E5200 setback by mobo?

[Ulti]

I just bought a new CPU and mobo; E5200 and a P5KPL-AM. I can only manage E5200 to stably OC to 3ghz. At 3.1ghz it passes prime but fails in 3DMark06 and Orthos and leads to BSOD. It also crashed in the game Left4Dead.

So now I'm wondering is it my motherboard that's the main setback atm?

It's very limited in terms of OCing. I can only set the FSB and multiplier. (Set to 246*12.5 atm for 3.075ghz) This is the most stable config I can have.

I can only add on 150mv in the BIOS at the most and I can't change any other things.

So is it my mobo that's holding it back? Is there any way I could test this?

If it is the case, then is it worth getting a slightly more expensive mobo and selling this one to perhaps? (Such as getting the P31/35 mobos)

 

[flyin15sec]

Without voltage adjusts, you're pretty much stuck at with .15v can give you. 3.1ghz is about right with what near stock voltages can do.

A P35 would certainly help, they are more enthusiasts oriented and should have plenty OC adjustments for you to play with.

 

[Ulti]

What should I "expect" to OC it to with a P35 though? Just wondering if I should folk out the money.

Also are the 965P chipsets any good for OCing the new 45nms?

 

[flyin15sec]

Most E5200 can do the sweet spot of 3.6ghz. Others push it a bit more and run at 3.8ghz. 4ghz, while not impossible, is also unlikely unless you have good cooling and a good CPU that requires low voltage.

I would just look for a quality P35, as 965 boards are older. Both should be found for around the same prices. X38, P35 were designed for 45nm processors, 965 would require at least some type of BIOS update, some boards makers may not update BIOS for older chipsets.

 

[Ulti]

So if I get a P35 board, I should expect around 600mhz more... Hmm sounds like it's worth it to me.

Thanks!