Official Intel Gulftown (Westmere) Overclocking and Batch Tracking Thread

**zalbard** · 03-19-2010, 03:42 AM

Please post your results and share your experience when overclocking Intel Gulftown (Westmere) processors here.
You may also share overclocking tips and tricks and ask for help if you need it.
Feel free to discuss anything related to Intel Gulftown (Westmere) chips, batch tracking and stability testing is not the primary purpose of the thread.
_____________

Additionally, I will make a list to track batch numbers and compile the results in the second post.

If you want your results to be added to the list, you must follow the rules:

You must have at least 2GB of memory installed in the system.
Screenshot must show a CPU-Z window with 4GHz+ frequency.
Screenshot must show
either a LinX window (max memory settings, click "All" button, or pick the last memory size option from the drop down menu, the "All" option is highly recommended) either running the 20th+ loop with no errors, or with 20+ successful passes
or a window of Prime95 Small FFTs successfully running for 2+ hours.
List your full batch number.
List the motherboard you used.
List the cooling you used (cooling type at least, such as: air / chilled air / water / chilled water / phase).

Also, please do not post images wider than 1280 pixels, use thumbnails / links if you have to. Thank you!

**zalbard** · 03-19-2010, 03:44 AM

**Sam_oslo** · 03-19-2010, 04:15 AM

Here is my first attempts on X5650, on air: . Taking it really easy until I get to know the CPU a bit better.
Hopefully will find a good double socket MB (like EVGA SR-2) soon, but it is running as single CPU on a GB UD7 for now.

First thoughts:
Core seams to be OCing nicely and easily, but the challenge seams to be stabilizing the Uncore for high BCLK>200 without too much VVT for 24/7 use. The Uncore seams to be locked on x20 (at least I couldn't change it). Maybe it is a part of Xeon DPs, but hopefully I will know more about dealing with it soon.
This is really new to me and can present some challenges for high BCLKs (at least without too much VVT for 24/7), but I'm working on it

I don't dare to LinX on high OC yet. I need some time to get to know the possibilities/limitations on these CPUs, and what they can take of torture, etc ... This thread could be a good place to discuses it, I hope

.

X5650 @4Ghz(182x22) wPrime 32M and 1024M

X5650 @4Ghz(182x22) CineBENCH 11.5:

**SteveRo** · 03-19-2010, 05:04 AM

Much thanks Zalbard!
This thread should be very usefull.
From the linx stable thread - below is my 1st try - Cooled via chilled water - 2x boreas in series to an apogee xt block, mcp pump with xspc top.

**road-runner** · 03-19-2010, 06:20 AM

3003A957-Water cooling Dtek Ver.1 Asus P6T any higher and the multi starts changing or throttling at around 60c. I have all the thermal garbage off as well as speed step, I think we need a new bios.

**zalbard** · 03-19-2010, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by SteveRo

Much thanks Zalbard!
This thread should be very useful.

You're welcome!

I am hoping for it.

Originally Posted by road-runner

3003A957-Water cooling Dtek Ver.1 Asus P6T any higher and the multi starts changing or throttling at around 60c. I have all the thermal garbage off as well as speed step, I think we need a new bios.

ASUS P6T is famous for the throttling issues, though. I obviously don't know about Gulftown, but I know that some BIOSes have throttling issues with Nehalems, and some don't. No idea which one you're using, but you get my point.
Edit: also, how much RAM did you use for LinX? You have 6GB installed, does the system see 6GB? Just looking at your 15500 problem size, and that's with "All" button pressed...
I've added your submission, but I will update it as soon as you sort the throttling / memory issues.

**eva2000** · 03-19-2010, 07:28 AM

FYI, interesting findings for Gulftown 6C12T testing, prime95 small fft stresses the 980X more than linx 0.6.4 does. From Powermate wattage metter prime95 results in ~10% more power consumption measured from the wall than linx does. This was the opposite for Bloomfield i7 9xx series where linx was ~10% more power consuming than prime95. Could be linx isn't properly utilising all 6C12T of the i7 980X yet ?

**zalbard** · 03-19-2010, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by eva2000

FYI, interesting findings for Gulftown 6C12T testing, prime95 small fft stresses the 980X more than linx 0.6.4 does. From Powermate wattage metter prime95 results in ~10% more power consumption measured from the wall than linx does. This was the opposite for Bloomfield i7 9xx series where linx was ~10% more power consuming than prime95. Could be linx isn't properly utilising all 6C12T of the i7 980X yet ?

Yes, that is very possible, we've been observing such things for a while now (check LinX thread).
I'm not sure I want to go back to 8 hour Prime requirements, though...

**eva2000** · 03-19-2010, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by zalbard

Yes, that is very possible, we've been observing such things for a while now (check LinX thread).
I'm not sure I want to go back to 8 hour Prime requirements, though...

5 loop linx + 30 min prime95 + 3dvantage run should be enough sort all the batches out

**zalbard** · 03-19-2010, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by eva2000

5 loop linx + 30 min prime95 + 3dvantage run should be enough sort all the batches out

Hm, how about just giving an option... Either 20 passes of LinX or 2 hours of Prime95 Small Ffts? I don't suppose LinX is THAT bad, or is it? I don't have a first hand experience with Gulftown, can't really afford one atm...

**road-runner** · 03-19-2010, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by zalbard

You're welcome!

I am hoping for it.

ASUS P6T is famous for the throttling issues, though. I obviously don't know about Gulftown, but I know that some BIOSes have throttling issues with Nehalems, and some don't. No idea which one you're using, but you get my point.
Edit: also, how much RAM did you use for LinX? You have 6GB installed, does the system see 6GB? Just looking at your 15500 problem size, and that's with "All" button pressed...
I've added your submission, but I will update it as soon as you sort the throttling / memory issues.

I had 6gb in but 32 bit OS so no. I selected ALL, I have bios 1201 also the newest on there website.

Just trying this, waiting on my classified from RMA then going cold...

**Sam_oslo** · 03-19-2010, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by eva2000

FYI, interesting findings for Gulftown 6C12T testing, prime95 small fft stresses the 980X more than linx 0.6.4 does. From Powermate wattage metter prime95 results in ~10% more power consumption measured from the wall than linx does. This was the opposite for Bloomfield i7 9xx series where linx was ~10% more power consuming than prime95. Could be linx isn't properly utilising all 6C12T of the i7 980X yet ?

Indeed, there is something fishy with the Gflops that is suggesting the same.
This 4.52GHz Gulftown using 4GB RAM has 53.63 Gflops, while this 4.51Ghz Bloomfield using 4GB RAM has 58.59 Gflops.
All these 6C/12T are producing less LinX-Gflops than 4C/8T?, In case, something seams to be really fishy with running LinX on Gulftown/Westmere

**tool_462** · 03-19-2010, 08:32 AM

Yeah the Gflops are all funky:

I'd tell you the batch on the chip but its under my block and I don't think anyone cares about ES batches

**Sam_oslo** · 03-19-2010, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by tool_462

Yeah the Gflops are all funky:

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/tool_462/45linx-1.png[/img]

I'd tell you the batch on the chip but its under my block and I don't think anyone cares about ES batches

Yeah this GFlps looks much better. I guess we can conclude it got nothing to do with Gulftown/Westmere. It seams to be acting funky with 6C/12T, and perhaps is not using all cores.
They will hopefully fix it soon, but running Linx on 6C/12T won't be a indicator for stability until then, I guess.

**SteveRo** · 03-19-2010, 09:06 AM

Regarding linx gflops for westmere - do you think its just the way the gflops are computed by linx or something more messed up?
What I'm getting at is it should hopefully still be a measure of stability -perhaps just not as good as for other procs?

**Sam_oslo** · 03-19-2010, 09:40 AM

I don't know what's possibly wrong with LinX, but it seams not be using all 6C/12T. In case, it won't stress 100% and won't be able to determine the 24/7 stability either. Running 8 hours Prime SamllFFT (or at least a couple of hours) would be much better indication then. At least until they find what's wrong and fix the LinX.

**Movieman** · 03-19-2010, 09:49 AM

FWIW: I ran the X65680's at 4GHz at 100% load on WCG for 12 hours and no errors in the WU.. Temps stayed in the 50's on air during the run.
WCG loads just a tad lighter than LinX from what I can tell..very close but lighter.

**pr@$r1g** · 03-20-2010, 03:32 AM

Hi all the go0di's ............... 6C.12T

,those XEON's are real good

Any one here with EX58A-UD3 with 980x ?

**Sam_oslo** · 03-20-2010, 08:37 AM

Some second toughs. Still not final tho

I've ended up with @3.8GHz(173x22) 1.21v and VVT=1.32v for now.

These Xeon DPs have a looked Uncore at x20 which requires A LOT of VVT to stabilize at higher BCLK.
My previews @4GHz(182x22) 1.26v needs VVT=~1.38v, and I think it is too close to Intel's max VVT=1.4v. I'm going to wait a few weeks, and hopefully won't see too many dead or degraded chips, before I push the VVT on this chip. Playing chicken, but it keeps the CPU safe.

I will hopefully get brave enough to raise the VVT to 1.38v and run @4GHz after a while. Hopefully I can find a way around this locked Uncore-monster too.

This chip dose not make any sense as a single CPU, but the plan is to get a EVGA SR-2 and run 2 CPU on it, hopefully soon.

and @3.8Ghz would do, but the next CPU is going to be a X5660 (with x23 multi) or maybe even a Quad with even higher multi, for hitting higher frequencies, for sure.

The good news, it it is running really cool. The load-temp is actually almost the same as the Idle-temp for my good old w3520

.
The Core can still OC much higher, but it is a shame that the Uncore can not keep up without too much VVT.

X5650 @3.8Ghz(173x22) Vcore=1.21v, VVT=1.32v, 3 Hours Prime smalFFT

**hlonipha** · 03-20-2010, 02:20 PM

A little higher on the volts but will start to decrease and see if I can get it stable with a bit lower.

**tool_462** · 03-21-2010, 10:02 AM

Getting to know the chip a little more:

I had previously been solving a slight VTT/DRAM voltage lacking with extra vcore

Looks like 4Ghz is easy peasy on this guy, still going to stick to 4.5-4.6 24/7 I think

RAM isn't done tweaking though.

Sorry to threadcrap but I'll post the batch here soon enough, not that it really matters. I figured people might want to see what the early quads are capable of.

**lawtq** · 03-21-2010, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by hlonipha

A little higher on the volts but will start to decrease and see if I can get it stable with a bit lower.

That is beautiful! Those clocks, and at those volts? Great B batch cpu you have!

Tell me somethinig, do the B batches still only need an uncore speed of 1.5 x the ram? I think someone on the evga forums said A batches are 1.5x, while B batches need 2x just like the 920's, 975's.

**SteveRo** · 03-21-2010, 12:52 PM

I thought I might post this in the intel forum also - good voltage data - plus another opportuity to indulge vanity.

Ok, so new pcmark vantage WR - I had to push to 1.45 vcore but I wanted to be the first over 30k -

**Mech0z** · 03-21-2010, 02:11 PM

How the hell can you beat Vantage record without ln2 :o aka "only" 4600mhz compared to the 6500 others have hit

**Musho** · 03-21-2010, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Mech0z

How the hell can you beat Vantage record without ln2 :o aka "only" 4600mhz compared to the 6500 others have hit

Because he's using 6 cores, plus a kickass storage system. PCMark Vantage is _highly_ dependent on a fast storage system.

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