Is this Too Much Voltage For an i7 920?

[crazy1323]

I have my Core i7 920 at 4.0GHz. It took roughly 1.45V to get it full stable with HT and Turbo on. Is this voltage ok to run 24/7. If my 920 will only last a year that is fine with me. I just want to make sure it isnt going to die in a month or something.

[Splave]

how are you cooling? your fine if temps in check

[ToyTen]

Temps mean's nothing but I'm wondering what app' needs you to have your cpu at 4Ghz ? No forgetting there are many different ways to reach that frequency on cpu.

I seriously think you would better try yourself with this one if it's only a one-year shot. A good occasion to progress

The reason of my answer surely is because that's a lot of volties on cpu almost regardless to your cooling
Try remaining under 1,35Vcore HT/high uncore(and all that) activated

[Leeghoofd]

Are you running 20 multi ? if so try 19 multi with 211 Bclock and you can drop Vcore a bit

[crazy1323]

I cannot get the board stable at that Bclk as I am running 12GB of RAM in all 6 DIMMs. I am running a very good CPU only watercooling loop with a large 360mm radiator and 6 fans in a push/pull configuration. My temps never exceed 60C even after 4+ hours of 100% load on all cores while rendering CAD parts.

[swale]

I am running near that myself but am on WC apparently itels recommended ''max'' voltage is 1.3750v if you where really sensible youd stay @1.4v or below.

[scaramonga]

I cannot get the board stable at that Bclk as I am running 12GB of RAM in all 6 DIMMs.

There's your answer.

Sell 6Gb and keep 6Gb, its creating problems you don't need, besides, who needs 12Gb lol?..........in fact, who needs 6? not I, and I have 6!

[GAR]

my i7 required 1.39v for 4ghz, 21x191

[Falkentyne]

Yeah really. Why ARE you using 12 GB of RAM? 6 GB is already overkill (at the moment), but it will be a very long while before games start using more than 4 GB except as file cache.

There's nothing (definitely NOT any game!) that uses even HALF that much RAM; (I think the most any game uses is about 2 GB at the moment).

If you're on that type of professional end where you need 12 GB of RAM, you definitely don't need to be worried about overclocking to 4 ghz (only gamers need this type of speed)..

So either take out 6 GB, or back down on the mhz so you can lower that vcore.

[DavidNJ]

The amount of memory depends on the application. I watch my usage with Process Explorer and can say definitively that 8GB is way not enough. I continuously have to close apps I am working with to stop being slowed down in page faults. A CAD system could easily blow though that. Not everyone spends their days running video games or can afford a $20k system. The $20k system would have software issues anyway, as only very dedicated applications are tested on those platforms.

However, the memory should be pretty isolated from the rest of the CPU, so I'm not sure it is that much a limitation here.

People continuously talk about voltages and temps for 24/7 use. However, I can't recall a single post of someone who had a CPU fail prematurely from excessive voltage or temperature.

It strikes me a lot like people who are afraid to rev their engines or press the throttle to the floor even though the same engines are run at high speed continuously in some markets and are actually more efficient at larger throttle openings. Basically, they buy 300hp engines (@6000rpm) and never run them over 175hp. If they just had a 175hp it would be much more efficient.

In the engine, could parts wear out from extreme use? Well, cam lobes, valves springs, valve stems, piston pins, and connecting rod caps all break in race engines. However, street engines with different warranties and maintenance schedules can pretty much run without service for any of these beyond the useful of the engine engine. As early as the 1970s I ran stock, unmodified engines for literally 10s of thousands of miles on race tracks without any engine modifications (over 4,000 laps at Lime Rock, and even rolled it once at Bridgehampton and once at Lime Rock).

Back to CPUs. Over voltage to the point of damage, or over temperature could probably both cause problems. The Core i7 is capable of frequencies and voltages that make the ability to cool it adequately with air or water questionable. However, 4GHz@1.45v/60C seems so far below what has been achieved that it barring manufacturing defect it seems unlikely those values are jeopardizing the CPU for any reasonable life expectancy.

[Astennu]

There's your answer.

Sell 6Gb and keep 6Gb, its creating problems you don't need, besides, who needs 12Gb lol?..........in fact, who needs 6? not I, and I have 6!

I got 6 GB filled for 95% So i need 6 and could use even a bit more

I'm playing games and i'm running some calculation programs at the same time. + Got my Firefox opened with like 20 websites and outlook. Ram fills up fast then

[Splave]

Temps mean's nothing but I'm wondering what app' needs you to have your cpu at 4Ghz ? No forgetting there are many different ways to reach that frequency on cpu.

I seriously think you would better try yourself with this one if it's only a one-year shot. A good occasion to progress

The reason of my answer surely is because that's a lot of volties on cpu almost regardless to your cooling
Try remaining under 1,35Vcore HT/high uncore(and all that) activated

Not sure I really understand your post

Intels max is 1.55v so I surely wouldnt worry
http://www.lostcircuits.com/mambo//i...1&limitstart=3

[Falkentyne]

Whoa there cowboy.
Thats not OPERATIONAL max voltage.

Thats absolute max.
That means that the processor can spike to that voltage (which may occur during load/idle state changes) at momentary times without being damaged. It does NOT mean that the chip can sustain that type of vcore under normal operation (keep in mind that sub-zero isn't really considered normal operation; Intel chips arent "designed" to be used under subzero conditions; theyre designed for a heatsink and fan. When you exceed that with better cooling, then naturally the silicon can take more stress.

What Intel is saying is that if the chip is below the absolute max but above the operational max, then the chip will function but it *MAY* have its long term reliability (e.g. degradation) affected. A chip that operates outside of the absolute max *will* have its long term reliability affected (which first manifests itself as you losing your overclocks). Naturally, throwing sub-zero into the mix complicates things, but even sub-zero people don't usually put these volts into their chips 24/7.....

That page doesn't show the footnotes for what can happen at absolute maximum (the datasheets do).

[sonofander]

I've been running my 920 @1.5v 24/7 since launch... No issues so far

[MisterMagoo]

I was running my 3839 @ 1.55v 4.2ghz/no-HT no problems. I am running my 3841 at 1.4v 4ghz/HT no problems. I have taken it to 1.65v and 4.566Ghz for benching.

[pcdoc1]

Haven’t posted here for awhile yet this is funny …

What do his apps have to do with it?

Temps mean's nothing but I'm wondering what app' needs you to have your cpu at 4Ghz ? No forgetting there are many different ways to reach that frequency on cpu.

I seriously think you would better try yourself with this one if it's only a one-year shot. A good occasion to progress

The reason of my answer surely is because that's a lot of volties on cpu almost regardless to your cooling
Try remaining under 1,35Vcore HT/high uncore(and all that) activated

[kiyka]

Play with settings.

It took me forever just to get 3.8ghz/1600mhz stable. It's about your specific chip, if you can get 4ghz with good temps and decent vcore your golden.

I'd play with it to try to get the vcore to 1.40v if at all possible but really I doubt your chip is going to explode. Yes over time it may degrade but who is honestly going to use an i7 as a main 24/7 rig for over a few year.
In this day and age a week from now the i7 could look outdated.

I tried all kinds of settings. My Bloodrage hates 20x multi no matter what always crashes! But a 19/200, or 18/220 or what ever the setting it will run on near stock voltages with out a problem.
I don't know why but quite honestly I don't mind since a 19/200 lets me hit 1600mhz RAM by 3.8Ghz CPU with out any trouble at all.
Yes the 4ghz looks better on paper but it's not like those .2ghz are any real performance. ( I actually got better benchmarks with a lower vcore at 3.8 then when I finally did get 4ghz stable >.> )

[Falkentyne]

I've been running my 920 @1.5v 24/7 since launch... No issues so far

That's not under air cooling is it?
I don't think any normal mass market air can keep temps below #thermtrip under linpack at 1.5v

They're reaching 70C under 8 core prime already at 4 ghz and 1.4v.
Linpack 4.5 ghz/8 cores +1.5vcore would be...

[sonofander]

That's not under air cooling is it?
I don't think any normal mass market air can keep temps below #thermtrip under linpack at 1.5v

They're reaching 70C under 8 core prime already at 4 ghz and 1.4v.
Linpack 4.5 ghz/8 cores +1.5vcore would be...

Under water... See sig

[ReverendMaynard]

Temps mean's nothing but I'm wondering what app' needs you to have your cpu at 4Ghz ? No forgetting there are many different ways to reach that frequency on cpu.

I seriously think you would better try yourself with this one if it's only a one-year shot. A good occasion to progress

The reason of my answer surely is because that's a lot of volties on cpu almost regardless to your cooling
Try remaining under 1,35Vcore HT/high uncore(and all that) activated

In bold, probably one the most ignorant statements in an overclocking forum ever.

why are you at a site called "extremesystems"?

[STi489]

It's high but will deff last a year! 1.356 for 4059 here..runs LinX 25 passes and prime95 24 hours.

[ToyTen]

Voltages do damage chips even with an acceptable(average/peak I beleive) temperature. But since it is a one year shot... who really cares ?

ReverendMaynard, with your number of post you stil do need to flame people

I wasn't saying I did hold the only truth, did you ? just encouraging the host of this thread to search deeper reaching the 4Ghz. I wish him to acheive that

About your last question, you had the answer in my sig, so I'm finished about this discussion with you.

[ReverendMaynard]

Voltages do damage chips even with an acceptable(average/peak I beleive) temperature. But since it is a one year shot... who really cares ?

ReverendMaynard, with your number of post you stil do need to flame people

I wasn't saying I did hold the only truth, did you ? just encouraging the host of this thread to search deeper reaching the 4Ghz. I wish him to acheive that

About your last question, you had the answer in my sig, so I'm finished about this discussion with you.

Is that a flame? Nice hwboints, but I don't see any i7 action in there, so naturally I'll ask what do you know about i7 clocking and voltage limits?