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Is 1.5 volts safe for an E2160?

SlyReaper

SlyReaper

SlyReaper

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I just bought a new motherboard, which has allowed me to go nuts with the overclocking. I've got my E2160 running stable at 3.15GHz at 1.5 volts. But the base voltage is 1.325. Is it safe for me to be overvolting this much?
 
If the temperatures are okay, and it's stable, then yes.

65nm chips like the E2160 are pretty durable.
 
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As stated, as long as the temps are ok then I wouldn't worry to much.

I'm suprised you need 1.5v though for 3.1GHZ
I have an E2180 in my second machine running F@H 24/7 & it runs fine @ 3.2GHZ with 1.3v
 
I know this might sound cavalier but its a pretty cheap cpu so I'd probably push it and push it until I found the total max it would do :) 1.5 is nothing, I've stuck 1.9 through cpus in the past :) (X2 3800 under phase though ;))
 
Well, it probably undervolts anyway... just check in cpu-z what it's at
My old E2160 needed 1.525 in the bios for 3.2Ghz and it was fine for half a year, then I sold it so... :p In a Toms hardware review they needed 1.525 as well for 3.2Ghz.. Don't worry to much about it, if it breaks just buy a new cheapie :p
 
I've tried 3.2GHz at 1.525v. Failed Prime95 small FFTs in a matter of minutes. To be honest, I think I'll stick with 3.15 for now. I don't see an extra 50MHz making that much difference in performance.

Another thought that occured to me: maybe the RAM is holding me back? My old motherboard could only support up to PC2-5300, so that's what I have. This one can do a lot better. Would faster RAM allow better overclocks?
 
Oooh, update. I've got it running prime stable at 3.2GHz at 1.5375v. 100% load temps are 65C, which is a little bit over specification (61.3C for E2160s I believe). I guess cooling is something I'll have to worry about if I push it any higher.

Edit: by the way, what IS the MCH? I gave it +0.1v a while back.
 
The 'safe' temp for a 2160 is approximately 105C. The figure you are quoting is the temperature components around the socket have to be able to tolerate, not the CPU cores.
 
OK, I seem to be running prime stable at 3.24GHz now at 1.5625v. Temperatures are getting a little toasty (66-67C under full load) so I don't think I can push it any higher without better cooling.

It now occurs to me that I've given a 1.8GHz processor an 80% overclock, multiplying its clock speed by 1.8. Which means I've squared the number of GHz it produces. Something about that fact appeals to me :p
 
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man, you have a terrible chip, or are passing loads of volts through it needless... mine does 3ghz at 1.425, and it's one of the highest voltages for a '60 that i've seen - m,ost require around 1.,3/1.4...

can you lower the Vcore or do you lose stability
 
Lowering the voltage by just a tiny bit makes it fail prime95 after about 20 minutes. I guess I got unlucky. However, the temperatures are tolerable at this voltage, and it's prime stable. I'm not going to complain too much at being able to overclock by 80% on a £45 chip.
 
E2xx series are random...

The early stuff seems to clock better than the newer cores for some reason. Shame.

E7xx and E8xx is where it is now IMO for duals, and Q6600 still for Quads, maybe Q9450 if it ever falls in price.
 
SlyReaper said:
Oooh, update. I've got it running prime stable at 3.2GHz at 1.5375v. 100% load temps are 65C, which is a little bit over specification (61.3C for E2160s I believe). I guess cooling is something I'll have to worry about if I push it any higher.
Click to expand...

Check which stepping it is in CPUz, if it's L2 then 62ºC is max temp and if M0 then its 73ºC.
 
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