Friday, September 12th 2008
Memory Overclocking Could Pose Risks and Limits on Nehalem
Intel's upcoming Nehalem architecture brings in a host of changes. One of the most important of them is that the processors now carry memory controllers. From what is known so far, the upcoming Nehalem processors come with official support for DDR3 800 MHz and DDR3 1066 MHz though talk is that it just could slip in DDR3 1333 MHz support on an official scale. Here's a complication: Some of the computer enthusiasts with plans of retaining their current DDR3 1800/2000/beyond may have severe problems running the memory at their rated frequencies on a Nehalem chip. They might not work on their rated frequencies at all.
The reason behind this is that Nehalem has processor and memory voltages synchronized. Fresh studies suggest that a voltage of 2.0 V can fry a Nehalem processor. It was earlier noted that this voltage limit was 1.60 V to 1.70 V. It would need extreme caution for you to set the core to run at even 1.8 V since at that voltage the processor could start degrading and finally cease to work. The conclusion is that the Nehalem platform, with its synchronized CPU and memory voltages, will be limited by the DDR3 modules ability to reach high frequencies at lower voltages. This could have implications on the kind of memory kits that come out in the near future. Manufacturers could offer high-end kits that function well within 1.6 V with the supposedly high frequencies albeit loose timings, just to keep the memory and processor operating safely.
Source:
NordicHardware
The reason behind this is that Nehalem has processor and memory voltages synchronized. Fresh studies suggest that a voltage of 2.0 V can fry a Nehalem processor. It was earlier noted that this voltage limit was 1.60 V to 1.70 V. It would need extreme caution for you to set the core to run at even 1.8 V since at that voltage the processor could start degrading and finally cease to work. The conclusion is that the Nehalem platform, with its synchronized CPU and memory voltages, will be limited by the DDR3 modules ability to reach high frequencies at lower voltages. This could have implications on the kind of memory kits that come out in the near future. Manufacturers could offer high-end kits that function well within 1.6 V with the supposedly high frequencies albeit loose timings, just to keep the memory and processor operating safely.
49 Comments on Memory Overclocking Could Pose Risks and Limits on Nehalem
as for the voltage, the IMC even at the same process with require more voltage
but really, only for them. i mean c'mon you get 6 DDR3 Sockets, and the EE series of Processors are going to kick ass eithrway, just look at some of the current EE lga775 cpus and its becomes obvious that for those who dont want to oc they can still have a crazy fast grunty beast machine, granted it'll cost more then those who want to buy up entry and mainstream and beef them to run like highend.
As far as I'm aware, Intel has never promoted overclocking with anything that isn't an EE, I might have missed something though.
The Pentium Classic OC'd like shit
The Pentium II OC'd like shit because of the External cache ram, same with early Pentium III's
The Celeron was diffrent, but lacked the umph after the P3 came out to keep up even oc'd
The P3 Coppermine was decent, but it depended largely when you bought it, you didnt get many chips that would OC very well, the best where the 600/650 and 700 the rest where jokes, some late 750's could oc to 1000mhz but don't count on it
The Willimate came @ 1.4 and couldnt go above 2.0 stably.
The Northwoods could be pushed, but not that far, a 3.0 could get around 3.6 maybe with good air, it took water or phase to get that high even most of the time.
Only for the last 3 years have Intel had anything worth OCing, and that could OC.
There ability to OC has traditionally been about even with AMD, and untill the 965 if you wanted to OC an intel you where better off getting a non intel chipset board.\
and to add to what you said, how many bought E6300's or E6600;s when core2 showed up and oc'd them past the x6800, how many think intel approved of you paying 500 for a 1000 dollar chip. They want max profits.
Long live s775/s771. Intel: Get a Nehalem Core sans mem controller onto a s775/771. Thank you.
Many motherboard manufacturers have even added presets in the BIOS for setting the memory frequency to 1333, 1600, 1866, and 2000, along with some additional settings in between these. If that's not enough you can always play with the settings manually to go even higher. If you're wondering about the overclocking bit, we refer back to our previous story saying that Nehalem handles down -120C with ease and that Bloomfield will hit frequencies quite similar to those Yorkfield is doing under extreme cold.
(good to know people:D )
f**k I'm gonna stop ranting but that's my 2 cents.
I for one can't w8 for nehalem.
If they let you overclock they want you to pay a months wages for it lol. I am surprised they let it go this far with he core 2's.