AMD Athlon II X2 255 Overclocking Help 05042011

[mowogo1820]

I've never overclocked a PC before. So, maybe you all can walk me through it.

Note: My Fan and Heatsink came with the processor (factory).

Here's what I'm working with (according to Piriform Speccy v1.10.248):


Operating System
MS Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3

CPU
AMD Athlon II X2 255 32 °C
Regor 45nm Technology

RAM
2.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 401MHz (4-4-4-12)

Motherboard
ASRock N68-S (CPUSocket) 41 °C

Graphics
NEC FE700 (1280x768@60Hz)
512MB GeForce 9500 GT (ASUStek Computer Inc) 45 °C

Hard Drives
313GB Western Digital WDC WD32 00AAKS-00SBA SCSI Disk Device (ATA) 37 °C

Optical Drives
ASUS DRW-24B1ST SCSI CdRom Device

Audio
SB Audigy


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More Detailed CPU Specs:
---------------------------------

CPU
AMD Athlon II X2 255
Cores 2
Threads 2
Name AMD Athlon II X2 255
Code Name Regor
Package Socket AM3 (938)
Technology 45nm
Specification AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 255 Processor
Family F
Extended Family 10
Model 6
Extended Model 6
Stepping 3
Revision DA-C3
Instructions MMX (+), 3DNow! (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4A, AMD 64
Virtualization Supported, Disabled
Hyperthreading Not supported
Fan Speed 3068 RPM
Bus Speed 200.9 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1004.6 MHz
Stock Core Speed 3100 MHz
Stock Bus Speed 200 MHz
Average Temperature 32 °C
Caches
L1 Data Cache Size 2 x 64 KBytes
L1 Instructions Cache Size 2 x 64 KBytes
L2 Unified Cache Size 2 x 1024 KBytes
Core 0
Core Speed 3114.5 MHz
Multiplier x 15.5
Bus Speed 200.9 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1004.6 MHz
Temperature 32 °C
Thread 1
APIC ID 0
Core 1
Core Speed 3114.5 MHz
Multiplier x 15.5
Bus Speed 200.9 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1004.6 MHz
Temperature 32 °C
Thread 1
APIC ID 1



===============

Please remember, I am new to this. I appreciate any help I can get.

 

[lowjack989]

Well I would steer you towards a OC guide..I will tell you the basics..OK...Memory speed will play a big role in your OC as you will be using the FSB to do this as your CPU's multiplier is locked...So, in BIOS you'll see something that say like CPU bus speed it should equal 200MHz this is the number that you will raise...look also for DRAM speed yours should read 800MHz...Now lower your RAM value to say 667MHz....By raising the CPU bus speed to like 225 MHz...your OC would be CPU 3.5GHz--->RAM @ 834MHz...Now for the voltage...you want all of the voltages to be set to manual...set all voltages values to defaults it should state the default value in the right hand side box once highlighted...Now with the above OC...you will more than likely have to bump the cpu voltage slightly to 1.4...The maximum voltage that CPU can handle is 1.5...so make sure to not overvolt to much this is very important. Thats just the mere basics of OCing I suggest you read 4ryan6's OC guide in the stickies at the top of the OC forum

 

[lowjack989]

BTW..watch those temps when you OC....you will want to get an aftermarket cooler for OCing

 

[mowogo1820]

More Detailed RAM Specs:
---------------------------------

RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots 2
Used memory slots 2
Free memory slots 0
Memory
Type DDR2
Size 2048 MBytes
Channels # Dual
DRAM Frequency 401.9 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 4 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 4 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 4 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 12 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 24 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 2T
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 68 %
Total Physical 1.99 GB
Available Physical 634 MB
Total Virtual 1.99 GB
Available Virtual 1.90 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 2
Slot #1
Type DDR2
Size 1024 MBytes
Manufacturer Crucial Technology
Max Bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part Number BL12864AL106A.8FH5
Serial Number 9002688B
Week/year 165 / 165
SPD Ext. EPP
EPP #0
Frequency 400.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 4.0
RAS# To CAS# 4
RAS# Precharge 4
tRAS 12
tRC 24
Voltage 2.000 V
EPP #1
Frequency 534.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 15
tRC 29
Voltage 2.000 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 400.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 18
tRC 23
Voltage 1.800 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 333.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 4.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 16
tRC 20
Voltage 1.800 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency 266.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 3.0
RAS# To CAS# 4
RAS# Precharge 4
tRAS 12
tRC 16
Voltage 1.800 V
Slot #2
Type DDR2
Size 1024 MBytes
Manufacturer Crucial Technology
Max Bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part Number BL12864AL106A.8FH5
Serial Number 8F03EE20
Week/year 165 / 165
SPD Ext. EPP
EPP #0
Frequency 400.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 4.0
RAS# To CAS# 4
RAS# Precharge 4
tRAS 12
tRC 24
Voltage 2.000 V
EPP #1
Frequency 534.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 15
tRC 29
Voltage 2.000 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 400.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 18
tRC 23
Voltage 1.800 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 333.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 4.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 16
tRC 20
Voltage 1.800 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency 266.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 3.0
RAS# To CAS# 4
RAS# Precharge 4
tRAS 12
tRC 16
Voltage 1.800 V


=================

Does this extra bit of info help?

What would you overclock it to for a speed increase? Is my processor a good processor to overclock?

What temperature range is safe?

 

[lowjack989]

Yeah you got some good memory those timings are tight so if you do OC that memory you may be limited on how much above 800 they will go without loosen the timings ....that is a whole other ball of wax....I would do like I stated in the prior post....That is a decent CPU, great little budget OCer....I like to stay under 57c all the time my maximum on my X4 965 BE rig is 53c @4.11GHz-->1.43v

 

[lowjack989]

Default voltage should be tried first on those prior settings as that is a minor OC and stock voltage of 1.36 will "probably" be OK

 

[mowogo1820]

Default voltage should be tried first on those prior settings as that is a minor OC and stock voltage of 1.36 will "probably" be OK

===================

Please check out this link before continuing with helping me OC my CPU. I had a problem with my memory to begin with. The link is:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/290628-30-speed-increase-05032011#t1982873

Thanks

 

[lowjack989]

I don't see the problem with your RAM.....

 

[mowogo1820]

I don't see the problem with your RAM.....

============


The RAM was only running at half speed (originally). Now, it's running at normal speed.

If you owned my computer, what would you overclock it two with the specs given? What numbers should I change ant to what?