Advise please on o/c MSI 865 NEO2 Socket 478 Platnum

[graphictart]

Hi all,

Ok I've just stepped over the line and I’m curious about over clocking.

I have got a MSI 865 NEO2 Socket 478 Platnum and a Northwood 3.4c CPU I also have a 160gig Samsung IDE hard drive and 1gig of Kingston hyper x memory (2x512).

(I'm after a stable over clock of about 3.6 that I can use 24/7 and a better understanding of what we spend all our hard earned money on)

Can any one recommend someone or settings that can set me off in the right direction?

I have looked at vcore in the bios and tweaked the CPU a bit; nothing special got scared and put it back. It’s too late for me now I’m hooked.

I'm also considering water-cooling so I’m open to suggestions.

Regards

Gt

[graphictart]

bumpity bump..
cheque book and pen then.:(

[Spazilton]

Hi all,

Ok I've just stepped over the line and I’m curious about over clocking.

I have got a MSI 865 NEO2 Socket 478 Platnum and a Northwood 3.4c CPU I also have a 160gig Samsung IDE hard drive and 1gig of Kingston hyper x memory (2x512).

(I'm after a stable over clock of about 3.6 that I can use 24/7 and a better understanding of what we spend all our hard earned money on)

Can any one recommend someone or settings that can set me off in the right direction?

I have looked at vcore in the bios and tweaked the CPU a bit; nothing special got scared and put it back. It’s too late for me now I’m hooked.

I'm also considering water-cooling so I’m open to suggestions.

Regards

Gt

Ok first off, the 3.4c isnt a great overclocker historically. I belive the 3.4c had a range of vcores, try setting the vcore at 1.525 - 1.55 no higher I dont know your cooling setup. See if you have an option to lock the PCI-AGP buses at 33/66 Mhz. Set your memory divider to work a 1:2 ratio. (Your memory will work at 1/2 your FSB speed.)
Also make sure that the AGP voltage setting if you have it is at 1.65 or close to it as you can get.

Boot into windows at stock FSB with the raised vcore. Make sure to monitor your temps anyting over 60c for a Northwood is too hot.

Download this program..

http://www.cpuid.com/download/ClockGen.zip

Also download this program..

http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpu-z-132.zip

And Finally this program..
http://sp2004.fre3.com/sp2004exe_050330.cab


Ok install all 3 programs.

Start CPU-Z and go to the memory tab, make sure that your memory is running at 100Mhz (1/2 your FSB speed.)

Once thats done, shut CPU-Z down and start SP2004.

Open the program twice... (This is because you have a HT enabled CPU.)

Uncheck the No Affinity box on both windows.

Set the testing mode to SmallFFT on both windows.

Set one window to Core 0 and the other to Core 1

Leave both windows open.

Start Both Windows and let run for 15 minutes.. Ensure that your CPU temp remains below 60c (If it goes higher than 60c I recommend better cooling before you try to overclock)

If all is good after 15 minutes, open Clockgen while SP2004 is still running..

Go to PLL Control.

This will allow you to adjust your processor clocks from within windows.

Raise it to 210 and let SP2004 run for 5 min or so.

Every 5 minutes raise the FSB around 1-2 Mhz until one instance fails (Im suspecting it will fail around 3.65-3.75 maybe you have a great chip just going off my experiance)

When you get a failure, note the FSB frequency and back it off 1Mhz and restart SP2004 and let it run. See if you get any failures (let run for around 30 minutes at this stage)
When you get to where it will pass 30 min or so, note that frequency.

Restart your computer and enter that FSB into your bios and return the memory to 1:1.

Restart and go back into windows, and resetup SP2004 like before both instances running on both virtual cores.

Run for several hours to ensure stability.

Now if you have exceptional cooling, (High quality Air or Water) You can raise the Vcore to a max of ~1.6. I wouldnt go higher than this its diminishing returns in regards to heat output.

Repete the same steps from where you left off and ensure a CPU temp lower than 60c

I hope this helps you get started any questions please feel free to PM me or post I will help ya.

:toast:
Spaz

[cirthix]

definitely lock your pci and agp busses. 3.6 stable shouldnt be too hard and might even be doable on stock volts. you'll probalby need an increase to go higher though.

[graphictart]

Wow, wasnt expecting all that, thanks guys.
I'll let you know how I get on.

So a 3.4 Northwood aint too good for o/clocking bugger!

I will put that in my other PC and leave it as stock then. . . . . for now :)

I've got a 3.2 Northwood that I will use to overclock instead, after looking about in other forums alot of people say these are better to o/clock. Is that true?


Once again thanks.

Cooling wise I got me a Zaleman CNPS7700-Cu.
with thoughts of getting an Asetek WaterChill 03-L-1309 at a later date, just gotta find out whats a better deal price/performance, Air/water.

Also, any of you guys know anyone who has a watercooled rig in an Asus Vento 3600 case? I've looked around abit but can't find anyone.

Is there a reason for this?

I got one of these, some say sweet, some say ugly. I say got it at a bloody good price :)

Regards

GT

[ibby]

Wow, wasnt expecting all that, thanks guys.
I'll let you know how I get on.

So a 3.4 Northwood aint too good for o/clocking bugger!


GT

nope ... they are actually quite good :D
best thing to do is .. leave it as stock volts.
set your memory ratio to 5:4
download a keygen for your mobo from the cpuz website.
and slowly increase the fsb in the software.
ie .. run it at 210fsb and then run prime on it (2 seprate instances)
leave it running for about 1 hour, if it does not fail overclock alittle more ;)
then try again.

the 3.4 northwoods - i had two. one of them topped up about 3.75 on air the other one went to 3.9 on air. temps were reasonable 45>50c underfull load.

with more excotic cooling, like phase cooling.. ull see past the 4 gig barrier very easly.

and the mach 1's and vapos go pretty cheap as it is ;)

I will put that in my other PC and leave it as stock then. . . . . for now :)

I've got a 3.2 Northwood that I will use to overclock instead, after looking about in other forums alot of people say these are better to o/clock. Is that true?





Cooling wise I got me a Zaleman CNPS7700-Cu.
with thoughts of getting an Asetek WaterChill 03-L-1309 at a later date, just gotta find out whats a better deal price/performance, Air/water.

its a solid copper cooler.. but you maybe better getting a thermal wright xp90 / xp120.



Also, any of you guys know anyone who has a watercooled rig in an Asus Vento 3600 case? I've looked around abit but can't find anyone.

never heard ASUS makes cases.

[graphictart]

Hi ibby,

Just had a quick look . Cant find a keygen for the m/board, just CPU-Z, PC Wizard and Clockgen.
Will look more deeply, do you mean the clockgen application?
Here is a link to a review for the case.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1760


hey ibby,

What do you mean raise my memory ratio to 5:4?
:):):):) Its all too much for me and I haven't even touched the pc yet.

I assume thats done through the m/board?

Found this thread:
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=339171

Is that what you mean?

Also I have been looking a little at Clockgen, am I right in thinking once you have set the FSB you can't save it?

So when you boot up again, you get the old FSB settings.

Sorry for sounding like such an arse, keen but green. :)

GT