit in 64bit ...

PS. nice and clean setup and bench-table ...

Gambit_2K

01-25-2009, 12:32 PM

I have this exact setup in pieces waiting for me at home, but I have a CoolerMaster V8 doing the cooling. My girlfriend convinced me not to go home and putting them together, by wearing the "I wanna have sex right now underwear" that she knows I like :)

I hope my chip will do atleast 4 GHz with 1.55V.

Chicken Patty

01-25-2009, 12:32 PM

hey bro, great results and quick! Love your bench station, subscribed! :up:

Planet

01-25-2009, 12:36 PM

Looks nice Alex. I will hafta get a PhenomII

Raiderman

01-25-2009, 03:14 PM

I would have to say, that stepping seems to be one of the best from the clocks I have seen. Have fun!

bedlamite

01-25-2009, 03:29 PM

Damn I want my Phenom II NOW :(
I have same mobo.
BTW this problem with mem sticks with high heat spreaders is quite annoying :/
Have fun :D

Chicken Patty

01-25-2009, 03:33 PM

how much voltage was needed for that 4.2 GHZ validation??

chew*

01-25-2009, 04:41 PM

Enjoy do me a favor and run cinebench 10 at the same settings you ran that 32m, let me know if you actually have to tweak anything to get it to complete.

afireinside

01-25-2009, 04:44 PM

Looking good. 4ghz 32m easy is nice.

Can you not mount the TRUE in the other direction so the ram fits?

chew*

01-25-2009, 04:45 PM

Looking good. 4ghz 32m easy is nice.

Can you not mount the TRUE in the other direction so the ram fits?

AFI not unless somone makes custom mounts for the TRUE. The socket screws are not evenly spaced etc universal

afireinside

01-25-2009, 04:47 PM

Woops... just noticed that. Damn! I'm spoiled by Intel.

chew*

01-25-2009, 04:48 PM

Woops... just noticed that. Damn! I'm spoiled by Intel.

Hehe but the AMD guys got a better bracket than the intels :D

EnJoY

01-25-2009, 05:19 PM

how much voltage was needed for that 4.2 GHZ validation??

I didn't write it down so I'm kinda guessing...1.6v? And it bluescreened very soon after. Not stable, and there's no way it will be stable with air cooling. I tried getting 4.1GHz 32m done and the closest I came was with 1.55v, any higher volts and it actually got less stable.

Enjoy do me a favor and run cinebench 10 at the same settings you ran that 32m, let me know if you actually have to tweak anything to get it to complete.

I'll try for you.

Looking good. 4ghz 32m easy is nice.

Can you not mount the TRUE in the other direction so the ram fits?

Thanks. :) Unfortunately as Chew* said, the AM2 mount for the TRUE only allows one orientation.

Looks nice Alex. I will hafta get a PhenomII

Yea Jake, these things are a blast and so easy to tweak. :up:

You started like a true athletic EnJoY :clap:

Pretty craze voltage for 4GHz I think! Mine is good only up to 3.87GHz at that voltage albeit in 64bit ...

PS. nice and clean setup and bench-table ...

Thanks, much appreciated!

Nice set up Enjoy:up:
Been 2 weekends having fun with phenom here too:)
Definitely we have to set up time with Chew to torture these toys.

Yea man, I'm having fun. :D You just name the date and I'm there.

EnJoY

01-25-2009, 05:21 PM

UPDATED****

My second post has been updated with a 32m screen shot of my northbridge overclocking efforts. I'm not sure if it's decent so let me know. :up:

Tom128

01-25-2009, 05:42 PM

Holy **** to that NB overclock. NICE :up:

_Lone_Wolf_

01-25-2009, 06:01 PM

How much does northbridge overclocking impact temperatures and power draw?
If any of the initial reviewers had the common sense to explore this option I think P2's launch would've been caste in a much more favourable light.

Dumo

01-25-2009, 06:32 PM

Got any cascade building skills? I have 2 mach 1's here and Liquidfrostbyte chiller here that Chilly 1 made.If you remember, PC Ice build my cascade and when its time to get it repair he went awol, probly in the lam somewhere in Kathmandu:)

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68578&highlight=yellow+cascade&page=3

chew*

01-25-2009, 07:04 PM

If you remember, PC Ice build my cascade and when its time to get it repair he went awol, probly in the lam somewhere in Kathmandu:)

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68578&highlight=yellow+cascade&page=3

Now that baby brings back memories.

Dumo

01-25-2009, 07:12 PM

Yep, can't have it all:)

Chew, did you play with advance clock calibration in bios? It seems add more speed when I up it at +6 on all cores.

EnJoY

01-25-2009, 09:09 PM

Yep, can't have it all:)

Chew, did you play with advance clock calibration in bios? It seems add more speed when I up it at +6 on all cores.

What does this do exactly? I haven't played with it yet myself.

UPDATE***********

Added some screen shots to my third post with some Cinebench and SuperPi. I'll be adding more to that later tonight and then later on after that.

(EDIT: Added a 32m run as well.)

Chicken Patty

01-25-2009, 09:58 PM

thanks for your response EnJoY! :up:

chew*

01-26-2009, 07:26 AM

Yep, can't have it all:)

Chew, did you play with advance clock calibration in bios? It seems add more speed when I up it at +6 on all cores.

Yah i have it enabled but When I power down for the night I have to disable it so it boots again.

Enjoy remember DQS and drive strength for memory? ACC is same thing but for cpu, however the official ruling is that its not supposed to work with PH II, good thing my bios don't know i'm using one ;)

EnJoY

01-26-2009, 07:32 AM

Yah i have it enabled but When I power down for the night I have to disable it so it boots again.

Enjoy remember DQS and drive strength for memory? ACC is same thing but for cpu, however the official ruling is that its not supposed to work with PH II, good thing my bios don't know i'm using one ;)

Hmmm...interesting. Btw, do you want me to run some cinebench at 4GHz? I couldn't hit 4 with my memory controller at the speeds I wanted.

chew*

01-26-2009, 07:35 AM

Hmmm...interesting. Btw, do you want me to run some cinebench at 4GHz? I couldn't hit 4 with my memory controller at the speeds I wanted.

drop your Ht to stock and and NB and rerun at 4.0, I think you'll be surprised, raw mhz > high nb/high HT lower overall clock speed as a result of pushing them.

Lightman

01-26-2009, 09:22 AM

drop your Ht to stock and and NB and rerun at 4.0, I think you'll be surprised, raw mhz > high nb/high HT lower overall clock speed as a result of pushing them.

Yes, it's all to do with heat! More you push CPU/HT/NB on inferior cooling solution (read AIR/Water) quicker it will BSOD. Albeit keeping NB at reasonable frequency is much more profitable for scores than going only for raw MHz on Cores.
I have a plan to try and determine which cores are closer to NB and clock them down to keep NB and other two cores as high as poss. Wonder if it will make any difference on AIR....

chew*

01-26-2009, 09:26 AM

Yes, it's all to do with heat! More you push CPU/HT/NB on inferior cooling solution (read AIR/Water) quicker it will BSOD. Albeit keeping NB at reasonable frequency is much more profitable for scores than going only for raw MHz on Cores.
I have a plan to try and determine which cores are closer to NB and clock them down to keep NB and other two cores as high as poss. Wonder if it will make any difference on AIR....

It effects max clocks very cold as well.

Brother Esau

01-26-2009, 10:46 AM

Always enjoy your reviews Alex:)

EnJoY

01-26-2009, 06:22 PM

Sorry for no updates today guys, no time. I've been working since 7:30am and I won't be off until midnight. So more testing will have to wait until tomorrow.

FlanK3r

01-27-2009, 02:57 PM

Cinebench on 3.9GHz is any small score, strange...about 1000-1500 points less :-/

EnJoY

01-27-2009, 06:58 PM

Cinebench on 3.9GHz is any small score, strange...about 1000-1500 points less :-/

What are you saying? My score is low or yours is low?

afireinside

01-27-2009, 07:15 PM

Cinebench on 3.9GHz is any small score, strange...about 1000-1500 points less :-/

he's on 32 bit

EnJoY

01-28-2009, 07:12 AM

New bios...will hopefully have time to test later. ;)

chew*

01-28-2009, 07:59 AM

New bios...will hopefully have time to test later. ;)

Got plans this saturday other than dealing with a hangover? :ROTF:

EnJoY

01-28-2009, 10:29 AM

Got plans this saturday other than dealing with a hangover? :ROTF:

Yea, the girlfriend will be staying over. Next saturday is a possibility, however, assuming I don't have to drive up to Niagra falls to swap out my seats with a fellow CRSX member. ;)

afireinside

01-28-2009, 01:31 PM

Yea, the girlfriend will be staying over. Next saturday is a possibility, however, assuming I don't have to drive up to Niagra falls to swap out my seats with a fellow CRSX member. ;)

phenom>seats

Uncle Jimbo

01-28-2009, 02:19 PM

New bios...will hopefully have time to test later. ;)

What is your ambient temp? Do you have a way to measure temp at the IHS? I'm doing thermal characterization of the TRUE at various loads and flow rates, to calculate total CPU heat load.

EnJoY

01-28-2009, 03:03 PM

phenom>seats

Not when they're DC5 Type R black suede Recaro's. :D

What is your ambient temp? Do you have a way to measure temp at the IHS? I'm doing thermal characterization of the TRUE at various loads and flow rates, to calculate total CPU heat load.

Don't know, and no I cannot. Sorry.

Chicken Patty

01-28-2009, 03:09 PM

Not when they're DC5 Type R black suede Recaro's. :D

Don't know, and no I cannot. Sorry.

those are some sexy seats:up:

chew*

01-28-2009, 03:27 PM

What is your ambient temp? Do you have a way to measure temp at the IHS? I'm doing thermal characterization of the TRUE at various loads and flow rates, to calculate total CPU heat load.

I might be able to help you out, I have a multimeter that is calibrated accurately for temps.

Ming@s

01-29-2009, 03:32 PM

http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s327/Nunoguicho/4GhzM1.jpg

http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s327/Nunoguicho/4GhzM32-1.jpg

http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s327/Nunoguicho/3Dmark034Ghz.jpg

Ming@s

01-31-2009, 01:58 PM

http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s327/Nunoguicho/IMG_5368.jpg

Something is wrong? What do you think?

informal

01-31-2009, 02:50 PM

Lastviking

01-31-2009, 03:04 PM

Something is wrong? What do you think?

Hmm why so low memmory clocks? , 1.61v in bios give 1.52v windows?!, using AOC?

Ming@s

01-31-2009, 03:40 PM

@Ming@s

All seems OK apart the RAM clock.Your ram clock is very low, DDR2-600.You should try and use different DDR2 divider,select the next option in BIOS(DDR2-533) and see if your RAM can keep up at that clock.

http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s327/Nunoguicho/IMG_5370.jpg

does not boot.

Hmm why so low memmory clocks? , 1.61v in bios give 1.52v windows?!, using AOC?

AOC??

NB Frequency????