Phenom II: Overclocking

Perhaps many of you who feel you have hardware that is not qualified, or unable to compete with hardware-new hardware. For example, you have a Q6600 but Q6600 feel you can no longer compete with the E8400? If you are talking about synthetic benchmarks like 3dMark06's probably true, but the reply is not necessarily in the game.

At this opportunity, we will discuss the basic principles of overclocking. Perhaps for most communities CHIP, overclocking is to achieve the highest value with the hardware they own. But the basic principles of overclocking itself is actually owned hardware run faster than the specification to achieve the performance level above the hardware specifications of the optimal position. Is optimal, the temperature is still in its early stages and did not experience normal hangs to run any application.

Overclocking in general would damage the equipment owned by, or shorten the age of the hardware. However, if done correctly in the optimal level, then the old age will not be as short as if 'torture' over and over. Well, the point still remains aja shorten life; even slightly.

This overclocking article will be divided into 3 parts, processors, graphics cards and memory. At this time, we will only discuss overclocking processor.

Equipments

Certainly overclock to achieve the optimal point, necessary hardware support; which must surely is a better heatsink, and also pure power supply. Power supply is recommended that a minimum of 550watt rating. These considerations will load up load is proportional to the increase in voltage and speed of the Q6600, plus the burden of VGA, and hard disk.

System test

Because this subject is testnya INTEL Q6600, then the discussion will run on Q6600. Voltage is low, ie 1.25 V to make it interesting. In addition, with 4 cores that are owned, of course, very fun to do multitasking and graphic design. In general, the Q6600 can easily reach the 50% increase, from 2.4GHz to 3.6GHz.

The motherboard of course have to have the ability to overclock. Do not need a motherboard that was created specifically for overclocking because we are not going to use it to the max. Generally the latest motherboard already has the facilities to do overclcoking, so quite a variety of options. Examples of cheap motherboard that can do the overclocking motherboard chipset is nvidia N73PV. Experiments done on the Q6600 with overclcoking motherboard is only a 25% increase alone. Quite worth the cheap price. Motherbaord with us $ 100-200 range will have a better ability, even 80% of them can reach the minimum 50% increase on the Q6600 with HSF.

In the experiment this time, we will not discuss memory overclocking, so DDR2 PC6400 memory, or even PC8500 is a good choice. FSB to Memory ratio used is that achieving optimum value from memory.

System test this time is as follows:
Processor: Intel Q6600 Stepping G0

Motherboard: ASUS P5K Deluxe
Memory: Team Xtreem DDR2 PC8500
VGA: Digital Alliance 9600GT Sonic Passat
Hard Disk: Western Digital CAVIAR 3200 AAKS
PSU: OCZ PowerStream 520watt
Heatsink: Xigmatek Scorpion LGA 775 

Figure 1. The default clock of the Q6600.

Figure 2. Default memory SPD.

Overclocking
For starters, make sure all the CPU features are already in the non-disabled. CPU feature is a feature energy-saving features such as C1E, Max CPUID Value Limit, Vanderpool Technology, CPU TM Function, and Execute Disable Bit. 

Figure 3. Change all the "Disable".

Because our target is at 400 FSB processor, so if you are using a memory PC 800 (6400), change the memory to FSB ratio to 1:1, on some motherboards this comparison indicated with 1.0. Changing 1:1 is intended to be working memory BUS equivalent his proccesor. Then change the command rate to 2T.
On some motherboards, this ratio is determined by using the FSB Strap to Norhtbridge and DRAM Frequency. This is done both mengcombinasi these comparisons to generate a comparison of the bios inginkan.Apabila you find this type, to facilitate, change the FSB Frequency to 400. 

Figure 4. Setting of 800MHz memory, change so that when using a 400 MHz FSB, the DDR2 is 800MHz. 

Figure 5. Setting should be on a memory PC-1066 or 8500.

 If you use PC 8500 memory, it is better to use 2:3 ratio, as shown in the image above.

Voltage

The next thing is to increase the processor voltage (vcore) to 1.4v level, intended to ensure energy obtained from the processor is enough. Some things to come is raised, northbridge and southbridge voltage, and VPLL. For V PLL, do not set the voltage to the maximum level, as this will kill your processor is faster than raise the level 2v vcore though. For GTL Ref, raise to about 0.57x. Do not forget to disable the FSB Spread Spectrum Spread Spectrum and Memory. 

Figure 6. As this is about GTL reference voltage and the desired.

After everything is loaded, so now you're ready to raise the FSB processor. FSB target this time was 400. Multiplier is not touched, so that 400 × 9, to 3.6 GHz. More than enough for playing games and doing daily tasks.

Figure 7. Screenshot of CPUZ clock in a state too overclock.

Figure 8. Screenshot memory timings in the state was overclock.

Benchmark
Below Benchmark 3DMark is to use, and a few games to see real evidence of this increase.

Figure 9. Default 3DMark.

Figure 10. 3DMark overclocked.

Can be found here, with an increase of 50% increase in processor without support from the other side, the gaming performance is also increased by approximately 15%.

Below is a comparison table adallah gaming performance on GRID and Hellgate London.

Figure 11. GRID

Figure 12. Hellgate London

Most felt that here was loading windows that usually takes about 50 seconds to just 16 seconds. Visible below the Super Pi 8M processor is very burdensome, terdongkrak far enough around 35%.

Figure 13. Loading Windows and Super Pi 8M

Thus the first article of this basic overclocking. In the next two articles, will be continued on memory overclocking and graphics cards, so the increase will be more tasteless.