Basic overclocking help

[imported_KPS]

After buying Dells and Compaqs for years, finally decided to build my won PC! Did a fair amt of research and I will be getting all of my components in a day or so. Would like help with doing some overclocking. Nothing radical - however, some performance boost will be great without a lot of trial & error (first time build).

Can someone suggest OC settings (FSB, Mult, RAM speed/timing) that would be pretty stable? Thanks.

Components:
ASUS A8N-E mobo
AMD 64 3000+ (Venice core)
Corsair TWINX 3200 1024-C2PT
eVGA 6600 GT PCIE
Seagate 160GB w/ NCQ
OCZ ModStream 450W PSU
CM WaveMaster Case
Lite-on 1693 DVD writer

 

[CalvinHobbes]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=28&threadid=1497607&enterthread=y

http://www.ocfaq.com/kb/overclocking

http://forums.overclockers.co.nz/showth...a0757b400d8c593d6d4be3b7&threadid=7032

 

[furballi]

FSB...250 MHz
DDR RAM...333 MHz if you cannot push the Corsair at the same speed as the FSB (1:1)
HTT multiplier...4x
CPU Vcore...1.425V or 1.450V

Leave other settings at DEFAULT. You should be able to push this CPU up to 3800 speed (+270 MHz FSB) without much tinkering.

I'd go with the Abit AN8 if you can spend a little more $. The A8N-E is overrated. I have the AX8...much better value with less than 2% performance hit. It also uses a passive northbridge heat sink for less noise. Don't buy too much into the NCQ hype at this stage of the game.

http://www.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20050513/socket_939-02.html

 

[theMan]

Welcome to AT!

definately read the overclocking guide on the top of this section.

 

[imported_KPS]

Thanks for all the replies. You guys are great.

Since I ordered a Mobo/CPU combo from Monarch, I don't think I can change the Mobo at this point. However, I can probably order a different (better) RAM. Which one should I order? Thanks again.

 

[furballi]

You could always decline the order.

Good RAMs for extreme overclock:

- XMS-PC3000C2
Samsung 6ns TCB3, Winbond BH-6

- XMS-PC3200C2 Rev1.1
Winbond BH-6

- XMS-PC3200C2 Rev1.2 and above
Winbond CH-6

- XMS-PC3200LL Rev1.1
Winbond BH-5

- XMS-PC3200LL Rev1.2
Winbond CH-5

- XMS-3200LLPT (2-2-2-6-1T)
Winbond BH-5

- XMS/TwinX-PC3200LL Rev1.1 (DualPack)
Winbond BH-5

- XMS/TwinX-PC3200LL Rev1.2 (DualPack)
Winbond CH-5

- XMS-PC3200XL (2-2-2-5):
Samsung TCCD 4ns (Revision "F")

- TwinMOS Pc3200
CH-5, BH-5 or TwinMOS rebadged chips

These modules should be BH-5s. If the motherboard can pump out 3 to 3.4 VDDR, then you may be able to hit 250 MHz clock speed. Other option is to buy DDR500 or faster memory.

Personally, I prefer to use 5:6 memory divider with value RAM (Corsair or Kingston DDR400 at $80/1GB). You can make up the Value RAM memory deficit by bumping the FSB speed by 7 or more MHz...say 258 MHz FSB speed for an effective CPU core speed of 2314 MHz(9x CPU multiplier).

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227213

 

[imported_KPS]

The memory I ordered is XMS-PC3200C2(PT). I beleive PT just stands for paltinum heatsink and is identical to C2 (black heatsink). However, I have absolutely no idea about the Rev is and whether it's Samsung or Winbond, BH-6 or CH-6.

Can someone explain to me how can I tell and why it matters? I ordered it from Monarch and the Corsair site says this is the most popular memory for ASUS A8N-E mobo.

 

[richardrds]

Originally posted by: KPS
The memory I ordered is XMS-PC3200C2(PT). I beleive PT just stands for paltinum heatsink and is identical to C2 (black heatsink). However, I have absolutely no idea about the Rev is and whether it's Samsung or Winbond, BH-6 or CH-6.

Can someone explain to me how can I tell and why it matters? I ordered it from Monarch and the Corsair site says this is the most popular memory for ASUS A8N-E mobo.

Don't waste money on overpriced OCing ram. The A64 archetecture does not require it because of the on chip mem controller. Just buy some decent quality PC3200 Value Ram (512M x2) for around $70-80. Read Zebo's sticky below for a detailed study on why expensive OCing ram is not money well spent with A64's!!

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=28&threadid=1475190&enterthread=y