Any performance I can squeeze from this build?

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

Hello there,

I am using Corsair Value Select RAM, 2*1GB @667Mhz, is there any performance I can gain from editing the timings in BIOS? I am new to this and am not exactly sure what they do but would like to squeeze any performance possible from the RAM and/or processor. Please keep in mind that everything is stock. How much do you think I can push the processor without causing any issues?

Here are my CPU-Z screens:

]

Motherboard: Asus P5KR

[RAID 0]

Overclock your CPU via the FSB in the BIOS.

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

Okay, I set it from 200 to 300 at first but that didn't work out, when booting it told me overclocking had failed and to change or reset the values to default.

After tinkering with lower settings, I settled at 220, which gave me a DRAM frequency of 351.3 Mhz. Would this be the max I could go?

[Hawkeye666]

Okay, I set it from 200 to 300 at first but that didn't work out, when booting it told me overclocking had failed and to change or reset the values to default.

After tinkering with lower settings, I settled at 220, which gave me a DRAM frequency of 351.3 Mhz. Would this be the max I could go?

The max you can go is defined by what setting allows the machine to not only boot but also to run all your programs without crashing. The only way to truly answer that is to make a setting and then see if everything works. Remember that even though the system boots at a setting, actually running programs that really tax the system may not still be stable.

[obiwong]

Okay, I set it from 200 to 300 at first but that didn't work out, when booting it told me overclocking had failed and to change or reset the values to default.

After tinkering with lower settings, I settled at 220, which gave me a DRAM frequency of 351.3 Mhz. Would this be the max I could go?

lol

ok before you go tinkering with the numbers in your BIOS you'd better learn to overclock

here's some good reading

HOWTO: Overclock C2Q (Quads) and C2D (Duals) - A Guide v1.1

[Pupik]

You need to slowly raise the clocks, and then when the boot/stability fails raise the voltage. And repeat until you can't squeeze anymore megahertz, or the mother board burns.

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

Would it be a better idea to upgrade my processor and then attempt overclocking? Would this be more efficient?

Edited September 22, 2009 by Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain

[TEX4S]

LOL - this thread is already laughable !

Why would you buy something with the notion of isnt good enough ? Why not just buy something that doesnt require you tinkering around with stuff you know nothing about ?

RTFM (google) before you go changing the fsb from 200 to 300

Regardless, CPU is not a huge factor for performance.

You want to squeeze performance? add something to that anorexic 2Gb RAM

You probably wont get more than a 15% boost in CPU and the ONLY difference you will notice is in benchmarks - THATS IT

Oh, and there is no need to post your stock clock-settings in your sig ;)

People put their specs in their sigs because they feel they have something noteworthy -- a little bragging, and generally just being proud of what they have --- so when you have really lame specs (160 Deskstar, stock HSF, etc) why advertise it ? whats the point ?

Its like using a clear hood on your car, to reveal a 120hp 4-cyl - its like, "Why on earth would you advertise that ?"

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

LOL - this thread is already laughable !

This is my first time, so I suppose it would be laughable to pros :p

Let me just ask in layman's terms: I want to have higher fps at higher details in games, upgrading which part of the computer would have the greatest impact on this?

[TEX4S]

This is my first time, so I suppose it would be laughable to pros :p

Let me just ask in layman's terms: I want to have higher fps at higher details in games, upgrading which part of the computer would have the greatest impact on this?

1.) Video card

2.) RAM

anything else the cost would greatly outweigh the return

Asking questions is the right way to do it... you just made a good start :)

Who built the system ?

A couple of other things to consider -- you couldnt really get a big OC with a stock HSF - so you'd still be stuuck at spending money to squeeze performance from the CPU.

But a $150 video card, and some dirt cheap DDR2 Corsair VS will make a gigantic difference ($150 nowadays will get you one helluva video card)

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

I got the CPU, motherboard, and hard disk fitted @ the shop here. The graphic card I had my friend get from Hong Kong since they're so expensive where I live. I just fitted it here. And I had an older DVD writer which I just fit in as well.

I just got interested in all this hardware stuff. Up till now, I just used to squeeze performance out of software, closing unnecessary services, cleaning temp files, reducing certain details in games, reducing AA, etc... I was never into hardware. Just recently I started university in Malaysia and I saw shops filled with modders items and this all became very interesting for me. So I decided to start learning, although guides on the net can be very complex and that's why I decided to start with questions.

Now for the options, the video card path would be slightly expensive for me at this point in time. So for the RAM, would you recommend I increase the size or the speed or the size and speed both?

Example: Should I go for 4GB at the same speed as now OR should I go for something more than 2GB but @ a higher speed?

[TEX4S]

I got the CPU, motherboard, and hard disk fitted @ the shop here. The graphic card I had my friend get from Hong Kong since they're so expensive where I live. I just fitted it here. And I had an older DVD writer which I just fit in as well.

I just got interested in all this hardware stuff. Up till now, I just used to squeeze performance out of software, closing unnecessary services, cleaning temp files, reducing certain details in games, reducing AA, etc... I was never into hardware. Just recently I started university in Malaysia and I saw shops filled with modders items and this all became very interesting for me. So I decided to start learning, although guides on the net can be very complex and that's why I decided to start with questions.

Now for the options, the video card path would be slightly expensive for me at this point in time. So for the RAM, would you recommend I increase the size or the speed or the size and speed both?

Example: Should I go for 4GB at the same speed as now OR should I go for something more than 2GB but @ a higher speed?

Well the speed of the RAM wont be NEAR as important as the amount.

1 thing to consider, you probably have a 32-bit OS installed -- you probably know the 4 Gb limitation with 32-bit OS. So since youre already @ 2 Gb, adding another 2 Gb is all you can do -- which is perfect in your case -- 4 Gb with that CPU is a good start to a gaming computer.

I dont know alot about that videocard, but I know its quite simple to OC it

If I were you -- I would add 2 Gb of the same RAM you already have. You would have roughly 3.5 Gb of RAM available to your system - a decent amount.

Since you have a stock HSF, just doing a 10% - 15% OC is probably all you could do without pushing things too much.

Now as for the manner in which you achieve that 10% - 15% -- I would tell you to ask some of the other people in here - as I do not overclock that much -- you might have to play around with the numbers to see where youre system runs smooth, and doesnt get too hot - I would think a 10% bump to fsb would be fine.

If it isnt already done, spend some time and tidy up the wires in your case -- good airflow is essential

Ideally the front fans should be instake, and the fans in the back or on top should be exhaust - just making one big wind tunnel.

You have a decent PSU - which is beyond important -- so you dont have to worry about anything there.

What games do you like to play / or I should ask what games were you hoping to squeez some fps in ? Also, what is your current fps in those games ?

If youre getting 10fps in Crysis - well you have got some work cut out for you -- but if youre @ 40fps in CoD4 and want to get closer to 60 - I would say youre on the right track. ;)

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

No I have a 64-bit system installed. Windows 7 RC1 64-Bit, I've decided to cope with 64bit as its going to be the next thing.

About the video card, my core clock is @ 800 MHz. I've seen new cards which have slower core clock speeds, is this normal?

I have yet to clear the cables in my case as I am quite unfamiliar with hardware and materials were not available. I'm currently on holiday so I won't be able to do this till I get back.

I'm currently playing CS Source and is running @ 59 FPS but would like it to run at this @ full details with all the AA and what not.

[TEX4S]

I just looked @ the vid card charts @ Tom's Hardware - the 2600XT is pretty limited in what it can do -- but - I still think a 10% boost in overall performance will be easy for you.

I mentioned I dont OC really anymore but I think if you ran the system for a few days and tried out some games, and didnt get any crashes or artifacts -- I'd say bump it up another 5% -

then if you run into problems....bring it down a couple of clocks and try again.

People like to run Super Pi to test OC stability/speed - I think if you just play your games - that will be the real test - number crunching wont tell you how much of an fps increase you'll have in Call of Duty...

If heat is an issue - take the side panel off of the computer - and stick a small fan next to it -- that is usually a good way to drop 5 degrees or so

Its good you like to trim all of the bloat of software - that is a pet peeve of mine -- It stems from computers 20 years ago when I was young and you had to run memmanager from DOS to play a game -- Its an old habit of mine to disable anything I see that isnt necessary - I still do it - even though I have very fast computers

UPDATE

As far as your question about your vid card clocks - yeah its normal - raw clocks (MHz, GHz) are not the only way to gain performance -

New cards have better technology, more shaders, and pipelines, etc. So something may run @ 800 MHz, but there are other factors which make it so much faster, or make it where there isnt a need for higher clocks -- its just the progression of technology and the method in which the industry is deciding to move.

A few years ago, it was all about raising the GHz -- then when CPUs goto to mid 3 GHz, the industry found they were getting close to a max, and decided to gain performance elsewhere --

a good example of that is an old 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 would get absolutely destroyed by a 2.6 GHz Core i7 920

Edited September 22, 2009 by TEX4S

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

Actually the price I got the card for was pretty decent at the time, with DXVA, native HDMI and all.

About the graphic card, my core clock is 800MHz and my Memory clock is 700MHz but if I'm not mistaken, the new cards I see have slower core clocks but higher memory clocks. If possible, can you explain why?

And what about graphic card overclocking as compared to CPU overclocking?

Finally about the refresh rate, I've learned that you can't get an FPS faster than your refresh rate, is this true?

[TEX4S]

as far as the question about the core clock, and memory clock and all that - I'd say better ask someone else -- I dont pay a ton of attention to that stuff & dont want to tell you something wrong.

graphic card OC-ing will bring a good performance boost in games as opposed to CPU

As far as the refresh rate / fps -I dont think thats true, but I do see where someone could say that ---

New systems pulling 200 fps in Call of Duty 4 on a 60Hz LCD is normal.

Now here is where the stickler comes into play

Since LCD dont have a refresh rate - It doesnt matter - are you using a CRT ?

The human eye can only see about 60 fps -- but the puch for fps above that level is so you will never get close to that 60 - and hence wont ever see a frame drop. (basically make the card/computer so fast - 60 fps never comes into play - no matter what the computer is running and how complex the game is)

Remember the old CRT - where if someone didnt have the correct refresh rate and it was set to 60Hz ? You could notice a slight blink -- and overtime - it would really bug the hell out of some people causing headaches and fatigue --

Its almost 4:00am here in Dallas - I better get to bed - good luck and if you have any other questions I'd be happy to try and answer any I can - its the only way to learn and we all had to do it as well --- Good Luck

[Mohammad_Khalid_Hussain]

Since LCD dont have a refresh rate - It doesnt matter - are you using a CRT ?

No I'm using an LCD but assumed it had refresh rate since the option is available to change between 3 settings, 60MHz, 70MHz and 75MHz in the ATi Control Panel.

As for the other explanation, I never thought about it that way. Nice perspective. Thanks.