Help an OC noob

Sobtanian · 7 Oct 2009 at 21:43

Hello all

I've ventured into OC territory for the first time now. Never been that into it in the past, but the current hardware made it too tempting.

Here's the relevant specs

Mobo - Asus Rampage II Extreme
RAM - 6x2gb Corsair Dominator (this has an XMP profile of 7-7-7-20 at 1600mhz)
CPU - intel i7 920

SO - being the noob that I am, I'm trying to get the CPU @ 3.2mhz and the RAM at 1600mhz.

Using the ram's XMP profile, the RAM becomes 1600mhz but it automatically sets the cpu to it's default 2.67mhz
Using the mobo's CPU OC profile to 3.2mhz, the cpu overclock's fine but the RAM has an odd 1283.4mhz timing.

If I try to do stuff manually, I get overwhelmed by a thousand and one variables and things to tweak

SO - I guess the questions are:

1 - Can I overclock the CPU to 3.2mhz AND the ram to 1600mhz (ideally 7-7-7-20)? and how?

2 - if not, what's best to have, the faster CPU or the faster RAM profile?

And thanks!

Sobtanian · 9 Oct 2009 at 07:57

CPU is ghz I meant, sorry!

Arachnae · 9 Oct 2009 at 08:19

Hi,

I was in your position a few weeks ago, but it all falls into place pretty easily.

Basically for 3.2Ghz you're looking at 152 BCLK with a multiplier of 21.

The best you're getting within spec for ram would be 1520Mhz with a x10 multiplier

You could overclock your ram to 1824Mhz, I'd try at 1520 first though so you know the cpu overclock works.

Exsurgo · 9 Oct 2009 at 08:45

I think overclocking 12Gb of RAM works a little differently because of the strain on the memory controller. I'd say get the RAM running at 1600Mhz if you can, doubt it will go much higher.
You should maybe google some 12Gb i7 overclocking guides, or hopefully someone on our forums can share their experiance. I know people with 12 gigs of RAM who have got to 4Ghz.

Sobtanian · 11 Oct 2009 at 22:26

Thank you both.

I have managed the following:

Bus 160mhz
multiplier 20

Ram 1600mhz with a 10x multiplier

system seems stable.

temps wise, the NB is at 52 degrees and SB at 50 degrees... am a bit worried that's too much?

also, with regards to RAM voltages, the RAM is specced at 1.65volt @ 1600, is that the DRAM core voltage or bus voltage?

thanks!