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Don't think there is an easy way.
My opteron is only overclocked to a third of its potential, the "better" the motherboard the more options you have to overclock, and the more of an art form it is to get right.
For advice visit www.overclockers.co.uk and read the forums, they have links to other forums with advice.
Some of the pages are so funny. I can understand wanting to have a £150 processor working at the speed of a £250 one. Some of the big kids there and at extreme systems just go over the top to brag having the fastest overclock. Liquid cooling ok - refrigerator coolant cooling OTT but dry ice! :roll:
After a few weeks of 'shall I shan't I' I decided to give overclocking a go. Especially as the CPU I want isn't within range yet!
Did a 'Run CPU benchmark' via the manager first to see if anything happened. Got 1692 and 3099 respectively.
Wanted to do something really basic and leave it at that. Got into BIOS and changed the FSB from 200 to 210 (200 is the base will go up to 232 but I thought that would be pushing it!) 200 to 210 is a 5% increase which is enough for me - if it worked that's it - not going any further!
It mostly worked. Ran the benchmarks and got 1799 and 3266 - an increase of 5.14% and 5.38%. Doesn't sound much but a 20 hour WU should now take 19 hours.
Just go to keep an eye on the CPU temperature - currently 39C - which, I think, is just about perfect!
The only problem I've found is that the computer doesn't soft restart - just sits there giving an occasional 'beep' - a hard restart isn't a problem - I can live with that!
I`ve looked at many sites & forums but end up more perplexed than when I started !!
I found a gem of an application called "Clockgen" very simple and eay to use, it has rev counter style dials with all the relavant info you need to see. You also have the option to apply the overclocking at startup. I can't find the link to the download site but if you want it PM me?
Yep, already had clockgen plus a multitude of other programs.
Theres only one way to get a stable overclock & thats through the bios settings you might have to press ctrl & f1 to get access to other settings (ram timings, multiplier etc), I got mine from 2.4 to 2.6 but found a few projects didn't like o/c !
As has already been said, the better the motherboard the more options you'll have in the bios, I got my 3.0 prescott up to 3.4 and it still runs 10 degrees under the stated temp, may even see how it goes pushed to 3.6.
What I missed off my other post was that I don't overclock I did try one machine a P4 3.2Ghz and got it up to 3.6Ghz but it was not stable. That was using the OEM software supplied with a MSI motherboard.
but apart from a good motherboard/systemboard you also need a good processor the best overclocking one if you can get hold of it is :
AMD 1700xp t/bred hard to find but well worth it if you wanna o/c
i have two (2) matched up on Epox ep8rda+ mb's...
1700 running at 2600 and both air cooled ...
400 watt psu's
cooler master fans on one and thermaltake sonic tower fanless system on the other as a trial to see how it works , been on a month now with no problems and nice and quite :)
tip: if you start to o/c write down all you do step by step so if you come to a problem you can drop back to the last good settings...don't rush and try do it all in one day o/c your pc over a week or so let your processor settle into the new settings and and don't forget to take your side pannels off for max air flow...
any other help ......on a post card to ....................
Sound advice Bob, but I would only suggest removing the side panel if you have restricted airflow through your box as with good fans and good airflow it's far better to have the cool air drawn in and the hot forced out.
Saying that in the height of summer it can help to remove it and train a desktop fan on your system.
But as Bob says, one step at a time and every system differs so it is a case of trial and error.
I read with envey all you overclockers cranking up the CPU, I don't object to the practice just never got around to seriously giving it a try.
I would reccomend a great case that has good airflow and thats a Jeantech Phong 11. Just rebuilt my main home PC into one of these and was very pleased with the quality, just need the new CPU to finish it off. Looks like a trip to Novatec SOOOOOON. LOL
Well if you're talking cases, its difficult to beat an Antec P180.
Has a separate compartment for the PSU and hard disks and has 3 mighty and whisper quiet 120mm fans.
Wifeys new core2 is sat in it right now, overclocked a tad and running at 41C
Last question of the day as I feel I'm exceeding my quota of posts.
Is it usual for over clocked cpu's to only register in boinc at their base speed as my 3.0 HT system is over clocked to 3.4 and registers as such with soft sandra, Aida 32 and in the bios yet boinc benchmarks it at 3.0?
Rockinfroggi wrote:Last question of the day as I feel I'm exceeding my quota of posts.
Is it usual for over clocked cpu's to only register in boinc at their base speed as my 3.0 HT system is over clocked to 3.4 and registers as such with soft sandra, Aida 32 and in the bios yet boinc benchmarks it at 3.0?
Yes, its normal.
But, if you run Seti and use chickens V2 optimised app, it reports the actual speed in the stdout
Rockinfroggi wrote:Last question of the day as I feel I'm exceeding my quota of posts.
Is it usual for over clocked cpu's to only register in boinc at their base speed as my 3.0 HT system is over clocked to 3.4 and registers as such with soft sandra, Aida 32 and in the bios yet boinc benchmarks it at 3.0?
Yes, its normal.
But, if you run Seti and use chickens V2 optimised app, it reports the actual speed in the stdout
Thanks John, that answers that then, I'm not too bothered about what it shows as long as I'm crunching at my full potential. :)
If i could suggest a cpu to you it would be a intel core 2 duo.
My E6400 std clock is 2.13 per core, currently its ticking along very happy @ 3.6 on water but what is more amazing is that it was also running on the standard cooler @ 3.4
Does make for an expensive upgrade as you will probably need what would basically be a whole new p.c. :(
Nice set-up Jay, my only problem at the moment is money, or should I say the lack of it, as I've been unable to work for the past 2 years and at the moment looks like it may be another year before I'm fit enough to work again.
My fourth system I threw together with odds and ends I had lying around from upgrades I had done for family and friends, though I did splash out on a Seasonic 600w PSU.
Once I have some money in the bank again It's my aim to build my dream system from scratch, but I'm sure by then there will be the usual advances in top dog components.
Thanks for the tip anyway, and nice looking set-up you have there.
Been running my 3.0 HT at 3.4 for a while now with no ill effects so have just upped it to 3.75 (big jump for me) and so far the temp is still well below the max stated.
So if I go poof in the next few days you'll know I pushed too far.
you think that's for real? I've seen a freezer unit attached to a heavily modded system but that's ONE STEP BEYOND. Think I'll stick to the palm leaf I wave over my cpu.
AH!
You mean like the vapochill or the prometia.
I had a promi mach 1 with an athlon xp 2500 under it.
Used to run it at 2650mhz @ -35 under load as far as i recall, but its been a while.
Also tried peltier cooling before that.
I managed to loose a XP19000 to condensation due to the neoprene spliting while i was away for the weekend
I think i ran that at nearly 2000mhz @ -5 (full load) but that was a real long time ago.
I would like to save up for a converted vapochill, these can do around -50 or lower.
Put that with a xeon 5150 and i would like to be around 3.7 or maybee a little more per core.
I think your dreams run way higher than mine Jay, my next build keeps changing on paper as new gear comes out, but I doubt I'll go for anything more than water cooled when the funds are available.
If you had a dewar to store it in (unfortunately they are quite expensive) then you could just come see me and I'll tank you up 8)
Here's out the back of the lab:
The one of the right is "Ultra High Purity" LN2 used for semiconductor stuff.
The two smaller ones are just bog-standard LN2 that I use for general freezing of things :P
Geeez :shock: lookin at that yard makes me think twice, looks like a nuclear death star bomb factory :lol:
Time for some research on this one, I'm gona need at least an injector and a pump that won't freeze, hmmmm wonder if a NOS (Nitrous Oxide) fogger and pump will do the job coz that stuff can get silly cold. :toothy3:
Why and How the hell is Nitrogen so cold?
Should of stayed in school and studied chemistry instead of running off to the ATC-RAF to play with planes 8)
Just fitted the same CPU cooler Timby bought last week and my CPU temp on my over-clocked HT has gone from around 62C down to 46.5C and mobo temp is down from 38C to 33C.
And boy is it quiet, no more keeping me awake at night.
Rockinfroggi wrote:Just fitted the same CPU cooler Timby bought last week and my CPU temp on my over-clocked HT has gone from around 62C down to 46.5C and mobo temp is down from 38C to 33C.
And boy is it quiet, no more keeping me awake at night.
Gary.
lol, I had similar problems, solved mine with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro.
Temujin wrote:Well if you're talking cases, its difficult to beat an Antec P180.
Has a separate compartment for the PSU and hard disks and has 3 mighty and whisper quiet 120mm fans.
Wifeys new core2 is sat in it right now, overclocked a tad and running at 41C
Temujin,
This is one of the cases I'm thinking of ordering today, bit concerned whether my Hyper type r PSU will fit in as a few reviews say theres not much room ?
Gary wrote:This is one of the cases I'm thinking of ordering today, bit concerned whether my Hyper type r PSU will fit in as a few reviews say theres not much room ?
DJHGB-Ro mentioned similar concerns also.
It took my Akasa wotsitdoodah PSU no trouble and is meant to take any "standard sized" PSU.
In the lower compartment that houses the PSU and HDs, theres a PSU cage but I removed that and fixed my PSU directly to the backplane of the case.
Without the cage there loads of room but I could imagine some people might be concerned about space if they keep the cage.
I didn't even think about keeping the cage, it was like "well I don't need that", so out it went.
If your anywhere near north Northamptonshire, you're more than welcome to come over and check it out if you want.
edit
In fact, just had a look and theres loads of room in there, even a little slot under the PSU to push unused cables.
Theres an inch all around the PSU and near enough 3 inches before the fan.
Only thing that I found a bit tricky was routing the cables through to the HDs simply because the cables were so long
Gary wrote:This is one of the cases I'm thinking of ordering today, bit concerned whether my Hyper type r PSU will fit in as a few reviews say theres not much room ?
DJHGB-Ro mentioned similar concerns also.
It took my Akasa wotsitdoodah PSU no trouble and is meant to take any "standard sized" PSU.
In the lower compartment that houses the PSU and HDs, theres a PSU cage but I removed that and fixed my PSU directly to the backplane of the case.
Without the cage there loads of room but I could imagine some people might be concerned about space if they keep the cage.
I didn't even think about keeping the cage, it was like "well I don't need that", so out it went.
If your anywhere near north Northamptonshire, you're more than welcome to come over and check it out if you want.
edit
In fact, just had a look and theres loads of room in there, even a little slot under the PSU to push unused cables.
Theres an inch all around the PSU and near enough 3 inches before the fan.
Only thing that I found a bit tricky was routing the cables through to the HDs simply because the cables were so long
My psu is 160mm or 6 1/4 " long, the cables have metal clasps ( can add or remove cables) adding another 40 ish mm, worried about that fan being in the way.
Temujin wrote:Well if you're talking cases, its difficult to beat an Antec P180.
Has a separate compartment for the PSU and hard disks and has 3 mighty and whisper quiet 120mm fans.
Wifeys new core2 is sat in it right now, overclocked a tad and running at 41C
Temujin,
This is one of the cases I'm thinking of ordering today, bit concerned whether my Hyper type r PSU will fit in as a few reviews say theres not much room ?
I did get a new psu an Antec truepower trio 650 watt, masses of cables :shock: after some mails sent to Antec support it turns out the psu was duff !
Got a full refund now using an Antec Neo HE 550 its modular so its not so messy with the cables, anyone who has a P180 case and needs a new psu I recommend this one