Core2Duo overclocking report

garo · 2007-01-27, 22:29

In the hardware advice thread several people had asked me to report my overclocking experience. I'm in the middle of ramping up my computer but the results have been very promising.

Here is the hardware:
E6400
Stock heatsink and fan
Gigabyte P965-DS3
Geil Ultra PC2-6400UDC
Antec P150 with a Tricool fan (no extra fans)

The stock is 8x266=2133MHz. The memory is rated to run 4-4-4-12 at 800MHz but at 2.3V :surprised The SPD settings are 3-3-3-9@400, 4-4-4-12@533 and 5-5-5-18@800.

So my first overclock was to up the FSB to 300 and change the memory ratio from the 2:3 (that the board detected and dialed up to at first boot) to 4:5 so that memory was running at 750. I also changed timings from the default 5-5-5-18 to 4-4-4-12 and it ran at these tighter timings with no extra voltage. Yup! 1.8V, so I doubt the memory will need 2.3V to run 4-4-4-12 at 800MHz.

My next jump was a bit ambitious in that I upped the FSB to 333 but let the memory ratio remained the same. The computer failed to boot and I had to clear the CMOS.

Next I reduced the memory ratio to 1:1 and let the motherboard decide the voltages and tried again at 333FSB. No problem this time except the motherboard chose very high voltages, the V_core was 1.4V from the default 1.325V causing temperatures to go from 60 to about 66. And the memory setting were back to the SPD 5-5-5-18.
So I went in and manually changed the memory timings to 4-4-4-12 assuming the mobo will up the voltage and it did.

I then made a huge mistake and installed Motherboard Monitor. The said board was not supported in the .ini and I chose some other board but that essentially caused my CPU temps to shoot up to 79 as measured by the Intel Thermal Analysis Tool. They were still rising when I quickly uninstalled MBM and rebooted.

This time I manually set the CPU voltage to 1.325 - the default - and the memory voltage to 2.1V (in anticipation of upping the FSB to 400 eventually). Temps are back down to 60 and the CPU is running stable at 2650MHz and the memory at 667MHz at 4-4-4-12.

Tomorrow, after overnight torture testing, I will up the FSB to 350 and over the next few days go to 366, 383 and then 400.

paulunderwood · 2007-01-28, 01:47

How about 8GHz?

Maybe a e6600 would have been a better purchase by you, with water cooling. Good luck with keeping things from frying, even though it is winter (here).

Cruelty · 2007-01-28, 16:16

How about that - total of 12.4GHz

S485122 · 2007-01-28, 18:00

Yes the quadcore performs well. But is not good for any program with heavy traffic to memory. (Like prime95 for instance :-(

Cruelty · 2007-01-28, 21:20

Since I am using exclusively LLR on C2Q platform, memory bandwidth is not a bottleneck... yet

garo · 2007-01-29, 15:49

Eh! I did not mean to start the thread as a bragging competition

. I have since upped the FSB to 350 and am running stable at 2800MHz. CPU temps are 65 and 63 under full load with prime95 large FFTs.

Do people here have estimates on what is safe? I want to see how far I can go with stock cooling and then maybe I will buy the scythe infinity or Zalman 7700. I also noticed that the CPU voltage plays a big role in determining temps. When I let the motherboard set the voltage for me it overvolted to 1.42V resulting in a 5 degree rise in temperature. I have read reports of people getting to 3200 on stock voltage.

S485122 · 2007-01-29, 16:20

The Zalman 7700 is really outdated. If you want to use a Zalman you can go for 9500 or 9700. If you absolutely want a cooler with a fan pushing the air downward go for the 8000.

Cruelty · 2007-01-29, 16:50

I have Scythe Infinity, and it's being beaten by Thermalright SI-128 by 2C (not to mention that Infinity's mounting is a REAL pain in the

). Personally I would go for Thermalright Ultra-120 or Sunbeam Tuniq Tower 120.

garo · 2007-01-29, 17:30

Thanks. Tuniq Tower 120 or Thermalright Ultra-120 it is then.

garo · 2007-01-30, 23:48

I discovered that I was letting the BIOS control the CPU fan speed and it was spinning at about 1200RPM. I am now letting it go at full blast - 2400RPM the temps are significantly netter. I am now running 3GHz stable at a temp 60C. The mobo temp is 39C so I am thinking I may need a case fan to blow air into the case.

rx7350 · 2007-01-31, 13:40

I have some limited experience at overclocking, but I have read many posts on overclock.net that state over and over that the 'safe' max temp should be
55C on a C2D. So, my overclocks stop at that point, even though I'm sure I could go higher if I were willing to accept a higher temp. If it gets too hot then it will start throttling to lower the heat, and that would seriousy degrade
your iteration times. So, the cooling solution is critical to achieving a higher overclock.

I have used Zalman 9700s, and they do a good job. They are much more effective than a 9500. However, I second the recommendation for the Tuniq Tower (if you can find one). They are quite large, so it may be a tight fit if you're only using a mid-tower. Shouldn't be any problem in a full tower.

If you're new to overclocking, or have limited experience, check out the forums at overclock.net.

2007-01-27, 22:29	#1
garo Aug 2002 Termonfeckin, IE ACC₁₆ Posts	Core2Duo overclocking report In the hardware advice thread several people had asked me to report my overclocking experience. I'm in the middle of ramping up my computer but the results have been very promising. Here is the hardware: E6400 Stock heatsink and fan Gigabyte P965-DS3 Geil Ultra PC2-6400UDC Antec P150 with a Tricool fan (no extra fans) The stock is 8x266=2133MHz. The memory is rated to run 4-4-4-12 at 800MHz but at 2.3V :surprised The SPD settings are 3-3-3-9@400, 4-4-4-12@533 and 5-5-5-18@800. So my first overclock was to up the FSB to 300 and change the memory ratio from the 2:3 (that the board detected and dialed up to at first boot) to 4:5 so that memory was running at 750. I also changed timings from the default 5-5-5-18 to 4-4-4-12 and it ran at these tighter timings with no extra voltage. Yup! 1.8V, so I doubt the memory will need 2.3V to run 4-4-4-12 at 800MHz. My next jump was a bit ambitious in that I upped the FSB to 333 but let the memory ratio remained the same. The computer failed to boot and I had to clear the CMOS. Next I reduced the memory ratio to 1:1 and let the motherboard decide the voltages and tried again at 333FSB. No problem this time except the motherboard chose very high voltages, the V_core was 1.4V from the default 1.325V causing temperatures to go from 60 to about 66. And the memory setting were back to the SPD 5-5-5-18. So I went in and manually changed the memory timings to 4-4-4-12 assuming the mobo will up the voltage and it did. I then made a huge mistake and installed Motherboard Monitor. The said board was not supported in the .ini and I chose some other board but that essentially caused my CPU temps to shoot up to 79 as measured by the Intel Thermal Analysis Tool. They were still rising when I quickly uninstalled MBM and rebooted. This time I manually set the CPU voltage to 1.325 - the default - and the memory voltage to 2.1V (in anticipation of upping the FSB to 400 eventually). Temps are back down to 60 and the CPU is running stable at 2650MHz and the memory at 667MHz at 4-4-4-12. Tomorrow, after overnight torture testing, I will up the FSB to 350 and over the next few days go to 366, 383 and then 400.

2007-01-28, 16:16	#3
Cruelty May 2005 3130₈ Posts	How about that - total of 12.4GHz Last fiddled with by Cruelty on 2007-01-28 at 16:17

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2007-01-28, 01:47	#2
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 3739₁₀ Posts	How about 8GHz? Maybe a e6600 would have been a better purchase by you, with water cooling. Good luck with keeping things from frying, even though it is winter (here).

2007-01-28, 18:00	#4
S485122 Sep 2006 Brussels, Belgium 2·3·281 Posts	Yes the quadcore performs well. But is not good for any program with heavy traffic to memory. (Like prime95 for instance :-(

2007-01-28, 21:20	#5
Cruelty May 2005 2³×7×29 Posts	Since I am using exclusively LLR on C2Q platform, memory bandwidth is not a bottleneck... yet

2007-01-29, 15:49	#6
garo Aug 2002 Termonfeckin, IE 2764₁₀ Posts	Eh! I did not mean to start the thread as a bragging competition . I have since upped the FSB to 350 and am running stable at 2800MHz. CPU temps are 65 and 63 under full load with prime95 large FFTs. Do people here have estimates on what is safe? I want to see how far I can go with stock cooling and then maybe I will buy the scythe infinity or Zalman 7700. I also noticed that the CPU voltage plays a big role in determining temps. When I let the motherboard set the voltage for me it overvolted to 1.42V resulting in a 5 degree rise in temperature. I have read reports of people getting to 3200 on stock voltage.

2007-01-29, 16:20	#7
S485122 Sep 2006 Brussels, Belgium 2×3×281 Posts	The Zalman 7700 is really outdated. If you want to use a Zalman you can go for 9500 or 9700. If you absolutely want a cooler with a fan pushing the air downward go for the 8000.

2007-01-29, 16:50	#8
Cruelty May 2005 2³·7·29 Posts	I have Scythe Infinity, and it's being beaten by Thermalright SI-128 by 2C (not to mention that Infinity's mounting is a REAL pain in the ). Personally I would go for Thermalright Ultra-120 or Sunbeam Tuniq Tower 120.

2007-01-29, 17:30	#9
garo Aug 2002 Termonfeckin, IE 2764₁₀ Posts	Thanks. Tuniq Tower 120 or Thermalright Ultra-120 it is then.

2007-01-30, 23:48	#10
garo Aug 2002 Termonfeckin, IE 2²·691 Posts	I discovered that I was letting the BIOS control the CPU fan speed and it was spinning at about 1200RPM. I am now letting it go at full blast - 2400RPM the temps are significantly netter. I am now running 3GHz stable at a temp 60C. The mobo temp is 39C so I am thinking I may need a case fan to blow air into the case.

2007-01-31, 13:40	#11
rx7350 Feb 2006 AR, US 2⁴×3² Posts	I have some limited experience at overclocking, but I have read many posts on overclock.net that state over and over that the 'safe' max temp should be 55C on a C2D. So, my overclocks stop at that point, even though I'm sure I could go higher if I were willing to accept a higher temp. If it gets too hot then it will start throttling to lower the heat, and that would seriousy degrade your iteration times. So, the cooling solution is critical to achieving a higher overclock. I have used Zalman 9700s, and they do a good job. They are much more effective than a 9500. However, I second the recommendation for the Tuniq Tower (if you can find one). They are quite large, so it may be a tight fit if you're only using a mid-tower. Shouldn't be any problem in a full tower. If you're new to overclocking, or have limited experience, check out the forums at overclock.net.