Overclocking A Pentium D 915

[Cheex]

Well for starters, this processor is 2.80GHz at stock speed.
I used an ASRock 775Dual-VSTA to overclock it as high as 3.64GHz.

This seemed a bit unstable when running but booted into Windows XP and Vista RC1 just fine.
The ASRock board does not support voltage increases and so i was running on stock voltage.

260 FSB x 14 multiplier = 3640MHz = 3.64GHz

I had no changes in temperatures idle (46C) and load (54C). I am using the stock Intel HSF.

How much can this CPU manage. How high can it go on stock cooling.
Give me your feedback. I'm looking to push mine further when i get a new motherboard.
I also plan on using Arctic Silver 5 on it with the new board.

 

[hardwareking]

lowering temps will help in OCing.
U might need to get a better cooler along with arctic silver.Since u can't increase voltages,get good cooler such as a zalman cnps 9500 or a thermaltake big typhoon.
The pentium d chips are the most OCable chips out there right now.

 

[Cheex]

My new motherboard will allow me to increase the voltages. I can't afford a better cooler right now. Unless its dirt cheap.

 

[Cheex]

Any ideas on a cheap cooler that can help me get it to 4GHz ?

 

[moddedcompsdotcom]

4ghz wow, i didn't think you could oc a pd915 that high unless on h20 cooling

 

[Cheex]

Well i've heard of 4.1GHz on air and 4.5GHz on a simple water cooling setup but I don't really have any confirmation of this.
With the new board i'm getting, i'm sure i can hit 3.73 (EE965 speed) easily and also get it to 4GHz.
The P965 Express chipset is very overclocker friendly.
The D915 is a better chip to overclock than the D920.

 

[moddedcompsdotcom]

kind of off topic but what are the advantages to OC on 965 chipset vs. 945 chipset?

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: moddedcompsdotcom
kind of off topic but what are the advantages to OC on 965 chipset vs. 945 chipset?

With 800mhz FSB pentium-d's, the 945 chipsets tend to get stuck at around 225mhz FSB unless you run the PCIe out of spec, which can cause glitches with your video card.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: moddedcompsdotcom
4ghz wow, i didn't think you could oc a pd915 that high unless on h20 cooling

I've seen a few 805 D's at 4.0+ Ghz, on air. That was with good heatsinks, but still on air.

 

[Cheex]

Well I'm getting a P965 Express board and I intend to take my D915 as high as is stably possible.
I also bought some Arctic Silver 5 to help keep my temperature under control.

Target 1 = 3.73GHz
Target 2 = 4.00GHz

 

[moddedcompsdotcom]

im a noob to overclocking, so this might be a dumb question but, i am considering a new build for ocing and either looking at the e6300 or the pentium 945 with the new gigabit mobo with 945 chipset, and ddr2 667, what would perform better after the oc? like i said might be a dumb question b/c i know that the e6300 is much better before oc

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: moddedcompsdotcom
im a noob to overclocking, so this might be a dumb question but, i am considering a new build for ocing and either looking at the e6300 or the pentium 945 with the new gigabit mobo with 945 chipset, and ddr2 667, what would perform better after the oc? like i said might be a dumb question b/c i know that the e6300 is much better before oc

E6300 will be better both before and after the OC.

 

[moddedcompsdotcom]

i figured, thanks for the help

 

[Cheex]

How high has any of you AnandTech Editors or Members overclocked this nice little monster...
The Intel Pentium D 915.

 

[Cheex]

I have now received my new mobo and will be attempting the OC to 3.01GHz.
Any suggestions, cautions or advice before i begin?

 

[cmrmrc]

i don't think you can oc as high as 3.73ghz on stock voltage....maybe 3.4

 

[Cheex]

ok thanks...
how do i know when i need more volts?

 

[cmrmrc]

when your system is unstable at the current settings...but be sure that the other settings like memory frequency isnt causing the problems....

go for the lowest memory settings to start off the oc

 

[Cheex]

Well...3.73 will be 266 FSB. my 533 ram will be comfortable at that speed.
cpu-z says that my memory at its current 200FSB will run at 3-3-3-9
and at 266 will run at 4-4-4-12
and higher than that i assume (although it still says 266) is at 5-4-4-12

I'm planning to run Orthos overnight tonight so should i put the timings at 3-3-3-9?
I'm testing stability at stock speeds due to my new 2-day old mobo.

 

[tylerw13]

i had a d930 that i overclocked to 4.4 gigs but i dont remember if i messed with the voltage on the cpu i probably did....you can get it up there its just a matter of getting a board that will allow you too

 

[Cheex]

Well my Foxconn mobo has a P965 chipset which is very good for overclocking.
What speed RAM did you use?

 

[tylerw13]

i honestly didnt change anything on the ram...i was new at overclocking...i can tell you i was using some no name ram that i bought for cheap off ebay....lol....ahhh those were the days....im glad ive come along way since then....lol as for the speed i believe it was 5300 677 mhz

 

[Cheex]

I have DDR2 533MHz RAM. How much will that limit my OC?

 

[cmrmrc]

i suggest putting memory to 400 and a 5-5-5-12 just to test cpu

when you wake tomorrow, if cpu is still running then you can downclock cpu and test memory later....

 

[Cheex]

I'm not sure if i understand.
The minimum i can set in the bios is 533MHz.

Also, I was thinking of overclocking a bit now and then run Orthos overnight on the overclocked system...your thoughts on this???