Bios Profiles:
Use them, you can save up to 8 different profiles. Use a profile naming convention that works for you. I suggest something like this:
24B333x800.5F+ (+ = stable setup, 5F => 5-5-5-15 memory timing)
26D333x888.4C? (? = bad and/or test setup and 4C = 4-4-4-12 memory timing)
I don't use the memory speed, as it is implied by the cpu frequency and the memory multiplier. My naming convention is:
494B20p9.52.5c+where:
494 = cpu host frequency
B20 = 2.0
B system memory multiplier
p9 = Static rRead Value = 9 (A=10, B=11, etc.)
52 = tRFC
5c = 5-5-4-12 primary memory timings
+ = stable config
You can't delete an existing profile, but you can replace an existing profile later with different setup and just type over the old profile name with the new name. Flashing your bios will erase all your existing profiles. Make sure that you have a hard copy for each of your test scenarios, good and bad.
From the main bios screen:
F11: Save current bios settings
F12: Load a saved bios profile
If you have any questions, holler.
Synthetic Benchmarks:
These are objective benchmarking tests that measure system performance such as cpu processing, memory bandwidth and latency. Keep in mind that if bios setup B is 5% better than bios setup A, your real world performance gains will be less than the percentage increase. On my system, I'm running with a 48% overclock, but the real world performance gains are about 20%. My benchmark tests are about 30% better than stock settings.
Homework:
Stress your system by gaming
for several hours. Ya, stress testing is a pain but someone's gotta do it. Use your system for a couple of days and verify that you don't have any BSODs or reboot issues. Then we can move on to:
The Next Step:
We've reached your 3.6 GHz goal with conservative memory timings. If you're like most people, you'll say great, but why stop here. Congratulations, you've been bitten by the o/c bug and are now hopelessly addicted. I suggest that we further tweak the memory timings at your current speed. Testing with tRD = 7 and tRFC=52 should prove to be stable. Some minor voltage tweaks might be needed.
Once this config is stable, we can move on to:
3.774 GHz, 444 x 8.5, ram = ddr2-1066, tRD = 7 or 8
Additional performance gains can be had, but the price will be higher voltage settings and more heat. Check out
UD3P and Q9550= SWEET! to see what's involved when trying for maximum o/c levels.
Incenuating:
I wasn't incenuating anything but I was insinuating....oh, never mind.
Your Signature:
Cracked me up totally!!
Let us know when you're ready to continue.
Hints: With Memset screen shots, click the ">>" button to show the timing specs for all installed modules. The SPD screen needs only 1 instance. Include the EasyTune tab that shows bios voltage settings (not the actual cpu and dram monitored volts).