Newbie question. Overclocking i7-920

[ryesky]

I'm building a new pc, and while I'm not a newbie at building systems (nor an expert), I am pretty new to overclocking. I have an ASUS P6TD Deluxe, i7-920, and Corsair 3x2GB XMS3, model TR3X6G1600C8 G memory.

I'm looking for a relatively conservative overclock. Nothing over 3.6GHz (2.66 is stock). I'm curious if I would have to change any of the memory settings, such as voltage, frequency, or timings. My overclocks in the past, I've used an unlinked method and left the RAM completely at stock settings with (what I thought were) good results. Though, for this build, I thought I'd inquire a bit more on it.

Besides wondering about if I have to change any RAM settings, I"m curious if I would have to change any voltages or anything else (such as other BIOS feautures) for a <=3.6 OC. If so, what are they? I remember on my previous system there was a speed spectrum and c1e settings I had to disable.

Thanks to all in advance.


EDIT: Thought I'd add I have a Scythe MUGEN-2, model SCMG-2000 CPU cooler.

 

[Bartman39]

Real good place to start...

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core-i7-920-overclocking.html

 

[bryanW1995]

you will almost certainly need to manually edit your ram timings in the bios.

I just went through an oc ordeal with my i7 920. I finally got it to 4.2, but it took me a while. however, the amount of effort to get 24/7 stability at 3.6 was so great that going from there to 4.2 was nothing. I just wrote you an "easy" guide to overclocking, read it, and realized that it was absolutely confusing as hell. read the oc guide at xbit, read the oc guide here at AT, then post specific questions.

 

[ryesky]

Thank you for the replies guys. I'm curious about one more thing. I've done stress tests before using both prime95 and orthos. Which of the stress tests is the one I should use to test stability. ie: there is one that mostly tests cpu (small fft's) and one that stresses both cpu and ram together, and one that tests heat (and one more I believe). I assume the one that tests both cpu and ram is the one I should use for testing system stability. Is this correct?

Also, I know there is no written rule on this, but for how long should I leave prime95 running on the stress test before it's deemed stable?

 

[GLeeM]

If you know what you want for an OC then it is easy:

Put the multi at 21, the bclock at 172 and the vcore at 1.264, run LinX. Then start lowering the vcore until it isn't stable to find the lowest setting. Leave memory settings where the mobo puts it.

If you want to find the max the chip will do then it is harder.

 

[ryesky]

Thanks. What do you think a good multiplier, bclock, and vcore voltage seeting (to start at) settings are for 3.2 GHz on the i7-920? And again, do you think I would have to mess with any memory settings at all for tose settings?

Should I use LinX to stress test? Seems I've seem more people talk about prime95 to stress test, and I'm still not sure which one of those tests to use on prime95.

Thanks in advance.