AMD Phenom X4 945 Overclocking

[bigweavy]

So, I've built half a dozen computers now but never tried to overclock my CPU. I've got it running on a ASUS M488TD-V EVO (the board supposedly has a core unlocker) and paired with a Cougar 700W PSU and Crucial 1333MHz RAM.

I've tinkered with the BIOS CPU Level Up and AMD Overdrive but I can't get a stable OC after 3.2.GHz. Any tips out there for what I can do to create a more stable OC?

 

[kiezz]

have you read this guide? http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/274820-11-black-edition-overclock-raising-multiplier-guide check here for settings and ideas on what oher people managed http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/261868-11-overclocking-club and don't use software trying to overclock its always better to use the bios,
your cpu does not have a hidden core so the unlock feature is useless to you its for a different cpu

 

[bigweavy]

It's not a black edition so simply increasing the multiplier isn't an option for me. The second link was damn useful though. I'm stress testing at 3.45GHz right now!

 

[kiezz]

ah sorry I thought it was a black edition, yeah the overclocking club thread has good info and stable settings

 

[bigweavy]

So here's where I'm at so far. I've got it to 3.375GHz still yet to be stable. CPUNB is set to 2025 and HT is comfortably at 1800. Voltage is on auto, as the Asus BIOS does a reasonably good job of managing it. RAM Freq is at 1211 and timings are on auto. The manufacturer recommended timings aren't being set automatically and I get the feeling I'm going to want to set those manually as per the SPD page on CPUz.




I'd like to be able to reach 3.4 stable. My other concern is that the temp idles at a reasonably high level and I know that the shutdown temp is 62C (You can see it idle at 56C). Stock heat sink and fan with 5 120mm case fans. Front pulling in while 1 side, 1 back, and 2 top pulling out. I've seen others get around 34C idle OC's. So what gives with mine?

http://i.imgur.com/N0yVSC4.png
http://i.imgur.com/CbyeXvk.png
http://i.imgur.com/lM7VO6L.png

 

[kiezz]

You shouldn't be overclocking on the stock heatsink, you need to get a new cooler that can handle it i would revert everything to default if your temperature at idle is 56c, its very important to set your ram timings correctly as well as this will cause instability even on a system thats not overclocked