C2D Overclocking Guide For Beginners P5K Add-On

[Clunk]

You are meant to run it at the standard, out of the box settings, thats how people compare it.

If you register, you can upload your results and post the links.

[Skeet]

Originally Posted by Clunk

You are meant to run it at the standard, out of the box settings, thats how people compare it.

If you register, you can upload your results and post the links.

So what do these results mean?

It seems to think my memory is running at 667Mhz (its running at 750Mhz), why is the CPU test so slow...what is the purpose of these results, seeing as I have no idea about such things.

Needs explanation!

Many thanks.

[tinners]

I'm getting a P5k VM next week and am wondering how it will overclock with an E6300. I read through the guide but cant fathom out where the divider settings area of the BIOS is.
Am used to Gigabyte boards which dont have the "DDR-667 / DDR-800 etc." memory settings, you just enter the divider.
If I want to go to 400 FSB to get to 2800 what do I do with the RAM ? If I set it to DDR800 will it work OK ?
What about if I want to go to 430, how do I stop the RAM running out of spec ?
What does 1:1 actually look like in the BIOS ?
Thanks

[Skeet]

Originally Posted by tinners

I'm getting a P5k VM next week and am wondering how it will overclock with an E6300. I read through the guide but cant fathom out where the divider settings area of the BIOS is.
Am used to Gigabyte boards which dont have the "DDR-667 / DDR-800 etc." memory settings, you just enter the divider.
If I want to go to 400 FSB to get to 2800 what do I do with the RAM ? If I set it to DDR800 will it work OK ?
What about if I want to go to 430, how do I stop the RAM running out of spec ?
What does 1:1 actually look like in the BIOS ?
Thanks

Read the first part of the guide, then read the ASUS P5 section.

Set up the BIOS as described with the multiplier at 266 which is stock.

Set your memory timmings and VDIMM to what your memory supplier suggests, don't leave it on Auto.

Once you have done that, run ORTHOS for 8 hours plus to check stability.

Then, where the FSB says 267, select it and just enetr what you want, say 333.

As you have not set your memory to manual, it will auto adjust it to be 1:1, so with FSB at 333 your RAM will run at 667

The divider etc, is in teh JUmper Free Configuration area.

Just read the thread mate.

If you set the FSB to 400, it will set the ram to 800.

But again, read the thread and do as it says.

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by Skeet

So what do these results mean?

It seems to think my memory is running at 667Mhz (its running at 750Mhz), why is the CPU test so slow...what is the purpose of these results, seeing as I have no idea about such things.

Needs explanation!

Many thanks.

It often reports the system specs wrong.

I'm not sure why you are running it, was it fun?

The cpu test is slow because it isnt using the gpu power for that test. Its slow even on a 3.6ghz quad.

It should give you a rough idea of stability, especially if you are overclocking your vid card. It can show up other problems as well, such as unstable RAM, or PSU.

Its just another toy really

[Skeet]

Originally Posted by Clunk

It often reports the system specs wrong.

I'm not sure why you are running it, was it fun?

The cpu test is slow because it isnt using the gpu power for that test. Its slow even on a 3.6ghz quad.

It should give you a rough idea of stability, especially if you are overclocking your vid card. It can show up other problems as well, such as unstable RAM, or PSU.

Its just another toy really

Cheers mate.

Dunno, thought I should run it...could do with a guide for clocking the GPU, have downloaded RivaTuner.

Poster above needs some gentle persuasion methinks!

[tinners]

Originally Posted by Skeet

Read the first part of the guide, then read the ASUS P5 section.
Set up the BIOS as described with the multiplier at 266 which is stock.
Set your memory timmings and VDIMM to what your memory supplier suggests, don't leave it on Auto.
Once you have done that, run ORTHOS for 8 hours plus to check stability.
Then, where the FSB says 267, select it and just enetr what you want, say 333.
As you have not set your memory to manual, it will auto adjust it to be 1:1, so with FSB at 333 your RAM will run at 667
The divider etc, is in teh JUmper Free Configuration area.
Just read the thread mate.
If you set the FSB to 400, it will set the ram to 800.
But again, read the thread and do as it says.

Thanks mate, am not a complete noob just wanted to know how to set the divider to 1:1. I think you answered it by just leaving it at Auto and then setting it to ddr-800 when I go over 400 FSB

[Skeet]

Originally Posted by tinners

Thanks mate, am not a complete noob just wanted to know how to set the divider to 1:1. I think you answered it by just leaving it at Auto and then setting it to ddr-800 when I go over 400 FSB

I didn't think you were a complete Noob.

I am however, but I have learnt lots from Clunks thread mate..

[tinners]

Originally Posted by Skeet

I didn't think you were a complete Noob.
I am however, but I have learnt lots from Clunks thread mate..

yeah sorry for slight overreaction it was late

Ive read all this and the original thread and helped me get my e6400 up to 3Ghz with no volt increase and RAM running faster than spec. I just couldnt fathom out how the Asus board set the divider, as on the Gigabyte board it doesnt run 1-1 when you set it to auto.

Just one final clarification, if I set the memory to ddr-800 in the bios will this make sure it never goes past this speed even when pushing up the fsb ?

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by tinners

Just one final clarification, if I set the memory to ddr-800 in the bios will this make sure it never goes past this speed even when pushing up the fsb ?

Nope, it will start the RAM off at 800Mhz and as your increase the FSB, the RAM speed will also increase, so unless you have PC2-8000/85000+, you dont really want to be doing that at this stage.

[tinners]

Originally Posted by Clunk

Nope, it will start the RAM off at 800Mhz and as your increase the FSB, the RAM speed will also increase, so unless you have PC2-8000/85000+, you dont really want to be doing that at this stage.

OK cool I'll leave it at auto then and make sure the fsb stays 350 - 400. I dont need this PC to be anything special speed wise, and 2500 - 2800 is plenty. (its a media build) I also dont want to do any voltage increases so I keep the heat down.
In fact I dont really need to overclock it at all, I'm only doing it because it's there.

[robucf4]

Originally Posted by Clunk

It is impossible to say what is reasonable to expect from your particular cpu at a certain voltage because they are all different.

Dont worry about the memory bandwidth for now. That is in the more advanced parts of the guide. Have a read of the first part of the guide that is based on the P5B, it should fill in any gaps, as the P5K guide assumes that you have read the first part

Dont be scared of adding voltage to the NB, I have been running this at full whack since day one, and the same for the P5B's before it. All you need to do, is make sure that there is some airflow through the case, and youll be fine.

Same with the CPU voltage, dont be scared of adding it in small notches, just keep an eye on the temps.

So, in a nutshell, dont worry about too many things at once while you are learning, and see how high your cpu will go at temps that are acceptable for your cooling, and once you settle on an overclock that is good for you, THEN you can go and mess around with the RAM and timings/speeds

I am convinced I have a bad chip/mobo, it's probaly the chip, as this is the 2nd mobo, I RMA'ed the 1st one after some posting issues. My RAM seems fine, I ram memtest with the stock settings, for a couple hours without errors. This entire week I have been tinkering with higher FSB's > 333. I have spent a lot of time trying to get stable at 3.2Ghz (400x8). I upped to the VCore to 1.45, NB to 1.55, Orthos fails within 2 mins. Unless there are some other setting on the P5k Vanilla version that need to be changed I am not sure what else to do at this point. I even loosed the RAM timings to 5-5-5-15 @ various voltages, still no stability. Seems like the best I can do is 3.0 (333x9) with most of the settings in this guide. Oh well 3.0 is 25% more performance for nothing so I'll take it. Sucks though, this board and e6600 should be able to do 3.6Ghz (400xx9). In any case my 8800 320M will be a bottleneck long before my chip is. If there are any other suggestions other than RMA'ing my CPU (I do not want to be down for weeks) I'll take the 3.0 and leave it alone.

[Clunk]

Post pics of your current bios settings please mate, I'll see what I can do

[mike306dt]

What an awesome guide, shall be taking notes from this on monday when hopefully my scan order will arrive Thanks clunk

[robucf4]

Originally Posted by Clunk

Post pics of your current bios settings please mate, I'll see what I can do

Check a few posts up, I posted my current bios settings, you tried helping me last weekend, no luck however.

Pics posted below, sorry about the stupid flash...

[robucf4]