Overclocking the Athlon 64 - Page 20

Please remember that while following these steps, you are expected to keep an eye on your CPU temperature to make sure that nothing gets damaged - you've been warned!

1. Start your computer and go into the BIOS (consult your motherboard manual on how to do this),
2. Reduce the HT (or 'LDT') Multiplier in the BIOS to 3x, and the 'Max Memclock' setting from Auto/200MHz to 133MHz or lower,
3. Disable Cool'n'Quiet if the option is available in your BIOS,
4. Increase the HTT frequency by 5MHz (to 205MHz), save your settings, and start Windows,
5. Check that the CPU and memory frequencies are as expected in CPU-Z,
6. Run Prime95's 'Torture Test' in Small FFT's mode for about 10 minutes,
   1. If no errors occur: restart your computer and increase the HTT another 5MHz, save the settings and repeat 5-6 until it fails Prime95's test,
   2. If errors occur: in the BIOS try increasing the VCORE voltage to your CPU by the smallest increment you can (often 0.025V), save the settings and try running Prime95 again (try not to increase the CPU VCORE above 1.5V unless you're sure that your cooling is adequate). If it works this time, continue to increase the HTT frequency and repeat steps 5-6 until it fails Prime95's test,
7. Reduce your HTT frequency by approximately 10MHz, then try running Prime95's 'Torture Test' in Small FFT's mode for 24 hours. If it fails after several hours, reduce the HTT frequency a little more (if it fails almost instantly, reduce the HTT frequency by a larger increment). Once you have found a HTT frequency that is stable, note down your settings and the stable CPU Clockspeed you have achieved,
8. In the BIOS, return the 'Max Memclock' setting from 133MHz (or whatever value you used) back to 'Auto' or 200MHz, and change the HTT frequency back to its default 200MHz,
9. Reduce the CPU multiplier from its default value to 5x,
10. Increase the HTT frequency by 5MHz (to 205MHz), save your settings, and start Windows,
11. Check that the CPU and memory frequencies are as expected in CPU-Z,
12. Run Prime95's 'Torture Test' in Blend mode for about 10 minutes,
    1. If no errors occur: restart your computer and increase the HTT another 5MHz, save the settings and repeat steps 11-12 until it fails Prime95's test,
    2. If errors occur: in the BIOS try increasing the voltage delivered to the RAM by the smallest increment you can (often 0.1V), save the settings and try running Prime95 again (try not to increase the RAM voltage above 2.8V unless you've got 'overclockers RAM' that's certified to run with that voltage, or else you risk breaking it). If it works this time, continue to increase the HTT frequency and repeat steps 11-12 until it fails Prime95's test,
13. Reduce your HTT frequency by approximately 10MHz, then try running Prime95's 'Torture Test' in Blend mode for 24 hours. If it fails after several hours, reduce the HTT frequency a little more (if it fails almost instantly, reduce the HTT frequency by a larger increment). Once you have found a HTT frequency that is stable, note down your settings and the stable RAM Frequency you have achieved,
14. Using the formulas below as a guide, alter your CPU Multiplier/HTT Frequency/'Max Memclock' settings as necessary to get as close to the highest overclocked values you recorded for the CPU and RAM,
15. Once you've found a good compromise between the RAM/CPU speed, test the system by running Prime95's 'Torture Test' in Blend mode for 24 hours,
    1. If it fails, reduce the HTT frequency a little and try again
    2. If it passes, you can declare your overclock a success!

To calculate CPU speed:

CPU Speed = HTT frequency x CPU Multiplier

To calculate Memory Speed:

This table, combined with the above formula, should help you figure out what speed your memory is running at when using 'half' CPU multipliers:

Click here for a PDF Version of the Crib Sheet

<<< Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Article Navigation:

• Introduction
  • What is Overclocking?
  • The Dangers of Overclocking
  • Overclocking basics
• The Differences in the A64 Platform
  • Athlon 64 Multipliers
  • Athlon 64 and the missing FSB..
• RAM and what it has to do with Overclocking
  • Memory dividers
  • Timing is everything...
• Voltage and how it affects Overclocking
• Cooling and Other Hardware Considerations
  • TIM the enchanter
  • The Sometimes Overlooked Hardware
• Let's start Overclocking!
  • Tools of the trade
  • Overclocking the CPU - Part 1
  • Overclocking the CPU - Part 2
  • Overclocking the Memory
  • Putting it all together
• Conclusion
• Overclocking 'Crib Sheet'