Is worth OC'n my setup ..

camdean

camdean

camdean

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26 Nov 2008
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Im a beginner overclocker and have read the beginners guide, I still can't determine if my system is good for it ..


OS: Vista Premium 64bit
MB: Gigayte GA-EP35-DS3R
RAM: 4GB DDR2 Crucial Ballistix 800Mhz (2x 2GB)
CPU: Intel Quad Q6660 2.4Ghz
Cooling: Akasa AK-922 EVO Blue CPU Cooler


I play very demanding games, although none have pushed my Q6660 to the limits yet, the reason I am thinking about doing this is for the Grand Theft Auto 4 game released this Wednseday, it's going to be a real processor hogger !


Is it worth it ?

And is my setup good to OC ?

Thanks.
 
Looks like a solid system there, and I'm sure you'll easily get 3-3.2ghz with ease.

CPU voltages, I'd say to begin with don't go above 1.45v put the multiplier at 8 in BIOS and FSB at 400mhz (1:1 memory divider) that should allow you 3.2Ghz. You may need some more volts to the RAM, don't push it past 2v though to begin with and then run some stress tests.

If I have anything a bit wrong on here please feel free to correct me.
 
Ok, thanks guys, I will go and try this just now, I got speed fan and prime stress test ready ;)


Doh !! My first thread and I got a typo in the title lol !!
 
Any system is worth overclocking assuming the user knows what they're doing.

If you don't, you have one of two choices:

1) Moan on here about how your system is unstable and use lots of OMGWTFBBQ with additional 1s in the thread title, or
2) Use your mistakes as a learning experience and go on to thrash the pants off your system because you actually know what you're doing.

Your system could be the biggest bag'o'***** in the world but it would still be worth trying to get an overclock out of, purely because free speed is... well... free speed.
 
Try having a google, I have never used a Gigabyte board before :(

But it might be in the same place or near NB Strap.
 
It was set on auto and has now changed to the 1:1 format although when I tried to change it, it didn't let me change it to 1:1 just some other higher numbers, but thats it working now.

DRAM: 800mhz 800 mhz

It seems ok just now ;)

Now to run the tests ...
 
I am getting a constant temp of 63 on 'core 0' and 'core 1', the other 2 cores are stable on 60, it's been running for about 20 minutes, I'm using Prime95 and core temp.


Is this acceptable or shall I slowly lower the settings ?

Thanks again.
 
Temps seem fine.

20 minutes isnt long enough to be considered stable, 8 hours or so is.

Although I havent used a stability test in ages, I just use the computer like normal and if i get a crash give it some more volts.
 
Personaly I try and keep temps under 70c, I tend to run stability test like prime for about an hr, like Pilky01 I just use the pc.
 
I agree with ^^, just run Prime95 for about 1-2hours if all is good just use the pc. If you get a problem then go back to the overclock to fix it, although you shouldn't have an issue :)
 
It seems that for some reason the bios didnt save the options, so I was testing it on 2.4ghz..


I figured out that for a reason unkown to me it won't accept a mulitplier of 8x, I have changed it to a multiplier of 9x and 355 frequency (3195 mhz)


Two cores are at 73 and the others are at 69 ;)


I just want to make sure I'm not going to burn anything out here, when should I stop the test, at what temp will be dangerous ?
 
I set myself a maximum limit of 70C if it starts getting towards 70C fairly quickly, say 5 minutes then I know my coolingisn't up to it and I back off, I am more than happy for an 8 hour Prime session to take my CPU up to 65C though
 
VaderDSL said:
I set myself a maximum limit of 70C if it starts getting towards 70C fairly quickly, say 5 minutes then I know my coolingisn't up to it and I back off, I am more than happy for an 8 hour Prime session to take my CPU up to 65C though
Click to expand...

And me, I'm happy enough if it flicks towards 71 or 72 after a few hours, but if it gets towards 70 quickly I tend to drop it back a little. You should be fine doing an 8 hour session at 70 though.
 
After a nice sleep, I came in and the test was running at 62 on two cores and 58 on the other two ;)


Before I went to bed it was at a constant max of 65 of two of them and 61 on the other two, this will be more realistic as it's frosty outside just now and will be helping cool the room temp.

This is with these settings on my MB ..

CPU Voltage: 1.33v
FSB 312 x9 (2.8Ghz)
Memory divider setting is equivilent of 1:1
Memory voltage +0.01

Are these settings good ?


I could probably push it a bit more but I am installing my new graphics card today 'PowerColour HD 4870x2 2GB GDDR5' and I have heard they get a little hot when pushed, so I will have to run a few tests to make sure it doesn't end up overheating as well, it sits very close to the CPU and a friend who has a similair sized card had problems with the heat collecting of both the GPU and the CPU, although his case didn't have as many fans as mine.
 
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