OC (e4500) Need some clarification and opinions

[supaflash]

So, I got my new system finally set up and gamed on for a few days, figured it was broken in enough to start my OC. This is the first I have done in some time and the last was an AMD so I need a few clarifications.

Here is the Setup:
Intel e4500
Gigabyte P35-DS4
EVGA 8800GT Superclocked
Crucial Lanfest 800mhz 4-4-4-12 (basically Tracers)
Tuniq Tower 120
Ultra 700w PSU
Ultra Grid Case
Soundblaster X-Fi
WD 1600AAJS

I started out aggressive, hoping I'd get lucky with a super CPU right off the bat hehe. 8x400 1:1 at stock voltages but no such luck So, I went with something a little more conservative and decided to thoroughly stress it first as I was having post issues with high FSBs and it was getting late.

PIC of CPU-Z, Orthos, Everest, Core Temp

Went with a nice 266x11 for just under 3ghz and that 1066 FSB. Now what I'm wondering is, in the bios when I put the mem divider at 2:3 it said the speed would be 800. CPUZ reports 399 @ 2:3 and Everest reports 388 @ 12:8 (which I guess is 3:2 and the same thing?)

Now according to the How to OC Core 2s article:

Most good boards will offer 5 modes listed below. Assuming that you?re using a 333 MHz FSB the ratios are:
FSB : DRAM
1:1 = 333 MHz : 667 MHz
4:5 = 333 MHz : 883 MHz
2:3 = 333 MHz : 1,000 MHz
3:5 = 333 MHz : 1,111 MHz
1:2 = 333 MHz : 1,333 MHz

So does that mean I'm running my memory at 1200mhz? I'm a little confused here. Damn Intel and your FSBs

So anyway, after 17 hours of Orthos my temps were stable at around 48C at 1.338 vcore and 2.0 vdimm, is that good for this amount of OC and a Tuniq? I read in the temp article I should be safe at almost 70? I did not lap my cpu or heatsink.

I was kind of hoping to get the RAM to be running at the same MHZ as the quad pumped fsb, ie both at 1066, is there any advantage to that or would I be better off with tighter timings at around 800mhz with the RAM?

Comments welcome, I'll post some SuperPI and 3D mark later tonight.

 

[myocardia]

Welcome to anandtech. Lower your RAM speed to 1:1, which is labeled "2x" in your BIOS, and try 11 x 300 FSB, at the vcore you're using. RAM speed plays almost no part in system performance, compared to CPU speed. After you see how high you can overclock on 1.35v of vcore, then see what you can do with the RAM.

 

[johnnyjohnson]

Since CPU-Z says the RAM is at 399MHz, your RAM is actually at 798MHz. That's because of the "2" in DDR2. I see how you're confused about that FSB to RAM ratio. The FSB of your chip is 1066/4=266MHz. So the ratio of 266MHz to 400Mhz (1/2 the DDR2 speed) is 2:3.

Yes, that's good cooling for the Tuniq. Much better than I get with mine. Yes, 70C is a reasonable maximum core temp. Looks like you have a bit of headroom there. Just keep upping the voltage while keeping your RAM at about 800Mhz until you get a stable overclock.

I'd hold off on 17 hour orthos tests until you know you are closer to your maximum overclock. Good luck on getting higher overclocks. My e4500 tops out at 3.8Ghz+ but realistically I have to run it at 3.4GHz because it seems to run hotter than most I've seen. I suspect my chip has some issues with the thermal compound underneath the IHS but I haven't decided whether I will pop it open to see.

 

[supaflash]

Thank you guys, I get it now, I didn't quite understand what CPU-Z was displaying. I thought it was the 399 doubled but the ratio messed me up. Its 3:2 of 266 (133*3 = 399) which is the Ram speed which gets doubled to the 798. Duh, i feel dumb hehe I guess its on to higher clocks for me! Will post results soon.

:thumbsup: