Is it safe to increase the voltage for the AMD phenom ii x4 965?
Is it safe to increase the voltage for the AMD phenom ii x4 965?
Hi, I've been experimenting with overclocking my Phenom II X4 965 and haven't managed to exceed 19x speed. There are two voltage controls: CPU VDD at 1.485 and CPU-NB VDD which is set to auto. My idle temperatures stay around 32.5°C, but after about 15 minutes of gaming with the 19.5x multiplier, the system crashes. Thanks for any help.
If correct, this means a speed of about 3.8ghz, which is still reasonable. You can indeed raise your voltage up to 1.5, as AMD has confirmed this is safe and could improve stability during heavy use.
Regarding load, your idle temperatures are at 32.5°C. What about your maximum temperatures? Three factors can lead to crashes: insufficient voltage, excessive heat, or physical limits of the chip. Your voltage isn't at its highest, and the chip can handle up to 65°C before shutting down. Understanding these limits will clarify if you're operating near the chip's boundaries.
If I'm not wrong, this means a 3.8ghz processor which is still reasonable. You can indeed boost your voltage up to 1.5 volts, as AMD has confirmed this is safe, potentially improving stability during heavy use.
Regarding load, your idle temperatures are at 32.5°C. What about your peak temperatures? Three factors can lead to crashes:
1) insufficient voltage.
2) excessive heat.
3) physical limits of the chip (the 'silicon lottery').
Your voltage isn't at its maximum. The safe operating temperature before shutdown is 65°C. Understanding these numbers will help see if you're near the chip's boundaries.