2600+ Overclocking

[embj]

Hi all, I've had a 2600+ 333mhz since like last April and I was never able to overclock before because I used a thermal pad which kept it too hot. Now I just upgraded to a Volcano 12 Extreme and put some Arctic Silver down on it instead and I was impressed. I couldn't believe how much cooler it was at stock speed compared to when I had a thermal pad and a Volcano 11 on it. It was like 20-25 degrees cooler than it was before. So I figured what the heck....I bet I can actually overclock now. So I got to experimenting and I got it from 2083mhz to 2400mhz within the hour. It's rock stable. I've got the CPU set at 12x200, the vcore at 1.8 v, and the memory set at 3-3-3 CAS 2.0.

If I try to go up any higher whether it be the FSB or the multiplier Windows won't boot. Even if I just increase the FSB to 201 it won't load. Right now the CPU is running at 46 C (116 F). I've also got some ramsinks on the mosfets and a Vantec Iceberq on the northbridge. Is there anyway that I can get any more out of the processor or am I stuck at 2400mhz?

If this is any help I have a 350 watt PSU, Epox 8RDA+ Rev. 1.1 (latest BIOS), and 1gb Geil PC3200 (2x512).

Thanks!

[Whitehawk]

if it crashes it means that the cpu has his its limits and cant go any higher. if u want to really overclock get a P4 2.6 'C' which is the most overclockable cpu on the market

[stroyal]

You might be at the limit, but you can try relaxing your mem timing.
I've seen A lot of articals on dual channel overclocking with timings like 2.5-3-3-7 or 2.5-3-3-11 or 2.5-3-4-11
My corsair twin-x 2/512 3200 won't boot at 200 mhz @ cas2.0-3-3-3. It needs cas2.5-3-3-7.

I have a Barton 2500+

[ArcticFox]

Originally posted by Whitehawk
if it crashes it means that the cpu has his its limits and cant go any higher. if u want to really overclock get a P4 2.6 'C' which is the most overclockable cpu on the market

2.6? I'd call bunk on that. The 2.4Ghz P4's can pe pushed passed 3Ghz with proper cooling. I haven't heard of the 2.6's as the best overclocker's around.

[rourkchris]

I think the Barton core tops out around 2.4GHz. Some can go a little higher while some can't quite get that high. Generally 2.4GHz with good air cooling is about the ceiling for these CPUs. Nice OC by the way.

[embj]

Originally posted by Whitehawk
if u want to really overclock get a P4 2.6 'C' which is the most overclockable cpu on the market

I haven't heard about this...but, right now according to Sandra my CPU kicks the P4 2.8ghz ass and comes very close to the P4 3.06ghz.

Originally posted by rourkchris
I think the Barton core tops out around 2.4GHz. Some can go a little higher while some can't quite get that high. Generally 2.4GHz with good air cooling is about the ceiling for these CPUs. Nice OC by the way.

This CPU isn't a Barton...it's a Tbred-B. I got this CPU before the Bartons even came out so do you still think I am about at my limits? Well, it's nice to have this quiet Volcano 12. It works so much better than the 11. Thanks rourkchris...I just wish I could get it up some more.

[rourkchris]

Yeah I haven't heard of too many having great success ocing the T-Bred B core beyond 2.4GHz. It is possible but the odds aren't very good without radical cooling methods.

[barginhunter]

You must have the vdd volt mod done to your Epox 8RDA+ rev 1.1 to get any higher fsb . I have the same board , the northbridge chip on that rev 1.1 can come in three different types allowing more fsb depending on the chipset # . Check out the site in link below , good luck .



http://www.motherboardfaqs.com/article.php?35.255

[embj]

Stroyal...you telling me to those memory settings made it work and that was the key to going up some more! Thanks. Right now I've got it at 222x11 = 2442mhz. That's all that I can get out of it. If I raise the FSB to like 223mhz or higher it won't boot period or if I try to up the multiplier it won't boot either. Right now I've got the vcore at 1.875 v. and it's running at about 48C (118F) idle which is about 2 degrees warmer than what it was before....not to bad in my opinion.

@bargainhunter...I'm not crazy enough to try that...I thought about doing that when I first got the board but, I decided not to...I know I will somehow screw it up...I can't remember what I had but, I think I might have had the 18D northrbridge...If my memory serves me correct that's the one that is a definite 200mhz which they sell now on the Rev. 2.0 and 2.1. I wish Epox would come out with a BIOS update so you could change the nb voltage on the 1.1's but, they probably don't care. I think now I am limited by my memory and that's why it won't go up much higher.