"P4C800-E Deluxe" OC'ing tips etc.

[DanX]

Hi,

I looked around for a thread like this but didn't find any containing the info one could need if overclocking with this mobo, and running into a brick wall at xxxFSB

What do you think guys ?
Have I missed it somwhere in this forum or is this a good idea.
Thought we could share some tips and experiences when OC'ing this great mobo.

Here's my experience and my suggestions when overclocking so far.
Notes and numbers correspond to my hardware and settings,so take that into consideration !
Everything runs 100% stable 24/7.(Prime95+3dmark2001+Quake3 timedemo)

GENERAL INFO:

I'm at 255FSB with my P4 2.6C at 1.6VCore, that equals 3.3GHz.
This is my limit, the bottleneck ? ... my CPU.
( note : VCore fluctuates between 1.64 (No load) and 1.54 (full load) This is normal do not worry unless your voltage goes up to 1.7. )

Idle CPU temp: 38C
( After running the computer for a few hours or so )

Load: 50C
( note: a temp of up to 55C under load isn't anything to worry about )

Case temp: 32C
( my room temp is about 25-26C and since my case is built for SILENCE not maximum cooling I'm happy )

Memory at 1/1 divider. Timings (A-Data PC4000) 2,5.4.4.7
( note : I'm running my memory synchronyously with the CPU ,and I have set the tightest timings my memory can handle without any issues)

BIOS SETTINGS:

Memory Speed : 400
( This actually sets my divider to 1/1 thus I'm not lowering the memory clock speed )

Performance Acceleration : Enabled
(Increases performance by lowering latencys between RAM<->CPU)

Memory timings : 2,5.4.4.7
( My memory timings/latency ,as low values as possible is best )

FSB Speed : 260
( My FSB (Front side bus speed) ,multply with 13 to get your CPU speed if you own a 2.6C)

Memory Voltage : 2.75V
( My memory is rated OK up to 3.2V so this is also for stability , raising it more did nothing)

VCore : 1.6V
( Had to raise it from default becasue prime95 reported errors, not anymore ! )

DRAM Idle Timer: Infinite
( Works best for me ! But be careful )

DRAM Refresh Rate : 15µsec
( Works best for me ! But be careful )

AGP/PCI Frequency : 33/66
( Set to this manually or else overclocking will raise them resulting in "instability" )

Graphics Aperture : 128MB
( Set this to equal your Video memory size, double if its 32MB or lower, this option has very little influence on performance )

Spread Spectrum : Disabled
( Could lower your overclocking potential if left to "enabled" )

ICH Delayed Trans. : Enabled
( Delayed transaction mode for the PCI bus, read:http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx...var1=0&var2=77 for more info )

USB Legacy support : Disabled
( Disables your USB devices from functioning in DOS/Pre windows environments , not sure why this can help when overclocking..but it's often mentioned as a good tip )

AGP VDDQ : 1.5
( The voltage supplied trough the AGP port, if increased one step "COULD" increase your OC'ing but it didn't for me.
For more info : http://www.ertyu.org/~steven_nikkel/...atibility.html)

MPS Revision : 1.4
("Multi processor Specification" 1.4 recomended if you use a "modern" OS. Want to know more ? :http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx...ar1=0&var2=110)

And finally...
The "average" P4 2.6"C" usually overclocks to about 3.0 - 3.3GHz with air cooling , so dont "PANIC" if you cant get past that

If anything here seems "wrong" feel free to inform me and I'll correct it !
I'm not an EXPERT ,these are just my experiences and info that i have found reading forums and stuff.

Keep posting info and "tweaks" !

[kbk_75]

My newly built rig will just not post past 288 fsb. Funny thing is it goes to 285 on all default settings with MAM Enabled.

[Axel_abx]

Hi DanX
I glad you have started this link it could help OC`ing novices like my-self to get a good stable OC, re-settings from others to compare.

Axel

[Sierra_abx]

That's actually a pretty good overclock you have right now. Not sure if you'll be able to get much higher without special cooling. You could try raising Vdimm to 2.85v. Also try running DRAM Idle Timer at 8T if you can. Lower is generally better. Are you running in Turbo mode?

[DanX]

Thx !

I guess it will have to do
Was hoping for 3.4GHz but the cpu is holding me back i guess .
Tried running it 5:4 divider just to see if it was the memory, but it wasn't. ( even ran the memory on default setting/timings)
So my CPU wont go further than this.

Well the "DRAM idle time" is supposed to be as high as possible isn't it ? and since my memory is not the bottleneck here I might as well crank those setting up a bit

(http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=1)
Take a look at that page if anyone of you are uncertain of what some bios settings do !!

I'm running with turbo mode enabled, but i doubt it has ANY effect since it's supposed to change the DRAM TIMINGS and since I set them by myself anyway Turbo mode has no influence.
(correct me if I'm wrong )

And are the temps really a "bottleneck" ?
50C isn't bad.. could it really have any influence ?



>>>>kbk_75

288FSB is a great overclock IMO.
You should be happy !

But what settings are you running ?
Divider ? etc. etc. ... maybe we can give you some tips

[Sierra_abx]

DRAM idle timer and refresh rate settings determine how aggressively your memory is being read and written to. It's my understanding that lower settings are the most aggressive. But if the Infinite setting works for you, then I wouldn't touch it. I think Rojakpot recommends Infinite.

I believe Turbo tweaks the DRAM settings without actually changing them. Asus has never really given a good explanation. There was a thread discussion awhile back on this topic. I know my Sandra scores increase when Turbo is enabled.

[DanX]

Interesting... this is just the kind of info I'd like to have a definitive answer for.

To many questions take too much time to fiddle with and test.
And may even leed to components failing in the process.

I'm still uncertain about the turbo mode.
Some say it changes your memory timings to 2.2.2.5 when your FSB is 200 or less..

And yet no one has any real "proof" of it.
I think It probably does something else to.

So lets just say that if you can run "stable" with it ENABLED then DO IT

By the way I'll gather all the info we accumulate in this thread and put it in my first POST in some easy to read/understand fashion.

[DanX]

"UPDATE"

1st. post in this thread updated, have a look.
Still testing and gathering info 4 you guys

[Squeaker Toy]

seems like that baby is running pretty HOT (temp) Danx, idle at 38 is really cook'n, 50 under load seems way high. I'm wondering if you can do better if you get that temp down?
I know the 2.6 is a lil warmer than the 2.4 but mine idles around 25c and under load at 35c @ 3.4ghz (1:1)...wouldn't think the 2.6 would be _that_ much hotter. But 3.3 with Turbo on is pretty good.

[GR-44]

Originally posted by Squeaker Toy
seems like that baby is running pretty HOT (temp) Danx, idle at 38 is really cook'n, 50 under load seems way high. I'm wondering if you can do better if you get that temp down?
I know the 2.6 is a lil warmer than the 2.4 but mine idles around 25c and under load at 35c @ 3.4ghz (1:1)...wouldn't think the 2.6 would be _that_ much hotter. But 3.3 with Turbo on is pretty good.

Please explain to me how you get 25c idle and 35c full load? I highly doubt you get 35c full load on stock cooling, what case do you have?

[DanX]

My temps could be better, but I have a completly silent case with 2 120mm fans and a Zalman 7000Cu heatsink+fan running on half speed.

I think the temps are pretty good..
I know Intel states up to 70C as the MAXIMUM (I guess i dies at around 70C) temp on this cpu, but sure... who would want to run at those temps !:eek:

If I'd crank up all my case fans and the heatsink fan I'd be on 39-42C on max load.

By the way !
I did have tha entire case "open" when I was overclocking.
Still I didnt get any higher..

I'll try surpass 260 later today, with all fans on max and the case open again..just to make sure

Thanks for the advice !

[Sierra_abx]

My CPU temps range from 27-33C. No exotic cooling. I use a drive bay fan, only I have it mounted sideways in the case, blowing air directly at the video card and northbridge. Does a pretty good job and it only cost me $7. My case does have a blower hole at the top which I think helps a lot.

Thanks, DanX, for posting all your BIOS settings. I think that will help a lot of newcomers.

[DanX]

Those are nice temps..

Hmm.. I'm thinking about a fan-duct modd to lower my temps.
Don't know if its wort the effort though.

My Cpu temp actually stays on 29C before I start using my computer alot.
And then they never fall back to 29C agin but stay on 33-35 idle load.

[kbk_75]

>>>>kbk_75

288FSB is a great overclock IMO.
You should be happy !

But what settings are you running ?
Divider ? etc. etc. ... maybe we can give you some tips
>>>>>


All stock settings. Memory is crap so I have to run at 3:2 for now. Waiting for 4200EL to become available and hopefully then 280FSB 1:1 (that would be really cool!)

BTW, 120cm fans??? j/k

[DanX]

Hehe..yeah..two 120cm fans that should cool things down

Have you tried raising the Vcore just a notch ?
And your current memory is probably holding you back too.

You could also try using some of "my" bios settings.