help out the new guy

[GTI0125]

I have a P4 3.2C, and a ABIT IC7-MAX3 motherboard and just bought a PC 4000 dual channel kit from OCZ. how do i take advantage of the PC 4000 memory? I am new to overclocking, so any step by step directions would be great.

 

[Peter D]

Go into your BIOS and I think on the Abit boards, it's under 'Softmenu' that you can adjust FSB clocks, etc. Change the CPU operating speed to 'User Define' then change the Front Side Bus. Here's a pic of what I mean.. Change the number for 'CPU'. Don't touch the AGP/PCI. Go up slowly in 5-10MHz incriments and check stability with Prime95, SuperPi, 3D games, etc. Hope that helps a little.

Welcome to AnandTech, BTW

 

[myocardia]

Yeah, everything Vegetto said, except start at about 220fsb, then start going up by about 5 mhz, then test for stability, then if it's stable, go up 5 mhz more, etc. With the 16x multi on your 3.2C, you're raising it's speed quite a bit for each 5 mhz fsb bump.

 

[GTI0125]

how do you know if it is stable? if it doesn't boot?

 

[myocardia]

Prime95 is the best way to test for stability, that I've found.

 

[GTI0125]

thanks for the help, i have been reading the user guide that came with the motherboard and there are directions there but kind of confusing. also, what is a good temp for the cpu to be running at during all this?

 

[Peter D]

Originally posted by: GTI0125
thanks for the help, i have been reading the user guide that came with the motherboard and there are directions there but kind of confusing. also, what is a good temp for the cpu to be running at during all this?

Depends on your cooling. Also, Abit boards often read too high.

 

[canadianpsycho]

Your temps will be fine if you don't increase the Vcore (CPU voltage)

If you Do decide to increase your vcore, don't break 1.60-1.675 on Abit boards (they undervolt slightly).

Best bet is find whatever speed is most stable at default voltage, and stick with that.