AMD's "cold-bug" sucks!!! *** DI fiasco ***

bachus_anonym · 07-07-2005, 11:49 PM

No, there's no OCing results this time

Just a rant about AMD's cold-bug!!!
Let's start then...

Chapter One: Preparation.

1. Chilly1's DI/LN2 container that I got from Conrad to play with. Thanks a lot, bro

2. Besides seal string that I use on my phase change I decided to apply some Liquid Electrical Tape to the areas not covered with seal tape. Looks pretty messy but it's very effective

3. This is how I attached thermal probe to the bottom of the block...

4. Slowly getting ready to roll...

5. This what I saw while sitting in BIOS @ 3730Mhz 1.80vcore BIOS LOAD, meaning just normally loaded system, nothing extreme. Lowest I've seen was -68C while in BIOS... I did not takle a pic as I was kind of pissed then already

6. This is why it's great I decided to use Liguid electrical Tape

Very slight condensation due to alck of airflow in that area. I forgot to direct fan in there

After that I put 120mm fan in that area and problem was gone...

7. Quick cool shot of Acetone+DI boiling

8. Battlefielld after 3.5hrs of trying to get some decent fun with no success

9. Container without insulation - just a cool pic

... and nothing else to show ...

*** My observations about cold-bug ***

1. On my San Diego, it kicks in past -44C on a block. Any lower and I cannot get to Windows - it hangs past BIOS BACK-UP.
2. I can sit in BIOS at -64C on the block and at least 3730Mhz on CPU. Once I leave it, what above happens.
3. Once I get lucky to get into Windows I need to maintain constant LOAD - I used looped Sandra CPU Arithmetic Bench @ LOW Priority to do it. But even with that running, past -50C systems hangs

CONLUSION: On-die memory controller + 90nm process is the worst nightmare combination. I wish I was a bit more lucky and got some "healthy" chip

Anyone, feel free to post yur experiences with a DI/LN2 cold-bug and maybe any walkarounds or ideas

Thanks for looking and take care,

Michal

Sucka · 07-07-2005, 11:55 PM

Great pics, too bad about lack of results. I wanted to do some DI myself here soon but this is discouraging now. I've seen other SD/Venices clock well under dice, just a "bad" CPU as far as cold bug is concerned?

gbglassen · 07-08-2005, 01:12 AM

I really like your insulation

Is that liquid tape easy to peel off or is it more or less permanent?

bachus_anonym · 07-08-2005, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sucka

Great pics, too bad about lack of results. I wanted to do some DI myself here soon but this is discouraging now. I've seen other SD/Venices clock well under dice, just a "bad" CPU as far as cold bug is concerned?

You know what? I think it's just my CPU. We've seen quite a few San Diegos doing OK under DI. It just seems like the one I got is only good up to single stage...

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbglassen

I really like your insulation

Is that liquid tape easy to peel off or is it more or less permanent?

Thanks

Liquid Electrical Tape is very easy to remove. Just peel it off... Seal string is a bit more PIA because you need to be very careful not to pull any of the surface mount components off the mainboard. But it's still doable.
I don't think I will ever be selling this board. So I don't really care how it looks. I'll probably sooner kill it that sell it

TheMeatFrog · 07-08-2005, 01:58 AM

Very cool stuff! Really too bad no testing fun.

The WR in my sig was set on Lestat's Chilly1 dice container

much <3 chilly1

conrad.maranan · 07-08-2005, 02:05 AM

When you're ready to retire from overclocking, let me know. We'll find another hobby that isn't as frustrating.

And don't feel too bad. My chip didn't have the "cold bug" yet I still didn't manage to capture any screenshots. Sometimes, it's just not meant to be.

bachus_anonym · 07-08-2005, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMeatFrog

Very cool stuff! Really too bad no testing fun.

The WR in my sig was set on Lestat's Chilly1 dice container

much <3 chilly1

Nice clock on that Venice

You guys should have benched it a bit

Quote:

Originally Posted by conrad.maranan

When you're ready to retire from overclocking, let me know. We'll find another hobby that isn't as frustrating.

And don't feel too bad. My chip didn't have the "cold bug" yet I still didn't manage to capture any screenshots. Sometimes, it's just not meant to be.

I know, I know... I was really dissapointed to be honest. I really hoped to get even better Pi results, even though I knew I will have a problem even before I slapped the tube on it. Oh well... There's still some gardening left to do in the backyard.

In the mid-time I already put phase change back on. It looks like 3.4Ghz is all I'm gonna have to live with... Still, not too shabby

Once again, thanks for letting me play with Chilly1's sweet container, bro

conrad.maranan · 07-08-2005, 02:17 AM

Anytime, Michal. And if you do decide to grab another chip in the next week out of impulse, just hold on to the container until I finish moving in to my new house.

Peace.

Dani · 07-08-2005, 05:23 AM

My Venice 3200+ 0517BPEW had too that stupid coldbug...

1.) 2.9GHz stable with AIR cooling
2.) 3.24GHz stable with VapoChill LS

3.) 3.21GHz unstable with DryIce

Yep, anything above 3.2GHz/or -42ÂºC with DI freeze in Windows after SP8M, just f*cking great

andL64 · 07-08-2005, 05:36 AM

well bachus i know how you feel

i also waited for a special stepping for bout 2weeks and modded my mach2 for the new core.....
i got it a venice 3200+ and it wouldnt even boot with my mach2 so i put the stock heatsink on and well it booted and was benchable up to 2750-2800 first tests.... so i decided to get an sd next day and well it booted with my mach2 get it up to 3200bench and 3340 suicide so i m happy now but i have to sell the venice which i cant need/use....

seEn

bachus_anonym · 07-08-2005, 10:27 AM

@Dani,

That blows! But nice insulation on that container.
I think I'm gonna wait a bit and start searching for another SD that will be a bit more immune

@andL64

I think that even if your CPU has a cold-bug it should still boot and work up to certain temperature. If it didn't boot up at all I would look elsewhere. Maybe mounting was not tight enough and and some condensation prevented it from booting

andL64 · 07-08-2005, 11:41 AM

yes i know, but the point is.....

the venice didnt boot with -5 or -10 even and the san diego works fine up to -25C now and it clocks really nice, so just try it with some decent cooling *lol* never believed i ll say this here on xsys. but its real a pain in the ass.

seEn