x3220 Rig Completed - Looking for experienced OC help.

[Demalii]

Hey everyone, finally got my new rig peiced together over the weekend..

Running this on a EVGA 750i FTW board, here are the detailed specs.. Currently running cpu/ram @ 1:1 ratio spec.
I'm taking all experienced suggestions on getting the best performance out of my rig. The real reason I come is because of my ram.. Where am I losing the performance and what can I do to fix this.

-> X3220 @ 3.4g
Freq: 1520mhz
Multiplier: 9x
Vcore 1.475
Vfsb 1.40
Temp: 38C Stable // 42C Under Load
-> I recommend the Tuniq Tower120!

-> Corsair XMS 5-5-5-18 v1.9 DDR2 800 PC 6400 2x2g
Timings: 5-5-5-15
Freq: 760mhz
Vram: 1.925

-> MSI 8800gt OC SLI 660/1900
Core: 700mhz
Mem: 950mhz


I ran my ram @ v2.1 with 4-4-4-12 timings but thing would crash midway into loading windows and didn't want to push to 2.2 if it's not recommend. Is my ram holding me back because I thing with my setup I should be expecting 18k+ scores or I might be way off?

I am looking for your experienced opinions!

-----
I ran the cpu vcore to 1.575 @ 3.6 for 1:1 ratio 1600/800 and I think the heat was getting to it, I saw in bios 57 after I ran 5 minutes of benchmark and returned to 1.485//1.4vfsb for 3.4g

I got 1000fps +/- 100fps more for the first 2 benchmarks in 3dmark06
First test I wrote down FPS: (3.4g) 4,600 // (3.6g) (test1run1)5,360 (test1run2)5,430

I changed the voltage a 1 mark and got a bit higher score second run, dunno if any relation.
But I couldn't get the pc stable for cpu stress tests.

So I'm sad I can't get this thing to 1:1 on air cooling, thought I would have good luck since I have the tuniq tower120 on the beast...

I am looking for any references and opinions to help me get my performance higher.. I felt real power with 1:1 !!

 

[thirdshiftdj]

check the VID on your cpu. 1.57 is high for 3.6 compared to others that are usually running in the 1.4-1.47 range. Have you tried just ocing the ram by itself and see how far you can go and then do the same w/ the cpu.

 

[Demalii]

I keep getting what seems to be stable runs, will run all in 3dmark06 except for the CPU tests, it crashes on that part everytime, and I keep convincing myself it's the Vcore, but I'm looking for help on this..

Does anyone have voltages for all your gear from the bios? like what's the NF200 thing?

 

[thirdshiftdj]

well then you need to prime it w/ just the cpu overclocked and nothing else. If it is stable then move on to ram overclock it and not the cpu and memtest. Its the only way your going to find out who the culprit is. You could even 3dmark it w/ just the cpu overclocked and see how that goes.

 

[Demalii]

Ok well I've done everything I could, a day straight of testing.. 3.6 is nothing but instability and high vcore and 60C+

I've managed to come to this as of right now, dunno if making ram fsb faster or what to help it but..

x3220 3.42 @ 1.50 vcore
corsair ddr2 800 4-4-4-12 (running @ 760mhz) v2.0

dunno maybe I should put ram higher and drop the timings?

 

[Demalii]

whoops

 

[thirdshiftdj]

are you running 4 sticks or 2 sticks of 4gb?

Nvm its 2x2gb. Its up to you if you want to run the ram w/ tighter timings and low speed or high speed w/ loose timings. Your already running 1:1

 

[Demalii]

If I could get to 3.6 stable that'd be killer, seems 3.4 is the furthest I'll be able to push this chip, cheers.