performance increase from 3.2 to 4.0 (AMD PHENOM II 955)

[Robert1986]

I am thinking of trying to overclock the 955 but would like to know what type of performance increase should I be expecting?

 

[Detosx]

Can I respectfully add to this question by asking would it be stable at 4GHz running 24/7 in a video crunching/editing computer? Or better left at, say, 3.8GHz?

 

[mattjd]

Best way to test performance is to do a benchmark test with a CPU crunching game like Crysis. Also converting videos and music files miught be a good way to test performance increase with CPU's.

 

[IKMS]

I have seen a 955 at 4.2GHz and it ran Prime95 Blend for 24 hours with 0 problems or reports.

3.8GHz is simple enough (apparently) and you should be able to reach 4.0GHz without too much hassle.

I wouldn't aim for anything above 4.00Ghz really.

 

[Detosx]

Thanks IKMS, it would be good to see that users set up and what kind of cooler they are using? I hear the word 'luck' cropping up along with the words 'good' and bad 'batches', applying most or all CPUs? I guess the lesser gamble for a stable video editing computer is to swallow hard and go for an Intel i7 920/930.

Apologies to the OP, getting back to your original question, I too would be very interested in seeing real world benchmarks for the 955 and other chips, rather than good old proof-of-concept maximum thresholds, fun as they are to read about.

 

[IKMS]

I hear the word 'luck'

You would be hearing correct unfortunately

Some chips are just better than others, I see no reason for it it just happens. If you get 3.8GHz it doesn't mean someone else will get it aswell, even with exactly the same settings.

 

[bigjimmyauk]

I am thinking of trying to overclock the 955 but would like to know what type of performance increase should I be expecting?

you'll get a good performance increase do u have a c2 or c3 stepping chip
it's also important to overclock the NB if your clocking the cpu to 3.8Ghz for me a combination of 3.8Ghz and a NB of 2400Mhz and HT of 2400Mhz seemed about best there was not much in 4Ghz and even some benchmarks i did at 4.2 there was not a massive performance increase.

By far the best increase i got was from overclocking the NB
If you need any help at all hitting 3.8 or trying for further then let me know

edit i see you might have the same memory as me if not already use manual setting set it to 1.65v and change the timings to 8,8,8,24,2t as my defualt speed was 9,9,9,24

 

[Redmint]

Can I respectfully add to this question by asking would it be stable at 4GHz running 24/7 in a video crunching/editing computer? Or better left at, say, 3.8GHz?

Unless you get very lucky with your chip and have fairly awesome cooling I think 3.8GHz might be a bit more realistic for 24/7 use, the extra effort/voltage required for 4.0GHz most likely isn't worth the tiny performance boost.

 

[bigjimmyauk]

Unless you get very lucky with your chip and have fairly awesome cooling I think 3.8GHz might be a bit more realistic for 24/7 use, the extra effort/voltage required for 4.0GHz most likely isn't worth the tiny performance boost.

+1 jumping to 4Ghz the gains are minimal to say the least going from 3.2 to 3.8 will be a good increase and you will certainly feel and see the difference

 

[Robert1986]

Thanks. I'll try and get it to 3.8. Should I go up in increments or just jump straight to 3.8?

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition 3.20GHz
Motherboard: Asus M4A79XTD EVO
Case: Corsair Obsidian 800D Full Tower Case
CPU Cooler: Corsair H50-1 High-Performance CPU Watercooler
PSU: Corsair VX 550W ATX
Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit

 

[bigjimmyauk]

Thanks. I'll try and get it to 3.8. Should I go up in increments or just jump straight to 3.8?

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition 3.20GHz
Motherboard: Asus M4A79XTD EVO
Case: Corsair Obsidian 800D Full Tower Case
CPU Cooler: Corsair H50-1 High-Performance CPU Watercooler
PSU: Corsair VX 550W ATX
Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit

try this for 3,8Ghz

FSB 240
Cpu multi x16
cpu voltage 1.425V
dram multi x 6.66 (should give you 1600mhz)
dram voltage 1.65v
timing 8,8,8,24,2t

lay of overclocking the NB and HT for now see if you can get 3.8 ghz ok

remember to keep an eye on the temps anything up 55 if safe anything over that and you need better cooling use core temp to monitor the temp

If 3.8 with stock HT and NB is unstable let me know and i'll take you through the more gradual process


*edit* i just saw you cpu voltage was 1.1V unless cool and quiet is on it seems pretty low you need to go into bios and tell me what the actual figure is also the voltage of your cpu-NB might need a increase of 0.050V

 

[mmj_uk]

You'll hardly notice any difference in games, the biggest improvements will come in CPU intensive tasks.

 

[PhoenixUK]

Most will do 3.8 on stock volts or nearly that but you'll have to bump up a lot for 4.0 which isn't worth it, best is around 3.8 with maximum NB/HT you can get and best ram settings.

 

[JeffyB]

You may find this article useful, shows scaling of x4 phenom from 2ghz to 4ghz at 200mhz steps with a 5970.

http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_pages/cpu_scaling_with_the_radeon_hd_5970,14.html

 

[Robert1986]

I overclocked my amd to 3.8. My temps have went up from around 25-30 idle to 40-45 idle.

Went as high as 58 when playing bf2bc.

 

[bigjimmyauk]

I overclocked my amd to 3.8. My temps have went up from around 25-30 idle to 40-45 idle.

Went as high as 58 when playing bf2bc.

Your cooling is not upto the task then my thermolab baram sits at around 27 idle.

try lowering the cpu voltage to 1.4V exactly then see what sort of temperatures your getting if ya can? and also see if it's stable

 

[Robert1986]

I thought the h50 was good enough for cooling.

 

[bigjimmyauk]

I thought the h50 was good enough for cooling.

it should be but i was thinking that if u had a good chip that only required 1.1volts to start with it might not need the 1.4 volts i originally said

did you go into bios and see what the original bios cpu voltage was set at if it was 1.1v i would maybe try 1.3 volts.

If it was 1.1 volts out the box you have a very good chip as my stock voltage is 1.4V

stock voltage is governed by the chip at the factory so when you put the chip in the mobo reads the cpu and automatically sets the voltage.

Try find out for me what this stock cpu voltage was just select normal or auto and see what the reading is then let me know.

 

[~>Dg<~]

his volts look about normal to me .

 

[bigjimmyauk]

his volts look about normal to me .

his first cpu-z screenie said 1.1volts at 3.2 ghz

i'm thinking he may have a uber chip and 1.4 volts is too much
would cool and quiet mode drop cpu voltage?