Asus P4G8X DLX: maximum FSB?

[Joachim Klein]

Hi!
Unfortunately, I blew the P4 1600 in my 2nd system, based on an Asus P4G8X
DeLuxe board (Intel E7205 chipset). I could get a brandnew P4 3 GHz for
incredible120 bucks, but it was the FSB 800 (200 MHz quadpumped) version.
I also purchased 2 sticks of 256 MB PC3200 DDR-RAM (Kingston) and hoped to
be able to run the CPU with its default speed.
But the E7205 chipset "decided" to go no further than 189 MHz (which is not
tooooo bad if you consider the specified clock of 133 MHz quadpumped ("533
MHz").

Anyone out there who made experiences in overclocking the E7205 northbridge
? Does it make sense to replace the passive stock cooler by a copper
heatsink with a fan while applying arctic silver thermal compound ? It is
not *that* trivial to remove the stock heatsink from the board, so I´d like
to know wether it is worth the effort before I try...
Thanx a billion for your precious advice !

Cya -

Joachim

 

[Nikolaos Tampakis]

Hi!
Unfortunately, I blew the P4 1600 in my 2nd system, based on an Asus P4G8X
DeLuxe board (Intel E7205 chipset). I could get a brandnew P4 3 GHz for
incredible120 bucks, but it was the FSB 800 (200 MHz quadpumped) version.
I also purchased 2 sticks of 256 MB PC3200 DDR-RAM (Kingston) and hoped to
be able to run the CPU with its default speed.
But the E7205 chipset "decided" to go no further than 189 MHz (which is not
tooooo bad if you consider the specified clock of 133 MHz quadpumped ("533
MHz").

If you're stable system-wise at that setting, that's a 2,835 GHz for the
CPU. Indeed not too bad.

Anyone out there who made experiences in overclocking the E7205 northbridge
? Does it make sense to replace the passive stock cooler by a copper
heatsink with a fan while applying arctic silver thermal compound ? It is
not *that* trivial to remove the stock heatsink from the board, so I´d like
to know wether it is worth the effort before I try...
Thanx a billion for your precious advice !

I don't think it's worth it if you can get those 2,835 GHz the way it
is, but you might consider doing it in order to further ensure stability
at 189 MHz. The line between architectural and thermal limitations can
be thin. A simple test would be to measure the temperature at the
northbridge at 133 and 189 MHz, *all* other variables being as equal as
possible. If the temperature is significantly higher at 189 MHz, the
move to a better cooling solution is more justified and could allow you
to better explore the chipset's limits. Less so if the temperature rise
is minimal. In that case it's implied that the chipset core isn't just
up to the task. Increasing the I/O voltage might help of course a bit
but I have no idea if it's trivially possible on that board.
Also arctic silver won't make any significant thermal difference. Plain
old thermal paste will work just fine too. The only real benefit of
arctic silver might be longevity, but of course it doesn't hurt to use it.

Regards
Nikos

 

[Joachim Klein]

Thank you for answering that fast !
Comparing temperatures was a good idea - but there is indeed hardly a
difference between 533 and 760 MHz FSB.
I guess you are also right in what concerns the thermal compound
differences - but actually I don´t know wether Asus have applied *ANY*
thermal compound below the heatsink - which definitely would make a
difference...
But maybe I´ll stay with the 2800+ MHz - it´s "only" the PC for usual
business, so 2800 is already overkill.
But I bet you know the desire to run your components to their limits... ;-)

Cya -

Joachim