I just purchased some new parts, and will be putting together a system that looks like this:

800W PSU
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Link
Zalman CNPS9500 Heatsink Link
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 Mobo Link
GeForce 9800 GTX SSC Link
4GB of CORSAIR XMS2 PC2 6400 Link

I'm posting to find out if the CPU cooler I have is going to hold up alright for OCing to 4ghz?

I'd also like to know if anyone else has done this with a similar cooler (or the same), and what kind of success they've had.

I wouldn't mind some recommended FSB and Voltage settings either, but that's all up to you guys

Thanks

I dont know what the result will be with a newer chip, but my 780i chipset had a huge VDroop. (.06 at normal volts, up to .08 at 1.5ish.) That blows for over clocking, because you'll have to crank the bios VCore higher by several notches, just so it can droop under load by a huge amount, to get the target loaded voltage.

For instance, my maximus formula costs about the same, but can be set only so the effects of vdrop, (Exactly .02500 on my Formula) Is seen. So lets say I wanted my q6700 to be prime stable. It takes 1.45 volts @ 3.8 PRIME stable while loaded. (Go try 3.8 Prime stable on a q6x00 and see how hard it is and still stay under 1.5 vcore.)

Where was I, oh yeah... On my formula I already know that with LLC enabled there is no vdroop. So I need exactly 1.47500 in my bios. Dropped to 1.45 volts in windows, and since I dont have a VDroop, there ya go!

But on the 780i chipset... you get the initial vdrop (bios selection to windows.) And then to test, its gonna droop while loaded by .06 - .08 in windows. (vdroop.) So in order to reach the same 1.45 LOADED volts, I'll need to add like 7 notches. So its something like 1.52500 will be 1.5000 in windows, and then droop to 1.43xx and K-Boom! Wouldn't be stable.

So it looks like it would need 1.5500ish to get the same stability. While My formula because of its lack of droop only needs 1.47500 in the bios. Thats a big difference, and it matters because though you are prime stable, you are gonna waste cycles all day long yet have an idle voltage of over 1.5200! Even though it only needs 1.45V while loaded to remain stable. See the waste?

I idle at 1.45 and load to 1.4508! (LLC actually corrects VDroop to the plus side, lol! Yippie!)

An 780i would need to idle at 1.5200ish, simply because it droops under load by soooo damn much!

Dunno if thats on topic! But will prolly help someone! To bad intels SLI/Xfire hybrid is a socket 771! Waaaahhh!!!

--Lupi!

You went so far over my head in 90% of that post it's incredible O_O

LOL! sorry. Its how you end up with your VCore in windows. It plays a big part in your OC and your chip life span, hehe!

What would you like to know?

--Lupi!

lol

The cooler will hold, the RAM is the only thing I'd be a bit worried about. I did the same with my e8400, went with PC6400 thinking it would OC enough for 4GHz... just my luck that I get RAM that really, really doesn't like going over 410MHz, so I'm "stuck" at an incredibly conservative 3.6GHz.

At least it's running very cool at full load with the 9700CNPS, with extremely tight RAM settings (yeah, even way loosened up, the RAM wouldn't budge over 410MHz...)

Still extremely happy with this system, utterly destroy my old 4000+

What RAM would you suggest for hitting 4GHz.? Maybe not as much brands, but speed/timing?

If you are asking me... ummm.. that guy said it has a max x 8 multiplier? Nope, its 9. 9 x 333 = 3.0 ish. So at 3.0 you need 667 RAM. 9 x 400 = 3.6 Need DDR2 800 min. 9 x 450 = 4050 Thats DDR2 900.

So it looks like for upper OCing as well, you'll wanna get either excellent PC 800, or just PC 1000 which would let ya OC to Umbuto Land!

--Lupi!

1066MHz is the next best step, so PC-8500 with standard timings (5-5-5-15); the extra 400MHz outweighs the 1-1-1-3 timing loss, especially considering the price difference is about 10-15$ VS the PC-6400 4GB kits.

I personally let go of Corsair this time around, their prices are through the roof around here for no real reason. Gave a go with Patriot and so far so good, and their Viper kits are pretty damn cheap.

If the memory standard on my motherboard is 800 and I put in 1066, won't it not work, or will it just automatically down clock it?

Get some Corsair XMS2. I've had good overclocking results from various speeds. My set of PC6400 can hit 1020mhz (of course slower timings)--enough for 4ghz though.

780i, 800 is prob middle of the road (maybe the bottom)...should be able to use 1066. I have 1066 in my P35 board...older chipset than the 780i's. 800 or 1066 would do you well, unless you are meaning DDR3...which is outlandishy expensive.

1066 is fine in it. And it would just spd it at 5-5-5-15 @ 800 Mhz anyways. So yeah,. it can down step easily. There is a PC 1000 that may be a lil bit cheaper.

Since you wanna run it in sync with the FSB anyways.

Also, some 4-4-4-12 rated DDR 800 can easily reach 1066 @ 5-5-5-15. Just because its a cheaper option as well, if you are not wanting to spend alot.

--Lupi!

Yea mine's 5-5-5-12 so I may have to upgrade.

You can always do 6-6-6-18! But just try the 5-5-5- make it 15, and see how far you can push it. Prolly reach 900 Mhz or so. So yeah, play with it, and if it doesnt do what you wanna do, go for the PC 1000 stuff.

Its just a tad cheaper than 1066. Or get some OCZ 4-4-4-12 800, and loosen it to 5-5-5-15. Should make what you need.

--Lupi!