Procedures to get a better overclock?

[Kamui]

This is my current setup.

Amd X2 3800+ Toledo
DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D
OCZ 2Gb Platinum
ATI Radeon X800 Pro
Hitachi 250 Gb EIDE HD

And the cpu, video card and the mb chipset are all being cooled by a koolance exos 2 system.

Right now, I am getting 2.6 Ghz on this cpu.The voltage needed is 1.45 (set under the mb bios) and it has been prime stable for almost 7 hours now. The load temperature is around 41C.

So I thought that I got a really good cpu this time. The voltage needed in order to reach 2.6 ghz wasnt that much ... and the temperatures of the cpu at load were pretty good... But for some reason, I noticed that I had to crank the voltage quite a bit just to get this cpu stable at 2.7.... Why would this be? Also, is there something I could do in order to get better yields on cpu?

Thanks guys.

 

[Kamui]

Hmm, anybody?

Btw, what is a maximum safe voltage for the amd x2 chips? Is increasing my voltage the only way to improve my overclock or is there something else that I could do?

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: Kamui
This is my current setup.

Amd X2 3800+ Toledo
DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D
OCZ 2Gb Platinum
ATI Radeon X800 Pro
Hitachi 250 Gb EIDE HD

And the cpu, video card and the mb chipset are all being cooled by a koolance exos 2 system.

Right now, I am getting 2.6 Ghz on this cpu.The voltage needed is 1.45 (set under the mb bios) and it has been prime stable for almost 7 hours now. The load temperature is around 41C.

So I thought that I got a really good cpu this time. The voltage needed in order to reach 2.6 ghz wasnt that much ... and the temperatures of the cpu at load were pretty good... But for some reason, I noticed that I had to crank the voltage quite a bit just to get this cpu stable at 2.7.... Why would this be? Also, is there something I could do in order to get better yields on cpu?

Thanks guys.

Some more info on what your settings are right now would be helpful.

 

[Kamui]

hi gamer,...
what kinda of settings?

the ldt multi is set at 3x, the fsb is at 260, the cpu multi is at 10x, memory is set at 2.5-3-2-5....

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: Kamui
hi gamer,...
what kinda of settings?

the ldt multi is set at 3x, the fsb is at 260, the cpu multi is at 10x, memory is set at 2.5-3-2-5....

Ahhh ok, thanks.

What are the voltages you have on the memory right now?

 

[Kamui]

hmm the memory is current running at 2.7v...
but the thing is, I am trying to improve my cpu speed... I set my memory with a 1-half divider so that mem is not the issue.

 

[evilharp]

Originally posted by: Kamui
hi gamer,...
what kinda of settings?

the ldt multi is set at 3x, the fsb is at 260, the cpu multi is at 10x, memory is set at 2.5-3-2-5....

Hey Kamui,

I think the other forum members are looking for some detailed specs. These include:

• FSB
  HTT Speed
  Ram Divider
  Voltages (RAM, CPU, HTT)
  Ram Timings (Default timings tcl-trcd-trp-tras + volts + fsb and your current setup)
  AGP/PCI speed (locked at 66/67 or OCed)
  PSU ratings (Brand/Wattage)

The X2 3800+ is a good overclocker, but there are rumours that the different steppings do better than the others. ID your stepping using CPU-Z and report that as well.

With watercooling you should get some crazy results, but remember that you are dealing with 2 cores in one package. Double the heat and double the chances of a poor OC. As it is, 2.6 is an awesome overclock, with your water setup you'll probably get more.

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: Kamui
hmm the memory is current running at 2.7v...
but the thing is, I am trying to improve my cpu speed... I set my memory with a 1-half divider so that mem is not the issue.

Well that sounds good, I also find that by loosening your timings you may also see a diference. I don't have an X2, but I have had similar results with my processor. You may find once you reach a certain threshold it will be tough to get much higher. I have a 3700+ San Diego running at 2.85 on air cooling, I was able to hit 2.6 pretty easily. I found once I hit that 2.6 mark things got very dificult just to pull out to 2.85 stable.

I would take a look around the processor and overclocking forum here I have seen some very useful information, they should have some information on your 3800+ X2 specifically. I have seen quite a few people up to 1.65 core voltage on those X2's as well, make sure that is a valid setting though before you take my advice on it.

 

[knifemyglitter]

holy crap. how did you get it up to 2.85? i want you to HELP ME GET MY 4000+ to 2.85. right now im stuck at 2.7 and i dont know that much about mem timings and such. GAMER, HELP ME!

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: knifemyglitter
holy crap. how did you get it up to 2.85? i want you to HELP ME GET MY 4000+ to 2.85. right now im stuck at 2.7 and i dont know that much about mem timings and such. GAMER, HELP ME!

I would take a look at the CPU & Overclocking Forum, they offer good information.

Are you on stock cooling??? if not what are you running??

What is your motherboard??

What is your memory??

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: GamerExpress

Originally posted by: knifemyglitter
holy crap. how did you get it up to 2.85? i want you to HELP ME GET MY 4000+ to 2.85. right now im stuck at 2.7 and i dont know that much about mem timings and such. GAMER, HELP ME!

I would take a look at the CPU & Overclocking Forum, they offer good information.

Are you on stock cooling??? if not what are you running??

What is your motherboard??

What is your memory??

EDIT:OOPS nevermind sorry, i just saw your sig at the bottom of your post. I have the same memory you do, I am not real sure you will get a huge overclock with that MOBO. The MSI board is a great board!!! I am just not too familiar with results on overclocking with it.

If you give me some more information on what settings you are currently using to get to your 2.6 GHz I can see if I can offer some assistance.

 

[knifemyglitter]

all the settings im using are in my signature. My mem volatage is at 2.8, fsb is 225, my cpu volt is at 3.3% above standard, nf4 voltage is like 15.5 or something. If you could tell me ALL YOUR SETTINGS, including timings of everything, id REALLY SUPER appriciate it. im not that good of an overclocker, so anything you can help me with would be great.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: knifemyglitter
all the settings im using are in my signature. My mem volatage is at 2.8, fsb is 225, my cpu volt is at 3.3% above standard, nf4 voltage is like 15.5 or something. If you could tell me ALL YOUR SETTINGS, including timings of everything, id REALLY SUPER appriciate it. im not that good of an overclocker, so anything you can help me with would be great.

What's the 5?

I have the same memory and I'm running it at 2.9V-3.0V. It's running at 237MHz @ 2.5-3-3-8.

 

[ElTorrente]

You see diminishing returns for vCore the higher you go- it's normal.

You're RAM timings are fine, and your OC is fine also.

I can run at 2.8ghz on my CPU at about 1.52volts, but just going to 2.88 requires 1.64x volts- 2.9ghz is about 1.7v.

 

[knifemyglitter]

also, how do i change my multiplier setting, i cant seem to change it from x12, im probably just stupid though.

 

[Kamui]

EvilHarp:

Here are my settings

FSB : 260

LDT mult: 3x

Ram Divider: 5/6

Voltages (RAM, CPU, HTT) : for ram is 2.6, cpu is 1.45 (under bios) - everything else is default

Ram Timings (Default timings tcl-trcd-trp-tras + volts + fsb and your current setup) - right now, it is running at 2.5-3-2-5 ( I have the 2gb OCZ platinum edition... and it doesnt seem to be overclocking very well.

PSU ratings (Brand/Wattage) - I have the antec TP 550W

 

[rise]

knife why don't you take it to PM or start another thread?

kamui, i have 2 x2 3800's one is running 270x10 1.44v and it definitely has some headroom, maybe even at the same vcore.

the other seems to want no more than 250x10 1.425v. 1.45v didn't help. i'm sure i could get a bit more with higher vcore but as eltorrente said, i'm at the point of diminishing returns and for a 100mhz or so i think i'll stay where i'm at. i'm not really comfortable pumping too many volts through these chips 24/7.

i wouldn't go higher than +10% vcore, IMO, even if you're on water.

edit-it seems like you've done everything right, just a matter of finding a speed/vcore you're comfortable with.

is that the truepower II?

 

[Kamui]

hi rise, thanks for the reply. I have been playing with a system and it seems to be stable at 2.61 ghz at 1.45...
I read some posts that 1.6 and 1.65 is ok in a water cooled system... provided that the temperature doesnt go above 50C. However, I am just surprised that i couldnt get an extra 100mhz even if I try to crank the voltage all the way up to 1.65v (hot!!)....I was expecting a more linear increase

btw, it is the ANTEC TP II 550W. I read some ppl complaining about the reliability of Antec PSUs. I had it for 3 months and it is still working fine. Actually, it is running quite well given how many devices it is currenly powering:

Amd X2 3800+ (running at 2.61ghz with 1.45 volts)
DFI Lanparty Ultra-D
2Gb OCZ DDR400 3200 Platinum Edition
ATI RADEON X800 PRO
LSI Megaraid SATA-6
1 Hitachi 250Gb IDE HD
4 WDC 320Gb SATA (running RAID-5)
Koolance Exos 2 (CPU-300, GPU-180, CHC-A05)
3 120 fAN
1 92 fan
1 mitsumi floppy drive
1 benq dvd

 

[Kamui]

a quick update,
I finally found out the culprit... it was my ram!!! apparently, the ocz 2gb platinum ram is not a very good overclocker.. so this is what I did instead

FINAL SPEED: 2700
HTT: 300
LDT MULTI: 9
MEM DIVIDER: 7/10
RAM SETTINGS: 2-3-2-10 running at ~210
VOLTAGE: 1.45 * 110% (effectively 1.6v)

The idle temperature is around 33C and load is around 49 C. Do you guys think the voltage is too high for the X2? Or should I back down?

 

[Kamui]

my alternative settings would be:

FINAL SPEED: 2600
HTT: 260
LDT MULTI: 10
MEM DIVIDER: 5/6
RAM SETTINGS: 2.5-3-2-10 running at ~217 ---> Need to relax CAS in order overclock
VOLTAGE: 1.45