i7 temp rise when overclocking help

Alpha-Trion · 25 Jun 2009 at 21:33

I have just built my first i7 machine using Gigabyte ex58 extreme, i7 920 D0, Noctua NH-N12P HSF (with 2 fans) and corsair dominator memory.
When checking the temps i get a pretty good temp for stock and stock running prime but as i start to increase the frequency (blck) the temperature goes up exponetially. I can only take it to 3.1ghz before it gets very hot. At 3.2 it is getting close to 100c.

Can anyone suggest anything i can do to clock it safely or am i just stuck with a less that perfect overclocking chip

Thanks for any suggestions.

(I have reseated the HSF several times)

Stock idle
Core 1: 37c
Core 2: 33c
Core 3: 36c
Core 4: 33c

Stock prime
Core 1: 54c
Core 2: 50c
Core 3: 52c
Core 4: 50c

3.1ghz @ 155 idle
Core 1: 56c
Core 2: 52c
Core 3: 54c
Core 4: 51c

3.1ghz @ 155 prime
Core 1: 82c
Core 2: 78c
Core 3: 79c
Core 4: 76c

FaceplantSi · 25 Jun 2009 at 21:39

What is the vCore? What is your case/airflow like?

ralv585 · 25 Jun 2009 at 21:52

that's extremely hot for a low overclock.

what is your vcore, and did you remember to put paste on the chip? seems like an obvious thing, but people forget things sometimes.

i have the same cooler, overclocked to 4ghz, 1.33vcore, idles around 40c and under prime around 78c, so those are the temps you should be looking at realistically. so maybe a few degrees off for the lower overclock.

Alpha-Trion · 25 Jun 2009 at 21:59

Sorry, knew i needed more info.
The case is an Antec 900-2 with fans running at max and has the side panel off at them monent.
vCore is 1.06875.
I have put paste on the chip. I removed and reapplied incase i had screwed up the first time.

Alpha-Trion · 25 Jun 2009 at 22:01

ravl585, what other settings are you using to get to 4gz?

ralv585 · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:08

what is your fan config, push - pull?
are you sure everything is working correctly?
and have how tight is the heatsink on the cpu?

worse case scenario is to maybe send the chip back, and get a new one

i'm at 190 bck, with ht off and turbo on.
ram at 1.64v, with qpi at 1.32 i think.

have you got a similar system to me, i.e rampage 2 extreme, i can post the exact settings for everything if you want.

Alpha-Trion · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:12

My fan config is push from the front of the case and pull from the rea to exhast.
All seems to be working correctly and i have the heatsink screwed down as far is it can go.
I boosted the vcore to 1.2v and got it to 3.2ghz with the following temps

idle Core 1: 56c Core 2: 52c Core 3: 54c Core 4: 51c

prime Core 1: 82c Core 2: 78c Core 3: 79c Core 4: 76c

When i tried to push it to 3.5gz even though i upped the vcore to 1.325v i got 84c on the hottest core.

Unfortunately i have the Gigabyte ex58 extreme so not the same settings for that although the rest of the components are the same (i think).

Are your multipliers on auto or have you set them manually?
Thanks for the help

Alpha-Trion · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:35

ravl585 said:
i'm at 190 bck, with ht off and turbo on.
ram at 1.64v, with qpi at 1.32 i think.

Using your settings i can get it up to the same limit with temps just under 80c.
Turning boost of and ht on i get bsod.
Isn't it better to have ht on?
With ht on and boost off i can get 3.6ghz but the temps are over 80c.

ralv585 · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:36

multipliers?
set the multiplier to 20, don't leave it on auto as it hides turbo (on my rampage at least)
your temps are hot for what you've got, try turning off ht, this should not around 5-10c off your temps.

Alpha-Trion · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:44

Isn't ht a useful thing to have on?

ralv585 · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:48

it is, but doesn't really make a difference i've found.

i'm a gamer, and the difference between 3.8ghz with ht and 4.ghz with ht off is not much at all, i just prefer it this way due to the lower temps with ht off.

oh and r.i.p michael

game4it · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:49

Alpha-Trion said:
Isn't ht a useful thing to have on?

Yes as your i7 run 8 threads with it on and only 4 with it off.As someone said on these forums you may aswell just had a core duo quad if your not using ht on i7.

Alpha-Trion · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:54

Thanks game4it, i understand that i would rather have 8 than 4 cores.
When it comes to oc'ing then ideally would be best to keep it on if i can get a decent oc.

I am now stable at 3.3ghz with ht on at 80/81c any higher does not run for me.
Any other suggestions as to why i maybe struggling with the oc?
Is it worth talking to OcUk about it?

game4it · 26 Jun 2009 at 00:14

I'm not familar with gigabyte bios but those temps seem high indeed.With my CO revision i only need 1.25 vcore for a 3.5 OC and i get temps of about 78c max on the highest core.
From what i've read you should nearly get 3.5ghz with close to stock volts with a DO.
Wait and see if somebody withe the same setup replies but if they cant help i would talk to OCuk about it.

Alpha-Trion · 26 Jun 2009 at 00:16

I guess i should talk to OcUk and see what they say/can do.