My Experience: Core 2 Extreme X6800 and Asus P5W DH Motherboard (a step backwards with Arctic Silver 5!!!)

[dasmokedog]

I do not understand why my $200 E6300 runs all day long at a 500MHz FSB but the 6600, 6700 and 6800 (4meg cache procs) are not easily hitting 500MHZ.

If you are curious here are my results with the E6300 @3.5GHz: http://smokedog.org/500MHz/oc.html

 

[Ambress]

Hi Smoke Dog,

That is definitely some impressive numbers and the one obvious thing I see here is that you're running on a Gigabyte board, so that in and of itself may explain the difference. I've seen a few posts elsewhere talking of problems on the Asus P5W DH with the Corsair DDR2-1066 memory. This does all leave me to question how much money I wasted in buying premium parts when I had, prior to purchase, already ready of others successfully overclocking the lower end Core 2 Duos to beyond the stock Core 2 Extreme performance. Heck, I probably could have saved about $1500 on this system if I'd gone the route you did and yet still be pretty much where I'm at right now in terms of performance! Congratulations!

I'm hopeful that the main issue is that of the P5W DH being a new board and ASUS still has some kinks to work out that can be addressed by BIOS updates. Given that my Corsair memory passed MemTest86 with no errors when tested at DDR2-800 for 6 hours or so, I'm inclined to believe I've got good sticks, so I don't know of any reason to blame them for not performing up to the rated DDR2-1066. The mobo itself is only rated for up to DDR2-800 although the BIOS does support higher.

Daryl

 

[oscar3d]

Hey guys, I'm back.

I got some memory issues, well not really issues but I don't know, I'm probably doing something wrong. To recap what happens.

I have a ASUS P5W DH motherboard wunning a Core2Duo (Conroe) x6800 2.93Ghz.

I have 4 GB ram, 4 sticks of 1 gig, (2 pairs of Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400 2GB Kit DDR2-800).

This set has feature specs say that it is

"Tested at 5-5-5-12-T1 latency settings at 1.9V
SPD programmed at 5-5-5-12-T1 values"

Running this sets with the Jumperfree Settings on Auto, the motherboard on POST says it's PC-5300. On auto it treats this memory as DDR2-667

I change the Jumperfree Settings to Manual and set the frequency to DDR2-800. Now on POST it says PC6400. Now it's right, I got DDR2-800

Now the problem is that when I run CPU-Z it tells me that the memory is running at 400.7Mhz, which is fine.

But the timings is the big deal:

CPU-Z says:

Frequency: 400.7 Mhz
FSBRAM 2:3
Cas#Latency 5.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay 5 clocks
RAS#Precharge 5 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras) 18 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (Trc) 21 clocks

Now that's weird it's set at DDR2800 and tells me 5, 5, 5, 18, 21

It's supposed to be 5, 5, 5, 12, T1

I don't know what T1 is. I tried raising the DRAM voltage to 1.9V. But when I load CPU-Z it stills show me the same numbers.

Why can't I get the timings that this memory is supposed to have?

What should I do? Am I doing something wrong.

I tried to set the timing manually on the BIOS setup, to 5, 5, 5, 12, and T1 (?) But oh, wait there is no T1 as an option, the choices are only numbers.

Excuse my ignorance but I'm actually lost. Can you help me please?

In order to overclock properly I think I need to cover this first.

Thanks a lot guys, you are OSOM!!

 

[dasmokedog]

Originally posted by: Ambress
Hi Smoke Dog,

That is definitely some impressive numbers and the one obvious thing I see here is that you're running on a Gigabyte board, so that in and of itself may explain the difference. I've seen a few posts elsewhere talking of problems on the Asus P5W DH with the Corsair DDR2-1066 memory. This does all leave me to question how much money I wasted in buying premium parts when I had, prior to purchase, already ready of others successfully overclocking the lower end Core 2 Duos to beyond the stock Core 2 Extreme performance. Heck, I probably could have saved about $1500 on this system if I'd gone the route you did and yet still be pretty much where I'm at right now in terms of performance! Congratulations!

I'm hopeful that the main issue is that of the P5W DH being a new board and ASUS still has some kinks to work out that can be addressed by BIOS updates. Given that my Corsair memory passed MemTest86 with no errors when tested at DDR2-800 for 6 hours or so, I'm inclined to believe I've got good sticks, so I don't know of any reason to blame them for not performing up to the rated DDR2-1066. The mobo itself is only rated for up to DDR2-800 although the BIOS does support higher.

Daryl

I am sure that Asus will be working out the problems. I cannot envision Asus (one of the best for overclocking) will sit back on this. I wanted to get the 6800 but financies (mostly wife) dictated otherwise.

That being said I would like to see what kind of results I could get with the 6800 and the DQ6.

 

[Ambress]

I've got nothing helpful to offer you Oscar, but I thought I would note that I went ahead and peeled off the ASUS cosmetic covers from the two heatsinks. That was easy to do even with the mobo installedl since, as you said, there was nothing more than a weak adhesive used to attach them.

Now, what surprised me in a way, is how that single change seems to have significantly helped my temps. While rconcurrently running Super PI 32M and a Photoshop CS2 benchmark using the Radial Blur filter, my CPU temp never went over 44 C and the mobo temp was 38 C. Previously I'd been seeing the two numbers both in 43-44 C range. It is interesting to think that simply by the heatsinks having essentially trapped air within their fins that couldn't escape quite as quickly, the temperature might be 5-10 C higher. I'm happy to see this easily achieved temp reduction.

I too don't fully understand the memory timings, particularly the aspect of how they are most often quoted in articles I've read as a 4-number spec, the 5th often ignored but being what is shown in the AMI BIOS as the DRAM Write Recovery Time. What I've been doing is setting that value to a range from 1 under to maybe 2 over what is set for the CAS Latency, with no real reason for that other than that when I have seen it quoted somewhere, it was typically in that range. Now, as I look at a snap of the CPU-Z screen that I took last night, I see that it reports I have set up 3-3-3-9-12, and yet I thought I was using the same settings as InterMurph of 3-3-3-9-4. I need to double check that. Or, it may simply be that 5th paramerter shown by CPU-Z, Bank Cycle Time, is something different from the DRAM Write Recovery Time.

And the other parameter you mention, the "1T", is the command rate, and I've no idea if that is something settable in the AMI BIOS or not. If it is, I don't know what they call it.

Daryl

 

[oscar3d]

I'm glad to hear you lowered your temps Daryl You got to 38C, just like me.

Stupid design from Asus IMHO : Plastic Covers+GoldAluminumPlates+ Glue on top of our heatsinks. It's absurd, but oh well, me mangaged to resolve this.

I'm posting on Corsair Forums to ask about this, and they said "command rate" but still don't know.

Maybe Intermurph knows, though he has DDR-10XX.

Any help always appreciated

 

[Ambress]

Hi Oscar,

Yeah, that "gift wrap" around the heatsinks is just purely stupid in my opinion. However, I noticed in the photos of Smoke Dog's system that his Gigabyte board has received similar treatment and it shares a heat pipe design for cooling the NB akin to ASUS. I don't know anything about heat pipes. but I wonder if covering the heatsinks is somehow supposed to encourage the flow of the heat out via the pipes? I can't believe that could be as good as just allowing it to freely radiate away from the heatsink, especially if there is a good flow of air circulating about.

I've probably got more fans running in my system than I need now, but heck, I had them on hand so why not use them? With a blower for my memory chips and the front case fan that I swapped out now both on fan controllers, they can be adjusted to run very quietly if needed. Those, in tandem with the other 3 fans I've got that are all quietly running around 1000 rpm plus one in the HDD removable tray should be enough to give a good air exchange, and yet I wonder. The rear fan has oddly begun running down at 750-760 rpm for no reason I can pinpoint, so I'm not sure if it can evacuate warm air as quickly as is desirable. But, the side vent with an extra fan mounted on it should help some, not to mention the p/s fan. So, no water cooling yet...but many blades turning! I've posted a few photos on my website at http://ambress.com/pc.

Smoke Dog,

It seems your system performs very similar to mine based upon the latest benchmarks I've collected. While my system outperforms yours slightly for most benchmarks, I'd attribute that simply to the small .15GHz extra "oomph" in mine, although I'd nearly have expected that your significantly faster FSB would've offset that. Or maybe it's the 4MB L2 cache of the E6800 that accounts for the difference. Regardless, I'd say you're getting some great "kick ass" performance out of that $200 CPU!

Regards,

Daryl

 

[oscar3d]

760 RPM?

That sounds like you have Q-Fan enabled on the CHAsiss fan setting on the Mobo.

It's actually the same RPM my exahust fan was doing before, after disabling Q-Fan I could get more RPMs, actually I'm controlling my exhaust fan with a Zalman Fan-MAte controller, so I can crank up or down the RPMs at will.

Hope it helps.

 

[Ambress]

Hi Oscar,

Thanks for the reminder about Q-Fan...I believe I do have it enabled and will double-check that when I get home tonight. I definitely know my rear fan is on a Chassis Fan header, because the Gigabyte case has the wiring for that fan neatly routed up and split out to the front fan, so that both will use a single fan header from the mobo. However, I chose to disconnect the front and rear fans and now have the rear fan and blower on the same split cable, with the blower still running at full speed if I dial it up, as if it is unaffected by Q-Fan control and yet the rear is? Hmmmm....maybe I don't have things wired as I thought. When I swapped out my front fan for a higher-pressure, higher-flow model that had a controller, I did change the wiring around a little, so a double-check is in order.

Daryl

 

[InterMurph]

Argh! My wife canceled her knitting tomorrow, so I won't have a chance to install my NorthPole cooler, Arctic Silver, etc.

Rats, still stuck at 3.77 GHz...

 

[Ambress]

Well Murph, 3.77GHz isn't such a bad place to be stuck at, and at least your wife isn't sticking you with her knitting needles!

 

[oscar3d]

Daryl, impressive pictures you have there man!! (System Photos)

Now that you and Intermurph are my envy, LOL!!!

I would like somone to post here in this thread the complete settings that you have in your BIOS setup. That would be great, if course if you are not in the mood I understand.

But it will give me(and many others) a good choice to understand how the heck did you get to 1:1!! LOL Plus how did you get to 3.77!!! I feel envy... but a good envy (not evil )

I have 4:5 LOL!!

Inter, I understand the wife situation bro. I have a wife here too, and she is on her 7th month. We are having a girl WOOHOO! But I know that after my daughter is born, I'm going to be screwed with computer usage for several months. LOL!!! That's a fact.

Any help of course very appreciated you guys are terrific.

 

[InterMurph]

Originally posted by: oscar3d
I would like somone to post here in this thread the complete settings that you have in your BIOS setup.

I posted my complete settings in a previous message in this topic (on page 5), but this BBS software doesn't seem to let me post a link to a specific message. So here they are, updated to my latest:

Advanced -> JumperFree Configuration

AI Overclocking: Manual
CPU (FSB) Frequency: 377 MHz
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-754MHz

Performance Mode: Turbo
PCI Express Frequency: Auto
PCI Clock Synchronization Mode: Auto

Memory Voltage: 2.20V
CPU VCore Voltage: 1.4500V
FSB Termination Voltage: Auto
MCH Chipset Voltage: Auto
ICH Chipset Voltage: Auto


Advanced -> CPU Configuration

Ratio CMOS Setting: 10
Enhanced C1 Control: Disabled
CPU Internal Thermal Control: Auto
Virtualization Technology: Enabled
Intel SpeedStep tech.: Disabled

Advanced -> Chipset

Configure DRAM Timing by SPD: Disabled
DRAM CAS# Latency: 3 Clocks
DRAM RAS# Precharge: 3 Clocks
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: 3 Clocks
DRAM RAS# Activate to Precharge: 8 Clocks
DRAM Write Recovery Time: 4 Clocks

DRAM ECC Mode: Disabled
Hyper Path 3: Disabled
DRAM Throttling Threshhold: Auto

 

[Ambress]

OK, it looks like I'm now successfully at a minor bump to 3.7GHz from my prior 3.65Ghz operation. With the same settings but bumping up to FSB372, my system wouldn't boot and I wasn't sure what to tweak. So, I'm sticking with 3.7GHz for now. In the process of doing this, I found that ASUS Probe II allows you to change the Q-fan settings, which I didn't realize. It may have been the factor in why my rear fan was only running at 754 rpm. Changing the profile to disable Chassis Q-Fan didn't affect anything initially, but oddly the fan did return to 1000 rpm after a few reboots. So, right now all is well and these are my current settings:

Boot Screen:

ASPS P5W DH Deluxe ACPI BIOS Rev. 1201
Speed: 3.70 GHz Count: 2
PC2-5700 Dual Channel Interleaved

Advanced -> JumperFree Configuration

AI Overclocking: Manual
CPU (FSB) Frequency: 370 MHz
DRAM Frequency: DDR2-740 MHz

Performance Mode: Auto
PCI Express Frequency: 100
PCI Clock Synchronization Mode: 33.33 Mhz

Memory Voltage: 2.25V
CPU VCore Voltage: 1.4375V
FSB Termination Voltage: Auto
MCH Chipset Voltage: Auto
ICH Chipset Voltage: Auto


Advanced -> CPU Configuration

Ratio CMOS Setting: 10
Microcode Updateion: Enabled
Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
Execute Disable Function: Disabled
Enhanced C1 Control: Disabled
CPU Internal Thermal Control: Auto
Virtualization Technology: Enabled
Intel SpeedStep tech.: Disabled


Advanced -> Chipset

Configure DRAM Timing by SPD: Disabled
DRAM CAS# Latency: 3 Clocks
DRAM RAS# Precharge: 3 Clocks
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: 3 Clocks
DRAM RAS# Activate to Precharge: 9 Clocks
DRAM Write Recovery Time: 4 Clocks

DRAM ECC Mode: Disabled
Hyper Path 3: Disabled
DRAM Throttling Threshhold: Auto

 

[dasmokedog]

Originally posted by: Ambress
Changing the profile to disable Chassis Q-Fan didn't affect anything initially, but oddly the fan did return to 1000 rpm after a few reboots.

Thats what you call the progressive disable feature.

 

[Ambress]

Well, I'm back to 3.65GHz, using FSB365 and all other settings unchanged. My system seems to favor that as its peak right now. At 3.7GHz I ran once again into a situation where there was simply some strange behavior in Windows...a pop-up about the wireless being connected would not clear, I couldn't launch Task Manager at that point, and some other oddity I can't recall this morning after so few hours of sleep. So, I'll leave it at 3.65GHz as I should've, and see how all goes for a while.

Daryl

 

[Skott]

I think 3.65 is a respectable overclock without going to extreme cooling solutions. Congrats!

 

[Ambress]

Hi Skott,

Yeah, for doing nothing more than swapping out the stock Intel cooler for the better, quieter Zalman and pulling off the heatsink "skins", I'm pretty happy with a 3.65GHz operation. I'm sure that variances between boards, chips, cooling, etc., can all add up to easily explain a ±0.25 GHz or so difference from one rig to another. My only frustration, similar to what InterMurph mentioned, is simply that I can't seem to get DDR2-1066 operation out of the Corsair memory that I paid a premium for and which was spec'ed at that rate. But, again, that may well be just a current limitation of the ASUS board since it isn't spec'ed for anything better than DDR2-800, which I did obtain under an FSB266 setting and running at a CPU multiplier of 13 for 3.46 GHz operation. But, where I'm at now with a higher FSB of 370 and FSB/DRAM ratio of 1:1, although sub-spec at a DDR2-740 speed, is still a higher performance system. Can't really complain too much, except that I could've likely spent considerably less and still been where I'm at. But, maybe these premium parts provide me some headroom for any future improvements ASUS makes to the BIOS. Time will tell.

I so very nearly bought the Enermax Chakra case rather than the Gigabyte Poseideon, but decided I favored the looks of the Gigabyte. Still, that nice 25cm fan on the door panel of the Chakra seems it should provide some very nice cooling for a mobo prone to running a bit warm. I'm still mulling over an internal Mitsumi reader, but with only one 3" bay externally available, in which I've currently got the Silverstone fan controller installed, I'd have to put one or the other in a 5" bay with an adapter plate. I've got an external card reader that works just fine for me, so I'll probably just stick with that while waiting to see if I ever decide to buy a Dell 2407WFP monitor which has a multimedia card reader built-in. I'd favor that in many ways, especially if my PC tower wound up down on the floor. I was also originally planning to get the Creative X-Fi audio with the front panel until I saw it doesn't offer a 1394 connector as did the Audigy2 ZS Platinum. As the latter is available for just over $100 after a NewEgg rebate, I may still go for it, but again thought I should also just see how well I like the on-board audio before jumping the gun. I have no huge need for the nice Creative front audio panel but tend to be one of those types that overdoes things like this on the "what if someday..." thought pattern......Oops! Screw that plan!...I just checked NewEgg and the rebate ends today, with the Creative board out of stock. But a better plan...Same rebate applies at Buy.com on a cheaper price initially, for a final cost of $69.99! That and a $30 immediate credit also if I sign up for their VISA card...might as well. So, an end price of $39.99 for that card is quite a deal! Of course, that means there are wasted audio ports on the mobo and case panel, but so be it. Time to go place an order and even if I don't use the board in my new rig, I'll swap it out with the Audigy LS version in my older rig that I'll return to use as a media center PC connected to my stereo, where those front panel inputs may even be more useful.

Those Enlobal fans are supremely quiet, but be careful you don't twist the fan a little while mounting it, or you'll likely get some chatter until you reseat the fan squarely.

You should have a nice rig once you've got it assembled...enjoy!

Daryl

 

[dasmokedog]

Originally posted by: Ambress
Hi Skott,

Yeah, for doing nothing more than swapping out the stock Intel cooler for the better, quieter Zalman and pulling off the heatsink "skins", I'm pretty happy with a 3.65GHz operation. I'm sure that variances between boards, chips, cooling, etc., can all add up to easily explain a ±0.25 GHz or so difference from one rig to another. My only frustration, similar to what InterMurph mentioned, is simply that I can't seem to get DDR2-1066 operation out of the Corsair memory that I paid a premium for and which was spec'ed at that rate. But, again, that may well be just a current limitation of the ASUS board since it isn't spec'ed for anything better than DDR2-800, which I did obtain under an FSB266 setting and running at a CPU multiplier of 13 for 3.46 GHz operation. But, where I'm at now with a higher FSB of 370 and FSB/DRAM ratio of 1:1, although sub-spec at a DDR2-740 speed, is still a higher performance system. Can't really complain too much, except that I could've likely spent considerably less and still been where I'm at. But, maybe these premium parts provide me some headroom for any future improvements ASUS makes to the BIOS. Time will tell.

I so very nearly bought the Enermax Chakra case rather than the Gigabyte Poseideon, but decided I favored the looks of the Gigabyte. Still, that nice 25cm fan on the door panel of the Chakra seems it should provide some very nice cooling for a mobo prone to running a bit warm. I'm still mulling over an internal Mitsumi reader, but with only one 3" bay externally available, in which I've currently got the Silverstone fan controller installed, I'd have to put one or the other in a 5" bay with an adapter plate. I've got an external card reader that works just fine for me, so I'll probably just stick with that while waiting to see if I ever decide to buy a Dell 2407WFP monitor which has a multimedia card reader built-in. I'd favor that in many ways, especially if my PC tower wound up down on the floor. I was also originally planning to get the Creative X-Fi audio with the front panel until I saw it doesn't offer a 1394 connector as did the Audigy2 ZS Platinum. As the latter is available for just over $100 after a NewEgg rebate, I may still go for it, but again thought I should also just see how well I like the on-board audio before jumping the gun. I have no huge need for the nice Creative front audio panel but tend to be one of those types that overdoes things like this on the "what if someday..." thought pattern......Oops! Screw that plan!...I just checked NewEgg and the rebate ends today, with the Creative board out of stock. But a better plan...Same rebate applies at Buy.com on a cheaper price initially, for a final cost of $69.99! That and a $30 immediate credit also if I sign up for their VISA card...might as well. So, an end price of $39.99 for that card is quite a deal! Of course, that means there are wasted audio ports on the mobo and case panel, but so be it. Time to go place an order and even if I don't use the board in my new rig, I'll swap it out with the Audigy LS version in my older rig that I'll return to use as a media center PC connected to my stereo, where those front panel inputs may even be more useful.

Those Enlobal fans are supremely quiet, but be careful you don't twist the fan a little while mounting it, or you'll likely get some chatter until you reseat the fan squarely.

You should have a nice rig once you've got it assembled...enjoy!

Daryl

It's ironic that for 1/5 the price I am only slightly below you and almost a full 1ghz faster in RAM bandwidth.

http://smokedog.org/500MHz/oc.html

This is in no way an insult or taunt. I am just amazed that the baby Allendale can keep up with the Extreme version.

 

[Ambress]

Hey SmokeDog,

Oh, I don't take your comment as a taunt at all, but just simple truth. I can't very well return working products now, but your results do have me pretty much wishing I had at least not gone fully to the top end with the Core 2 Extreme. Frankly, it was the unlocked multiplier and extra cache that seemed so tempting that I caved in. And yet, we're seeing how that unlocked multiplier is hardly even a factor. This chip series seems destined to put some serious hurt on AMD...they'll nearly be having to give away their current CPUs given how much they'll have to drop the price to compete. Needless to say, the coming year should be interesting in terms of just how much more performance can be delivered. I think what I've got now will keep me happy for quite a long while though.

Daryl

 

[dasmokedog]

Originally posted by: Ambress
Hey SmokeDog,

Oh, I don't take your comment as a taunt at all, but just simple truth. I can't very well return working products now, but your results do have me pretty much wishing I had at least not gone fully to the top end with the Core 2 Extreme. Frankly, it was the unlocked multiplier and extra cache that seemed so tempting that I caved in. And yet, we're seeing how that unlocked multiplier is hardly even a factor. This chip series seems destined to put some serious hurt on AMD...they'll nearly be having to give away their current CPUs given how much they'll have to drop the price to compete. Needless to say, the coming year should be interesting in terms of just how much more performance can be delivered. I think what I've got now will keep me happy for quite a long while though.

Daryl

It is interesting that the unlocked multiplier drew you in, for I too was drooling over that. It was just timing and, mostly my wife, that dictated my purchase of the 6300. If I had my way I would have the 6800 too. I just find it intersting that the Allendale cores with low multipliers and 2 meg cache are so darn robust.

It is ironic, though, that I was at first a bit dissapointed to get the 6300. Then learning that coupling it wil a quality mobo and RAM produces (IMHO) stellar OC results (a 87.5% OC is none to shabby).

All that being said I still would like to get my hands on a 6800 and pop it in the Gigabyte DQ6. Say why don't you get a DQ6 and see if you can push that 6800 further!

J

 

[Ambress]

Well, I don't have a wife...45 and single still. But after going nuts this year and buying a slew of pricey toys, I don't think I really need a 2nd motherboard.....yet.

Daryl

 

[InterMurph]

Well, I guess I should have left well enough alone...

Here's what I did today during nappy time:

1) I removed the Asus heat sinks from the Northbridge and Southbridge chips.
2) I removed my Arctic Freezer 7 Pro heat sink/fan, in the process discovering that one of the four pins wasn't solidly clicked into the motherboard. Oops.
3) I used ArctiClean 1 (thermal material remover) to remove the gunk from the surfaces of the three chips.
4) I used ActiClean 2 (thermal surface purifier) to clean the surfaces of the three chips.
5) I spread Arctic Silver 5 on the surfaces of the three chips.
6) I installed a NorthPole XE heat sink/fan on the Northbridge chip.
7) I reinstalled the Asus heat sink back on the Southbridge chip, but minus the plastic cover.
8) I reinstalled the Freezer 7 Pro heat sink/fan onto the processor.
9) I peeled the stickers off both sides of the Corsair XMS2 memory.

When I powered up, it wouldn't POST. I lowered my FSB from 377 to 370 MHz, and it would POST and boot into Windows.

I compared temperatures, and the motherboard temperature is now 3 or 4 degrees cooler than before. According to Asus PC Probe II, it was 38C before, and now it is 34C, regardless of the load.

But my CPU temperature is higher, even though the CPU is now running at 3.70 GHz, compared to 3.77 GHz before.

And now SuperPi crashes before it can even complete a 512K test.

I guess I should have left the CPU heat sink/fan alone. But since I I had the Arctic Silver 5, I couldn't resist.

I couldn't help notice that when I applied the silver to the X6800, then installed the heat sink, then had to remove it, there was no silver gunk on the copper bottom of the heat sink. It seems that the heat sink doesn't sit low enough to make contact with the processor! And now, yes, I am absolutely certain that all four posts are clicked all the way into the motherboard.

So I recalled that there was a lot of thermal grease on the CPU and the heat sink when I started; it took several applications of ArctiClean 1 to remove it. So I duplicated that situation by adding more Silver 5. Then when I installed the heat sink, and removed it again, there was gunk all over it.

But this is a step backwards, and I am concerned. I have read that it takes 200 hours for this Silver stuff to reach its final state. But is this how it should act in the mean time?

Disappointed!

 

[TSCrv]

interesting....

well ive just started fartin around with my x6800 and mushkin redline on this p5w... and im impressed...

ive copied the settings on this page but cant quite get over 3.65.... but now to eliminate the super pi crashing.... timings 3-3-3-9 on mushkin redline 2x1gb, temps peak at 54C on sandra cpu burnin, and im still rebuilting my software to test this system with....

should i be focusing on the fsb, or the timings to fix the super pi crashing, and what to get a little more oompth out of it...

for AS5, i have used about the size of a grain of rice, its barely enough to cover the die under a good amount of compression and zalman hsf... stock NB and SB, just metal taken off.