Sandybridge maximum safe voltages

game4it70

There have been a few sandybrige chips die so far so there are concerns that there been killed by to much voltage from overclocking.

The staff at overclockers.co.uk have done some testing and been on the phone to Intel and come up with this helpful info.

This is only a guide so if your kill your cpu from overclocking be it on your own head :rolleyes:

Sandybridge maximum safe voltages

Core Voltage - Not recommended too exceed 1.38v, doing so could kill the CPU, we therefor recommend a range of 1.325-1.350v if overclocking.
Memory Voltage - Intel recommend 1.50v plus/minus 5% which means upto 1.58v is the safe recommended limit. In our testing we have found 1.65v has caused no issues.
BCLK Base Clock - This is strictly a NO, anyone using base clock overclocking could/will cause damange to CPU/Mainboard. (Set manually to 100)
PLL Voltage - Do not exceed 1.9v!!



Processor - Basically we recommend customers not to exceed 1.35v to play it safe, all our bundles are set at 1.3250v or lower, any competitors offering bundles above 4.6GHz you should be enquiring as to what voltage they are using as we believe anything over 1.38v will limit CPU lifespan and anything over 1.42v will likely kill the CPU or severely limit its lifespan.

Memory - Intel recommend 1.50v plus/minus 5% which means 1.60v is the ideal safe maximum, but we have found in our testing all 1.65v memory is fine. We have also found most new 1.65v like Corsair XMS3 will run at its rated timings with just 1.50-1.55v which is well within Intel specifications. So people upgrading to Sandybridge you can still use your old DDR3, but we do recommend you run it at 1.60v or less. We are shipping most of our bundles which feature Corsair XMS at 1.50v-1.55v at rated timings. We've also discussed with Asus and MSI regarding voltages for memory and they also confirm in their testing 1.65v caused no issues with reliability.

Base Clock - To put it simple if you value the life of your components, do not overclock using base clock!

PLL Voltage - Again do not exceed 1.9v!

Not all CPU's are as fragile as others, we have experimented upto 1.50v Vcore and 1.70v memory and had zero issues with reliability, so it seems some of fine when pushing hard.

Just to add,
It also seems that you should not use the auto overclocking features on some boards as its overvolting some settings.

Unregistered.

Too much voltage will kill any CPU though

game4it70

Unregistered. wrote: »

Too much voltage will kill any CPU though

Yeah most people know that but they dont know what Intel states as max safe voltages.
And imo there stating alot lower "max safe volts" that what people have been speculating on the net.

cherryghost

Jeez, 1.38 volts is a pretty low voltage for killing a cpu

game4it70

cherryghost wrote: »

Jeez, 1.38 volts is a pretty low voltage for killing a cpu

Yeah very and easy to use more presuming you would be safe going by the temps people are getting.
The 32mm process and other factors must make them fragile.

cian1500ww

Intel are just covering themselves, I'd say the chips will go higher without issue. It'd be pure mad of Intel to give the exact max voltages for the chips because there will always be people who will go that bit higher and subsequently blow their chip.

Solitaire

Intel didn't say what the voltage cap was, they only give a general voltage past which your mileage will vary strongly but will generally give a meaningful decrease in reliability, stability tendencies and overall chip lifespan. For 45nm it was 1.3625V so logically it will be lower still for 32nm, most likely in the neighbourhood of 1.325V. Given that pushing most 45nm chips past 1.45V was foolishness and pushing too far past 1.5V would end in dead dies I think that 1.38/1.42V respectively is sensible enough for 32nm.

Bear in mind that most enthusiasts that go heavy on the volts will have ignored the very existance of the Westmere dualies so Sandy will be their first 32nm dies and as they're used to exceeding 1.45V even on their old 45nm chips... some of them will naturally kill their new dies

Komplett-Tech: Ryan

Give it a few more weeks and im sure the crazy asains will have these hooked up to some ln2 and hitting 1.6v. But for now i'd certainly stay in the guidelines in the OP's post.