Check my homework?

[KVWire]

The last of my components for my new system are arriving Tuesday. You should be able to see my system specs below in the sig. Could I get input for the steps I take to OC? It's been a few years since I OCed my PIII. I've been reading all the posts here and don't want to miss anything.

1. Load Win XP Pro
2. Update Win
3. Setup network/internet access
4. Load Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility
5. Load Asus temp monitor (or MBM?)
6. Make sure Ram is set at 2-3-2-6
7. Lock AGP and PCI
8. Increase fsb to 230, check for stability
9. Increase fsb to 250, check for stability
10.Increase fsb to 260, change memory to 5:4, check for stability


The whole time I'm checking temp as well.

Do I setup Intel Chipset Software before or after updating Windows? Steps 8 - 10 seem rather simplisitic. Is there more to do there? What happens if I go to far too fast?

Thanks for your input. I'll let you know how far I get.

KV

[Firochromis]

Between steps 4 and 5 you must update your BIOS as well.

I would prefer MBM 5. And I think you must replace step 6 as step 11. If you change your timings before fsb increase and at some point system crashes you can not understand the reason is whether ram timings or fsb. So I think first find a stable fsb point and tryto optimize ram timings.

[KVWire]

OK, will do Firochromis. Thanks for that input.

Mobo and CPU just came. I'm just waiting for the Zalman 7000cu.

KV

[gustav]

what is meant by locking the agp and pci? is it necessary to overclocking?

[KVWire]

In the bios you would lock the agp and pci so that they stay at 66MHz and 33MHz. If you don't lock them those settings will change as you overclock.

KV

[larva]

Always install the INF update as soon as you get windows running. It is crucial.

On a conceptual level, don't assume your cpu or ram is going to run any particular fsb or your memory timings are going to land at a pre-determined level. Start with the safest settings possible and work up slowly. You likely will not see 260fsb, so don't make any assumptions. You might only see 240, or who knows, maybe it will surprise you and hit 270. In the same fashion you may find that 2-3-2-6 is not feasible or that 2-2-2-5 runs like a charm. As well I would switch to the 5:4 mode before increasing the fsb beyond 200, as you likely will not be able to run 1:1 at anything like 250fsb. Leave the memory ratio low and the timings high until you know how much fsb the cpu will tolerate, and then optimize the memory settings around that fsb.

[KVWire]

OK, that's a huge help, to set the memory to 4:5 and top out the CPU. OK, will do. Should I increase fsb by 5 each time or less? What will happen when I top out? Will it just not boot or enter Windows?

And INF before Windows Updates.

Thanks!
KV

[gustav]

i'm building my first computer within the next week or so. its basicly just the same set up. with an asus p4p800 instead of c and corsair pc500 instead of mushkin pc3500. i'm probally going to be using this thread to help me when overclocking, but i'm was wondering, what is INF and where do u get it?

[KVWire]

INF information is here:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/computer/topic/7599-1.html

More info and the download is here:
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/

I loaded Windows, then I loaded INF. No problems there.

Good luck with your build. I've gotten a huge amount of help both asking questions here on the forum and reading tons of other people's posts. Let me know if I can help.

KV

[batboy]

Like Larva said, load the .inf and rest of the mobo stuff right after installing Windows. The .inf files are the mobo chipset drivers that come on the mobo installation CD.

[KVWire]

Batboy, could you take a quick look at my bios settins for RAM?

Configure DRAM Timing by SPD Disabled
DRAM CAS# Latency 2.0
DRAM RAS# Precharge 2
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay 3
DRAM Precharge Delay 6
DRAM Burst Lenght 8
Performance Acceleration Mode Enabled
DRAM Idle Timer Auto
DRAM Refresh Rate Auto


AI Overclock Tuner Manual
CPU External Frequency (MHz) 200
DRAM Frequency 400
AGP/PCI Frequency (MHz) 66.66/33.33

CPU VCore Voltage Auto
DDR Reference Voltage Auto
AGP VDDQ Voltage 1.50V

Performance Mode Auto

Thanks.

KV

[gustav]

so does this .INF files apply to 865PE chipsets as well?

[batboy]

All mobos will have .inf drivers that need to be loaded. Windows will only load generic ones to get you booted.

KV, just use the SPD memory setting at first until you find out the limits of the CPU and mobo.

[KVWire]

I found that the CPU will go up to 246, but errors out of Prime95. The memory, which was set at SPD put my RAM at 266MHz. I had to drop to 232fsb to get Prime to run without errors, but SPD still set RAM at 266MHz. I've gone back and inched up slowly from 200fsb with a forced memory timing of 400 and am at 215 now by changing the RAM settings. I keep crashing out at 215 though. Sometimes faster then others, depending on my settings.

KV

[batboy]

Memory setting of 266=3:2 ratio, 320=5:4, and 400=1:1. Set it to 320 or 5:4 ratio. You might need to bump up the voltage to be stable in Prime95.

[KVWire]

OK, I'll try 320, but I would think this RAM, which is suppose to run at 417, should be able to run at 415. I'll try a voltage increase after that.

Thanks.
KV

[batboy]

PC3500 is rated for DDR433, so if you try to use the 1:1 ratio, then that's 217 FSB. If you use the 5:4 ratio then DDR433 is 271 FSB. Now your RAM might do better than that, but to make sure it's not the bottleneck at first while you find the limits of your mobo and CPU, just use the 5:4 ratio for now.

[KVWire]

Will do. Thanks a ton.

KV

[KVWire]

Going to 4:5 did the trick. Seems a bit early to set it that low though. I'll push and see how far I can climb from there.

KV