e5200 modest overclock, need suggestions

[cactusminer]

I've done my homework on this, but my last system build was literally 10 years ago, a K6-III system, so some input would be appreciated..

I am on a limited budget, so I'm leaning towards a e5200 plus GA-G31M-ES2L combo. I'd like to do a modest overclock to 3Ghz on standard voltage and cooler. So I understand the fsb would be at 960 ... Is it possible to keep RAM clocked at 800, or is even worth it to overclock RAM in this case?

Also, what are your thoughts on thermal paste beyond the stock cooler, I mean is that really necessary for modest overclocking?

I also looked at a wolfdale 2.66 on a newer p45 board, but like I said I'm on a budget... so I'd rather save the 100..

Thanks!

 

[n7]

No idea about how well the mobo you are looking at can OC, sorry.

E5200 runs at 12.5x200 stock (don't think of the quad pumped speed; you'll just confuse yourself more).
To get to 3 GHz, you are doing a bump to 12.5x240.

Rated RAM speed is DDR2 (double data rate), which puts the actual speed you're working with half of that.

So if we have DDR2-800, that's 400 MHz.

Anyway, minimum RAM speed must be the same as the FSB, so all you need is RAM capable of 240 MHz (DDR2-480).
IOW, any garbage RAM out there will work for your planned overclock.

As long as voltage isn't increased much, the stock cooler will work.
That said, Intel's stock coolers with most of their CPUs are basically crap, so it won't take too much voltage over stock before temps will get rather hot with that.
Shouldn't be an issue for a dual like the E5200 @ 3 GHz though.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You can probably hit 3.0Ghz on the stock cooler. Don't skimp on the RAM though, get DDR2-800 or better. The reason being, the G31 chipset doesn't have 1:1 FSB:RAM ratio available. So your RAM will be forced to run faster than your FSB.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Don't skimp on the RAM though, get DDR2-800 or better. The reason being, the G31 chipset doesn't have 1:1 FSB:RAM ratio available. So your RAM will be forced to run faster than your FSB.

Are you sure about that? Perhaps it's one of those limitations with a low FSB depending on the strap speed?

Still, with a stock FSB of 200 and multipllier of 12.5, I think cheap DDR2-800 will be fine, no need to go higher.

 

[rogue1979]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
You can probably hit 3.0Ghz on the stock cooler. Don't skimp on the RAM though, get DDR2-800 or better. The reason being, the G31 chipset doesn't have 1:1 FSB:RAM ratio available. So your RAM will be forced to run faster than your FSB.

Biostar G31 M7 has a 1:1 memory ratio.

 

[WildW]

My Gigabyte G31 + E5200 overclocks happily with FSB up to 300. Your overclock is the product (i.e. multiply) your FSB and your CPU multiplier - remember that the multiplier is locked at 12.5, but you can choose any value below 12.5 in 0.5 increments.

Your board will have memory dividers so that you can raise FSB without overclocking the memory. On my board these are set with values of 4x , 3.3x and 2.66x the FSB, for DDR2 800, 667 and 533 respectively at the stock 200 FSB. i.e. 200x4 = 800, 200x3.3 = 667, 200 * 2.66 = 533 . . .standard DDR2 memory speeds.

To keep your memory at stock speed you can adjust the memory divider. So, for DDR2 800 say, you have could use FSB values of 200, 242, and 300 MHz. i.e. 200x4 = 242x3.3 = 300x2.66 = 800. So, choose a FSB value and overclock by selecting a multiplier in 0.5 increments below 12.5. e.g. 242 x 12.5 = 3042MHz . . or 300 x 10 = 3000MHz . . .then just use the memory divider setting to bring the memory down to 800.

(Note that Gigabyte tend to hide their memory divider options and need a Ctrl+F1 press in the bios to unhide it. . . which stumped me for a while.)

Make sure your motherboard and processor stays happy at a given FSB value by testing first at a lower multiplier. e.g. 242 x 10, 300 x 8, keeping below stock speed for the E5200. If she's happy there, start cranking up the multiplier.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: rogue1979

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
You can probably hit 3.0Ghz on the stock cooler. Don't skimp on the RAM though, get DDR2-800 or better. The reason being, the G31 chipset doesn't have 1:1 FSB:RAM ratio available. So your RAM will be forced to run faster than your FSB.

Biostar G31 M7 has a 1:1 memory ratio.

That's curious. I wonder why Gigabyte's engineering team wasn't able to implement 1:1 on their boards.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
That's curious. I wonder why Gigabyte's engineering team wasn't able to implement 1:1 on their boards.

I remember this issue coming up way back with the 965P chipset. Gigabyte eventually offered it with a BIOS update, but still ignored low end boards. It isn't that they can't, but perhaps they don't want to allow their cheap boards to hit high FSB easily with cheap RAM?

 

[cactusminer]

Thanks for these replies, it helps a lot.

WildW thanks for the tip on unlocked multipliers in the "downward" direction, I though it was just 12.5 and that's it. Now, I'm think of tring for 300x10 instead of 240x12.5 ... assuming this is faster. What kind of voltage does that require, and how does it affects temps, on say the northbridge?

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: cactusminer
Thanks for these replies, it helps a lot.

WildW thanks for the tip on unlocked multipliers in the "downward" direction, I though it was just 12.5 and that's it. Now, I'm think of tring for 300x10 instead of 240x12.5 ... assuming this is faster. What kind of voltage does that require, and how does it affects temps, on say the northbridge?

my e5200, EP45-UDP3, TRUE unlapped:

3.5ghz (10.5x333) @ 1.325v
RAM 1:1 3-4-4-10 @ 2.1v (4x1gb DDR2-800)

CPU temps (idle and load - 45nm don't play nice with temp sensors <50c)
CPU0: <37c
CPU1: <32c

 

[WildW]

Sounds similar to me

My E5200, Gigabyte G31, hits 3GHz at not much above stock volts I think. Didn't stay overclocked so low for long. 3.3GHz at 1.25V, now 3.5GHz at 1.3V. Temps below 50C full load with non-stock (cheapish quiet Zalman HSF) air cooling.

 

[n7]

no 1:1?

Giga-FAIL :roll:

 

[Arkaign]

I don't know what to say about the Gigabyte board, I've used them in the past with no issues. I have an E5200 Retail (SLAY7), on an Asus P5KPL-CM (got for $55 @ Micro Center Feb Special!), and it's running solid @ 3.5Ghz (280FSB), with the memory set to start at 667 instead of 800, and timing set at 5-5-5-14, though my memory is rated 4-4-4-12 @ 800. Raising your FSB raises your memory speed, so all in all, my memory is running pretty close to stock I believe. Temps are low, and everything is rock solid. I ran it at 4.1Ghz for a little while, but my puny 9600GT and low need for speed led me to scale it back a good bit. All stock voltage.

 

[TidusZ]

I had a $50 motherboard once, never again.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: cactusminer
Thanks for these replies, it helps a lot.

WildW thanks for the tip on unlocked multipliers in the "downward" direction, I though it was just 12.5 and that's it. Now, I'm think of tring for 300x10 instead of 240x12.5 ... assuming this is faster. What kind of voltage does that require, and how does it affects temps, on say the northbridge?

With the core2 series the improvement between same ghz with higher fsb/lower mult vs. lower fsb/higher mult is ~1-2%. IE, completely not worth worrying about.

All processors now usually clock themselves down to conserve power when not in use. IE, my processor only goes to 3.4Ghz when I'm playing a game. 95% of the time it's at 2Ghz. There is no noticeable difference. If you want, you can control the multiplier in software using RMClock.

You will be able to hit probably 4Ghz on that chip if you got any motherboard that has a 1:1 divider and has decent parts; and got a decent cooler instead of the stock cooler. Heck who knows, you might even be able to go that high on the stock cooler. Anybody know? 3Ghz is so last gen Quad (IE 3Ghz q6600 was common OC), now with the 45nm chips you can go much higher. 3.5 Should be easily attainable.

Oh, and welcome to AT

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: n7
no 1:1?

Giga-FAIL :roll:

Nothing a BSEL mod can't fix... though my last attempt broke the bottle that the conductive ink was in.

Originally posted by: TidusZ
I had a $50 motherboard once, never again.

Of course it would be silly to cheap out on a motherboard when you're using a GTX 295 and a quad core with VelociRaptor. That's the same as using a $20 600W PSU with a $2000 system.

Now, your Gigabyte P45 chipset board would be a waste on a $250 internet browsing machine. About as much sense as using a 1200W monster gamer PSU for that same $250 internet browsing machine. You gotta match the components.

Now, if you're trying to imply that there are no functional or stable $50 motherboards, then you'd be suprised...

 

[cactusminer]

Thanks for the welcome. I actually forgot my old user Id and email. I have been reading AT since it was hosted at a third party ISP!! (was is geocities?...)

So does a 1:1 divider just mean the FSB and RAM run at the same speed? It seems from WildW's post, there is a 4x multiplier that should always keep FSB and RAM the same -- no?

 

[luxor]

it's cactusminer .... I just found my old userID after some thinking.. lol