First overclock attempt

[x94blair3]

Ok, I'm not agile enough to do the bridges on my AMD 1800+ so I decided to get wacky with the FSB. Here's a list of my components, temps, and settings....I'd love some input!

Board: Abit KG7
Heatsink: Swiftech MX462 - 80 mm high speed sunon fan
CPU: Athlon 1800+
PC2100 DDR ram: 512mb 2.5
HD: Maxtor 7200 80gig
Graphics Card: Gainward Ti200 GeForce3 PowerPackPlus (can overclock through util. Got 3dmark2001 at 7123 with default cpu and overclocked card..seemed fine but backed it off for now)...will having the FSB up strain the overclocked vid card? To be sure I backed off as I mentioned.
Lite-on 24x10x40 Burner
Lite-on 16x DVD
Sony floppy
Nic, modem, Soundblaster Live Value

Here's what it was running at:

1533mhz (or whatever standard) (11.5x133)
36-37 degree idle, 41-42 full load

It now runs at:

1670mhz (11.5x145)
37-rarely 38degree idle, 42-43 full load

So basically all I've done is alter the FSB. All seems stable enough. I haven't done anything with the voltage...it's still 1.79 standard.

Question is, can I overclock this thing any more? Is the increased FSB already warping my components? (arrghhh) Will overclocking the video card while doing the overclock of the system blow something up?

Probably easy questions with no sure answer, but as a newbie some similar experiences shared or some advice would be surely appreciated!

[rogerdugans]

Thats what I'm getting out of my XP1800 right now: 1533@1670.

My load temp is about 41c, with a lot of work and major noise-reduction efforts.

I had it up to 1725, stable with a different hard drive, but this one fails at any higher fsb (note: I did unlock it, but get better results with straight fsb oc).

As far as stressing components out: OCing is dangerous, and is more likely to damage components; that said, it is relatively safe if you take your time, learn what you are doing before you do it, and don't get TOO wacky! Bump fsb up a notch at a time, etc.

I do usually crank my volts right up on cpu and memory to see how high I can go with the oc, but after getting the top determined, I turn it as low as I can (without losing mhz). Higher volts will increase temps quite a bit, so watch the temps! I pay no attention to idle temps, just the 100% load: my rigs never idle, and the heat problems always occur under load anyway, IMO.

I find that load temps up to 45c are ok, but as I get closer to 50c stabilty problems start.

The single most important thing to remember?

Keep it cool!Heat is The ENEMY!

[x94blair3]

Thanks for the input. I guess that's about in line with what I expected. Everything seems to be stable. I'm running the distributed.net client as we speak and nothing's freaking out and it's at a solid 42 degrees (which I would consider relatively acceptable).

What's the impact of increasing the fsb and not touching the voltage...is that easier on the system or more harmful?

[rogerdugans]

Stability. You may need to increase the volts to be stable at higher speed.
I have run this thing (its my workstation right now)at max volts, cpu and ram: 1.9(1.85 in bios) and 2.7 (I think; its late and it was a couple of weeks ago) for about 6 or 7 months @1725, with no problems. When I started dropping the voltages at that oc it had problems though. Cpus at 1.85 now, I think the ram is 2.6.

[juliendogg]

bump the voltage up a little and go a little further. you'll know when your fsb is too high for your other components, just go one mhz at a time and when it gets unstable bump up the vcore a bit. you made it that far with stock voltage you can get quite a bit more out of it safely. just keep those load temps as far under 50 as you can. my 1700 gets sketchy (lockups and random reboots) at temps of 55+.

[x94blair3]

Ok, I'll factor that in and give it a whirl.

[x94blair3]

Ok, slight complication. I left everything running last night after overlclocking to 1670mhz (as I mentioned with only the FSB). Went off to bed, and the only thing (I assume) that would have run with any intensity through the night was my screensaver (7 serenescreen fish baby!!!)....apparently at 2:30ish (about 1:15 minutes after heading to bed??) It created a mini dump and rebooted itself. When I checked on it this morning it was at the logon screen (not hot at all of course), seemed to be perfectly fine, and has been fine this evening back at it's normal settings ( I reset it like a chicken :D )

So the question is, I ran the distributed.net client last night and did some other stuff (not intensive though) and the cpu never got over 42 fully loaded and everything seemed a-ok..and when I went to bed it was back at 37 degrees standard and seemed fine....

Any ideas what might have happened? Anything I should look for, change, etc? Just want to make sure before I push it out again. Or perhaps I shouldn't at all?

The only odd thing I noticed last night was that my 5v was at 5.00 exactly intstead of it's normal 5.05 (through MM5). I would think with a 350watt Power supply I wouldn't run that close...

Thanks for all the help so far, I appreciate the help as I try again. I did think about unlocking as I figure that would be safer on the overall system, but not sure I have the hands for that...and of course at 1533 I can hardly complain that I need more to take any crazy risks...