Newbie trying to overclock a P4 2.4GHz 800FSB

[Lord Chimpas]

Hi all,

I was thinking of overclocking my Pentium IV 2.4 800 FSB processor because I heard you could get it up to insane speeds (around the 3.3Ghz region)

Im new to overclocking so I was wondering if anyone can help me out here (I sure you hear this alot, so sorry in advance). My computer specs are at the bottom...

Processor: Intel Pentium IV 2.4 800 FSB
Ram: 512mb PC3200
Cooling: CoolerMaster Pentium IV Ultra Cooling fan (A friend told me this was good for overclocking)
Motherboard: MSI Mainboard 865PE-G [MSI 865PE Neo2-Platinium Edition]
Graphics Card: Powercolor 9600 Radeon Pro

My Current Settings (At Default) ...

FSB: 200MHz
Vcore: 1.5250v
Memory Voltage: 2.60v
AGP Voltage: 1.50v

CPU Temperature: 51C [Idle]
System Temperature: 36C [Idle]

I have tried using MSI's CoreCenter to try and overclock the system and so far I tried boosting the FSB to 225 [2700MHz] and then I ran Prime95's torture test for about a little over 30 minutes the temperatures are here as follows...

CPU Temperature: 55C [Max reached but mainly around the 54C mark]
System Temperature: 39C

Then all of a sudden the computer rebooted
Any ideas as to what happened ? [I dont think it overheated or did it ?]

********************************

Questions


1) Do I just crank up the FSB until it reboots ?

2) What is the next step do I jack up the Vcore till it becomes stable ?

3) Do I have to fiddle around with the AGP/PCI dividers or RAM timings ?
(I read a online guide about them, but not sure how to do it and why to do it for)

4) Also how do I test for system stability ?
(Do I crank the Vcore up 1 notch and then run a CPU intensive task and see if it reboots ? If so do I increase it up another notch and test again until it doesnt reboot ?)

5) Can someone tell me what the optimal temperature would be for running the CPU ?

Any Assistance would be MUCH appreciated !


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I'm also thinking about getting a Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu cooler, will this help at all ?

...If not then can you please suggest an affordably priced cooler with good cooling performance

 

[AzN_LuvER_4_LyF]

1, 2 & 3: Set your memory divider to 5:4 or 3:2 (or 333MHz or 266MHz). Then lock your agp/pci clock to 66/33 in order to keep those buses from increasing in speed and failing. You will most likely find the control over the memory and AGP/PCI clocks in the same place in the BIOS as your CPU clock settings. Then increase the fsb until the system becomes unstable in Prime 95. At that point increase the voltage by .025 until it becomes stable. repeat that processor until the highest stable fsb is obtained.

4: Test stability by running Prime 95.

5: You generally don't want CPU temps above 50 degrees C. Its unavoidable if you have a prescott. Do you have a Northwood or a Prescott?


Good Luck with your OCing

 

[veryhumid]

also make sure you voltage does not go over 1.6V at idle.

 

[Lord Chimpas]

My Processor is a Northwood...

So running on default settings at a temperature of about 51C means that my CoolerMaster Pentium IV Ultra Cooling fan is a worthless hunk of metal thats not doing a half decent job.

As for the Heatsink you recommended it says that it is...

Designed for use with AMD Socket A/462 CPU's only

Does this mean that I can fit it on my motherboard (a P4 MSI Mainboard 865PE-G [MSI 865PE Neo2-Platinium Edition]) ?

 

[Zebbo]

As for the heatsink I would recommend this Heatsink

Thermalright SP-97 does not fit into Socket 478 mobos It's Thermalright SP-94 you need to get Lord Chimpas

 

[AzN_LuvER_4_LyF]

holy crap... thats two mess ups in the same night... i'm losing it

 

[batboy]

I suspect you're unstable because you need to lock the AGP/PCI to 66/33. That thing should do 3 gig (250 FSB) with the 5:4 memory ratio and default vcore. Above that you might need a vcore bump... however, hold off on that until we find out what's going on with the temps.

Low to mid 50's load temp is ok, but you are already mid 50's now. What thermal paste did you use? What CPU fan are you using? Describe your case cooling. I suspect with near 40 degree load system temps you need case ventilation improvements. Start by rearranging cables so they aren't blocking air flow. You should have at least one intake fan in the front and one exhaust fan in the back.

 

[Lord Chimpas]

Cooling Situation

Ok I opened up my Computer case and the cooling situation would be to say the least pretty appalling...

1) Cables all over the place (including one like right next to the CPU fan)

2) No exhaust or intake fans what-so-ever (except for the PSU exhaust - I also see 2 grates at the back where 2 exhaust fans could be placed)

3) I looked on the Billing sheet for my computer and also checked the CoolerMaster site for my Fan - conclusion I have no thermal paste well none that came with the heatsink/fan anyway - But on another note my fan is advertised as having pretty good cooling performance.

3) Regarding the AGP/PCI to 66/33 lock I went into BIOS and changed the memory frequency to 333MHz (5:4) but when I went to the AGP/PCI option it was already at 66/33 but I couldn't find an option to lock it.

4) Also about the Thermalright SP-94 heatsink I dont think it'll fit on my Motherboard because I went to the Thermalright site and checked out if my motherboard was Compatible and mine was not in the list - I have a 865PE Neo2P

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After all that would anyone have any recommendations on how I could improve the situation ?

(I know I have to re-arrange the cables, add exhaust fans, use some thermal paste, etc - but could you like recommend certain types of exhaust fans, types of thermal paste... )

 

[mrmoeo]

I was just browsing through these forums and this thread caught my eye.

I am by no means a pro when it comes to overclocking but after months of reading and research I decided that I should give it a try. I also have a 2.4C and have recently overclocked it to 3.4 GHz. It runs stable and have had no problems with it whatsoever.

I used Arctic Silver 5 along with a Vantec Airflow 2 on my Asus P4P800 Deluxe. When I overclocked it to 3.4 GHz (283 MHz) it actually runs cooler than with the stock Intel heatsink at 32 degrees celcius.

My goal was to reach 3.4 and I'm glad that I did. As it turns out, that was the maximum that my PC3200 ram could take.

Upgrading soon to this.