Hi! I'm new on this forum. I have a question regarding overclocking RAM and CPU.

My CPU is E6750/2.66Ghz, all I did is to raise FSB from 333 to 400 and the CPU is stable @3.2Ghz. Now I have read about temperatures as I have stock fans and only one normal case fan (beside the power source of course). I get readings of 46-47 degrees Celsius when idle and goes up to 54-56 degrees Celsius when running stability tests. Core temperatures goes up to 65 degrees Celsius. Is this ok for long term use of this o/c?

The second, and maybe more important thing is o/c of the RAM. I have two types of RAM. 1Gb from a dual channel kit (2x512Mb) - OCZ Platinum PC6400 (800Mhz/CL 4-5-4-15/2.1V guaranteed up to 2.2V). And another 2Gb from a dual channel kit (2x1Gb) - Corsair TwinX XMS2 PC5400C4 667Mhz 4-4-4-12 rated at 1.9V. In order to o/c the RAM I have raised the DDR2 speed to 400Mhz using the Corsairs 667Mhz at 800Mhz. All good so far as they are known to function at 800Mhz with no ptoblem. The question is regarding voltage - I use a 2.1V for the OCZ memory which is rated at this speed, so when I have aded the Corsairs the voltage is 2.1V for the 1.9V Corsairs. And more - I've set memory latencies to 4-4-4-12 - this is one thing I still can't grasp, with those latencies.

So to sum up, my Corsair XMS2 667Mhz 4-4-4-12/1.9V works now stable at 800Mhz/4-4-4-12/2.1V and my OCZ Platinum 800Mhz 4-5-4-15/2.1V works (stable of course) at 800Mhz/4-4-4-12/2.1V.

Will I break the Corsair (more afraid) pumping in the 2.1V voltage and 800Mhz in the same time or the OCZ (less afraid) using it at 4-4-4-12 instead of 4-5-4-15? I can realize how much stress I'm puting on the RAM modules as I can't measure heat or simply over-voltage stress from 1.9V to 2.1V for the Corsairs.

Well, using 2.1V on the Corsair voids the warranty, but there really shouldn't be much problem. I don't think you should worry about it, most 800MHz ram these days uses 2.1V.

Ok, but the Corsair is 667Mhz and it's a model from 2003. I was thinking I should try 'by hand' literally to see how hot the modules are. I might fry my fingers don't I? If they are not very hot then I think it's no problem.

And one more thing, I tried reducing the voltage to 2.0V and the system won't boot the os.

I thinking touching by hand is a good idea, if it's too hot to get near it, then lower the voltages.

Sounds like you've done a good job overclocking the CPU and RAM. Just make sure that the system *really is* stable by running something like Orthos O/N w/o errors in "blend" mode.

I've just ran Orthos, it's better than Prime95 because it's really putting 100% on both cores. From 56-58 degrees at idle there was an instant raise to 65-67 and then after 3 minutes and a half steady at 69 then hitting regularly 70 degrees, I've seen a 71 then I stopped. I guess it's not worth to risk frying it.

Still not open the case to check out by hand the RAM, I wonder if they're super hot, hot or bearable (I don't think so). I might get it all back to normal because one thing, now it's spring and I have 24 degrees in my room, in summer it goes to 28 and the case of the PC goes more.

2.1V through the ram is ok for almost every ram on the market.as ram modules is the same but differ in quality and the SPD which state what speed it will run on default setting.

in a good ventilated case 2.2V will be fine and also my limit.as it gets much hotter when set at 2.2V!

your idle temp is really HIGH!but the increase from idle to load is not a big increase as i would imagine.because my Q6600 idle at 34C and load upto 73C.is your fan ruuning on 100%?

ok, so I've tried the hands on approach and I can keep my fingers on the memory modules, they are both the same temperature (the OCZ which is supposed to work at 2.1V and the Corsair witch should be charged more with 0.2V than usual) .. I mean they are more than warm, I can't say the temperature .. both have metal radiators of course .. is it normal for memories to be warm to hot? I suppose if I still can keep my fingers on it's ok

can anybody tell me if taking a memory from the latency 5-5-5-15 to 4-4-4-12 is considered overclocking and of this can physically damage the memory as long as the system is stable?

and regarding idle temp of the cpu cores, they are now 45-47, not 56-58 as I said in my previous posts .. that is immediately after running Orthos

As long as you can touch the ram without burning yourself, I'd figure it's good.

4-4-4-12 is faster than 5-5-5-15, but in everyday applications and such, you will barely notice the difference. I'm not sure about damaging the ram, just as long as the voltage is within specs.

Actually, increasing voltage above the 1.8V DDR2 standard will hurt those modules that use chips with on-board voltage regulation.

2.2V is the max limit as manufacture themselves have sell ram modules at these specific voltages.so it wont hurt the modules as long as you keep them cool or warm.

il - some modules use chips that have on-board voltage regulation. Those modules won't be helped by increased voltage, but rather can be damaged by the increased voltage (essentially by burning out the voltage regulator). Other modules (such as those you mention) use chips w/o onboard voltage regulation, and so are helped by increased voltages.

if you want oc(anything) you must boost the voltage to make it go higher.i havent seen anyone burn a ram at 2.2V.you got any past experience??

i guess is all down to the owner how much he wanna push it hence how much voltage to apply.

Of course you'll need to boost voltage to OC and things like that, but ram like from OEMs and other 'cheap' ram basically prevents you from over-volting them. I never knew why, but it's probably what Mondoman said. He knows quite a lot about them.