Pls help me overclock my opty 170

xirokx · 7 Jun 2006 at 20:19

Hi,

specs: opty 170, dfi nf4 sli dr, 2gig Gskill PC4000, zalman 9500led

Im currently running cpu at 2.5ghz primed it for 10 hrs and it was fine (I ran two prime test simultaneously)....ran memtest for 10hrs without any errors etc...

I overclocked the RAM and CPU using these settings:

FSB - 250
LDT - x4
CPU/FSB Ratio - x10
Vcore - AUTO
LDTv - 1.30
CHPv - 1.6
vDIMM - 2.6

DRAM Frequency Set - 200 (DRAM/FSB:1:1) Command Per Clock (CPC) - Enable
CAS Latency Control (Tcl) - 3.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd) - 04 Bus Clocks
Min RAS# active time (Tras) - 08 Bus Clocks
Row precharge time (Trp) - 04 Bus Clocks
Row Cycle time (Trc) - 07 Bus Clocks
Row refresh cyc time (Trfc) - 14 Bus Clocks
Row to Row delay (Trrd) - 03 Bus Clocks
Write recovery time (Twr) - 02 Bus Clocks
Write to Read delay (Twtr) - 02 Bus Clocks
Read to Write delay (Trwt) - 03 Bus Clocks
Refresh Period (Tref) - 3120 Cycles
Write CAS Latency (Twcl) - 01
DRAM Bank Interleave - Enabled

DQS Skew Control - Auto
DQS Skew Value - 0
DRAM Drive Strength - Level 7
DRAM Data Drive Strength - Level 3
Max Async Latency - 8.0ns
DRAM Response Time - Normal
Read Preamble Time - 5.0ns
IdleCycle Limit - 256 Cycles
Dynamic Counter - Disable
R/W Queue Bypass - 16 x
Bypass Max - 07 x
32 Byte Granularity - Disable(4 Bursts)

I am really worried about the temps because after priming both cpus simulateously for 10hrs the temps were as follows:

Loaded temps
cpu - 50
pwim - 55

Therefore I am concerned something is not quite right...and I could really do with some help to find out what??? questions I have are:

a) are those RAM timings - tighting or loosening the RAM? I believe they are tightening however whats better tigthening or loosening RAM?
b) what are safe temps for the opty 170?
c) Should I change those RAM settings? If yes what to?

I would really like to push this to the max and realise it will take time and patience which atm I have in abundance...all I am lacking is expert advise...

Please help

Thanks in advance...

Cheers....

P.S. Sorry for the lengthy post...I just wanted you guys to have all the facts...

mercyless · 7 Jun 2006 at 21:04

try LDT x3
run ram on divider, start at 166, leave other ram timings for now until you reached stable clock increasing volts etc
temps seems high thou, that would limit you when clocking,have you reseated heatsink?

xirokx · 7 Jun 2006 at 22:16

okey dokey

so I will put the LDT on x3 and RAM on 166 divider...so are you saying just try and increase the FSB now and when I hit a wall then increase the VCORE and VDIMM? thereafter manipulate RAM timings? Please clarify....

thanks for your response..

mercyless · 8 Jun 2006 at 00:32

yes up fsb, increase volts when needed on cpu, , no need to increase vdimm, 2.6 is fine for now.
say you get cpu 2.8 stable, 280 x 10, mem on 166 divider would be 233 mhz, or 180 divider 254 mhz, ram timings should be left @ 3-4-4-8 . you may need to increase vdimm if any higher.

xirokx · 9 Jun 2006 at 18:32

have you reseated heatsink?

Hmmm interesting point.....I have a zalman 9500led HSF do you think its not seated properly? How can you tell other than getting high temps lol

At idle my cpu is 40c

I have 1 x 120mm front and 1 x 120mm rear fan and they are the standard fans which come with the lian li pc 7+

Please advise on cooling whether it needs to be improved? and kindly suggest safe temps for this chip ???????? also please suggest whether I should reseat the HSF??

Thanks in advance...

Cheers!!!!

mercyless · 9 Jun 2006 at 20:01

its worth a try imo, maybe thermal compound is on to thick, or hsf not on tight.
might be your case not having good air flow, take of the sides and see if temps improve a lot. its all trial and error.
imo temps load should be between 50-55c on air. but in this heat :eek:

deff be higher.

xirokx · 9 Jun 2006 at 22:21

ahhhhh I see......

thanks for your help you are like a breathe of fresh air....

will try reseating the HSF and then running some tests again

cheers!!!

xirokx · 11 Jun 2006 at 23:18

reseated the hsf and here is what I got:

Idle temps 40c load temps 56c - 59c - in smart guardian on 270fsb @1.45v the temp when cpu is loaded ( 2x primes) the temp flucutates from 55c - 59c.....why? how comes it does remain constant?

do you guys reckon my load temps are way to high for the opty 170? if yes please confirm what load temps should be for 270fsb @ 1.45? mem is on a 133 divider...

I have 2 x 120mm fans 1 @ rear and 1 @ front - hsf = zalman 9500led its facing the rear fan.....

please help......

thanks in advance

A.N.Other · 11 Jun 2006 at 23:27

You say the Zalman is facing the rear fan? Do you mean the air is going that way or the fan is facing that way - because the fan should be at the front end of the PC (facing forwards).

Those temps do seem a little high, but all CPUs will be running hot in this weather! Fully loaded (also with a Zalman CNPS9500), my OCed X2 3800+ is doing 48C

. Normally, depending on air temps, this will do anything from 27-42C.

xirokx · 12 Jun 2006 at 00:43

the fan of my zalman9500led is facing the rear case fan..........however can this really affect the temps if it is on wrong?

gr1mey · 12 Jun 2006 at 08:01

yes because it will be pushing the hot air the wrong way!

A.N.Other · 12 Jun 2006 at 08:12

gr1mey said:
yes because it will be pushing the hot air the wrong way!

Basically, you're supposed to make the air flow through the case as smooth and as direct as possible. That's mucking it all up, I'm afraid. Changing it round, you should see a few degrees difference, I would have thought.

I've learnt from bitter experience with this one - I did the same when I first got mine :rolleyes:

. The instructions certainly could be a little clearer - I had to look at the website in the end, which shows little gifs of air going in the front and out the back of the case.