Initial overclocking attempt – checking everything is fine
Initial overclocking attempt – checking everything is fine
Hi!
As mentioned in the title, I'm attempting to overclock my PC for the first time and want to ensure it stays safe.
😀
It's an older setup:
Core 2 Quad Q9400
ASUS P5KC
4x1GB DDR2-800
ASUS Silent Knight copper cooler.
OC from 2.66 stock to 3.2
I increased my FSB from 333 to 400, while keeping the RAMs at 400, everything else on auto, including voltages. Running Prime95 for about an hour now, core temperatures sitting at around 55-60, CPU temperature 65-66.
What seems unusual is that task manager still displays stock CPU frequencies and utilization doesn't exceed 93%. CPU-Z shows the accurate frequency. (I'll add a screenshot)
So are the temperatures within normal range, and why does Task Manager behave this way? Also, how long should I run Prime95? I've read it's advised to run it for an entire day, but is that really necessary?
I think you are good.
CPU-Z should show the current multiplier.
Temperatures are good. Intel will not slow down or shut off the cpu until somewhere around 100c. to prevent damage.
With your gen cpu, there is an inter relationship between fsb and ram speed.
If I recall, when you up the fsb, you also OC the ram.
As to prime95, it uses a subset of instructions that you will not normally use.
I like OCCT or a similar tester.
When you stress test, run for long enough the get the temperatures to stabilize.
More is really not needed unless you think you are very near to the max for your chip.
As to why task manager is showing less that 100%, I can only speculate that you might have had a bit of throttling.
I think you are good.
CPU-Z should show the current multiplier.
Temperatures are good. Intel will not slow down or shut off the cpu until somewhere around 100c. to prevent damage.
With your gen cpu, there is an inter relationship between fsb and ram speed.
If I recall, when you up the fsb, you also OC the ram.
As to prime95, it uses a subset of instructions that you will not normally use.
I like OCCT or a similar tester.
When you stress test, run for long enough the get the temperatures to stabilize.
More is really not needed unless you think you are very near to the max for your chip.
As to why task manager is showing less that 100%, I can only speculate that you might have had a bit of throttling.
geofelt :
I think you are good.
CPU-Z should show the current multiplier.
Temperatures are good. Intel will not slow down or shut off the cpu until somewhere around 100c. to prevent damage.
With your gen cpu, there is an inter relationship between fsb and ram speed.
If I recall, when you up the fsb, you also OC the ram.
As to prime95, it uses a subset of instructions that you will not normally use.
I like OCCT or a similar tester.
When you stress test, run for long enough the get the temperatures to stabilize.
More is really not needed unless you think you are very near to the max for your chip.
As to why task manager is showing less that 100%, I can only speculate that you might have had a bit of throttling.
100°C? Wow, these old CPUs must be more durable than I thought.
FSB and RAM is related, yes, and upping FSB to 400 also upped the DRAM to almost 500, but I wasn't sure how these generic almost-noname modules would handle it, so then I underclocked the DRAM back to 400.
How can I check if there's any throttling and what's the reason for it?
Edit: Intel says Tmax for Q9400 is 71.5, seems pretty close, no?
If tjmax equals 71.5 for your CPU, it’s probably why the usage stays below 100%. My recommendation of 100°C aligns with current Haswell and Kaby Lake specifications. Earlier models could overheat, so throttling was likely the cause. If your stress test shows a drop in CPU-Z frequency under maximum load, that suggests throttling. Some stress test tools will note this. For optimal cooling, ensure your case gets ample fresh airflow—two 120mm front intake fans should suffice. You can verify case cooling by removing covers and using a fan to blow directly on the internal components. If this works, consider case cooling options. For a more efficient cooler, a scythe kotetsu ($35 with a 120mm fan) is worth looking into. See review: http://www.silentpcreview.com/Scythe_Kotetsu
CPU-Z displays frequency consistently at 3199, which aligns with Prime running, though the task manager seems to be causing confusion. Perhaps lowering the overclock slightly would help with temperature management.
Edit: halted Prime95 after three hours; currently using it for a few hours, temperatures have stayed under 60, so it looks like I'm in the safe zone! Thanks for the advice. 😀