Broke my personal best OC record.. - Tech Support Forums

KarmaKiller · August 17th, 2008, 02:22 PM

So I've been messing with the water loop this weekend. Got it setup a bit different and added a NorthBridge block (because the 680i runs HOT while OCing). Anywho, previous highest on air cooling was 3.6Ghz stable, 3.7Ghz for benchs. I couldn't run 3.7Ghz for more then a couple hours.
Now with the water loop, I can run 3.8Ghz stable, and I finally broke the 4Ghz mark. I can run it long enough for benchs, but that's about it for now.
I'll update with benchmark scores and what not if anybody shows any interest in this thread..

CPU-Z Validator 2.1
^New Record
CPU-Z Validator 2.1
My 24/7 running speed

jaqu · September 30th, 2008, 06:00 AM

I guess this is a late reply, but well done! Are you still running at those speeds?
I'm currently running my E2160 @ 3.01GHz, (1.8GHz stock) FSB 335MHz (200Mhz stock) 1.375v and stable. I would like to go higher though, but I'm not sure how high I can take my CPU's voltage before it blows, whether immediately or over time. I know overclocking is not a science, but do you have any guidelines as to how you find that sweet spot?

KarmaKiller · September 30th, 2008, 07:13 PM

Yeah, whenever I bench I normally turn up the FSB.

For the V-core, I've read anything up to 1.5v is okay, obviously if temps allow. Anything over that your reducing the lifespan of your CPU. Which for some, is bad news, but most of us will upgrade our CPU's anyways in a couple of years. At the current rate, technology is moving faster then the lifespans on most parts.
So I myself really don't worry about it too much. I actually have had my v-core all the way up to 1.6 before. I'm on water, so that helps. But I've noticed no ill effects so far.
My 24/7 v-core is 1.53v.

As far as guidelines.
1. Don't run your CPU over 70° ever.
2. Again, nothing over 1.5 v-core (if you do, better be on water/phase/TEC)
3. Make sure you make small adjustments, and work from there. Don't try to hit the almighty high right off the bat
4. OC just your CPU first, find it's limit first, then move to the RAM, then the rest of the system. Don't try to do them all at once, you'll never know if your instability lies within your RAM, CPU, or whatever else you OC.
5. Make sure you get a good motherboard. With a good board, it'll take less voltage all around to achieve a good OC.
6. Tinker for days. That's what I've done. In fact, I haven't left this board along since I got it 6 months ago. I always am trying to find what's holding me up, so I can get past it.

jaqu · October 1st, 2008, 06:25 AM

Thanks for the guidelines Karma,
Now that I have a rough idea where the limits will be, there is just one other thing that I can't get past. As you know, when you up the FSB, the memory FSB goes up with it automatically. My motherboard has a memory FSB multiplier, so as I upped my FSB, I lowered the memory multiplier so that my mem wont go too far over 800MHz. But I reached the lowest multiplier for the memory. So now i'm stuck on FSB 335 MHz. How do I get past this? Do I just up the voltage, or will releasing the memory timeings give it a bit more tolerance?

TimeDeatH · October 1st, 2008, 09:31 AM

Nice, but can you answer my question in pc modification, its the second one on the list....pweeaaase

KarmaKiller · October 1st, 2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaqu

Thanks for the guidelines Karma,
Now that I have a rough idea where the limits will be, there is just one other thing that I can't get past. As you know, when you up the FSB, the memory FSB goes up with it automatically. My motherboard has a memory FSB multiplier, so as I upped my FSB, I lowered the memory multiplier so that my mem wont go too far over 800MHz. But I reached the lowest multiplier for the memory. So now i'm stuck on FSB 335 MHz. How do I get past this? Do I just up the voltage, or will releasing the memory timeings give it a bit more tolerance?

Well, you can do either. If you loosen up the timings, you may be able to get some more Mhz out of the RAM. Normally it helps some, but not a whole lot. If you up the voltages, just make sure your RAM isn't running really hot. Just touch one of the heat spreaders, and see how warm it is. But more then likely, more voltage will help more then looser timings. Not always, but most of the time this is true.
But understand when you start upping the voltages, your taking more of a risk of damaging the hardware also.

What motherboard are you using? I know some of the newer boards have pretty high dividers, so sometimes it's best just to start with DDR2-1000/DDR2-1066. If either of the above doesn't help you get more out of your RAM, I'd say sell it off and try to get a faster set.

Good luck

jaqu · October 2nd, 2008, 05:25 AM

I have a Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L, I know its a "cheapo", but IMO it was the best bang-for-buck. I mean I got my CPU from 1.8GHz to 3.01GHz on this thing sofar.
It hadnt struck me to check my memory's temp, although my case is very well vented, with a fan sucking air at the front and 2 fans extracting at the back, and a huge side fan. Also my cables inside is very neat for max airflow. But when I feel the memory, how will I know its too hot? Will it be too hot to touch? Also my "cheapo" memory does not have heat spreaders. Do you reccoment I get some heat spreaders for my RAM?
*

KarmaKiller · October 2nd, 2008, 08:16 AM

Yeah, I'd probably try to switch out RAM, and see if you can't get something that OC's better. Most generic RAM will not OC for crap.
You can buy heatsinks for the RAM, but that's not gonna help a whole lot. It's best to start with decent RAM.
And I am actually familiar with that board. I used the same one in a build for my mom. I paired it with a E7200, and got it up to 3.4Ghz with 1.25v-core.
They are very good budget boards, but it would not surprise me if your board is gonna be the next thing to hold you back, once your past the RAM.

jaqu · October 2nd, 2008, 10:22 AM

Well I wont call my memory "generic", it is Corex Extreme RAM. But yeah you're probably right, though I think I would rather not spend the money now to repalce the RAM and mobo, and rather wait to built a complete new rig in a year. But I just don't want my RAM or mobo to blow, so maybe I'll just push this build as far as I can, and make sure no components are overheating too much.
Thanks for your help.

j

jaqu · October 3rd, 2008, 06:21 AM

Last night I felt the components for heat, and my motherboard's chip (the one in the middle with "Gigabyte" written on it) is running extremely hot, I cant even keep my finger on it for a whole second without burning. Is this normal? Or is it high because of the overclock? The RAM is also hot, but it is not burning me. But I'm not sure how hot or cold it is supposed to be.