C2D Overclocking Guide for Beginners

[guru]

Originally Posted by Clunk

My first thought would be the RAM.

Its just not made for overclocking, and yes, some people manage to overclock it, but it is value ram when all said and done, so no guarantees that it will be ok at 750mhz.

Which memtest did you do, and did you do it when the ram was overclocked?

As you have overvolted the ram, have you put a fan on it?

The NB would well be overheating. Take the board out and remove the cooler, and check for good contact. if the contact is bad, you will need to bend the heatpipe slightly, until it sits flat on the NB...clean off the old paste, and reapply some AS% or ceramique..

Thanks for your reply Clunk!

This is the RAM i have, I know it isn't the latest speed but i didn't think it counted as value RAM? I do think that I need to get a faster speed RAM but as Memtest runs OK I wasn't sure. I've been using Memtest86 (booted from floppy) and yup i used it with the above O/C - no errors.

I will check the Nothrhbridge as it's something I haven't checked yet,maybe I should fit some sort of active cooling to it? I only fitted this mobo a few days back so hopefully it will be put together reasonably well.

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by guru

Thanks for your reply Clunk!

This is the RAM i have, I know it isn't the latest speed but i didn't think it counted as value RAM? I do think that I need to get a faster speed RAM but as Memtest runs OK I wasn't sure. I've been using Memtest86 (booted from floppy) and yup i used it with the above O/C - no errors.

I will check the Nothrhbridge as it's something I haven't checked yet,maybe I should fit some sort of active cooling to it? I only fitted this mobo a few days back so hopefully it will be put together reasonably well.

Oops, sorry, I read it as Corsair Value select for some reason Not sure how I managed that, but you are right, its not value ram, but it is the second slowest DDR2 available, so not much use for overclocking unfortunately, and OCZ are usually pretty tight at binning their ram, so I wouldnt expect too much from them.

However you look at it, you are trying to run the ram out of spec, which isnt a good start at such a low overclock, as it makes identifying other problems much harder.

Try testing with this from within windows.

And check the NB...what NB temps do you have? (asus probe)

[ridetherhythm]

Thanks Clunk & co. for all the knowledge that been shared here. This forum has been an excellent read that's covered a lot of points and helped n00bs like me to understand how to overclock our systems.

It's definitely given me the confidence to try my first "manual" overclock, which I’m presently 4 hours into.

My current overclock settings are:
Bios: 1101
CPU Settings: All Disabled (Speedstep, Vanderpool, etc)
CPU Frequency: 375MHz (multiplier x9)
DRAM Frequency: 750MHz (1:1 ratio DDR2)
PCI-Express Frequency: Auto
PCI Clock Sync Mode: 33.33Mhz
Spread Spectrum: Disabled
Memory Voltage: 2.1v (as per Buffalo website)
CPU VCore Voltage: Auto
FSB Termination Voltage: Auto
NB Voltage: Auto
SB Vcore: Auto
ICH Voltage: Auto
RAM Timings: 5-5-5-15
Other sub-timings: 6-42-10-10-10-10
Static Read Control: Auto

Okay I’m presently running CPU-Z, TAT, CoreTemp, Everest, and Orthos blend test. The blend test is 4 hours into the test and all systems go, but my temps are worrying me a little.

The load temps have ranged between 62-66 degrees for the CPUs through most of the Orthos blend test thus far and around 52 degrees for the motherboard. Forgot what they were on idle.

At stock speed (266 MHz), the idle/load temps were in the high 30's/low 40's.

The only other thing to note is I have a Noctua NH-U12F CPU cooler with 2x120 fans attached (push/pull) having used Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste to attach this cooler to the CPU.

I have some question that I hope you can help me out with.

Q1: Are the temps that I’m getting okay? They seem a bit high to me.

Q2: Does overclocking the CPU/RAM increase energy consumption and cost (£)

Q3: Any idea on how to get my case and CPU cooler fans (Noctua NF-S12-1200) running at their maximum speed of 1200rpm from bios or through windows? In the P5B Deluxe bios, I’ve only seen fan speed settings under Power Settings>Hardware Monitor. What’s “Smart Fan Control” that another member (tinners) mentioned in a post dated 02May?

Sorry for the long post.

Any input appreciated and gratefully received.

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by ridetherhythm

Thanks Clunk & co. for all the knowledge that been shared here. This forum has been an excellent read that's covered a lot of points and helped n00bs like me to understand how to overclock our systems.

It's definitely given me the confidence to try my first "manual" overclock, which I’m presently 4 hours into.

My current overclock settings are:
Bios: 1101
CPU Settings: All Disabled (Speedstep, Vanderpool, etc)
CPU Frequency: 375MHz (multiplier x9)
DRAM Frequency: 750MHz (1:1 ratio DDR2)
PCI-Express Frequency: Auto
PCI Clock Sync Mode: 33.33Mhz
Spread Spectrum: Disabled
Memory Voltage: 2.1v (as per Buffalo website)
CPU VCore Voltage: Auto
FSB Termination Voltage: Auto
NB Voltage: Auto
SB Vcore: Auto
ICH Voltage: Auto
RAM Timings: 5-5-5-15
Other sub-timings: 6-42-10-10-10-10
Static Read Control: Auto

Okay I’m presently running CPU-Z, TAT, CoreTemp, Everest, and Orthos blend test. The blend test is 4 hours into the test and all systems go, but my temps are worrying me a little.

The load temps have ranged between 62-66 degrees for the CPUs through most of the Orthos blend test thus far and around 52 degrees for the motherboard. Forgot what they were on idle.

At stock speed (266 MHz), the idle/load temps were in the high 30's/low 40's.

The only other thing to note is I have a Noctua NH-U12F CPU cooler with 2x120 fans attached (push/pull) having used Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste to attach this cooler to the CPU.

I have some question that I hope you can help me out with.

Q1: Are the temps that I’m getting okay? They seem a bit high to me.

Q2: Does overclocking the CPU/RAM increase energy consumption and cost (£)

Q3: Any idea on how to get my case and CPU cooler fans (Noctua NF-S12-1200) running at their maximum speed of 1200rpm from bios or through windows? In the P5B Deluxe bios, I’ve only seen fan speed settings under Power Settings>Hardware Monitor. What’s “Smart Fan Control” that another member (tinners) mentioned in a post dated 02May?

Sorry for the long post.

Any input appreciated and gratefully received.

Temps do seem high. To save me retyping it all, do a search in the hardware section, there are several recent posts about people with high temps, and you can take the advice offered to them

Yes, overclocking will increase the power usage of your PC. It uses more electricity and produces more heat.

The trick is to find a happy medium between heat and performance.

If you are concerned about using more electricity, simply dont overclock, in fact, you can probably underclock and save money

Not sure on the fans, I dont have the P5B anymore, and I used to run everything from a fan controller, but sounds like you need to read the manual for that, or try speedfan or similar.

[guru]

Originally Posted by Clunk

My first thought would be the RAM.

Its just not made for overclocking, and yes, some people manage to overclock it, but it is value ram when all said and done, so no guarantees that it will be ok at 750mhz.

Which memtest did you do, and did you do it when the ram was overclocked?

As you have overvolted the ram, have you put a fan on it?

The NB would well be overheating. Take the board out and remove the cooler, and check for good contact. if the contact is bad, you will need to bend the heatpipe slightly, until it sits flat on the NB...clean off the old paste, and reapply some AS% or ceramique.

Yes I've upped the voltage on the RAM to 2v (was set at 1.9v originally) - no I havne't got any active cooling on the RAM. The NB temp (if that's the same as the mobo temp on Asus Probe is around 32 degrees under load so that seems OK).

The curious thing is gaming and desktop work seems to be stable. Should I be looking to cool the RAM or relaxing the timings (although I'm not sure which timings to relax besides CAS).

I'm going to run the windows version of memtest for a while now.


Cheers

[xinad]

Originally Posted by Clunk

Its been a long time since I used a DS3, but, are you sure that you are running the ram at 1:1?

What PSU are you using?

Is that bios the latest one?

Yeah the RAMs are at 1:1 and the timings are like in your guide but it just won't boot. Thought that maybe the voltage is too low but looking at other overclocked cpu's that couldn't be.

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by guru

Yes I've upped the voltage on the RAM to 2v (was set at 1.9v originally) - no I havne't got any active cooling on the RAM. The NB temp (if that's the same as the mobo temp on Asus Probe is around 32 degrees under load so that seems OK).

The curious thing is gaming and desktop work seems to be stable. Should I be looking to cool the RAM or relaxing the timings (although I'm not sure which timings to relax besides CAS).

I'm going to run the windows version of memtest for a while now.


Cheers

Try 5-5-5-15, or 5-5-5-18 for now. I always have a fan on ram of 2.0v and over...its just a precaution, you could always email OCZ and see what they recommend for that ram

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by xinad

Yeah the RAMs are at 1:1 and the timings are like in your guide but it just won't boot. Thought that maybe the voltage is too low but looking at other overclocked cpu's that couldn't be.

What PSU did you say it was?

[xinad]

Oh, forgot to post.
The PSU came with the case. It is 400W (came with IT-2011)
P.S. did you read my pm ?

EDIT: One strange notice: the fsb is 271 and cpu runs at 2430 hmz, but it should be at 2439. Maybe i can't get more speed cuz i've used the easytune ( a program that comes with motherboards cd). Deleting the program didn't help:/

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by xinad

Oh, forgot to post.
The PSU came with the case. It is 400W (came with IT-2011)
P.S. did you read my pm ?

EDIT: One strange notice: the fsb is 271 and cpu runs at 2430 hmz, but it should be at 2439. Maybe i can't get more speed cuz i've used the easytune ( a program that comes with motherboards cd). Deleting the program didn't help:/

The PSU sounds like your problem.

Have you memtested the RAM?

Yes, I read both PMs, the answer is the same as here, dont overclock with a cheap PSU, you run a real risk of frying all your components.

[xinad]

Oh. That could be the problem but i'm running @ 2,4Ghz with default vcore and hopfully none of the pc components will burn;]

[Clunk]

Doesnt matter if you are running at stock, cheap PSUs have a nasty habit of breaking and taking other expensive components with them.

Your components, your risk

[xinad]

Originally Posted by Clunk

Doesnt matter if you are running at stock, cheap PSUs have a nasty habit of breaking and taking other expensive components with them.

Your components, your risk

But what do you think. The components won't burn? Damn that would be a huge loss.
Maybe i should lower the speed so that I wouldn't be so scared about loosing some motherboard or rams or even the hole pc;D.
But it is running for month+ now with this kind of speed and i didn't see any probs .

[Clunk]

The problem is, when you have a cheap PSU in there, it makes it difficult to positively pin down any other problems.

If it were my PC, I would go and buy a decent branded PSU.

[xinad]

Originally Posted by Clunk

The problem is, when you have a cheap PSU in there, it makes it difficult to positively pin down any other problems.

If it were my PC, I would go and buy a decent branded PSU.

Maybe i'll just do that . Maybe you can give some suggestions of not bad PSU's companies which could be trustable. .
1. How much W should the psu be?
2. Maybe if I would get a new psu i could speed up the cpu a bit more?)

[Clunk]

Seasonic, corsair, enermax, some people like FSP and Tagan.

Pretty much all of the above will be fine.

You dont need a huge wattage for your system, 400-500w or there abouts, should give you plenty of overhead and see that you are ok for future upgrades.