Voltages Voltages!!

[Squeaker]

Whats the recommeded/minimum core voltage for a tbird 900? When I looked in the bios this was set at default which was1.82v, which in turn meant that temps were 54C idle and 59C loaded. The lowest voltage at which I can complete boot is 1.69V.
Also, I had been running one PC133 64mb dimm with one PC100 64mb dimm (presumably both at the lower speed) until I swapped the PC100 for another PC133 64mb dimm. However I had to up the ram voltage from 3.3v to 3.6v to be able to boot completely with the ram set to 133mhz, anything lower led to continual registry errors. With the ram set to 100mhz, I can boot as normal at 3.3v. Is this normal and or safe? Also, I can run both dimms individually at 133mhz, 3.3v with no problems.
My mobo is a Soltek 75-kv+. Any advide would be greatly appreciated.
Squeaker

 

[Eriksson]

Your voltages are within limits and seem normal to me. I think the default voltage for a Tbird is 1,7V, however many mobos show voltage a little higher than the default setting. Overclocking with multiple sticks of ram can be trycky, and even more so if the sticks are not identical. I/O voltage of 3.6 V is in my experience nothing to worry about even though I am not recommending it if not needed.

The only thing I find a little strange is if you cannot boot your cpu at stock speed @1,7V. How big psu are you using???

 

[AZZKICKER]

if it will run ok @ 1.75 volts then run it at that

your really hot

on the max as i am concerned

get a better cooler

a coolmaster is better than the stocklone

just dont use a thermal pad on it

scrap it off and use thermal compoud

go to radio shack and get some "heatsink compound"

 

[Squeaker]

Thanks for that. Azzkicker, I think you misunderstood me - I meant I I tried various core voltages (lowest first obviously) until I obtained stability, which came at 1.69V. Running temps at this voltage are 45C idle and 50C loaded. I don't have any specialist cooling, just a big Coolermaster, a front fan and a rear 'exhaust' fan, and my PSU is AMD approved 250w (a little low?). For the record, my system is TB900 1.69v, 128PC133 3.6V, Soltek 75-kv+ MB, Ricoh CDR, 52x CDROM, Creative Geforce2 MX DDR, Seagate Barracuda 30.6GB 7200rpm UMDA66, Soundblaster Live! Value.
Do you think my voltages and temps are OK? I think I'll try to drop the ram to 3.5v to see if that'll work now it's had a bit of a burn in. Also, would you recommend more cooling to lower temps before I try the pencil trick o/c?
Cheers, Squeaker

 

[Bobby Manus]

Yes more cooling, those temps are high enough as is, if you want a good overclock, you will need to up the voltage, and uping the voltage means uping the temps to, and I wouldnt go much higher then 50+ full load. Good luck with your o/c !!

 

[AZZKICKER]

with that 900 t bird you need more power thaan a 250 watter...trust me

get a 300 watter at least and get a good one like a Antech or something

for cooling i got a CoolMaster cooler too

first off you need to scrape the thermal pad off and use thermal paste

you can get it from Radi Shack and its called "heatsink compound" for about $1.50

ALSO i would suggestting LAPPING the cooler and the CPU core

for the core use only 600 grit WET/DRY sand paper (use it dry of corse)

my core on my T bird looks like dark chrome

then get your cooler and start with 350 grit sand paper and sand it till its FLAT then get some 600 grit and polish it till it looks like a mirror

then use your thermal compound

also on the coolmaster

by the time you get it flat you will have taken about a mm of the bottom off

bend your clip just a little so the presser is right on the core again

and last but not least put a good 60mm fan on it

i got 2 60 mm sunon (23 CFM each) hung on mine

dont ask how

but i got my T Bird 850 running 1016mhz 1.85volts

and im sitting here typing @ 95F where as before it would be around 120F

good luck my friend

let me know how it goes...............