overclocking xeon on a weak P31 chipset
overclocking xeon on a weak P31 chipset
I know this is an older thread, but just in case OP is still using this CPU (since they posted an update it seems likely) then a new motherboard will probably improve things considerably. If you can find a P45 board reasonably cheaply I'd go for it! I have a Xeon (E5450) in a Gigabyte P45 board and it runs extremely well (got it overclocked to 4.1GHz)
Xibyth :
base clock overclocking will always be small compared to multiplier overclocking. A couple of things to note, Xeon CPU's are not capable of multiplier overclocks so thats why it resets, and for a base clock overclock thats actually pretty decent.
That's only the case for newer Sandy Bridge and above Xeons, where the base clock is tied to everything else. Core 2 Xeons that use the FSB will overclock just as well (some say they should OC better, but that seems to be speculation) as similar Core 2 Quads - I have an E5450 currently running at 4.1GHz (9x450 fsb). But yes you are correct that they are multiplier locked - changing it in BIOS won't actually do anything.
Well that's pretty much true of any CPU isn't it? If you try to run it at a voltage outside what it was designed for, it might not run. Nothing Xeon specific about that. Remember, Core 2 Xeons are LITERALLY just Core 2 Quads with SMP support enabled, in a slightly different package.
This, 83C is a reasonable temperature to try and keep it under.
Well yes, but again that's true with overclocking anything...
Also a few of these points are a little off:
probably true.
Nope. An E5440 has exactly the same clock speed as a Q9550. Lower clock speed versions exist, but they are primarily designed to consume less power. A CPU will be obsolete way, way before it fails due to normal wear-and-tear.
That is determined by the chipset/motherboard. Nothing to do with the CPU in this generation.
Not sure about this one. It may well be the case now that you need a server grade chipset, but anyway, what modern Core i derived Xeons require isn't really relevant to the Core 2 based one being discussed in this thread.
Nothing to do with the CPU, OC options are provided by the motherboard, unless you are referring to the locked multiplier, which is also true for all non-extreme edition CPUs.
Nope. The Xeons support all the same power saving features as the mainstream chips they are derived from.
I successfully reached 3100mhz (355.7FSB) with 1.250V. Going higher in FSB will cause the whole PC to freeze. Any voltage increase or PCIe at 104mhz won't help, nor will a 667 memory. My FSB limit was found at 364mhz, that's it!