P4 2.

[sammy5gs]

Hey All..

I have been experimenting with overclocking my this CPU for the last several weeks, and using Prime95 to test for stability and the like, and wanted to pose a few questions. I am in no way an expert, and these things have puzzled me. First, here are the main components:

CPU - P4 2.4 Ghz (b) 533Mhz
Mobo - Gigabyte GA-8SQ800 (Bios F8A)
Memory - 4x256MB Crucial DDR333 (PC2700) running in Dual Channel
GPU - 128 MB Sapphire Radeon 9700Pro (324/310)

For some reason, I cannot change the multiplier on my CPU. It is stuck at 18. The default setting was 133x18 (2.4). I have bumped up my FSB up to 165 (2.97Ghz), and Prime 95 was fine for 10+ hours, but I would experience mini-second lags on the desktop and during gameplay. I decided to bump up the vcore from 1.550 to 1.650 to see if it stabilizes and it really doesn't go away. Also, my temps are straight - 34/38 (cpu/mobo) idle, 40/45 load.

Now, the questions:

1 - Wierd thing, when I try to bump up the FSB to 166 in the bios, the bios reverts back to 165? upon saving to cmos. Why doesn't it recognize an FSB of 166?
2 - Why can't I manipulate the multiplier. I have gone through the bios and do not find anywhere where this can be changed (I have had this mobo for 6 months and have through every corner of it).
3 - Normally, I have never experienced lags, where the mouse cursor just freezes for a second every now and then. Is this an indication of instability? For reference, when I bring the cpu back to stock, the lags go away, for the most part (still now and then, but not as often), which makes me question it being related to the overclock.

Anyway, I know I am throwing a lot out there. I have just been trying to get my rig to take full advantage of the PC2700 memory I have in there, and these things have been bugging me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
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You can't see it there, but it's there....

[batboy]

The multiplier is locked by Intel, no way to unlock it. Don't know why it's resetting at 166 FSB, don't have much experience on Gigabyte mobos.

[larva]

Your motherboard uses the SiS 655 chipset, which is fast. But it ins't as good of a overclocker as the Intel chipset like E7205 (Granite Bay) or the current 865/875 chipsets (Springdale and Canterwood). You might find your chip overclocks a lot better on one of these. The Abit IS7 or IC7 and the Asus P4P800 and P4C800 are prime examples.

It may also be your ram is limiting you. Crucial PC2700 is generally very poor from an overclocking standpoint. Also consider the overclock on your video card. I find that setting the core or memory frequency too high can produce the type of problem you are having. Consider a new windows as well, if you haven't tried it already. You may have software issues, OS and/or application, complicating the diagnosis.

[Ununquadium114]

If you can afford it, I would get a 2.4c 800 fsb & a p4p800 dlx

that is a solid combo