Done the deed - Opty 165

[Gliding_Nut]

Well boys and girls, I've finally taken the plunge and ordered myself a new Opty 165 which should hopefully arrive in the next day or so. Its intended to replace the 3500 Winchester thats given me sterling service for the last couple of years. As I've never actually changed just a CPU before (always re-built entire system when it needed upgrading), I would welcome some wise words of advice please:-

1) Whats the safest way to remove my old CPU and seperate it from its HSF, I lapped the HSF when I fitted it and used Artic Silver paste?

2) Do I need to download any additional software or drivers for a Dual Core chip? Do I need to uninstall anything (I'm really not keen on re-installing Windows etc as otherwise I may as well have just gone down the C2D route!)?

3) I'm a relative newbie to overclocking on air and at the moment and only overclock the 3500 when gaming using the Gigabyte Easy Tune application. My motherboard is a Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI how should I go about getting the best out of my new Opty please without killing it? I appreciate that the various steppings dictate how good an overclocker the chip actually is, but is there an idiots step by step guide of what I need to increase and by how much for a safe O/C please?

4) Do I need to upgrade or do anything to my RAM (2 x Crucial Ballistix 1GB modules)?

God I hope its worth it after all this - next step assuming this works is to ditch the SLI'd 6800GTs in favour of an 8800 GTS or GTX...

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[malcolm]

1) When you release the clips/screw of your heatsink you will find it is only 'softly' attached to the CPU, just try to rotate it a few degrees either way if the bracket will let it, then it will soon release and come away fom the CPU.

2) See here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17672727

3) Before you start make sure the Bios is set to default settings. If you've only ever used 'EasyTune' it should be still at those settings.

Now read this thread: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17612922

More reading specific to the A64: http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?t=327

Then read more still!

4) Ballistix is good stuff, should be great for Overclocking, but you need to know the model number and speed to get the best settings for it.

Have fun!

 

[steve258]

1) AS5 is very sticky so the best way is to heat up the cpu by running Orthos or other CPU stress program before removing the HSF so the CPU does not come off with it. Remove HS with twisting motion and make sure you are pulling upward and not to the side so if the CPU does come off with the HS there won't be any bent pins.

2) Go to AMD's website and download the dual core optimisor and the X2 driver, after you installed the new CPU install the driver first then install the optimisor after reboot.

3) Best way to OC is through BIOS - if you understand the settings in EasyTune then you should be able to tweak the same settings in BIOS fine. Stepping does matter a lot when it comes to optys but even the worst ones should oc to around 2.6Ghz, or so I read.

4) Your Ram is fine if it does not keep up you can always run a divider.