Can I O.C. my CPU while leaving my ram alone with default settings?

[eruditejok3r]

Hi everyone this is my first post here. My question is: Can I keep ram default factory settings and just OC my CPU? I notice that when I start raising my CPU frequency my memory goes up. I'm trying to get my C2D E4300 from 1.8 to 3Ghz. So far I believe I have the right parts to do so according to other readings I have done. People get this CPU all the way to 3.4 but I'm going for 3.GHz. Thank you all for your time.

My signature has my system specifications with links.

[Reefa_Madness]

Your motherboard does not allow for "unlinking" the cpu from the ram.

Is there a reason you would want to do this (not run your ram at 400)?

Your ram, rated at DDR2-800, should have no problems running 400 (rated speeds) and that would be just what you need to hit 3.6GHz on the CPU, provided it is capable of hitting those clocks. I don't know whether your cpu will actually run 3.6 stable, only testing will reveal the answer to that question.

What voltage are you giving your sticks? They will probably need at least 2.2v for stable operations, but maybe less if you're lucky.

[eruditejok3r]

Your motherboard does not allow for "unlinking" the cpu from the ram.

Is there a reason you would want to do this (not run your ram at 400)?

Your ram, rated at DDR2-800, should have no problems running 400 (rated speeds) and that would be just what you need to hit 3.6GHz on the CPU, provided it is capable of hitting those clocks. I don't know whether your cpu will actually run 3.6 stable, only testing will reveal the answer to that question.

What voltage are you giving your sticks? They will probably need at least 2.2v for stable operations, but maybe less if you're lucky.


Thank you for your reply.

I'm trying to get to 3Ghz my signature has my specifications with a link to my memory manufacture spec. I didn't understand what you ment with running my ram to 400. For example when I bump the FSB speed to 333 to reach 3GHz my ram speed goes up to 1066 I think that is putting too much stress to my Ram... Don't you think?

[GTengineer]

Thank you for your reply.

I'm trying to get to 3Ghz my signature has my specifications with a link to my memory manufacture spec. I didn't understand what you ment with running my ram to 400. For example when I bump the FSB speed to 333 to reach 3GHz my ram speed goes up to 1066 I think that is putting too much stress to my Ram... Don't you think?

Only Nvidia 600 series boards support unlinked RAM but you do not need it in your case.

If you run your 4300 @ 3GHz you are running a 333MHz FSB like you said which means your memory if set to 1:1 will run at 667MHz. This is well below manufacturing specs. If it shows up as 1066MHz you need to set the RAM to "synced" in the BIOS. I do not have your board but it should be in there somewhere. I had a similar confusion before.

[petteyg359]

While the links in your sig may be helpful for this thread, I suggest removing them before a mod sees them.

[eruditejok3r]

Only Nvidia 600 series boards support unlinked RAM but you do not need it in your case.

If you run your 4300 @ 3GHz you are running a 333MHz FSB like you said which means your memory if set to 1:1 will run at 667MHz. This is well below manufacturing specs. If it shows up as 1066MHz you need to set the RAM to "synced" in the BIOS. I do not have your board but it should be in there somewhere. I had a similar confusion before.

Thank you for your reply.

What is "synced" and what does it do?

I get the following when I set the FSB to 333 with my DDR2 800 Memory

SPD @ 2.00 = 667
SPD @ 2.66 = 887 <-- Is that safe?

and also...

Can I leave the Ram in default voltage? I have auto voltage set up... Should I desable auto voltage?

[eruditejok3r]

While the links in your sig may be helpful for this thread, I suggest removing them before a mod sees them.

Really? Thank you... but Where can I find more info about the reasons why isn't allowed?

[Peepaw]

Really? Thank you... but Where can I find more info about the reasons why isn't allowed?


The very top of the main page.:)

[Reefa_Madness]

Thank you for your reply.

What is "synced" and what does it do?

I get the following when I set the FSB to 333 with my DDR2 800 Memory

SPD @ 2.00 = 667
SPD @ 2.66 = 887 <-- Is that safe?

and also...

Can I leave the Ram in default voltage? I have auto voltage set up... Should I desable auto voltage?

The easy part...take memory off Auto and adjust manually, as needed.

now, for the rest...

Something to keep in mind at all times is that the CPU is "quad pumped" (266 internal clocks x 4 = 1066 FSB at default speeds), while at the same time the memory is only "double pumped" (266 x 2 = 533 at default settings) when running with the 1:1 memory dividers. In this case, the cpu and memory are "in sync" because they are both running at (their default settings) of 266 MHz.

The important point is that their internal clocks are in sync, whether it is at 266 or a higher overclocked speed.

Some boards will allow you to unsync the cpu and memory and for example, you could run the cpu at 266, but run the ram at 333. This is not a feature found in the i965 chipset, which is what your motherboard uses, therefore not an option for you.

Once you start to depart from the default settings, things become a little bit more complex, as straps and memory dividers can sometimes confuse things.

Memory dividers will yield different results, depending on which strap you happen to be in. As your Northbridge reaches certain speeds (it is like a step ladder and not a smooth curve), it will adjust its internal latencies in order for it to allow it to run stably...much like you have to relax memory timings as you increase clocks.

If you have set the Memory System Multiplier in BIOS to Auto, then your straps are being set by your BIOS. I've got to go to work, but will check back this evening and continue the discussion on the dividers and straps, if needed. In the meantime, here are some guides that you might want to read, should you want some add'l info on these concepts.

i965 Overclocking Guide (not your mobo, but should have pertinent info):
http://www.thetechrepository.com/showthread.php?t=41

Straps and dividers:
http://www.thetechrepository.com/showthread.php?p=32#post32
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22297

Memory latencies:
http://www.overclock.net/intel-memory/193449-memory-dividers-latencies-bandwidth-explained.html

[Reefa_Madness]

Now that I have a little more time, I can complete my post.

With respect to your memory question shown below:

I get the following when I set the FSB to 333 with my DDR2 800 Memory

SPD @ 2.00 = 667
SPD @ 2.66 = 887 <-- Is that safe?

Below is a table that I made up for you...it shows the various dividers for your 800 FSB E4300 processor, as well as one for a 1066 FSB proc like an E6420.

As you can see, at a setting of "2.00" under the System Memory Divider page of the Gigabyte BIOS, the ram is running at 1:1 with your processor. The calculation is as follows:

At default speeds it is 2 times the CPU clock speed of 200 MHz = 400 for the memory [200 x (1/1) = 200 x 2 = 400] and 800 for the quad pumped CPU.

At the 333 speed you're running it becomes:

(333 / 1 x 1 = 333 x 2 = 667)

At the "2.66" setting, the memory divider used is 3:4 [proof: 2.66 x 200 = 533 or (200 / 3 x 4 = 267 x 2 = 533). Using the formula for your 333 FSB, the results are as follows:

(333 / 3 x 4 = 444 x 2 = 888)

The question of whether it is safe to run at 888 is pretty much a yes, although some memory might require that you relax the timings. You removed the information that was in your sig and I don't recall which memory you were running, but if rated for DDR2-800, it should do 888 without any real issues, other than timings and perhaps add'l voltage.

The second table is there just to show you that the strap affects the memory dividers...what is a 3:4 divider for an 800 strap is not the same as a 3:4 divider for a 1066 strap.

I have an Excel W/S set up with the various dividers and all I have to do is enter my CPU clock and I'll get my memory speed calculated. It is useful in setting realistic goals / finding the sweet spot for both ram and processor.

Hope some of this helps and if yo have more questions, post them and I'm sure that someone will be glad to help answer them.

[eruditejok3r]

Forgive my noobness, I'm so surprise and happy at the same time that there is still people out there that would take their time to explain these things. Thank you so much for your reply... I honestly didn't understand most of the stuff you wrote but I'm going to read them over and over and google some of the stuff you said until I do.

:beer:

BTW I'm a Computer Science student and find this OC stuff very interesting but I'm not at your level yet.

[Reefa_Madness]

Careful, as it becomes an addiction...a "Madness" of sorts. :D

I got into this because I was buying myself a new DELL and didn't understand have of the choices that I was asked to make. I decided to read a little and got very interested in building my own. Found a site "MySuperPC.com" and it was very helpful, although not much into overclocking...just building.

The more I read, the more hooked I got.

I have always been into things that involved "ET" (elapsed time), such as slot car racing (old time thing), and running 1/4 miles on motorcycles, plus I was a miler/cross-country runner in my youth (way back when). All those things shared that ET and now I get into tweaking computers and trying to make them run as fast as I can.

Read the stuff I linked...it is a little heady perhaps, but just digest it and go back to it. Also take a look at the following links (maybe read these first)...they are in no particular order.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=114824

A member here wrote this one and posted it both here and at XS, but I only have the link to the XS thread.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=147164

This one is for the stability and testing part mostly, otherwise it is an A64 overclocking guide. There is good general info here, though.

http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?t=327