• Competitor rules

    Please remember that any mention of competitors, hinting at competitors or offering to provide details of competitors will result in an account suspension. The full rules can be found under the 'Terms and Rules' link in the bottom right corner of your screen. Just don't mention competitors in any way, shape or form and you'll be OK.

955 vcore?

Associate
Joined
24 Apr 2009
Posts
1,940
Location
Aberdeen, Scotland
I'm new to amd, therefore slightly ignorant about a few things, but a quick google suggests the default vcore on a 955be is 1.35v.

The default voltage on this board (got it Friday) with everything on auto is 1.475 :confused:. If I set voltages selection to manual - but leave them on auto - then the default vcore drops to 1.4v. Now aside from not wanting to damage my cpu, it's a waste of power and adds nearly 10 degrees to temps over 1.35 which I'm running at currently (1.344 with vdroop).

So, what's the default vcore for these chips? And the max safe voltage?
 
Download coretemp if you dont have it. Look at the VID. That will tell you the default voltage for your chip. I believe it varies between different 955s - lower VID is better because it means you have more headroom. I believe 1.35 is standard though.
 
Ahh. I did wonder, last time I used cpu-z I got the intel vid from it.

Core temps vid is fluctuating with with speed stepping but it maxes at 1.4 @ 3.2, yet I've put this though a few hours of prime and linx at 1.35 today.

I suspect gigabytes auto voltage will be compensating elsewhere. It actually list the default ddr3 voltages as 1.5v in on column and the actual voltage as 1.584 in the same line :rolleyes:
 
I think the VID on cpu-z is a measure of the actual CPU voltage but on CoreTemp the VID is a reading of what the default voltage should be for the setting you are on. So if you disable cool'n'quiet then it should show the default voltage.

Sounds like your default voltage is 1.4. I guess you can set the voltage to that in BIOS and see if that is okay. I bet it will be stable at 1.35 or lower though. Just have to test to make sure I suppose.
 
Last edited:
Indeed, but that still doesn't explain why the default auto voltage is 1.475 when the default manual voltage is 1.4. How far can these be pushed safely?
 
Indeed, but that still doesn't explain why the default auto voltage is 1.475 when the default manual voltage is 1.4. How far can these be pushed safely?

True. Not sure about that. I am always a bit mistrustful of the black box AUTO.

Max safe cpu voltage is 1.55 but I always feel a bit uncomfortable above 1.5 for 24/7 :rolleyes:

Lots of info on overclocking, safe settings etc in the AMD Unleash the Dragon Guide

Good luck clocking.
 
Last edited:
max safe voltage is 1.55v it can be ran at this setting providing you have adequate cooling, most people run 1.4v through a 955 easily hitting 4ghz though that does give quite a nice window for more extreme overclocks :)
 
Wouldn't trust such a cheap board to do that tbh. Besides, I like to keep speed stepping on. I'll be content with just turning the multi up a few notches.
 
Well bumping the multi up to 3.6ghz requires no voltage alteration. Similarly dropping the voltage to 1.35 and running at stock. I'm starting to wonder if this 1.4v is simply a case of gigabyte defaulting to the highest voltage listed on amds product page.
 
Well the highest voltage is 1.55 I believe. Maybe they did it so you can flex the multi a bit without using the vcore, or perhaps use their oc'ing tool or something for a quick boost.
 
the default on my 955 C3 stepping on my rig in sig is 1.4volts altho it only requires 1.424 for 3.8 Ghz

just do some prime testing and come to a conclusion yourself of what is best for you.
 
^^ sounds like a pretty bad chip :o

explain why 1.425 volts for a prime blend stable 3.8Ghz is bad

Also the only reason 1.4 is the default is because my bios is a stupid POS and no longer supported by gigabyte. it's a known problem all phenom's show 1.4 volts from bios F2 Onwards
 
Last edited:
it isnt bad its good.

a lot of newer ones do 4ghz but like said many times cause a lot can just up the multi to twenty they say hey 4ghz stable where as look at how many have done 8 hrs prime or 20 runs ibt ;) . i suspect a lot do this also they dont run it at 4ghz allday everyday.

yours has done the run to prove stable be happy
 
Well I'm glad I'm not the only person who find this odd :) Wonder if that 1.4v issue extends to my mobo. I think what I found most peculiar was the original 955 reviews all seem to have 1.35 vids, but the handful I can find for C3 chips are 1.4 but can simply crank the multi up the same. I would have though over time efficiencies would have reduced voltage, unless yields increased to the point where a lot of the 955s were simply 965s (default vid of 1.4v) being sold under the lower name.

Anyway, aside from being stable at 1.35v, it seems happy at 3.6-1.4v currently (25 linx pass + small fft). Option 1, gigabyte duffed the bios, option 2, high yields and re-badged 965. Have I missed any?
 
Further prodding has proven interesting. Stopped dropping the voltage when I hit 1.325, and it was still happy running small ffts and linx together. Seeing as cool & quiet seems to be disabled with a multi of 19 or higher, and the options on this budget board are limited, I think I'll stick with a multi of 18.5 (3.7) and be content*. Seems quite good for 1.35 atm :)

*have the bug again :(
 
Back
Top Bottom