AM2 Overclocking

[cadaveca]

you forgot the

Originally Posted by cadaveca

depends on ram

part.

[Allan]

First OC results:

Managed to get the X2 5000+ up to 2850 MHz on each core, still just on air cooling. Not sure how far it will go, but this speed puts the RAM up over 800 MHz (Sets it to about 812 MHz).

Actually, this means that the CPU's with odd multiplier do leave a bit of head room for RAM, so if you have cheap DDR2 modules, you can still OC the CPU and have the RAM running at speeds close to the rated 800 MHz.

[wild_andy_c]

I'm lucky that my Corsair DDR2-800 is able to go all the way to 270 without haveing to go anywhere near 2.5v limit of my board, but yes - those cheaper DDR2 modules on the odd multis may garner some interesting results.

[Allan]

Originally Posted by wild_andy_c

I'm lucky that my Corsair DDR2-800 is able to go all the way to 270 without haveing to go anywhere near 2.5v limit of my board, but yes - those cheaper DDR2 modules on the odd multis may garner some interesting results.

Yeah, I have a couple of Corsair sticks and a couple of Crucial sticks, both pairs can do quite a bit more than 200.

But the "odd multi" may not only be a bad thing. I haven't tried an even multi AM2 yet though, but I've run tests with the multi at 12, leaving the RAM at 200 - and in some of these tests, the higher RAM speed actually just about makes up for the lower CPU speed.

[wild_andy_c]

Originally Posted by Allan

Yeah, I have a couple of Corsair sticks and a couple of Crucial sticks, both pairs can do quite a bit more than 200.

But the "odd multi" may not only be a bad thing. I haven't tried an even multi AM2 yet though, but I've run tests with the multi at 12, leaving the RAM at 200 - and in some of these tests, the higher RAM speed actually just about makes up for the lower CPU speed.

Hence me buying the X2 3800!!!! I couldn't live with the oddness of 742Mhz effective rate

[Allan]

Originally Posted by wild_andy_c

Hence me buying the X2 3800!!!! I couldn't live with the oddness of 742Mhz effective rate

I haven't bought anything yet. And I won't be upgrading my personal rig for some time. S939 is still alive and well in my personal PC, no need to upgrade yet.

[SPQQKY]

Originally Posted by cadaveca

AM2 cores are currently the same core as on 939...overclocking should fare teh same or better or worse....depends on ram.


Although there is higher bandwidth offered by AM2, this is not a nessecary boost for dual/sinlge core AMD's...it's there for the next step in the AM2 platform.


BRING ON THE QUADCORES!!!!

Well, I wouldn't say they were the same exactly. Overclocking has proved much better for these AM2 cores. I have my 3200+ AM2 @ 2.8GHz with 1.45v on stock cooling and there is plenty more in it. This was near impossible with a few 3200+ 939s I had with excessive cooling and excessive voltages (1.65V +). The bandwidth scores we are seeing with progs like Sandra seem false as can be, as there are no gains with programs that would take advantage of such. I think the major gains with AM2 will be the overall clock speeds we overclockers will get with these new chips.

[dsio]

My Winchester ran 2.8Ghz with 1.45V just fine. I think the major difference is I had to underclock my ram dramatically to get it that high, while DDR2 is more flexible in that regard.

[samfisher]

The last board I owned was socketA and upgrading to the AM2 socket has really been confusing so I have a few questions:
1. If HTT decides what frequency my memory runs at, why do i need to set dividers?
2. Under my bois power features, i can set memory clock to ddr400, ddr533, ddr667 and ddr800. All the guides I see don't mention anything like these so how do I set the right one?
3. My memory is ddr2-533 so it's safe to say the highest HTT i can reach is around 266?

I want to start with a safe overclock using stock cooler & voltage first and the bios settings look greek to me now. Please enlighten a confused soul...