AMD Athlon X2 Overclocking Thread

No_Style · Aug 19, 2005, 06:49 AM

Well I've seen at least two folks around here with these X2's

So what are you guys running them at?

At the moment I'm dual Priming @ 2.5 GHz (10 x 250 MHz) with 1.39 V (1.425 V set in BIOS) Hopefully it passes without an error this time. My first core flunked at 1.38 V (1.4 V in BIOS).

Temps are sexy as well. It flutters to about 47 C on load!

Tips? Comments? Records? Post please

Oh yes, I guess I should tell you what the vital parts are:

DFI NF4 Ultra-D
AMD X2 3800+
OCZ EL PC4000 Gold Rev. 2

No_Style · Aug 19, 2005, 10:33 PM

Update: Could not get it stable with 1.39 V (1.425 V in BIOS) System locked

Trying again with 1.41 V (1.45 V in BIOS) Averaging 49C on load.

Sandok · Aug 20, 2005, 03:19 AM

good luck No_Style!

MiDri · Aug 20, 2005, 11:48 AM

Any one know if there is (and if so, where I can get it) software for overclocking cpu from windows (Due to video card problems, I can't get into my bios easly... if at all... lol)

Necrosis · Aug 20, 2005, 11:50 AM

Eehh I don't trust those type of programs, and never really seen one work well. This is the major reason I don't OC my video cards, k well normally don't. BTW I'm not OC'ing my 4400 yet, and not sure if I even will. I'm quite happy with the performance at stock. Of course that can change...

MiDri · Aug 20, 2005, 12:01 PM

My radeon 9800 pro runs great overclocked a large amount (my problem seeing the bios i've had sense way before i started ocing... has to do with my card and monitor not liking each other... its weird.)

MiDri · Aug 20, 2005, 12:09 PM

Nother quick question, any one know where I can get software to monitor my systems vcore voltage/temp and dimm voltage/temp in windows? Because my bios (which I'm using a dif video card right now to get into) only shows %.

MiDri · Aug 20, 2005, 12:26 PM

Found one wcpuid, preaty cool prog - anyway, uping dimm and vcore just allows for more stable overclockign right? dosent actully have a direct corelation with your speeds? also my mobo dosent have software for uping actulle bus speeds any one know how I might go about doing that?

No_Style · Aug 20, 2005, 02:29 PM

Clockgen is the program people at XS use in Windows. I was content with the X2 3800+'s stock, but since I'm using a 7800 GT, I wanted faster single threaded performance.

Good news, looks like I'm sitting at 2.5 GHz stable!

Necrosis · Aug 20, 2005, 02:31 PM

You need to update your specs dude. So how is the 78GT? I've been thinking about picking up one of the GTX's but I haven't convinced myself yet.

MiDri · Aug 20, 2005, 02:35 PM

Whats a good program for monitoring CPU and case temp in windows? I can't seem to find a free one... (I feel like an overclocking newb... my old pc's mobo's bios had all the features you'd ever need for this...)

Necrosis · Aug 20, 2005, 02:48 PM

Speedfan & Mother Board Monitor (No longer being updated)

MiDri · Aug 20, 2005, 03:07 PM

Sweet, tweakin my FSB and DIMM voltage I've goten my AquaMark3 score from 30kish to 36kish

No_Style · Aug 20, 2005, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necrosis

You need to update your specs dude. So how is the 78GT? I've been thinking about picking up one of the GTX's but I haven't convinced myself yet.

Yeah I need to update, but in about a week's time I'm getting MORE goodies.

My bro is basically getting exact same rig as me except he'll be getting a SLI mobo. In the future, I can just pass on the 78GT to him along with the exact same RAM I have and he'll be running dual 78GTs and 2 GB of RAM. At the moment though, we'll be content with what we have.

Going to be picking up 2 x 36 GB Raptors as well. (Yes, the 74 GB are faster, but one day these 2 will combine in a RAID array and they'll be plenty fast then).

How is the 78GT? Let's see, I upgraded from a 9800 PRO so it's perceived to be ridiculously fast for me. I can run the F.E.A.R. with everything maxed (except shadows) out at 1280 x 960 and have run smooth as butter for the most part. If you can wait, wait. I couldn't wait since I had buyers for my old rigs and I wanted a kick ass PCI-E video card. NVIDIA delivered the goods. I see that you have an X800XL already which fine for now. Wait for the R520 and see what ATI has in store. I'm very skeptical about it, but you never know.

P.S - I put down SLI since it didn't make sense for me at the time, but if you have 2 systems, SLI opens up a great upgrade path without wasting hardware

No_Style · Aug 20, 2005, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiDri

Whats a good program for monitoring CPU and case temp in windows? I can't seem to find a free one... (I feel like an overclocking newb... my old pc's mobo's bios had all the features you'd ever need for this...)

I'm using MBM5 (With a pre-made script which can be found at DFI-Street) with my DFI NF4 since nTune is underdeveloped.

Customgamer1 · Aug 20, 2005, 08:33 PM

Well No Style what core do you think is the best for the AMD Duel cores? I saw a few on newegg but I really don't know the difference if there is any?? Could someone please help me out? My Cousin is going to be getting a new rig and I want to help him out!

No_Style · Aug 20, 2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Customgamer1

Well No Style what core do you think is the best for the AMD Duel cores? I saw a few on newegg but I really don't know the difference if there is any?? Could someone please help me out? My Cousin is going to be getting a new rig and I want to help him out!

Overclocking? The X2 3800+ Manchester (2 x 512K L2 Cache) cores are proving to be great clockers. I'm hitting 2.0 GHz -> 2.5 GHz with relative ease. With a bit more of a push I can go for 2.7 GHz or so. Over at XS forums, one dude has his 4400+ Toledo (2 x 1 MB L2 Cache) core from 2.2 GHz to 3.0 GHz with Stock Cooling. Although, his voltage is at 1.7 V which I don't recommend using. I believe the 4400+ hit around 2.6 GHz with safe voltages.

So to sum up:

Toledo core: X2 4400+
Manchester: X2 3800+

Every other SKU doesn't make sense. If a X2 4000+ comes along based on Toledo, I would recommend that over the X2 4400+.

BTW, there is a small difference in performance between Toledo and Manchester cores at the same clockspeeds, but it's nothing to break out the champagne for. There are also some claims that some of the 4200+ and 4600+ "Manchester" cores are really re-badged Toledo cores who have half their caches disabled due to defects. Just something to think about

Didn't understand what I said? Want graphs and other pictorials? Check out AnandTech's X2 3800+ review for all your needs.

Customgamer1 · Aug 20, 2005, 08:46 PM

ok thanks! I still don't see why you would want to over clock when that thing is already so fast lol. As you can see I have a 3500+ and I have not touched mine because I think its very fast. But I guess for people who are never happy...

No_Style · Aug 20, 2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Customgamer1

ok thanks! I still don't see why you would want to over clock when that thing is already so fast lol. As you can see I have a 3500+ and I have not touched mine because I think its very fast. But I guess for people who are never happy...

For some it's a hobby. For me, I just like knowing that I can reach speeds beyond a 4800+ which costs over $1000 CAD.

I'm big on the bang/buck thing. It's also because I have a 7800GT and I would hate to have it bottlenecked by my CPU.

If you get an X2 3800+, it won't be as fast as your 3500+ at single threaded since it's running 200 MHz slower; you will need an X2 4400+ or X2 4200+ to get the same single threaded performance or do a bit of overclocking.

Customgamer1 · Aug 20, 2005, 09:01 PM

OMG that really sucks. I would have guessed it would have been as fast or faster on single core things... Maybe I should talk to my cousin about that becasue right now nothing uses duel core... so whats the main point right now? Plus he loves games and needs the speed. The only thing thats bad is that the FX are so over priced.. So I guess he might need to re think what he wants.

No_Style · Aug 20, 2005, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Customgamer1

OMG that really sucks. I would have guessed it would have been as fast or faster on single core things... Maybe I should talk to my cousin about that becasue right now nothing uses duel core... so whats the main point right now? Plus he loves games and needs the speed. The only thing thats bad is that the FX are so over priced.. So I guess he might need to re think what he wants.

The main point of having an X2 is to have a true multi-purpose processor. You can do anything and everything with this processor.

Multi-threaded - You can do more things at once and better than any other desktop processor available today. Not many applications themselves do not utilize the multiple CPUs, but OSes do and if you are tired of waiting for things to finish before you do another intensive task, then X2s are for you. If you ONLY game and ONLY do one thing at a time, save yourself a few hundred dollars and stick with regular AMDs.

64-Bit - Nobody uses extensively yet on the desktop market despite the release of WinXP x64. By the time Vista comes along things will change though.

Strong single threaded performance when overclocked - 2.5 GHz is nothing to snuff out. It's faster than a regular A64 3800+!

So when you think about it, you really have a Swiss Army knife of processors with an X2

SFOSOK · Aug 21, 2005, 01:34 AM

is a 3500 a good choice for a 7800gtx?

No_Style · Aug 21, 2005, 10:14 AM

Yes, 3500+ (2.2 GHz) and higher is what I would recommend.

Judas · Sep 15, 2005, 02:18 AM

i'm rather quite impressed with the x2 4400+ i've got.... little bugger flys.

Still running into some cases where a program that is saposed to be multi threaded... apaprently only works with intels HT or dual core setup. Which case i've ran into the situation where either one core is pegged and the other sitting there giggling... or both kinda meeting halfway. Imo, i can't complain about the other stuff that works. These suckers are unreasonably speedy considering i previously had a POS 2500+ that was running slower then a 1600+ oldy due to power related problems.

Hell of alot faster then the temporary 3000+ 64 bit 939 i had.

I agree.. if you are into the gaming.. it just doesn't make any sence to make a purchase on these dual core cpu's yet. support is nill yet, and you can use that extra cash to put toward the video card which will make the most impact.

Currently running my x2 stock. at *WOW* 34*C under load. (gotta invest in a furnace now as my previous 2500+ would litterly heat my home durring the winter and if i closed the room door.... boil me alive)