Phenom 9500 w/ MSI K9A2 Platinum

Stability depends on the need.

If someone is chasing records, then they don;t need or wnat stability and to be frank, that doesn't matter to me. Anyone with some H20, Phase, LN2 or DICE and a cherry chip would get them in a hunch, since Phenom competition is low. This is air inside a case mostly. Most after a title can and have got 3-3.1GHz out of their chips but to get better scores they need to work on efficiency issues. I know Sami has higher MHz and scores than what we've seen publically already.

In this thread, we're only really interested in what you can get Phenom to run every day stable and MSI RD790, since making suicide bench runs isn't what I'm looking for with a 100£ chip. Anyone chasing MHz/benches will just go Penryn now. HWBot isn't my aim nor concern when buying a Phenom and won't be for the majority of Phenom buyers. Only reason I have a few low MHz runs on there recently is for a HWBot mod for Phenom comparison tests since it's data set was really low for analysis, i.e. the efficiency at those MHz, and I saw people posting very low efficiency results requiring high MHz for low scores. They could all do much better yet. ;)

Give me a 2.9GHz benchable chip and you'll see what's possible with Phenom.

The main reason your phenom does better at lower clocks is because you keep your memory that high. My memory either isn't stable at that speed, or the memory controler just can't handle it at the speeds I set it for. I compete on hwbot cause I find it fun to compare how well you can clock a chip, I tend to stay away from the graphics card benchmarking now because all the benchmarks are heavily cpu dependent. Phenoms are very good at doing multicard though, I did see that before I put the x1650xt's in my bros computer.

I hate waiting for prime to finish... 3 hours down...

KTE: i did the superprime on my x2 5000be @ 2.8ghz and got 89ms for the 144M test then did it again and got 24ms, and does 23-25ms for any of the tests i do

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Originally Posted by Oldguy932

The main reason your phenom does better at lower clocks is because you keep your memory that high. My memory either isn't stable at that speed, or the memory controler just can't handle it at the speeds I set it for.

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My few runs are at quite low RAM clocks, some at 820 4-4-4-4 which is very low. What RAM speeds can you bench 1M tops?
High RAM clocks Phenom can't handle in my testing, it gives them too high latencies. Good RAM clocks are like 1260 4-4-4-4 10-10 PL4, MaxAsyncLatency 42, that indeed would get high scores and perf. ;)
You don't need high RAM clocks, you only need 820-980 4-4-4-4 or 740-800 3-3-3-3/3-4-4-3. You need a high NB clock, nothing else, as long as your chip can do high CPU. But bear in mind; actual high IMC clocks means lower/loser RAM clocks at the same volts. It's like Intel system MCH strap performance.

So say at the 1:2 divider, you need something like 218x14 (3052), 872 4-4-4-4 218x12 (2616) on NB and every single one of the Phenom results I've seen to date will be bettered without doubt and some by quite a big margin. Only wPrime 1.55 may not because wPrime runs at least 1s faster on Vista than on XP, unless the person changes to Vista as guys chasing ranks do. I know 30h6 and some others are playing and learning with a Phenom build to bench, so you might very well see the high MHz+efficient results soon.

1M at those settings will be sub 24s quite easily if the person knows what they're doing with Pi (i.e. can get sub 14s with a C2D/C2Q at 3600MHz on DDR2). A Phenom 3600MHz can get 20s 1M and even break into the 19s barrier.

Just normal knowledge of how Phenom works needed.

I think you missed something I asked earlier Oldguy932 ;)

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Originally Posted by KTE

BTW do you have any pics of your phase setup with Phenom? Especially the mounts and head as that's what I'm interested in.

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Originally Posted by Manicdan

KTE: i did the superprime on my x2 5000be @ 2.8ghz and got 89ms for the 144M test then did it again and got 24ms, and does 23-25ms for any of the tests i do

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Yeah it means it's not working. :(

Thanks, but do you have any screenshots when it finishes (press show and take ss). I'll let the developer know. If it runs properly, you can expect some grand surpirses. :D

oldguy.. if you going for pi record why dont you disabled bad core. i know asus bios got that downcore option. just leave 1core enabled. extra l3 cache capacity to feed the core with pi data. system priority set to cache.

My 25.5 run was at about 710 or so on the memory, 4-4-4-12 timings. How about after I get the pics and the stable screenie I just try for that good pi time. I can probably hit 3-3-3-3 timings, just might need a tad more voltage. It would drop me at least .2-.3 seconds for my time.

I hate windows update... screws with how many tests each fft length does. They should be hitting 11, but they hit only 9.
Now I want to kill windows, its not set to autorestart ever. It just gave me a thing about it will restart in 2 minutes and to save my work, so I guess you guys won't be getting that 8 hour prime yet cause I can't really get anything to function when orthos is set to priority 10.

:mad: :soap:

It seems as though its the same thing as when I couldn't get it to respond after doing the 250 htt prime, so now I have the culprit. GRR...stupid windows vista...

Run this, it's updated, better, accurate, trustworthy and less buggy: http://www.majorgeeks.com/Prime95_d4363.html

I was expecting some decent clocks/stability under cold. :(

1M = only need one core.

@oldguy932: Have you tried to oc with lower volts for cpu and nb, normal temp settings might be too much on cold due to the lower TDP the cpu has.

Same vCore seems to be required, maybe more in some situations. I have a feeling it might be the nb that can't handle the cold because whenever its the nb that's unstable, the computer freezes, and if its the cpu, it gives an error. I don't write all this down, I probably should though, but I think its frozen for any setting 255 and above on the htt with the nb set to 9x.

I'm now just testing it on a single core to see how its doing, if it works, I'll work my way back to 4 cores.

Edit: Nevermind... same thing happens. It freezes.

Edit 2: 11x260 works fine, so that rules out the nb not handling the cold well. It still dumbfounds me why it isn't working as well as we think it should. There's nothing by the cpu that could be getting moisture, there's none when I've changed cpu's the few times. Maybe I'll have to put the 9500 in, it handles voltage much better than my other processors, just gets limited by the 11x multi.

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Originally Posted by Oldguy932

Same vCore seems to be required, maybe more in some situations. I have a feeling it might be the nb that can't handle the cold because whenever its the nb that's unstable, the computer freezes, and if its the cpu, it gives an error. I don't write all this down, I probably should though, but I think its frozen for any setting 255 and above on the htt with the nb set to 9x.

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Hmm could get mine down to 15° in idle gained ~0,05-0,1V vcore that way. So I expected you can run yours at 0,8V at stock. :)

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Originally Posted by Oldguy932

I'm now just testing it on a single core to see how its doing, if it works, I'll work my way back to 4 cores.

Edit: Nevermind... same thing happens. It freezes.

Edit 2: 11x260 works fine, so that rules out the nb not handling the cold well. It still dumbfounds me why it isn't working as well as we think it should. There's nothing by the cpu that could be getting moisture, there's none when I've changed cpu's the few times. Maybe I'll have to put the 9500 in, it handles voltage much better than my other processors, just gets limited by the 11x multi.

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This unexplainable behaviour makes me writing down all my settings and results and oc in small steps. But that also makes ocing phenom's so interesting. :rolleyes:

I do have one question guys, what is CPU VDDA? Its a setting I normally don't even touch in the bios, and it has voltage range from 2.5 to 2.8v. 3DMark06 would never run before at 255 htt with it at auto, but with it set at 2.8v its in the second cpu test and running fine. I know its not anything to be stable in the benchmark, but I run it before I run orthos now just to make sure its a tad bit stable. I don't really care what it is, I just like it cause it solved one of my problems for me, and least kind of, I won't know till I actually run orthos.

Edit: Nevermind... it may get 3DMark06 to run, but Orthos doesn't even start and it all freezes.

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Originally Posted by Oldguy932

I do have one question guys, what is CPU VDDA? Its a setting I normally don't even touch in the bios, and it has voltage range from 2.5 to 2.8v. 3DMark06 would never run before at 255 htt with it at auto, but with it set at 2.8v its in the second cpu test and running fine. I know its not anything to be stable in the benchmark, but I run it before I run orthos now just to make sure its a tad bit stable. I don't really care what it is, I just like it cause it solved one of my problems for me, and least kind of, I won't know till I actually run orthos.

Edit: Nevermind... it may get 3DMark06 to run, but Orthos doesn't even start and it all freezes.

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As for VDDA. I'm not aware where to get the am2/am2+ pin layout. But I found this document:
http://www.ite.com.tw/product_info/f...282M_V03.1.pdf

Hold that thought. The VDDA does work, my copy of orthos just got corrupted. I downloaded the version of prime from the link KTE provided, and its just about to finish 10k fft's at these settings...

HTT=255
CPU=11.5x
NB=9x
HT-LINK=1.8ghz

vCore=1.3, 1.28 actual
CPU VDDA=2.8v
vCPU-NB=1.3v
vNB=Auto

Well guys, it looks like I finally figured out the problem after all. I think that because of the cold the bios set the VDDA lower than it did while it was on air cooling, causing me to not get the overclocks I did on air. If this goes for at least two hours, I'll just take a screenshot then so you guys get one finally. Maybe now it will clock higher...one can only hope.

Edit: It froze when it got to the 14k fft's, so I decided to set the vNB to 1.3v and try again. Its currently halfway through 12k so I'm just gonna hope now.

Edit 2: I hoped, and it worked. now its about halfway through 14k's and going. I have a quick question though, what's the maximum voltage you guys can give the nb on your boards. Mine maxes out at 1.4v and was wondering if any of you guys had the option of going higher, like to 1.5v. Since the nb is on the chip and not the mobo I thought that a little extra wouldn't hurt since its at such low temps anyway.

nice. better have all the setting manually set. easier for you to troubleshooting once it fail. now post some screenshot!

http://www.geocities.com/ranger_x3/P...00255x11.5.jpg

There you guys. You now have a screenshot of 255x11.5 stable for 2 hours, load temps included.

which temp is cpu temp :D

not familiar with speedfan really.

127c ;)

-5c :hehe:

Very Nice Oldguy... :D
I still can't help but think you hit the CPU lottery twice... :up:

For those with ATI cards, Catalyst 8.2 drivers are out, I'm running them now. So far so good...

jonspd: I know you were looking for a solid OC too, just curious as to what you've settled on so far... An AOD Performance ss would be nice.. :yepp:

I had to revert back to 250x10x8x8 (2.5Ghz). HT Ref of 255, was almost stable, but not quite :( .... I'm playing with HT voltage right now (currently @ 1.225v). I know it helped the OC on my Opty, and it seems to offer some promise. But I've been wrong before... :p:

Oldguy932: Can you show us what temps AOD picks up idle or load?
AOD works subzero, I have it confirmed and have it working subzero myself. That speedfan pic is confusing because it's manually configurable and doesn't show those readings on my Phenom but 4 core readings instead.

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Originally Posted by Oldguy932

I do have one question guys, what is CPU VDDA?

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Should be 2.5V stock and is a CPU component voltage. Not sure what it does, we don't have it on this board. Vdd is only a term applied to standing for positive voltage at FET terminals though, so must be linked.

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Originally Posted by justapost

As for VDDA. I'm not aware where to get the am2/am2+ pin layout.

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Did'nt I link it in your thread earlier?

Here it is if I didn't: http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...docs/31412.pdf

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oldguy932

HTT=255
CPU=11.5x
NB=9x
HT-LINK=1.8ghz

vCore=1.3, 1.28 actual
CPU VDDA=2.8v
vCPU-NB=1.3v
vNB=Auto

Edit: It froze when it got to the 14k fft's, so I decided to set the vNB to 1.3v and try again. Its currently halfway through 12k so I'm just gonna hope now.

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Keep it going till 8 or so hours. Then switch it off and before doing so, capture the screenshot. Then leave it running, bench it etc and most importantly, let it idle. If you've read the thread earlier, you'll see my BE can do 2832MHz stock HSF and pass stability but it's still unstable because it will randomly freeze when idling or have one or two bootup issues. Others have similar issues. If your chip could bench 3060 on air, 2.93G should be air stable because voltage is too low for it not to be.

You keep missing answering my one qs :confused:
I'm going to repeat it again, I know you can read. ;)

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Originally Posted by KTE 3rd time

BTW do you have any pics of your phase setup with Phenom? Especially the mounts and head as that's what I'm interested in.

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??

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Edit 2: I hoped, and it worked. now its about halfway through 14k's and going. I have a quick question though, what's the maximum voltage you guys can give the nb on your boards. Mine maxes out at 1.4v and was wondering if any of you guys had the option of going higher, like to 1.5v. Since the nb is on the chip and not the mobo I thought that a little extra wouldn't hurt since its at such low temps anyway.

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We can't control vIMC, that's why you see sub-2.6G oc's at 1.23V. :(

The minute someone on this board can and I'm hoping MSI has included the option in the upcoming 3 BIOSes, then you'll no doubt see higher oc's/stability. The NB maxes out quicker than everything on Phenom if its at stock volts. So far everyone on this board runs Phenom at stock vIMC volts but the guys with a 9600 BE.

I've tried Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe before. It can run vCPU NB upto 1.6875V, same as VCore, although I tested with an X2 5000+ BE instead so the options will be different for Phenom. It has far more voltage/speed options in the BIOS than the MSI BIOS. In fact, I may pick up one for a few days just to compare. ;)

I left it at 2.53.

11x220 with nb and ht at 1760 ram at 440.

Not settled really just waiting on b3 :D

haven't really had the time lately been seeking employment ATM.

I liked the higher fsb I 1st got but the lower fsb is a better stable setting IMO. I also got 2 set's of ram to play with now just really waiting on the new steppings to come out.

and what KTE said is right I can run 2.65-2.7 full load stable but idle booting is a different story.

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Originally Posted by jonspd

I liked the higher fsb I 1st got but the lower fsb is a better stable setting IMO. I also got 2 set's of ram to play with now just really waiting on the new steppings to come out.

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Or a new decent BIOS ;) ;)

Trust me, it can make a heck of a difference!

I wonder where Lightman has ran off to with his new BE... hope his Mrs hasn't kicked him out of the house with his chip still in the box :D

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Originally Posted by tictac

127c ;)

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AOD shows TMPIN2 @ 128c on my machine too, scared the hell out of me when I first bought my system!! I actually when through and gently touched every component on my mobo expecting to get burnt!! :eek:

I've since written it off to a software fluke... ;)

LOL I here that I was hoping tictac might would lend a hand (hint, hint, hint....) or some other bios modder

Also I meant to ask KTE is there a idle test you do that makes it freeze faster.

The best thing I used was firefox or other apps max-min-max-min-etc etc

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Originally Posted by KTE

I wonder where Lightman has ran off to with his new BE... hope his Mrs hasn't kicked him out of the house with his chip still in the box :D

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If that happened, give him a few days and he'll be posting result with a voltage inverter from a "Van Down by the River".... :rofl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KTE

Here it is if I didn't: http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...docs/31412.pdf

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No, you only mentioned am2 and am2+ are identical. Thank you for the link I posted it in the AMD Support subforum as quintero asked for it few days ago.

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Originally Posted by KTE

I wonder where Lightman has ran off to with his new BE... hope his Mrs hasn't kicked him out of the house with his chip still in the box :D

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He had to RMA his BE.