Grumpy and Jealous!!! Everyone else o/c's better than me!!

[Bartokomus]

Background: I have several friends at work and online who all o/c, including msyelf. I've been doing it for about 4 years, since the original celerons. In the last four years i personally have had 6 mobo/cpu combos, and have "tested" probably another 10 at work. I have never, nor have my friends ever had the monster o/c's that everyone else in the world (you people) seem to get on air. It has become a sore point amongst us that perhaps we are being mocked. Please dissuade us from this and help me (and yes i have read the WHOLE official thread on my mobo):

Present specs:

P4C800-E Deluxe
2.8C@ 3.43 (24C idle, 38C under load)
2x512mb PC3700 (Kingston HyperX, not matched)
Sapphire 9800 Pro 128mb
Maxtor ata133 80gb
Antec True Power 550W
Zalman CNPS7000A-ALCU (max revolutions)

What prompted this outburst is reading how i should be expecting 3.6gHz as my max o/c on this setup, because that's what is understood as the max o/c. Every time i try to "tighten" my memory timings, i just lock up. I read about what other people are trying in the BIOS, but can't seem to match it. I increase the voltage incrementally and THEN try to increase my fsb a bit more and, you guessed it, lock up. IF anyone has or knows of a comprehensive guide for setting up a mobo (or evern better, this mobo) froms cratch i would really appreicate it. I feel like there must be something i am missing still, and that irritates me. Any help would be really appreciated; and if you help me, your helping my friends, which makes you really super...

 

[myocardia]

Actually, 3.4-3.5 is the "average" overclock with a 2.8C...

 

[Cheetah8799]

Maybe the stuff you're reading is just the guys who like to brag that they OC'd really high. What about the other guys like you who are getting smilar results as you, but just don't feel like braggin?

 

[WobbleWobble]

To some people, if they can boot Windows and run some of their benchmark applications, then they'll give that overclock speed.

Your overclock is fine, "average" even and I'd be happy with it myself.

 

[smahoney]

I expect that you are running with a 5:4 mem divider. If not, I would start there. Also provide you CPU voltage setting and what you are reading from BIOS on it. Can you provide info on your rails from your PSU - esp. 12V.

What stepping is your CPU - 5 digit code. I have an SL6Z5 'M0' stepping chip which tend to be the OC chip most have who are at 250MHz or above.

Not all of the 2.8C chips will reach the 250MHz point. I am very fortunate that mine will.

Your cooler should be fine for a 250MHz FSB though. Plenty of headroom in your PSU.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Actually, 3.4-3.5 is the "average" overclock with a 2.8C...

It's the 'average' with a good stepping 2.8C. Some of the earlier ones max out at 3.2-3.3 Ghz.

3.4 Ghz from a 2.8C is by no means a 'bad' overclock; just not amazing.

 

[CraigRT]

I can't run my XP2500+ at 3200 like everyone else.
it runs for like half an hour in UT2k4 and then locks up... so I don't count it as being a 3200+ successful O/C... works at 195 FSB though.. LOL

I did have a freak P2 back in the day though.. it was a 233 @ 367.. monster O/C for such a small CPU.

 

[dillydobbs]

Im with ya man. I always read about people who get rocking over clocks and i can only get 3.12 out of my 2.8C. I just dont get it

 

[jhurst]

Not all chips are built the same. And same with other components that are crucial to OC'ing, like your motherboard and RAM. If any one of these components is kinda crappy, your whole system will fail. Sometimes its not just your CPU limiting you.

I have had a D1 2.8C and it would run stable with stock voltage up to FSB 243 (3.37ghz). I have switched recently to a M0 2.8C and it will run stable @ stock vcore up to FSB 257 (3.6ghz). After that I have to start increasing voltage and get little results in doing so.

 

[Bartokomus]

Thank you all; i feel slightly better. i am aware of different steppings, as i had a super sweet xp 1700+ a few years ago that was apparently highly coveted... I just hadn't noticed people saying they had a specific revision. If i am within say 15%-20% of the top o/c on air, I'm happy. I just want to know the step by steps on ANY board to make a nice o/c.

I'll get more specific info on my voltages at home, but everything is stock right now; i didn't notice any significant improvement as i mentioned when i added more "juice" and tried to o/c so i dropped it down. Are the readings through ASUS moitoring utlity suitable for measurng power?

thank you all for you responses...

 

[Zap]

Let's put it this way...

Let's say that there are a few people on these forums claiming that they can hold their breath underwater for 3 minutes. So, you think to yourself, "self, I should also be able to hold my breath underwater for 3 minutes." So, you click your stopwatch, jump in and hold your breath. You pop out of the water and click the stopwatch. 2 minutes only. "I don't understand this, everyone else is able to hold their breaths for 3 minutes, so should I."

The whole point of that was... dunno. The other posts were right in saying that the people "bragging" about their overclocks online are just the highest ones. Maybe the systems aren't 100% stable, but they're able to get a CPU-Z screenshot. Maybe they keep their A/C at 60ºF. Maybe the other 95% of overclockers can't get that high of an overclock with the same CPU, so they don't brag about it because there's nothing to say.

Be happy with 3.43GHz. A non-overclocker can't even buy a CPU that runs that fast.

 

[jhurst]

Maybe they are even lying out their a$$es about their apparent extreme overclock. I have my doubts that some ppl can get 3.64ghz out of their 2.8's with stock voltage/cooling

 

[Bartokomus]

I follow what you guys are saying and i find it plausible; but let me redirect my initial question: what should a regular joe seek for an o/c on an air cooled system (XP's w/ 266 fsb or Northwoods). On my o/c i am gaining a 20%-ish increase on stock voltage. If this is reasonable to expect from any system o/c, i shall go silently into the good, good night.

 

[Soulkeeper]

don't feel bad yur oc is better than my 2.8e

 

[rogue1979]

That's a pretty good overclock, I would be satisfied. I have gotten a few "monster overclocks" as you put it. But that was only because I went through several cpu's to get it. A few people have gotten lucky on the first try. Assuming they are being honest, most of the overclockers at Anandtech that have "monster overclocks" have gone through more than one cpu to get it.

 

[THUGSROOK]

Originally posted by: rogue1979
most of the overclockers at Anandtech that have "monster overclocks" have gone through more than one cpu to get it.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: THUGSROOK

Originally posted by: rogue1979
most of the overclockers at Anandtech that have "monster overclocks" have gone through more than one cpu to get it.

I think Thugs changes cpu's almost as often as I change underwear...

 

[TStep]

My first 2.8C got whopping shade over 3.0, second could make 3.4ish, third and last could do about 3.2. Those are stable numbers of course, not 2 minute wonders. Average for me with the 2.8s I've tried >>> 3.2. Gave up on 2.8s for the time being, went back to a 2.4. Feel any better about your 2.8??

 

[rogue1979]

I've got a 2.8B that I pulled out of a Dell laptop that only hits 3.0GHz at 1.62v!

By the way, is that a safe voltage? Don't want to experience P4 sudden death syndrome. Full load temps are about 45C.

 

[dillydobbs]

It was my understanding that 75C is were ya have to start to worry

 

[Pathogen03]

My mobile 2500+ only hits 11x200.. i cant touch the fsb or it crashes, and 11.5 x 200 wont work even at 1.875vcore..

and this is a famed setup!:


IQHYA Mobile 2500+
NF7-S Rev 2.0
HyperX PC4000

 

[Gamingphreek]

My 2500+ wont reach 3200 speeds. Its not a mobile, and im too lazy to take the system apart today, but i have to run it at 1.8v to keep it stable at 3000+ speeds. And im using one stick of 512mb of Kingston Value RAM.

It would probably make it to 3200+ once i get my new cooling, but im hesistant to up the voltage to 1.850 and above.

-Kevin

Your OC is nothing to scoff at

 

[Bartokomus]

Good Lord; you guys all make me feel like a L33T HaXoR!!! Then i shall consider myself damn lucky... thanks for all your replies!