conservative OC-ing with 2.4c or 2.6c

[scryber]

I'm planning on building a new computer in a few months and probably will get a 2.4c or 2.6c with an Abit IS-7 mobo. (I currently have a 1GHz Athlon XP, with a mobo that only supports up to the 1900.)

I haven't done any overclocking since the Celeron 300a days, so I'm a bit rusty in the game. These days I don't need to OC to the max, I think that a modest bump to 3GHz would suffice for me.

System stability and less expensive RAM are my priorities. Considering that, which components should I get? (2.4c or 2.6c? What RAM type/brand?) And what settings would provide a nice middle-ground sweet spot for overclocking?

[gruvin2]

My sig says it all. Like Tagler said 250fsb with a 5/4 divider is plenty, that is what i have it set for daily use.

[batboy]

Yep, on a tight budget, Abit IS7, 2.4C P-4, and two sticks of PC3200 RAM (although faster RAM would be nice for possible upgrades). Like Gruvin2 has, the Buffalo PC3700 RAM is about the same price as most other PC3200 RAM.

[MrBean]

if you want a simple 3.25 overclock get the 2.6c, it should be able to do that at or near stock voltage. Just bump the fsb up to 250 and set the ram divider to 5/4, mines 100% stable.

[scryber]

Is the 250FSB on either the 2.4 or the 2.6 with the stock fan/heat sink?

[micamica1217]

Originally posted by scryber
Is the 250FSB on either the 2.4 or the 2.6 with the stock fan/heat sink?

about 240-250fsb at default vcore sounds about right.
so as long as your staying at default vcore, then the stock HSF will be fine.

mica

[mattspalace]

I did 250fsb with a 5:4 ratio at stock voltage with the stock intel cooler with no problems at all. I've had my CPU up to 3.45GHz, but for daily use, it's at 3.3GHz.

-250fsb with a 5:4 ratio is a cakewalk :)

[Zuzzz]

Im currently debating this issue myself(2.4 or 2.6). . Im going to grab some ddr400 and a 2.6 and try my luck. from all I see 3 ghz should be easy. Ill pay the 20 extra bucks for the 2.6 and with the bandwidth hehehe nothing running stock will touch it even the 3.2/800 will not keep up with the mem bandwidth. the over all system performance should be WELL worth it. . . IMHO


also. . . I suggest the Asus P4P800/DX or the P4C800/DX . . from what I see they yeild a better overclock. Dont know if ya need the Vdimm mod to get the high memory bandwidth but Im guessing these boards are better overclockers straight out of the box(from what I have heard) . . again IMHO

[billstuck]

Originally posted by Zuzzz
Im currently debating this issue myself(2.4 or 2.6). . Im going to grab some ddr400 and a 2.6 and try my luck. from all I see 3 ghz should be easy. Ill pay the 20 extra bucks for the 2.6 and with the bandwidth hehehe nothing running stock will touch it even the 3.2/800 will not keep up with the mem bandwidth. the over all system performance should be WELL worth it. . . IMHO


also. . . I suggest the Asus P4P800/DX or the P4C800/DX . . from what I see they yeild a better overclock. Dont know if ya need the Vdimm mod to get the high memory bandwidth but Im guessing these boards are better overclockers straight out of the box(from what I have heard) . . again IMHO

I've got an Abit IS7 and a 2.4c. Before I even installed Windows for the first time. I went straight to 250fsb at 5:4 for a 3ghz OC'. Booted up memtest, prime95 passed and I was set. 3.0ghz on these chips requires practically no effort :-)

With a little tinkering now I'm at 3.12. Prolly could go higher, but this is fast enough for me.

[scryber]

Aren't the Asus boards about $30 more expensive though?

although faster RAM would be nice for possible upgrades)
What constitutes an upgrade? A faster proc like say a stock 3.2GHz? Or something O/C'ed? Or something else? Just curious.

[TheGr8s1]

When I first had my P4C800 combined with my 2.4c up and running. I immediately raised the fsb to 270 without any issues. I'm at 276fsb now for stable eveyday use. Oh and I've been using the 5/4 divider.

[gaccm]

scry, i'm pretty sure he (or she) means that if you get faster ram, then you can more easily go about 3.0. Like I bought pc3500 (ddr433) ram, because i have a 2.4c. i want to get it to 3.3gig (average OC in the cpu database). 2.4gig = 12*200mhz so 3.3/12= 275Mhz. Now on a 5:4 mem speed -> 275*(4/5) = 220Mhz *2 (ddr) = 440Mhz. My ddr433 ram will hopefully be able to handle that, but i doubt ddr400 could. And since this is merely the average OC in the cpu database, i bet the cpu can handle it.

[micamica1217]

Originally posted by gaccm
scry, i'm pretty sure he (or she) means that if you get faster ram, then you can more easily go about 3.0. Like I bought pc3500 (ddr433) ram, because i have a 2.4c. i want to get it to 3.3gig (average OC in the cpu database). 2.4gig = 12*200mhz so 3.3/12= 275Mhz. Now on a 5:4 mem speed -> 275*(4/5) = 220Mhz *2 (ddr) = 440Mhz. My ddr433 ram will hopefully be able to handle that, but i doubt ddr400 could. And since this is merely the average OC in the cpu database, i bet the cpu can handle it.

now I'm not saying your not going to reach ddr440, and I have no idea what brand you plan to use.

yet when OCing with two sticks of mem on the springdale/canterwood...you may have to run at slower mem timmings and/or higher voltage. you may or may not reach 440 with what you got.
I'll also say that if you are going with two sticks of 512mb it only gets harder.
good luck my friend, you seem to have planed this out well.
I hope it works out for you.

mica