Memory overclocking for the newbie

[thorthemighty]

How is ddr400 memory overclocked? Is it done in the bios and if so which options? and is trial & error the quickest way to go?

 

[Cybercraig]

You have to raise your front side bus (FSB) speed to overclock memory. Look under Voltage & Frequency Control or Chipsets in BIOS. If you leave SPID enabled, your memory is identified and all your timings are set automatically. To go over spec you will have to feed more voltage to your sticks and maybe even relax the timings also. There is a tremendous difference in the way different memory brands behave. I have seen stock Crucial PC3200 run at 225mhz or PC3600 when my OCZ-PC3500 can't get there. It's a lot of trial and error, but if you want to O'C a P4 or a locked XP you have to raise the FSB. To maintain a 1:1 CPU to memory ratio (syncronous) you have to have good memory. Personally, I think your are better off buying higher speed memory rated to run at a higher than normal FSB as opposed to pushing stock sticks out of spec and overvolted. Your chips will probably last longer too.

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Now, let's eat!

 

[thorthemighty]

I've got a P4 2.8GHz which I'm going to overclock by raising the fsb of my abit IS7 to about 220-225Mhz. So this will automatically oc the memory as well then as long as I get the memory voltage and timings adjusted(and of course disable the spid)?

 

[Guest]

Yup.
If you got PC3500 you can reach 220-225 no problem. If you tell us what brand/speed memory you got some ppl might be able to give you some good info...

Asus P4P800DX, P4C 2.6ghz@3.25ghz, 2X512 OCZ PC4000 3-3-3-8, Leadtek FX5900@450/875, 2X30gig Raid0

 

[Cybercraig]

I would suggest shooting for a 234 mhz FSB. That board can do it without breaking a sweat. That should put you in the 3.2ghz range, which your 2.8C can also do without breaking a sweat. Get some memory rated at PC3700 and you won't have to worry about it. I can't get my PC3500 OCZ above 218 FSB so far.

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Now, let's eat!

 

[thorthemighty]

The memory is the stumbling block for me at the moment as I am still looking to buy. It seems that I'm going to have to go for pc3500 or above but the way memory prices are right now it's going to cost me a bomb. This is why I was hoping that I could overclock ddr400.
Would cheap pc3700 be able to handle the speeds I am aiming for- maybe Kingston's valueram?

 

[Cybercraig]

As long as it is compatible, sure. Crucial, Samsung, even Buffalo has it. I would check around and see what luck other IS7 users are having. There are a bunch of them on this forum. Good luck!

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. Now, let's eat!

 

[thorthemighty]

Thanks Cybercraig.

 

[ZZSpaceman]

Kingstons 3700 is HyperX, not Value RAM even though their Value RAM web page links you to the 3700. You get to the same spec and price and it's not cheep.

Recommend you pay a little more for memory if you really want to push your procesor as far as you can. If you are only going to OC 5 or 10% value RAM and heat spreaders will most likely work fine with a little OV.

ZZSpaceman