Using un supported CPU's in mainboards, will this cause damage?

[Jamesd]

I have the mainboard GA-N680SLI-DQ6 http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2460#fq which says it doesn't support the intel E8300 duo CPU. However I fitted the E8300 duo before realising it wasn't compatable with the mainboard and it worked with no problems. The only problem was the CPU was running at 2.6 instead of the 2.8 its supposed to as stock. I raised the FSB so the CPU ran at 2.8 and the PC seems to work fine with no problems. I did notice that in the bios it says Vcore fail.

What does Vcore fail mean? I assume its because the CPU isn't supported. Is there anyway to clear the Vcore fail error? If I continue to use the E8300 chip in this mainboard will I risk damaging the mainboard or the CPU. Why does the CPU appear to work correctly even though the mainboard says its not supported? Is it ok to use the E8300 chip since it seems to work even though its not supported?

Any information would be great

Thanks

[Rolo42]

You're putting a 45nm CPU in a board that only supports 65nm CPUs; the risk is putting too much voltage on it.  Be sure you don't go over 1.3625v per your link.

There may be other issues, but that's the biggie.

[Jamesd]

Thank you for the reply. I thought this was maybe the reason the CPU was not supported but I noticed on the support list the board supports an E6300 CPU. According to intel the E6300 CPU is 45nm http://ark.intel.com/products/41493/Intel-Pentium-Processor-E6300-(2M-Cache-2_80-GHz-1066-MHz-FSB) I did also notice that the FSB speed on the E6300 is 1066 where as my E8300 is 1333 but with that said some 1333 CPU's are in the support list for my board although I think they are 65nm. Could the reason my E8300 isn't supported is because its 45nm and 1333 and the board only supports 45nm with a fsb speed of 1066? Or shouldnt that make a difference?

Is the risk putting too much voltage on the CPU or on the board? What voltage should not go over 1.3625? The CPU voltage?

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for your reply.

[Rolo42]

Your CPU max voltage (Vcore) is 1.3625v (but you shouldn't have to run that high unless you are overclocking quite a bit).

I was imprecise: a smaller die process uses less voltage; if your board were to incorrectly interpret VID from the CPU (hence the Vcore fail message), it could damage the CPU if it were to put too much voltage onto it, regardless if your board supports other 45nm CPUs.  (I don't think it does since BIOS updates only list Kentsfield.)

Additionally, there are two E6300s (what genius :/): http://ark.intel.com/products/27248/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-E6300-%282M-Cache-1_86-GHz-1066-MHz-FSB%29

I would use CPUID's Hardware Monitor, CPU-Z, and IntelBurnTest to ensure everything stays within tolerances.

[Jamesd]

Ok thanks for the reply, if I set the voltage manually in the bios to under 1.3625v will this solve the problem? Or is it still to risky to run the E8300 CPU?

Two E6300's thats handy! I'm guessing the E6300 that my board supports is the 65nm one and not the 45nm.

Should I remove the E8300 CPU and get a new one that is on the board support list? 

[Rolo42]

If it works, I see no reason to not use it.

What does it report Vcore is now?  If it is <1.3v, you can set that manually as a starting point.

 I've set my Vcore manually to overclock the C2D anyway.  See how fast you can go.

[autotech]

I used a gigabyte board that didnt support my processor the one i used was 125watt and it only supported 95 watt that was 2 years ago now that board is in a friends computer with that 125 watt processor and still running strong. Just make sure your setting are right and hope you have the same luck my friend is still having with his.

[Jamesd]

If it works, I see no reason to not use it.

What does it report Vcore is now?  If it is <1.3v, you can set that manually as a starting point.

 I've set my Vcore manually to overclock the C2D anyway.  See how fast you can go.

The bios reports that the Vcore is 0.83 and still says fail, but when I am in windows and using a hardware monitor (cpuid) program it reports the Vcore as 1.14. I tried setting the vcore in the bios to 1.2 and the PC would not post so I put it back onto auto and it works on auto. Im not sure why the bios says 0.83 and the monitor program says 1.14? I am not up to speed on the setting of voltages and I may have done it wrong. Could you talk me through the procedure to make sure I am doing it correctly? I would very much appreciate it if you would.

Thanks for your replys they have been very helpful.

I used a gigabyte board that didnt support my processor the one i used was 125watt and it only supported 95 watt that was 2 years ago now that board is in a friends computer with that 125 watt processor and still running strong. Just make sure your setting are right and hope you have the same luck my friend is still having with his.

That sounds promising I know that the board im using supports a higher watt than my CPU use's so hopefully I'll be ok. Its good to know your running an un supported CPU and have been for 2 years. It kinda puts my mind at ease a little.

[Rolo42]

Your Vcore will fluctuate as your CPU responds to varying loads, especially when power management features are enabled (SpeedStep, Halt, etc.).

For example, at idle, running one core at 1.6GHz, 0.83v (0.85v is the minimum but allow for tolerances) is fine.  When your OS fires up, your CPU will use more cores and run at its max "turbo" speed (~2.83GHz) and will require more voltage.  If it needed, say, 1.28v at load, your manual override of 1.2v won't be enough.

This is why I would leave it to [Auto] but monitor it under varying loads--especially max load with IntelBurnTest--to ensure the motherboard keeps Vcore within the E8300's specs.

[Jamesd]

Ok thanks I didn't know the vcore changes so 0.83 in the bios and 1.2 in windows is normal.

If I set the Vcore voltage to manual in the bios at either 1.2 or 1.3 then the PC wont start it reboots to the bios splash screen and freezes. After that I have to use the clear cmos jumper to rest the bios and get the computer to start. In the bios it says if the voltages are set to auto it may increase the voltage to overclock but if I set the voltages to manual but leave them at normal it doesn't display this warning. Would I be better to leave the voltage settings on manual and normal? Is the Vcore range the VID voltage range listed on the intel website? http://ark.intel.com/products/35070/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-E8300-(6M-Cache-2_83-GHz-1333-MHz-FSB)

If I run the intelburn program and the board does increase the vcore to more than the CPU can handle will this damage either the board or CPU? The name is rather off putting hahaha it makes me think of my CPU catching fire because its not supported in my main board.

Sorry for all the questions and thank you for your replies they have been great.

[autotech]

I would leave it on auto it is doing just fine. One your chip isnt supported so when in bios it is probably just reported wrong. When you are in windows using cpuz it is reporting what it is really at so your all good there.

I have my old one overclocked to 3.4 from 3.0 and set on auto only thing i changed besides that is to manually set timings. Think of it this way if it is running fine leave it alone. When you decide to upgrade motherboard then get one that supports it and all will be well.

Dont overthink it or you will give yourself a headache and if it does worry you just get a new motherboard. Thats why i gave mine to a friend so i didnt have to worry about it and now 2 years later hes still happy as can be with it before that he was running a pent 4 at 2.8 now he is running a quad core amd at 3.4

[Rolo42]

Just leave it on [Auto].

IntelBurnTest is a must with a new CPU, clocks, cooler, anything.  The purpose is to stress test the CPU to ensure it doesn't fault; it is better to find out now than later when you're in the middle of something and it freezes.  If Vcore goes above spec, just hit the stop button on IBT.  I think you're OK and agree with autotech in that the BIOS probably doesn't know the proper Vcore tolerances for that CPU but it seems to be reading VID OK.

[autotech]

I have never used IntelBurnTest so i cant say ant good or bad about it as i dont know zip but what i have read in the last 30 minutes. As rolo says you can hit stop at anytime id just and this is me personally keep a close eye on it when running it.  Not sure about running stress test on an unsupported cpu but my other hasnt crashed during some heavy gaming by him and i mean 5 hours a night usually so never bothered to try a burn in test on it. Besides if it aint broke dont fix it and btw if it does have bad effects be prepared for the results. One being a new motherboard . two being replacing the processor if it gets drastic. Just my two cents take it for what its worth id enjoy it and not push it if you dont have to.

[Rolo42]

IBT has found faults that prime95 hadn't while I was building/tuning systems.

Monitor your voltage and nothing bad will happen.  If IBT passes after an hour, you can be confident that you won't have any problems from the CPU running anything else.

I just wish I could find something as good as IBT for video cards; Kombustor doesn't cut it.

[Jamesd]

Thanks for the replies. Ok I have set the bios to auto voltages and have run the Intel burn program. I ran Intel burn at the standard settings and it did 10 repeats I think it took 10 minutes or so. The Vcore  voltage did not go over 1.2 in the cpu-z program or the cpuidhardware monitor program. I also ran the coretemps program and under full load at stock speeds my CPU hit 72 degrees C. Is this a bit high? I was thinking about this and I don’t actually have the stock cooler for the E8300 I am using the stock cooler for my previous CPU a 995 Pentium extreme chip 3.4 dual core which I am thinking may not be adequate for the E8300. I have been looking at getting a Scythe Mugen  cooler would this be up to the job? Would I also be able to overclock the CPU a bit with this cooler?
Since the voltage does not go over 1.2 while under full load with intel burn does that mean I should be able to continue using this E8300 chip in my board without risking damaging things? To be honest its more the board I am worried about as it is my Dads board and he wouldn’t be too impressed if I fried it as it cost him quite alot at the time.