Which processor should I use if I want to run a G31 chip faster than stock settings?
Which processor should I use if I want to run a G31 chip faster than stock settings?
I want to try pushing my CPUs harder by overclocking them with my G31 chipset motherboard just for fun. My FSB limit is set at 1333MHz because 1666 doesn't work on my board. Here are the processors I have: Pentium Core 2 Duo. I'm looking for which ones are okay to overclock. 😆 The specs of my computer are ECS G31T-M7 with DDR2 CL5 running at 667MHz, a GT 520 card, and a Transcend SSD 800W Corsair TX850M power supply (UPDATE: Only the E6300 and E7500 actually got up to 3.5GHz).
With that setup, your CPU won't be the only thing holding you back; instead, it's the motherboard and chipset. All of them should handle speeds between 3.5 and 4.0 GHz (it depends on the specific parts), even if they are a bit unlucky with their silicon lottery. You probably can't go much higher than 360 FSB just by chance or luck with G31 chips. Around 330 to 340 FSB might work well, assuming you actually set that frequency. That is also where your 667 RAM will run at a perfect 1:1 ratio, and the Intel chipsets simply won't let anything lower anyway. Try starting with the one having the highest multiplier; in this case, it's either an E5400 or an E6800. On these chips, don't go over 1.45 to 1.5 volts if you want them to stay alive. Some older chips like the Q6600 use a 65nm process and can handle up to 4 GHz, but they usually perform better in the range of 3.2 to 3.6 with moderate voltage. The E2140 might be able to overclock to around 3.0 GHz, though...
With that setup it will not be the CPU that limits your OC but the motherboard/chipset, all of them should be able to run somewhere between 3.5-4.0 GHz (depending on silicon lottery ofc) You won't be able to go much beyond maybe 360 FSB with the best of luck on G31. Around 330-340 should work, assuming you can set the FSB. That is also where your 667 RAM will run at 1:1 ratio, and the Intel chipsets won't allow anything lower anyway. Try starting with the one with the highest multipler, in that case the E5400 or E6800 On these, don't go over 1.45-1.5v if you want it to stay alive. (65nm chips (like the Q6600) some do 4 GHz, but expect more in the range of 3.2-3.6 with moderate voltage) E2140 (could oc to maybe 3.0, which means FSB around 330-340) E2180 (same as above, doesn't clock much higher, but should reach it with around 320 FSB) On these not over 1.35-1.4v (45nm chip (like the E8400 or Q9550) They can do 4.0-4.2 GHz, but 3.6-3.9 should be archivable with moderate voltage) E5400 (high multi of 13.5 plus low FSB of 200 means it should go quite a bit before the board limits) E6300 E6800 (12.5 multi means 3.5-3.7 is possible with 280-300 FSB, but also already quite high clocking lowering the multi to something like 9-10 would put you around 3.0-3.5 with 340-350 FSB) E7400 E7500 or you could simply do a BSEL mod to trick the board into thinking the chip is a faster one. (tutorials are out there, but you basically put tape over certain pins) It takes most of the fun out of ocing the platform, but is easy to do even on boards that don't offer all the settings for manual oc. That would mean: E2140 ( 200x8 = 1.6 ) ->( 266x8 =2.12 ) -> ( 333x8 = 2.66 ) E2180 ( 200x10 = 2.0 ) -> ( 266x10 = 2.66 ) -> ( 333x10 = 3.33 ) E5400 ( 200x13.5 =2.7 ) -> ( 266x13.5 =3.59 ) -> ( 333x13.5 = 4.49 ) E6300 ( 266x10.5 =2.8 ) -> ( 333x10.5 = 3.5 ) E6800 ( 266x12.5 =3.33 ) -> ( 333x12.5 =4.16 ) here manual OC is needed. E7400 ( 266x10.5 =2.8 ) ->( 333x10.5 =3.5 ) E7500 ( 266x11 =2.93 ) -> ( 333x11 = 3.66 ) stock speed - should work fine - possible, depends on how well your setup does - with lots of luck/on a better board - won't work without better board & cooling
Hey, do you really have to worry about changing things like SpeedStep or thermal management when it comes to your BIOS settings?