multiplier question

[robcat101]

I realise all non-extreme intel cpu's have their maximum multiplier locked, but are they all able to run on a lower multiplier so as to run a faster fsb with faster memory?

 

[gurusan]

I believe so but why would you sacrifice cpu speed for that when you can just raise the FSB and memory, which effectively overclocks the cpu as well.

 

[allllec]

only thing i can think, is hes reached the max oc of the cpu, but there is still some left in the motherboard/ram and he wants to get the most of it.. likley or not only reason i can think for it :s

 

[robcat101]

I may have the wrong end of the stick here, but I'll just illustrate what i'm thinking with some figures off the top of my head..

If I were to get an E6400 and aimed to get 3.2ghz from it, with an 8x multiplier I would need 400mhz FSB which would result in a memory speed of 800mhz.

Now if I lowered the multiplier to 7x and (mobo and mem permitting) run the FSB at 457mhz, I would still have 3.2 ghz but my memory would be running at 915mhz - would this not be better?

 

[allllec]

Yep, assuming that is that 3.2ghz is the most you can get out of the chip.. however chances are you can get more

 

[pegasus1]

You need to see the max speed of the individual components below
Max speed of CPU
Max FSB of the Mem
Max FSB the MOBO will allow
As an example
My 3700SD max's out at 2.65 but my mem will do 235HTT and the MOBO will go up to nearly 300.
If i run at my mems max i have 235 (max for mem) x 11 (highest multi) giving me 2.585Ghz.
My CPU will run faster than that but my mem is at its limit so i run at a divider.
So i can get 2.65 (max for CPU) with a HTT of 240 and divider 0f 11.
This however leaves my mem running at about 180 (due to divider) so im wasting 55mhz of mem bandwidth.
If i drop my multi to 10 i can run a HTT of 265 (well within my mobo max) still giving 2.65ghz but now my mem is running at about 225mhz.
Now my mem is near to its limit but ive still got enough room to tighten the mem timings a little.
So i have maximised my CPU speed and pretty much maximised my memery's potential although my MOBO couls do a little more.
Hope this helps and sorry if you know it already