Thursday, August 10, 2006
Overclocking for nOObs
PRE-REQUISITES
1)Make sure that your PCI/PCI-E/AGP buses are locked. Most 939 socket overclocking motherboards might have done that already. Just set the PCI E frequency to 100MHz and PCI to 33.3MHz. But in case they are not locked, lock them first else you may overclock them alon with your CPU and even spoil them unintentionally. If they aren't locked you anyways won't have a much of a chance in overclocking.
2)Make sure you have adequate cooling and that have the right hardware and soft ware required and any other hardware specific tips for your system.
LET US GET STARTED
*I may be mentioning the terms as they are present in Socket 939 Asus A8N E. For other motherboards, the terming conditions maybe different but the meaning is the same.
1)Set the CPU multiplier to the max supported which is also the default CPU mutliplier for a CPU at stock(unoverclocked). eg: For Amd 64 3200 Winchester, it will be 10x(10 X 200 = 2000), for Amd 64 3000 Winchester it will be 9x, for Amd 64 3500 Winchester, it will be 11x and so on. For AMD 64 mostly the max supported mutliplier is the same as the default used by the manufacturer(AMD). You should find this option in Advanced-Jumperfree Comfiguration.
2)Set the HTT to 4x in case of socket 939. The concept is that your FSB X HTT =<1000. This means that the product of the FSB and HTT must never exceed 1000MHz. At stock, FSB is always 200MHz and HTT is always 5. 200 X 5 = 1000. You may question that the motherboard satates that it supports 2000MHz, but AMD effectively probably provided double the MHz, so a limit of 2000MHz actually means that you must not exceed 1000MHz so that the double the product is not greater than 2000MHz. For socket 754 it is probably a maximum of 800MHz, not fully sure though as to what you should do. But in case of AMD 64, in case you need to increase the FSB greater than 250MHz, then you will need to reduce the HTT to even 3x. But at the moment we are not overclocking that high. Also, keep in mind that you should try to keep the FSBXHTT greater than 800MHz and at all times greater than 600MHz. Try to keep it 1000MHz or below, but upwards of 800MHz. If you exceed 1000MHz the system won't be stable and you will may encounter BSOD(Blue Screen of Death).
3)Set the CPU v core to 1.4V for most CPUs. Actually you need to set the voltage to manufacturer defaults, meaning that if the manufcaturer mentioned 1.35V as default, then manually set it to 1.35V, not that you leave it to auto. For Winchesters, it is 1.4V, for Venice it might be 1.35V or it might be 1.4V.
4)Set memory voltage to 2.6V.
5)Don't change the RAM timings intially, but try to stick to 1T if possible.
6)Increase your FSB in increments of 5-10MHz, default it 200MHz. After each increment, boot into windows. Run Super Pi 1M test and do some web surfing or play a game for 5-10minutes, but it should be an intensive game. See whether the temperatures are in control or not. For Winchesters and even Venices atleast make sure that your Temperature under full load doesn't exceed 55-60C. If you can do the Super Pi test with a max of 50-55C, then you might be fine, but at the neck of problems. Check temperature using Speedfan. You can use nTune if you have a nVidia chipset to see your FSBXHTT, CPU speed, RAM speed etc, this saves you from doing maths. But keep in mind that for several moments it does display your speeds mutliplied by big numbers, you don't need to worry about that.
7)After increase the volts to a limit a stage will come when your computer doesn't boot at all. Enter CPU Configuration-DRAM Config-Set RAM Speed to 333(using a memory divider of 5:6 for Asus A8N E). Try if the system boots or not. If it does, then it means that you had crosses the maximum the RAM can go at 2.6V. If it doesn't then you know that you had crossed your CPU's capacity at 1.4V. Right now we are focusing on the CPU, so set the memory divider to 5:6 if your RAM doesn't allow you 1:1.
8)Now, if you system boots with RAM at 5:6, again keep increasing the FSB in increments of 5-10MHz, after 240, or even 230, you are better of doing only 5MHz at a time. Once you reach a stage that it doesn't boot, you know that you need to supply more volts to your CPU. Increase the CPU voltage by the smallest possible increments and see if it boots. When it doesn't boot again, increase the volts by the smallest possible increment. Keep on repeating this process. For stock cooling try not to go beyond 1.45V for Winchesters and Venices atleast. If you want you can even go to 1.5V or even higher. With after market cooling, going to 1.5V should not be a big problem. But anything after 1.5V is risky, if you have enough cooling and keep your temperatures in control and have the right hardware and are also willing to take the risk, then you can even go to 1.55V or higher, but anything over 1.55Vis serious business and I too don't know enough to guide you if you plan to use over 1.5V and especially if you plan to use over 1.55V. People will claim that they used 1.6 or maybe even clost to 1.7V, while others may state that overvolting your CPU may kill it. I read in a guide that 1.6V is death for your CPU. I have read that somebody mentioned that several venice died past 1.5V. So relatively safe range even with aftermarket cooling is 1.5V or lower, but if you want nobody can stop you from trying and keeping any voltage. In fact, it would be good if you could experiment and tell the results to others.
9)Now you have probably found the max for your CPU using the max multiplier, in case the RAM didn't give you a problem at whatever divider you chose, whether it was not using a memory divider or whether you were using one, if you didn't find any problems, then this means that your RAM is capable of doing that much or more. But if you did find troubles, then you can consider loosening the timings to 3-4-4-8 or even 3-4-4-16 and even loosening other less important timings. This may increase the speed it can reach. You can even chose 2T ram if required. But before doing all this, you might want to increase the RAM voltage. Most RAM modules should manage 2.9V or atleast 2.8V. Some RAM modules might even be able to do 3.0V or more. The thing is that your motherboard might support the voltage, but you must know whether your RAM module is capable of taking it or not, else you will fry it. So doing this you will find the right speed the RAM can go to whether at stock settings or modified settings. Also, keep in mind that you shouldn't compromise much on CPU speed for RAM speed as CPU speed is king for AMD 64 systems.
10)Now you have found out the max you can go with your CPU and RAM but to a limited extent. Now drop the CPU mutliplier by 1(generally 9x can do well), set the HTT to either 3 or 4 depending upon the FSB you choose. Don't change the RAM settings. Set the FSB to the max you could reach with 10x, as if the CPU can't do the same with 9x, you will anyways not get any performance gain so then there is no point of even trying reducing the multiplier. Similarly, increase the FSB in increments of 5MHz. When you can't boot or are not stable, read the previous settings and modify the RAM settings if you think that is the cause of the problem. Once you are sure that you have enough room for overclocking by taking RAM out of the equation to a certain extent, then again increase the FSB until it refeuses to boot, and keep upping the voltage unless you reach very high.
11)Finally you will arrive at the maximum your CPU, RAM, RAM timings can manage and you can separate the first two by doing basic maths, as to which gives more CPU speed. To elminate the last one, you will need to do synthetic benchmarks.
12)Keep doing the synthetic benchmarks told earlier, and do memtest 86 if you overclock the RAM. Use synthetic benchmarks to find whether overclocking reduced your performance or increased it, there is no point having a lower performer or lower responsive system. Finally run the series of tests mentioned previously.
This way you have found a decent overclock, but this maybe lower than what your system is capable of. But for nOObs this is enough to start with.
Also, keep in mind that even if you system boots at x MHz, it doesn't mean that it is stable, that can only be found out by doing tests.
Also, don't get afraid of BSODS, you just need to change the BIOS settings to a degree that your system can take and hopefully the blue screens will vanish.
Happy Overclocking!!!
1)Make sure that your PCI/PCI-E/AGP buses are locked. Most 939 socket overclocking motherboards might have done that already. Just set the PCI E frequency to 100MHz and PCI to 33.3MHz. But in case they are not locked, lock them first else you may overclock them alon with your CPU and even spoil them unintentionally. If they aren't locked you anyways won't have a much of a chance in overclocking.
2)Make sure you have adequate cooling and that have the right hardware and soft ware required and any other hardware specific tips for your system.
LET US GET STARTED
*I may be mentioning the terms as they are present in Socket 939 Asus A8N E. For other motherboards, the terming conditions maybe different but the meaning is the same.
1)Set the CPU multiplier to the max supported which is also the default CPU mutliplier for a CPU at stock(unoverclocked). eg: For Amd 64 3200 Winchester, it will be 10x(10 X 200 = 2000), for Amd 64 3000 Winchester it will be 9x, for Amd 64 3500 Winchester, it will be 11x and so on. For AMD 64 mostly the max supported mutliplier is the same as the default used by the manufacturer(AMD). You should find this option in Advanced-Jumperfree Comfiguration.
2)Set the HTT to 4x in case of socket 939. The concept is that your FSB X HTT =<1000. This means that the product of the FSB and HTT must never exceed 1000MHz. At stock, FSB is always 200MHz and HTT is always 5. 200 X 5 = 1000. You may question that the motherboard satates that it supports 2000MHz, but AMD effectively probably provided double the MHz, so a limit of 2000MHz actually means that you must not exceed 1000MHz so that the double the product is not greater than 2000MHz. For socket 754 it is probably a maximum of 800MHz, not fully sure though as to what you should do. But in case of AMD 64, in case you need to increase the FSB greater than 250MHz, then you will need to reduce the HTT to even 3x. But at the moment we are not overclocking that high. Also, keep in mind that you should try to keep the FSBXHTT greater than 800MHz and at all times greater than 600MHz. Try to keep it 1000MHz or below, but upwards of 800MHz. If you exceed 1000MHz the system won't be stable and you will may encounter BSOD(Blue Screen of Death).
3)Set the CPU v core to 1.4V for most CPUs. Actually you need to set the voltage to manufacturer defaults, meaning that if the manufcaturer mentioned 1.35V as default, then manually set it to 1.35V, not that you leave it to auto. For Winchesters, it is 1.4V, for Venice it might be 1.35V or it might be 1.4V.
4)Set memory voltage to 2.6V.
5)Don't change the RAM timings intially, but try to stick to 1T if possible.
6)Increase your FSB in increments of 5-10MHz, default it 200MHz. After each increment, boot into windows. Run Super Pi 1M test and do some web surfing or play a game for 5-10minutes, but it should be an intensive game. See whether the temperatures are in control or not. For Winchesters and even Venices atleast make sure that your Temperature under full load doesn't exceed 55-60C. If you can do the Super Pi test with a max of 50-55C, then you might be fine, but at the neck of problems. Check temperature using Speedfan. You can use nTune if you have a nVidia chipset to see your FSBXHTT, CPU speed, RAM speed etc, this saves you from doing maths. But keep in mind that for several moments it does display your speeds mutliplied by big numbers, you don't need to worry about that.
7)After increase the volts to a limit a stage will come when your computer doesn't boot at all. Enter CPU Configuration-DRAM Config-Set RAM Speed to 333(using a memory divider of 5:6 for Asus A8N E). Try if the system boots or not. If it does, then it means that you had crosses the maximum the RAM can go at 2.6V. If it doesn't then you know that you had crossed your CPU's capacity at 1.4V. Right now we are focusing on the CPU, so set the memory divider to 5:6 if your RAM doesn't allow you 1:1.
8)Now, if you system boots with RAM at 5:6, again keep increasing the FSB in increments of 5-10MHz, after 240, or even 230, you are better of doing only 5MHz at a time. Once you reach a stage that it doesn't boot, you know that you need to supply more volts to your CPU. Increase the CPU voltage by the smallest possible increments and see if it boots. When it doesn't boot again, increase the volts by the smallest possible increment. Keep on repeating this process. For stock cooling try not to go beyond 1.45V for Winchesters and Venices atleast. If you want you can even go to 1.5V or even higher. With after market cooling, going to 1.5V should not be a big problem. But anything after 1.5V is risky, if you have enough cooling and keep your temperatures in control and have the right hardware and are also willing to take the risk, then you can even go to 1.55V or higher, but anything over 1.55Vis serious business and I too don't know enough to guide you if you plan to use over 1.5V and especially if you plan to use over 1.55V. People will claim that they used 1.6 or maybe even clost to 1.7V, while others may state that overvolting your CPU may kill it. I read in a guide that 1.6V is death for your CPU. I have read that somebody mentioned that several venice died past 1.5V. So relatively safe range even with aftermarket cooling is 1.5V or lower, but if you want nobody can stop you from trying and keeping any voltage. In fact, it would be good if you could experiment and tell the results to others.
9)Now you have probably found the max for your CPU using the max multiplier, in case the RAM didn't give you a problem at whatever divider you chose, whether it was not using a memory divider or whether you were using one, if you didn't find any problems, then this means that your RAM is capable of doing that much or more. But if you did find troubles, then you can consider loosening the timings to 3-4-4-8 or even 3-4-4-16 and even loosening other less important timings. This may increase the speed it can reach. You can even chose 2T ram if required. But before doing all this, you might want to increase the RAM voltage. Most RAM modules should manage 2.9V or atleast 2.8V. Some RAM modules might even be able to do 3.0V or more. The thing is that your motherboard might support the voltage, but you must know whether your RAM module is capable of taking it or not, else you will fry it. So doing this you will find the right speed the RAM can go to whether at stock settings or modified settings. Also, keep in mind that you shouldn't compromise much on CPU speed for RAM speed as CPU speed is king for AMD 64 systems.
10)Now you have found out the max you can go with your CPU and RAM but to a limited extent. Now drop the CPU mutliplier by 1(generally 9x can do well), set the HTT to either 3 or 4 depending upon the FSB you choose. Don't change the RAM settings. Set the FSB to the max you could reach with 10x, as if the CPU can't do the same with 9x, you will anyways not get any performance gain so then there is no point of even trying reducing the multiplier. Similarly, increase the FSB in increments of 5MHz. When you can't boot or are not stable, read the previous settings and modify the RAM settings if you think that is the cause of the problem. Once you are sure that you have enough room for overclocking by taking RAM out of the equation to a certain extent, then again increase the FSB until it refeuses to boot, and keep upping the voltage unless you reach very high.
11)Finally you will arrive at the maximum your CPU, RAM, RAM timings can manage and you can separate the first two by doing basic maths, as to which gives more CPU speed. To elminate the last one, you will need to do synthetic benchmarks.
12)Keep doing the synthetic benchmarks told earlier, and do memtest 86 if you overclock the RAM. Use synthetic benchmarks to find whether overclocking reduced your performance or increased it, there is no point having a lower performer or lower responsive system. Finally run the series of tests mentioned previously.
This way you have found a decent overclock, but this maybe lower than what your system is capable of. But for nOObs this is enough to start with.
Also, keep in mind that even if you system boots at x MHz, it doesn't mean that it is stable, that can only be found out by doing tests.
Also, don't get afraid of BSODS, you just need to change the BIOS settings to a degree that your system can take and hopefully the blue screens will vanish.
Happy Overclocking!!!
<< Home
