Watercooling

Just reseated my HSF and reapplied the thermal compound. I only had some Thermaltake Thermal grease #1 so I had to use that.

Temps:

Everest: 30-32 degrees C

Core Temp: 40-42 degrees C


I wnat to get my temps down and also increase speed of the system.

I may purchase the Lian Li PC V1000 alu case which should help.

A friend also suggested buying a sata to CF converter and a 4GB CF card and using that as my OS drive for Vista. What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks

Neil
 
The CF idea is a waste of time in my opinion. What's the benefit? Shorter loading times for windows? How often do you start windows every day?

In the real world, you'll see little performance benefit, and if somethings working, why break it? ;)

Graphics card is where I'd go next with your rig, and watercooling, but just because it's fun... :)

Also, overclocking your CPU should just be a case of upping the FSB, and maybe adjusting your memory divider to ensure you don't over speed the RAM.

You still haven't said what speed it runs at, and the timings etc?

That's a nice case you're thinking of buying, and expensive, but it won't make your system any quicker at all. It may help your temps a bit, but not enough to make a difference.
 
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Ok, So I'll stop thinking about CF instead of Hard Drives.

I don't play an almighty amount of games so an upated graphics card really is not needed for me. The only games I play to be honest are Simple puzzle games and RCT1 and 2 for nostalgia reasons! :D

I still may get the case and I am looing at the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme to replace my current Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro along with some AS5 to go along with it.

If I wanted to find out details about my ram, do i go into the bios or can I use a program? If so then what am I looking for? and what program can I use?
 
CPU-Z would tell you all you need to know really. I think it's version 1.40 that's the most current.

It's a small download, and then just runs without needing an installation.

You use everest though didn't you mention? That should tell you what you need to know as well.

That cooler and AS5 should start to make a dent in your temps too.
 
here is a screen from CPU-Z

memorydetails.jpg


I hope that tells you what you need to know.

Thanks

Neil
 
Ok, so it's running at standard PC-6400 speed (333mhz x 2 = DDR2 667Mhz) . Your RAM is set to 4:5 at the moment, so my guess is your running your FSB at 266? Is that right?

If so, you should have some FSB headroom without overclocking the RAM. You should be able to run to 333fsb, and then ensuring you've got the RAM divider set to 2, it should net you a 3 Ghz clock speed, with the RAM running at twice the FSB speed, which is 667Mhz.

DON'T just whack the FSB up to 333 though, bring the divider down to 2 and then start moving the FSB up by 5 or so, and see if it's stable. You may need to gently increase the voltage at some point if it won't boot at the higher FSB's, but don't go there unless you know what you're doing.

Again, sorry to go on about it, but it's explained far better in the overclocking sticky thread up top. You HAVE read it by now haven't you?! ;)

Sorry if this sounds like I'm teaching you to suck eggs! :)
 
I have read a guide about overclocking and it helped a bit but it is still very much new and I don;t really know what I am doing. How do I find out my current FSB?

Thanks

Neil
 
rctneil said:
I have read a guide about overclocking and it helped a bit but it is still very much new and I don;t really know what I am doing. How do I find out my current FSB?

Thanks

Neil
Click to expand...

go into your bios and check it in one of the menus, gigabyte models are usual under M.I.T.

or you could download cpu-z, that will tell you.
 
So, do you think I should give that a go?

So, I set the memory divider to 2

and then up the FSB by 5 and check stability and keep going until fails?


Also, If I replaced my AC Freezer 7 with a thermalright ultra 120 extreme and a scythe 120mm fan, would that help?

I have also just seen a post talking about the thermalright fitting into the lian li pc v1000+ case. does anyone else know whether it fits or not?

UPDATE: Just thought that I cannot use the Lian Li PC v1000 asmy mobo has a heatpipe on it to cool the chipset and can't be mounted upsidedown. Any other nice cases like that you could recommend?



Tooks said:
Ok, so it's running at standard PC-6400 speed (333mhz x 2 = DDR2 667Mhz) . Your RAM is set to 4:5 at the moment, so my guess is your running your FSB at 266? Is that right?

If so, you should have some FSB headroom without overclocking the RAM. You should be able to run to 333fsb, and then ensuring you've got the RAM divider set to 2, it should net you a 3 Ghz clock speed, with the RAM running at twice the FSB speed, which is 667Mhz.

DON'T just whack the FSB up to 333 though, bring the divider down to 2 and then start moving the FSB up by 5 or so, and see if it's stable. You may need to gently increase the voltage at some point if it won't boot at the higher FSB's, but don't go there unless you know what you're doing.

Again, sorry to go on about it, but it's explained far better in the overclocking sticky thread up top. You HAVE read it by now haven't you?! ;)

Sorry if this sounds like I'm teaching you to suck eggs! :)
Click to expand...
 
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Some questions:

What is a ram divider?

Why do I have to set it to 2?

Whats the 4:5 you spoke about and how do you know?



I read a tutorial about Overclcoking C2D's at ***** Forums, I think it was and it said to set the Ram to 1:1 to be synchronous with the FSB. It's this memory part I don't understand.

Thanks

Neil
 
The RAM divider is how many clocks your memory will run at compared to your front side bus clocks.

I knew it was running at 4:5 because it was on your CPU-Z screenshot earlier in the thread. That means that for every 4 clocks on your FSB, your RAM does 5, basically.

Running the RAM at 1:1 should allow you to run a higher FSB without overclocking your RAM, assuming it's 667mhz, so that would be 333mhz FSB.
 
So, Do I want to set the Memory Divider to 1:1 or leave it as it is?

Also

How do I know what the max frequency of the memory is?
 
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Look, you're going to get confused at this rate!!

In my opinion, if you're going to overclock, then yes, set your memory divider in the Bios to 2. This means that for a FSB speed of 333mhz (for instance), then your RAM will be running at 333mhz too. But, because DDR2 RAM runs two clock cycles for every FSB cycle (hence the name DDR2) then its speed is 666mhz, as reported in programs like CPU-Z.

If you left your divider where it is now, at 4:5, then at the same 333mhz FSB speed (still only saying this as an example!), then your ram would be running at 416mhz, which doubled (DDR2 remember) would be 832mhz.

Now, if your RAM is rated to run at a maximum speed of 667mhz (PC-5300), then you can see how your memory might be unhappy at 832mhz if you left your divider where it is now.

If your RAM was rated to run at 800mhz though (PC-6400), then it would most likely not be a problem.

It could be your Bios is setting your RAM speed automatically, in which case you need to know more about your system.

Before your start any overclocking, you need to know your way around YOUR Bios. I know it's boring, but sit down in your Bios screen, with your manual, and find out what all of the different menus and options do.

You also need to know the details and specifications of your components, particularly your RAM, so you need to do some research.

I don't have the same board as you, but thousands of people on the forums do. Carry on what you're doing, and read the threads where people have overclocked their similar system. Somebody on this thread posted some good links earlier on.
 
Thanks for that.

So, I'll go find out what the speed of my ram is and look around the bios a bit more.

UPDATE: I have found out the details of my RAM:

It's DDR2 800 PC2 6400

Does this mean it runs at 800mhz


I ahve also had a quick look around the bios and found where you change the FSB which is great but can't find where to change the memory divider. I did find "DRAM Frequency" which could be the same and this gave me the following options:

DDR2-400mhz
DDR2-533mhz
DDR2-667mhz
DDR2-711mhz
DDR2-800mhz
DDR2-889mhz
DDR2-1067mhz

If this is the same then what dod I set it to for a divider of 2?

Also if my divider is 4:5 now and you say set it to 2 then what is 2 in the ratio terms? 1:2 or 2:1? I guess it's 1:2 but not sure but I first need to know where to change it in the bios!

Thanks

Neil


Thanks

Neil
 
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Hi Neil,

Yep, you've got it!

Your RAM is 800mhz, that's right.

At the moment, your FSB is 266mhz, as you're running your E6600 stock, correct?

And, your RAM is currently running at the DDR2 - 667mhz setting which is the 'divider' but called DRAM Frequency in your Bios. Your RAM is running 5 clocks for every 4 of your FSB, hence the 4:5 ratio reported in CPU-Z (266FSB:333mhz RAM (which is actually 666mhz as RAM does 2 cycles for every one of the FSB)).

If it was running at 1:2 (or a divider of 2, as it's known), then you would need to select DDR2 - 533mhz in the DRAM Frequency section of the Bios (266FSB:266mhz RAM (which would be 533mhz as RAM does 2 cycles for every one of the FSB)).

RAM speed doesn't really do much for performance on a core 2 system, it's just useful to know what the dividers/DRAM Frequency settings do so that you don't overclock your RAM further than it's capable of which would cause instability.

If, for instance, you moved your FSB up to 300mhz, then the options you would see in your DRAM Frequency settings would change as well.

You'd probably see something like:-

DDR2-450mhz
DDR2-600mhz
DDR2-750mhz
DDR2-798mhz
DDR2-800mhz
DDR2-1002mhz
DDR2-1200mhz

So, to get a 'divider' of 2, you just need choose the number that is x2 of your chosen FSB. (300FSB:300mhz RAM (again, actually 600mhz as RAM does 2 cycles for every one of the FSB)).)

So, in the case above, you would choose DDR2 - 600mhz.

With your RAM, you should be good for up to 400mhz FSB, but of course there is no guarantee that you'll get that far as either the CPU, or Motherboard or some other factor such as heat will stop you.

A FSB of 300, would have your E6600 running at 2.7Ghz.

You shouldn't damage anything though, as long as you don't go mad!

You can always just put everything back to where you knew it worked and then start again.
 
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Excellent.

So if I wanted to reach 3.0Ghz I would need a 333 FSB right?

And I would choose the DRAM Frequency of 667?

If this is correct then I may give it a go tommorow but at a lower fsb just to be sure first time.

So could I start with setting my FSB at 280 for 2.5ghx and then the dram frequency would be 560?

I hope this is all correct.

Just to ask, If I did go ahead and set the fsb to 333 and the dram to 666 do you think I would have any major problems?

Thanks for all your help.

Neil.
 
Best advice is to go little by little mate.

I would start at about 280, that should be ok, then move it up by 10 and see if it boots etc. Some stability testing with Orthos for 30 mins or so now and again would be good too.

Now we know your RAM is 800mhz stuff, you should be ok choosing any DRAM Frequency in your Bios that is at or below 800mhz. The only thing I've noticed is that my Asus board overclocks much better when the divider is 2, rather than 4:5 or something. Yours might be similar. My 800mhz RAM is currently running at 680mhz, which is somewhat underclocked, but it really doesn't impact on performance that much, and I can only achieve my current 3.4Ghz overclock with the RAM at that speed.

One thing to note is that CPU-Z will report your RAM as running 1:1 when it's on a 'divider' of 2, just so that it doesn't confuse you! (eg 333FSB:333mhz RAM = 666mhz actual RAM speed). For the purposes of ratios though, it's reported as 1:1 in CPU-Z, but actually is 1:2 as you would normally calculate such things!

333FSB and 666/7mhz RAM speed is what you're after to get a 3ghz CPU speed, yes. It shouldn't in theory cause any problems, but then all systems are different, and your CPU might not do it at stock volts, but leave that until you've got as far as you can with the voltages left unchanged...

A good tip is to make sure you take a note of all your Bios settings, just in case you need to clear the CMOS and re-enter your old settings to go back to where you are now.

Good luck! :)
 
Cheers for all your help.

I'll have a go a bit later this afternoon. I know nothing should happen to my data when I do it but to be sure I'll do a full backup and put an old XP drive in so I can test using that!

I'll post back here with any other questions and my results!

Thanks

Neil
 
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