O/C or not

[dopety]

Hey, I'm new to the forums but you guys seem to know what you are talking about. I have a AMD XP 2600+ on and Asus a7n8x-E Deluxe with a Thermalright SP-97 heatsink and an Enermax 92mm running. I want to O/C but I want to make sure its safe. Right now just browsing the web its running at 46C and under load it runs about 55C. Are these safe levels to O/C? The ambient temp it pretty hot. Probably about 85 F or so (two comps in one room, poor circulating air). Tell me what you guys think and thanks for the help.

 

[myocardia]

That's fairly warm, but not horrible. And with an SP-97, I would guess that your load temps will barely go up if you overclock. Unless you just bought your XP2600, there's a pretty good chance that you can hit 200fsb, assuming you have PC3200 ram. That's 2.3ghz! You're crazy if you don't at least try it.

 

[dopety]

Also, this is a fresh application of the AS5 and I read that it has a "gettin good"(screw the uber technical terms that seem to slip the mind) of 50-200 hours. Could my temps get lower as it gets settled in? Should I wait to try and o/c till it sets?

 

[myocardia]

I wouldn't count on it getting any cooler, but if it does, it's not going to be more than 1-2°C cooler. You know, even if you don't have an older XP2600, just getting it up to 185 or 190 fsb is going to improve your performance alot over stock speeds.

 

[dopety]

Well I got mine from newegg about july last year so I should be able to get to 200. I'm gonna go work on it now and get back to you. Wish me luck. THanks for the help.

 

[myocardia]

Okay, break a leg...

 

[dopety]

HELP!! I have been trying to figure this out for a while now but everytime I try to change the FSB it wont boot. Even if it is just from 166 to 167. I feel like an uber noob right now. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[myocardia]

Huh? That's the first time in my life I've ever heard of that happening. That motherboard you have isn't the best, when it comes to how far past 200 mhz it will go, but anything up to 200fsb, you should be having no problems whatsoever. I did notice that you never mentioned what ram you are using. Why is that? Ram makes as much difference in overclocking as your motherboard and your processor.

 

[dopety]

I'm almost positive its 3200. It was pretty bargain rate stuff, but I am 99% sure it is pc-3200. I do plan on upgrading sometime soon anyway. THanks for you help.

 

[dopety]

Also while we are on the subject of RAM, I want to upgrade anyway. What do you suggest for a gaming rig, I was already looking at a gig of Corsair XMS 3200 to put in here. Any other suggestions.

 

[myocardia]

Corsair XMS or Kingston HyperX are the perfect choices in memory for overclockers, for sure.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

i like my semi cheap geil ram that does 250

 

[dopety]

I want some good ram because I do work on a lot of photoshop and I want something that is gonna improve that AND allow me to o/c. And I think sayin that I have a gig of the good stuff would be fun.

***EDIT** Here is what I was looking at Memory http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-449&depa=0