Amd Phenom II x4 850 3.3mhz Crosshair V Formula

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 15:20

Hi

Ive just bought the following Amd Phenom II x4 850 MHz and a Crosshair V Formula motherboard.

Using the default over-clocking options on the motherboard the chip is running at 3.48MHz.

Have I got a chance at getting it to run higher and if so what settings should I be using?

I am also using 2x4gb Kingston x memory which is running at 1600MHz and I have an Asus Axe square cooler, not the stock one that came with the CPU.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

Martini1991 · 27 Oct 2011 at 15:29

For the love of God, please DSR.
You've bought the AM3+ flagship motherboard, and an Athlon II X4 (But AMD decided they'd rebrand it to Phenom II).

Those 850's top out about 3.9GHZ.

But you could have gone Z68 and 2500k for the same price with MUCH better performance.
And I haven't got anything good to say about those Asus coolers, you'd be much better off with a Coolermaster 212 or something.

Hagar · 27 Oct 2011 at 15:30

Your processor runs at stock at 3300MHz, = 16.5 x 200MHz. In the bios you can ramp up the bus clock from 200Mhz. You may need additional voltage but try going to 225Mhz without, this will give you 3700Mhz or 3.7GHz. You may need to change the ram multiplier, the HT and NB should be fine at 2250MHz (10 x 225). With this processor you cannot up the multiplier from 16.5, you can go lower though.

Martini1991 · 27 Oct 2011 at 15:31

A CH V can hit 350 HT clock pretty easily, but it's a moot point.
It's like buying a mansion and living in a single room, all alone

.

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 15:38

What about the kits from Corsair the H60?

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 15:43

Only bought a cheap cpu as I was waiting for bulldozer to come out, but looking at the reviews they don't get good comments. Should have waited three weeks really.

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 15:44

nkata thanks for the advice

Martini1991 · 27 Oct 2011 at 15:47

Stuartpetty said:
What about the kits from Corsair the H60?

The H60's...... Okay, but I'm not a fan of all in one units.
You'd be much better off with one of the current on offer thermalright coolers.

But I massively suggest you return your current "Phenom II" 850 and Crosshair V under DSR.

Lets use some figures shall we?

The CH V here ;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-461-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2046

The "Phenom II" 850 here ;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-303-AM

Total cost = Around 275 quid.

Now, the Intel platform

2500k here ;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-360-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1275

Motherboard here ;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-192-MS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1990

Total cost = Around 290 quid.

But it's also got the chance to go PCI-E 3.0

Performance figures ;

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/188?vs=288

The Phenom II 850 is just a 3.3GHZ version of the Athlon II 635.

Also, Bulldozer's crap.

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 16:41

I see your point, its been a couple of weeks now so guess I wont be able to.

I see your using crossfire, I have a single 6950 at the moment but was thinking of adding a second should I buy an identical card or if I see a better deal on a 6950 with the same amount memory get that?

Martini1991 · 27 Oct 2011 at 16:44

Fair enough if you can't, you'd lose a lot of money selling your stuff, keep what you have if you must do.
I love Crossfire, but can say it'd be hampered with your Phenom II 850, and Gareth who bought a Bulldozer showed his trifire getting bottlenecked (Lower average FPS in Metro2033) with the 8150 as opposed his Thuban.

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 16:49

what cpu (Amd) should i buy in replacement to the 850?

jak731 · 27 Oct 2011 at 16:50

Best you could do with that board now is get an X6 and oc really. The 850 will hold your system back.

Martini1991 · 27 Oct 2011 at 16:51

Stuartpetty said:
what cpu (Amd) should i buy in replacement to the 850?

1100T is the best you can buy.

But even then, you've spend a shed load of money on inferior performance.

However, you could probably switch to Intel at the same loss as buying an 1100T if you're not AMD inclined?

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 17:03

do I need an i7 or will the i5 do?

Maybe I should wait until ivy bridge comes out?

Also is it right that you have better overclocking performance with less ram installed?

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 17:05

jak731 is this the part?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-277-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1944

Martini1991 · 27 Oct 2011 at 17:06

I run 8GB (4 x 2GB sticks) on my PC fine overclocked, as with Sandybridge you only need to faff around with the Multiplier and then the voltages.

Ivybridge won't be a massive improvement above SB, a few percent in clocks, a few percent in IPC.

Although Ivy will enable PCI-E 3.0 in the 1155 boards that allow it (Which should be the majority of them AT LEAST in the primary slot).

I'd consider going for the i5 2500k now as interim and then see what happens when the i7 Ivy's hit.

Stuartpetty said:
jak731 is this the part?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-277-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1944

Yes, that is the part, but it's an extensive price for what it is, I'd forgotten

Stuartpetty · 27 Oct 2011 at 17:08

Thanks for all the advice, have a lot to think about now

jak731 · 29 Oct 2011 at 19:32

You don't have to spend £150 for an X6, your current board can oc really well so you could get one of these or look at the second hand market.

Martini1991 · 29 Oct 2011 at 19:33

jak731 said:
You don't have to spend £150 for an X6, your current board can oc really well so you could get one of these or look at the second hand market.

As much as I love the 1055T's, the OP seriously would be better off taking the hit he'd invest with a 1055T, going to a Z68 set up with a 2500k, as that's faster and around the same money.