Overclocking Athlon XP 2500+

[SeraphsSati]

Hey guys, I'm new to overclocking, hope someone can help me out.

I want to get DDR400 memory and the 2500 is 333fsb. So what is the best multiplyer x fsb plus voltage settings to get optimal performance. Since you guys are the exprienced overclockers this would help a lot.

Also, would I need a special grease on the cpu? Or would the stock heatsink fan be adequate?

THanks!

 

[SeraphsSati]

And I don't want the CPU to burn out in a month.

 

[Jeff7181]

Assuming you get an XP2500 that's not locked, 11x200 @ 1.65 volts would be what you should shoot for but you might end up at like 10x200 or 10.5x200. Since overclocking is not guaranteed, your results will vary. It's perfectly fine to overclock with the stock heatsink/fan. As a rule, with a stock heatsink/fan, I never raise the voltage... I overclock as far as it can go on the default voltage, when it becomes unstable, I stop.
If you wanted to try to get every last Mhz out of it, you should get an aftermarket heastink, something like the Thermalright SK-7 or SLK-700. And if you do that, you should use a thermal compound (not necessarily a grease). I used Arctic Silver 3 for a while, and when Arctic Silver 5 came out I started using that and it's great stuff... easier to work with cause it's thick so it's difficult to slop it all over... just remember a little bit goes a long way.

 

[myocardia]

Jeff's right, although if you have the room in your case, and plan on a max overclock, I would recommend the Thermalright SLK-800a. Of course, if you really have room in your case, nothing beats the Thermalright SLK-900a, which will accept up to a 92mm fan without modification. Oh, by the way, I've heard that the new AMD heatsink is pretty good, although only up to between 2.0 and 2.1 Ghz, but that's not from first-hand experience.

 

[Jeff7181]

The heatsinks the origionally included with the XP2500's were the best... very solid, nickel plated copper base with a quiet fan... almost as good as my SK-7. The most recent ones are aluminum with copper plates screwed to the bottom... good, but not great... much better than the old all aluminum ones. The fans are still a bit loud though.

 

[SeraphsSati]

Great info guys thanks. I need to know though the settings for only sycnhronizing it with my DDR400, so I need to boost the 333mhz FSB to 400mhz. How do I go about doing that?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: SeraphsSati
Great info guys thanks. I need to know though the settings for only sycnhronizing it with my DDR400, so I need to boost the 333mhz FSB to 400mhz. How do I go about doing that?

Well, assuming you have an overclocking motherboard, just raise the fsb in the bios from 166 to 200. Although, I would try it slightly lower to start with, personally. I would probably see what happens with a 185 or 190 fsb, and see how the processor reacts temperature-wise. If that isn't enough of a speed boost for you, keep going higher. I hear, though, that a high percentage of the Bartons have no problems at all with 200 fsb. If that's the only choices you have (133, 166, or 200), the chip will more than likely do 200.

 

[SeraphsSati]

Cool THX!, so no messing around with the multiplier? Just go into BIOS and put it to 200mhz? And the dual channel would work fine? Also, since the retail cpu doesn't come with grease which would you recommend? And about the temperature where is the danger zone?

 

[Jeff7181]

Just a bit more info... my computer is perfectly stable with a 200 Mhz FSB, but completely unstable at 195... lower the multiplier and raise the FSB to 200 right away... lower the multiplier enough so you know the CPU core speed isn't what's making it unstable. If it's unstable at say, 200x9, then lower the FSB until it is stable, then raise the multiplier until you get to a speed you're happy with, or until temps get above 60 C (since you'll most likely be reading socket temps, and the diode temp is anywhere from 5-10 degrees C higher)

 

[badaphooko]

this is noobie question but when do you know your computer has become unstable?????

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: badaphooko
this is noobie question but when do you know your computer has become unstable?????

Prime95

it stops torturing your CPU when it finds errors in the hardware.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Or when it keeps restarting after a POST or you get a BSOD trying to load Windows or when you freeze at the screen before Windows. Thats when you should really back it down a bit

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: badaphooko
this is noobie question but when do you know your computer has become unstable?????

While finding my max overclock, I run Prime 95 for 15 minutes. Most all memory or chipset errors will show up in this amount of time. Once you find your max by doing that, I'd run Prime 95 and loop a graphics intense program like a game demo or 3DMark overnight. If they're both still running in the morning you're good to go.

 

[CraigRT]

stock settings gives optimal performance

if you want to overclock, you will have to experiment.