w/c is better? higher bandwidth with lower fsb or higher fsb with lower bandwidth

[alfietooch]

hi.. i currently own a p4 1.8a on an asus p4s533 generic 333ddr(samsung) ram. ... im currently running it at 133 fsb and 4:6 mem ratio.. if i increase my fsb.. to 137 fsb .. my memory will then be running at 205.5 (410 ddr? am i correct)... i get better scores..but am i running the risk of killing my ram??? since my memory is only 333ddr.... second question.... my cpu can run at higher fsb BUT.. i can't run the 4:6 ratio.. i can do 4:5 but i wont reach ddr400++ or 333 on it... which means i can get my cpu to run at a higher fsb but lower mem bandwidth scores in sandra.. which is better???? should i just run my cpu at 137 fsb on 410 ddr? or increase fsb and run mem as high as it could go? please advise... by the way im running everything on stock voltage...

 

[Duvie]

The only way you are liklely going to kill the ram will be if you overvolt it...It will either run 410 or not...If it requires higher then 2.8v then watch out...

The question you ask about higher fsb or higher bandwdith is a complicated one and really is specific to each indivdual user and his/hers individual uses...

For me I can run:

1.6@2.66ghz with (3:4 with 166fsb for 442mhz ddr) ...cas 2.5,7,3,3....very stable...

or

1.6@2.736ghz with (1:1 with 171fsb for 342mhz ddr)...cas 2,6,2,2...very stable

I tested:

Divx 3.11 with gknot 0.261
Autocadd 2000 rendering of a file
Truespace 3d rendering
Lame mp3 encoding...

The all proved about the same thing for me...that my 2.736ghz even with the slower memory was faster then the slower clock speed with 100mhz faster ddr....partially the answer to this can be at lower speeds I can run lower cas rating and much more aggressive timings...Also some programs are not as bandwidth intensive as others and this may not hold true in every app...

Test as high as you can get with 1:1 ratio and test it...then run as high as memory will allow you with a 2.7v max and test it...see if you can confirm my results...

 

[alfietooch]

thnks duvie.. will do some testing when i get home.. follow up q.. how do i tell if i need to increase cpu voltage? im currently running it on stock 1.5v .. is it true that asus overvolts? whats the safe voltage???

 

[Duvie]

Asus mobos usuallyt overvolt...i think the p4s533 mobo overvolts in the .03-.06 range...

Safe voltage IMHO is 1.7v...1.75v likely is safe but in my experience at these levels you only get about 3-4 more fsb max after 1.7v to this level and just not worth it...

Use pcprobe or MBM5.1.9.1 and follow what the actual voltage is read at....idle stay around 1.7v and load with a good ps should be 1.66v range..


I use prime95 to test cpu fsb and let it run 1 hour and bump it up another notch...repeat until it fails within the 1 hour period and give it a bit of juice in the smallest increment allowed...then keep going until you have reached that 1.7v threshhold...

Edit: once you have hit this limit let it run overnight and if it fails take it back donw a fsb notch and try again..I always lock in my final prime testing of a fsb and vcore with 12hour minimum testing....

In my experience you will only get 180-200mhz max after you start giving it juice above default. Since you have an Asus mobo that maybe more the 180 end...

Good luck...any question feel free to PM me...