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OC'ing my P4 3.4 with Hyper-Threading (LGA 775)

Tristicus

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2008
8,107
5
61
www.wallpapereuphoria.com
Well, I want to overclock. My current setup is basically 4gb of RAM (Only 2.75gb show in Vista Ultimate...I need a new mobo) DDR2 667 at 533, P4 3.4 LGA 775 with HT technology, ATI Radeon x1650 Pro 512mb PCI-E.

What do I need to OC this all to to play UT3 and such reasonably? I can play Crysis at 1024x768 with some settings on medium and it is playable, but I want to run games like that higher and such.

I have 2 Thermaltake 120mm fans and 2 80mm fans, a 680W PSU, and a Foxconn 915AO1P motherboard. I have an ASUS cooler that seems to be pretty good, and I have these heatsinks for the RAM I just got today (not the best....decent I guess).

I don't want the system to get hot as hell, but I really want some more performance out of this, as I am VERY LIMITED on cash and such....and I really want to play Crysis and UT3 (mostly this) on good settings at a playable framerate.

I really don't know how to OC. I have read a bit into it, but not much, so some guides would also be great.

Thanks guys!
 

shabby

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,782
45
91
Originally posted by: Tristicus
Well, I want to overclock. My current setup is basically 4gb of RAM (Only 2.75gb show in Vista Ultimate...I need a new mobo) DDR2 667 at 533, P4 3.4 LGA 775 with HT technology, ATI Radeon x1650 Pro 512mb PCI-E.

First start overclocking your video card not your cpu.
You simply wont be able to run crysis at higher detail even if you somehow manage to clock your cpu to 4.0ghz.
 

Tristicus

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2008
8,107
5
61
www.wallpapereuphoria.com
Well, shabby, how should I start by OC'ing it? I OC'ed my last one a bit by running a program because it said it was locked against OC'ing, but when I did that, these weird things would start coming up in the background and stuff....
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,632
2,027
126
I've just recently dis-assembled a system with P4P800-SE motherboard and 3.4E Ghz Prescott, but it's "socket-478." The mobo, memory and processor went to my brother, who was happier than a pig in s*** to get it.

Because the DDR 400 OCZ Platinum EL (2,3,2,5) would only run at DDR-452 1:1 with the voltage of 2.75V and just under the warranty recommended, we clocked it to 3.8 Ghz. It's got a 7600 GT AGP card, TR SI-120 CPU cooler and one of the lesser TR VGA heatpipe coolers (forgot the precise model-name.) It would go to 4 Ghz, but mah bro' ain't no over-clocker, and I have to watch the system like a hawk while worrying about it. So we stuck with this 13% over-clock.

I don't see why you can't OC your Prescott, (unless it's a Northwood, and then I know you can OC it with even less trouble or attention to temperatures). Wait -- Northwood wasn't produced for LGA-775. NNN-KAY??

 

waffleironhead

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
7,061
570
136
Enter your bios(Hold down Del on startup)

In the bios there should be a "bios features"

Bios features-superspeed

In superspeed you should have the ability to up cpu speed there.
 

Tristicus

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2008
8,107
5
61
www.wallpapereuphoria.com
Thanks man!!!! I know how to get into the BIOS and stuff, just needed to know how to OC. I am going to go slow, and test the highest (not going over 4ghz if that) it can go.
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
8,771
58
91
whats the point in beating a dead horse? the p4 is a 6 year old technology (?). you won't notice any difference in real world applications and games. u need at least a dual core to feel anything.
 

Tristicus

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2008
8,107
5
61
www.wallpapereuphoria.com
What is the point in you posting that? For someone who buys their own parts, doesn't have an income because I am still a high school student, and can't afford a system like you, then I should just give up and don't do anything until I can save up $2000 for a better rig?

Get a life.
 

Gikaseixas

Platinum Member
Jul 1, 2004
2,836
218
106
if you're thinking in keeping that setup i would advise to at least upgrade the video card, get a 8800GT or 3870.
 
Dec 30, 2004
12,553
2
76
Originally posted by: Tristicus
What is the point in you posting that? For someone who buys their own parts, doesn't have an income because I am still a high school student, and can't afford a system like you, then I should just give up and don't do anything until I can save up $2000 for a better rig?

Get a life.

Actually it's more like $625 after shipping; and that's cheaper than even what I paid for my system. If you can pull over your HDD and windows and not buy a new one then you can get it for $525.

Right now at TigerDirect they've got my CPU for $50 AR; at newegg they have my mobo (which is an insanely good overclocking mobo) for $60, 2x2GB of ddr800 RAM is $75 or less, new PSU is ~$60; my graphics card is $190 at ncixus.com AR. Then get the Tuniq Tower to help your OC and you'll be cooking. If you get a job for about a month working 5-10 M-F (stay away from saturday during the day if you go fastfood like I did; it totally sucks; way too busy); Saturday 4-12 and Sunday the same and you can upgrade. At fastfood you can come and work for a bit and then quit whenever; other more worthwhile jobs that would be bad b/c next time you apply you have to put your previous work history on your application.
edit: looks like you wouldn't have to buy more RAM; and you could use the 1650 until you get enough money for a 8800gt or 3850+OC. You could also forgo the Tuniq Tower if you get a Retail e2180; probably could get you to just shy of 3Ghz. Building a new comp has never been cheaper or easier; pretty much anybody that can work a job can bring in the funds for a new kick-a rig in a month and a half max.
If you don't have access to a car through parents (like having them give you a ride there and back) look into your city's public transit system; they usually have monthly cards that are severely discounted from if you just paid for each ride.
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
8,771
58
91
because thats like trying to turbocharge a 25 year old ford taurus which sucked upon release and overclocking will only cause u more pain than any pleasure u will experience from any p4 at 4ghz.
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
8,771
58
91
nobody's telling u to get a new system for $2k dunno where u got that, but yes, i would suggest a new motherboard if youre doesn't c2d/c2q 45nm and getting a new CPU for $100. can u afford $100 for double the performance?
 

waffleironhead

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
7,061
570
136
Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
whats the point in beating a dead horse? the p4 is a 6 year old technology (?). you won't notice any difference in real world applications and games. u need at least a dual core to feel anything.

Easy answer.

Because he can! :);) and because it is what he owns currently :laugh: You ever hear the one about 1 in hand being worth two in the bush?

If he wants to oc his p4 then by all means let him. Im sure he realises that his system is being smoked by current systems. That may be the reason he would want to overclock it.

 

Tristicus

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2008
8,107
5
61
www.wallpapereuphoria.com
Originally posted by: waffleironhead
Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
whats the point in beating a dead horse? the p4 is a 6 year old technology (?). you won't notice any difference in real world applications and games. u need at least a dual core to feel anything.

Easy answer.

Because he can! :);) and because it is what he owns currently :laugh: You ever hear the one about 1 in hand being worth two in the bush?

If he wants to oc his p4 then by all means let him. Im sure he realises that his system is being smoked by current systems. That may be the reason he would want to overclock it.

Thank you for that.

And no, I could not build a better PC, I don't have the cash nor the hours to work as of now. Plus I don't want AMD. I am also saving for an EEE PC.
 

waffleironhead

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
7,061
570
136
Did you have any luck on the oc? Do you know which settings to tweak? the most I would expect from that system would be a 200-300 mhz overclock btw.
 

Tristicus

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2008
8,107
5
61
www.wallpapereuphoria.com
Well, I went in to the CPU one, it said 200-350 with 200 it was set to. I went to 210 to see, and in Windows it saw 3.4 and 1.7. I was like This isn't right.....so I went back to stock (200) and it saw 3.4 and 3.4

Do I have to go to like 350 to get above since 200 is the default or w/e?
I G2G to church, I will get back here lata.
 

PCTC2

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2007
3,892
33
91
Originally posted by: Tristicus
Well, I want to overclock. My current setup is basically 4gb of RAM (Only 2.75gb show in Vista Ultimate...I need a new mobo) DDR2 667 at 533, P4 3.4 LGA 775 with HT technology, ATI Radeon x1650 Pro 512mb PCI-E.

What do I need to OC this all to to play UT3 and such reasonably? I can play Crysis at 1024x768 with some settings on medium and it is playable, but I want to run games like that higher and such.

I have 2 Thermaltake 120mm fans and 2 80mm fans, a 680W PSU, and a Foxconn 915AO1P motherboard. I have an ASUS cooler that seems to be pretty good, and I have these heatsinks for the RAM I just got today (not the best....decent I guess).

I don't want the system to get hot as hell, but I really want some more performance out of this, as I am VERY LIMITED on cash and such....and I really want to play Crysis and UT3 (mostly this) on good settings at a playable framerate.

I really don't know how to OC. I have read a bit into it, but not much, so some guides would also be great.

Thanks guys!

You actually don't need a new motherboard if it's LGA775. Are you running Vista Ultimate 32-bit? It has a physical address limit of 4GB for your whole computer, so your video card and a few other components uses that 1.25GB your computer doesn't "SEE" in your RAM. To fix this, and use 4GB, you need to use a 64-bit OS, such as XP x64 or Vista Ultimate x64
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
The biggest upgrade you can do is going dual-core, and E21x0s are very cheap nowadays. Do yourself a big favor and pick up something like an E2160 or E2180 (the $50 AR at TigerDirect sounds great). Later on, upgrade your mobo when you have the cash.
 

james1701

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2007
1,791
34
91
I got my P4 stable at 3.9ghz, on my MSI 975X, but just for kicks, I am thinking about putting it back in since I now have the T120E, just to see how far I can go. I might be able to hit 4.2ghz.