Overclocking question

[Evilhugbear]

I have been messing around with AMD Overdrive, attempting to overclock, for the last hour or so. I have found out that Overdrive doesn't like to save your overclock settings.

So my question is, can I use Overdrive like a overclock guide? What I mean is, If I find a good overclock with Overdrive, would I be able to put those settings into the BIOS and have my pc boot?

Thanks

 

[Everlong]

If you overclock in Overdrive, then run some tests in something like prime95 for stability, then you should be able to put them settings in the BIOS.

 

[Evilhugbear]

Okay, cool, Thanks

I have been using the program OCCT to stress test.

Do you know if it is any good?

 

[Everlong]

IMO the best way to stress test a system is to spend the entire day playing a high end game like Crysis 2

I would do that with Crysis 2, but you know...it's not out yet

 

[Everlong]

Never used OCCT myself. Always use prime95 and run large FFT/blend tests to test stability with a CPU overclock.

IMO the best way to stress test a system is to spend the entire day playing a high end game like Crysis 2

I would do that with Crysis 2, but you know...it's not out yet

 

[A Guy]

OCCT is a good test. It runs your CPU a little harder than Prime95. But as you see, more will be familiar with Prime95, and it's results. A Guy

 

[Evilhugbear]

Thanks everyone for your help. Hopefully it all works as I hope

 

[Evilhugbear]

I got to 3.7ghz with a multiplier of 18.5x and 1.4625 volts in AMD Overdrive, and the temperature was 59 degrees, so I decided not to go any higher. I put those settings into the BIOS, but had to put 1.4725 volts or 1.475 volts because that was the closest. I reboot my PC, and now I can't even get into the bios. I guess I have to pull the cmos battery.

Any ideas as to why it won't boot?

 

[Evilhugbear]

nobody know? This has happened to me twice now

 

[Everlong]

Have you increased your RAM voltage as well?

 

[Evilhugbear]

No...

This is my first time ever overclocking. If you could give me tips or anything it would really help.

I thought all I had to do was increase the frequency multiplier, until it crashes during prime95, then increase voltage slightly, etc.

How much do I need to increase the voltage?

 

[Everlong]

I haven't used AMD for a few years now, but I'm pretty sure as you overclock the CPU, the RAM overclocks with it as well, so you'll need to increase the voltage for the memory in the BIOS as well.

 

[Evilhugbear]

Can I increase the ram voltage with overdrive? Also, as I increase the cpu voltage slightly, should I also increase the ram voltage slightly?

Also, it is very easy to reset the cmos with my motherboard (it has a button). So can I just experiment with voltages, etc. without fear of it destroying my pc? Or does it cause damage to my pc every time it doesn't post? Also, what is the auto clock feature in AMD Overdrive?

Sorry for all these nooby questions

 

[Everlong]

The RAM voltage shouldn't scale up alongside the CPU voltage. RAM voltage goes up in larger jumps than CPU voltage, so if you upped the RAM voltage everytime you upped the CPU voltage you'd fry the RAM pretty quick.

As you're not doing a massive overclock, you won't destroy anything really. If it doesn't POST then it generally just means there's not enough voltage.

What model RAM do you have exactly?

 

[Wishmaster]

Assuming you've tested with Memtest to know your RAm is good, and not defective..
Your best bet, is not even worry about the RAM at this point.
You do not want to just start OCing. If errors or BSODS happen, you'll have no idea whats actually causing it.

1 thing at a time so you know where the problem is when it arises.


With DDR3 1600 RAM, I would set it to run at DDR3 1066, with very loose timings.

OC and get the CPU stable.

This way, when errors occur in PRIME, you know the problem is the CPU itself, NOT RAM.

Once you reach your desired OC that is stable, and are confident it is stable, then start working on the RAM.

Increase Frequency, Tighten Timings etc.

For example, try bumping it to 1333 speeds and see if stable. (with the CPU OC, a 1333 base setting may result in higher actual RAm speeds)

If at this point you get errors in Prime, BSODS etc, you know it because of unstable RAM. This method eliminates a lot of guess work.

RAM is the easiest piece of hardware to fry, and for this reason I would keep it at or below its rated specs.

 

[Evilhugbear]

I'm pretty certain it is this ram.

 

[Everlong]

Your CPU overclock and voltage are fine. As what Wishmaster said, If you bring the RAM down to 1333MHz at stock, then when you overclock the CPU it will bring it back up to around 1600MHz, and you shouldn't need to increase the voltage that much, if at all.

You will also need to increase the CPU/NB voltage a bit as well.

There's some info on here about it. Overclocking AMD's Phenom II X4 955 : Guide: Overclocking AMD And Intel CPUs On A Budget

 

[Evilhugbear]

Right now my ram is set to auto in the BIOS, do I need to change it to 1600 manually?

So I can set it to 3.7 ghz with the 18.5x multiplier with 1.475 volts, and I only need to increase the CPU/NB voltage slightly and It should work?

 

[Everlong]

Right now my ram is set to auto in the BIOS, do I need to change it to 1600 manually?

So I can set it to 3.7 ghz with the 18.5x multiplier with 1.475 volts, and I only need to increase the CPU/NB voltage slightly and It should work?

No, you need to downclock your RAM first, because when you overclock the processor, the RAM gets overclocked as well as it's linked to the CPU, so you need to get the RAM down to 1333MHz first.

 

[Evilhugbear]

Right now my ram is set to auto in the BIOS, do I need to change it to 1600 manually?

So I can set it to 3.7 ghz with the 18.5x multiplier with 1.475 volts, and I only need to increase the CPU/NB voltage slightly and It should work?

No, you need to downclock your RAM first, because when you overclock the processor, the RAM gets overclocked as well as it's linked to the CPU, so you need to get the RAM down to 1333MHz first.

So I need to manually set the ram to 667?

It is set to 533 at default for some reason.