How easy is it to overclock a Core2?

OzZie · 19 Jan 2008 at 19:24

Evening,

I recently built a computer for my cousin after i seemed to break his old AGP motherboard of an unknown cause. :rolleyes:

Anyway, its got 4GB of Crucial RAM, a newer Core2 (the 2.0ghz 1mb cache one) and a 8800GTS(superclocked one) and obviously the CPU lets the system down at the speed its currently at. However, i want to overclock it to around 2.5ghz if possible, if not 3ghz would be great. His ram is currently at 667mhz on a divider instead on 800mhz because otherwise the system doesn't post with his P5E-SLI. However, the ram is 800mhz stuff. The multi of the CPU is 10x.

How do i overclock these? Do i simply upp the FSB and watch the VDIMM voltage and CPU Vcore as i go? I tried this before and it completely messed up the windows install (explorer crashing, nothing loading up etc) but that may have been a coinsidence.

Basically, ive only overclocked AMD's which seems a million times easier at the present time, but i know overclocking C2D are also very easy.

Thanks for any help and advice, as he has just bought crysis for his birthday and fears it wont run well at 1280x1024 with medium details, but i said it will if he overclocks his CPU.

OzZie · 19 Jan 2008 at 19:57

I think thats the one yeah, although i'm not 100% sure. Specs are 2.0ghz per core with 1mb L2 cache, and its one of the newer ones that are rebranded.

OzZie · 19 Jan 2008 at 20:29

Sorry i didnt mention that that he has 4x1GB and there are many issues with 4 stick of RAM. The way i got around it was to lower it all to 667mhz, increase the VDIMM a notch, and the NB voltage.

However, if i overclock the RAM past 667mhz then i may get issues like i did before, but im not sure.

I would just generally like to know the process of overclocking the C2D, and what overclocks what in relation to what.

OzZie · 20 Jan 2008 at 12:11

Thanks Richie!

Shall look into all of that you mentioned and will see how i get on. A lot of that is different from the A64's i am used to overclocking, and so that was all helpful information.

So putting the ram 1:1 will allow my to overclock the CPU whilst not having to worry about the memory speed in relation to this? Then once the CPU speed is good, then i use the best ratio available to get back up (or as close to) to 400/800mhz?

Will post back with results within the next few days.