overclocking

chong warrior said:
I agree, it's a very good start but needs more. Maybe you could integrate some of this into your guide?

Firstly, I think finding the CPU limit is the easiest thing to do. Trying to find the fsb limit is a lot trickier because there a more factors involved, like:-

RAM voltage,
RAM timings,
RAM fsb limit (some RAM just won't go higher, no matter what)
Motherboard northbridge voltage,
Northbridge heat (can cause all kinds of problems, especially onboard features like sound)
CPU voltage,
CPU speed limit,
CPU plain old fsb limit ( I mean even a 2ghz CPU can't run at 400fsb x 5 = 2ghz can it? no matter what you do to it)

To find the CPU limit is as simple as upping it's voltage until it won't go any further or you think your heatsink can't keep it cool enough. Also when you know the CPU limit it takes a factor out of guessing what's failing when hitting fsb problems later.

This is what I do and is how I know my system could run at 2.3ghz (230fsb x 10) RAM @ 11 - 4 - 4 - 2.5 without problems
Though for the sake of my ears (from the fans) and just to be 110% on the safe side I run at 2.2ghz (220fsb x 10) RAM @ 11-3-2-2 for normal use everyday use.
When playing a game I just whack it upto 2.3ghz and turn the speakers up.

1. Get your system 101% stable, with all your OS and programs installed, patched, updated, etc. Create a backup! you aren't going to find any limits until things start failing, things fail, especially due to high fsb, can cause all kinds of problems with important files. BE WARNED!

2. Invest in the best cooling you can / or are willing to afford. This should consist of a minimum of:-

1x 80mm fan on CPU heatsink (preferably over 30cfm)
1x 80mm fan sucking air into your case
1x 80mm fan blowing air out of your case

I say 80mm fans because anything smaller and they'll need to be spinning real fast to move a decent amount of air about. Which means loads of noise, even 80mm fans are quite loud.
You could even 7v these fans, it will raise temps a little, but as long as you've got some air passing through your case it'll help.
A couple of quid on a couple of fans is a small price to pay for the gains you'll probably make. Remember heat is the enemy here, the cooler things are, the faster they'll go

3. Now start finding how fast your CPU will go. So up the multiplier by 0.5. I'll use same example.

Athlon XP1800+
Stock = 1533mHz
FSB = 133mhz
Multiplier = 11.5

3a Increase multiplier to 12. CPU now at 1596mhz
3b Make sure it's stable, if it is up it again to 12.5. CPU now at 1662mhz.
3c Repeat this process until either something crashes or it just won't post / start up.
3d Let's say it fails at 13.5 x 133 = 1795mhz. Up the Vcore by 0.025
3e This time it boots @ 1795mhz. Repeat steps above until it fails.
3f Let's say it fails at 14.5 x 133 = 1928mhz, up the Vcore again. Repeat until either:-
Upping Vcore doesn't help it boot, or
CPU temps are getting higher than you're comfortable with, or
You've hit the maximum Vcore on your motherboard.
3g Now let's say it hit 15 x 133 = 1995mhz by upping the Vcore a total of 0.75volts and it's stable. You try 15.5 x 133 it fails. Upping by another 0.025v doesn't help, another 0.25v still doesn't work but another 0.025v does and you're running at 2061mhz.

Now this is where personal preference comes in. You've just overclocked you're CPU from 1533mhz to 1995mhz by upping the Vcore 0.075v. A gain of 462mhz!! Is it worth trying to gain just 66mhz more by having to add another 0.75v?

I say no, and is the reason I run my system at 2.2ghz 24/7 instead of 2.3ghz. Others want the maximum and would disagree with me. (someone usually does)

4 Now you know you're CPU limit is 2061mhz with 0.15v of extra volts or 1995mhz with just 0.075 volts extra. So it's time to find the FSB limit of your system.

With extra knowledge that your CPU limit is around 1729mhz (13 x 133) at default volts (because it failed at 13.5 x 133 earlier and you had to up the Vcore to get it higher.) You can set the multiplier to 10 knowing that if your system fails with the fsb at anything under 170mhz, it's almost certainly NOT the CPU and is probably the RAM or motherboard.

NOTE-If it fails at 170 x 10 =1700mhz, it could possibly be the CPU because although it did 133 x 13 = 1729mhz earlier, the extra 37mhz fsb could put more of a strain on it. Doubt it but it's possible, if you're unlucky you just might have a CPU that doesn't like high fsb's.

Once you do hit 170mhz FSB, drop the multiplier on the CPU to 9 or lower so you can keep it at default volts.( for now!)

Now follow the earlier guide for raising FSB. Except this time you can try these tips once you think you've hit the max.
Let's carry it on from where they left off and 179mhz is your maximum with RAM at 2.7v.

5 Multiplier of 9, RAM @ 2.7v, fsb @ 179mhz = 1611mhz

5a Go into BIOS and find the option where you can change your RAM's timings. I can't tell you where that here as every motherboard is different (some older ones won't even have this option) nforce2 chipset's do.

It'll have options like Optimum, Aggressive, Turbo, Manual. We want Manual.

When you select Manual, the numbers below it that were greyed out before will now be selectable! There should be 4 altogether. The first one will be the biggest, probably around 9, the next two will be around 3 or 4 (may have the letter 't' after them) and the last one ( the most important ) can be either 2, 2.5 or 3 and is called CAS.

5b For an example we'll set these numbers to 11 - 4 - 4 - 3. Now it's a little murky messing with RAM timings as some RAM just doesn't like certain configurations in this department, but bear with it, it can be well worth the effort. I gained an extra 20mhz on the fsb just by changing these settings alone!

My RAM will not boot with the CAS at 3, even though it should make it easier than 2.5. It won't even boot at 3 with the fsb at 100mhz!! So if yours won't boot, try 11-4-4-2.5

This is called "slackening your RAM timings" by the way.

5c If you find some 'slack' timings your RAM likes and it boots at 179 x 9, it time to see if we can go higher. Try 180 for size first time.
5d Keep going in 1mhz - 2mhz increments.
5e Now lets say you've hit 189mhz x 9 = 1701mhz and it's booted, drop the multiplier on the CPU as you're getting close to it's limits again, or you can just up the Vcore by 0.025v to help.
5f Whatever you fail at now, could very well be your systems limit, but there's another trick up the experienced overclockers sleeve.

You should also try this if slackening the RAM timings doesn't help at all, as this could the problem and not your RAM. If this helps then go back to 5b and try again.

6 Up the voltage to your northbridge, ( can't think of the name for it right now I'll come back and edit it later ) it will be at 1.6v if on an nforce2 motherboard. So up it by 0.1v to 1.7v

Now when your system fails you now know your max FSB and max CPU clock. Let's say in this example 200fsb was the max.
You know it can't run at 200 x 10.5 = 2100mhz because your CPU won't do it. You could try 200 x 10 = 2ghz, it managed 1995mhz earlier. Maybe try an extra 0.025v so you've raised by a total of 0.1v Vcore.

If this is stable after running Prime95, 3D Mark2001SE congratulations!

An XP1800+ running at 2ghz on a 200fsb with 400mhz DDR is a seriously fast machine and a very good overclock from 1.53ghz on a 133fsb with 266mhz DDR.

I'd say about 40% faster, maybe more!

You can also try "tightening" your RAM timings slightly if it's rock solid stable. Maybe get it down from 11 - 4 - 4 - 3 to 11 - 3 - 3 - 2.5.
You could also try upping the RAM volts to 2.8v, it shouldn't be a problem as long as you've got good airflow through your case.

Now go and overclock your graphics card.

Maybe you could try integrating some of that into your guide NF7-S? It's a bit long winded I know, I can go on sometimes! Maybe with a bit of editing it'll help?

**EDIT There is also one more trick you can try to give your fsb a good boost, but I'm not sure how many motherboards have this option. The only one I know that has it for sure is the Abit NF7-S.
There's an option in the BIOS called "CPU interface". What this does is initiate the 1T command for fast performance. Disabling this option can in some cases allow for a huge jump in maximum stable fsb. Maybe as much as an extra 30mhz!

But...

it does make quite a big impact on overall system performance, so it's upto you to decide if the trade off is worth it. Maybe an extra 30mhz fsb is, but an extra 5mhz definately won't be.

As with every guide, there are no certainties. Every system is different so there's no point in posting your full system spec's and asking
" what will this overclock to? "
Every single system is different and there are way too many different configurations to list an exact guide for each one. Even 2 systems absolutely exactly the same in every single aspect will overclock differently.

Experiment and have fun.
Click to expand...



i have thats what was on there (page 2)
 
this is my old comp btw ocuk is testing my mobo on my new comp now (the on board sound on it wont work). Anyways i cant get into the bios its password protected how can i crack it, btw i have tried all the usuals admin, root, core etc
 
ok i wont bother on this comp but i have a new comp that i have built it has a "AMD 64 3200+ with hypertransport technology" and a "ASUS A8R-MVP" motherboard (and i dont think the bios are locked on that) so could i overclock that CPU? its brand new from ocuk
thanks :D
 
Joe42 said:
OT, its not an Asus A8n series is it by any change?
Asus fail to mention in the manual that you have to put a pair of jumpers over some of the front port sound pins on the board for onboard sound to work correctly. It only affects the front 2 channels. Had me fooled for a while.
Click to expand...


no mine is a A8R series
 
so how do i change the vcore and multiplier for the comp i just listed?#should be getting it back 2moz lol :D
does anyone know if ocuk is open on a sunday?
thanks
 
Joe42 said:
I bet its the same tho.
I can't remember which pins it is, but you have to put a jumper accross two of them to enable the two front channels.
Click to expand...


o right ocuk should tell me that when (hopefully) i pick it up tomorrow
thanks
 
A.N.Other said:
You woun't want to be changing the CPU multi with an A64! They are locked upwards, so can only go down.

Download CPU-Z, Prime95 and SuperPi. Stress test with the second two, CPU-Z give you info on your OC.

For you ...
Here ... 21st pic :eek: ... disable cool'n'quiet and set the Ht Mutli to 4x (800MHz).
Here ... 2nd pic ... change the memclock value to 166.
... 1st pic ... Raise the CPU frequency. Stress test. If you get instability, raise the processor voltage (same pic) very slightly and test again.

If you get the CPU frequency over 250, change the HT Multi to 3x. If in CPU-Z, the memory frequency gets to 215-220 ish, lower the memclock value again.

That should be it. Enjoy :)

// EDIT // Obviously, watch the temperatures when stress testing, especially after boosting the voltage. Lower the OC if things are getting too hot.
Click to expand...


thanks m8 i will do that as soon as i get my mobo back
thanks again :D
 
btw i know this has nothing to do with what we're talking about but how do you make one fan blow air out of the case and the other to suck it in? do you simply screw them on to the case in different ways around? and last question is two case fans, a fan in the power supply and a fan on the cpu enough cooling? (p.s the fan on the cpu is standard so is the fan in the power suply and this is what case fans i have brought "YS-TECH FD128025HB" http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_YS_Tech_60.html ) :D
 
Joe42 said:
I bet its the same tho.
I can't remember which pins it is, but you have to put a jumper accross two of them to enable the two front channels.
Click to expand...

i have just had my motherboard back from ocuk (its brand new they said my other one had knackered onboard sound) and it is saying exactly the same so i think you are right
how did you do it?
thanks
 
A.N.Other said:
You woun't want to be changing the CPU multi with an A64! They are locked upwards, so can only go down.

Download CPU-Z, Prime95 and SuperPi. Stress test with the second two, CPU-Z give you info on your OC.

For you ...
Here ... 21st pic :eek: ... disable cool'n'quiet and set the Ht Mutli to 4x (800MHz).
Here ... 2nd pic ... change the memclock value to 166.
... 1st pic ... Raise the CPU frequency. Stress test. If you get instability, raise the processor voltage (same pic) very slightly and test again.

If you get the CPU frequency over 250, change the HT Multi to 3x. If in CPU-Z, the memory frequency gets to 215-220 ish, lower the memclock value again.

That should be it. Enjoy :)

// EDIT // Obviously, watch the temperatures when stress testing, especially after boosting the voltage. Lower the OC if things are getting too hot.
Click to expand...

just got a new mobo and i am oc'ing it, how much do you recommend i raise it by each time (the cpu frequency i mean)
thanks

*EDIT* i am raisng by 1 each time
 
Joe42 said:
See this pic. Top middle just above the blue pci-e slot. There are two blue jumpers on the front panel sound pins.
Jumpers like so:

. .|.| |.|
. .|.|.|.|

If you have a case with front sound connectors, connect these instead of the jumpers. The manual will tell you how, but i think the manual does not mention the need for jumpers if you don't have front panel sound. The jumpered pins are for the right and left channels for the headphone jack.
Click to expand...

i dont know if i have front panel sound, what is it? and i dont want to use headphones i want to use 2 normal speakers (my speakers are 1 down)
also could you please look at this photo and tell me where the jumpers are asus A8R-MVP motherboard pic
thanks
 
A.N.Other said:
1 FSB? That's a little low :rolleyes:.

Look here and here for overclocks with your CPU (info in no.2 to be taken with a pinch of salt). Go straight to a value reasonably near the average OC and then step it up in 5s until you get instability. You can then fiddle about with the lower numbers, but this will save you a lot of time.
Click to expand...

how do i know if i get instability?
thanks
 
Joe42 said:
You run memtest86 from a cd when you boot up to test the memory, and then prime95 torture test in windows to test the rest of it.
Edit: If your cpu is dual core, you need to create two shortcuts of prime95, click on properties and in the 'target' field put '-A0' (without ') in one and '-A1' in the other, then run both simultaniously.
What i mean by front panel sound is connectors on the front of the case. Most cases have a headphone and microphone jack on the front next to the front usb connectors. If you want to use these, you have to connect the cable to the audio pins on the board. If you don't want to use them, you have to put jumpers across those two pins.
Looking at that pic, i expect its the green set of pins just above the black pci-e connector next to the cd audio connectors. You should check your manual and see if it is this connector, and it will tell you how to connect your front panel sound connector to this.
Click to expand...


why do you have to boot it from a cd why cant you just boot it from windows and how do i torture test in prime 95 (i already have prime 95 btw)
thanks for the help m8 :D
 
Joe42 said:
You must boot it from a cd because then the memory is empty. When windows is running the memory contains windows and so that part can't be tested. I was reluctant to do this myself untill recently, but providing you can make a bootable cd i found it very easy to use. It practically runs itself.

In prime 95 go to options and click torture test. Should be left for a few hours with two instances running if its dual core. Also if its dual core you should click on advanced and go to affinity and check one is set to '0' and the other to '1' so each instance will only run on one core.
Click to expand...


so i have to keep the disc in my drive everytime i boot my computer or just when i oc it
thanks again
:D
 
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