Help with OC

[nadasaki]

Hey guys!
My specs are:

PSU: Chieftec 550W
CPU: core2duo e7200 2.53 (default clock) (factory cooler)
RAM: Mushkin 4GB DDR2 1066
MoBo: Gigabyte P31-S3G
BIOS ver.: F7a
GPU: Gainward 8800gt

I would like to get the best out of this conf and thought I'd start with OCing the CPU
My BIOS currently looks like this:





I'm not very familiar with the connection between voltage and frequency/multiplier increments...


Please give me examples of what should I try for starters as this is my first OC attempt.
For now it's 9.5 x 266 as you can see.
So would you recommend lowering the multiplier and increasing the freq?
How high would recommend me to try it?


Ultimately, I would like to run my CPU at 3.0GHz-ish with my RAM on 1066... is that possible?

[profJim]

See Confused about new RAM, post #9 where I show that I'm pretty sure that your memory is not 1066MHz rated.
At the bios main screen, press CTRL + F1 to show hidden settings where you should be able to manually set memory timings in the MIT section.
Don't worry about memory speed, you will get much better system performance with the highest possible FSB.
You will probably need to use 5-5-5-15 or up to 6-6-6-18 settings with 800MHz memory speeds.

[nadasaki]

See Confused about new RAM, post #9 where I show that I'm pretty sure that your memory is not 1066MHz rated.
At the bios main screen, press CTRL + F1 to show hidden settings where you should be able to manually set memory timings in the MIT section.
Don't worry about memory speed, you will get much better system performance with the highest possible FSB.
You will probably need to use 5-5-5-15 or up to 6-6-6-18 settings with 800MHz memory speeds.

Hey there! I've also reached the same conclusion when I was browsing through Mushkin website... Bummer.
Well I've been ripped off, but at least it's not faulty.
I'll try some OCing tonight and I'll post results. Thanks for the help so far! :)

[profJim]

Keep your memory in the 700 - 850MHz range while overclocking, probably using 6-6-6-18 timings at 2.0 - 2.1 volts.
cpu speed = FSB x cpu multiplier
memory speed = FSB x SMP (system memory multiplier)
For example:
cpu = 300 x 9.5 --> 2850MHz and memory = 300 x2.4 --> 720MHz
cpu = 333 x 9.5 --> 3164MHz and memory = 333 x2.4 --> 800MHz, and using 2.0 SMP memory speed will be 333 x 2.0 =666MHz
cpu = 375 x 9.5 --> 3562MHz and memory = 375 x2.4 --> 900MHz, and using 2.0 SMP memory speed will be 375 x 2.0 =750MHz
cpu = 400 x 9.0 --> 3600MHz and memory = 400 x2.4 --> 960MHz, and using 2.0 SMP memory speed will be 400 x 2.0 =800MHz

Your best overall performance will be at XXXXMHz where you are using the highest possible FSB with a somewhat lower cpu multiplier.
Once you've reached your cpu goal, you can find the best possible memory settings with tighter (lower) memory settings and slightly lower memory speeds or looser timings with somewhat higher memory speeds. On both of my DDR2 systems with 1066MHz memory, I run 4-4-4-10 or 12 memory timings with memory speeds at 856 and 876MHz. Your memory will possibly need 6-6-6-18 timings with memory speeds in the mid to upper 800MHz range.

Memtest86+ is the best preliminary memory testing tool because you boot from a bootable floppy, usb, or optical drive.
One full test loop will take about 20 - 25 minutes and each additional test loop will take twice as long.
A less thorough but quicker test is to run the #5 test for 10 loops by pressing the following keys: c 1 3 5 ENTER 0 (zero) when the test starts.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
Downloads are near the middle of the web page.

Check out Gigabyte X38/P35/P965 (DS* DQ* S3) Overclocking and General BIOS tweaking Guide for more information.

[nadasaki]

Hey,
I just meddled with the settings a bit. Got to work at 3.16GHz (333x9.5) 1:1 with my mem at 667
The first few times I got the BSOD and I really panicked. The problem was that I didn't increase the CPU Voltage. The default value is 1.225v so I've set it to 1.325v and got it to boot to windows properly.

One thing though, Core Temp app shows some weird stuff. It looks almost as if the cpu speed varies from 2,66 ~ 3.2 and the voltage also varies from 1.115 to 1.225 (???)
Max temp 62 with a 50 being the average.

Should I try to increase the FSB more? How much should I increase the voltage? Up to 1.4 maybe?
I really don't want to fry anything because this is my only working configuration at the moment...

EDIT:
The multiplier dropped to 6 automatically during work then went up to 9.5 in the next few minutes...
I've gotta be doing something wrong...

EDIT2:
I've increased the voltage to 1.35 and having 68c at 100% load. Clock and voltage stabilized as shown in CoreTemp.
System working at 333x9.5 (3.16GHz) and 2.4x333 ( 800MHz) at 5-6-6-18-52
Any advice?

[profJim]

Check your bios settings, you probably have EIST and C1E enabled which will automatically lower the cpu multiplier and speed with lower loads.
I overclocked by E6300 (R0) with both settings disabled to help with stability.
After I reached my final o/c settings, I enabled both settings to lower heat and electrical power when the system is under lower loads.
With win7, I'm using Balanced Power Settings.
My max cpu settings is 438MHz x 8.0 (3.50GHz) and my multiplier varies from 8.0x to 6.0x with a minimum cpu speed = 2628MHz and cpu VID down to 1.1000 volts.


You're raising your cpu voltage way too quickly, do it in much smaller steps.
My cpu vcore was raised from 1.2750 at stock (2.80GHz) to 1.38750 at 3.50GHz, but the amount you need to increase cpu vcore can vary quite a bit based on how "good" your cpu is. What is the brand/model number of your cpu cooler and cooling fan?

You need to repeat all of your stress tests if/when you re-enable these settings.
Which stress tests are your running and for how long? Prime95? OCCT? Other tests?

[nadasaki]

CPU has the stock cooler and one very cheap medium sized cooler on the back of the case.
I'm running BOINC which keeps my CPU really busy all the time and so far the max temp was 70c
I'm happy with the current clock, but as I understand, you recommend decreasing the multiplier and increasing FSB?
I guess the next step is to try decreasing the voltage in steps to find a stable setting at lower temperature...

About the memory (stock 667MHz at 5-5-5-12) now at 800MHz 5-6-6-18
Should I try to to reduce the timing?

[profJim]

I'm not familiar with BOINC and you'll need a better cpu cooler/fan setup to push your cpu FSB higher.
You've got older hardware and running near 70^o (C) for extended periods is a bit higher than I'm comfortable with.

Now would be an excellent time to run a 4 - 8 hour Prime95 Blend test to see if your system is reasonably stable.
If a single worker error occurs, your system is NOT stable.
Make sure that Round Off Checking is enabled before you start the torture test.
There is a Prime95 Tutorial link in my signature.
Happy testing!

[profJim]

If there are any Prime95 errors, post a cropped screen-shot of Prime95 that shows the error that occurred and the FFT size along with CPU-Z CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and SPD windows. You can run several instances of CPU-Z at any time, with one instance for each CPU-Z window.

Your screen-shot will be legible if the picture width is between 800 - 1000 pixels.

[kick]

Just as an extra:
A decent aftermarket cpu cooler is supposed to give aprrox 10C lower max cpu temps,on an overclocked cpu, at full load compared to an intel one (providing the pc has reasonable airflow)

Ive never had an intel cooler so thats just what Ive read.