Help overclocking my P4 on P4C800

[jhicks32917]

Hello everyone,

I've done things on my own so far, but I've come to the point where I need the help of some more seasoned OCers.

My setup:
P4 3.2ghz 512kb L2
P4C800 Deluxe
3X 1GB G-Skill Ram
180GB Caviar Blue HDD (soon to be either 2x Raptor in RAID-0, a 80gb velociraptor, or a Intel M SSD)
650W Corsair Power Supply
Radeon HD3850

My goal here is to overclock until it either explodes or hits ~4.5Ghz stable.
I've done a vdroop mod, which has enabled me to hit 4.0Ghz stable on 1.65 Vcore.
I've seen users hit 4.5-4.6Ghz with very similar set-ups, so I know it's reachable, but I've reached a wall.

Prior to the vdroop mod, I could boot with 1.7 Vcore, but not a touch higher
Now that I've done the vdroop mod, I can't boot in 1.7 Vcore, which I'm guessing is, because the Vcore idles at 1.715-1.720. At least that's the reading I get in the BIOS.

So, what has happened? Why can't I go higher than 1.7? I don't think it could be my power supply. It's brand new, and supplies more wattage than my setup could ever need. I've seen my 12V go as low as 11.80-11.85 on OCCT. Could that have something to do with it? I have a 2.8ghzE on the way, so I'll be able to see if it's simply the processor not reacting well with the volts.

I don't think it's the RAM either. I've tried booting with 1:1 and 5:4 settings, and I've seen this RAM be run much higher than what I'm pushing it on 2.85v, but if that isn't enough, I can do a vdimm mod to push it higher. I'm using the loosest RAM timings that I can.

I'm using Windows XP SP3 Professional. Air cooling, but temps never go higher than 50C, and I have a new heatsink and case fan on the way.
Thanks for any help, and if I haven't provided enough information, please ask away.

-Jordan

 

[jhicks32917]

An update: I'm 90% sure the reason for the desktop not booting with 1.7+ Vcore is the heat, because I've gotten it to fully get to windows twice now after cold booting with a big fan blowing on the inside of the case with the side open. I locked up about ten seconds into Windows, so I didn't get to try anything. Even still, the heat gets to 50C after only being on for about 45 seconds.

I hate seeing the 12V rail get so low. It's occasionally hitting as low as 11.74. Anyway to stabilize this? Move some wiring around? Any power supply modifications?

 

[Jizzzared]

I had a P4 3.0 northwood with that same motherboard. After doing all I could, I got about 3.9ghz stable on high end air.

It has been a while, but I don't think 4.5-4.6ghz is a reasonable goal, especially because you are barely at 4ghz and already using 1.65 volts. I never saw anyone with those speeds (stable) on air cooling. In fact, I wasn't able to even boot into Windows at anywhere near those speeds.

If you are overclocking/tweaking for better performance, I would honestly stop buying more cooling gear/processors (2.8E) and purchase a cheap micro atx motherboard, an E5200 and a decent 4gb ddr2 kit for around $200. If you are doing this just for fun, then good luck!

 

[turbohans]

heat is going to be your biggest setback on that chip.
Not sure what cooler you are planning on using but you will need somthing like a megahalem to keep it under 70c at those clocks.
I would be willing to say even with that 4ghz-4.2ghz might be possible but that is about it.
those chips will need around [email protected] and from then on a lot bigger increment of voltage bump per 100mhz.

 

[jhicks32917]

Yeah, I'm too far invested into this to turn back now. I'm going to do a PSU vmod tomorrow to pull up the 12v rail to ~12.25-12.35. I figured while I'm in there, I'll go ahead and mod the 5V and 3.3v rails.

 

[jhicks32917]

Thanks for the suggestion turbohans. I'm going to buy some ridiculous air cooling/ heatsinks. I really couldn't care less about noise, so if anyone has some suggestions, fire away.

EDIT: The megahalem is only for socket 775+. I'm using socket 478.

 

[turbohans]

your welcome and that should work with that. I wish I had spent the money myself on somthing like an E8600 with a good air cooler and the board i got. (I honestly thing a multi-socket air cooler is worth the money for the best) I forgot to ask you what motherboard you are running also, but the cpu you have has such a high multiplyer anyway.
Edit: oooooh 478? hmmmmm

Sorry, been a few days sence ive been on here.