x99 5960x Overclocking Question

[tyga909]

Hi to all

My first post here. I have a question about overclocking. So I overclocked my 5960x to 4.0Ghz using XMP 3000Mhz settings with BCLK and CPU strap at 125, CPU core offset of .11, Cache V offset at .05, Sys V offset at .22 and Dram V at 1.35 as per specification. So upon learning that its near impossible trying to run my RAM at 3K, i bumped it down to 2750 which was the next best thing and stability achieved with the tweaking mentioned above. I did stress tests using SuperPi(Quick), OCCT and OCCT LinPack - stable for 1.5 hrs.

Then when I got to overclocking my CPU, got it bumped upto 3.8Ghz with only CPU core offset but at 4Ghz I had to bump the cache voltage up too, I just thought I should because the stock cache V was a specific amount below the stock CPU V, so to match that difference I bumped it up - result stable. My idle temps of all cores come down to 34C average and 42C for the package. Also, I am using the balanced power option setting for my PC for low V at idle and whatever is required when under load.

Now, I heard this thing about reaching the 'Sweet Spot' V when overclocking that helps keep temps and everything optimum, I have referred to overclocking charts with voltages and temps listed, which match; so what I am trying to ask for is how do I get to know whether I have reached that sweet spot? Does increasing the voltage inevitably add more heat as should be or help me reach the coveted 'sweet spot' leading me to have lower temps? Or are the settings that I have good enough as it is?

I would really appreciate it if anyone could review the above settings and let me know if what I have done is good enough. This is my FIRST PC build and well FIRST overclocking experience. I have read extensively about all these things and have applied whatever I was able to understand. System specs in profile drop down.

Thank You

[tyga909]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the replies. I understand now what it means to be able to optimally tune an overclocked CPU and with regards to having the RAM tuned manually, its a little difficult to accept that the XMP provided is worthless. I mean why pay so much then? So, i set out to find better voltage settings. Initially, the XMP would result in 1.2V CPU CORE and 1.3V Cache. Unacceptable.

So I looked at stock cache voltage and after some research learnt that the default is 1.05V(Please correct me if I am wrong), so I set it to +.1V along with +.1V for CPU CORE, +.15V VCCSA, 1.35V DRAM, 2750Mhz, 4.0Ghz and 125 STRAP/BCLK. After comparing the temp graphs of the older and newer settings there is less difference between the max and min temps when tested. Max temp is 62C with new and was 65C with old; 40C at idle with new(High Ambient Temp)/37C at idle(Low Ambient Temp). Also, when gaming PC would hang with older settings very rarely, so I guess it was better that I redid all the settings. These can be further lowered I believe as after going through the BIOS settings posted by Arne(which was very helpful, Thank You) I saw 1.18v Cache and only +.1v VCCSA for 3200Mhz!

Also, at 125 STRAP, turbo mode can be enabled w/ multiplier at 32 but when it was below and i was testing CPU @3.75Ghz, the temps would go as high as 67C! Would anyone be knowing why that is?

Thank You

PS. Amazing setup Arne. Hope that I can build a custom water cooled setup like that one day.

[Arne_Saknussemm]

tyga909 wrote:
Hope that I can build a custom water cooled setup like that one day.

Sure you can! I started off just cooling CPU and slowly the system evolved...step by step learning along the way.

My BIOS settings might be of some use to you but as always, the voltages might not be...since your system/CPU will be different to mine. Just keep experimenting and shaving a bit of voltage off....do one thing at a time.

XMP is like a recipe to catch all possible CPU memory controllers....many times will use too much voltage sometimes too little...again this depends on your CPU...so you see often XMP is not as good as you can do it yourself if you put a bit of time in.

No joy running RAM at 100 BCLK...not using strap 125?

[tyga909]

Hi again

So I got down to messing with my PC again and well this time around, I turned XMP on, tried 100 BCLK and STRAP, memory set to 3K , VCCSA at .22(started with the max) and restart. Booted up, SuperPi but not stable. Now, this time I upped the cache voltage(everything else CPU related at auto till now) and booted up, enter windows, SuperPi, stable but bad completion time(10m12s).

Deducing that cache voltage is key(+.1), used the same settings as my last and voila. Enter windows, SuperPi, shaved off 1m9s from my last best time(9m30s), which I got using my old settings(125 STRAP). Almost the same temps and difference. Next I shall look into manual timings but only when I have a decent amount of spare time. Tighter timings can really do wonders, I saw some benchmarks set on the SuperPi board. I mean their CPUs were clocked way higher too though(5.8Ghz?!?)

Also, thanks for the confidence about my ability to build a water cooled setup. Looked into some components like pumps, reservoirs and such things. Lots of choices for customization and making a personalized build. Brands like bitspower, EKWB and alphacool seem to have some top notch stuff. Hopefully I will be ready in a few months time to start this venture.

This was a good first experience.

Thank You

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Nice one! Looks like you are getting into it!

Indeed, cache helps a lot in memory intense benchmarks...

Yeah all those brands make some good stuff and a bit of careful picking and you can easily build a top notch cooling solution