The trek to 3.8 Ghz+ on E8400

[Madpistol]

Just wanted to let you guys know that I've started overclocking my fiance's new E8400. My goal is 3.8Ghz and hopefully higher. I'm hoping to keep it under 50 C on full load if possible.

So far the results look very promising. I'm at 3.45 Ghz currently. Core voltage= 1.25V. CPU cooler is a Zalman CNPS9700 LED.

Memory is 2x2GB Patriot 1066mhz memory. The timings are 4-4-4-12-2T and Mem voltage=2.0V

I'm using Orthos CPU/memory blend to test stability, and so far, nothing has changed since I started. The highest temperature I've gotten so far is 44 C. All the voltages, memory timings, etc. are all the same as when I started. This processor has been incredible so far.

I'll keep you guys posted. I'm about to up the CPU to 3.5Ghz, so we'll see if I have to up the voltages, loosen the timings, etc.

[Madpistol]

Up to 3.6Ghz now. Amazingly enough, the settings are still exactly the same!

Opening up the case shows that the northbridge is pretty warm to the touch, but the HD4870 is still by far the hottest thing in this case.

Max temperature on the CPU is still 44C.
Memory is at 800Mhz 4-4-4-12 2T 2.0V
CPU is at 3.6Ghz, 1.25 Vcore (9x400mhz)

I'm starting to really love this CPU!

I wish my E6600 could do this...

[Madpistol]

I'm now at 3.7Ghz

On first restart, it crashed before it fully booted to desktop, so I loosened the timings to 5-5-5-15 2T. The system booted, and I'm now testing it for stability at 3.7Ghz.

Everything else is unchanged. Memory is @ 824mhz.

[Madpistol]

Are all E8400's this easy to overclock?!?!?

3.8Ghz
Vcore=1.25V
Memory=846mhz, 5-5-5-15 2T
Vmem=2.00V

Unreal! Max temperature is up to 45C now, but other than that, there has been no changes since I began early this afternoon, bar loosening the timings once.

I guess that means I'm not stopping yet. 3.8Ghz @ 45C is well below where I thought I was going to be. I guess I'm going for 4Ghz now.

[Madpistol]

I'm stopping at 3.9Ghz. At 4Ghz, I was able to boot to desktop each time, but I couldn't keep the system stable. I even increased the voltages on the CPU to 1.275V and memory to 2.1V. Neither was enough to keep the system stable for more than about 5 minutes.

I think 3.9Ghz @ 1.25 Vcore and Memory at 868mhz @ 2.0V is pretty dang solid though. I'm impressed that the system was able to get this high on such low voltages.

I also think that it's not the processor or the memory. I think it's the motherboard (Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R). The northbridge is passively cooled, and it felt fairly hot to the touch when I had the system @ 4Ghz. Granted, for a $120 motherboard, this thing is kick ass! I wish my 680i SLI would do such an overclock this effortlessly.

I think that's it. Anyone have any suggestions as to what to do now? I want to fine tune it by tightening the timings one by one and pulling down the voltages little by little. Any other suggestions?

[Eliminator]

maybe get a better cooler and crank the voltage to 1.4-1.5V... im thinking at least 4.5ghz is doable

[Madpistol]

Originally Posted by Eliminator

maybe get a better cooler and crank the voltage to 1.4-1.5V... im thinking at least 4.5ghz is doable

If you're talking about the CPU cooler, that's not the problem. The highest temperature I got from 3.9Ghz is 47C. That's not much higher than where my E6600 idles at 3.6Ghz. Temperature is not the problem here. I think the board may be the culprit, but I'm not really sure.

I'll test it more later, but as of right now, my fiance's computer is almost silent, and I think she wants to keep it that way.

[ViN86]

Originally Posted by Madpistol

Up to 3.6Ghz now. Amazingly enough, the settings are still exactly the same!

Opening up the case shows that the northbridge is pretty warm to the touch, but the HD4870 is still by far the hottest thing in this case.

Max temperature on the CPU is still 44C.
Memory is at 800Mhz 4-4-4-12 2T 2.0V
CPU is at 3.6Ghz, 1.25 Vcore (9x400mhz)

I'm starting to really love this CPU!

I wish my E6600 could do this...

pfft, that thing will do 4 easy.

only reason i dont have mine at 4 is my RAM/Mobo timings wont allow it

if you want higher OC's go with DFI. and yes, all of these E8400's OC like that haha. one reason i went with it over the Q6600.

[Retrolock]

Push that sucker to 4ghz @1.3v if necessary. I run mine at 4050mhz @1.45v (I have a bad batch) when I benchmark and it's still puttering along. I'm at 3.6ghz 24/7 @1.28v.

Check your cpuz, if it has an E0 stepping chances are it'll hit 4.5ghz with low voltage.

[Madpistol]

Ok... due to everyone pushing me to push the chip a little bit further, I'm now running the chip at 4Ghz @ 1.3V. I'm using Orthos to verify its stability right now. I've also pushed the memory to 890mhz @ 2.1V (5-5-5-15)

BTW, the chip is an E0 stepping. I assume that's a good thing for us.

EDIT: it's been running Orthos for 10 minutes now, so this looks promising.

[CaptNKILL]

Don't be afraid of a little voltage. I've been running my E6750 at 1.5v @ 3.6Ghz for around 16 months and its rock solid.

Nice! have you had to up the NB voltage at all?