Is this a good setup for OC'ing?

[zx3chris]

Hey whatsup everyone -- I have been building PCs for a while as a hobby but i have never explored with OC'ing. I need a new pc as my current one is starting to get too slow for my needs and its gotten to the point of annoying me.. here is what i have planned for my next pc, all from newegg.

Motherboard - Gigabyte 7NNXP nforce2 u400-mcp-t <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?DEPA=&sumit=Go&description=13-128-190&searchdepa=0" target="_new"> link </A>
Processor - AMD XP 3000+ Barton 400mhz FSB version OEM <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?DEPA=&sumit=Go&description=19-103-394&searchdepa=0" target="_new"> link </A>
Memory - Corsair XMS Series PC3200 256x2 <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?DEPA=&sumit=Go&description=20-145-415&searchdepa=0" target="_new"> link </A>
HD - Maxtor 160G SATA OEM <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?DEPA=&sumit=Go&description=22-144-322&searchdepa=0" target="_new"> link </A>
Case - Thermaltake Xaser III <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?DEPA=&sumit=Go&description=11-133-115&searchdepa=0" target="_new"> link </A>
HSF - Thermaltake Volcano 11+ <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?DEPA=&sumit=Go&description=35-106-031&searchdepa=0" target="_new"> link </A>

I am getting the 3000+ processor, and i would like to slightly overclock it. I guess i want to go to 3200 speeds, whats the best way of doing this?? Should i increase the FSB, or increase the multiplier by .5? Also, increasing the FSB increases the speed of the memory as well? For memory timings, i was going to keep everything stock settings, except adjust CL to 2.0.

My choise for the case it this; I am sick of mid towers,id like a nice big case, where i have room. THis case comes with alot of fans, and a nice beefy power supply -- plus it looks cool. And i really like the display on front for the cpu temp and adjusting fans. My choise for HSF -- kind of arbitrary, i am open to changing it.

any advice is appreciated, thanks alot guys -- i am new to OC'ing so i do not even know if i have made good choices here, thx

-chris

 

[o1die]

Save yourself some dough and go with the barton 2500, and overclock it. Many will post as xp3200 simply by changing the fsb to 200, and maybe bumping the cpu vcore up slightly. Also, look into getting 2 80 gig sata hardrives and using the raid mode that comes with the gigabyte board.

 

[Prof133]

- I would suggest Mushkin PC3200 Level-II Dual-Pack for this build.

- AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Barton for CPU.

 

[Prof133]

Also, increasing the FSB increases the speed of the memory as well?

If the FSB/Memory ratio is set to 1:1, then yes. And 1:1 is highly recommended for this chipset - 333MHz/333MHz or 400MHz/400MHz, for example.

 

[Prof133]

For memory timings, i was going to keep everything stock settings, except adjust CL to 2.0.

With the memory modules i've suggested above you will able to achieve excellent timings. I'd recommend timings of 2-2-2-11 (CAS Latency - tRCD - tRP - tRAS) as many overclockers have actually realized better performance with a high <i>tRAS</i> value such as 11.

 

[Prof133]

- I'd recommend Abit NF7-S for motherboard.

- May want to consult the <i>Cooler and Heatsinks</i> section of this forum for heatsink+fan suggestions.

 

[zx3chris]

thanks for the advice guys, i still have some questions though;

I recently read that amd is locking the 2500+ multipliers, so the only way to OC now is to increase the fsb -- does this stress any other components other than just the memory? I will look into the mushkin memory, and if the price difference between two SATA 80gigs and the 160 is not much, i will raid them as well -- for some reason that thought did not occur to me -- About the ABIT motherboard -- a while ago i had a abit motherboard and a WD HD, long story short, they were incompatible with each other for whatever reason, i contacted both companies -- both were aware and said they are not fixing it, and suggest i upgrade to their more expensive lines -- i no longer buy abit or WD, regardless if their products are better in some cases.. thanks again guys

-chris

 

[Prof133]

For some other chipsets if the FSB is increased, the PCI bus is increased along with it, which could cause problems. But, with the nForce2 chipset the PCI bus is locked at a safe and constant frequency. AGP bus is independant of the FSB and at a safe frequency of 66MHz (manually variable), by default.

 

[Civilized]

actually I would go with the mushkin pc3500 lvl2......if you want the highest overclock go with the OCZ pc4200 modules....I reached the DDR500 speeds on a p4 system using these at low cas latencies
<A HREF="http://www.thistopicsucks.com/viewtopic.php?t=696" target="_new">http://www.thistopicsucks.com/viewtopic.php?t=696</A>

<A HREF="http://dnadesignz.kicks-ass.net" target="_new"><b><font color=green>MY SYSTEM</b></font color=green></A>

 

[Prof133]

Ideally, Mushkin PC3500 Level-II would be the choice. Both Mushkin Level-II PC3200 and PC3500 are very good for overclocking and both contain the best chips for overclocking with this chipset: Winbond Rev. B.

 

[zx3chris]

Im a bit confused -- I thought it was optimal to obtain a 1:1 ratio between the cpu and memory frequencies.

I guess what yuo are saying is i should overclock my 3000+ to a fsb speed which would make it a 1:1 ratio. Pc3500 runs at 216mhz ddr'd -- therefore, if i kick up my 3000+ fsb to 216mhz this will be 1:1, and i will be overclocking my cpu righ t -- but what if i want to go higher, and how much can i reasonably expect using the hsf i listed???

thanks for helping me out guys

-chris

 

[Prof133]

We need not fear running the memory beyond its rated speed. The said Mushkin memory modules will most assuredly reach higher frequencies than their DDR400 and DDR433 rated speeds, respectively.

Basically, you go into the BIOS and set the memory to run in sync with the FSB (1:1 ratio) and then increase/decrease FSB; memory increasing/decreasing along with it and maintaining the 1:1 ratio automatically. The clock speed is equal to the CPU multiplier times the FSB. By default, Athlon XP 2500+ has a CPU multiplier of 11 and FSB of 166MHz thus the clock speed is 11x166MHz=1.826GHz. By default, Athlon XP 3200+ has a CPU multiplier of 11 and FSB of 200MHz thus the clock speed is 11x200MHz=2.2GHz. So, as you can see one can run a 2500+ at 3200+ speed (or faster) simply by increasing the FSB - increasing voltages when necessary.

 

[Prof133]

<A HREF="http://www.systemcooling.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=417" target="_new">GUIDE: Overclocking With The nForce2 Chipset</A>

 

[Prof133]

I thought it was optimal to obtain a 1:1 ratio between the cpu and memory frequencies.

That's right.

I guess what yuo are saying is i should overclock my 3000+ to a fsb speed which would make it a 1:1 ratio.

For the said Gigabyte board, maintaining the 1:1 ratio only requires setting the "Memory Frequency" BIOS setting to 100 percent as in <A HREF="http://www.3dnews.ru/documents/5565/bios_memory1.jpg" target="_new">this picture</A>.

 

[Prof133]

I guess what yuo are saying is i should overclock my 3000+ to a fsb speed which would make it a 1:1 ratio.

I'm saying you should obtain the highest FSB possible while maintaining 1:1 ratio (easily done by "memory frequency" bios setting), good memory timings and stability.

Pc3500 runs at 216mhz ddr'd -- therefore, if i kick up my 3000+ fsb to 216mhz this will be 1:1

It's 1:1 because we've set the memory frequency to 100 percent in the BIOS. And we don't have to stop at 216MHz.

and i will be overclocking my cpu righ t

Yes. Increasing the FSB is overclocking your CPU.

-- but what if i want to go higher, and how much can i reasonably expect using the hsf i listed???

Difficult to tell. I'm not too familiar with the said HSF. I would expect ~2.25GHz+. May be better to ask this question in the Overclocking->CPU section of this forum.

 

[zx3chris]

you guys are great -- thanks for all the information. i do not mind spending the extra cash for the 3000 -- reason being, i can overclock that higher anyway, couldnt i? i know the 2500 has excellent OC'ing results, but i want a pc that will last me for about 2 years, and be decent then -- so is it reasonable to expect a 3000 to be able to OC to 3400 or 3600? (i dont know the mhz on those future chips but im sure there is a chart somewhere). i looked at the mushkin memory, and it has better timings and is only a few dollars more, so you sold me -- i will get the level 2 mushkin memory -- and probably the pc3500 or pc3700, but it seems that the memory chips over pc3200 are only rated for a cas latency of 3 -- will they go lower, or am i better off with pc3200 level 2 mushkin and just lock it to 1:1, incr FSB on the xp 3200+ and see how far i can go? a friend of mine told me i should go for the 3200+ 64bit, but i think i will stray from that.

-chris

 

[Prof133]

i do not mind spending the extra cash for the 3000 -- reason being, i can overclock that higher anyway, couldnt i?

Based on what i've seen, I'd go with the 2500+.

i know the 2500 has excellent OC'ing results, but i want a pc that will last me for about 2 years, and be decent then -- so is it reasonable to expect a 3000 to be able to OC to 3400 or 3600? (i dont know the mhz on those future chips but im sure there is a chart somewhere).

I'd expect ~2.25GHz+. I don't know what kind of rating to put on this or the like.

i looked at the mushkin memory, and it has better timings and is only a few dollars more, so you sold me -- i will get the level 2 mushkin memory -- and probably the pc3500 or pc3700, but it seems that the memory chips over pc3200 are only rated for a cas latency of 3 -- will they go lower, or am i better off with pc3200 level 2 mushkin and just lock it to 1:1, incr FSB on the xp 3200+ and see how far i can go?

Go for the PC3500.

 

[Civilized]

as prof said go with the abit mobo, pc3500 lvl2 mushkin, xp 2500+ cpu, thermaltake slk900 heatsink with a decent fan.....

I also have a system I built on an amd platform using the epox 8rda+ mobo for a guy and overclocked on stock cooling to right at 200fsb (xp 3200ish speeds)....it ran too hot after a while and crashed but after he upgraded the heatsink and fan it runs like a champ....

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