Couple of Questions from a Newbie Overclocker

mattb · TweakNOOB Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 8

The System
First, the specs of the system I just got (sorry for the CAPS, it's copy and pasted):

P4/3.0CGHz 800M 478P/512K HT
1GB CORSAIR TWINX1024-3200C2PT
ASUS P4C800
SWIFTEC MCX4000 w/ THERMALTAKE 80X25 FAN
ARCTIC SILVER 3 3G%

This is my first experience with overcloaking, so sorry if any of these questions seem really stupid.

Heat Issues
Got the system together and up and running, and decided to try OC'ing a little. I ran the CPU up to about 3.2 GHz, and after running PRIME95 for about an hour, I encountered an error with the motherboard tools reporting the CPU temp at 57C. Why would my CPU be running so hot at only a 3.2 GHz overclock? Did I screw up the heat sink installation (I really don't think I did)?? What else could I be doing wrong?

Memory Timings
I really have no idea how to go about adjusting these values. I started out by setting them to the lowest my MB would let me, and after a reboot, the system would not POST, and then after a cold reboot, the BIOS reported a memory error and reset the values to the default values for me.

Is there some strategy/game plan for adjusting memory timings?

Thanks in advance,
-Matt

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mattb · TweakNOOB Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 8

What is the most reliable way to monitor/measure the CPU temp?

CooLJoE · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 2:51 pm Post subject:

First off, the heat problem sounds like an issue with either the heatsink installation (including the use of the artic silver stuff) or your case just doesn't have sufficient cooling setup inside (fans in the right places, moving the air properly through the case). Or could be that your fan on your CPU isn't running right or isn't good enough for the OC'ing.

As for RAM timings, try the default timings first. Then if that works you can keep those values or try going lower. But don't automatically go lower at the first time of overclocking. Also, when you lower the RAM timings, sometimes you have to increase the voltage to your RAM.

CooLJoE · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 6:07 pm Post subject:

Also, for temp/volt/fan monitoring, try Motherboard Monitor

http://mbm.livewiredev.com

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Sounds like you have a case temperature problem.

What is your case temperature in the bios?

Also, what do you have your cpu voltage set to?
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mattb · TweakNOOB Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 8

I think you may be on to something Nathan!

Tell me if this sounds wrong...

Essentially idoling at 3.2Ghz (I just powered it on 10 minutes ago and have been surfing the web), I am getting 37C for my processor and 32C for my ambiant case temperature!

I think the 2 exhaust fans on the back of my case are loafing. Now, here are some data points:

* There was a 3-pin lead from my power supply that I did not know what to do with... there was also a 3 pin connector on my MB labeled "VREG fan" (or something like that) which I also did not know what to do with. They are currently plugged in together, is that correct?

* My exhaust fans on the back of my case are plugged into "Fan Only" power leads from the True Power power supply. Should I plug then into normal power leads? The fan only leads look a little whimpy (less cables than the normal leads).

* These were the 2 fans that came with the case, so their quality is unknown to me.

How much air flow should I feel coming from the back 2 fans? Even when I am stressing the system, I can *barely* feel the air come from 2 fans when I put my hand to the back of my case...

What do you think?

Thanks everyone!!!

Roger · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 10:45 am Post subject:

are the fans flowing in or out though. if they are pumping air into the case instead of letting the hot air out, then that isn't good either.
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mattb · TweakNOOB Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 8

They are blowing out.

I did double check my airflow patterns...

2 exhaust fans in back
1 exhaust fan on the side
1 exhaust fan on top
1 in-take fan on the front

icyrus76 · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 11:12 am Post subject:

back fan, one in and one out
side in
top out
front intake in.
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mattb · TweakNOOB Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 8

You really want 1 back fan going in and the other out??

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Both rear fans should be blowing out.

If you have one in and one out, they cancel each other out seeing that one will be exhausting what the other brings in instantly.
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mattb · TweakNOOB Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 8

I also assume that 32C is a little high for my case temp, since some people's CPU temps are around there idling.

pbian · TweakNOOB Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 39

lol wow mattb, I have the same exact specs as you except for the heatsink, I have the spark7... did you use the AI overclock on your p4c800? you can use that to overclock up to 10% or 3.3ghz, after that it gets unstable, so you might need to manually configure it if you want higher performance, of course that's not your problem right now...

First of all, you definately need the side fan to take in air on the side... I'm sure that will improve it a lot since the airflow according to your specs is probably terrible with only intake fan, just flip the side on around, if not try reapplying the arctic silver, that could also be a big problem. Make sure you don't apply too much, you just want the arctic silver to barely cover the entire cpu, do not make it too thick, carefully attach the clamps without moving the heatsink around too much. small movements should be fine. Swifttech, from what I've heard is a great company, so concentrating on the thermaltake fan, how fast does it go? and is there a possibility that it's mounted on the wrong side.

I have a thermaltake spark 7 which can go up to 6000rpm, I run my cpu at 3.3ghz with AI overclock, idles at 28c, but I do have 7 case fans (thermaltake xaser III). what's your room temp? and on a totally unrelated note what's your gfx card?

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Yes you need more intake.

Two rear exhausting
Top exhausting
Front Intake
Side Intake
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mattb · TweakNOOB Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 8

My fans are setup correctly now.

I had my exhaust fans hooked up to the True Power "Fan Only" power connectors, which were severely underpowering my fans for some reason?? They are now blowing full speed.

I am going to try reapplying the arctic silver tonight, because I still get a ~10C delta between my processor and my ambiant case temp.

pbian: I have a FX5900, and I am using the AI overclock for now until I can get control of my case temps. This is my first overclock experience.

Right now at idle, I am getting

41c processor
36c ambiant temp in the case
CPU fan at 3000rpm

Does that look right?

Few more questions:

1) What ambiant case temp should I be shooting for in a room temperature room (~22c)?
2) What processor temp should I shoot for at idle? Overclocked 5% I still get about 40c at idle.
3) How much artic silver should I put on the processor? should it barely be caked on (so I can sorta see the processor through it) or enough on so that I can't?
4) What is a good fan to use with my Swiftec heat sink. Right now, I just have a Thermaltake 80mm CPU fan on it. Seemed like a good choice, but is there a better one?

Thanks guys!!

giga_dude · TweakNOOB Joined: 26 Aug 2003 Posts: 1

I also have a similar setup, but 2 gigs of mushkin BLK lvl2 pc3500 dimms with thermaltake spark 7, antec trupower 550....and the gigabyte 8KNXP board.

If your fans are connected properly (I have both of my rear fans connected to the connectors you mentioned (fan only, one in each fan)......and my idle temps are @ 37, fully stressed around 43.....with ram set 2-2-2-5 @ 416....

hope that helps.....

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Still sounds like you are having a case temperature problem.

Did you install all the available front intakes?

What is your CPU voltage set at?
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DMW · SirTweaksabit Joined: 16 May 2002 Posts: 457

admittedly, you have a heat issue with airflow...
but are you running Prime95 because you "use" the program regularly and you allow the application to run it's full cycles? Or are you just using it as a method to test your setup?

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

It's a great way to stress test your computer.
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corNIC · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 10:39 pm Post subject:

that would seem pretty good to me.
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