Socket 939 AMD X2 4400+ - Overclock.net

blitz6804 · 01-30-08

I have the following hardware configuration:

AMD X2 4400+ Toledo JH-E6
Zalman CNPS9500 LED
2048 MB Corsair XMS 400 PRO RAM
Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939
Visiontek x1950xtx RADEON 256 MB AGP
Western Digital Caviar 80 GB SATA-150 (x2)
Western Digital Caviar 120 GB PATA
Pioneer DVD+-RW/CD-RW
Sony CR-RW

The computer is overclocked as follows:
System bus up to 220 instead of 200
HT multiplier is at the default 4
CPU and RAM voltages are both at "Auto"
RAM latencies: 2.5-3-3-6-T1

At presen then, my CPU is running at 2.36 GHz (220 MHz * 11) with an 880 HT. The RAM is 440 MHz.

The computer runs 40/44º C at idle, and about 46/50º C under load according to CoreTemp 0.96.1. I do not know why, but Core 1 is always 4º hotter than Core 0. If I check temperatures in the BIOS, it only shows one number, and that is usually 4º C cooler than Core 0 in Windows.

I cannot afford a whole new computer until I graduate law school, and so, I am trying to squeeze as much as I can out of this one for the last two years I have to wait. This was my first attempt at overclocking, but I feel I could probably do better with some guidance. Can someone give me help/advice on where to go with this, if I should take it any further as it is.

Footnote: I have ordered another 2 GB of DDR400 RAM. This time, it is Corsair XMS DDR400, non-pro version. Same stock latencies/FSB, just no LED RAM activity lights on the heat spreaders.

P.S.: I forgot to mention. My motherboard is not exactly reliable. I tell it to make the FSB 200, and it will be 201. I tell it to be 220, and it is 220.1. The latter is much less important, but still bares mentioning. As to voltages: they are not fully stable either. If I set the RAM/CPU voltages to "Auto" as they are now, the CPU is usually running at 1.32-1.33 V. I do not want to explictly tell the CPU to run at 1.35 V, as then cool-'n-quiet wont work anymore. I am most of the time not taxing the processor, and so would like to save the electricity. When I AM running it though, I am maxing that sucker out, hence the overclock.

AGP Retired:
As of 07/18/2008 (Post 231), my rig is no longer AGP. The motherboard died again, while waiting on the RMA to come back to me, I decided to purchase a PCI-E board and a pair of graphics cards. There were a lot of changes along the route of this thread if you wish to follow it, but to cut to the chase, feel free to read only AFTER Post 231. If you wish to see my case mod, see Post 220. If you wish to see my lap my SI-128, read Post 221-226.

For the record, pre-upgrade, the Xaser TASER's final stats were:

AMD X2 4400+ Toledo LCBIE 0638DPMW
Thermalright SI-128 with a Thermaltake A2018
4096 MB Muskin Extreme Redline DDR 500
Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939 nForce3 250 GB
Sapphiretech Radeon HD 3850 512 MB AGP
Hitachi Deskstar 750 GB SATA-II (running at SATA-150 speed because of chipset limitations)
Western Digital Caviar 80 GB SATA-I
Western Digital Caviar 120 GB PATA-100
Pioneer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Scythe Kama Bay cooler with a Thermaltake A2018 mounted on it

The computer was overclocked as follows:
CPU = 250x11 = 2750 MHz (Stock = 2200 MHz)
HT = 250x4 = 1000 MHz (Stock = 800 MHz due to limitations of the nForce3 250 GB)
RAM = 196.5x2 = 393 MHz (Stock = 333 MHz due to limitations of the K8)
Timings = 3-3-2-8-2t-11-16 (Stock)
GPU Core = 709 MHz (Stock = 669 MHz)
GPU RAM = 939 MHz (Stock = 829 MHz)

------------------------------

Xaser TASER, present configuration:

AMD X2 4400+ Toledo LCBIE 0638DPMW
Thermalright SI-128 with a Thermaltake A2018
4096 MB Muskin Extreme Redline DDR 500
Abit AT8-32x
Diamond HD 3850 512 MB PCI-E 2.0
Hitachi Deskstar 750 GB SATA-II
Western Digital Caviar 80 GB SATA-I
Western Digital Caviar 120 GB PATA-100
Pioneer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Scythe Kama Bay cooler with a Thermaltake A2018 mounted on it

Overclocks are as follows:
CPU = 254.7x11 = 2801 MHz (Stock = 2200 MHz)
HT = 254.7x4 = 1019 MHz (Stock = 1000)
RAM = 200.1x2 = 400 MHz (Stock = 333 MHz due to limitations of the K8)
Timings = 3-3-2-8-2t-11-16 (Stock)
GPU Core = 749 MHz (Stock = 725 MHz)
GPU RAM = 936 MHz (Stock = 900 MHz)

I have another GPU being installed sometime late August. I will update this post again then. Expect minor adjustments in the CPU/RAM speeds between now and then that will not be featured here.

Rolandooo · 01-30-08

Hey blitz6804 welcome to OCN, Thank you for the very detailed description on what you did so far, saves us alot of questions and allows us to get straight to the point.

So far you have a nice oc but most important thing is stability. Have you ran Orthos stress tester for 8+ hours to know if your OC is rock sollid?

If not you can download Orthos here http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm
When you test for stability run the Blend test, and use Priority 9 (This picks out instability faster than Priority 1) If orthos suddenly stops it means your unstable, then its time to trouble shoot.

Okay now about coretemps reading one core hotter than another, this is called a delta, its normal and I would have to say yours is better than normal, I have about a 8c delta between my cores.

Now about your new ram, Some AMD chips cannot handle 4 sticks of ram very well, I do not know if its the IMC of the chip or anything more about this hopefully someone else can explain this a bit more. Do you have a 64bit OS to use the 4 gigs?

When overclocking its best to have all your voltages set manually and disable Cool and Quiet if you have not already. For you processor stock voltages are 1.350v and I believe your memory max voltage will be 2.8v but I will have to double check.

Also what divider do you have your memory on? I notice you described everything well and never noticed putting ram on a divider, I would suggest just Ocing your CPU right now and take note of how far it can go, then start ocing your ram later, this saves you a big headache beginning ocing.

One last thing, download CPUz and take a screen shot of your CPU tab, and your Memory tab so we can see exactly where your settings are at.

blitz6804 · 01-30-08

I already have CPU-Z. I have learned in the vast reading I did, never overclock until you have read until your eyes bleed. Everyone was calling for CPU-Z. Furthermore, everything says "start conservative and work up," so that is what I did.

You are right, there is no CPU/RAM divider. I have it running 1:1.

As to my OS, right now I have Windows XP. I will soon be (up?)grading to Windows Vista Ultimate 32, which usually can only use 3.12 GB. I do not want 64-bit at this time as some of my game would not run in it.

My RAM has a very rudimentary voltage control. My choices are "AUTO", "+0.1 V" and "+0.2 V."

My CPU-Z data is as follows:

Regards stress testing: I have not really ran any particular programs designed for it. However, to stress test, I was compressing a video, running a bit torrent, windows media player, AOL instant messanger, windows live messanger, yahoo instant messanger, Super PI, and as if that weren't enough pain, a full-screen DirectX 8 program. The processor was running at about 95-98% load for several hours, temperatures maxed at 46/50º as I said.

Regards the delta, could it be the Arctic Silver 5 I used instead of the cheap stuff? Or did I just get lucky?

Chili27 · 01-30-08

im using the 4200+ and running at 2000X11 clock at 245 so try that , im hitting 2.7 and its stable so you should be fine , you may need to turn RAM speed down a little , so when you oc more it puts the RAM speed back to roughly as it was , if you know what i mean.

Rolandooo · 01-30-08

Well so far its looking good, I would just recommend putting ram on a divider (166) now your ram freq will be around 365mhz (not exact but around) This should give you a bit more headroom for your CPU.

I would try bumping it up about 5-8Mhz in FSB and just stress test (Orthos) I see how you stressed your hardware last time, but Orthos stresses everything to 100% so I would recommend this for higher clocks.

Now if you want to OC and find stability faster I would use OCCT stress tester and run the 30 min scan, this test will pick up instability within the first 2-6 minutes but no matter if OCCT say stable or not I would still recommend Orthos blend priority 9 for 8+ hours.

Just keep posting your results here and there are many that will give great advice to help you go further.

Also I would say yes your delta is looking better than normal, but your temps are high. Are you using a stock heatsink?

Infact can you fill out your system specs in "User CP" so we can have a detailed description of your system.

blitz6804 · 01-30-08

I am using a Zalman CNPS9500 LED. I have ordered new case fans (which will be delivered with my RAM) as the ones I have are starting to make noise.

I just uploaded my system specs as you were writing that post.

I am downloading Orthos now, would you be so kind as to link me to OCCT stress tester?

There is nothing that is preventing me from raising the speeds any other than my own fear. I was having a problem getting anything faster than a 214 FSB, but then I dropped my CAS Latency from 2.0 to 2.5, and now I am at the present 220 FSB.

Rolandooo · 01-30-08

Sure heres the link for OCCT http://www.ocbase.com/

How did you apply your AS5? Your temps are pretty high for that HS.

Also for now it might be best for you to put your command rate to 2t, this stops some people from ocing sometimes, just for now then after you get your CPU to where you want it then you can get your ram down.

and for your ram voltage, let me look up your motherboard, because +.1 can be +.1 for 2.6v = 2.7v but again I am not sure. Let me see what I can dig up.

blitz6804 · 01-30-08

To apply the AS5, I put a small bb sized ball, pushed the CPU fan on, and twisted back and forth slightly before clamping down.

I read somewhere that command rate should be 1t for 2GB, 2t for 4GB, but I guess that is a moot discussion until I get the other two DIMMs in.

P.S. How do I run Orthos (CAB file)?

Rolandooo · 01-30-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitz6804

To apply the AS5, I put a small bb sized ball, pushed the CPU fan on, and twisted back and forth slightly before clamping down.

I read somewhere that command rate should be 1t for 2GB, 2t for 4GB, but I guess that is a moot discussion until I get the other two DIMMs in.

Okay the way you applied as5 was correct. Just making sure you applied correctly.

You are correct about 4ram sticks being used you need a command rate of 2t, but also 1T stresses the ram alot while ocing which can cause instability with 2gb (2 sticks of ram).

But you may be stable at 1T, but if you keep failing Orthos it may be best to put it on 2T for now then to fine tune later.

EDIT: Let me correct by saying the command rate doesnt matter on the GB but the number of ram you have at times, but it also depends on your IMC I believe.
Just run the test's and report back here with anymore questions or updates, and Good Luck!

blitz6804 · 01-30-08

Running OCCT now. Like I said above, I cannot figure out how to run Orthos.

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Socket 939 AMD X2 4400+

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