Newbie Guide to Conroe Overclocking

[TaeKim]

The last build I overclocked with a Celeron 300a and that was really easy (BIOS change).

I intend to get a retail Conroe 6400, Gigabyte DS3, and DD2-800 memory (please recommend the cheapest that can overclock the 6400 to 3ghz).

After I get all of the above, what do I do to overclock?

Is it as easy as changed the front side bus to 400mhz in the BIOS? Step-by-step guide/link would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Zebo]

Yes it's that easy assuming you have ram capable and up the northbridge volts to about max.

 

[TaeKim]

So first I shoud set Northbridge volts to Max?

Then set the FSB to 400mhz?

That's all I have to do? Thanks.

 

[Kwint Sommer]

If you have good cooling (don't bother posting if you don't) then go ahead and set the voltages as high as they will safely go; then overclock. Once you have a nice, fast overclock slowly lower the voltages while checking for stability. Basically get a crazy overclock, take some pics, put them in your signature and then lower stuff to the point where it can run like that indefinitely (I define indefinitely as three years two months and eight days, the longest I have ever used a CPU in my primary system).

You might want to set the FSB to something a little lower (say 360) and work your way up 20 at a time (just make sure it will boot windows in between). If you have trouble try using a CPU:RAM divider and if you still have issues lower the mulitplier on the CPU (I think you can lower all Conroes but can only raise the EE; don't quote me on that) and if it will then work it is your CPU and if it won't it's your motherboard holding you back. Good hunting!

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: TaeKim
So first I shoud set Northbridge volts to Max?

Then set the FSB to 400mhz?

That's all I have to do? Thanks.

No you have to work in graduated fashion... up FSB 15-20mhz at a time until it starts crapping out (told by prime or failure to boot)..then work with chipset voltages and/or CPU volts... do not exceed 1.4V on CPU.

 

[TaeKim]

This is my system which I should get later this week:

-Gigabyte DS3
-1GB OCZ DD2-800 Timing: 5-5-5-10 Voltage: 1.9V 2x512MB
-Seasonic S12-500watt
-ATI 1800XT
-Antec Solo Quiet Case
-Conroe 6400

Is there anything I need to do to get it working at start? I read somewhere I have to change some RAM BIOS (VDIMM to +3V?) setting to get it even to work? Does the BIOS boot w/o any RAM installed? I'm a total newb. Help! Thanks.

Is there a good article guide somewhere that explains all this stuff - VOLTs, FSB.. etc. I have no idea what it means.

 

[TaeKim]

I read that Gigabyte DS3 defaults to 1.8V on the RAM, will it boot with my 1.9V RAM? And should I change it to 1.8V pronto?

 

[gobucks]

good choices on the system, except i'd look elsewhere for the memory. The DS3 is picky about RAM, and i know from personal experience that OCZ RAM causes lots of problems with that mobo, even with the newest beta bios. I've heard Corsair and Patriot have better compatibility with that mobo.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: TaeKim
I read that Gigabyte DS3 defaults to 1.8V on the RAM, will it boot with my 1.9V RAM? And should I change it to 1.8V pronto?

The only way to know for sure is to try it. It definitely won't, if your RAM requires 2.0V. And if you decide to order different RAM, gobucks is absolutely right. For the time being, both Corsair XMS2 and the versions of Patriot DDR2 that only need 1.8v will work quite well. Of course, you could always buy a $23 stick of 1.8v DDR2, like this: link, then change the RAM settings in the BIOS, and use any RAM you want, including RAM that requires more than 2.0v.

 

[thedarkwolf]

one of the other post somebody was having trouble with the ram and was told to just try one stick and it work then he changed his settings and used both.

 

[TaeKim]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: TaeKim
So first I shoud set Northbridge volts to Max?

Then set the FSB to 400mhz?

That's all I have to do? Thanks.

No you have to work in graduated fashion... up FSB 15-20mhz at a time until it starts crapping out (told by prime or failure to boot)..then work with chipset voltages and/or CPU volts... do not exceed 1.4V on CPU.

I understand the FSB part. Once FSB upping craps out, which voltage should I try first, CPU? or Chipset? And in what volt increments?

 

[Alphafox78]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: TaeKim
So first I shoud set Northbridge volts to Max?

Then set the FSB to 400mhz?

That's all I have to do? Thanks.

No you have to work in graduated fashion... up FSB 15-20mhz at a time until it starts crapping out (told by prime or failure to boot)..then work with chipset voltages and/or CPU volts... do not exceed 1.4V on CPU.

You can go higher than 1.4V, lots of people including myself are running C2D with higher than 1.4. I am running at 1.43 with no problems, 55C is my load temps. I have a Ninja cooler, you probably dont want to do that with the stock one.

 

[TaeKim]

Is that for the CPU or the chipset voltage?

 

[Mudokon]

heey i got a e6400 with a ASUS p5b ( vanilla ) would i still be able to OC at all? im super afraid of frying mobo or cpu, if i oc and it doesnt post, what do you do? take out the mobo battery or something to "reset"?

total newb on OCing so thats why im asking all these lovely questions

 

[banzaiMonkey]

hi there fella i built a PC for a friend with a 6300 allendale the DS3 and some giel 6400 ram wich is meant to run betweek 1.9-2.3v and it worked fine for booting, but i put it up to 2.3 anyway prolly shouldnt of as we never pushed the memory...

yeah you prolly have to update the bios of the motherboard when it arrives but this is easily done through a windows utility

after id updated bios i put the fsb upto 400mhz from 266 and made sure memory was doing anything it shouldnt booted and its been running fine, cpu is a wee bit hot (stock cooler)

good luck man.. got 20 sec's on super PI 1m which is pretty good get 52 on my current setup

/tears

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I haven't built my Conroe yet. I was looking at the P5WG2-WS, P5WD2-E and P5W DH motherboards. In fact, I'm not sure that the first two run the Conroe chip -- I'll have to check again, but I was hoping (with options 1 and 3) to get 8-cycle voltage regulation. And I may return to the idea of getting a board with an SLI-enabled nVidia chipset.

So . . . . watching the market and incarnations of mobo models.

In the process, I've been looking closely at memory modules, or at least I've begun reviewing the reviews. THG ran tests on some 16 manufactures of DDR2 modules earlier in the year. I think they concluded that an Aeneon DDR2-667 and Corsair DDR2-1000 (or was it 800?) module were the best over-clocking performers.

Odd thing was, the Aeneon were cheap -- at about $75 / GB. No heat spreaders, but then none needed, apparently.

I have Aeneon chips on a set of OCZ Platinum "DDR-400" modules in my Prescott system. They're like rubber-bands for OC-ing without bumping up the VDIMM voltage, and run at a low 2.6V (pretty good, I thought, for DDR memory).

Does anyone have any "skinny" on what other manufacturers are using Aeneon chips on their DDR2 modules?

 

[banzaiMonkey]

nope but if your in the UK there are some nice cheap giel 6400 sets 2x512 or 2x1gb sticks that work upto ddr900 cost £164.44 @4-4-4-12 not personaly tried pushing it but used a 2x512 kit in a DS3 which works fine

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Geil seems to be getting more attention from some of my associates. I understand that the Corsairs can be set at very lean timings, provided you don't push them too far. This was the same experience I had with Aeneon-chip equipped OCZ modules.

I'll stick that reference in my inventory of things to look at.

 

[markymoo]

corsair are great but i put these g.skill models in front of corsair. so many good reports!!

G.Skill 2GB DDR2 HZ PC2-6400 (2x1GB) CAS4 Dual Channel Kit (F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ)

overclock like crazy 1100+

top overclock i seen is 1230 with 2.4volts and that was on 4-4-4-12 crazy!!!

what will they do on cas 5 and more voltage....

There are currently the best ddr2-800

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231065

work fine in asus, most boards

im getting some cheapest price i found is £156 inc. vat here in the uk! some places are charging £200 but not many places sell them

if you get 1 memory let it be these