Overclocking for a semi-newb. AMD Opteron 170

[electrikfrenzy]

Okay so I've been building computers for all my days, but haven't gotten to much into overclocking, at least to the point where I was manually adjusting the FSB, multiplier and all that myself. I'd like to sqeeze some juice out of my setup for the next couple years so I just got a new AMD Opteron 170 Denmark 2.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache. This is my current setup:

AMD Opteron 170 cooled with a ZALMAN CNPS9500
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
2x XFX 7800GTX 256 (490/1300)
Silverstone Strider 600w PSU
Creative X-Fi soundcard
CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR 400 (PC 3200)
Plextor DVD R/W
WD Raptor 74gig
WD 160gig IDE
2x WD 250gig SATA
in a Thermaltake Armor VA8000BWS Case

I game and video edit. So I'm just wondering if anyone can suggest some settings for overclocking the CPU and or RAM. I'm mainly concerned about the CPU though. Thanks for any help with the specifics!

 

[HA_ZEE]

The Opty 170 uses DDR not DDR2. Please review what ram you have and repost. Also, the starting point is to usually bump up the FSB in small increments and test system for stability. The CPU (OPTY 170) is probably capable of 2.6 GHZ to 2.8 GHZ w/o to much trouble.

 

[electrikfrenzy]

Sorry, fixed it, I accidentally copied a spec off another one of my PCs.

 

[ethel]

Don't forget to reduce the HT multiplier - the HT bus does not overclock well, so bring it down to 4x (or 3x if you go above 250FSB) before you start pushing the FSB up. Also make sure you set a memory divider so that you know whether the limit you are hitting is the CPU.

 

[1Tanker]

Don't forget to reduce the HT multiplier - the HT bus does not overclock well, so bring it down to 4x (or 3x if you go above 250FSB) before you start pushing the FSB up. Also make sure you set a memory divider so that you know whether the limit you are hitting is the CPU.

Yeah, that value-ram will probably hinder your overclocking pretty quickly. I'm guessing that it will be good for ~ 220ish MHz.

 

[stalker_22]

I was reading your post and i went with the Opty 175. I have about the same set-up and was wondering how your overclocking went? What did you get your final reading as and what all did u change?

 

[dr_kuli]

All I've needed to OC an Opty was here http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=151373 I was running CCBBE 0616XPMW Opty 165 @9x300 default voltages on three different boards w/different chipsets. The most crucial thing is 1T command rate for RAM & as tight timings as RAM&mobo can do. I can recommend Kingston HyperX RAM. Take a look here, C2Ds had hard times with my Opty http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=244558

 

[aminel1358]

I have an Opteron165 and with advices of some guys in this forum I have done the below:
HT 2x
DDR200 timinng: 2-3-3-7 at 1T command rate memory voltage is 2.7
CPU Vcore: 1.35 8x340=2720MHz
I run it with it's stock cooling and it is around 39' cel at idle and 51 to 53
under full load(2 to 3 hour playing Company Of Heroes with high detail)
Anything higher cause the system to do not boot and if it does the temp is too high for me to accept.
My Mb is not as powerfull as yours(mine is A8NE), so with your board and as you have the Opteron 170 and a nice Zalman cooler the resault can be better if your PSU is good enough.
Good Luck my friend

 

[stalker_22]

Ok so i have tried your suggestions and some other dinking around and i am sill haven issues. I don't know if it is my ram or what but all that i can get to work is if i set my CPU Frequency to 261MHz and my multiplier to 11x. That seems to be my max setting with just messing with the cpu stuff. If i try any other set of frequency and multiplier setting (287 with 9x) to get the ~2871, my computer will not boot completely. I don't know which is better to have a lower multiplier and high cpu frequency, or the other way, high multiplier and lower cpu frequency? I have tried both like i mentioned and ill that i can get to work is the high multiplier and low cpu frequency. My other questoin is about the
1T command rate. On my board i have the option call 1T/2T and was wondering if that is the same setting and if so then why when i changed it to 1T my computer will not boot completely?

 

[SuperFly03]

1T is very aggresive for value memory and it isn't likely to be able to handle it, hence your boot problem.

As for multi/FSB mix, it really doesn't matter on an AMD at all. On Intel it matters more since the memory controller is part of the chipset and it uses a tradtional FSB. AMD uses their integrated memory controller and HT bus, so meh.

As for 9x/287 your problem is likely your RAM. Did you keep the same divider that you used at 261/11x? I thought the 170 was only capable of a 10x max multiplier. Makes me wonder... your proc sounds more like a 175, not that it changes anything. Enough rambling, just check the memory divider when using 9x.

In the end the performance won't differ really, so as long as it is stable you don't care. 8)

 

[stalker_22]

Ya i do have the Opty 175 at 2.2 and was hoping to get it up around 3.0. I can only get it clocked up to 2.88 with just dinking with the multi\fsb. I think the thing that is holding me back is my ram, but i might just be missing some simple steps in boosting the ram, im not for sure? I really appreciate the help and if you have any more knowledge i can get from you i would really like it

Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe nVidia nForce4 Socket 939
AMD Opteron 175 Denmark 2.2GHz Socket 939 Dual Core
Ultra 512MB PC2100 DDR 266MHz (x 4) so 2gigs
XFX GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
Antec 500-watt power supply
Windows XP

 

[AdamBomb42]

Make your starting point 250 with your htt at x3. Make sure that your memory stays under 200. My Opty will hit over 3ghz, I don't think you'll have any problems except for your ram. A good upgrade would be some faster ram.

Great RAM

 

[aminel1358]

your ram is DDR266 which is not powerfull enough for OC :!:
the best thing for you is to upgrade to DDR400 modules.

 

[stalker_22]

Ya that is what i was kinda of thinking it was going be. Thank you so much for everything guys. It has helped my knowledge out a lot and i appreciate it!
Thanks Again!