Overclock Advice

[FluffySheep]

I'm doing my first major attempt at overclocking, and I would like peoples advice on where to go to next:

Specs:
e6750
Gigabyte GA_P35C_DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 & DDR3 Motherboard
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit

Current settings:

FSB at 410MHz
CPU at 410x8 = 3.28GHZ and 35C under load with 1.375V (not 100% load, prob about 80% load)
RAM at 984MHz and 5:7:7:23 timings (can these be tightened? to what level?)

If I go for a FSB of 420MHZ the system freezes, even when the CPU multiplier and RAM divider are slowed down When I cranked up the northbridge voltage the PC wouldn't even post at 420MHz. Any ideas how to push that up? (think n00b things I might have missed!)

Finally, my monitoring software is saying system temp of 44C with a CPU temp of 35C. Could I be getting a mis-reading from one/other or can CPUs run at a lower temp than the case? (i do have a Antec P182 case with a Noctua NH-U12F heatsink)

Thanks in advance
Fluffy Sheep

 

[Big.Wayne]

RAM at 984MHz and 5:7:7:23 timings (can these be tightened? to what level?)

thats pretty loose timings, try 5-5-5-15 or even better 4-4-4-8 etc. For specific help getting the most from your memory take it to the memory forums

If I go for a FSB of 420MHZ the system freezes, even when the CPU multiplier and RAM divider are slowed down

I didn't know you could 'slow down' the memory on the INTEL P35 chipset? thought it was 1:1 at slowest?

 

[FluffySheep]

I didn't know you could 'slow down' the memory on the INTEL P35 chipset? thought it was 1:1 at slowest?

Its rated for 800MHz. I have it at the mo at 984MHz (410x2.4), but if I bring it down to x2 (2:1) and up the FSB to 420MHZ it still crashes, so I don't think the RAM is the current limiting factor, or am I missing something?

 

[Big.Wayne]

The ram should be running at the same frequency as the FSB. Once you worked out what your CPU can do then you can focus your attention to juicing up your memory, so for the moment keep it as slow as possible, yours is running too fast

First set this and load Orthos/Prime and give it a good testing.

FSB at 400MHz
CPU at 400x8 = 3.20GHz with 1.35V
RAM at 800MHz and 5:5:5:15 timings

 

[FluffySheep]

The RAM timimgs have been tightened to 5:5:5:15 and it's orthos blend test stable at 415MHz FSB (CPU at 3320MHz and RAM at 996MHz) as well as any combination under that.

The limit at the moment is RAM, as RAM fails at 420MHz. It currently has 2.1V and feels very warm to the touch. Can it take more? What timimgs would be suitable to slacken off to? (I tried 6:7:7:23 and it refused to POST even though the timings were the only thing changed, clock speeds were not touched)

I'm also getting close to the limit on FSB, as 445MHz refuses to boot, regardless of multiplier and RAM settings. An way of pushing that limit back? Ive tried upping northbridge and FSB voltage, PCI clock locked at 100MHz, anything else I can try there?

 

[Big.Wayne]

The limit at the moment is RAM, as RAM fails at 420MHz. It currently has 2.1V and feels very warm to the touch. Can it take more? What timimgs would be suitable to slacken off to? (I tried 6:7:7:23 and it refused to POST even though the timings were the only thing changed, clock speeds were not touched)

For specific help getting the most from your memory take it to the memory forums