AMD Phenom II X4 960T Black Edition o/c

[agros]

I m transfering here the discuss of 960T  in order to talk about o/c.
There are some questions.

- Installing this new cpu (instead of a 720) I have to reset bios settings?
- This cpu has turbo boost, the previous one didn't have. Which bios option do I have to set? I have latest bios version(F10).
- If I want o/c I first need disable turbo boost and cool&quiet, right?
- About voltage... Bios says that normal is 1,475V. Is this really normal? I read in newegg that people easily o/c this cpu with just 1.2V

[Krisbee]

Hi argos,

Thougth I'd drop by as this thread has had no replies I've just upgraded my old AM2 PC with the Phenom II X4 960T Black Edition plus GA-880GM-UD2H and 8GB of Corsair Ram.  See my questions about the voltage settings here:

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,7566.0.html

I cannot tell you a thing about overclocking, but as to 1.475Vcore being normal, well it is the published voltage for the CPU operating at 3GHz.  But you are right it is possible to run this CPU at > 3GHz with Vcore set to < 1.4V.

See these:

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2078376

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2102831

The second appears to have been achieved by just upping the CPU multiplier !!  But there's no note of what cooling was used, and your m/board's power system amd PSU will be stressed so be cautious.

Have you seen this?


http://www.overclock.net/t/1070723/my-new-960t-unlocked-to-a-x6-1600t/60

The last but one entry has another stunning overclock example.


I'm more interested in undervolting for lower power consumption as I prefer a cool and silent system. Some indication of what can be done can be found here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/undervolt-cpu-phenom,2348-4.html

[agros]

Helloo my friend! 

I m glad to see someone post here after 20 days. But I' m more glad because we have this same cpu (plus  same ram, mine works at 1333MHz).

Before I examine your links, I ll write some important lines-->
Yes, I m also more interested in undervolting for lower power consumption, but so far I was much disappointed.
The default core voltage(turbo boost disabled) is 1,35V. Never drops down 1,35. Even with c&q enabled. Thats bad. My previous 720 dropped down to 1.1V, my Sempron 140 drops down to 1,0V... Why 960T can't drop down?

I tried to reduce the core volt via bios. Minimum reduce is 1.27V. But then system wasn't able to start. I had to clear CMOS

[Krisbee]

agros,

If you read my post you'll find out the reason why the voltage does not drop at idle frequency. My  Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H rev 1.4 board does a better job than yours.  With Turbo Core enabled and set to 3400Mhz, the CPU voltage can go as low as 1.275V  and is stable.  This is the voltage that is applied for the boosted freq of 3.4GHz, all others operate at 1.125V.

The only way you get you system to act more like your old CPU is to use a program like K10stat.  Thsi article will give you a start:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/processor-power-management,2453.html

To save having to clear the CMOS when the system freezes, you can use AMD's overdrive program to adjust system parameters.  But it can only change the voltage for the boosted freq and the maxc normal freq.

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/amd-overdrive/pages/overview.aspx

If you only use the BIOS settings to tune your system, you have two options:

1.  Leave Turbo Core enabled and find the lowest CPU voltage for a stable system running prim95 and/or AMD's overdrive stability test. Let's call that Sv. Then all other frequencies will operate at (Sv - 0.15V).

2. Disable Turbo core and then find the lowest CPU voltage for a stable system running prim95 and/or AMD's overdrive stability test.  All frequencies up to 3GHz will operate at this same voltage.

[agros]

What do you mean your mobo does better job than mine? What exactly job? Core voltage depens on mobo?

If I enable turbo boost I ll have 1,5V and 1,3V-1,5V with c&q enabled. Now you tell me that I can get 1.27V, I dont know how to do that, but its not important because I dont use turbo boost, its useless. I disable turbo boost in order to make easy o/c.

As I said, I dropped the default voltage in its minimum reduce(1,35-->1.27) and system couldnt restart. So there is not something else to check via amd overdrive. It wont allow me anything below 1,35V.

2. Disable Turbo core and then find the lowest CPU voltage for a stable system running prim95 and/or AMD's overdrive stability test.  All frequencies up to 3GHz will operate at this same voltage.

So you tell me that prim95 or amd overdrive will give me voltage below 1.35V ?...

[Krisbee]

agros,

I'ts pity we cannot converse in Greek, as I appreciate I may not have explained myself very clearly.  Better Job? I simply meant my m/board appears to be stable with voltage settings that make your system unstable.

The programs Prime95 and/or AMD overdrive are just used to test if your system is stable for a given o/clock  or undervolt when put under stress.

The Ga-880GM-UD2H rev 1.4  allows the manual setting of the CPU voltage to be dropped by upto -0.6V from its normal value.  What volatge range does your m/board allow? 

If your m/board will not even boot if the CPU voltage is dropped below 1.35V then there seems little you can do. I assume you have updated its BIOS to the latest available.

[agros]

Its not the language, its that you dont read my posts.
Ok, those programs will tell me the right volt but this is not important. The important thing is HOW to set that volt... Via bios is impossible, as I explained.
The minimum reduce, I said, is from 1.35-->1.27 and that makes restart failure.
Tell me what you did in your (same)cpu. Did you drop voltage? How much?
I have the latest bios update(F10).

So, you final conclusion is that there is nothing I can do, and I ll always have 1.3V minimum?...

[Krisbee]

Be assured I read your posts, and if you had read mine you would know the answers to all your questions and would have answered mine.

As to my conclusoin, if your system is not stable below a given CPU voltage,  there's  nothing you can do excpet maybe try a differnt m/board.   Instead of dropping the CPU voltage in your BIOS you could try to use AMD's overdrive program.

[agros]

If u read my posts then u dont ask for things that already mentioned.

You didnt tell me... what did you do with your (same)cpu? Did u undervolt? how much? Dont avoid to answer. You suggest me things that u dont use in your system?

So u say that voltage is a mobo's issue. And how do u explain that this mobo is able to drop 1.1V with 720, but unable to drop below 1.3 with 960T?

What this amd overdrive could offer me? What I want is to auto drop voltage when idle. Can amd overdrive do that?

What is you wei cpu score?

[Krisbee]

If u read my posts then u dont ask for things that already mentioned.

Believe it or not, I'm trying to be helpful, but that's not proving to be too easy.

You didnt tell me... what did you do with your (same)cpu? Did u undervolt? how much?

This is all in my previous posts ..... http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,7566.0.html

I had set the CPU voltage to 1.275 with Turbo Core enabled and found the other frequencies to operate at 1.12(5)V in CPU-Z. etc, etc.

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2128009

Dont avoid to answer. You suggest me things that u dont use in your system?

Like what? I experimented with both AMD overdrive and BIOS settings, that's all I have suugested you try.

So u say that voltage is a mobo's issue. And how do u explain that this mobo is able to drop 1.1V with 720, but unable to drop below 1.3 with 960T?

It looks like a combo of m/board and BIOS.  What are the p-state CPU VIds of the 720? If the lowest default CPU VId of the 720 is 1.1V, that might explain it.  In other words, it's possible your m/board + BIOS cannot drop CPU voltage below the factory set CPU VId, which unfrotunatley is set at 1.325V for the 960T.

What this amd overdrive could offer me? What I want is to auto drop voltage when idle. Can amd overdrive do that?

What is you wei cpu score?

Try it and see for yourself, but it will not auto the idle voltage below 1.325V.  Only k10stat might do that.  I have no idea what my WEI score is. If you had read my post you would have seen I moslty use Linux.  I only loaded Win7 for the convenience of testing with CPU-Z , Hwmon, AMD overdrive and Prime95 etc. 



 

[agros]

This is all in my previous posts ..... http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,7566.0.html

I had set the CPU voltage to 1.275 with Turbo Core enabled and found the other frequencies to operate at 1.12(5)V in CPU-Z. etc, etc.

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2128009

Yes, we talk in that thread too, but dont send me in a big post instead of answer me in one simple line.

But still your answer is not clear. What the "etc" has to do?
Do you always have turbo boot enabled? What about Cool & Quiet?

I want to clearly tell me your voltage scale when you work your cpu. From xxx to yyy. With/without  turbo boost/c&q.

It looks like a combo of m/board and BIOS.  What are the p-state CPU VIds of the 720? If the lowest default CPU VId of the 720 is 1.1V, that might explain it.  In other words, it's possible your m/board + BIOS cannot drop CPU voltage below the factory set CPU VId, which unfrotunatley is set at 1.325V for the 960T.

Once more, I have to repeat what you havent read
720 has a scale 0.85-1.42V and TDP 95W. These numbers are similar to 960T's.  
1.325 is for you, for me is 1.35

Try it and see for yourself, but it will not auto the idle voltage below 1.325V.  Only k10stat might do that.  I have no idea what my WEI score is. If you had read my post you would have seen I moslty use Linux.  I only loaded Win7 for the convenience of testing with CPU-Z , Hwmon, AMD overdrive and Prime95 etc.

If it wont drop the idle voltage then its useless for me.
Ok maybe I ll check that k10stat if its easy in use and safe, but I wonder why this k10star has to do c&q's usual work...
Yes I saw that you use linux, I just asked for a wei score, if its possible. PCMark05 score? Lets compare.
  

[Krisbee]

argos,

As I have already posted:

Turbo Core Enabled  - auto - 3400Mhhz
CnQ Enabled
AMD C1E Enabled
Sytem Voltage Settings Manual
CPU Voltage 1.275 (sets B0 state voltage)

In WIn7 cpu-z, hwmonitor show all non-turbo frequencies work at 1.125V. There is no voltage change as freq changes, other than when turbo core kicks in

3400Mhz - 1.275V
3000Mhz - 1.125V
2300Mhz - 1.125V
1600Mhz - 1.125V
800MHz  - 1.125V

Once more, I have to repeat what you havent read Sad
720 has a scale 0.85-1.42V and TDP 95W. These numbers are similar to 960T's.  
1.325 is for you, for me is 1.35

The voltage scale you have quoted for the 720 is NOT the same thing as its CPU VId set.   The CPU VId set for the 960T is as I have already posted:

B0 1.475V 3400MHz
P0 1.325V 3000MHz
P1  1.325V 2300MHz
P2  1.325V 16000MHz
P3  1.325V 800MHz

What's the set for the 720? My bet is the lowest voltage in its set will be 1.15V.  

Ok maybe I ll check that k10stat if its easy in use and safe, but I wonder why this k10star has to do c&q's usual work...
Yes I saw that you use linux, I just asked for a wei score, if its possible. PCMark05 score? Lets compare.

If you had read and understood what I've written you would know exaclty why CnQ does do what you expect and ilde at a low voltage.  On my system setting the P3 state CPU Vid with k10stat can drop the idle voltage to 0.8V.  Be careful if you use it.  For a k10stat explanation go here:

http://unfusedjournal.blogspot.com/2011/02/k10stat-tutorial.html

My WEI score is  4.1  because I only use a G210 videocard, but the processor score is 7.3 and the RAM score is 7.4 .  I don't have PCMark.

[agros]

As I have already posted:

Turbo Core Enabled  - auto - 3400Mhhz
CnQ Enabled
AMD C1E Enabled
Sytem Voltage Settings Manual
CPU Voltage 1.275 (sets B0 state voltage)

We know that turbo boost enabled will always give 3.4GHz, no need to mention. Try give the useful info--> If you have c&q on, then whats its scale? cpu voltage from what to what.
You can watch the voltage variation real time with a program like Everest.
I dont want to hear again for the turbo boost, I dont use it.

The voltage scale you have quoted for the 720 is NOT the same thing as its CPU VId set.   The CPU VId set for the 960T is as I have already posted:........  

What is "vld set"? I just wrote the specs as official amd gives them. The numbers of 960T are 0.825-1.475, as you wrote them yourself in the other thread. As you see, the low limit is similar.

If you had read and understood what I've written you would know exaclty why......................  

Its funny to accuse me all the time that "I havent read and understood what you've written" while I showed you so many times that its you who dont read and dont understand what I m talking about. Just see this post, or the next quote-->

My WEI score is  4.1  because I only use a G210 videocard, but the processor score is 7.3 and the RAM score is 7.4 .  I don't have PCMark.

I said the cpu wei score. Btw, I have cpu 7.3(7.4 with easy o/c to 3.7GHz)  ram 7.4 (we have same cpu and ram) vga 6.8 and hd 7.6. Funny thing is that with 720(wei 6.8 ) I had 7.5 for ram and 7.8 for hd! I cant understand why.
You can install pcmark05 but keep in mind that cpu score will depend also on card.

...you would know exaclty why CnQ does do what you expect and ilde at a low voltage.  On my system setting the P3 state CPU Vid with k10stat can drop the idle voltage to 0.8V

If this k10stat can drop to 0.8V when idle, thats good. And how much will  immidiately get it when full load?
C&q can only drop to 1.3V for me, as I told you several times.

[Krisbee]

its funny to accuse me all the time that "I havent read and understood what you've written" while I showed you so many times that its you who dont read and dont understand what I m talking about. Just see this post, or the next quote-->

Funny, is the right word. Because you really make me laugh argos.  I've  tried to be patient, understanding and helpful but I've had it, you're on your own.  As to understadning, why is it you can't get your system as you want and I can?  Do you actually know what a  CPU Vid is yet?

Good luck, mate.

[agros]

I was the patient one. All u did was to force me repeat same things and deny answer staight to the point and to my questions. You are unable to write whats your c&q scale, althought I asked it several times... This is the useful info, not those numbers which are well known.  
Laugh as much as you want, but first try understand what the other person says.
You really were a waste of time.

As to understadning, why is it you can't get your system as you want and I can?  

What is that which you can but I can't?!...