Need expert advice from Conroe OCers

[SilverBack]

I'm getting ready to purchase new hardware, I just worked three days of overtime to be able to afford the upgrade.

I have roughly $700 to spend on a CPU , mobo and ram.

I've chosen the GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 as the motherboard. $132 at NewEgg this leaves me with about 570 for the other components.

I need suggestions on the CPU and 2 Gig of RAM.

E6400 CPU and very good ram
or
E6600 and less expensive ram?

I'm wanting 3GHz from the CPU.

If anyone has good info on settings for the motherboard I would be more than happy to read them

TIA
SB

 

[PCTC2]

Well, for the OC ability, a E6400 hits 3.2GHz (400*8) easily. Good quality ram will expedite that. It also can hit 2000 FSB (generally 503*7 ~ 3.5GHz) with a good cooler (try a Tuniq Tower 120)
However, in some instances, you may see better performance with a E6600 b/c of its 4MB of L2 vs 2MB for the E6400. But 4MB of L2 can also hinder OC ability. But try to get a B2 stepping on the E6400, not an L2, and not F code either. Reading around, the L2 is an Allendale, not a Conroe, and the F code batch (both E6400 and E6600) has problems OCing.
I'd say an E6400 with good DDR2-800 so at 400*8, you can run a 1:1 divider RAM/FSB.
I use 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair XMS2 Dominator DDR2 800 on my E6400(see my sig) and I'm quite happy. People have been known to get both sticks DOA though, so one caveat.
A E6400 with the Corsair and a Tuniq Tower 120 should run around $500.

 

[spinejam]

see sig!

 

[imported_yes]

SB, both OC very well. Question to ask urself is how much do I want to OC? IMO, with 6600 you can reach further. My case, I have an average cooler & dont want to go into mid50 temps or add voltages without a better cooler like Tuniq/SInfinity5. So stopped at 3496Mhz.

Looks like you need it soon. I'm thinking getting close to Apr price drop you might see better deals on these 2 processors from retailers .

 

[jgigz]

For the ram, I'd go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820150054, it is currently OOS, i have a pair in my rig and its nice. I booted 3.5ghz on my e6300 (7x500) with no overvolts to the ram but never tinkered enough with it to get it stable. But it is damn good ram

 

[SilverBack]

Thanks all for the feedback.

spinejam
Since you have the motherboard I'm planning on getting. would you have a few moments to give some advice on what settings and adjustments to make?
BTW the CPU will be water cooled. I never plan on going back to air.
TIA
SB

 

[SilverBack]

After reading, I may spend an extra $100.
Thinking about this for the system memory
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

NewEggs personal reviews are great on this memory, anyone have any issues with it?
I would like to get this right the 1st time

With the Mobo and RAM I'm also leaning at the E6600

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: SilverBack
After reading, I may spend an extra $100.
Thinking about this for the system memory
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

NewEggs personal reviews are great on this memory, anyone have any issues with it?
I would like to get this right the 1st time

With the Mobo and RAM I'm also leaning at the E6600

With that RAM, the DS3 and the E6600 watercooled you should end up with a smoking rig. :thumbsup:

 

[spinejam]

Originally posted by: SilverBack
Thanks all for the feedback.

spinejam
Since you have the motherboard I'm planning on getting. would you have a few moments to give some advice on what settings and adjustments to make?
BTW the CPU will be water cooled. I never plan on going back to air.
TIA
SB

np, pm me when you get your mb and also, check out this thread:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=110460

 

[SilverBack]

np, pm me when you get your mb and also, check out this thread:

Hey nice linkage ty,
SB

 

[nyker96]

If you get E6600 you can get this RAM:


SuperTalent667

It's 667 but it goes up to about 900 which will max out E6600 easily. Heck if you some extra money your can go for 4GB of this stuff.

 

[Xdreamer]

i recommend the ASUS P5N-E SLI.

 

[SilverBack]

Update for me.
I've been reading a lot of online reviews the last 24 hours. My goal was to get 3.0Ghz out of the cpu.

PCTC2 made some very good points previously in the post

AnandTech has a very good GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Overclocking article.

So if I use a e6400 cpu, with a multiplier of 8, I should be able to run the CPU at 3.2GHz with a 1:1 ratio with good ram.

So I'm now looking at the E6400 to be the CPU.
This will also free up some money to buy Vista, so I can see those demo's my 8800GTX card can do

Any thoughts on the memory?
I figure quality DDR2 800 will do the trick nicely, whats preferred?

 

[Hulk]

First of all I respect your acquiring the money the old fashioned way...by sweating for it!

Check my sig. I had a very easy overclocking experience.

 

[SilverBack]

First of all I respect your acquiring the money the old fashioned way...by sweating for it!

If I could figure out a better legal way I would surely do it

I work 12 hour shifts, I was scheduled 4 days this week so I worked the 1st 3 days I was supposed to be off. In other words I worked 7 days 12 hours each or 84 hours this week.

What I'm actually paid for is a total of 117 hours

Monday thru Wednesday was overtime 12x1.5 x 3 54 hours
Thursday and Friday 12 each 24 hours
While working weekends we get bonus pay
Saturday is 1.25x12 15 hours
Sunday is 1.5x12 18 hours
And because I worked 7 days straight Sunday is actually double time so I get an additional 6 hours
117 per pay week ending Sunday.

I make 17.45 and hour so the paycheck will be a nice one, although I'm pretty tired.
I do have 3 days to recoup though

 

[SilverBack]

Well I ordered the water block this evening.
Danger Den Copper TDX Block for Intel 775 Processors

I have to wait for my check to hit Thursday before ordering the other parts.
So it looks like at least Monday before I get to try my overclocking nirvana

So the parts I'm buying
E6600

OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) 4,4,4,15

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3

So this is what I plan on doing with the BIOS when oc'ing PLEASE correct me if it looks out of place...

These 3 are disabled
- CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)
- CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2)
- CPU EIST Function

- Set CPU Host Clock Control to Enabled
- Set CPU Host Frequency (MHz) to 400
- Set PCI Express Frequency(MHz) to 100
- Set System Memory Multiplier to 2.00
- Set DRAM Timing Selectable to Manual
- Set CAS Latency Time to 4
- Set DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay to 4
- Set DRAM RAS# Precharge to 4
- Set Precharge dealy (tRAS) to 15

CPU Voltage: 1.5250V (default 1.3250V) with water higher if need be.

With these settings the memory will be running at it's normal DDR2 800 output.
The CPU will hopefully run at 3.6 GHz
AT has a nice overclocking article on the DS3 HERE :

So what I'm doing has a very good shot at working.

Final Specs when built

e6600
OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) 4,4,4,15
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3
EVga 8800 GTX
ThermalTake 680w PSU for system
ThermalTake Power Express 250w dedicated PSU for 8800 GTX
WD 75 GB Raptor HD 2 Samsung 120's as well
SyncMaster 225BW 21" LCD

 

[The Sauce]

Good luck with your DS3. I just built a similar system and I am having no luck with this board. About 50% of the time I change the FSB I get a hard reset and reset-looping until I shut off the PS and sometimes I have to reset the CMOS as well...which is a treat since they located the CMOS jumper directly beneath the PCI-E slot mandating a removal of your vid card to get to it. Sigh. As far as overclocking I haven't been able to get my 6600 much past 3.0 even with high VID... I might be RMA'ing soon for an ASUS.

 

[SilverBack]

Hi Snatchface
What BIOS revision are you using and which revision of motherboard?
Also did you use the BIOS settings similar for your rig?

 

[The Sauce]

Originally posted by: SilverBack
Hi Snatchface
What BIOS revision are you using and which revision of motherboard?
Also did you use the BIOS settings similar for your rig?

Rev 3.3 - just purchased within the last week. As for BIOS's I have tried F4, F7, F9, and F10. So far I think F7 has given me the least problems, but that's not saying much. I have read up a bit, seems these baords can be very quirky for no good reason. The rebooting problem after FSB changes is apparently very common with them.

 

[SilverBack]

What are you using for cooling your CPU? What temps have you seen while oc'ing?
Random and consistent reboots are one of the signs of a overheating cpu..

 

[The Sauce]

Using a Scythe Infinity.

Currently Priming @ 3.15 GHz (9 x 350) @ 1.5V - temps are stable at 39C.

I don't know what I did but it seems I was able to get past the infinite reboot problem. I have been increasing in very small FSB increments - 5 MHz at a time. I think it was removing one stick of ram, increasing MCH voltage and disabling some unnecessary BIOS settings. No reboots in the last hour or two with FSB changes...but I think now that this processor is a dog. New 6600 F stepping. Just flunked 3.15 @ 1.45V

In retrospect I think a lot of the problem might be Vdroop. Its amazing watching this VID drop under load. That might explain why I was rebooting during Orthos. Now that I got it up to 1.5 it's a little easier going. Should have just started there but it seems so counterintuitive to start at the highest voltage...at least compared to overclocking the AMD chips where you start low and head up.