E2160 won't go past 2.4 ghz

Changnoi

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Feb 3, 2009
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I recently re-built a friend's computer with a new case, motherboard and CPU cooler. The MB is a GA-EP31-DS3L and the cooler is the Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer.

We sat down to do the overclocks, and I noticed the VID was really high - 3.265. It went to 2.4 ghz though no prob. I was surprised to see how high the temps were though under load. Tcore was 60c with 30c ambient.

I put it up to 2.6 ghz. No POST. I bumped Vcore to 1.4. No POST.

I'm afraid to take Vcore higher since my temps were so already so high, but is just that this particular CPU being a dud?

The VID on my Q6600 is 1.25. I expected the E2160 to be lower not higher (lower TDP)

I also expected the temps to be more reasonable. The Sunbeam cooler is pretty famously one of the best around (I used AS5 as well). 30 degrees above ambient must be wrong....
 

Changnoi

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Feb 3, 2009
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That was exactly it. The MB is overclocking the memory as well as the CPU. It's DDR2 (667) so it's starting it there, even though the FSB is only 200 at stock, then getting pushed to 880 when the FSB is moved to 266.

For some reason though I can't seem to switch to a 1:1 ratio. It insists on starting it at 667 then overclocking it.

Now at least I know what the problem is even if it isn't fixed.
 


What you need to do is change the System Memory Multiplier (SPD) from AUTO to 2.0. Then it will track the changes in the FSB. You need an SMM of 2.0 (DDR2 - remember) to maintain the 1:1 ratio.
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Overclocking since 1978 - Z80 (TRS-80) from 1.77 MHz to 2.01 MHz