I wanna know basic overclocking information. I want to know a safe overclock speed, and how to set it up using BIOS, for a Phenom II X2 555 unlocked to a Phenom II X4 B55. Can any of our OC junkies help me out here?
I'm using a MSi 770-G45 mobo.

safe OC speed is whatever the system is stable at. Unlocking the Callisto to Deneb is kinda hard. IDK how to only enable one core to get a Rana, which is more likely to be stable. On my callisto, I could get it to unlock to a stable deneb config, but the background showed artifacts. As this isn't my computer, I didn't care to OC it (it's way too powerful for a HTPC anyway). While unlocked, MTY also started ignoring my list of trips to be decoded, so it was pointless. IDK if it was a problem with the cores or the program, but I just gave up.

To unlock, you'll need to turn on Advanced Clock Calibration. If there is some form of "Hybrid" or "turbo" mode available to you, turn that on. Then, turn it to automatic, and it should unlock the extra two cores. You might play around with changing it from automatic to manual, and change the %ages from their default of -2%, but nobody knows what this actually does except make it stable, but not in most cases. Unlocking is a weird process.

As for classic overclocking, there are tutorials out there. If you have a black edition, you'll have an unlocked multiplier, and can raise/lower that from the default value to overclock just the processor, but I doubt you'll be stable at one higher than default multiplier. Instead you want to change the core frequency, which is 200 by default. Your motherboard should tell you what each BIOS thing does, so use that as a reference. To overclock my computer I have to change the frequency of the northbridge to CPU link or something like that.

What you do is steadily increase the clock speed until the system won't boot. Go ahead and set your ram to the lowest it will go for now so that the ram can't be a problem. Reset the cmos and put the clock speed slightly lower then enjoy your overclock. It's a good idea to leave it running on something intensive like mty or tripcode explorer for a few hours to test for stability. If it fails stability, then you've got to lower it more.

If you want to overvolt the processor, you can go up to a certain amount (I think 1.45 V was safe, but check other sources) and that will improve stability while decreasing the life and increasing power draw. If you go too high you will kill the processor. The RAM is tied directly to the core speed, so at 200 MHz core speed (stock speed) ddr3-1600 should run at 800 MHz DDR, or a 4:1 ratio. If you overclock to 220 MHz, the ram will run at 880 MHz, or 1760 MHz, which will probably be too much for it to handle.

Most of your OC stuff will be trial and error. Don't overvolt until you're comfortable. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Not all components are created equal.

You misunderstand me - I already have unlocked the additional cores. Thank you for all your information, it's helped me. Currently, I'm running at 3.7GHz.

Keep CPU vcore below 1.4v for 24/7 use if you plan to have your chip last a few years. 1.38v max IMO, but I tend to run a little on the safe side in volts/temps. Increasing northbridge voltage also helps OCs but again be careful how much you put into it. I think NB runs a little higher than vcore but I'm not sure as I've not had an AM3 setup to mess with.

As for what speed is actually safe, whatever you can reach at 1.38vcore with load temps below 85C should be fine. Below 80C would be a good aim just in case your ambient temps go up.

<3 thank you. I'll get to changing my volts.

Oh god I hope you weren't unlocking/OCing with your volts on auto. You could've fried something. :X

Make sure to set your RAM voltage and timings in BIOS as well. The newegg page with your RAM on it has all the info you need.

It was set on 1.29. I kept it veryy safe. Currently, I'm running it with 4 cores at 3.68GHz.

Well you can push higher if your temps allow. 1.29v isn't much, just keep below 1.4v and you're fine.

My temps are like 40C. Will my BIOS report temps accurately, since my cores are unlocked? Software temps don't tell.

The only temp tool you should ever use ever is CoreTemp. And we're talking about LOAD temps, your idle temps don't mean shit. Also even if you can only read 2 cores, its not like 1 core is going to be 40 while 1 is 80, that can't happen, they're all right next to each other. The most you'll get is a 5c difference which is nothing.

CoreTemp reads 0c. My BIOS reads 43C. I'm clocking at 3.9GHz with about 1.37V.

How does CoreTemp read 0C? BIOS can't read load temps since you can't load while in BIOS.

I guess you could try RealTemp or SpeedFan.

I think it can't read it because it's not really a Phenom II X4 55 BE - it's a Phenom II X2 555 with unlocked cores.
EDIT:
Yeah, nothing reads the temps. All report 0C.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Apr 5 2010, 5:44 pm by BiOAtK.

In that case I don't think you have an accurate way to measure your load temps. Which really sucks.

Yeah ): Well, I'll live. How high do you think my temps would go under load?

They're probably about 70C or under, probably high 60s, so no big deal. If you can get 4GHz with low enough voltage, I'd say take it and keep it there.

Also if you're not load testing, you have no idea if your OC is stable. Grab Prime95 or Linpack and test.

My unlocked processor doesn't detect core temps either. However, the high temp1 (IDK where that is) was around 80 C under heavy load, while unlocked, and 70 while locked. It was also about 10C hotter than the core temp.

set the bios to have a warning alarm/shut down at like 80C and run it for a while. if it shuts down/warns you, you're over 80 c.

My OC appears to be stable at 3.7GHz. And rockz, how can I configure my BIOS to do that?

search around the bios options/the manual. Almost all bioses have a setting for monitoring temps.

I looked at everything. There's no way to monitor temperatures.