Learning how to Overclock an E6550

[Lucky23]

Ok ive read a few overclocking how to's and im still in the process of reading yours. Heres the info ive obtained so far and the question that have popped into my head. Im sure more will come later after reading your how to.

 i understand a lot of it but some of the hardcore technical stuff does goes way over my head.

ive never overclocked a CPU before and looking into trying it, not necessarily at this point for maximum overclock just mainly for practice and understand/learning how to.

Im not planning on overclocking today as im not finished reading and im sure i will have more questions but so far this is what i got.

How is my system when it comes to overclocking?

how much Overclock could i get w/out touching voltages? Guesstimate if possible???

Im planning on upgrading to a Q9550 soon so this would be just for fun and practice and not for long term use.

System:
Cooler master RC-310
Cooler Master 650 pro P/S (i think 57a on +12v)
GA-P35-DS3L REV 2.0 Board F9 Bios
3gb G-skill 800 1.8v 5-5-5-15
8800GS OC'd @ 601/2098
Zerotherm CF900 Cooler
3 120mm fans
320gb Segate

From what i have read (please correct me if im wrong) i would start with these steps to achieve a mild(im guessing thats mild) overclock of 2.8ghz. Reason im choosing 2.8ghz because anything over a 400FSB then i would have to start overclocking my ram too correct?

1. 400 FSB (or try a lower fsb first?)
2. PCIe @ 100mhz
3. CIA2 Disabled
4. Performance enhanced to Standard (currently @ turbo)
5. System memory multiplier at 2.00 so that memory is FSBx2=800mhz

Then would i try and see if it posts? can i leave everything else left alone or on Normal?

Bios shots




Anything need to be change on these bios pages?

[Dark Mantis]

You have been busy 
Generally what you have seems right to me although I don't profess to be a real overclocker. I have a bit of a play around sometimes but I am more interested in stability as I find my system is fast enough for my needs anyway. From what I remember of your CPU it was a good one for overclocking and I think you should be able to get it up to well over 3Ghz without any trouble. But as you know all hardware is different and some OCs better than others. The main thing is to keep the temps down.

[Lucky23]

some things seem to come a little bit easier then others lol but still not 100% on it yet

[Lucky23]

Ok so i read through the whole overclock thread.

1. He said have a fan on the northbridge if your FSB is over 333. I think i have a small fan i can attach to it if this is still required.
2. Memtest? is this only if your overclocking your Ram?
                      If your doing minor overclock w/ my ram still at 800 is there any need to up the voltage from 1.8v or test stability?

3. i think my Vcore is set to 1.316 according to the bios shot. So for any amount of overclock, should you automatically set Vcore to 1.35?

[Dark Mantis]

1. He said have a fan on the northbridge if your FSB is over 333. I think i have a small fan i can attach to it if this is still required.
2. Memtest? is this only if your overclocking your Ram?
                      If your doing minor overclock w/ my ram still at 800 is there any need to up the voltage from 1.8v or test stability?

3. i think my Vcore is set to 1.316 according to the bios shot. So for any amount of overclock, should you automatically set Vcore to 1.35?

1) I would just suggest monitoring the temps on the NB and see if it needs any extra cooling/
2) Memtest86+ will test your memory for errors of any description not just for OCing. No need to up the voltage if it remains stable but chances are you will have to.
3) Again you will probably have to raise the voltage but try a bit at a time and see how it goes.

[Lucky23]

Ok so i changed all my bios settings that were enabled to disabled according to the overclocking how to.

So this is where im at now

1. 400 FSB
2. PCIe @ 100mhz
3. CIA2 Disabled
4. Performance enhanced to Standard (currently @ turbo)
5. System memory multiplier at 2.00 so that memory is FSBx2=800mhz

Then would i try and see if it posts.

If it doesnt post the remove CMOS battery for a minute or so and then reboot. Go back into bios and fix all regular settings. Am i correct here? Pulling the battery will fix everything and make the computer post again.

Then go to the MIT

to adjust other settings

System Voltage-Leave at manual

DDR2 Overvoltage- Can select from a +0.1 - +0.3. My Ram is 1.8v with a max volt of 2.0. So a + 0.2v would be maximum overvolt (Hoping to keep it at 1.8v or in the middle at 1.9v)

PCIE Overvoltage- I think i would leave on Normal (set at 100mhz at top of MIT). If i cant get it stable after ive tried everything add a +0.1v Maximum?

FSB Overvoltage- Is this the Northbridge overvoltage? Can add a +0.1 - +0.3v

MCH Overvoltage- Is this the Southbridge Overvoltage? Can add a +0.1 - + 0.3v

CPU Voltage-Currently at Normal-  1.296v (CPU-Z) to Bios Vcore of 1.314.


Are these the only voltages you have to mess with when overclocking?

Seems Gigabyte made easy to overclock by allowing you to a simple +0.1 - +0.3 for stability.

[Dark Mantis]

If it doesnt post the remove CMOS battery for a minute or so and then reboot. Go back into bios and fix all regular settings. Am i correct here? Pulling the battery will fix everything and make the computer post again.

Yes, no problem. Don't forget to unplug first though.

Everything else looks ok to me. Just remember to take little steps and keep an eye on the voltages and tempertures.

[Lucky23]

Ok cool so everything i listed is all voltage adjustments. Nothing hidden anywhere else? 

Also should i shoot for the same idle temps after overclock? What would be a maximum idle temp roughly so i know or have an idea what to look for.

Also do you happen to know if im right or wrong about those two voltage controls being the Northbridge or southbridge? If not do you have a guess of what they are. Im just like to know what im doing LOL.

thanks again mantis

[Dark Mantis]

Try it and see. You have the right username see if you can live up to it You can never be 100% sure that anything will work until you try it. Often it doesn't and you have to go back to the beginmning and try new settings. That's the fun Good luck.

[Lucky23]

Yea i guess i can put that user name to good use LOL. 

[bytheway_r]

FSB Overvoltage is chipset overvoltage ( I don't really know the term here )? Anyway, it's the #1 thing to raise if you're overclocking your FSB ( well, more like on par with the importance of raising your CPU voltage ).

MCH Overvoltage is Northbridge overvoltage - this would be next to raise if you can't get your system stable with FSB and CPU voltages.

DDR2 you generally shouldn't have to worry about as long as you're not exceeding it's stock parameters ( best to actually underclock it so that you will have some headroom ).

PCIe generally should be left alone. No overclocking and no overvolting.

An easier alternative to removing the CMOS battery would be clearing CMOS ( check your motherboard manual if your board has this option ). You generally have to connect 2 pins for a few seconds with, say, a screwdriver and it should be cleared then. Unpluging / turning off the PSU is also needed.

Lastly, don't look at idle temps but at load temps. Look around the net for what's the highest safe voltage and temperature of your CPU. While voltage you can set to the safe max, the temps should stay ~10 degrees under the max value.

Right, good luck and remember to increase voltage and values bit by bit. Especially once you reach issues with stability.

[Lucky23]

Found an awesome thread about my Motherboard so this should help a lot.

http://www.overclock.net/intel-motherboards/254734-gigabyte-ga-p35-ds3l-thread.html

[Lucky23]

FSB Overvoltage is chipset overvoltage ( I don't really know the term here )? Anyway, it's the #1 thing to raise if you're overclocking your FSB ( well, more like on par with the importance of raising your CPU voltage ).

MCH Overvoltage is Northbridge overvoltage - this would be next to raise if you can't get your system stable with FSB and CPU voltages.

DDR2 you generally shouldn't have to worry about as long as you're not exceeding it's stock parameters ( best to actually underclock it so that you will have some headroom ).

PCIe generally should be left alone. No overclocking and no overvolting.

An easier alternative to removing the CMOS battery would be clearing CMOS ( check your motherboard manual if your board has this option ). You generally have to connect 2 pins for a few seconds with, say, a screwdriver and it should be cleared then. Unpluging / turning off the PSU is also needed.

Lastly, don't look at idle temps but at load temps. Look around the net for what's the highest safe voltage and temperature of your CPU. While voltage you can set to the safe max, the temps should stay ~10 degrees under the max value.

Right, good luck and remember to increase voltage and values bit by bit. Especially once you reach issues with stability.

Thanks man this helps out a lot

[Lucky23]

Ok so i successfully got my E6550 OC'd to 2.8ghz by only doing these steps. So far i haven't changed any Voltages but cpu-z showed my Vcore at 1.296 @ stock and 1.312 @ 2.8ghz.

1. 400 FSB
2. PCIe @ 100mhz
3. CIA2 Disabled
4. Performance enhanced to Standard (currently @ turbo)
5. System memory multiplier at 2.00 so that memory is FSBx2=800mhz

So if i didnt change any voltages is the comp still considered stable?

I have prime95 and i go to options then torture test. After clicking that it gives me a couple options, which one do you guys choose.

I tried one test on stock Ghz and i selected "blend"

[Dark Mantis]

Your computer is considered stable if you can run it and do anything you would normally do without it fallling over.
You can run all the burn tests etc like Prime for as long as you feel you need to but the real test is if it runs everyday with no problems.