i7 950 temps+ overclock?

[Guest]

As y'all see in my sig, I have an i7 950.

My idle temps are around 40-45, is that good? Bad? 

And also, I fancy a try at overclocking but have no idea where to start. Can anybody point me in the right direction? (and is it even possible considering its not unlocked?). 

Thanks. 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Idle might be a tad bit high. What cooler are you using? My 1100T usually idles at around 30 even when overclocked. You can't overclock an i7-960 as it's a non k part. You can only overclock chips with the "k" designation in the name if they're part of the Core iX series

[Guest]

12 minutes ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Idle might be a tad bit high. What cooler are you using? My 1100T usually idles at around 30 even when overclocked. You can't overclock an i7-960 as it's a non k part. You can only overclock chips with the "k" designation in the name if they're part of the Core iX series

 

 

 

(Again), as it says in my sig, Freezer pro 7 (rev 2). Il probs reapply my thermal paste tonight and see if that helps.  

And yeah ik about the whole K thing tho I'm finding a lot of alternating info about the 950 online. (apparently its semi unlocked or something?)

[bimmerman]

I have a 950, and your idle temps look like mine. Some people have had good luck overclocking these, but my chip has been pretty stubborn.

 

These chips predate the -K suffix, and are fully overclockable by BCLK fiddling. You can't raise the multipliers above Intel's stock setting, but can adjust down if needed.

 

Your idle temps match mine (i7-950, UD3R mobo, CoolerMaster V8 air cooler). I have been tinkering with overclocking it this last week and the two links below have been invaluable.

 

http://www.techreaction.net/2010/09/07/3-step-overclocking-guide-bloomfield-and-gulftown/

 

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/overclocking-the-x58-a-practical-guide.108526/

 

Basically you first find your max stable BCLK and the voltage required (likely somewhere around 200MHz and ~1.33-1.35V), then your memory stability, then you mess with CPU voltage and multiplier.

 

The best I was able to do was 3.99 GHZ without stability issues, you may be luckier. Overclocked temps in intel burn test are in the 90+C range, prime95 in the mid-80s....but I've had the chip since 2010 and don't really feel bad if I'm degrading it now, 7 years later.

 

I recently bought a Xeon X5675 to replace the 950 with, and will be tinkering with that tonight (and upgraded to a beefier cooler).

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, bimmerman said:

I have a 950, and your idle temps look like mine. Some people have had good luck overclocking these, but my chip has been pretty stubborn.

 

These chips predate the -K suffix, and are fully overclockable by BCLK fiddling. You can't raise the multipliers above Intel's stock setting, but can adjust down if needed.

 

Your idle temps match mine (i7-950, UD3R mobo, CoolerMaster V8 air cooler). I have been tinkering with overclocking it this last week and the two links below have been invaluable.

 

http://www.techreaction.net/2010/09/07/3-step-overclocking-guide-bloomfield-and-gulftown/

 

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/overclocking-the-x58-a-practical-guide.108526/

 

Basically you first find your max stable BCLK and the voltage required (likely somewhere around 200MHz and ~1.33-1.35V), then your memory stability, then you mess with CPU voltage and multiplier.

 

The best I was able to do was 3.99 GHZ without stability issues, you may be luckier. Overclocked temps in intel burn test are in the 90+C range, prime95 in the mid-80s....but I've had the chip since 2010 and don't really feel bad if I'm degrading it now, 7 years later.

 

I recently bought a Xeon X5675 to replace the 950 with, and will be tinkering with that tonight (and upgraded to a beefier cooler).

 

I'm pretty much in the same boat with temps, it's had a nice life and seeing it die wouldn't bother me too much. 

I'm looking at the X5650s, since they can be had for around 50 EUR on eBay. Would probs also go with something like the Corsair H45/55 in that case (which is like another 50EUR over here). 

[bimmerman]

2 minutes ago, ImadKnight said:

I'm pretty much in the same boat with temps, it's had a nice life and seeing it die wouldn't bother me too much. 

I'm looking at the X5650s, since they can be had for around 50 EUR on eBay. Would probs also go with something like the Corsair H45/55 in that case (which is like another 50EUR over here). 

I'll report back tonight/tomorrow once I have the xeon up and running happily. I'm using a CM Glacer 240L on it now. I bought it to install on the i7 a couple years ago but never got around to it, so this'll be a perfect use for it.

 

The X58 Xeons are so stupid cheap. My X5675 was $60 shipped. Hopefully it works!

[Guest]

Just now, bimmerman said:

I'll report back tonight/tomorrow once I have the xeon up and running happily. I'm using a CM Glacer 240L on it now. I bought it to install on the i7 a couple years ago but never got around to it, so this'll be a perfect use for it.

 

The X58 Xeons are so stupid cheap. My X5675 was $60 shipped. Hopefully it works!

 

Good luck? The PTD on those chips is crazy these days. 

And yeah, if you could give me your personal input that would be great. 

[Intelfreak]

Lets make one thing clear. All X58 CPU can overclock and K model does not apply to X58 since they come out before intel invented K model based CPU´s. its more does your motherboard support overclock and as far i can see it does. Besides that X58 CPU´s needs good cooling if you overclock them. Cheap ass cooling is no go.

 

Lucked CPU´s just oveclock on the bus side and not multiplier while X or extreme models can overclock on bus side aswell as multiplier. I can confirm that since i have oc an I7 920 to 4.4 GHz (4.1 for dauly use) and right not i have an I7 980X overclock to 4.25 GHz for daily use and for benchmark i can take her all the way to 4.77 GHz.

 

OP im sorry to say that your cooler is not sufficiant for overclock an I7 950. As told they need good cooling. I7 950 stock is a 130 watt TDP CPU and that cooler you have is Recommended for TDP up to 115 watt with a Max. Cooling Performance of 150 watt. So with a cpu that have 130 TDP stock that cpu cooler is already near its limit so i think ilde temp at 40-45 is alright. But for overclock deffently not recommended. There you will ned a better cpu cooler.

 

https://www.arctic.ac/eu_en/freezer-7-pro-rev-2.html

 

To give you and idea of what cooling you need, i can tell you what coolers i am using.

For my dear old and now parted I7 920 a thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme with artic silver 5 thermal paste and two high RPM/presure 120 MM fans (silverstone FM 121).

For my current I7 980X i use a noctua NH-D14 with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Thermal Paste and replaced the two stock fans with 3 x high RPM/presure 120 MM fans (silverstone FM 121).

I will recommended a Noctua NH-U9B SE2 or something with the same or better performence.

 

These where the settings for 4 GHz i used on my I7 920 but remember no cpu overclock the same so your cpu might need more or less voltage for the same overclock. Bios is on a Asus X58 motherboard by the way so it may differ from gigabyte´s bios.

 

 

Used this guide back then i started oc my I7 920 cpu and you shut cut use it two. Just take in the counter for that your cpu has a few ekstra multiplier that will increase clock speed even more for every time you increase bus speed.

 

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/rmp_i7_920_overclocking

 

As a last thing a few screenshots of my system with I7 920 and my current I7 980X just to prove that lucked aswell as unlocked X58 cpu can overclock.

 

and my I7 980X first ass it runs for daily use and then the max oc i got out of it.

 

This shut hoppefully guide you in the right way. But a better cpu cooler is needed if you want to oc that I7 950 to where its really fun like 4 GHz+.

[Guest]

@Intelfreak

thanks for the great (and seemingly very thorough) info. Looks like Il be shopping for a new cooler then . (Il probs get a liquid cooler (CPU only) just to keep noise to a minimum). 

I should probs also mention that I (stupidly) turned down an offer to buy a x5650 for around 45EUR

Edit: scratch the whole liquid cooler idea. Il be smart and get something like the EVO hyper 212. 

[Intelfreak]

28 minutes ago, ImadKnight said:

@Intelfreak

thanks for the great (and seemingly very thorough) info. Looks like Il be shopping for a new cooler then . (Il probs get a liquid cooler (CPU only) just to keep noise to a minimum). 

I should probs also mention that I (stupidly) turned down an offer to buy a x5650 for around 45EUR

Edit: scratch the whole liquid cooler idea. Il be smart and get something like the EVO hyper 212. 

 

Yes a new cooler is a good start. Aw that was else a great deal with that Xeon and 6 cores nice.

 

About Evo hyper 212. Its better with a rated max TDP of 180 watt, but i will say you need something that can handle up to 200 watt like Arctic Cooling Freezer 13. These old chips does run hot when oc if not properly cooled.

 

https://www.arctic.ac/eu_en/freezer-13.html