**Official e8400/e8500 Retail OC Thread

[Telo]

I just got my E8400 (batch Q808) and I'm having trouble getting the same results as some of you. Takes 1.39V (1.36V with V-Droop) to get to 3.96Ghz. I can't break 4GHz without at least 1.4V. I guess this is supposed to be an OK batch, what am I doing wrong? Oh, and I'm using OCCT for the stress testing.

My best guess, 3.8Ghz is the sweet spot for your CPU; the sweet spot for mine is 4Ghz since I can do it with a mere 1.20v. But once I try to take it to 4.1Ghz+, I need at least 1.30v. Did you play around with a high FSB and a low multiplier or just used 9x?

[Nate P.]

My best guess, 3.8Ghz is the sweet spot for your CPU; the sweet spot for mine is 4Ghz since I can do it with a mere 1.20v. But once I try to take it to 4.1Ghz+, I need at least 1.30v. Did you play around with a high FSB and a low multiplier or just used 9x?

Just 9x, my RAM can't handle anything higher.

[Telo]

Just 9x, my RAM can't handle anything higher.

Use a different divider then.

[Telo]

Nevermind, just read that you are using DDR2.

[Nate P.]

Nevermind, just read that you are using DDR2.

Yeah, sorry about that... maybe it's time to upgrade to a new motherboard and DDR3?

[Telo]

Yeah, sorry about that... maybe it's time to upgrade to a new motherboard and DDR3?

DDR3 is a hell of a lot more work to OC than DDR2. If you choose to go that route, you really got to read up on the available boards. As of now, stay way from P45 boards that use DDR3. Trust me, I have access to one and I got to down clock the RAM on it ridiculously just to get it to boot at this time. And it is not just me having this issue, a lot of people with Micron chip based RAM are having it as well.
X48 boards are a better option right now, not many RAM related problems to plague you, and the PCIe 2.0 slots are full 16x [only 2 of them are if you got 3-4 slots on the board] when used in CrossFire unlike P45 where only a single slot can be used at 16x.

[DeanZ]

Well I have been trying to chase my own highest overclock and well i'm sure i can squeeze some more out of this chip and well to do this i have some questions for you all

1. Will other voltages effect stability? (ie: CPU PLL vlt; FSB term vlt; NB vlt) and it would be kinda nice to know what they do exactly

2. I'm 1 setting away from my boards max on those and is there any way high vlt settings on those will hurt the board or chip?

3. I did a pencil mod and there is no longer any intesive load vdroop...although there is still vdroop from BIOS to OS (BIOS 1.3625v vdroops to 1.336 in OS) is that normal with a pencil mod or should i do a couple more swipes? or are there any special tricks or pencils that should be used?

4. STRAPS i've read about them and i was wondering if they could be coming into play here...I have a P5K and i have tried settings with 8 8.5 and 9 multis but they all seem to be unstable a my next overclocking step...as well i read some where that the PCI freq can also effect stability i have it at 100 but i read people saying setting it at 101 or 102 might give something extra to the chip?

P5K
E8400 - @something awesome(eventually)
2x2GB PC8500 Dominators DDR2
8800GTS 640
Antec 850 quattro powers

[kpo6969]

I just got my E8400 (batch Q808) and I'm having trouble getting the same results as some of you. Takes 1.39V (1.36V with V-Droop) to get to 3.96Ghz. I can't break 4GHz without at least 1.4V. I guess this is supposed to be an OK batch, what am I doing wrong? Oh, and I'm using OCCT for the stress testing.

I'm in the same boat as you Nate.
B Q808A169
My mobo has a .046 vdrop so these are cpuz
3.6 @ 1.216
3.8 @ 1.28
3.9 @ 1.328 (not stable yet)

I'll keep you posted

[So3oL4Nu]

Hi all...again me ...after hours of testing and bios updates i've found one stable configuration...

With the stable setting the CPU is running on auto.

Stable 17min, i stopped orthos...the question is why at multi 9x with the same settings the pc si not stable...is it because of the Vcore ?...
The Vcore at 4140 mhz is 1.392 IDLE...

Can someone answer this question...help me a little ...sorry for double post but no one has answer...

[Leeghoofd]

Prolly ya Vcore is too low, why don't ya run eg 9 x 444 to get 4ghz and see if you can do it with ya current Vcore 1.392 idle... Ya CPU already needs 1.26 under load for 3.6Ghz that's not a good sign at all... also you provide us with zero info on ya hardware... we really got nothing to work with

[shimmishim]

just curious... where is everyone getting their cpu's from? thanks!

[Telo]

just curious... where is everyone getting their cpu's from? thanks!

Got mine from Zipzoomfly.com

[genec57]

Newegg - the E8500 OEM is $229.95

[Telo]

Newegg - the E8500 OEM is $229.95

I think he was referring to where did people with the good batches got their CPUs.

[Leeghoofd]

Ebay here and forums like these

[Nate P.]

I'm in the same boat as you Nate.
B Q808A169
My mobo has a .046 vdrop so these are cpuz
3.6 @ 1.216
3.8 @ 1.28
3.9 @ 1.328 (not stable yet)

I'll keep you posted

Yeah, I've got mine at 3.6GHz, 1.26V... V-Droop is lower at lower voltages. I think this is the "sweet spot" for my CPU, anything higher than 3.6Ghz takes way more volts.

[PCTools]

Anyone going to purchase the NEW 780i FTW, and see how it performs with the E8400 or E8500?

Mine will arrive in the next week.

[Telo]

Anyone going to purchase the NEW 780i FTW, and see how it performs with the E8400 or E8500?

Mine will arrive in the next week.

I'm locked down to my BlackOps at the moment. If I build any new PC this year will be if the next generation of Intel CPUs come out. Although, when HD4870x2 comes out I'm planning on getting me a pair, so I might build a "smaller" rig to use my current HD2900XTs. If that happens I'll probably retire the ol' faithful P4 3Ghz 478 socket PC I'm using to type of this post. At any rate if it does happen, I will more than likely build it with another BlackOps or that fine @$$ ASUS Rampage Extreme that I have been eyeballing for the last 3 weeks.

[Triton]

Q808A167, E8400 - I see many new similar cpus now

3,94GHz (9x438 or 8.5x464) @ 1.344 vcore idle/load (vdroop modded DS3R, 1.3625v BIOS)
8hr Prime95 Blend and 8hr OCCT Mix stable, TjMax 95C temp: 52C load/27C idle.

Was error-free 4,5hr: P95 Small FFTs @ 8x500 (but failed @ 2,5hr Blend) and 1.36v idle/load, but has degraded somewhat afterwards. Takes some 1.376v for 4GHz again (and dunno if is full 8hr stable, volts discourages me)

For 9x438: MCH and FSB, both stock volts, Mem +0,3v (4x1GB Corsair 6400C4, these do just over DDR1000 @ 5-5-5-18)

So, 3.94GHz is what I am running/gaming daily with 8800GTS 512MB OC'd

GA P35 DS3R rev1
Scythe Mine @ 120mm
600W
Antec 900

PS.
The vdroop mod is what takes my MHz 'lil higher. For same Mhz w/o the mod, I'd probably have to set 1.406v in BIOS, and live with idle vcore @ 1.36-1.37...if I was "equally bold" with my mod, I could go for the magic 4GHz...but then I'd be just at/above Intel max semi-safe volt recommendation - vdroop mod is too easy !

When I buy faster GPU than 8800GTS 512MB, bye bye recommendations

[Kilyin]

Nevermind, just read that you are using DDR2.

What difference does that make? Are you saying a 9.5 multi can't be used with DDR2?

[zlojack]

What difference does that make? Are you saying a 9.5 multi can't be used with DDR2?

A 9.5 multi can't be used with an E8400.

[Kilyin]

A 9.5 multi can't be used with an E8400.

Yeah, I know, but if you read the series of posts I was replying to...

If he had said, Nevermind I see you have an E8400... instead of...

Nevermind I see you have DDR2...

We wouldn't be having this conversation.

[zlojack]

Yeah, I know, but if you read the series of posts I was replying to...

If he had said, Oh nevermind I see you have an E8400... instead of...

Oh nevermind I see you have DDR2.

We wouldn't be having this conversation.

Gotcha.

Now that I read it a bit more, I see what you're saying.

[Kilyin]

Gotcha.

Now that I read it a bit more, I see what you're saying.

And the main reason I ask is because I seem to be having a problem when using the 9.5 multi w/ my E8500 on my P5K premium (DDR2), so I thought maybe there was something I didn't know.

Might just be lack of voltage though.

[Telo]

What difference does that make? Are you saying a 9.5 multi can't be used with DDR2?

You might want to read the whole story before you open your mouth.