Overclocking my P4 640

[Slawek]

So I have a P4 640 w/Asus P5ND2 SLI, and I just installed a Scythe Ninja Plus with the 120mm fan....

So now I want to overclock it. In my bios, I can go to AI Overclock, and I can select FSB 1000 / DDR 667. But when I select that, my voltages are AUTO controlled. Is it just safe to do this? I'm noticing quite a variiable voltage, like from 1.4 to 1.5 depending on what is needed...

I've been playing with voltages and manual overclocking my FSB and DDR2 ram.. but I crashed at stock voltage of 1.3875 after 10 mins of Counter Strike. I'm too impatient and non educated enough to figure out what to tweak and how much, so can I Just leave AUTO and leave my FSB and stuff the way it is using this AI Overclock?

 

[Slawek]

I'm really bad @ this whole voltage thing.. i just want someone to tell me what voltage to use.. i chose 1.475, stock is 1.3875 and I got a pretty decent 3dmark06 score too.. does this seem a bit high? Keep in mind my OC from first post...

All your help is SO appreciated!

 

[Slawek]

Someone just told me "the correct voltage is the lowest vcore that will let you do your everyday things, gaming, etc, without crashing".

So, basically, start from 1.3875 and go up. However, if after 10 mins of CS:S it crashed, do you not think I should up it wayyy more than just 1.4000?

My steps go like this:

1.3875
1.4000
1.4125
1.4375
1.4500
1.4675
1.4750
1.4875
1.5000

etc.

Crash occured at 1.3875 after 10 mins of gaming. What logically should be the next voltage to go with?

 

[orionman]

Hi, the stock voltage is between 1.3 and 1.4

so 1.4V is not dangerous
I have a P4 650 and I know that the termination voltage is at 1.6V

so never go higher than that
I don't know how good your mobo is to keep your voltage regular
I would say put a voltage and monitor it so that it never goes beyond that 1.6V with the +/- 10%
like 1.44 with +/- 10%
or 1.5 +/- 5%


just be sure you never go over 1.6V
and don't run it at default 1.6V ( it will oscillate over 1.6)

1.6V won't kill your chip
but the lifetime WILL be greatly reduced

I managed to get my 650 stable at 4.6 with 1.65V (which is cool but not good on a long term point of view)


good luck

 

[orionman]

also
I don't know how good is your Scythe Ninja Plus
but over 4GHz and over 1.4V ... It's gonna be hot :roll:

 

[Slawek]

Well I see no need to go that high in voltage. The ninja is excellent with cooling.


What about RAM? How should I overclock my DDR2? I set it to 675mhz, 4-4-4-12-16-2T. I have 2 sticks of 512 each. Voltage is at 1.9V

 

[orionman]

Well I see no need to go that high in voltage.

You could go up to 4GHz without any prob/danger



I don't know how good is your ram, I'm running value 533MHZ sticks with loose timings and I can get them stable at 620MHz

Personnaly I saw very little difference with ANY RAM OC
but many THG members will tell you to get excellent RAM and OC it...
just try to see what you can do with your RAM and benchmark a lot.
Never forget to check in a game or any real world app.

And for the voltage of your RAM, which voltage are they rated for? I would not go higher than that. But as I told you I'm not too much into RAM OC
you should wait for someone else if you really want to get the extreme max of your RAM. Wusy seems to know what he's talking about so ask him!

If you have any other P4 overclocking question, feel free to ask or PM me
good luck!

 

[Slawek]

Well I set my DDR2 frequency to 800 and it would not boot, big time BIOS CHECKSUM errors and shit.. had to clear the cmos and redo my settings.

Ram back to stock, 667 @ 4-4-4-12-16-2T @ 1.9V

It's apparently VERY good ram especially for overclocking.

Here is a link to my memory information:
http://www.corsair.com/corsair/products/specs/twin2x1024-5400c4.pdf

The Twin2X1024-5400C4 is a 1024 MByte matched pair of DDR2 SDRAM DIMMs. This part delivers outstanding performance in the latest generation of dual-channel DDR2-based motherboards. It has been tested extensively in multiple DDR2 motherboards to ensure compatibility and performance at its rated speed. This memory has been verified to operate at 675MHz at the low latencies of 4-4-4-12. This module is also available in a single module part.

FEATURES
1024 Megabytes of DDR2 memory
Two matched CM2X512-5400C4 modules
Implemented using 32M x 8 DDR2
SDRAMs
100% tested at 675MHz in high
performance DDR2 motherboards
Legendary Corsair reliability and
service
Lifetime warranty
NVIDIA® SLI™ Ready
TEST SPECS
Each module pair is tested together in
an Intel-based motherboard at 675MHz
Tested and packaged in pairs
Packaged together immediately following
system test
Tested at JEDEC-standard latency
settings (4-4-4-12) at 1.9V
SPD programmed at JEDEC standard
4-4-4-12 values