New System - Gonna OC

Jameslee · 19 Jan 2006 at 16:02

New System - Gonna OC (opty 144)

Ok, after finally confirming my spec list, it's time for me to find out how to overclock it. I've read up quite a bit on OCing in the past weeks, learning as much as I can - though I am definitely still new to it all and slightly unsure of how I'll get on.

So, with the below spec:

Motherboard
DFI Infinity

CPU
AMD Opteron UP 144 San Diego

Memory
G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 (2x1GB) CAS3 Dual Channel Kit

What kind of results should I be looking for and approximately at what settings? Of course I am going to be progressively working my way up, and testing after each tweak to make sure its stable, but I was wondering of a ball park figure I could work with.

Also, what software am I going to need?

CPU-Z
3d Mark 01
3d Mark 03
3d Mark 05
Super-pi

?

And one last thing, with the below card being overclocked out of the box, how much more do you think I could get out of it?

XFX GeForce 6800 GS Extreme XXX Edition 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express)

Thanks very much for any comments, and when I get paid and system arrives I will be sure to post my progress and results.

Jameslee · 20 Jan 2006 at 09:23

Yoohoo, talented know it alls at the back! ^_^

(sorry, shameless bump, I know).

harris1986 · 20 Jan 2006 at 09:29

personally i would say go for 3dmark 06 as it's just come out and is very system intensive, i hear that it actually breaks down into seperate cpu + gfx tests super-pi to test ram and prime 95! as for the clocks on the gs i would probably say you would push it to around 500-525 at the core and 1150-1200 on the memory! good luck and let me know how you get on with that ram as i'm looking to decide between that and the mushkin, although i'm kind of biding my time and waiting for AM2 and getting a new cpu, mobo + ram and going all balls out

note 2 7800gtx's are on the way aswell

Jameslee · 20 Jan 2006 at 09:34

harris1986 said:
personally i would say go for 3dmark 06 as it's just come out and is very system intensive, i hear that it actually breaks down into seperate cpu + gfx tests super-pi to test ram and prime 95! as for the clocks on the gs i would probably say you would push it to around 500-525 at the core and 1150-1200 on the memory! good luck and let me know how you get on with that ram as i'm looking to decide between that and the mushkin, although i'm kind of biding my time and waiting for AM2 and getting a new cpu, mobo + ram and going all balls out note 2 7800gtx's are on the way aswell

So scrap the other 3dmarks and just go for the new one aye?

I'd hoped to get about that much extra out of the card, so thats good. Though my main focus at first will definitely be the CPU and memory. Got a Zalman FS-C77 Fatal1ty CPU Cooler - Retail (HS-018-ZA) to cool the thing as in terms of air cooling it seems the mutts.

Etaqua · 20 Jan 2006 at 09:58

Remember to burn in before you start overclocking - a few hours on Prime95 should be enough.

Always have '01, it makes people feel good because of the uber high score.

Which stepping is that Opty?

Jameslee · 20 Jan 2006 at 10:30

Stepping is cacje, I believe. And I'll be sure to give the goods a good smashing on prime.

Predator · 20 Jan 2006 at 13:14

Motherboard
DFI Infinity

CPU
AMD Opteron UP 144 San Diego

Memory
G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 (2x1GB) CAS3 Dual Channel Kit

I just built a very similar system with EXCELLENT results!!

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=6296285#post6296285

Should hopefully test out 3DMark06 tonight and will post my results.

Jameslee · 20 Jan 2006 at 13:36

Predator said:
Motherboard
DFI Infinity

CPU
AMD Opteron UP 144 San Diego

Memory
G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 (2x1GB) CAS3 Dual Channel Kit

I just built a very similar system with EXCELLENT results!!

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=6296285#post6296285

Should hopefully test out 3DMark06 tonight and will post my results.

Replied in your topic ^_^

Can't wait to get started on this, just hoping I can get something really impressive out of it and get along with it all fine. Still hesitant with it being my first OC attempt

Jameslee · 24 Jan 2006 at 14:21

Ok, slight hardware change. I've opted to go for the zx ram instead of the hz. I'm hoping to still get a nice big overclock but stick the memory on a divider (keeping speeds at about 200-210) with timings of 2-3-2-5.

Now, I'm pretty sure I've read up on this enough for the following theoretical OC's to be doable, but I need a bit of reassurance.

Hardware:

DFI Infinity

Opteron 144 (stepping with either be cacje or cab2e)

G Skill 2gig zx pc3200

Freezer 64 Pro

Starting with the biggest and going down to the smallest, are all of the following OC's possible with my hardware and cooling (as a guesstimate, I'll go through the testing as normal when it comes to doing it)?

Theoretical OC's:

OC1

144 @ 2700 - 9 x 300

Memory on 2/3 divider - 300 / 3*2 = 200 mhz

OC2

144 @ 2600 - 10 * 260

Memory on 4/5 divider - 260 / 5*4 = 208

OC3

144 @ 2500 - 10 * 250

Memory on 4/5 divider - 250 / 5*4 = 200

So, are all of the above doable? (hoping the 1st one is for sure

)

Thanks.

vanandjuanunited · 24 Jan 2006 at 14:26

You are stuck with a 9 multi on the 144 so OC2 and 3 are out.

Jameslee · 24 Jan 2006 at 14:29

Ah, ok. Thanks for the info

Time to work out another 2 and 3 then

Jameslee · 24 Jan 2006 at 14:47

I'm confused as well in that the only dividers I know of are 1/1, 2/3, 5/4 . What others are there that I can work with. And, would I get bad results by running the ram lower than it should be in the following example?

144 @ 2610 mhz - 9 * 290

Memory on 2/3 divider - 290 / 3*2 = 193

vanandjuanunited · 24 Jan 2006 at 14:59

With amd 64 processors I dont think the memory is as important as it used to be. Someone can correct me if this is wrong. Mine is running at 180ish.

Jameslee · 24 Jan 2006 at 15:22

What timings have you got at that speed?

I'd love to get 2-2-2-5 on mine though I'm not sure if I can.

vanandjuanunited · 24 Jan 2006 at 15:38

My ram is a mixture of basic generic stuff and corsair value select until I can be bothered getting better stuff. Think its all set to auto. Not something I have played with. Am running 4 x 512 modules which most others seem to frown upon as well. Have to be run at 2t. Not an area where I am concerned to be honest. Its going well enough for me not to have to spend any money at the moment.