Do you run CCC during overclock tests w/3dMark06/Prime95?

[Caribouuu]

Hi,

I need to confirm my methods with the forum to make sure I am doing this right.

I just tested my cpu using Prime95 at 220x11@1.5v for 24 hours with no errors. Before running the test, this is what I did:
I right-clicked Catalyst Control Center on the system tray and chose 'Exit'.
Q#1: Do you do this too?
Q#2: Does it change any setting, such as overclocks using that built-in overclocking tool?
Q#3: I also went into task manager and changed the Priority to 'Realtime' for Prime95 before starting the test, is that the correct method?

Now I'm doing my video card, using 3DMark06. This time, I left Catalyst Control Center running on the system tray. I also left my cpu at it's new-found stable htt of 220. There were no overclocks on my video card at this time.
During the test, CCC had an error and Windows had to close it. The test continued and completed without a system hang or any other problems I was aware of. Q#4: Should I have exited CCC system tray app before running 3DMark06 and if I was using the built-in overclocking feature would it then have changed my settings?

Next, I tried using CCC's built in overclocking feature, specifically, I tried to run an Auto-Configure, to test how high it can be overclocked. During this testing, CCC again had an error and closed down.

I restarted, went into BIOS and changed my HTT from 220 to 219.
When I ran both the CCC Auto-Overclock and the 3dMark06 tests, CCC did not have any errors this time, unless I ran the extra 3DMark tests.

I don't understand. I just tested my cpu for 24 hours and it's stable. Should I have closed CCC systray before running 3DMark06, Q#5: what about the Auto-Configure problem? It went away when I lowered HTT to 219. I can disable the system tray icon, but it still crashes during the Auto-Configure at 220, but at 219 it continues without error. CCC also errors when I ran the extra 3DMark testes, even on the lower 219HTT. Is it my Hypertransport? I turned it down to 4x to keep it under 1000, but I hear the Asus A8V can do over 1000 for some reason, and leaving it at 5x would make it only 1100.

 

[formulav8]

I rarely close the CCC for testing/ocing. I even game with CCC running. But, I guess there is a possibility of it skewing some bench results. But it definitely shouldn't make a huge difference either way. Just my experience and opinion.


Jason

 

[Stas]

CCC? Seriously? lol
ATi Tray Tools FTW. I still install it though, because I couldn't force AA + HDR in Oblivion with ATT without CCC. But I disable the service, kill start up process, and get rid off the desktop context menu item. So I get the benefits of full compatibility with CCC, but absolutely no performance hit of that glitchy application (well, minimal hit, since there are more components registered in the system, due to more registry keys, DLLs, etc.). I also do the same thing with nVidia software Except I use RivaTuner for nVidia cards.