Basic OC info needed

[DBissett]

I've been trying to review the info here to plan a basic OC'd system but it's VERY scattered about....multipliers, bus speeds, ram speeds, etc. and I haven't had any luck turning up this info in one place. Probably some of the old hands know the numbers cold. I would help beginners like myself if someone could create a chart or something that listed the processors with their multiplier, plus recommended bus speed, RAM speed, and any other info necessary to outline a basic OC to shoot for with each processor. (Really energetic folks could include the numbers for a high end OC to shoot for with each processor. ) Anyone game?

Dave

 

[Pyrokinetic]

That would be a very tall order -- mainly because revisions to stepping, process, batch quality of the same processor will yield different overclockability results. As the foundries refine their process, generally later batches are better silicon.

My processor is an AM2 3800+ 65W processor, the latest batches of which can be clocked upwards to 3.4Ghz (they are 2.0Ghz stock). However, my chip is a pre-0715 batch (I think a 0620 or something close) and is maxed out at 2.78Ghz. I gambled hoping to get one of the better ones, but 2.78Ghz is not bad for a $65 chip. I now await the new Agena cores due out next year.

You are better off asking questions about a specific processor, as those who already own it can help you out. Good luck.

 

[jmmtn4aj]

For the Q6600, just about all reach 3GHz easily. Mine seems to have some temp problems, 70deg on the hottest core at load, but I reached 3GHz without having to raise the core voltage. This was done by simply bumping up the FSB to 333, leaving the multiplier as it is, and bumping the RAM multiplier down. Others have been hitting 3.4-3.6GHz on air cooling easily, but I'm not trying that until I replace my stock cooler.

Oh yeah, applies to both G0 and B3 steppings, only difference is B3 seems to need higher core voltages, but can tolerant higher temperatures too.

 

[daviclond]

A quick question to do with basic OCing:

Ignoring ram speeds and ratios for the moment, is there any difference between a CPU running at, say, 8x450Mhz and one running at 9x400Mhz (both for a total of 3.6Ghz) assuming the mobo supports these fsb speeds? Is it better to increase either multiplier or FSB over the other in terms of say, stability, required voltage or heat?

Additionally, how much leeway do you have in terms of under- or overclocking RAM if it is difficult to work around ratios to have it set at its normal. To clarify, I'm using DDR2 800 RAM and thinking of overclocking my Q6700 (which are all G0 stepping btw) but with the ratios 1:1, 1:2, 1:25, 1:5... etc it seems my choices would either be 9x400 @ 1:1 (I wouldn't really want to go higher than this since it's my first OC) or 10x333 @ 1:1.2 if I want to keep the ram at ~400Mhz.

I have a bunch of other questions but they're dependant on the answers I get to the above and the choices I make... baby steps

 

[hadje]

this is the thread for you

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2057083&enterthread=y

it is currently on page 3 or 4 of this forum

it answers also the above questions...it seems that higher/lower fsb vs higher/lower multiplier has an effect in terms of benchmarks but not in "real-world" usage so go with what works...on the auto vcore point, the above thread and others i have read say that folks who test such things have found that the mobo, when set to auto vcore, overestimates the voltage needed and so you use more power and more importantly you are running higher core temps at idle and load. by manually setting your vcore you can find the lowest stable voltage and operate at lowest temps...

peace