Thinking about overclocking 3800X2

[l0cke]

I have known about overclocking for awhile but I have never really gotten into it because I could still play with decent settings on most games.

However, I am worried that my system won't do as well on more modern games. So I have a few questions.

1. Would overclocking my CPU even give me better preformance in games or is my video card the main bottleneck here?

Specs:
MSI K8N Neo4/SLI
AMD Athlon X2 3800+ (Arctic freezer 64)
Nvidia Geforce 6800gs (another arctic freezer on this one)
Corsair Value RAM 2GB
480w coolermaster PSU
120gb SATA HDD

Idle CPU temp: 35C
Idle Sys temp 32C
Idle GPU temp 34C


2. Anyone got a guide/any tips?

 

[Markfw]

First, what games ? and what resolutions do you play at ?

Yes an OC will probably help, but we need you to answer those questions first.

 

[jdoggg12]

For me, going from stock to 2.6Ghz on my 3800+ x2 meant the difference between stuttering and butter smooth gameplay in crysis (until the later levels)

 

[l0cke]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
First, what games ? and what resolutions do you play at ?

Yes an OC will probably help, but we need you to answer those questions first.

Right now I am mostly playing Call of Duty 4, World in Conflict, Team Fortress 2, and Audiosurf (however I wouldn't worry about graphics with Audiosurf)

On my 17" monitor I run 1280x1024
On my 19" widescreen I run 1440x900
I switch between the two monitors, I don't use both at the same time.

In game I prefer to play at full res all the time and I like to have not blurry weapon models and other things players are holding (in FPS at least).

 

[Markfw]

I hope others can now answer your question (I don't play those, and don't have your video card) but OC'ing is free to try ! Do it and see what happens. It sounds like you can get a nice boost.

 

[l0cke]

Sounds good. Anyone know of any good guides on the internet? I know one of my MaxPC's had a guide to 939 OC'ing, but I don't really want to dig through my magazine piles to find it.

 

[Tweakin]

First thing you want to do is set you HTT to 4. Then go ahead and manually configure your memory to run on the 166 bus (this will take memory out of the question as you try to determine your top cpu push).

You will also need to download a utility called clockgen. it is located here. This will allow you to see what the actual fsb of the system is and change it from windows.

Keep pushing until you reach and then adjust your memory to the fastest it can go at that freq. There are some detailed guides around the forum, I just didn't look them up.

Most X2 3800's are good for 2.4~2.7 Ghz. Have fun and good luck.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: l0cke
I have known about overclocking for awhile but I have never really gotten into it because I could still play with decent settings on most games.

Silly Rabbit! Most of our systems are completely fine without OC. Why do we do it?


1. Get free performance/GHZ for nothing, kind of a F-U to The Man (Intel, AMD)

2. To eek out a few FPS in our favorite games. However, this is better done through GPU OC.

3. To enlarge our e-peens (or female equivilent) AKA Bragging Rights!!!!!!!!!!!

4. Its addictive! (How far can we push our equipment)



Am I missing anything?

 

[SlowSpyder]

I had almost the same set up as you, a 3000+ (overclocked to 2.56ghz) and an EVGA 6800GS superclock at 490/1100. It did pretty well on my 19" ws (1440x900) but what really, really helped was when I jumped to a 7900GS. With my 7900GS @ 500/1320 there was nothing I couldn't play at 1440x900 at the time. I'm sure that setup would still hold it's own today even... far from top of the line, but capable enough.

 

[Martimus]

Running my X2 4200+ at stock caused occasional stuttering on Oblivion with Max settings, but overclocking it to 2.7GHz made that go away. So yes, it will make a difference, but the Video Card is usually the bottle neck.

Here is the guide I used to Overclock my CPU.

 

[Ratman6161]

Originally posted by: l0cke
Sounds good. Anyone know of any good guides on the internet? I know one of my MaxPC's had a guide to 939 OC'ing, but I don't really want to dig through my magazine piles to find it.

Anandtech 939 Overclock guide

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31

Originally posted by: l0cke
I have known about overclocking for awhile but I have never really gotten into it because I could still play with decent settings on most games.

Silly Rabbit! Most of our systems are completely fine without OC. Why do we do it?


1. Get free performance/GHZ for nothing, kind of a F-U to The Man (Intel, AMD)

2. To eek out a few FPS in our favorite games. However, this is better done through GPU OC.

3. To enlarge our e-peens (or female equivilent) AKA Bragging Rights!!!!!!!!!!!

4. Its addictive! (How far can we push our equipment)



Am I missing anything?

Nicely put!

 

[heyheybooboo]

Download SpeedFan, CPUz & Orthos.

As the computer boots hit the delete key - you will enter the BIOS.

Select Advanced Chipset features - DRAM Configuration. Switch Timing Mode from Auto to Manual. Hit Enter. Select Memclock Index Value. Switch from 200MHz to 166MHz. Hit Enter. 'Escape' back to main BIOS screen.

Select Cell Menu. I think (can't remember ) you select Performance mode. Switch setting from Auto to Manual. Hit enter. Disable Cool & Quiet. Verify that your PCIe freq is set at 100MHz. Select HT Freq. Switch setting from 5x to 4x. Hit Enter. NOW ....

You have room with these settings for an overclock up to 25% above stock. I would suggest starting slowly, working you way up and monitoring your system along the way.

Select CPU FSB Freq. Switch the setting from 200 to 220. Hit Enter. Hit F-10 and save the new system settings. After you boot into Windows open CPUz & SpeedFan. Your clockspeed should be 2200MHz (or a 10% OC). Note the CPU & Core temps in SpeedFan. Write them down!

Right click on the task bar and open the task manager. Select the performance tab. Launch Orthos and select the cpu/ram 'blend' test. Hit Start.

Your CPU utilization should rise to 100% on both cores in task manager. Monitor your CPU & Core temps in SpeedFan. At this OC most likely your load temps won't rise above 40c. If they do, you may need to reseat your HSF. NOW .... It's up to you!

If you are comfortable with your stability and temps, with the settings I gave you you could up the CPU FSB Freq as high as 250 (that would be 2.5GHz or a 25% OC). If along the way the system becomes unstable or won't boot, you can go in the Cell Menu and safely raise your CPU Voltage to 1.425v - anything above that and you are on your own If you can't enter the BIOS read the manual on how to reset your CMOS. I don't know anything about your ram so I will not suggest raising the mem voltage.

If you are happy with your system stability and temps and wish to proceed higher that 250 CPU fsb - you must reduce your HT from 4x to 3x and your MemClock from 166 to 150. Some folks have clocked X2 3800s to 2.7GHz and up. You can most likey safely overclock your X23800 to 48-50c temps @ load in Orthos.

I'll let someone else explain how to 'relax' your memory timings. If you run into problems RESET your BIOS to standard defaults (and read in your manual how to reset the CMOS!)

And while at lower resolutions you may be slowed a bit with your cpu - at 1400x900 you are starting to enter territory where your 6800gs may start slowing you down. If you are so interested heck out something like the 8800gs for a big bump in your video card ...

 

[Pilky]

No reason not to OC man, you already have the cooling might as well go for.


I got my AM2 x2 3800+ to 2.5 on stock cooling.

 

[l0cke]

Okay using the anandtech guide I got to 2.45 but now I am experiencing weird problems with my video card. I can run a game at the lowest settings and it will just freeze up for like 5 seconds randomly. Temps are fine, and I can run Prime95 both cores for 24+ hours with out any problems.

I tried clearing the CMOS (just a button on my board thankfully) but the problem is still there. Was my videocard affected in some weird way by the OC? Can I fix it?

 

[geokilla]

I got my X2 3800 up to 2.4Ghz as seen in sig. I might push it to 2.8 by dropping the multiplier to a 9.

As the other said, follow the overclocking guide and use it as a reference. Make sure there's adequate cooling and that it is stable. Run Memtest to make sure your RAM is fine as well. I usually run 1 to 2 hours of Test #5 of Memtest.

I'm sorry I can't help with your video card issue. Is it overheating? Is there a power connector that you didn't plug in yet? Check those things. Other than that, good luck.