My overclocking guide

[Drakelet]

I've been reading LOADS of guides about O/Cing recently, because when I get my new PC (soon) I want to O/C it a fair bit (well, E6750 to ~3.2GHz, not loads I admit). I've done a bit of overclocking before with...various success (sometimes worked, corrupted HDD once, currently anything over stock is unstable but still maxing at 45°C etc).

So I've compiled a mini-guide to overclocking, and I want to know if what I have is correct. My main worries are the orders, as all the guides I've seen seem to have different orders, the main one being when should the voltages be tweaked.

Without further stalling for time, here's the guide:

. Limit CPUID MaxVal, C1*, Vanderpool, EIST Function, PECI*, SpeedStep* - Disabled, *Disable later on, possibly
. CPU TM function - Enable
. Disable unused features - Firewire etc

. Set RAM to about 5-5-5-15, 2.2V (Crucial Ballistix)

. N/B Strap CPU As - Highest
. DRAM - 1:1 (DRAM = 2FSB) etc
. PCI Express Frequency - 100MHz
. PCI Clock Synchronization - 33.33MHz
. Spread Spectrum - Disable

. Increase FSB in 20s until PC doesn't boot, revert to working FSB value, check if stable/check fully-loaded CPU temp, lower FSB in 20s until stable
. Increase FSB in 5s, each time check if stable/check fully-loaded CPU temp, when unstable return to stable FSB value

. Increase FSB by 5, increase voltage (see N.B.), check stability
. Check CPU idle temp (40°-50° is ideal)
. Check if stable/check fully-loaded CPU temp
. Keep tweaking voltages/FSB until stable and fully-loaded CPU temp <~65°C

. Lower RAM latencies, one at a time
. Check if stable
. Keep tweaking latencies (down)/vDIMM (up) until stable

. Reduce vCore to default, check if stable, keep upping until stable
. Reduce other voltages until unstable, then up until stable

. Check if whole system is stable for 8-12 hours


N.B.
. Use benchmarks to check changes - Games (SupCom, FEAR), Sandra, PCMark, 3DMark etc
. Stability tests - Prime95, Super Pi
. CPU temps - Speedfan

. Record all temperatures, stability results etc

. Increase vDIMM first, then chipset voltage, then vCore
. Increase voltages by 0.1V, max 0.3V

How does that look?

Finally, if I run the RAM at 2.2V (as it says on the Crucial website), do I need extra RAM cooling, or will my current fans (Thermaltake Soprano case defaults) and CPU fan be enough?

Thanks all!!

 

[sutahz]

No comments yet... which tells you something right Drakelet?
Compared to guides I've read, I'd give yours a D to C-. It isn't organized properly, a little confusing/repetative. Has some incorrect info (in my opinion)[Check CPU idle temp (40°-50° is ideal) for example]
Maybe its that it is too basic. I'm sure its great for you but for everyone else, its just not a good fit.

 

[Drakelet]

Hmm...Thanks sutahz.

I know this isn't a proper guide, I just wanted something short and to-the-point to print off (without all the other explaining).

What exactly is wrong with it though? How could it be improved?

When increasing FSB by 20s, should I stop when it doesn't boot, or run a stress test each time and stop when it's unstable?

I think the whole voltage thing is wrong. When is it recommended to change the voltage?

What is idle CPU ideal temperature? I thought it was about 40°C.

 

[Drakelet]

Anyone?

 

[Drakelet]

Bump.

 

[zach0624]

Originally posted by: sutahz
No comments yet... which tells you something right Drakelet?
Compared to guides I've read, I'd give yours a D to C-. It isn't organized properly, a little confusing/repetative. Has some incorrect info (in my opinion)[Check CPU idle temp (40°-50° is ideal) for example]
Maybe its that it is too basic. I'm sure its great for you but for everyone else, its just not a good fit.

I would have to agree with sutahz here. Your biggest problem right now is organization and maybe elaberate why you do things like tweak RAM timings.

 

[JackMDS]

Not all motherboard have the same menus and some might even call the same thing in a different name.

That said I think you should provide it as a specific Motherboard guide, or make some more general explanation so that every one can enjoy this.

 

[Rhoxed]

30-40C is ideal idle with 50-57C ideal full load (usually will need an idle temp of 35 or lower for this)

 

[Drakelet]

OK, thanks all.

I'm not meaning to release this, just a general guide for myself. I know WHY I do it all, so I'm not putting that there. As for motherboard specific...Well, I don't have my new motherboard yet. My current mobo has most of the options though, under one name or another (it's fairly obvious, to me at least, what is what).

 

[Regalk]

Originally posted by: zach0624

Originally posted by: sutahz
No comments yet... which tells you something right Drakelet?
Compared to guides I've read, I'd give yours a D to C-. It isn't organized properly, a little confusing/repetative. Has some incorrect info (in my opinion)[Check CPU idle temp (40°-50° is ideal) for example]
Maybe its that it is too basic. I'm sure its great for you but for everyone else, its just not a good fit.

I would have to agree with sutahz here. Your biggest problem right now is organization and maybe elaberate why you do things like tweak RAM timings.

Also since you are new just be careful that you do not confuse fellow newbies especially the ones that are hasty and always put a disclaimer. Perhaps the title should be "my overcloking settings".

 

[Drakelet]

OK, sorry about that. :/

 

[Drakelet]

I'm still not 100% sure about the voltages. When should I change them?

Currently I'm getting max FSB with stock voltages, them upping the voltages to try and get even higher FSB. Does this sound alright?

 

[Drakelet]

Daily bump.

 

[Drakelet]

Daily bump #2.

 

[Conjugal Visit]

Have you looked at graysky's O/C guide and thread here at Anandtech? If this "exercise" is for your personal use, why not just go there, educate yourself, and come back with any questions. You haven't even decided on a motherboard yet? Here's another article on overclocking, and is one of the best articles I've ever read on Anandtech.

You want to skip steps and cut to the chase, don't you? Crank up some voltage? You'll be back wondering what went wrong. Why not, instead, read the thread on O/C'ing...read the Anandtech article, vow to be methodical, and give yourself a chance at success - stably.

Regards,

PS - ppl see your post, Drakelet. Bumping it to the top isn't going to elicit any responses if a) you aren't a little more specific, or b) folks have nothing to say on the subject.

 

[Drakelet]

I have read graysky's guide, and countless more (over 10). But I've seen a few "conflicting" parts, so posted up this to see peoples thoughts. Obviously that hasn't worked though...

No, I don't want to skip steps. I don't want to randomly shove up the voltage. I want to get it right, which is why I posted this topic in the first place. See if there was anything I'd missed, anything I'd confused.

As for motherboard, either Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R or MSI P35 Neo2-FR

 

[Conjugal Visit]

If it's information on overclocking the GA-P35C-DS3R, we have two pretty strong and active threads here at Anandtech. First, a thread on the board itself:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...AR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

And then a thread on overclocking the board:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2094667&enterthread=y

Lastly, a thread on another forum, though I don't see what it adds to the graysky thread; you might like the format better.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1169366

Also, look at this article posted on the Anandtech main board - while it looks to talk about a particular CPU (and does), it has an excellent section on overclocking.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...el/showdoc.aspx?i=3184

That's about all I can do for you.

Regards,

 

[Drakelet]

Thanks Conjugal. I was planning on getting an E6750 too, so one of those threads was very helpful.