Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 overclock Temp fears!!

[nathancarter]

Hello all,

I have read numerous posts about overclocking the Q9450 but i hope to erase any fears i have with you fine people.

I have a q9450 at 2.6GHZ

I have 8gb running at 800mhz (should be 1066) but was down-clocked as cpu couldn't handle it.

Also a Nvidia gtx 660 2gb

My temps sit at on Core temp and Realtemp

core 0 = 44
core 1 = 44
core 2 = 34
core 3 = 34

running prime 95 at full load my core look like this.

core 0 = 61-62
core 1 = 61-62
core 2 = 55-56
core 3 = 55-56

I have got a new heat sink an Alaska and my room temp is good, i have re-applied heat sink paste several time to get it perfect.

I am too frightened to overclock at the moment with these temps.. what else can i do?

I am so lost... is my ram suffering much from running at 800mhz as apposed to 1066?

 

[sunder25]

That cpu is rated for a max of 71degrees.
http://ark.intel.com/products/33923/Intel-Core2-Quad-Processor-Q9450-12M-Cache-2_66-ghz-1333-mhz-fsb
Underclocked RAM don't cry.

 

[nathancarter]

Hello sunder25,

So with these temps i shouldn't overclock? and the under clocked ram is no bother (computer is solely used for gaming)?

 

[sunder25]

I'd not bother about underclocked ram.
You can afford to OC your cores some for normal usage, nothing you do will heat them up as much as prime95.

 

[nathancarter]

Hello Sunder,

Thank you for the prompt response, i will now overclock my cpu to 3.0GHZ and my ram to 900MHZ i will reply with idle temps and also thanks for the info about prime95 i had a hunch nothing would use 100% of each core.

 

[sunder25]

Woah not so fast.
The secret to a nice overclock is small increments.
Try 2.75-2.80

 

[sunder25]

I'll wait for your results.😛

 

[nathancarter]

Hello,

Overclocked cpu to 3.0GHZ and ram is now upto 900MHZ

Idle temps are now

core 0 = 55
core 1 = 55
core 2 = 46
core 3 = 46

Im a little nervous to run prime95 is this idle temp ok? should i try to go further? or be happy with that.

 

[nathancarter]

oh.. opps i ran off and started playing around sorry 🙁

 

[sunder25]

Idle temps are quite high,
I'd take it down a peg, or check temps under normal loads.
Play a game.

 

[nathancarter]

just downloading a game to test.

Idle temp is.. still rising...

core 0 = 59
core 1 = 59
core 2 = 51
core 3 = 51

 

[sunder25]

Time to go to 2.8 😛

 

[nathancarter]

well... what a mess around..

down clocked down to 2.8GHZ and temps jumped to 130c on all cores and computer wouldn't turn on until i removed cmos battery and put cpu back to 2.6GHZ.. temps are back at 44-34c

wtf...

 

[sunder25]

Jumped to 130c?
That makes no sense lol.
Are you sure you didn't add a 0 here or there?

 

[nathancarter]

yeah i agree, i shut down went into bios changed multiplier from 375 x 8 to 350 x 8 and rebooted go to desktop and checked core temp and all cores were sitting at 130c! flashing at me!

I am confused!

 

[sunder25]

Give this a read.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/259899-29-core-overclocking-guide
It's gonna help with your efforts.

 

[nathancarter]

i recall this happening to this same cpu years ago when i went to 350 x 8 it got crazy hot.. so odd..

 

[nathancarter]

thank you mate i will go read it now

 

[sunder25]

Good luck!