Understanding CPU speeds, overclocking, and FSB

[LordTerrin]

I need some help understanding the core issues in this snippet from Anandtech's review of socket 754 motherboards. I don't know what these following bolded things mean. I guess I could outline each question, but I'll see if someone can give me a good answer with out it. The thing I understand the least is the "reach the 246-248 range" sentence. I have NO idea what it's talking about, what the numbers mean, or what is standard for those numbers. I also have absolutely no idea what a multiplier is, and how it functions.. As always, I'm willing to learn, and read, if you're willing to essssplain.


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The working AGP/PCI lock on the nForce3-250 is allowing all our test boards to reach the 246-248 range with this late 3200+. A 24% overclock at stock multiplier is the kind of overclocking performance that many have been looking for since the Athlon 64 was first introduced.

Dropping the multiplier, and testing 1:1 with one DDR550 DIMM, we achieved the highest 1:1 FSB overclock that we have ever accomplished on an Athlon 64 board at 283FSB or DDR566.

HyperTransport could be maintained at the 4X (800 setting) up to a 266 FSB setting, which is excellent performance. Above this point to the 1:1 maximum of 283 FSB, we needed a 3X HT setting.
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Thanks guys,

LT

 

[Mik3y]

apg/pci lock allows the board to overclock the cpu. when they say the 246-248, their probably meaning the front side bus. the multiplier is the number which multiplies with the fsb to equal the core speed. for example, 200fsb x 11 multiplier = 2200mhz = 3200+. an unlocked multiplier allows for higher overclocking. testing 1:1 is how the memory syncs or works with the cpu. 4x (800 setting up to a 266fsb setting just means the front side bus. since the athlon 64, like the pentiums, work with quad architecture, you multiply the bus with 4 and you get 800 (since 200mhz is stock fsb speed). increasing the fsb allows for overclock too, so by increasing the fsb to say 250, then you could have a 1000Mhz fsb system. 250 x 11 (for example) would then equal to 2750 MHz, which is equal to like 3800+ or higher. this is just a short summary. to explain it all would take forever, but ya, if you still have any questions, then ask. i'll describe it more in detail.