Overclocking a mobile Core Duo with 533 FSB to 667!

[smilingcrow]

There are quiet a few Core Duo CPUs with a FSB of 533 and a lesser amount of Core 2 Duos with the same FSB speed.

It dawned on me that they may make a good choice for over-clocking provided that Socket M motherboards allow you too manually set the FSB to 677 without screwing up the PCIe, PCI and RAM clocks. Has anyone tried this?

As an example the T2450 if set to 667 would run at 2.5GHz, which should be achievable at stock VCore.

[buzzlightyear]

For the last two monts, I have been using a T2050 (12x533fsb) on my Aopen i945vml and a T2250 (13x533fsb) on a MSI 945GT Speedster. Both CPUs are OC'ed to 660fsb (from 133 to 166) with no voltage change (not allowed anyway)

So keep your month shut until I get a T2350 or a T2450 on eBay.

[nzimmers]

I run a 1.5ghz Yonah on a MSI 945GT and I bumped up the FSB as the previous poster mentioned - now have just shy of 1.8ghz but that's with only a X9 multiplier but with 1GB of ram I run win server 2003 and two virtual machines (including one which is a win 2003 web server)

CPU idles at 1192mhz and under full load it's at 1.78Ghz - overall I am pretty happy and the CPU is totally passive - no fan anywhere near the CPU.

I noticed the core solo T1350 has a X14 multiplier so would it be reasonable to expect I could run that chip at 2.77ghz?

Core Solo T1350 (bus 198mhz x 14) = 2.77ghz
Core Duo T2350 (bus 198mhz x 14) = 2.77ghz
Core Duo T2450 (bus 198mhz x 15) = 2.97ghz !!!

Although I would love to get a T2450 CPU in there with 2GB or even 4GB of ram!

Eventually I would love to get a Merom T7400 in there, perhaps in a year or so when they are cheaper on ebay

[smilingcrow]

Thanks people. I suppose the advantage of the 945GT is that it’s a desktop chipset so the PCI/PCIe clocks are locked which might not be the case with the 945GM. Or maybe it’s purely a BIOS issue!

For the last two monts, I have been using a T2050 (12x533fsb) on my Aopen i945vml and a T2250 (13x533fsb) on a MSI 945GT Speedster. Both CPUs are OC'ed to 660fsb (from 133 to 166) with no voltage change (not allowed anyway)

Have you tried a higher FSB with the MSI board?

So keep your month shut until I get a T2350 or a T2450 on eBay.

You can always ask a moderator to delete this thread.

I run a 1.5ghz Yonah on a MSI 945GT and I bumped up the FSB as the previous poster mentioned. CPUz shoes the FSB at 794mhz and my memory is at 633 (317.9mhz with a 5:8 divider).

Sounds good to me.

What heat-sinks are you both using? I’m going to go with the MSI board which is S478 compatible so I’m wondering what heat-sink to use to run it passively.

[nzimmers]

Hi Smiling Crow

I chose the MSI board specifically because it has the p4 478 mounting holes (and has 4xsata and 2xRam slots)

I use the GIGABYTE GH-PDU22-SC but took off the fan as it was not needed - overall pretty low profile and with the core solo it's works well - although the retention brackets aren't putting much downward pressure on the heatsink, so using this in a vertical case would require some shims on the spring clamps....I see this as good though...because I don't have to worry about cracking the cpu with too much pressure.

Oh, and it's super cheap, only $21

I think if I used a dual core chip I might put a small silent fan underneath the vanes just to increase the air flow...my T1200 Yonah only uses max of 25w (afaik) so a dual core with a max of 31 or higher might need more than convection but it might not!

[buzzlightyear]

smilingcrow. You know I am kidding about the "shut your month" part, right?

On the MSI 945GT, the highest fsn I can get is 175fsb using clockgen.

I am using my trusty Zalman 7000 cu on the MSI. I could run it passively with temp 40-60c. Not too bad.

Also, I may be wrong. I don't think the PCI bus is locked on the MSI 945GT.

[nzimmers]

buzz - i can get 199fsb on the MSI (i'm using ddr2 667) but I had to use a 5:4 divider - but for some reason it shows up in CPUz as a 5:8 divider (strange)

here's the results I got;

Results with memory divider at 1:1 (667mhz)
BUS166mhz - FSB663 - CPU1.49Ghz - 39s - MEM331mhz
BUS170mhz - FSB679 - CPU1.53Ghz - 38s - MEM340mhz
BUS175mhz - FSB700 - CPU1.58Ghz - 37s - MEM350mhz
BUS180mhz - FSB720 - CPU1.62Ghz - 37s - MEM360mhz
BUS185mhz - FSB740 - CPU1.66Ghz - 35s - MEM370mhz
BUS190mhz - FSB760 - CPU1.71Ghz - 35s - MEM380mhz

Results with memory divider at 5:4 (533mhz)
BUS195mhz - FSB780 - CPU1.75Ghz - 35s - MEM312mhz
BUS199mhz - FSB795 - CPU1.79Ghz - 34s - MEM318mhz


trying changing to a 5:4 divider and see what you can do

also - I would try bumping up the fsb in the bios instead of using clockgen, that might work better?

[buzzlightyear]

nzimmers

I had tried and failed to get the 5:4 memory divider to work. I think I have done something wrong.

I too have DDR2 667 memory

In the bios, DRAM Timing = Manual, 5,5,5,12, and System Memory Freq = 667. The fastest fsb I can can is 172fsb. Should I set the System Memory Freq to something lower in order to get the correct "divider"?

[nzimmers]

buzz -

yes, maybe try starting at 166mhz with a 5:4 divider and then bump up 1-2 mhz at a time.

I used kingston ddr2 667 ram with following timings:

CAS latency: 5 clocks
RAS to CAS delay: 5 clocks
RAS Precharge: 5 clocks
Cycle time: 15 clocks
Bank cycle time: 1 clock

I'm sure I didn't set these manually, I just used the auto detect spid - try changing to auto on that value as well and let us know

[buzzlightyear]

nzimmers

Dumb question. Where is the divider setting ?

[nzimmers]

buzz - that's a really good question....it's been months since I have had a monitor hooked up to it (i've been using mine as a headless server)

I was looking at some screen shots at this link: http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=5659&page=4

but didn't see it....... I know it's there..... highest I got without the divider was 190mhz and I used super pi to test the performance with and without the divider.


what bios do you have?

oh, on a side note, I just purchased a Intel Core Solo T1350 1.86 GHz that should have a x14 multiplier.... couldn't resist - it was $25 shipped!

[buzzlightyear]

I am using the latest 1.4 bios right from the beginning. I understand this bios fixes the VGA/TV output confusion that causes black screen problem.

Well, I have to track down that memory divider feature.

Thanks

[nzimmers]

thanks for the heads up on the new bios, I have been using the oct 2006 version of 1.30 since I got mine

never seem to be able to get the MSI 'live update' to work....have you had any luck with that?

I will probably hook up the monitor today after work and hunt for the divider if you still are having troubles

[smilingcrow]

I use the GIGABYTE GH-PDU22-SC but took off the fan as it was not needed - overall pretty low profile and with the core solo it's works well - although the retention brackets aren't putting much downward pressure on the heatsink, so using this in a vertical case would require some shims on the spring clamps....I see this as good though...because I don't have to worry about cracking the cpu with too much pressure.

I used to have a Scythe Katana (version 1) which was great for S479 as you could screw it in place rather than apply pressure, so there was no danger of damaging the chip. It’s not the best heat-sink though.

I am using my trusty Zalman 7000 cu on the MSI. I could run it passively with temp 40-60c. Not too bad.

How easy it to attach the Zalman to the mobile CPU?

Also, I may be wrong. I don't think the PCI bus is locked on the MSI 945GT.

If it isn’t then the PCI buss will be running way out of spec at the FSB speeds that people are using which would make the PCI buss unusable.

smilingcrow. You know I am kidding about the "shut your mouth" part, right?

I figured you were mainly kidding.

Well, I have to track down that memory divider feature.

It’s Advanced Chipset features – System Memory Frequency. Set it to 533 MHz I guess!

What’s the highest FSB setting that the BIOS supports? 199 is not much of an over-clock for a chipset designed for 166 so I’m wondering if it’s possible to go higher. The CPUs themselves seem to be good for at least 230/240 judging by results that people achieved with the Aopen 975X board. I figure it should be possible to hit about 2.6/2.7 on stock Vcore.

[nzimmers]

Smiling Crow -

199 is the highest the MSI board will allow - definitely modest overclock...are there any other socket M motherboards that you know that will allow for higher?

I'm loving mobile chips - I just wish they would come out with some MB's that had the same treatment the desktop boards do....voltage settings, etc.

I've looked at some of the MSI mini-itx boards that are for socket M, but haven't seen any reviews if they allow any overclocking at all....


Smiling Crow: which boards do you have?

[smilingcrow]

199 is the highest the MSI board will allow - definitely modest overclock...are there any other socket M motherboards that you know that will allow for higher?

The board supports Clockgen so it may be possible to go above 199 although using a chip with a 133 MHz FSB still gives a very nice O/C.
The Aopen 975X board goes well above 200 and you can adjust the VCore also.

Smiling Crow: which boards do you have?

None at the moment but I’ve owned the Aopen 975X and the Asus myself and built two systems for family members with the Gigabyte board. I’ve also tested the Abit board but the MSI has eluded me so far and it seems the best board for my current requirements.

I think I’ll try DDR2-800 in the board and run the memory synchronously, although it may not provide the correct voltage for some low latency RAM of that speed.

BTW, if you want to try Clockgen you will have to use these settings:

"ClockGen-1.0.4.2 has a setting for ICS954123, and once we select it,
it's also enough for ICS954129, though PCIe&PCI clock can't be displayed
properly...so I checked in "Ignore GSB/PCI" check box...by Franck's advice"

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... tcount=498

[nzimmers]

The Aopen 975X board goes well above 200 and you can adjust the VCore also.

Interesting board - I didn't give it much of a look as I really wanted a UATX board, dual Lan, and I've had good experiances with MSI and bad ones with Aopen...plus I think the Aopen board at the time was rather pricey.

I’ve also tested the Abit board but the MSI has eluded me so far and it seems the best board for my current requirements.

there were a few open box deals on newegg on the MSI board for like $93 - I almost bought an extra one I like it that much

I think I’ll try DDR2-800 in the board and run the memory synchronously, although it may not provide the correct voltage for some low latency RAM of that speed.

hope that works out for you, I went with memory that was spec'd at 1.8v as I figured the MSI board might not support higher voltages -

I'll look into the clockgen program I suppose if I knock down the FSB to 400mhz divider I might be able to do something interesting

hoping the T1350 I just bought will work out with a fantastic overclock and still remain fanless!

[nzimmers]

humm.... I was looking into overclocking a bit more... I think I made a mistake..

the FSB frequency is determined by the CPU - so the T1200 yonah I have which is 667fsb starts off with a base of 166mhz

but the T1350 I bought has a 533fsb, so that means the base frequency will be 133

the MSI board only allows you to add an extra 33mhz (166->199) and I am assuming 133->166 for 533 fsb

so the best I can get from the T1350 will be 14 x 166 = 2.324Ghz

I initially thought I would be able to get 14 x 199 = 2.786Ghz....but this isn't going to be the case

unless I can force the motherboard into supplying the 667 fsb........?

either way, I am happy with the x14 multiplier =)


Smiling crow - I tried the clockgen program.....I could clock the FSB down and it would apply no problem but I could not go over 199mhz

hoping that I can use it to force 199mhz when I get the T1350!

[VesaM]

Hi

I did some OC experimenting with my MSI Speedster and T7200. Bus speed will not raise above 191.5MHz, even though the fsb is set to 199MHz (memory is set to 533)

[smilingcrow]

We seem to be getting conflicting info with regard over-clocking the 533MHz FSB chips.

humm.... I was looking into overclocking a bit more... I think I made a mistake.. the FSB frequency is determined by the CPU - so the T1200 yonah I have which is 667fsb starts off with a base of 166mhz but the T1350 I bought has a 533fsb, so that means the base frequency will be 133. the MSI board only allows you to add an extra 33mhz (166->199) and I am assuming 133->166 for 533 fsb so the best I can get from the T1350 will be 14 x 166 = 2.324Ghz

I wouldn’t assume anything but wait until you can test it.

Buzzlightyear – Can you try setting your RAM to 533MHz and see if you can raise the FSB above 166 in the BIOS of the MSI? That will confirm whether this is a limitation. I’d be very happy with 190+ with a 133MHz CPU.
Did you need to use a shim with your Zalman 7000?

[nzimmers]

I wouldn’t assume anything but wait until you can test it.

I think I said something to that effect when I first met my wife.....

Hopefully Buzz will come back and tell us the range of fsb speeds on his MSI board using the T2050.... looking at one of his earlier posts he did mention that he could get 175 with clockgen but personally I'm going with whatever I can get in the bios, when I fuddled with clockgen it seemed to lock in the speedstep at the maximum multiplier & I had to reboot to get it clear out.

On another note, My board only has one 40 pin IDE port but in the BIOS I see there is a secondary channel - but no way to hook up drives to the secondary channel =(

[buzzlightyear]

It does not matter if I set the ram to 533 or 633 mhz, the fsb range in the Bios remains 133-165 mhz.

We seem to be getting conflicting info with regard over-clocking the 533MHz FSB chips.

humm.... I was looking into overclocking a bit more... I think I made a mistake.. the FSB frequency is determined by the CPU - so the T1200 yonah I have which is 667fsb starts off with a base of 166mhz but the T1350 I bought has a 533fsb, so that means the base frequency will be 133. the MSI board only allows you to add an extra 33mhz (166->199) and I am assuming 133->166 for 533 fsb so the best I can get from the T1350 will be 14 x 166 = 2.324Ghz

I wouldn’t assume anything but wait until you can test it.

Buzzlightyear – Can you try setting your RAM to 533MHz and see if you can raise the FSB above 166 in the BIOS of the MSI? That will confirm whether this is a limitation. I’d be very happy with 190+ with a 133MHz CPU.
Did you need to use a shim with your Zalman 7000?

[smilingcrow]

The fastest fsb I can can is 172fsb.

It does not matter if I set the ram to 533 or 633 mhz, the fsb range in the Bios remains 133-165 mhz

Did you manage 172 using Clockgen? I’m wondering if you could go higher than 172 with clockgen if you set the RAM to 533 as your RAM may have been holding you back before.

Hopefully Buzz will come back and tell us the range of fsb speeds on his MSI board using the T2050.... looking at one of his earlier posts he did mention that he could get 175 with clockgen but personally I'm going with whatever I can get in the bios, when I fuddled with clockgen it seemed to lock in the speedstep at the maximum multiplier & I had to reboot to get it clear out.

I’ll happily settle for the maximum FSB available in the BIOS most of the time, but occasionally it would be useful to be able to go higher even if it does require a reboot to re-enable Speedstep. I’m especially thinking of the ability to playback HD videos with only the IGP which will require quite a high clock speed.

[audiojunk]

I have the Asus N4L-VM with a T2600 and the max fsb i can get is only 177Mhz so 2300Mhz is the max.
But i'm happy with this combo because at Idle(1Ghz) it only uses 38W and Stressed(2,16Ghz) only 62W only problem is that you can't replace the cooler

Asus N4L-VM,T2600,2x1Gb MDT PC5300,Samsung T166 500Gb,NEC 3540A,Seasonic S12 11 330W,2x12mm casefans.

[smilingcrow]

I have the Asus N4L-VM .... only problem is that you can't replace the cooler

I used a 60 to 80mm fan adapter along with a Nexus 80mm which helped matters.

[buzzlightyear]

smilingcrow
With my MSI 945GT, I still max out at 172-175fsb using Clockgen even if I set my 663 ram to 533mhz. If I replace my T2250 with T2300, the highest fsb I can get is only 180fsb.

I think I am limited by the IGP's max speed. Also I think my mobo under-volt the CPU by a little too.

In term HD, I have no problem running MCE with HDTV tuner and decode HD AVI at the same time (using IGP).

[nzimmers]

Buzz -

That's really strange that you can only get 175 even though you set the divider to 533fsb setting....

what kind of ram do you have? whats the voltage requirement for the ram?

I'm thinking that you have ram that requires higher voltage than the MSI board can supply, making overclocking difficult

-just a guess

[buzzlightyear]

My ram are HP OEM'ed ram (got them cheap - like $20/1G after rebate). That may be the problem. I will play with the settings more.

[nzimmers]

My ram are HP OEM'ed ram (got them cheap - like $20/1G after rebate). That may be the problem. I will play with the settings more.

ahh, that might have something to do with it -

Buzz - I just checked something.... I am running the exact same memory in both my server (MSI socket M Board) and my main desktop system (conroe based Asus MB).... both have the same kingston ddr2 667 ram (bought at different times) but the timings are different

MSI board has 5,5,5,15
Asus board has 4,4,4,12

I'll check it by swapping it out (in both systems the timings are set on auto by spid) maybe the MSI board is not detecting the correct settings on your ram.




I'm curious about the RMClock utility - does the full version allow for FSB changes or is it only useful for voltages?

[nzimmers]

Guys...

I was just sniffing around - according to This review the ASUS N4L-VM board might be a good choice for overclocking chips with 533 fsb. no Vcore adjustment but shouldn't really be necessary.

it doesn't have socket 478 mounts though =(