Just got my Ballistix from Newegg (2x1GB) Athlon X2 3800+ (results)

[Rieper]

To sort your system out, do it one piece at a time

Lower the multi by 2, that way the CPU is out of the picture as a limiting factor. Then see what the limit of the RAM is. Then lower the speed back down, put your multi back up, and see what the CPU will do.

On the X2s, watch your temps closely when raising Vcore, they climb much faster than single cores.

Peace

I dropped the multi to 9x, and raised the CPU voltage to 1.425v. Thanks for the tip. It worked out rather well.

[EnJoY]

Your chipset is about 13c hotter than mine, and I'm still using stock tim under mine and with 1.6v as opposed to your 1.5.

[Rieper]

Your chipset is about 13c hotter than mine, and I'm still using stock tim under mine and with 1.6v as opposed to your 1.5.

A couple of questions for you:

1) How come CPU-Z reports my voltage, but in the 2x1GB OC database, CPU-Z voltage report is greyed out? I'd like to know what others are running their X2 CPUs voltage at. I saw one guy running their FX CPU at 1.696! I'm at 1.45v and would like to go higher if its commonly done. My CPU temp is rather stable right now.

2) I'm at 280MHz FSB, and I'd like to hit 290-295MHz. Should I increase the Memory voltage from stock 2.8v to 2.9v or stick with upping the CPU voltage to 1.5v?

I'm talking 15MHz more to the FSB. I'm pretty sure I can make it to 195MHz if I tweak the right BIOS setting.

[Repoman]

I'm running the same setup as you... 2GB ballistix with a 3800+.

To answer some of your questions, you're safe up to 1.6v on air cooling. You probably won't be able to take your chip that far because load temps would be in the mid 60's... my max voltage (for now) is around 1.52- even then my temps are 55-57. BTW I hit 2.65ghz at 1.52v, not good, not bad.

BUT the one way to take your chip voltage farther with better temps is to throw your warranty out the window, risk the life if your chip, and remove the IHS. I'm not gonna say any more about that, reason being I don't want to be responsible if you kill your chip. Though if you're interested ask

[ozzimark]

A couple of questions for you:

1) How come CPU-Z reports my voltage, but in the 2x1GB OC database, CPU-Z voltage report is greyed out? I'd like to know what others are running their X2 CPUs voltage at. I saw one guy running their FX CPU at 1.696! I'm at 1.45v and would like to go higher if its commonly done. My CPU temp is rather stable right now.

2) I'm at 280MHz FSB, and I'd like to hit 290-295MHz. Should I increase the Memory voltage from stock 2.8v to 2.9v or stick with upping the CPU voltage to 1.5v?

I'm talking 15MHz more to the FSB. I'm pretty sure I can make it to 195MHz if I tweak the right BIOS setting.

1) because that is the validation site. a few mobo's don't report the correct voltage, so voltage isn't included

2) depends on what's holding you back. if there's more left in the cpu, bump up ram voltage a notch

[Rieper]

1) because that is the validation site. a few mobo's don't report the correct voltage, so voltage isn't included

2) depends on what's holding you back. if there's more left in the cpu, bump up ram voltage a notch

Okay, fair enough. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

One last question: Should I install this AMD CPU driver I keep hearing about, or is it bad for overclocking?

[ozzimark]

One last question: Should I install this AMD CPU driver I keep hearing about, or is it bad for overclocking?

as far as i can tell, it's really only used for cool and quiet.

[Rieper]

Getting better...

I changed my BIOS setting to CPU 1.45v and %113 = 1.6v @ 170MHz HTT (10x multi)

Stable for now, will try 180Mhz HTT soon:

http://img194.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superpi7xs.jpg



Thanks to njkid32 for giving me advice on CPU voltage. We both have the Athlon64 X2 3800+.