[arachn1d]

I guess you guys jumped to conclusions and thought I bought my computer from a retailer... which is fair I didn't provide a lot of info so whatever. I'll create another post.
Here's my setup:
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006
Heatsink: http://www.frostytech.com/articlevie...articleID=2314
CPU: Intel Core 2 DUO E8500 @ 3.16ghz
Mobo: Maximus II Forumula
Memory: DDR2 6400 400mhz gskill 8gs (4 x 2gs)
Graphics: Radeon HD 4870
Side fan on panel
Can I overclock without blowing up my computer? If so, how much, and how?

--- if you need more info let me know and how to show you.
__________________

 

[king_play334]

hi, welcome to OCN.
you can overclock your computer. I think you can easily hit 3.8GHz to 4.0GHz depending on how good you feel about setting voltages.

if you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

 

[arachn1d]

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_play334 hi, welcome to OCN. you can overclock your computer. I think you can easily hit 3.8GHz to 4.0GHz depending on how good you feel about setting voltages. if you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

Wow that would be amazing.

600 ghz is still noticeable these days right? Haha.

I'm a complete newb to overclocking though. I've never done it before. How will I judge if it's safe or not? What do I do in my bios to hit 3.8 - 4ghz?

Sorry for my ignorance.

(is there something I can run to benchmark the performance gain?)

 

[king_play334]

http://www.overclock.net/7109648-post5.html

that posts has a basic template of a bios and will give you a basic run though of that you need to/should do.

I think this post can help you, refer to it and if you have more questions ask away.

to make sure your overclock is stable, run Prime95 for 8 hours and if you don't BSOD or get any kind of errors you're golden!
If you'd like to benchmark your CPU you can use SuperPi which does Pi calculations 16K, or 1M times.
Geekbench which benchmarks the whole system including the video card, etc
Theres more i just can't think of them right now.

 

[aznricer112]

you can probably get to 4.0 ghz without breaking a sweat

 

[DevilGear44]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arachn1d Wow that would be amazing. 600 ghz is still noticeable these days right? Haha.

You mean 600MHz.

 

[srsparky32]

core 2 duos are amazing at overclocking. if i got my 2.53 C2D to 4.0ghz you can too on your 3.1 stock.

a good rule of thumb is to have vcore at 1.38-1.4v for 4ghz.

also, for me, having northbridge voltage (MCH) at 1.24 and cpu termination (VTT) at 1.22 worked golden for 4.0ghz. but since you have more ram, then you may need more MCH voltage. also, keep the VTT voltage .2 below the MCH.

you will want your ram to be running as fast as it possibly can as well. use a memory strap of 333mhz maybe, and multiply it by like 2.0B (whatever your bios has) and just test out the settings.

its really not that hard to do, just up the vcore voltage for when you overclock it a good amount. if it dosent post, up the vcore

and make a note of where your cmos jumper is. chances are you'll have to reset the cmos in case of a failed overclock. dont worry it dosent hurt anything. the cmos jumper can be shorted with a flathead screwdriver. just hold it down for like, 10 seconds. also, refer to your mobo manual as to where the cmos jumper is.

ALSO good stress testers are

Prime 95
Orthos
Linx
OCCT
Intel Burn Test (only if you have an aftermarket heatsink)

the TJ max (max temperature) for core 2 duos is 100C. after that the cpu will throttle down and shut off. if it gets a temp past 75C on a load test, then you might not want to run at that ghz.

****MAX SAFE VCORE FOR CORE 2 DUOS IS 1.45V*****
****KEEP LOAD LINE CALIBRATION OFF AT ANYTHING HIGHER THAN 1.35V TO BE SAFE****

 

[arachn1d]

Hmm so I'm trying just the vcore, fsb, and ratio.

I set ratio to 9, FSB to 450 and vcore to 1.38

I open cpu-z my core speed is 4ghz sometimes i see it dup to 2.7 though... is that because it's unstable? how do i make this more stable? or is that a bug in cpuz?

Should I overclock my memory too? What should I set it at if my cpu is running 4ghz.

(edit) doesn't seem to be dipping anymore.

edit 2 (cpu temp at 50 degree celcius.)

 

[CravinR1]

dip is speed stepping (there is a sticky at the top of the intel cpu section that explains this)

 

[ArmenianLegend]

i think the 1.8v is a typo, max voltage for your chip is 1.45v i would set it at 1.3v
cpu ratio to 9.5 and FSB to 421 and done

what you see is intels speedstep it dropes voltage and speed when cpu is not used to save you on your monthly bill. it can also be turned off but i tend to leave mine on

 

[arachn1d]

Oh, I get it.

Also, I meant my voltage is 1.38.

My 32-bit geekbench went up 1k. Good?

 

[ArmenianLegend]

run prime 95 and see what you get for your temps. make sure you dont go past 80c

 

[arachn1d]

Stayed around 72

 

[CravinR1]

72.4 is max for that chip. I'd get a better cooler or lower the clock some
http://processorfinder.intel.com/det...px?sSpec=SLAPK

 

[ArmenianLegend]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CravinR1 72.4 is max for that chip. I'd get a better cooler or lower the clock some http://processorfinder.intel.com/det...px?sSpec=SLAPK

Its fine. i7's states 67c but all of us have hit 80c at one point.

in prime 95 pick the first option and not 3rd, run it for about a minute if all is good, lower your vcore to about 1.35v then run it again if its good again then lower it to around 1.325v and let it run throught the whole night and see if it passed by tomorow morning

 

[arachn1d]

Okay so just to learn...

The voltage just "helps" in increasing the frontsidebus and multiplier?

As in ... it helps keep it stable?

It's not *required* in order to increase ghz?

 

[CravinR1]

correct, the lower the voltages you can run the cooler the cpu will run

 

[king_play334]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arachn1d Oh, I get it. Also, I meant my voltage is 1.38. My 32-bit geekbench went up 1k. Good?

yep, thats great. now make sure that overclock is table with prime95.

 

[arachn1d]

Removed overclock as I got scared of the temperature.

When running prime95 it got up to 60-70

I was talking to a friend and he said it should never go above 60.

Is this true?

Oh, and the difference of 1ghz wouldn't be too great for a game like Bad Company 2... what's more important is overclocking the GPU?

 

[CravinR1]

Your link for your cooler is broken, but i'd drop the volts and get a better cooler (xigmatec 1283 or tuniq tower 120)