Overclocking AMD 64 3200+ Winchester (need advice)

[ibex333]

Hello guys. I already asked about this some time ago, but back then, I simply couldnt understand all those overclocking guides, so I had to give up...

Since then I did a lot more reading and researching, and finally I felt confident to try again.
This time, I think I got something going here, and I need your help.

Many people here told me I can get up to 2.6GHz on stock cooling, but it seems that is very far from the truth in my case. I was only able to get to 235HTT with 10multi and vcore at 1.50v. Any higher HTT and CPU craps out and reboots, during startup.

So then I pushed the vcore to 1.55v and was able to get to 240HTT with 10multi. This seems to be my absolute max, and I am reluctant to go any higher since my temps flirt with 54c at this point. (on full load with prime95 of course) Otherwise, around 45c
Do you think that if I raise my HTT any higher the temps will get above 55c?


Since I have trouble understanding how to overclock RAM, I decided not to do this for now, and settled at 166 (DRAM/FSB : 5/06) This puts my RAM at 199MHz which I guess is fine... However, when I click on the memory tab in "Cpuz", it shows that my memory is set to 2T. I guess that what my mobo did since I have it set to auto... When I set it to 1T in BIOS, my PC wont POST. What gives?



Some screenies I think you should see

Anyway, do you think I can do anything to go even higher with my stock HSF?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.



PS:
Also if you know any links that explain memory dividers and how to select them according to FSB + how to overclock ram please drop me a couple since I just cant understand this stuff... I need something like a "complete idiots guide".

PPS:
Right now my memory is running in single channel mode because the guy who was helping me build my PC set it up like this. Some people here told me to put it in DIMM 2 and 4 to get dual channel. If I will do that, will that screw up my CPU OC in any way?
(sorry for a newb question)

 

[ibex333]

Update:

Now I see that even at 2.4GHz my CPU is unstable.(despite running Prime95 for 15 min with no errors)
Whenever I play Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War the game freezes, and locks up the whole sysrtem after about 10 min of playing every time, and I have to reboot. This never happened at stock speed.

What is the reason for my misfortune? Is my PSU too weak for this OC? Do I have the worst 3200+ ever made? (jk)

 

[SparkyJJO]

Well to be "prime stable" you need to let it run for at least 12 hours, 24 is better. My opty 165 ran at 2.9GHz for over 2 hours then core #0 failed because the heat got too high. 15 minutes isn't enough.

 

[ibex333]

Allright... I know that 15 minutes isnt enough. But what is it that's keeping me from OCing my CPU? - I did everything correctly.

 

[ibex333]

time for a bump

 

[cabroker]

You need a better power supply. Check out the recommended PSU list for for that motherboard here.

 

[ibex333]

Hmmm... So my PSU is the only culprit? What about the temps? It's not like the PSU has anything to do with that, no?

 

[customcoms]

it took 1.63v for my winchester 3000+ to get to 2.4ghz prime stable. That was on an after market cooler (a Zalman 7700AlCu). No way could I run at those voltages and speeds with the stock AMD single-core cooler. I backed it down to 2.2 for daily use, wasn't comfortable with the volts needed. My other winchester 3000+ would do 2.5ghz with around 1.55v. All of this on the Zalman, and I was seeing around 52-55DC I believe.
I am now running the processor in my sig, 50DC max load.

All of these overclocks were with the same board and psu in my sig; only difference was the cooler (zalman on the single cores and stock opty cooler on the 165) and the ram, although I have used the OCZ Gold in all three cases.

Your psu, on the other hand, doesn't meet the minimum specs and is FAR from having the quality of a Tagan. If that was a KNOWN GOOD BRAND psu, like OCZ, Tagan, PCP&C, Fortron Source etc., I would be less reluctant to say it is a problem. Thermaltake=known BAD psu, if anything (there latest high end series are good, since they come from the same place as everyone elses).

Your temps are a problem, and I would say get a Zalman 9500 or 9700 and be done with it. However, I would not expect a winchester to hit 2.6ghz; 2.5 is a great OC on a winchester. Most people telling u that 2.6ghz stock vcore is probable are referring to the Venice chip, which is a cooler running and better overclocking AMD64.

 

[ibex333]

How about this HSF
It says that it is compatible with socket 775 and 939. So, I'm assuming I'll be able to use this thing when I upgrade to e6400 sometime during the next year?

This PSU
is recommended for DFI mobos, and I'm wondering if it will be able to power an OC'd e6400 + 8800GTX(non SLi). Basically I want to make sure than I will be buying parts I can use during the next 2 years in this system, and the one I build after that.

 

[SparkyJJO]

link is borked

 

[ibex333]

Links fixed now. My appologies.

 

[ibex333]

bump* I still need to know if I will be able to use the above parts in a new system.

 

[ibex333]

bump*

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: ibex333
bump* I still need to know if I will be able to use the above parts in a new system.

There's no way that psu will run both an overclocked E6400 plus an 8800GTX. I've seen quite alot of people who had both that one, and even some of the people with the 700 watt version, who had to replace them, once they got their 8800GTX's.

edit: The 8800GTS only uses about as much 12v amperage as an X1950XT. It's just the GTX that uses so much more power, in case you were wondering.

 

[alkemyst]

my rig is an O/C'd wini running at 2520MHz.

my chiapet

 

[ibex333]

What would be a better long term cooling solution for me?

Once I get one of the below parts, I'm planning to use it in my current system, and then in a socket 775 system with a Core 2 Duo, so keep that in mind please.


This Heatsink
(will this thing cool without the fan? if yes how well? If I do decide to get a fan on top of it, is that hard to install? Is it going to be like a heatsink 1st, and then a fan on top of it?)

or


This HSF

 

[ibex333]

bump*

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: ibex333
This Heatsink
(will this thing cool without the fan? if yes how well? If I do decide to get a fan on top of it, is that hard to install? Is it going to be like a heatsink 1st, and then a fan on top of it?)

No, it won't. It doesn't even cool all that well with a high-flow fan; and I don't mean that it's horrible, I just mean that there are 20 or so heatsinks that outperform it. And the Zalman 9700 cools much better than the 9500, for some reason. I think Zalman redesigned the heatpipes, or the fan, or something.

 

[ibex333]

Hmmm... Thanx for a good advice. I guess I'll go with Zalman 9700....

One more question:

In order to install the Zalman, I'll have to remove the old HSF, clean the old thermal paste off the heatspreader, reapply the thermal paste, and then snap on the new hsf... correct?

 

[ibex333]

bump*

 

[ibex333]

bump*

 

[Regalk]

I had a similar setup and was running my 3200+ with 420 Thermaltake purepower, 1G dual OCZ, EVGA 7600GT on the DFI Lanparty UT Ultra-D and had no issues whatsover that is until I decided to mess with it. Should have left sleeping dogs lie instead i swapped memory and all hell broke loose - board does not boot anymore.
The OC I got was up to 2866 stable.
Core voltage was 1.59 I think. Memory however is a big issue with this boardand you may want to ensure that your mem pass memtest.
Back to stock HS - i used the stock HS BUT with a larger fan (Not AMD) and AS5. Clean the HS with Isopropyl.
Ensure that case has proper cooling as well.

 

[CCityInstaller]

Originally posted by: ibex333
Hmmm... Thanx for a good advice. I guess I'll go with Zalman 9700....

One more question:

In order to install the Zalman, I'll have to remove the old HSF, clean the old thermal paste off the heatspreader, reapply the thermal paste, and then snap on the new hsf... correct?

I would suggest using the Artic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro. It is a wonderful heatsink that comes with a fan that is dead silent at 100% load. I use it to keep a 3800X2 @ 2.6Ghz quite cool, I never break higher then 45-47C under load with both cores. It's a direct replacement heastink, which means you don't have to remove your motherboard to replace the stock retaining bracket. A quick search on the Froogle should get it for you under $25.

 

[StopSign]

I actually just sold my Winchester 3200+/DFI Ultra-D yesterday.

I ran it at 2.5 GHz rock stable with the stock cooler for almost 2 years. My Vcore was about 1.5v. I could have gone even higher if I had a better heatsink and some better RAM (I used a 6:5 divider).

Some chips overclock better than others. I got one of the earliest batches which I believe were better overclockers than the pre-Venice batches.

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: CCityInstaller


I would suggest using the Artic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro. It is a wonderful heatsink that comes with a fan that is dead silent at 100% load. I use it to keep a 3800X2 @ 2.6Ghz quite cool, I never break higher then 45-47C under load with both cores. It's a direct replacement heastink, which means you don't have to remove your motherboard to replace the stock retaining bracket. A quick search on the Froogle should get it for you under $25.

So what you're trying to say is that the Zalman would be a lot harder to install, and I would have to remove my motherboard to replace the retaining bracket? Also if I understand you correctly, a Zalman 9700 is just a fan, and there is no HS included? So then it would have to go on top of my stock HS?

Sorry for the dumb questions, but I never in my life OC'd before, or installed heatsinks or fans.. Aside from the stock one when I was assembling my system.

If installing what I wanted to get involves removing the mobo, and replacing the brackets, I'd rather get the ACF 64 Pro. I want to get something that is fast and easy to install on top of the CPU without having to deal with anything else.

I wonder though.. What cools better? The Zalman or the ACF?


PS: Hmmm.. after the last 3 replies, I'm just confused. It turns out I can buy a good cooling solution, OC, and NOT upgrade my PSU. (that is unless I'll be getting one of the high end video cards)