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ECS P45T-A Mild overclocking

T

TehJams

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
84
I built my computer last night (FINALLY!).
Here is some photo documentation in case anyone is interested.

Anyway, from what I've read about the ECS mobo, it's not a super board for overclocking. But i was thinking of doing a mild OC just to get past the 3GHz mark on my CPU. Right now I'm at a stock 2.66 with a Q9400.

Considering this is my first build and my first overclock, I want to take it very safe. I would prefer not to mess with voltages since I am using the stock CPU cooler. From what I can tell by looking at the BIOS, all I can really adjust is the CPU frequency and voltage.

Would you suggest I just raise the CPU frequency a few at a time until I get a BSOD?
 
Well that is kinda the general idea. But you can damage your windows install if you boot but the OS does not load or crashes while loading.

I would recommend downloading a copy of memtest86+, the .iso file, and burning it to CD.

This makes a boot CD you can boot from and then it automatically runs a memory test. So it is great to check overall system "working" as you slowing increase FSB/CPU frequency. Boot it up , let it run the first few tests which run fairly fast, reboot and raise FSB (cpu speed) some say 10-20 MHz a time, big jumps sometimes do not let the board adjust internal timings well so smaller jumps are usually better . Rinse and repeat until errors show up in the testing, or it will not boot. Back off 1/2 of your last increment and see if it will pass. If so , try Windows and check your temps (download Realtemp now and have it ready to run when you get into windows. Also does not hurt to record you stock temps so you can have an idea of how rasing the cpu frequency is affect cpu temps.

More than likely you will be able to get a decent OC at stock voltage but at some point you will need to increase the CPU voltage. Intel absolute Max for your cpu is 1.45V and due to some stuff I dont want to detail out here 1.40V is a very good place to call it quits. However more than likely 1.35ish will get you where you want to go and is a very very conservative voltage that can give you good speed gains without getting anywhere near a voltage that woud be considered "high".

Run your memory at 1:1 and keep an eye on its speed as it will increase as you increase CPU frequency (well I think it will, know it will if it is an Intel chipset board, too lazy to look it up atm and dinner is on the stove.)
The idea is while testing/playing/investigating your cpu capabilies you make sure your memory is underclocked that way you see what the cpu can do. Then once you find a comfortable cpu setting or find/determine some limit you go back and see about memory multiplier/ratio settings that run your memory close to its rated speed (cpu MHz are more powerful than memory MHz so we optimize cpu and do memory as a seconday excercise).

Refresher.

Cpu is going to run at the cpu mulitplier x the FSB
memory is going to run at the FSB x 2 x memory ratio

something "dinged" off to the kitchen. Have fun.
 
Thanks so much for the help, Bill! I will give it a try when I get home.
 
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