New to Overclock

[gs88]

Hi all, I'm new to OC.. I've never tried it before....
But, suppose there is a situation like this:
I'm OCing e8400 from 3GHz (9X333MHz) to lets say around 4GHz (9*440MHz),
and I'm just using standard PC-8500 ddr2 (533MHz)...
My question are:
1. If I increase the FSB of the processor, will it affect the frequency of the ddr2?
(I mean fsb:dram=5:8 initially, then after OC, will the ratio remain unchanged?
In this case, did the frequency of ddr2 increase itself to 704MHz?)
I'm getting confused after I read some article about OC in some forums, so please help me about this....
2. Sometimes, when we purchase a motherboard, it tells you that it can support the processor running on 800/1066/1033/1600 fsb, I wonder how can a processor run that fast.. Well I just feel curious about this, any explanation on this will be very appreciated...

Thanks in advance

Regards,
gs88

 

[krnmastersgt]

Answer to number 1: If you changed the ratio to 5:8 yourself then yes, the ram will operate based on the new fsb clock.

Number 2: It's not the fsb speeds it can run, if you look at processors they typically have an fsb clock speed in the name, I believe all Penryn processors were labeled 1333 fsb cpu's. It usually only varies from families of cpus.

 

[Foxery]

Originally posted by: gs88
and I'm just using standard PC-8500 ddr2 (533MHz)...

The PC-8500 rating would correspond to high-end DDR2-1066, which would give you actual headroom for overclocking. DDR2-533 would be too slow to run your new CPU at its stock speeds without using extra ratios. Be sure of which one you have before going any further!

Check the sticky at the top of this forum for more.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Foxery

Originally posted by: gs88
and I'm just using standard PC-8500 ddr2 (533MHz)...

The PC-8500 rating would correspond to high-end DDR2-1066, which would give you actual headroom for overclocking. DDR2-533 would be too slow to run your new CPU at its stock speeds without using extra ratios. Be sure of which one you have before going any further!

Check the sticky at the top of this forum for more.

This

DDR2-533 would be labelled PC-4300

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: gs88
1. If I increase the FSB of the processor, will it affect the frequency of the ddr2?
(I mean fsb:dram=5:8 initially, then after OC, will the ratio remain unchanged?
In this case, did the frequency of ddr2 increase itself to 704MHz?)

That's completely correct. You have that part figured out. It would be running @ 704 Mhz/1408 DDR2, assuming it posted. It won't be posting, though, because no DDR2 has ever run that fast.

2. Sometimes, when we purchase a motherboard, it tells you that it can support the processor running on 800/1066/1033/1600 fsb, I wonder how can a processor run that fast..

Intel "quad pumps" their FSB. That means that they send & receive data four times per clock cycle. Like DDR RAM, which runs @ half it's DDR speed, or DDR2 RAM, which runs @ 1/4 it's DDR2 speed, the Intel FSB is actually 1/4 of what it's quad pumped speed says it is. The 800/1066/1333/1600 FSB processors equate to 200/266/333/400 Mhz FSB's, quad pumped. Intel just likes using big numbers, because that obviously makes their chips faster, at least to the people who don't know any better.

 

[gs88]

First of all, thanks for the replies here. I've cleared my mind now, but there is something which still makes me confused...
My last question is can I change the fsb:dram frequency before starting to OC?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: gs88
My last question is can I change the fsb:dram frequency before starting to OC?

That depends on your motherboard, although any board that has overclocking capabilities will have the ability to lower your RAM's speed.

 

[gs88]

So, if I'm planning to use a Biostar TPower I45 and just a standard value ddr2 PC-8500 without the heatsink, can I OC an Intel E8400 to about 4 GHz?

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: gs88
My last question is can I change the fsb:dram frequency before starting to OC?

Standard advice in most OC guides is to start by fixing your fsb:dram ratio to 1:1. This puts your memory speed at a nice, safe low underclock and gives you room to increase the fsb until you hit CPU/motherboard limits (while the memory speed increases in line, without pushing its rated limits).