What are the odds it might burn?

[Kageboshi]

I'm planning to buy a new PC this year, I want to get a P4 2.8c processor, an Asus P4P800 Deluxe motherboard, and a Zalman CNPS7000-Cu to do the cooling job. I still have not decided wether to get corsair pc3200 ram or pc3700. I know the pc3700 ram is better for overclocking, I'd Like to overclock my processor 20-30%, but since I've never overclocked in my life, I don't know how risky it is to do so. Could you guys give me an advice here? if its too risky I'll go with the pc3200 ram and not overclock.

 

[speeduk]

The only risk in overclocking is running too much voltage through the processor. If you leave your 2.8 at stock voltage and use that cooler to cool it, you should hit 3.2ghz no problem. As for memory, get the fastest you can, 3700 would be perfect to run it at 230fsb (3220mhz cpu).

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[Kageboshi]

Thanks a lot, btw, is corsair pc3700 any good? or is there a better alternative?, also if i get DDR500 memory can i run the cpu at a faster speed at stock voltage? .

 

[speeduk]

If you get DDR500, you will be able to take the FSB to 250mhz in sync with the memory @ 250mhz. This gives very high performance. At 250mhz fsb you will have turned your 2.8 into a 3.5 with 25% more bandwidth. It all depends on how good your chip is when you get it. If its good quality it should do 3.5ghz fine on stock or close to stock speeds but aslong as you stay below 1.6V you should be perfectly fine.

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[speeduk]

You could of course run the memory out of sync with the FSB. For example; running some corsair 3500 @ 220mhz with a 5:4 divider set in bios will move the FSB to 275mhz giving you not as much memory bandwidth, but giving you a 3.8ghz processor.

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[scottchen]

For the ram, get dual channel kit, since they're guranteed to run at the rated frequency.

I hate Computers! My P4 2.4C won't go above 3840mhz. My Sapphire 9800pro core/mem speed won't go above 490/790. I really hate computers!

 

[Kageboshi]

Thanks again, I think I'll get the Corsair TWINX1024-3700PT then. Is it worth it to get a cheaper video card and go for pc4000 ?
Also, what would be better, running the processor at 3.5 GHZ using 5:4 with pc3200. Or Running it at 3.2 using 1:1 with pc3700 ?
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Kageboshi on 08/14/03 01:06 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[speeduk]

It would be close. The timings at 233mhz will be slack, say 2.5/3/3/8 where as at 200 they will be low, 2/3/2/6 or so. You will gain say a couple hundred points in 3dmark2001 using 233mhz fsb sync but with the extra 300mhz cpu speed you will gain about 300 marks. But you lose a bit by running the fsb out of sync. It would be close. I would go for the 3700 and try to get the timings at 2.5/3/3/6. Also by aiming for 3.2ghz you increase the chance that the 2.8 cpu will reach that speed on default voltage

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<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=1150155" target="_new"> 3D-03 </A>
<font color=red> 120% overclocker </font color=red> (cheapskate)

 

[speeduk]

Dont get pc4000 memory over a better video card. Get the best out there for the money. The 9800pro's have come down a lot in price lately...

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6868334" target="_new"> MY RIG </A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=1150155" target="_new"> 3D-03 </A>
<font color=red> 120% overclocker </font color=red> (cheapskate)

 

[scottchen]

9800pro's an extreme card once you get the core above 450mhz.

I hate Computers! My P4 2.4C won't go above 3840mhz. My Sapphire 9800pro core/mem speed won't go above 490/790. I really hate computers!

 

[Kageboshi]

Thanks a lot again, now I know what to do 😉 .

 

[ytoledano]

It might not be the best idea to get the 2.8 since the higher a CPU's listed frequency the higher its multiplier and so you might not be able to get the FSB frequency as high as you want because your CPU can't handle the speed. A slower CPU, the 2.6 for example will be able to be at the same frequency while having a higher FSB and a higher FSB means faster memory transfers. THG just wrote an article about this, in their test they used a P4 2.6 with PC4000 and got it to 250*13=3.25@FSB500.

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