Trouble overclocking the Core2 E2160 with P5N-E SLI

fesodes

Junior Member
Aug 2, 2006
3
0
0
Since I'm new to overclocking, I bought this CPU together with the Asus P5N-E SLI because many reviewers noted 3.00Ghz is reachable with ease. I've been trying to overclock since yesterday and my results and test setup are as follow.

Hardware
CPU: Intel Core2 E2160 Revision L2 Stepping 2
Motherboard: Asus P5N E SLI
Memory: OCZ 4-4-4-15 DDR2 800
PNY 8800GT (stock speed)
Case: Antec P182SE
PSU: Antec True550w(got this in 2004)

Software
WinXP Pro 32bit with all updates
ForceWare 169.02
3dmark2006 1.1.0 with Oct patch

Here are my bios settings...
-FSB and memory unlinked.
-FSB set to 1066 leaving actual memory at 800
-CPU Multiplier unchanged at 9
-VCore, memory, NB Core, VCore offset voltage settings on [Auto]
-Memory timing settings all on [Auto]

This gives me 2.4Ghz and I can run 3dmark2006 with no problems.
If I push FSB to 1116(2.5Ghz) the system can boot XP but would freeze running 3dmark2006. I've also tried adjusting VCore and gradually increasing it up to 1.45V but the system would barely boot XP when FSB is above 1110 (ie freezing after booting XP for a few sec).

I also want to note the temp of my motherboard and CPU. At idle, CPU(2.4Ghz) is 32C and motherboard is around 35C. Right after 3dmark2006, CPU and motherboard reaches 38. Is that normal?

Advice greatly appreciated.





 

JustaGeek

Platinum Member
Jan 27, 2007
2,827
0
71
Originally posted by: fesodes
Since I'm new to overclocking, I bought this CPU together with the Asus P5N-E SLI because many reviewers noted 3.00Ghz is reachable with ease. I've been trying to overclock since yesterday and my results and test setup are as follow.

Hardware
CPU: Intel Core2 E2160 Revision L2 Stepping 2
Motherboard: Asus P5N E SLI
Memory: OCZ 4-4-4-15 DDR2 800
PNY 8800GT (stock speed)
Case: Antec P182SE
PSU: Antec True550w(got this in 2004) Does it have 24-pin MB connector, or only 20-pin ? You should use the 24-pin PSU ONLY.

Software
WinXP Pro 32bit with all updates
ForceWare 169.02
3dmark2006 1.1.0 with Oct patch

Here are my bios settings...
-FSB and memory unlinked.
-FSB set to 1066 leaving actual memory at 800
-CPU Multiplier unchanged at 9
-VCore, memory, NB Core, VCore offset voltage settings on [Auto]
-Memory timing settings all on [Auto]

This gives me 2.4Ghz and I can run 3dmark2006 with no problems.
If I push FSB to 1116(2.5Ghz) the system can boot XP but would freeze running 3dmark2006. I've also tried adjusting VCore and gradually increasing it up to 1.45V but the system would barely boot XP when FSB is above 1110 (ie freezing after booting XP for a few sec).

I also want to note the temp of my motherboard and CPU. At idle, CPU(2.4Ghz) is 32C and motherboard is around 35C. Right after 3dmark2006, CPU and motherboard reaches 38. Is that normal?

Advice greatly appreciated.

Try this:

LDT frequency 4x

CPU voltage 1.35V
NB voltage 1.56V
Memory voltage 2.17V
Voltage offset Auto.

Memory timings manually 4-4-4-15-2T - very important! The rest on Auto.

CPU frequency 1300 Memory 650 Unlinked (you will get the memory frequency up to 800 later, or change timings to 4-4-4-12 or less)

All that with 2 RAM sticks ONLY.

Add a fan to the NB heatsink, add a heatsink to the Southbridge.

The CPU might be a bad OC'er, but the MB is very quirky, too.

Good luck!

And welcome to AT!


BTW, your temps are fine.
 

fesodes

Junior Member
Aug 2, 2006
3
0
0
Thanks Justageek. I did as you told except adding a fan to the north and south bridge(I'll get them tomorrow). Memory voltage was also left at 2.08V because the spec sheet for the OCZ memory says it'll take up to 2.1V. You think its fine to bump it up to 2.17V?

The result... The system won't post at all :( I've then tried...

-lowering the CPU Multiplier all the way down to 8,7,6
-increasing CPU voltage to 1.375
-memory timings set to 5-5-5-15-2T
-lowering FSB to 1200

Still the system won't post. Again it seems that the system won't post with a FSB above 1200. Could this be due to a hot northbridge?

P.S. Bios version is 0703

Thanks
 

JustaGeek

Platinum Member
Jan 27, 2007
2,827
0
71
Try BIOS 0608. or the earliest BIOS supporting your CPU.

When you update BIOS, use the procedure described here

Try changing the memory slots - from 2 black to 2 yellow or other way around.

The settings I gave you are just a start, and it takes a lot of manual tweaking to get thing right on this board. Read as much as you can in this thread

And remember to set as much as you can manually. Read about the settings for your memory on OCZ forums

Good luck!