Gigabyte Bios Overclocking. Need to know how to set CPU Voltage.

[jetblst]

System Model GA-880GM-UD2H
System Type x64-based PC
Processor AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 965 Processor, 3400 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. F8, 10/11/2010

Hi

New to overclocking. I have done fairly well with my setup so far, I am able to run fairly stable (1 hour of Prime 95) at 4095 (4.1) and temps right around 50-51c. However I am running into problems setting the voltage in BIOS. I can see the CPU VID Voltage and I can set it. I select F10 to save the voltage I desire, ( 1.38 volts) but then when I go to run Prime 95, the voltage reverts back to stock setting.

I am using the AMD Overclocking tool ONLY for monitoring temps cpu's etc. The one thing I must use it for is setting the voltage up one tick. Frustrating. I'd like to be able to use BIOS as recommended.

Thank you for you responses!

 

[alex2000robert]

AMD overclocking tool? You should be using a gigabyte tool, as it's the motherboard manufacturer which you need to see at time of selecting the tool to download. Now, back to the trouble, maybe the CMOS battery is unable to save data. Don't worry, it costs only a few bucks. On other side, the BIOS itself might be unable to write on the CMOS battery. There you may need a technician or rewrite the BIOS yourself. (Better let it for the technicians, you never know if you did it fine or not)

 

[jetblst]

Oh. Ok. I was under the impression that I was overclocking the CPU again, I am new. Well, what is weird here is that I can write the multiplier changes to the BIOS in other words it remembers that. If I change it, it stays in the BIOS. Just not the voltages for some reason. Any Ideas on that? Again, that only reason I was using the AMD tool was that it was allowing me to watch temps. There is probably a better way. Thanks for pointing me to the motherboard as I hadn't thought of that. AND maybe if I make changes using THAT tool it may cause the BIOS to remember my changes as well.

 

[alex2000robert]

Well the BIOS will NOT remember the changes you do with a Windows overclocking tool. And the thing of the voltages, I think that just you are setting them too much and the BIOS is protecting the system from... a "disaster".

 

[jetblst]

Hmmm. Could be alex. However I am NOT using the AMD tool to make changes. I am making them in BIOS. As it turns out, I have found some more info on this. Seems with my mobo others have done well to keep voltages below 1.5 . Another expert on the board says nothing above 1.55 ever. So I am safe not going above 1.4 .

I also learned that with a black edition Phenom it is best to find your high point with the multiplier. Another suggested to just leave the voltages on auto. The board will alter them as needed and that is best.

So going back to the drawing board I was able to use 20.0 multiplier, 202 FSB, and voltages I left alone. Using CPU-Z I saw where the voltages then went from 1.37 to 1.4(ish) on their own. This gives me 4020 or a good freq of 4.02 which serves my purposes. I was able to get an hour of Prime 95 without any problems and temps around 49 53 or so. I never got temps anywhere near 60 which is my limit even though some claim to get 75 80 with no trouble. Good for them this is as far as I go.

Thanks for you answer alex. I am going to go for a 3 hour test in the morning and call it done if it passes that.

 

[alex2000robert]

On auto is much better than manual. I OC'd my CPU to 3,8 first of all (crash) (auto settings), then to 3,7 (crash) (auto), then to 3,6 (not stable) (auto) and then to 3,5 (works like a charm) (auto) from 3 Ghz. Well I'm not either an overclocking expert but at least it works.

 

[jetblst]

Awesome. Hey, thanks for the help. Im holding strong here at 4.1. No idea why for sure, I simply did what others have suggested. Seems for this particular rig and mobo overclocking with the muliplier and maybe a uptick or two with the fsb and let voltages run on auto is the way to go.