First Time overclocking Need some help with my 1.6A

Bmott

Member
Mar 29, 2002
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This is my first post on anandtech. I just overclocked my first rig a week ago and was wondering if my scores are any good for my equipement and what i can do to make them better.

System
P4 1.6A Pack Date 5/17/02 SL668 (from TCWO)
Epox 4G4A+
Retail HSF (left Thermal Pad on)
Visiontek GF4 Ti4200 128mb 29.42 drivers
Corsair 512MB PC2700 DDR 333mhz Cas 2
Allied 400W
WD 80Gb with 8mb Buffer

Im currently running @ 2.48ghz 155FSB/310DDR on default voltage and haven't crashed yet during any tests or use

Sandra
MEM 2312/2313
CPU 4725/3025
Media 9727/12201

3DMark2001 7311

PCMark2002
CPU 6079
MEM 5746
HDD 1077

Using the Monitor built into Sandra it says that my CPU temp under load is 44 C and idle 36 C and that my system temp is 27C

I'm scared to go any faster with the stock HSF. I plan on getting a new HSF and increasing the voltage once i do.

I can't decide which HSF i should get though. I am considering the Thermalright AX-478 or the Alpha Pal8942 with the Vantec Stealth fan and some artic silver.

Any suggestions would be great.

 

BuddyAtBzboyz

Senior member
Jul 19, 2002
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Maybe try Thermagic instead of arctic silver early indications show a 1-2 degree drop over the best arctic silver! Yeah I think your overclock is very good. Now if you hit 166 I would be very impressed. Get back to us on your results with the new hsf!
 

Bmott

Member
Mar 29, 2002
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According to Sandra my cpu voltage is at 1.49V. I haven't changed the voltage in my bios at all though. Should i ?
 

CrazySaint

Platinum Member
May 3, 2002
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Originally posted by: Bmott
According to Sandra my cpu voltage is at 1.49V. I haven't changed the voltage in my bios at all though. Should i ?

Nice CPU you got there :) Go as high as you can at stock voltage, increase it a bit (I think that board allows .025 voltage increments) and see how high the FSB will go. Rinse, repeat. With the stock cooling, I wouldn't increase the vcore to anything higher than 1.65v. Just watch your temps. From what I've heard the PAL8942 is the best P4 HS/F, but THUGSROOK, our resident master overclocker uses the cheaper Thermaltake P4 Volcano 7+, IIRC. Absolutely get some arctic silver, that should afford you a temp drop of a few degrees over the thermal pad, even with the stock HSF. Other than that, keep up the good work, you're definitely on your way to a nice OC :)
 

SmackdownHotel

Golden Member
May 19, 2000
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155 FSB at default voltage is excellent. And your temps are fine too, especially considering you're using the thermal pad on the retail HSF.
 

Mikki

Golden Member
Jun 13, 2002
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Excellent overclock! All these new successful overclocks are very promising, I haven't had a chance to install my new one as of yet. Also kudos to Intel for the retail hsf, I use it also, and will continue to until I need to change it. Bmott, I think your 3DMark score should be a bit higher, you're running a bit faster than I am, yet my score is a lot higher. Some of that will be due to my Ti4400, but I still think your score should be higher. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Keep up the great work, and crank that baby up! :)
 

CableDude

Member
Apr 11, 2002
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Nice OC. :) Like Mikki said, your 3dmark is low. With your system you should be getting 9000-10,000ish.
 

r0ck

Senior member
Oct 12, 2001
200
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i agree..the scores are low..should be @ 8000+ @ default video clock

My Ti 4200 128mb (Gainward)

XP 2100+(@ true speed1.74) - CPU: 4924/2490
Mem: 1913/1819
3Dmark: 8854 @ default settings

as XP200+ (1.82Ghz) - CPU: 5101/2574
Mem: 2169/2100
3Dmark: 10678 (@ 300/550)

 

Bmott

Member
Mar 29, 2002
164
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I haven't overclocked my video card at all yet. I'm sure my scores will improve once i do that. However do i have a bad (slow performing) card? I thought visiontek was supposed to have some of the best cards? i bought it at best buy during the $150 AR Sale, so i can easily return it and get a different batch. Any thoughts?
 

gururu

Platinum Member
Jul 16, 2002
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Crank your memory bandwidth up a few notches, even if it means dropping the clock speed. Your memory should hit
at least DDR366 easy. You will raise your performance. Feed that cpu!

sounds like you have a winning chip. Your temps are fabulous! I wouldn't touch the thermal pad unless you start hitting
mid 60s under load.
 

BuddyAtBzboyz

Senior member
Jul 19, 2002
286
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Increasing the bandwidth might help but even at default you should get better then that. The xtasy cards are good ones maybe you have bad drivers or a faulty card. I don't know.
 

Bmott

Member
Mar 29, 2002
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Alright so i tinkered with my computer again today and no luck. I tried to increase the Bandwidth of the ram however, my computer wouldn't even boot with the ram set at DDR366 with a 3:4 ratio and the proccesor downclocked from where i had it.

So next i tried bumping my proccesor to up to 2.56 increasing the the cpu voltage to 1.6V with 160fsb/320DDR, to improve the bandwidth. This improved all my benchmarks, however when i tried to run 3DMark i got the blue screen of death. How can i get excellent scores in both PC Mark andSandra and then have 3D Mark Crash?

This made me think there is something wrong with my card. Any thoughts?

I'm also concerned that my Ram wouldn't boot at 366mhz. Isn't that REALLY bad for quality RAM. Ive read most people hitting 400mhz easily. I thought the Samnsung and Corsair chips were the best for overclocking. I know must of it is luck with your equipement, so i guess i got a rocking processor and a shitty video card and ram.
 

gururu

Platinum Member
Jul 16, 2002
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don't worry!
switch your cpu:DRAM ratio to 4:5, not 3:4
if that doesn't work, drop the clock (leave at 4:5).
next thing, up cpu voltage a bit
next thing, up memory voltage a bit

when happy with memory bandwidth, try taking back to 3:4.
if not possible, then don't worry about it.

you have lots of combinations. I am CERTAIN that you can get an easy DDR366



 

BuddyAtBzboyz

Senior member
Jul 19, 2002
286
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I think its a oddament added onto p4 motherboards to get better bandwidth. Basically at a 4/5 ratio if you fsb was at 100 your ram would run at 125. So if your processor is at 133 your ram is at 166 etc... The problem with your computer crashing in 3dmark is probably to do with the fact that when you overclocked the fsb which changes the pci and agp frequency. If you motherboard has a setting to keep the pci and agp frequency stable you shouldn't have a problem. That is just my guess though, it could actually be one of many things.
 

Bmott

Member
Mar 29, 2002
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Yeah i didn't lock the PCI/AGP frequency since last time i cleared my CMOS, oops. Thats why it was crashing.

Well for any that care i am now running at 2.24Ghz with 140fsb/ DDR 350 1.55Vcore 2.6VDimm 1.5VAGP, and slowly increasing.

My goal is to run at 2.4Ghz with 150fsb/ DDR 375 however i was curiuos what voltage settings people were using for this.

I tried 1.6Vcore 2.6Vdimm 1.5V AGP and i couldn't get my system to boot. Any suggestions?

I know my CPU is fine at 1.6V however, i think mabye i should do the ram up to 2.7V. How High can i go with the ram voltage and still be safe.

I have Corsair XMS 512MB DDR333 PC2700 SDRAM w/Heat Spreader.

Any help would be great
 

BuddyAtBzboyz

Senior member
Jul 19, 2002
286
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Yeah i didn't lock the PCI/AGP frequency since last time i cleared my CMOS, oops. Thats why it was crashing.

Glad I could be of help. However on the rest of your questions I do not know since I never owned a p4 system in my life yet.
 

Mikki

Golden Member
Jun 13, 2002
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Bmott, you're doing great! I wouldn't mess with your memory timings just yet, concentrate on adjusting fsb and v-core to find out what your cpu's limit is, then tweak from there. If your system won't boot, or crashes, adjust v-core (1.75v actual max). Good luck!!:)
 

BuddyAtBzboyz

Senior member
Jul 19, 2002
286
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I'm envious of all you people with your 1.6A's I got a 1700+ that can only overclock to like the level of a 1900+ maybe a 2000+ with a better motherboard.