**Official e8400/e8500 Retail OC Thread

[Xvys]

I've been able get my E8400 stable at 450FSB x 9 with 1.365v in bios, but when I first got the cpu it was unstable after only a few minutes at 450FSB, so I had dropped it to 445FSB where it was fine. Since then I also have dropped the other volts to the minimum, while before I had them higher (1.6v PLL, 1.40v NB, 1.30 VTT). Now:

cpu: 1365v
PLL: 1.50v
VTT: 1.10v
NB: 1.25v
SB: 1.05v

And it is stable now at 450FSB with the lower voltages, while it was unstable before with higher volts?

[falqon]

Regardless of cooling (air/water/whatever), I still wouldn't push it above 1.45v volts, as per Intel.

I am going on record as saying the reason these things are overclocking so well is you're seriously overvolting them.

I keep reading 1.45v max over and over again and my 8400 box explicitly states "1.225v max"

[laragirl83]

I am going on record as saying the reason these things are overclocking so well is you're seriously overvolting them.

I keep reading 1.45v max over and over again and my 8400 box explicitly states "1.225v max"

omg :s

BTW, now just testing...
7*500MHz@1.168V

[mrcape]

Some 32m @ 1.37vcore

[Zeus]

@ mrcape, what a nice cpu you got!!

@ARIcIU and Cadaveca, what Vpll were you guys pushing?

I have a feeling high Vpll has a lot to do with degration and death of these cpu's.

[.OCX]

@
I have a feeling high Vpll has a lot to do with degration and death of these cpu's.

Any data to support this? I've been monitoring results for CPU PLL, and VTT to see what folks are running at. Have only seen very fews users as of late going overboard on these voltages.

[Zeus]

Any data to support this? I've been monitoring results for CPU PLL, and VTT to see what folks are running at. Have only seen very fews users as of late going overboard on these voltages.

Nope, like stated, it's just a feeling, i recall some Conroes died because of too high Vpll combined with high Vcore.

That's why i asked the guys with dead cpu's, every info on this is usefull.

What's your conclusion based on what you've observed on Vpll, do you think it can be harmfull to the cpu when it's set too high?

[Praz]

Excessive PLL voltage has, does and will continue to be harmful to processors regardless if the architecture is based on 65nm or 45nm process.

[mrcape]

Yup, that's right it's the same spec for PLL for both 65nm and 45nm:

- 5% 1.50 + 5%

Users are adding juice to everything - pll, vtt, nb, thinking that will help them pass prime or whatever. Obviously it's not the right thing to do, but I guess I can see how they are making this mistake when the lowest setting for PLL in many bios is 1.55v or 1.5v.

[Zeus]

Well, raising Vpll can be a great help to move the cpu's fsb wall some, that's the main reason why some are using excessive Vpll afaik.

[Origin_Unknown]

woop - woop - finally decided to put my RMA e8500 in my machine ... using it at stock right now

omg :s

BTW, now just testing...
7*500MHz@1.168V

i'd prefer faster fsb over pure MHZ

Yup, that's right it's the same spec for PLL for both 65nm and 45nm:

- 5% 1.50 + 5%

Users are adding juice to everything - pll, vtt, nb, thinking that will help them pass prime or whatever. Obviously it's not the right thing to do, but I guess I can see how they are making this mistake when the lowest setting for PLL in many bios is 1.55v or 1.5v.

i was using 1.45 before, is that too much?

[edit] how do i find my VID again? coretemp x64 isnt showing me[/EDIT]

[.OCX]

What's your conclusion based on what you've observed on Vpll, do you think it can be harmfull to the cpu when it's set too high?

I don't think there have been enough comprehensive reviews on the E8X00's with regards to how much impact CPU PLL and VTT have. Some discussion here on earlier rounds of PLL and VTT setings. I was at 1.4v VTT at one point until seeing others using signficantly less at 1.2 ~ 1.15v (HM).

Seem to be the norm for 4.0ghz 444-450 FSB that folks are using with great stability. Which are also the lowest bios values you can set in Max Form.
-CPU PLL 1.5v ~1.632v (HM)
-VTT 1.2 ~ 1.15 (HM)

[maxwolfie]

I don't even have the ability to change PLL or VTT on my board (GA P35-S3 Rev 1.0)

[mrcape]

Well, raising Vpll can be a great help to move the cpu's fsb wall some, that's the main reason why some are using excessive Vpll afaik.

True true, but most guys going for high FSB usually know what they are getting into or don't care! I think there are also a lot of users who have no idea what the heck they are doing and they look at how benchmarking guys set up their bioses. That's nothing new I guess.

Seems the gap between settings for top benchmarks and safe stability is getting bigger.

[AriciU]

@ mrcape, what a nice cpu you got!!

@ARIcIU and Cadaveca, what Vpll were you guys pushing?

I have a feeling high Vpll has a lot to do with degration and death of these cpu's.

I didn't use any. It was useless anyway, no improvements what so ever clock-wise. It was set at default 1.5v.

[noxon]

WaterCooled

4500mhz 1.47v under load, maybe lower vcore can do it, havnt tested yet.
http://peecee.dk/upload/view/98106/full

Runs superpi at 4881mhz, max before freeze is 4950mhz, think it was at 1.6vcore.
4800mhz superpi:

[WiTcHkInG]

Got my second E8400 and that would not even boot up at 4ghz with anything less than 1.4v. Tried all voltage setting with no luck.
FPO# q746a.

Gone back to testing my first one, Q750A, boots at 4ghz at 1.34v but core 0 is really week and wont get stable at all.

Looks like Ebay will have a couple for sale soon

[mrcape]

That's such a bummer. What is it with these suckers?

[johnp1983]

Hello boys, someone of you has an E8400 batch Q746A366.

Can you show me some screen of voltage settings at 445x9?

I'm having some seriously problems finding stability @ 4Ghz.

Hope someone can answer my question!! Thanks & Bye!

[Ymir]

WaterCooled

4500mhz 1.47v under load, maybe lower vcore can do it, havnt tested yet.
http://peecee.dk/upload/view/98106/full

Runs superpi at 4881mhz, max before freeze is 4950mhz, think it was at 1.6vcore.
4800mhz superpi:

Real nice if you can keep it stable, which I think you should be able to with water

[Mykou]

Got my second E8400 and that would not even boot up at 4ghz with anything less than 1.4v. Tried all voltage setting with no luck.
FPO# q746a.

Gone back to testing my first one, Q750A, boots at 4ghz at 1.34v but core 0 is really week and wont get stable at all.

Looks like Ebay will have a couple for sale soon

does it explains a lot of E8400 remains there and not 8500 nor 8200...

[Ymir]

Got my second E8400 and that would not even boot up at 4ghz with anything less than 1.4v. Tried all voltage setting with no luck.
FPO# q746a.

Gone back to testing my first one, Q750A, boots at 4ghz at 1.34v but core 0 is really week and wont get stable at all.

Looks like Ebay will have a couple for sale soon

Ouch, that sucks majorly, especially since it's already your second go at the 8400. Too many damn issues with these things for my liking

[mrcape]

That was written when?

[aoch88]

What's a good VTT for 500FSB and up for our E8400's?

[HDCHOPPER]

very nice NOXON !