Overclock E2160/EX38-DS4

[redzoneos]

hello,
I'll list my specs first:
motherboard: Gigabyte EX38-DS4 F3 bios
cpu: E2160 M0 stepping, stock HSF
GPU: MSI HD3870 OC edition (T2D512E)
RAM: Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 1Gb for now... waiting to exchange because 1 stick was bad. 🙁
PSU: Cooler Master real power pro 650W
case: cooler master CM 690
HDD: WD SE16 500Gb


Ok, if someone with at least an identical motherboard can help me over clock, I would really appreciate it. I have never done it before. I read the P35DS3L guide, but since there are a few minor differences, I wanted to see if someone was willing to give me some extra attention

I tried running call of duty 4, and it took like 15 minutes to load, and was extremely laggy... I'm assuming this HAS to be a cpu issue, since it's very budget... I'd like to get to around 2.6 or 2.8Ghz on stock cooling if possible... will purchase better cooling later to go higher.

Key questions:
1. I'm scared because I don't really know anything about how to control voltages etc... should I be leaving all the voltage controls on auto? I don't want to fry my system!

2. my RAM is rated according to corsair site at 4-4-4-12 timing and 2.1 volts... don't know what that means, but in the BIOS it's showing up as 5-5-5-18, with 1.8 volts... if you can tell me exactly what to change, IF necessary I would appreciate it.

3. what settings do I need to enable, disable, put on auto, change to manual, etc? I know this is a broad question, which is why I'm hoping someone with the SAME motherboard can help me... please if you have the time, can you tell me or post screen shots of where the settings are located, just so I don't screw anything up!

4. One thing I'm confused about is the RAM multiplier settings (not sure if that's what it is called)... the part that says 2.00B etc... what if I'm a little bit above, or a little bit below on the FSB??? meaning, which setting do I use, if 2 of them produce similar RAM speeds? so if as an example, 2.00B shows the same speed as lets say 3.00C, do I use the first one or the second one???

Thanks for all your help!!!!

 

[Mondoman]

2) This post should help: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/200599-30-memory-nooob-aarrggghh-timings#t1249881

However, your speed problems are likely 90% due to only having 1GB of RAM. 2GB is a minimum for Windows, and you should really have 3GB or 4GB with DDR2 so cheap.

 

[redzoneos]

yea you could be very right about the 1Gb RAM issue... i just havent had time to go get them replaced since one of the sticks is bad :\


anyway, that post was amazingly informative... I however am a bit too dumb to understand it all... So I'll state the questions I still have after reading that post...

In the BIOS for my mobo, the RAM settings on auto are 5-5-5-18 @ 1.8V.... thats in order from top to bottom, cant remember exactly what was written... and then there are several more options below this...

If I want to change my RAM timings... do I only change the above numbers so they represent 4-4-4-12 @ 2.1V???
Do I automatically jump to 2.1V or should I go only incrementally and do memtest each time to see if it's stable at lower voltages??? Also, what about the other settings below these?? I can get the exact list of titles if you need.

One of the posters said in the link you provided that the ratio he has was not 1:1??? I don't understand... I thought if I matched my FSB speed so the RAM was running at 800Mhz or lower, I would be fine?? so basically if I set 333Mhz FSB, and then changed my memory to 2.00B, I should be good to go?? How do I know if that's "1:1" ratio?