Overclocking Phenom II 720; How many volts are too much

[tgengler4]

I'm relatively new to overclocking. I have my phenom II 720 stable to 3.6 at 1.475v. I would like to push it further, but I am not sure how much is too much when it comes to voltage. I have had it up to 3.7 and 1.5v, but gets unstable after about an hour of prime95, my temps stay around 38 on air. I know that as the volts are increased my cpu life can be decreased. Is it the heat or the volts that decrease the cpu life? If it is the volts, how high can I push it before I seriously cut the life span?

[GodlyManDude540]

I wouldnt push the voltage past what it is out now and both the heat and the voltage will effect your Cpu life. Have you tried to take it up higher without raising your vcore?

[potatochobit]

1.475 is already past the redline

if you plan to run 1.5 just understand that the risk the CPU could fail in the future might actually happen

most people who overclock this high understand that there is no longer any warranty or guarantees

of course, it probably wont blaze into a fireball tomorrow at dinner time

increasing the voltage beyond the limits can damage the CPU internals, not just excessive heat

 

mine is clocked at 1.425 at 3.5

I belive AMD says the max voltage is 1.45

Edited January 17, 2010 by potatochobit

[tgengler4]

I tried 3.7 at 1.45 and after about an hour of prime95 my system would spontaneously reboot.

[tgengler4]

I wouldnt push the voltage past what it is out now and both the heat and the voltage will effect your Cpu life. Have you tried to take it up higher without raising your vcore?

I realize the life will be reduced, but I am trying to find out how much. Are we talking it will only last me 3 years instead of 6, or is more dramatic, like 6 months?

[GodlyManDude540]

It depends on the cpu really. There is no specific time period my old amd 6000x2 has been running at 3.5Ghz with a 1.4 vcore for 2 years now and its on 24/7 Have you ran anything like memtest?

[ocre]

Its really tough to speak on this as there is no data or studies to lean on. Tell you the truth, i dont know anyone who has had to replace a cpu early because of a shortened life after running a stable OC. Its only common since that the life be shorter on cpu's that are pushed to higher volts. But OCing on air seems pretty safe to say the least.

 

If there is anyone here that has replaced a CPU that went out from a stable OC (on air) then speak up. Many motherboards go out and sometimes take the CPU with it. I want to hear of anyone who had OC stable and their cpu went out early and they could drop in a new CPU to keep going. I think it is possible but still waiting on someone to have it happen.

 

Someone brought me a phenom 2 720 on a hummer motherboard that was rebooting every so often. Turne out it was the motherboard shutting the sytem down from cpu temps being over 70c. This motherboard was overclocked with some settings on auto in the bois to like 3200mhz (a mild 400mhz OC). The auto setting had screwed up and was running the CPU at 1.7v, way way way to high. The customer said it has be acting up for 3 months and he had OCed it the day he got it and never touched it again. I fixed the volts and he still has it today (since mar 09) and its running fine at the same 3200mhz that he decided was as high as he wanted to go.

 

He is probably very lucky. We dont know how long phenom 2s will last they are still new and seem to hold up well with OCing. They say the average life expectancy is 3yrs on a cpu, but i have yet to replace on in a system that has had its CPU go out by itself. Most CPUs i have had to replace went when there was a PSU/ motherboard/ other catastrophe that took out the cpu too. The others are from upgrades when the cpu is still fine.

 

This doesnt mean i am saying you'll never see your cpu burn up from OCing. Logically it makes since it will shorten life cycles. I am just telling you what i have seen. I work on mostly computer newbies rigs. But i have OCed nearly every system i have owned and i do know a lot of enthusiast who all OC too. I am still waiting on someone to finally come forth....

[tkrow21]

I tried 3.7 at 1.45 and after about an hour of prime95 my system would spontaneously reboot.

 

What were your temps?

 

High temperatures recognized by the motherboard will restart the pc.

[tgengler4]

What were your temps?

 

High temperatures recognized by the motherboard will restart the pc.

 

The CPU was only running 40. However, on CPUID Hardware Monitor it shows my System2 temp as 80. I have not been able to figure out what System2 measures. Could this be the problem?

[tgengler4]

Its really tough to speak on this as there is no data or studies to lean on. Tell you the truth, i dont know anyone who has had to replace a cpu early because of a shortened life after running a stable OC. Its only common since that the life be shorter on cpu's that are pushed to higher volts. But OCing on air seems pretty safe to say the least.

 

If there is anyone here that has replaced a CPU that went out from a stable OC (on air) then speak up. Many motherboards go out and sometimes take the CPU with it. I want to hear of anyone who had OC stable and their cpu went out early and they could drop in a new CPU to keep going. I think it is possible but still waiting on someone to have it happen.

 

Someone brought me a phenom 2 720 on a hummer motherboard that was rebooting every so often. Turne out it was the motherboard shutting the sytem down from cpu temps being over 70c. This motherboard was overclocked with some settings on auto in the bois to like 3200mhz (a mild 400mhz OC). The auto setting had screwed up and was running the CPU at 1.7v, way way way to high. The customer said it has be acting up for 3 months and he had OCed it the day he got it and never touched it again. I fixed the volts and he still has it today (since mar 09) and its running fine at the same 3200mhz that he decided was as high as he wanted to go.

 

He is probably very lucky. We dont know how long phenom 2s will last they are still new and seem to hold up well with OCing. They say the average life expectancy is 3yrs on a cpu, but i have yet to replace on in a system that has had its CPU go out by itself. Most CPUs i have had to replace went when there was a PSU/ motherboard/ other catastrophe that took out the cpu too. The others are from upgrades when the cpu is still fine.

 

This doesnt mean i am saying you'll never see your cpu burn up from OCing. Logically it makes since it will shorten life cycles. I am just telling you what i have seen. I work on mostly computer newbies rigs. But i have OCed nearly every system i have owned and i do know a lot of enthusiast who all OC too. I am still waiting on someone to finally come forth....

 

I haven't tried over 1.5v, but I am trying to see if I could run higher, say 1.7v, to get a stable OC at 3.8. I think I would give up a year of CPU life to run stable at 3.8 as opposed to 3.6

[slick2500]

1.7 what are you using DICE/LN2 to cool it? Unless your using extreme cooling going that high is kinda risky.

[_TheAlexO]

do not run it at 1.7... 1.55 is the highest i would go. thats even pushing it. theres just no reason for it. it probably wouldnt be stable anyways unless your using extreme cooling