techPowerUp! Forums - View Single Post - My Journey

jed · Dec 11, 2012, 08:51 PM

Just got a new system built a few days ago and I'm beginning the fun and frustrating process of overclocking it to it's limits. I would be happy to get input from anyone w/ experience OCing the 8350 or 7950! Also post your stable specs, benchmarks, etc. if you'd like.

I'm going to keep a running updated 'chart' in this first post just to help keep track of progress. Benchmarking with 3d Mark 2011 on the medium mode (can't buy that stuff right now!) and using Prime95 to quick check CPU/RAM stability, usually for 5-10 mins at a time.

I am using the ATI Catalyst tool to simply OC the GPU and Memory clock settings and manually control the fan. Looking for a good program to start tweaking GPU voltages, haven't done this for a couple years. Don't remember what I used to use...

CPU is being monitored by CPU-Z, GPU by GPU-Z and system temps by HWMonitor. CPU is being tweaked in the BIOS. All "Test X" are 3dMark 2011 tests at medium mode. Other tests are specified...

Test 1 (8.9 drivers) - P6898 - G 7214 P 7417 Comb 5679

Test 2 (9.0 drivers) - P6965 - G 7103 P 6888 Comb 6173

Begin GPU OC - DEFAULT 925 / 1250 @ .950 V

Test 1 940/1270 - Max 61C
7230 - 7454 / 6932 / 6229

Test 2 965/1300 - 62C
7353 - 7631 / 6927 / 6230

Test 3 990/1325 - 62C
7488 - 7824 / 6924 / 6244

Test 4 1010/1350 - 63C
7598 - 7987 / 6916 / 6245

Test 5 1075/1375 - 63
7716 - 8155 / 6924 / 6263

Test ATI Tool - 3:30 sec, stable 56C w/ manual 80% fan

Test GPU Tool - stabilized ~62 C w/ 80% fan

Test 6 1100/1400 - 64C
7874 - 8489 / 6736 / 6107

Test 7 - 1110/1410
Screen lockup or monitor shutoff

Assuming gonna have to start tweaking volts now. Pretty good boost without doing it yet...

Default CPU/RAM:
Clock ratio: 4000MHz
Multiplyer: 20
Clock: 200
Mem Clock: 6.66
Memory: 1333
NB: 2200
CPB (boost) Ratio: 4200
HT: 2600

Ran Prime95 - Stable @ 53 C for 20 minutes. Small FFTs

BEGIN CPU OC

Test 8 - 1095/1395 w/ 20x205=4100MHz, 1366 RAM
8032 - 8597 / 7024 / 6288

CPU Test 1 : x20 x 205, 1366 RAM, Prime95 5 min @ 48 degrees

Test 9 - 20x210=4200MHz, 1399 RAM
8062 - 8597 / 7078 / 6409

Test 10 - 20x220=4400MHz, 1466
8138 - 8580 / 7385 / 6603

Test 11 - 220x227=4540 MHz, 1512
3dMark BSOD at last test, code 124 (voltage)

Test 12 - Same as above, increased voltage from 1.425 to 1.4375
8189 - 8563 / 7585 / 6779

Test 13 - 20x232 = 4640 (CPUz reads 4800) - 1546 RAM, 1.4625 V
8220 - 8541 / 7712 /6955

CPU Test 2 : x20 x 232, 1546 RAM, Prime95 5 min @ ~58 degrees, max 61

CPU Test 3: x20 x 232, 1546 RAM, Prime95 Blend started at 3AM
Blend ended 12 PM. Monitor unresponsive - showed only black screen with mouse pointer that didn't move. Forced reboot.
Errors that are shown in results file upon reboot:

[Tue Dec 11 03:04:51 2012]
FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.484375, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
FATAL ERROR: Resulting sum was 6.900125323877905e+018, expected: 6.900125323877972e+018
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.4992675781, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
[Tue Dec 11 03:11:53 2012]
FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
FATAL ERROR: Final result was 00000000, expected: 50F74AF0.
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.

CPU Test 4: same clocks, Started at 12:30 PM, instant BSOD. Codes: 101, 019, 000, 04, FFFFF880009B3180. Tweak CPU voltage...

CPU Test 5: reverted back to 20x227, 1512, p95 5 min @ 55 degrees... 1 error on worker #8.
Error is shown:
FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file."

CPU Test 6: 22x205, 1.425, 1366 RAM. x9 HT and x10 NB. Prime95 5 min - 0 errors

CPU Test 7: 23x200, 1.450, 1333 RAM. Same HT/NB. Prime95 hits 5 min @ 53 C - 0 errors

CPU Test 8: 23.5x200, 1.45, 1333. Prime95 hits 5 min @ 53 C. 1 error, 100 warnings...
Errors read:
FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT
Possible hardware failure, consult readme.txt file, restarting test. (repeat this error 100 times)

CPU Test 9: Same clocks/freqs... Prime95 hits 5 min @ 54, still running. Max temp 62C. One error on thread four, test stopped after 4 tests. One error on thread 7, stopped after 24 tests.
Errors read:
FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.4975585938, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.4985351563, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.

Add .020 DRAM Volts

CPU Test 10: 23.5x200, 1.45 V, 1333, DRAM @ 1.520 V - Prime95 hits 5 min @ 52C, no errors. 4 successful runs.

Going to begin some BF3 @ 7:30 see how these clocks hold. Going on 40 minutes with 54 Max CPU temp and 59 max GPU temp.

Ran BF3 for 2.5 hours on all ultra, highest temps 57 CPU, 60 GPU.

CPU Test 11: Same clocks. Prime95 Started at 10:07, running until 12:50. Two errors in core 4 and five, same errors as usual.
Errors read:
FATAL ERROR: Final result was 00000000, expected: E91EEB5A.
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
[Tue Dec 11 22:18:49 2012]
FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.4924316406, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.

Let PC sit overnight w/ monitor shut off. Turn monitor back on and "NO SIGNAL" error w/ black screen. PC components running fine inside of my case... Have to force reboot. GPU OC settings were disabled overnight. Went into monitor options and disabled DDC/CI for troubleshoot #1.

ADD 12.11 BETA DRIVERS

Test 14: 1095/1395, CPU @ 23.5x200 (4700), 1.45v, 1333 RAM @ 1.520v
8696 - 9718 / 7151 / 5938

Beta drivers added huge increase to graphics score. From 8541 to 9718... Now I need to figure out why my CPU scores are bringing it down, and scoring even lower than my lower clocks from before!!

Revert to lower CPU clocks but higher RAM freq...

* Test 15: 1095/1395, CPU @ 20x232, 1.4625v. 1546 RAM @ 1.51v...
8965 - 9671 / 7860 / 6708 - best test yet by far.

Only way I'm getting RAM to OC is to raise the FSB Freq and lower the multiplyer (to be able to stay around 4.7 Ghz). The only way the RAM boots successfully is by sticking to the default multiplyer (6.66) and upping the FSB freq.

CPU Test 12: Starting Prime95 at 1:05 AM. Clocks are 20x232 @ 1.4625v and 1546 RAm @ 1.51v. Ran BF3 for about 3 hours with no issues prior to. 3 cores already shit out after about 10 minutes... Same old BS errors. Test stopped at 1:22 AM... Temp got up to 65 as well which isn't chilly by any means.

CPU Test 13: Have the CPU at stock clocks/settings as well as RAM. Going to reboot the OC process. No trouble running games, etc. with previous clocks but terrible stability with prime. Prime started around 11:00 and still running good at 3:30 AM. Shutting down prime error-free at 12:30 PM. Highest CPU temp was 51 C over a 13.5 hour stretch.

CPU Test 14: 21x200 (4200), 1.36v. P95 Blend - 12:35 to 1:35 PM max temp 47C. Intel BT on High - 5 passes, max 46 C/61.5W. Intel Burn 10 passes at Very High - 47 C, 62.2 W.

CPU Test 15: 21.5x200 (4300), 1.36v. Intel BT on Very High: 10 passes 2432 seconds, 44 C/ 62.6 W.

CPU Test 16: 22x200 (4400), 1.36v. Intel BT on VHigh: Instant BSOD. Error 4A.

Add volts from 1.3625 to 1.3875

CPU Test 17: 22x200 (4400), 1.3875v. Intel BT on VHigh: BSOD after a couple passes, error 1e: "ADD MORE VCORE" according to the BSOD thread.

Increase volts.

CPU Test 18: 22x200 (4400), 1.425v. Intel BT on VHigh: 10 passes, max 50 C, 62.1 W, 2402 seconds.

CPU Test 19: 22.5x200 (4500), 1.425v. Intel BT on VHigh: 10 passes, max 54 C, 62.1 W, 2433 seconds. P95 40 FFT tests for 1 hour: 0 errors, max 54 C, 60.8w.

CPU Test 20: 23x200 (4600), 1.425v. IBT on VHigh: 3 passes, code B3 BSOD. "Add vcore".

Add V-Core - 1.425 to 1.4375

CPU Test 21: 23x200 (4600), 1.4375v. IBT on VHigh: 3 passes in 717 seconds, auto shutoff. 3.07, 3.07, 3.94. 50 C, 61.4 W.

Increase V-Core 1.4375 to 1.4625

Game Test: GPU OC'd and CPU = 23x200, 1.4625v. Ran BF3 for about 1 hour. Max 55 C CPU, 60 C GPU.

CPU Test 22: 23x200 (4600), 1.4625v. IBT on VHigh: Failed after 6 passes. 3.07 to 1.61. 56c/62.2w.

Add volts - 1.4625 to 1.4875

CPU Test 23: 23x200 (4600), 1.4875v. IBT on VH: 10 passes, 2375 seconds, 63C. P95 Blend: Ran from 2:00AM to 12:30 PM - high 65 C. Core 5 1 error after 26 tests. Core 4 stopped after 399 tests. Core 4 made it until 10 minutes before I ended...

Game Test 2: Ran Far Cry 3 on all Ultra, 2x AA for literally 6 straight hours. No issues. High temps were: 63 CPU, 71 GPU.

System Name:	REAPER
Processor:	AMD FX-8350 x8 @ 4.64 GHz (20x232, 1.4625v)
Motherboard:	Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
Cooling:	Corsair Liquid H60. 2 front in, 1 side in (CPU), 2 rear out.
Memory:	G.Skill Sniper 2x4 GB DDR3 1333 @ 1546
Video Card:	Sapphire HD 7950 3GB @ 1095/1395
Hard Disk:	Western Digital 1TB
Optical Drive:	Asus DVD R/W
CRT/LCD Model:	Acer H223H 22.5"
Case:	Antec 300 Black Steel
Sound Card:	N/A
PSU:	Antec 700W
Software:	Windows 7 Pro x64
Benchmarks:	3dMark 2011 - 8965 15210 3dMark06 (old system)

Dec 11, 2012, 08:51 PM	#1
jed Join Date: May 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 226 (0.31/day) Thanks: 125 Thanked 42 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	My Journey - Overclocking My 8350 and 7950. Just got a new system built a few days ago and I'm beginning the fun and frustrating process of overclocking it to it's limits. I would be happy to get input from anyone w/ experience OCing the 8350 or 7950! Also post your stable specs, benchmarks, etc. if you'd like. I'm going to keep a running updated 'chart' in this first post just to help keep track of progress. Benchmarking with 3d Mark 2011 on the medium mode (can't buy that stuff right now!) and using Prime95 to quick check CPU/RAM stability, usually for 5-10 mins at a time. I am using the ATI Catalyst tool to simply OC the GPU and Memory clock settings and manually control the fan. Looking for a good program to start tweaking GPU voltages, haven't done this for a couple years. Don't remember what I used to use... CPU is being monitored by CPU-Z, GPU by GPU-Z and system temps by HWMonitor. CPU is being tweaked in the BIOS. All "Test X" are 3dMark 2011 tests at medium mode. Other tests are specified... Test 1 (8.9 drivers) - P6898 - G 7214 P 7417 Comb 5679 Test 2 (9.0 drivers) - P6965 - G 7103 P 6888 Comb 6173 Begin GPU OC - DEFAULT 925 / 1250 @ .950 V Test 1 940/1270 - Max 61C 7230 - 7454 / 6932 / 6229 Test 2 965/1300 - 62C 7353 - 7631 / 6927 / 6230 Test 3 990/1325 - 62C 7488 - 7824 / 6924 / 6244 Test 4 1010/1350 - 63C 7598 - 7987 / 6916 / 6245 Test 5 1075/1375 - 63 7716 - 8155 / 6924 / 6263 Test ATI Tool - 3:30 sec, stable 56C w/ manual 80% fan Test GPU Tool - stabilized ~62 C w/ 80% fan Test 6 1100/1400 - 64C 7874 - 8489 / 6736 / 6107 Test 7 - 1110/1410 Screen lockup or monitor shutoff Assuming gonna have to start tweaking volts now. Pretty good boost without doing it yet... Default CPU/RAM: Clock ratio: 4000MHz Multiplyer: 20 Clock: 200 Mem Clock: 6.66 Memory: 1333 NB: 2200 CPB (boost) Ratio: 4200 HT: 2600 Ran Prime95 - Stable @ 53 C for 20 minutes. Small FFTs BEGIN CPU OC Test 8 - 1095/1395 w/ 20x205=4100MHz, 1366 RAM 8032 - 8597 / 7024 / 6288 CPU Test 1 : x20 x 205, 1366 RAM, Prime95 5 min @ 48 degrees Test 9 - 20x210=4200MHz, 1399 RAM 8062 - 8597 / 7078 / 6409 Test 10 - 20x220=4400MHz, 1466 8138 - 8580 / 7385 / 6603 Test 11 - 220x227=4540 MHz, 1512 3dMark BSOD at last test, code 124 (voltage) Test 12 - Same as above, increased voltage from 1.425 to 1.4375 8189 - 8563 / 7585 / 6779 Test 13 - 20x232 = 4640 (CPUz reads 4800) - 1546 RAM, 1.4625 V 8220 - 8541 / 7712 /6955 CPU Test 2 : x20 x 232, 1546 RAM, Prime95 5 min @ ~58 degrees, max 61 CPU Test 3: x20 x 232, 1546 RAM, Prime95 Blend started at 3AM Blend ended 12 PM. Monitor unresponsive - showed only black screen with mouse pointer that didn't move. Forced reboot. Errors that are shown in results file upon reboot: [Tue Dec 11 03:04:51 2012] FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.484375, expected less than 0.4 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. FATAL ERROR: Resulting sum was 6.900125323877905e+018, expected: 6.900125323877972e+018 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.4992675781, expected less than 0.4 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. [Tue Dec 11 03:11:53 2012] FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. FATAL ERROR: Final result was 00000000, expected: 50F74AF0. Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. CPU Test 4: same clocks, Started at 12:30 PM, instant BSOD. Codes: 101, 019, 000, 04, FFFFF880009B3180. Tweak CPU voltage... CPU Test 5: reverted back to 20x227, 1512, p95 5 min @ 55 degrees... 1 error on worker #8. Error is shown: FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file." CPU Test 6: 22x205, 1.425, 1366 RAM. x9 HT and x10 NB. Prime95 5 min - 0 errors CPU Test 7: 23x200, 1.450, 1333 RAM. Same HT/NB. Prime95 hits 5 min @ 53 C - 0 errors CPU Test 8: 23.5x200, 1.45, 1333. Prime95 hits 5 min @ 53 C. 1 error, 100 warnings... Errors read: FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT Possible hardware failure, consult readme.txt file, restarting test. (repeat this error 100 times) CPU Test 9: Same clocks/freqs... Prime95 hits 5 min @ 54, still running. Max temp 62C. One error on thread four, test stopped after 4 tests. One error on thread 7, stopped after 24 tests. Errors read: FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.4975585938, expected less than 0.4 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.4985351563, expected less than 0.4 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. Add .020 DRAM Volts CPU Test 10: 23.5x200, 1.45 V, 1333, DRAM @ 1.520 V - Prime95 hits 5 min @ 52C, no errors. 4 successful runs. Going to begin some BF3 @ 7:30 see how these clocks hold. Going on 40 minutes with 54 Max CPU temp and 59 max GPU temp. Ran BF3 for 2.5 hours on all ultra, highest temps 57 CPU, 60 GPU. CPU Test 11: Same clocks. Prime95 Started at 10:07, running until 12:50. Two errors in core 4 and five, same errors as usual. Errors read: FATAL ERROR: Final result was 00000000, expected: E91EEB5A. Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. [Tue Dec 11 22:18:49 2012] FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.4924316406, expected less than 0.4 Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file. Let PC sit overnight w/ monitor shut off. Turn monitor back on and "NO SIGNAL" error w/ black screen. PC components running fine inside of my case... Have to force reboot. GPU OC settings were disabled overnight. Went into monitor options and disabled DDC/CI for troubleshoot #1. ADD 12.11 BETA DRIVERS Test 14: 1095/1395, CPU @ 23.5x200 (4700), 1.45v, 1333 RAM @ 1.520v 8696 - 9718 / 7151 / 5938 Beta drivers added huge increase to graphics score. From 8541 to 9718... Now I need to figure out why my CPU scores are bringing it down, and scoring even lower than my lower clocks from before!! Revert to lower CPU clocks but higher RAM freq... * Test 15: 1095/1395, CPU @ 20x232, 1.4625v. 1546 RAM @ 1.51v... 8965 - 9671 / 7860 / 6708 - best test yet by far. Only way I'm getting RAM to OC is to raise the FSB Freq and lower the multiplyer (to be able to stay around 4.7 Ghz). The only way the RAM boots successfully is by sticking to the default multiplyer (6.66) and upping the FSB freq. CPU Test 12: Starting Prime95 at 1:05 AM. Clocks are 20x232 @ 1.4625v and 1546 RAm @ 1.51v. Ran BF3 for about 3 hours with no issues prior to. 3 cores already shit out after about 10 minutes... Same old BS errors. Test stopped at 1:22 AM... Temp got up to 65 as well which isn't chilly by any means. CPU Test 13: Have the CPU at stock clocks/settings as well as RAM. Going to reboot the OC process. No trouble running games, etc. with previous clocks but terrible stability with prime. Prime started around 11:00 and still running good at 3:30 AM. Shutting down prime error-free at 12:30 PM. Highest CPU temp was 51 C over a 13.5 hour stretch. CPU Test 14: 21x200 (4200), 1.36v. P95 Blend - 12:35 to 1:35 PM max temp 47C. Intel BT on High - 5 passes, max 46 C/61.5W. Intel Burn 10 passes at Very High - 47 C, 62.2 W. CPU Test 15: 21.5x200 (4300), 1.36v. Intel BT on Very High: 10 passes 2432 seconds, 44 C/ 62.6 W. CPU Test 16: 22x200 (4400), 1.36v. Intel BT on VHigh: Instant BSOD. Error 4A. Add volts from 1.3625 to 1.3875 CPU Test 17: 22x200 (4400), 1.3875v. Intel BT on VHigh: BSOD after a couple passes, error 1e: "ADD MORE VCORE" according to the BSOD thread. Increase volts. CPU Test 18: 22x200 (4400), 1.425v. Intel BT on VHigh: 10 passes, max 50 C, 62.1 W, 2402 seconds. CPU Test 19: 22.5x200 (4500), 1.425v. Intel BT on VHigh: 10 passes, max 54 C, 62.1 W, 2433 seconds. P95 40 FFT tests for 1 hour: 0 errors, max 54 C, 60.8w. CPU Test 20: 23x200 (4600), 1.425v. IBT on VHigh: 3 passes, code B3 BSOD. "Add vcore". Add V-Core - 1.425 to 1.4375 CPU Test 21: 23x200 (4600), 1.4375v. IBT on VHigh: 3 passes in 717 seconds, auto shutoff. 3.07, 3.07, 3.94. 50 C, 61.4 W. Increase V-Core 1.4375 to 1.4625 Game Test: GPU OC'd and CPU = 23x200, 1.4625v. Ran BF3 for about 1 hour. Max 55 C CPU, 60 C GPU. CPU Test 22: 23x200 (4600), 1.4625v. IBT on VHigh: Failed after 6 passes. 3.07 to 1.61. 56c/62.2w. Add volts - 1.4625 to 1.4875 CPU Test 23: 23x200 (4600), 1.4875v. IBT on VH: 10 passes, 2375 seconds, 63C. P95 Blend: Ran from 2:00AM to 12:30 PM - high 65 C. Core 5 1 error after 26 tests. Core 4 stopped after 399 tests. Core 4 made it until 10 minutes before I ended... Game Test 2: Ran Far Cry 3 on all Ultra, 2x AA for literally 6 straight hours. No issues. High temps were: 63 CPU, 71 GPU. Last edited by jed; Dec 19, 2012 at 02:28 AM.