MSI Overclocking Challenge: French Final

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A Level Field Of Play

The configuration all the teams were using

Once the handshakes were over, the weaponry was handed out. Since the goal of the contest wasn’t to reach the highest possible clock frequency in absolute terms, but rather to determine the most skilful overclockers, it started with a level playing field : a configuration put together by MSI. This setup included :

  • an MSI P45D3 Platinum motherboard
  • an Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650 processor, cooled by a Cooler Master Hyper 212
  • an NVidia GeForce 9600GT graphics card
  • 1 GB of Corsair DDR3
  • a Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000 W power supply

Of course you could argue that, despite the choice of identical components, all teams didn’t have exactly the same chances because of the uncertainties of processor fabrication. Perhaps—but it would be very hard to find a satisfactory solution to that problem.

The performance levels of each team were evaluated using a series of well-known benchmarks : SuperPi (1 M and 32 M), AquaMark 3, 3D Mark 05 and 06, and wPrime (32 M and 1024 M). SetFSB and CPU-Z were used to validate the frequencies achieved.

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JMax assembling his configuration
Matthieu Lamelot
10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • kitsilencer
    It's small articles like this tht keep me coming back to Tom's. People with enough disrespect, enthusiasm and skill to dispel myths like "maximum clock frequency."

    Yeah right, Intel. Maximum is not what you say. It's what I (and hopefully some liquid nitrogen) say.

    Once again, a nice article.
    Reply
  • randomizer
    To go higher, certain competitors didn’t hesitate to give the Hyper 212’s 120 mm fan a little help... by vigorously flapping the caps MSI had handed out (for just such a purpose?). As we said, extreme overclocking is a true sport!Overclocking is so physically demanding, you guys must be exhausted. :lol:
    Reply
  • thepeganator
    How did this manage to give no numbers at all?!

    I don't know if everyone is like me, but I want numbers on how much who won by what in what benchmark!!!

    What scores did who get?!?!

    This is like the third time you've failed to give any numbers in this kind of thing Toms, it can't be that hard to get some figures for the falling amount of people that read here.
    Reply
  • one-shot
    No Benchmark scores? Really? Did I miss a page?
    Reply
  • Would like to show you the first Pre-exams round-video on Tweakers.net at http://tweakers.net/redactieblogs/53614/video-overklokwedstrijd.html

    The winners (3 people went out for a semi-final, and the winner from there (Snot_aap) heads out to amsterdam. It was nice to be there, i unlucky finished last, some overclocking problems even tho i used a Vapochill.
    Reply
  • apache_lives
    ROFLMAO MSI best for overNOTing
    Reply
  • nicodeuru
    Hmm... Scores please!....
    Reply
  • sirrell
    Does any competitions like this happen in Australia?
    Especially in Queensland?
    If so when & where, and how do I apply.
    From
    Technician
    Reply
  • Joe_The_Dragon
    why only 1gb for ram suck it up and at least go to 2gb.
    Reply
  • apache_lives
    sirrellDoes any competitions like this happen in Australia? Especially in Queensland?If so when & where, and how do I apply.FromTechnicianroflmao nothing happens in queensland :)
    Reply