OC best results? (2.4c through 3.2c)

Mullzy

Senior member
Jan 2, 2002
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It's obvious to me from reading the threads here over the last 3 or 4 months that the 2.4C's are the best overclocking CPU at the moment (well, bang for buck anyway). I've read varying success stories for 2.6c on to 3.2c, but the 2.4c is always way out on top for percentage gains.

I read something last week though which specically indicated that the 3.0c was the next best overclocker of the family. I'm looking to upgrade at the moment and a lot of places aren't even carrying 2.4c's anymore. I'll probably get a 3.0c in a month or two when the price bottoms out.

Is the 3.0c a better oc'er in general than the 2.8c or 3.2c?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

SilverBack

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
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OC'ing is a crap shoot anyway you look at it, you can get diferent results with each cpu.

The 2.4C will OC to a 250 FSB everytime, gaining you a 600 Mhz overclock to 3.0 Ghz. ( 5/4 ratio with PC3200 memory, 1:1 with PC4000)
Many of the 2.4C's will OC to 3.2 with tweaking and good memory.
The 2.6C's will OC to 3.25 almost everytime.
The 2.8C's hit 3.3 easily and they hit 3.5 maybe half the time.

I would suggest the 2.8 for now if you have good memory. Hard to beat a 3.5 GHz cpu using 1:1 memory timing.
The 3.0C's have a much harder time making a 250 FSB or 3750.

The 2.4's run in the $150 range and the 2.8's are in the $180's. I would pick up the 2.8.
 

Mullzy

Senior member
Jan 2, 2002
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Thanks SilverBack. I had been looking at a 2.8 but wasn't sure after what I'd read about the 3.0 (wish I could remember where I read it).

Does the memory ratio have any impact at all on the FPS of most 3D games? For example, going 5:4 so you can hit a higher CPU clock speed instead of running whatever you can squeeze out of 1:1. Should the higher CPU clock at 5:4 actually give you another X fps in most games? Or does it balance out?

Although I do like to churn out as my SETI units as possible... I'd sacrifice a couple per day for 5 more FPS in whatever game is my flavor of the month.
 

SilverBack

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
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The memory ratio does indeed impact the performance of the system.
BUT the amount that it increases your system depends on the games as well.
Some are memory intensive while others like brute CPU force.

I ran my system at 5/4 when using Corsair XMS3200, since then I've bought 4 ( 256mb ) Geil PC4000 sticks so I can use the 1:1 ratio.
BTW the Giel works great with 875 chipsets, awesome really.
 

Shimmishim

Elite Member
Feb 19, 2001
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% o/c wise, the 2.4c will usually be on top...

but in terms of pure clockspeed, the 3.0 or 3.2 will allow you to achieve a higher clockspeed

i have a 2.4C capable of 3.7
i had a 3.0C that did 4.0

then again, it's very difficult to find ram that can run 300 mhz fsb 1:1!!! :)

and not so difficult to find memory to run 267 mhz fsb 1:1!!!

note: these speeds were achieved in a prommy....


but if i were to buy a processor right now, besides a mobile barton 2500+, i'd buy a 2.6C or 2.8C... i think these are intel's best bang for your buck cpu's
 

Mullzy

Senior member
Jan 2, 2002
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Thanks guys.

Will one of those Zalman quiet hsf (like the CNPS7000A-AlCu) I see so many mentioning here allow for moderate OC'ing? Or do you have to go with something which has a lot more air flow if you want to get your FSB over 230?
 

RaynorWolfcastle

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
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Originally posted by: Mullzy
Thanks guys.

Will one of those Zalman quiet hsf (like the CNPS7000A-AlCu) I see so many mentioning here allow for moderate OC'ing? Or do you have to go with something which has a lot more air flow if you want to get your FSB over 230?

I'm very happy with my 2.4C with a Zalman 7000 Al-Cu. I'm running it on an Abit IS7 at 3100 MHz: stock voltage, fan set at 50%. I see no reason to push it harder with a voltage increase since my system is very quiet in this configuration :).
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
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Originally posted by: Mullzy
I've read varying success stories for 2.6c on to 3.2c, but the 2.4c is always way out on top for percentage gains.

Who cares about % gains, they only matter the price is an issue or the maximum overclock is the greatest. However, on average 2.8C will overclock higher than the 2.4C. 2.8Cs usually tend to hit 3.4-3.5ghz, whether 2.4 hovers around 3.0 - 3.2. This is the average of course.

Since they are almost the same in price, I would definately get 2.8 to increase your chances of a maximum overclock.
 

Tom

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Mullzy
Thanks guys.

Will one of those Zalman quiet hsf (like the CNPS7000A-AlCu) I see so many mentioning here allow for moderate OC'ing? Or do you have to go with something which has a lot more air flow if you want to get your FSB over 230?


I think it really depends on how much you have to increase the vcore. My 2.4c runs fine at 3.2g with the stock HSF, probably because it runs at stock vcore. I eventuallly got a Zalman 7000 just because I got a good deal on it and decided to run at 3.3g since then with an extra .025 of vcore.


 

SilverBack

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Ok I recieved my 2.8C about 2 hours ago.
Running pretty well right now, but I do have the voltage cranked up, but temps are really good mainly because of the water system.
I just ran CPU-Z and published the results.



P4 2.8C at 3720 Mhz
The chip is a SL6Z5 Batch 3346A301
Entire CPU code BX80532PG2800DSL6Z5

 

Mullzy

Senior member
Jan 2, 2002
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My choice now is really what memory to use. The nice thing about a 2.4c is that you at least feel you're getting the most out of your RAM running @ DDR400 with a 5:4 ratio. Getting to a 250 FSB with a 2.8 seems a lot less likely, so without some more expensive RAM I'll end up running like DDR384 (instead of DDR480 at 1:1).

Is there a reasonable overclock expectation of name brand DDR400 memory (or for that matter, 433 and 466)? Or is a total crap shoot depending on how much you play with voltage and timings?

I read that the new 655tx board from Gigabyte had a lot of new memory ratios. Anyone know if the ASUS 655TX board handles more than 5:4? 6:5 would be nice!
 

LouPoir

Lifer
Mar 17, 2000
11,201
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On air cooled, best overclock percentage will be achieved with the lower clock speeds - 2.4c.

My experience for the dozen of so I have tried -

2.8c - 3.3 to 3.4
3.0b or c - 3.5
3.2c - 3.6
3.4c - 3.7 to 3.8

As usual, IMHO

Lou