Best ways to OC a P4 2A

[Darthgary]

My CPU is at 50 C as it has been since I have built it. I used Artic Silver 3 and it seemed to only work for a few days. I have looked at Some swiftech Heat sinks, but never considered buying one. I have a MSI 845E Max MOBO and when I do overclock it wont go over 2.46 Ghz withought becomming very unstable, software starts to crash and the PC restarts. I dont know if its my MOBO, or the CPU itself. I have a Antec Performance Plus AMG 660 Midtower with 4 system fan's. I would like to take this CPU to 2.6 Ghz, does any one have any advise?

[thekingofpain]

Almost a 25% overclock?
Most AMD guys would kill to get an easy 460mhz and run at 50c---youve done fine and your P4 has barely begun to get warm---maybe try some "better" memory if you can inexpensively, experiment with adding some extra voltage, it dont seem like heat is your problem, maybe back it down alittle and be happy with it...

[Darthgary]

Most intel people at overclocking forums agree that anything over 50C is to much a P4, I only have a basic Stock heatsink!

[Bruneau]

Most AMD guys get that easy these days.

BTW, whazzup w/ that intel? I thought that they all ran so cool. Only AMD's run hot according to everything I hear about intels.

[Darthgary]

50C is hot for P4, but not hot for AMD?

I would just like to se that temp lowered a little.

[beppodmime]

IF you want a lower temp, either splurge on a better HSF, or lower the clock speed of the chip. Or, you could try looking at the airflow setup in your case. What is your current fan situation like?

There's also the distinct possibility that your chip just won't take anything over 2.46 GHz. I know my Barton 2800+ just don't like 2.5 Ghz, no matter how much juice I give it, even though it only runs at around 45C at this setting. I've even tried upping the VCore all the way to 2.0, but nothing will get it stable that fast, at least not for long.

[Darthgary]

In the front of my case, are 2 fans, 1 on the bottom and 1 on the back of the HDD rack, both are intakes. My fan on the side is a outtake and the one in the back is a out take. At the current time I am running a 2.4 Ghz, and it seems stable, I never even tuned up the vcore. But the temps are a little scary 50C at almost Idle.

members of Cluboverclokers forums tell me that swiftech is a very good decision if I want to lower my temps.

[Bruneau]

Turn that side fan around. It should be blowing in.

[Darthgary]

So instead, have 3 Intakes and 1 outtake?

[beppodmime]

Well, if you fancy having another, effective exhaust fan, you could always grab yourself a Dremel, or a hole-saw, and cut a blowhole in the top of your case. That will exhaust a decent amount of any built-up hot air in your case.

Is that side panel fan over the CPU? If so, then you're gonna want to have that flowing into the case, as the HSF blows onto the cpu. Otherwise, you're really not giving the heatsink alot of air, you're sucking it all right out from over it.