Is my PC balanced?

[Dozdaman]

Mobo: p5k-e
CPU: e8400 not oc'd
GPU: ASUS 8800GT
RAM: GeIL 4x1gb black dragon ddr2 800mhz
PSU: Corsair 520W
HDD: Samsung 500gb

I'm looking to upgrade to a slightly better setup to go with a new 24 inch monitor. I use my pc primarily for Gaming, and want to be able to do so at 1900x1200. If anyone could teach me how to overclock that'd be cool too - i've been too scared to change voltages etc. so haven't got it past 3.16ghz so far.

[theonetruewill]

Your RAM will probably reach about 1066MHz absolute Max - more likely 1040 on about 2.2v. Leave it at 5-5-5-18 timings and 2T in the RAM settings. Leave the rest on auto. For the cpu give it up to about 1.475v to get it higher than it currently is before investing in some better cooling. For cheapies go with an AC freezer 7 Pro. For higher end - Tuniq Tower or Thermal Right Ultra 120 Extreme. You may get about 3.6 on 1.475 - maybe higher. Do not let your temps exceed 65*C (check with Coretemp- google it) while using Orthos stress tester.

[trog100]

You may get about 3.6 on 1.475

my e8400 is currently running 24/7 at 4 gig with 1.33 vcore.. there is no need for anything more than the artic pro cooler.. 1.475 is over the top for the 45nm chips..

they will hit 3.6 with the default vcore..

trog

[Dozdaman]

I changed the vcore to 1.33 although i'm not sure what it was to start off with - the setting on my BIOS was auto. I've got it at 400mhz fsb and it's booted fine. I'm worried about core temp though - it reads mid 50s to mid 60s on core 0, but 46 all of the time on core 1, is there something wrong?

[Darren]

Mobo: p5k-e
CPU: e8400 not oc'd
GPU: ASUS 8800GT
RAM: GeIL 4x1gb black dragon ddr2 800mhz
PSU: Corsair 520W
HDD: Samsung 500gb

I'm looking to upgrade to a slightly better setup to go with a new 24 inch monitor. I use my pc primarily for Gaming, and want to be able to do so at 1900x1200. If anyone could teach me how to overclock that'd be cool too - i've been too scared to change voltages etc. so haven't got it past 3.16ghz so far.

The system looks powerful enough to allow for gaming on maximum settings, but a resolution of 1900x1200 is a bit unrealistically, perhaps on current games you could achieve about 30-45 FPS with high detail @ 1900x1200, but if newer games like Crysis and the upcoming FarCry 2 are indications of games to come 1900x1200 is out of the question especially at high detail forcing you to game at high setting but at slightly lower resolutions. Remember that the 8800 series has been out for over a year now and is moving into the mid-range categories now the focus is on the 9800 GX2 and 3870 X2 as high end products. 4 GB of ram is plenty, but I'd recommend getting sticks of 2 GBx2, that way you got two free slots to for another 2 GBx2 sticks in the future to make a total of 8 GB.

So if i bought a 3870 X2, would things then become CPU limited?

No because the e8400 processor is a new and powerful processor, it's more than enough. Personally I'm dissapointed with the new generation of high end cards, the 9800 series is too expensive, and the 3870 X2 is nothing special as far as performance is concerned. I'd stick with the 8800 GT/GTS or 9600 GT or single 3870 until Nvidia lower their prices of the 9800 series or until another generation is launched.

[Dozdaman]

The system looks powerful enough to allow for gaming on maximum settings, but a resolution of 1900x1200 is a bit unrealistically, perhaps on current games you could achievable about 30-45 FPS with high detail @ 1900x1200, but if newer games like Crysis and the upcoming FarCry 2 are indications of games to come 1900x1200 is out of the question especially at high detail forcing you to game at high setting but at slightly lower resolutions. Remember that the 8800 series has been out for over a year now and is moving into the mid-range categories now the focus is on the 9800 GX2 and 3870 X2 as high end products. 4 GB of ram is plenty, but I'd recommend getting sticks of 2 GBx2, that way you got two free slots to for another 2 GBx2 sticks in the future to make a total of 8 GB.

So if i bought a 3870 X2, would things then become CPU limited?

[farlex85]

I changed the vcore to 1.33 although i'm not sure what it was to start off with - the setting on my BIOS was auto. I've got it at 400mhz fsb and it's booted fine. I'm worried about core temp though - it reads mid 50s to mid 60s on core 0, but 46 all of the time on core 1, is there something wrong?

Probably wanna double check your heatsink, it most likely isn't seated properly.

[Dozdaman]

Probably wanna double check your heatsink, it most likely isn't seated properly.

I've ordered a new hs/f so when that arrives tomorrow i'll check. TBH i've always had weird temps with the stock cooler.

I'll wait until they sort out the new gen of GPUs then.

Could i take my e8400 higher than 3.6ghz?

[Silverel]

I thought there was an issue with the Core 2's not reporting temps correctly across all the different procs. Seems I remember hearing something about that around here.

At any rate, a good aftermarket cooler will be more than enough to run it at 3.6ghz from everything I've seen.

[candle_86]

I honestly don't know, put your computer on a tight rope and see if it stands upright, if not no its not balanced

[Dozdaman]

I thought there was an issue with the Core 2's not reporting temps correctly across all the different procs. Seems I remember hearing something about that around here.

At any rate, a good aftermarket cooler will be more than enough to run it at 3.6ghz from everything I've seen.

It's bootable at 3.9ghz, but when i try to run stress testing programs or 3dmark, vista shuts them down after a little while. Does that mean i should scale down the fsb? It can do everything else fine.

[candle_86]

yes, but for stress testing get prime95 and run 3 hours of the torture test

[AddSub]

Looks fine to me.

[trog100]

It's bootable at 3.9ghz, but when i try to run stress testing programs or 3dmark, vista shuts them down after a little while. Does that mean i should scale down the fsb? It can do everything else fine.

3.6 gig is easy.. to go higher needs more volts to the northbridge and other tweaks.. if its half stable at 3.9 it will be stable at 3.6.. run there for a while.. dont take the volts much higher and fit a better than stock cooler.. once u follow those basic rules ignore the temps they will be okay..

the stock cooler is a half size pathetic thing.. an artic pro will keep it nice and cool..

trog