Overclocking the Duron 1.6 with an Aero 7?

[Mozzer]

I am going to get a duron 1.6 and an Aero 7 lite until i can afford a barton 2500 or something, but until then i will just get the duron.
I have an Asus A&N8X-X motherboard to use it on and i wan't to overclock it a little.
Ive seen people have managed 2.5Ghz with it but thats a little dangerous IMHO, anyone recommend any speed that should be safe?

[Austin]

There is no 'safe' speed. The core is basically a Tbred (assumably TbredB) with 64k L2 instead of 256k L2 which will knock perf around 10% clock for clock (ie Duron @ 2.2ghz is roughly equal to a Tbred @ 2.0ghz). You can make an estimate or look for averages but you must find the particular CPU's limit, it's only dangerous if you take sudden leaps based on what others have achieved. As a rough idea all TbredB and Barton tend to yield 2.10ghz VERY easily and 2.3ghz is not uncommon esp if you up the voltage a little (IMHO 1.70v MAX). However Durons with less cache in use should be able to clock a little higher, maybe 2.2ghz to 2.4ghz as an average?

Anyway find your own CPU's limit by upping the multiplier 1 step at a time and test thoroughly for stability each time. When you find the fastest you can go you need to work out what is limiting you ... could be mobo, FSB, RAM, HSF, case (airflow & ventilation), PSU (outside chance) or simply the top that CPU can achieve. If you're sure the problem is the CPU itself then you can up the voltage 0.05v and see if it allows you to go higher. If not then add another 0.05v etc ... again you MUST test thoroughly each time not simply POST or load Windows. Adding voltage creates severely more heat and will stress your CPU a LOT more, 1.65v is std for these type of cores so if you get 1.50v stock voltage then 1.65v is not truly over-volting it.

Rem FSB speed is important, certainly up to 333FSB if not 400FSB. If you find your CPU can run at 2.1ghz then you can try achieving that speed with a faster FSB, ie 10.5x200 or 12.5x166 instead of 15.5x133 (bus speed is DDR so 133mhz=266FSB). Set the multiplier first and ensure it takes and then use the higher FSB speed, that's the safest way. ALso ensure your RAM and mobo can handle the desired FSB speed.

[Mozzer]

So what programs should i use to test stability?
I've heard of prime95, but never looked into it.

[Austin]

Prime95 is very good for totally stressing out your CPU, if it can run Prime for 15-30min then it should handle anything you throw at it in normal usage. Prime has a torture test which informs you of any errors, well worth using when o/c'ing the CPU.

Other useful programs are 3Dmark2001 (and 2003 if you have a DX9 card). 3DM tests your whole PC straining the mobo, gfx, RAM as well as CPU in one of the most stressful things general users do with their PC's ... gaming. Running 1 full loop isn't enough to guarantee stability but it is a good sign ... it is most effective for testing your gfx card for o/c'ing but it's generally a good idea to run a few loops to ensure the max o/c you thought was stable truly is stable.

SiSoft Sandra also has some intensive benchmarks aimed at CPU, RAM and HD. You also get some very good diagnostics from it too. Also look at RAM/MEMtest86, this runs outside of Windows via its own bootdisk in a DOS type environment. It is very good for stress testing your RAM for stability but is a little out of date as Windows uses the memory differently, stable in that may not mean stable in Windows. Other ones you may want to look into are 'Seti @ Home' and 'Hot CPU Tester Lite'.

[Mozzer]

Thanks

[daveham]

What is the default FSB of these new durons? Is it still 100?
If so is pumping it up to 133 a fairly guaranteed overclock like the old AXIA Athlons?

[Stoo]

266 ddr iirc

[Austin]

Yup it seems all the new 0.13mu Durons will use 266FSB at stock but since they are Tbred based 400FSB is a dead cert with the right RAM (any PC3200) and mobo. Even if the FSB speed o/c's the same as Tbreds or Barton they'll still be roughly 10% slower than Tbred and 15% slower than Barton at the same clock speed ... so even if all are at 400FSB a Duron @ 2.3ghz (£35?) would be roughly equal to a TbredB @ 2.1ghz (£40) or a Barton @ 2.0ghz (£70). But these new Durons are stil alittle unknown and could easily be TbredA as TbredB which would severely hamper o/c'ing.