HELP! What is limiting my overclock?

[madhandles]

Need the help of an experienced overclcocker. Ok I recentely purchased a prescott 2.4ghz cpu (133 fsb) with ECS intel 848P-A motherboard (Yeah I know ECS sucks, but the mobo was practically free). I purchased 512MB pc3200 corsair valueselect memory and I have a generic 350W PSU that came with the case (I have one hd, one optical drive, 2 LED fans, radeon 9800, and some LEDS in front). Let me outline some of the various tests I ran.

Ram timings are at 2.5,3,3,7

TEST #1
FSB- 140 x 18 = 2.52 ghz
Memory- 4:5 = 175 X 2 = 350mhz

System runs stable


TEST #2
FSB- 150 x 18 = 2.7 ghz
Memory- 4:5 = 187.5 X 2 = 375mhz

Prime95 gives error within 10 min.


TEST #3
FSB- 150 x 18 = 2.7 ghz
Memory- 1:1 = 150 X 2 = 300mhz

System runs stable- ony ran it for like 15 min.
EDIT: Computer froze while I was doing some work.

TEST #4
FSB- 160 x 18 = 2.88 ghz
Memory- 4:5 = 200 X 2 = 400mhz

Windows XP does not boot


TEST #5
FSB- 160 x 18 = 2.88 ghz
Memory- 1:1 = 160 X 2 = 320mhz

Windows XP boots but freezes after like 30 seconds.


TEST #6
FSB- 155 x 18 = 2.79 ghz
Memory- 1:1 = 155 X 2 = 310mhz

Freezes during Prime95 within 10min.


Ok so what do you guys think is limiting my overclock or what should I do? Do I need to increase the CPU vCore voltage. Is it my 350W PSU thats limiting my overclock, or is it my memory which I am running at below its rated speed, or should i purchase a new motherboard? What further tests can I do to determine whats limiting my overclock? Any input appreciated.

 

[yourdeardaniel]

give it more juice

 

[madhandles]

Yes that is what I was thinking as well. Up to how much can I overclock without increasing the vCore voltage? The motherboard doesn't allow me this option. Can I flash the bios with one that allows me to increase the voltages?

 

[o1die]

I have that board, and was able to achieve a modest overclock using a 2.8c (230 fsb, a 15% overclock). The combo was only $150 (cheaper than the cpu alone). Can't help you on the voltage adjustments. I put the same cpu in an msi 865pe board, and am now running stable at 250 fsb (3500). I only had to increase the voltage by .025 to get it stable. You have to ask yourself if a slight increase in performance is worth purchasing another board. Only you can answer that.

 

[anthrax]

You can volt mod the northwood my wrapping some wire round a number of the pins on the bottom. That will allow you to increase the V-Core voltage.

 

[Yanagi]

well if youre not able to increase the voltage then you're limited with the highest stable prime. or look up a guide for what anthrax said.