My OC ability is dropping... help!

[d34dly]

check my sig for specs... but when I first built my system about 6 months ago, I was able to OC my 2.8C to 3.4 stock everything.

I lapped it and applied the proper amount of AS5. This was about 2 months after first getting the system pu together. So I hit ~3.5 stock after that.

Now my OC ability is dropping. I had a restart about a month ago so I knocked it down to 3.4. I figured it was because I was in the HOT dorm room I had just moved into. But it just kept getting worse.

Now I can hardly OC at all. Yes I know I need some non-stock cooling, but I should be able to OC a little. Any ideas?

 

[GuitarWizzard]

maybe your power supply isnt able to hold its rails anymore.

 

[angrybusdriver]

Or maybe it wasn't stable to begin with. Did you test it with Prime95? How long?

 

[d34dly]

Originally posted by angrybusdriver
Or maybe it wasn't stable to begin with. Did you test it with Prime95? How long?

Yeah I ran Prime95 for a good ~20 hours.

Any good way to test a power supply for stability?

 

[rogue_jedi]

check the rails under load and idle. your problem may be your psu overheating, as psu's work worse with high heat (there was a thread a while ago which mentioned this)

 

[d34dly]

Originally posted by rogue_jedi
check the rails under load and idle. your problem may be your psu overheating, as psu's work worse with high heat (there was a thread a while ago which mentioned this)

Yeah a n00bish question... but how do I check the rails?

 

[computerpro3]

download motherboard monitor 5 (mbm5) and it will have a voltage monitoring panel along with temp monitors, and other things like that.

 

[d34dly]

I use CPU-Z and the voltage varies a little... how much varation is bad? Like how much should it fluctuate. I have been looking into getting a power conditioner because I am in an old building and the wiring is kind of old.

 

[doh-nut]

id also like to know. ive never really paid any attention to the 'rails', so far ive heard that we should 'check' them, but no one has explained how to check them. im using a generic PS right now, and id like to know if its hindering my northwood overclock.

 

[codeflux]

i've experienced this as well - 2.8 @ 3.5 at first, then had to clock it down to 3.4, and now only running at 3.3 stable. it's not my PSU - Enermax 550W can handle 3 of these. i think it's due to the hardware getting old... or frying slowly. or some other shit like that... time for an upgrade, anyway.

 

[lorcani]

^

Thats the best logic I've heard all day

 

[doh-nut]

Originally posted by lorcani
^

Thats the best logic I've heard all day

i cant tell if you are being sarcastic or not. my 2.53b proc used to run at 3100 easy. this was in november of 2002. nowadays it won't go above 2850 regardless of what i do. is processor degradation more of an intel thing? or will it happen to everyones barton eventually

 

[CSx-2011]

electromigration is real. thats why I am cautious with voltage and more importantly keeping temps as low as possible.

hang on barton!!! (its new and will be obsolete by the time it dies anyway. go moores law)

 

[d34dly]

The thing is my temps have been fine. I usually never went above 44C even at full load. It would idle at 28C.

 

[CSx-2011]

How much had you raised the voltage?

Keep in mind you are dealing with microscopic electricity pipes that can "leak" if overstressed.

 

[d34dly]

Originally posted by CSx-2011
How much had you raised the voltage?

Keep in mind you are dealing with microscopic electricity pipes that can "leak" if overstressed.

I didn't raise the voltages at all... that's the thing.

 

[Roach]

Sounds like the temps outside are getting higher so everyone is losing their winter overclock.

I wouldn't be to concerned.