C2D Overclocking Guide for Beginners

[Skeet]

Thanks, exactly what I need for the new Dell with C2D 4300 arriving next week. I'll be back on to read carefully then, but in meantime, how much time do u think I need to devote to getting this OC'ing completed, taking into a/c I've never done it before (gulp!)? Thanks again.

Bear in mind that this thread is a guide for ASUS P5K series MOBO's...so, we wont know what MOBO your DELL will use, or how good it is at overclocking.

Changing settings is quick enough, but you will have to spend time running tests like ORTHOS, to make sure that the settings are stable...normally done overnight.

Then it is just fine tuning it down to what you want.

[Clunk]

Bear in mind that this thread is a guide for ASUS P5K series MOBO's...so, we wont know what MOBO your DELL will use, or how good it is at overclocking.

No it isnt.

This is the general overclocking thread for C2D and quad core.

Part 1 was written around the P5B deluxe, but includes pics for the Abit Quad GT as well.

the fundamentals are the same for most boards.

there is an Add on for the P5K, click my sig for that


The Dell will use a Dell's own branded board, which unfortunately, arent made for overclocking, and neither is the PSU, and as Dell use non-standard parts, it is a pain in the arse to change them.

[Wyz]

Put the RAM in the black slots, there is your first problem. I experiences RAM errors when only using the yellow slots.

Ok. I tried changing the RAM into the black slots and it has not effect. Boots at 889MHz but overclock fail at 1067MHz.

How do I post the bios pics as requested?

[Wyz]

[Clunk]

Can you just confirm that you are setting your FSB to 266 and the RAM to 1067Mhz and then trying to overclock?

Edit: And can you put your full system specs in your "My Sytem" bit please in your profile, it just saves me keep going back in the thread to see

[Wyz]

I am not trying to over clock but just set the as per the specifications. The settings in the pics above fail to post. if I just change the RAM Frequency to 889MHz instead of 1067MHz it posts and boots no problems. I guess my issue is I paid for PC8500 Ram and a decent motherboard able to natively support this setting and it will not work. Could the RAM be faulty? The Ram benchmarks with sandra no problems at the 889MHz setting.

[Skeet]

Can you just confirm that you are setting your FSB to 266 and the RAM to 1067Mhz and then trying to overclock?

Edit: And can you put your full system specs in your "My Sytem" bit please in your profile, it just saves me keep going back in the thread to see

LOL!

Even my inexperienced eyebrows went up when I saw that!!!

Sorry about the thread thing, got my threads in a twist.

WYZ: You have your RATIO set to Auto, so what you should have done is just set the RAM Timmings and VOLTAGE, but not the RAM Speed...leave that to the BIOS to sort out for now.

So with FSB at 266 your RAM should be at 533, a 1:1 Ratio (I think thats right).

That way, as you increase your FSB, the RAM will be increased too, idealy at 1:1

EDIT: Point being...once you have found your maximum safe OC, you can THEN, unlink the CPU/RAM Ratio and overclock the RAM for best performance.
( I think! )

For example, my FSB is 375 for 3Ghz, so my RAM is running at 750Mhz, under the 800Mhz it is specified at, I may try and go to 3.2Ghz which will put my RAM at 800...if that works OK, then I will see about increasing the RAM speed above the 800Mhz it is specified for.

[Wyz]

I have update My System. Perhaps I am trying to do something incorrect. But Why only 533 for the RAM should I have just brought some cheaper RAM then. Can I not run an unbalance ratio or does this just defeat the purpose.

[Skeet]

I have update My System. Perhaps I am trying to do something incorrect. But Why only 533 for the RAM should I have just brought some cheaper RAM then. Can I not run an unbalance ratio or does this just defeat the purpose.

Dude...patience is a virtue. And yes, you are doing something Incorrect!

Running an unbalanced ratio is not preffered, certainly in initial stages.

You have bought good RAM, great...and you will likely get to use it, but...you cant start off at full speed or something is going to POP!

So, follow the guide to the letter.

-Set RAM TIMMINGS and VOLTAGE ONLY

The CPU and RAM have to work together to get the best Overclock, if one isnt pulling it's weight, then both are buggered.

So...you allow the RAM speed to increase gradually, with teh FSB, because initially you are trying to find out what maximum ERROR FREE OC you can get for you CPU

Once you have achieved this, temps are good, no errors etc, then and only then should you start playing with the RAM

So dont stress that you have bought top end RAM and arent making the most of it yet, just follow teh yellow brick road and at the end, you will have two things.

1) A safe maximum Overclock for your CPU

2) A safe maximum Overclock for your RAM

You may well end up with a 3.4Ghz CPU and RAM at 1000Mhz...I dont know, but neither will you if you dont follow the rules as Lord Clunk has set them.

EDIT: What cooling are you using for the CPU and what Temps are you getting?

I dont know how experienced you are, I'm not very but I clearly know more than you, so...I feel justified.

When you increase your CPU FSB, in order to overclock, the BIOS automaticly increases the RAM to suit:

FSB 266 RAM 533
FSB 333 RAM 667
FSB 375 RAM 750
FSB 400 RAM 800

These are all 1:1 ratios.

So by setting your RAM to 1067 or whatever it is, that is just totally incompatible with your FSB and even if it does boot, when you try and increase the FSB, you are starting to push the RAM befre you even know what is going on, and in an unstable way, which is why it wont POST.

[Wyz]

Thanks Skeet,

I am not trying to overclock the CPU or the RAM and I guess I have misunderstood. I only have stock standard cooling at the moment. temps are in the pics above. Around 38 deg.

So pretty much you are saying that if I choose to leave the CPU at 266 then for optimum performance I should set the RAM to 533Mhz even if the system is happy to be running the RAM at a Higher speed. Actually the MB defaults the RAM frequency to 800Mhz.

[Skeet]

Thanks Skeet,

I am not trying to overclock the CPU or the RAM and I guess I have misunderstood. I only have stock standard cooling at the moment. temps are in the pics above. Around 38 deg.

So pretty much you are saying that if I choose to leave the CPU at 266 then for optimum performance I should set the RAM to 533Mhz even if the system is happy to be running the RAM at a Higher speed. Actually the MB defaults the RAM frequency to 800Mhz.

Yes, if it defaults at 800 then run it at that, but ideally it should be 1:1.

I am using an ASUS Silent Square Pro...wicked...getting idle temps of around 30 Degrees load temps of 50 Degrees at 3Ghz.

If you did get one, check my thread in Technical as you need to modify the bracket for the cooler (easy tho)

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=113382

No reason why you shouldnt try a basic overclcock...my first one was to 333, which gives 2.67Ghz on my E6420, so yeah I would set the RAM at 1:1 533 at 266.

Also, use some decent Thermal paste on your cooler, Arctic Silver5 works for me and just about everyone else


Did you download the programs that Clunk suggested in the thread?

You are using the BIOS to read Temps yes?

Dont...often wrong.

Download CoreTemp and TAT to monitor temps http://www.thecoolest.zerobrains.com/CoreTemp/
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/392/mirrors.php

[Clunk]

STOP!

Skeet, you are making this far more complicated than it needs to be.

Wyz, if you are trying to run at the settings you posted in your pics, but it wont boot at 1067Mhz, then it is possible that you have a problem with the RAM.

Are you just running 2x1GB?

The easy way to test the RAM, is to leave one stick in place and test with memtest 1.70 test 5, for a few hours.

Repeat the above step, with the stick in each slot, then remove that stick, and do the same with the other stick.

If you get errors, it is looking like a bad stick of RAM.

Before you do that, you can also try adding a bit of voltage to the NB, but really you shouldnt need to do this.

Try memtest and let me know how you get on.

You can download UBCD which is a bootable CD and that has memtest v1.70 on it. Just set your board to boot from cd and it will give you a menu when the cd loads, just follow the instructions and load memtest, then follow the instructions to run test 5 and leave it for at least an hour per stick, more if you can.

If you get any errors, you can stop the test, and put that stick of RAM to one side.

[Wyz]

I got another set of identical RAM and I installed this and it boots at 1066Mhz. So looks like the other set has a problem. I will run the memtest to check. So this brings me to my next qustion is the PC appears to be running stable now with the RAM clocked at 1066MHz and the CPU still at 266Mhz. Should I leave it like this?

[Clunk]

Its up to you what you do next, but, if you want to raise the FSB, put the RAM back to 1:1 before you do.

Once you get to a point where you are happy with the temps and voltages, you can then try and find a divider that is close to the 1066Mhz mark.

[Gunwitch]

Clunk a question: My cpu is clocked to 2100mhz, x7 and my ram at 750mhz, very stable and temps aren't above 32 degrees c

However, CPU-Z shows my cpu at 1800 x6 and ram 350mhz.

How come?

Cheers

[Clunk]

Its probably speedstep or EIST that needs turning off in the BIOS under advanced CPU settings.