OC CPU and maybe video card

[pontifex]

Right now I have a AMD Athlon 64 3700+.
I have it overclocked from 2.2 Ghz to 2.4 GHZ and its stable. I just don't know how high I should go. I have the stock CPU fan. I thought I had like 3 or 4 system fans but I may only have 2-3. Its been forever since I last checked.

FSB is set to 220 and multiplier is at x11

According to speed fan, my cpu gets up to about 50-51 C during a heavy load, like gaming. edit: i just realized it was the temp1 setting that showed the 50C temp, not the core temp. i'd have to recheck that later.

I say maybe video card too because I just ordered an EVGA 8800 GTS 320 MB card. So even at stock it should be pretty decent.

I have a EVGA 7800 GT 256 mb right now.

Apoppin got me started on the video card OC but i don't know if it did anything. I went into the Nvidia CP and changed the setting from stock to manual. I clicked the Find Optimal settings button and it did its thing and gave me some settings. I then click the test button, get the message about how its going to test for a little bit, click ok but nothing happens. I don't think the test runs.

Apoppin said something about unlocking it but I didn't see anything about unlocking in the settings.

Speedfan readings
CPU-Z reading

 

[Zambien]

When you get your 8800 get the newest version of ATITool. ATITool works with both nvidia and ati cards and is much better than the current nTune provided by Nvidia. By moving from stock up to 615 GPU/1000 mem my score went from 8900 to 11000 in 3dmark06!

I don't know about the cpu... I would think you could get another 100 mhz out of it at least.

 

[pontifex]

bump

 

[GuitarDaddy]

My 3700+ did 2.8ghz 255x11 @ 1.55v, probably have to run a divider on your ram but ramspeed doesn't mean much on A64's anyway.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
My 3700+ did 2.8ghz 255x11 @ 1.55v, probably have to run a divider on your ram but ramspeed doesn't mean much on A64's anyway.

is that with stock fan and heatsink?

although maybe i should be asking about an opteron 175 since that is arriving today.

on stock HS and Fan, how much should i be able to get out of an opteron 175?

since this is my 1st dual core cpu, do i need to do anything special before or after i install it? do i need to reinstall windows?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

No, I had a good aftermarket HSF. I would expect the same range with the opty, but temps might get out of hand with the stock HSF, just try and keep them under 55-60c and you'll be fine.

You shouldn't have to do anything special, just drop it in and go. I would go to the AMD website and download the dual core drivers and the dual core optimizer, not absolutely necessary but may slightly improve performance.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
No, I had a good aftermarket HSF. I would expect the same range with the opty, but temps might get out of hand with the stock HSF, just try and keep them under 55-60c and you'll be fine.

You shouldn't have to do anything special, just drop it in and go. I would go to the AMD website and download the dual core drivers and the dual core optimizer, not absolutely necessary but may slightly improve performance.

got any suggestions on a fairly inexpensive HSF?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: pontifex
got any suggestions on a fairly inexpensive HSF?

These are cheap, but good: link, but at that price, I'd definitely spend an extra $3 for the Scythe, it's way better than the other two. It's just harder to mount.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: pontifex
got any suggestions on a fairly inexpensive HSF?

These are cheap, but good: link, but at that price, I'd definitely spend an extra $3 for the Scythe, it's way better than the other two. It's just harder to mount.

$30 for a HSF isn't cheap!

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: pontifex
$30 for a HSF isn't cheap!

How sure are you about that? Make sure to scroll across to the more expensive ones, on the right.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: pontifex
$30 for a HSF isn't cheap!

How sure are you about that? Make sure to scroll across to the more expensive ones, on the right.

wow, people actually pay that much for a heatsink and fans???????

maybe i'll just stick with stock for awhile.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: pontifex
wow, people actually pay that much for a heatsink and fans???????

maybe i'll just stick with stock for awhile.

Yeah, the people who're overclocking their quad-cores do; they have to. You should be able to hit 2.5-2.6 Ghz with your Opty and it's stock heatsink. I'd recommend that $33 Scythe for your Opty, and use the stock Opty heatsink on your 3700, though. I haven't heard of a 3700 that wouldn't do 2.7-2.8 Ghz, and since it's a single core, it's alot easier to keep cool.

edit: And you never know, you may have one of the 3700's that will do 3 Ghz+.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
No, I had a good aftermarket HSF. I would expect the same range with the opty, but temps might get out of hand with the stock HSF, just try and keep them under 55-60c and you'll be fine.

You shouldn't have to do anything special, just drop it in and go. I would go to the AMD website and download the dual core drivers and the dual core optimizer, not absolutely necessary but may slightly improve performance.

i found the dual core optimizer but where is the dual core drivers?
nm, i think i foudn them