OC'ing C2D E6300 to 3.2

[ZeusKOTG]

I am currently building a new PC and I was wondering If it is possible to get 3.2 with these parts.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 with Zalman CNPS7700(AS 5)
RAM: 2x512 Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 PC2 6400 5-5-5-15
Mother: Have not decided between Asus P5B or MSI P965 Platinum
GPU: BFG 7800GTX 256MB
PSU: Antec Smartpower 2.0 500watt

Obviously my main concern is not the E6300 hitting 3.2ish but the memory being stable that high. Do you think my memory will OC that high as well?

 

[tempoct]

E6300 is only x7, so to get 3.2GHz, you need mobo to run at 460. That is a high number.
I have the 6300 and P5B Deluxe and try to get there too. I'd get a 6400 if I were you. Seems to be easier to 3.2GHz since it's x8. (so you need only 400 @ mobo and RAM @ DDR2-800 which should be fine).

 

[ZeusKOTG]

Well I don't have a choice on the CPU, I got the 6300 for $120 and it was an offer I couldn't refuse. Also I already have all these parts except the motherboard so I have any other real options.

 

[Red Storm]

I was able to take my E6300 to 3GHz pretty easily with the P5B-E; the only thing holding me back was my ram (DDR2-675). I don't know how good that Zalman HSF is for high overclocks though; personally I've got a Thermaltake Big Typhoon which works pretty damn well.

 

[tempoct]

Hey Red Strom.
What is CPU frequency setting on your board?

tempoct

 

[Red Storm]

Frequency refers to RAM, right? If so, that'd be 400MHz (right now I'm running at 2.8GHz).

Edit: Oh, you said CPU frequency. Do you mean the multiplier? Core 2 multipliers are locked, but you can go down.

 

[ZeusKOTG]

Actually it is a Zalman CNPS 7000 CU and it keeps my P4 3.0 Stock idling at about 40 with Artic Silver 5. Under full load it is 50.

 

[tempoct]

Red Strom,
I meant the "CPU Frequency" setting in BIOS. You can set RAM to run at different speed (if you are not running 1:1, which I guess you do).
Mine is maxed out @ 430, I guess. But my RAM can go more. Try to see if I could push it a little more.

 

[Markfw]

Mine is at 3.5, but I have PC 8000 memory, and its not OC'ed, just the cpu. 7x500. Gigabyte S3 motherboard with active cooling oin the northbridge.

 

[Red Storm]

I'm sure I could definitely go higher than 430, just not with my current ram. And with ram prices as high as they are, it just doesn't seem worth it. After all, I overclock to save money.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: Red Storm
After all, I overclock to save money.

We all tell ourselves that, and it may start out that way, but it never seems to end up that way in the end. We spend money on after-market coolers, extra northbridge cooling, sometimes ram cooling, faster ram to handle the overclocks, stronger PSUs to handle it, better motherboards that support those options, etc.... granted, all that doesn't usually eat up the delta from an E6600 to a 6800, so I suppose we still "save money" in the long run.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna wait to build a C2D system until 1) ram prices come WAY down and 2) I can overclock the chip without overclocking the ram and be able to simply use value ram like now with the A64.

 

[ZeusKOTG]

Well I am still waiting on my motherboard to arrive. I have been looking around in many forums and the e6400 seems to OC very well but the main thing I noticed is that many of those using it are using DDR2 667 and not DDR2 800 and they are achieving 3.2+ . Am I going to have an easier time with having DDR2 800 or not because of the lower multiplier of the e6300?

 

[Duvie]

800ddr2 cas 5 just doesn't leave you the headroom needed to get to 920ddr2 in my opinion. There is some cas 4 DDr2 stuff that likley with 2.3v will stilll run as high as 950-1000 with cas 5 timings...

You just need a little room...You are picking some items at the limit now...I wouldn't recommend the 500watt TP2 Antec especially if you plan on using a high end vid card

 

[ZeusKOTG]

I haven't tried to OC to 3.2 yet but I have OC'ed to 2.8 and ran Orthos for 16 hours, passed Super pi 32 and memtest test 5(five passes). Tell me if this is a stable OC: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v344/ZeusKOTG/?action=view&current=Orthos.jpg

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: ZeusKOTG
I haven't tried to OC to 3.2 yet but I have OC'ed to 2.8 and ran Orthos for 16 hours, passed Super pi 32 and memtest test 5(five passes). Tell me if this is a stable OC: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v344/ZeusKOTG/?action=view&current=Orthos.jpg

seems to be. What memory do you use? You may be able to go higher (but after 400Mhz your memory will be the ultimate limiting factor.

 

[ZeusKOTG]

I am using Cosair XMS2 DDR2 800 PC 6400 CAS 5 (2x512MB), Do you think I can go higher?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: ZeusKOTG
I am using Cosair XMS2 DDR2 800 PC 6400 CAS 5 (2x512MB), Do you think I can go higher?

those use promos chips so they may not do much above 400Mhz stable although you can try.

do 2.1v on the memory and try booting at 425Mhz FSB at 5-5-5-15 memory timings.

 

[ZeusKOTG]

Also can you give me some options that I need to disable in BIOS for the P5B board, besides the what you have told me to do. Some things like the intel speedstep and all that crap.

 

[cmdrdredd]

in the CPU config menu disable everything. in the jumper free config menu disable spread spectrum and in northbridge config menu disable static read control. I don't know what voltage options the P5B/P5B-E have as I have a Deluxe which has additional options.

 

[ZeusKOTG]

Ok I will do this when I get home,(at night class til 7pm)

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: ZeusKOTG
Ok I will do this when I get home,(at night class til 7pm)

what you may want to try is putting all your voltages for the Northbridge/Southbridge/ICH at max and run your memory at 2.1v and see what happens at 425Mhz FSB. If it's stable lower each value one at a time until you get instability. It's a long task, but about the only way to do it. Or you can leave them all at the max if you wanted to. (i do)