PJAS Project with overclocking

B

Bobo

banned
Ok, first of all, PJAS is the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science. If you want more information, google is your friend. It is a bunch of middle/high schoolers who design science experiments, complete them, and make a presentation on the results. This year I decided to do something with computers.

Basically, I am going to test how overclocking(and underclocking) affects a computer, both in performance and heat. I figured that you guys would be interested in this too.

I plan to overclock in small increments, probably 11MHz (because that is what the default setting for the multiplier is for). I do not plan to get into vcore jacking unless I have to.

I will be using benchmarking programs, such as SuperPi, 3Dmark and PCmark to record the scores with different clock speeds.

So I have some questions about just how I will do this. I know how basic overclocking, but that's it. I have read the OCing 101.

  1. Should I adjust only the CPU clock speed?
  2. How long should I run the computer to test for stability?
  3. Should I install a fresh version of Windows just for this?
  4. What programs should I use instead of/in addition to the ones listed above?
  5. Should I adjust the clock speeds through the BIOS?
  6. What program should I use to measure temperature?
  7. What program should I use to put a full load on the CPU? (for temp measurement)
Thanks

Bobo
 
1. Yes, if you want to keep it simple.
2. Depends how high you overclock it, I would just watch your temps.
3. Depends if your going to lose a lot of stuff.
4. Prime95
5. Yes.
6. Speedfan.
7. Prime95
 
Last edited:
monkeysims said:
1. Depends.
2. Depends how high you overclock it, I would just watch your temps.
3. Depends if your going to lose a lot of stuff.
4. Prime95
5. Yes.
6. Speedfan.
7. Prime95
Click to expand...

2. Temps should be OK. It didn't go above 50 fully loaded at 2.4GHz (stock 2.2)
3. Is it possible to have 2 copies of XP on different partitions? Actually I know it is. But how do I tell which is which? Boot loader?
 
Bobo said:
2. Temps should be OK. It didn't go above 50 fully loaded at 2.4GHz (stock 2.2)
3. Is it possible to have 2 copies of XP on different partitions? Actually I know it is. But how do I tell which is which? Boot loader?
Click to expand...

2. Stock HSF?
3. Just pick one and load it and see if it is the old install, or the new one.:rolleyes:
 
Well it did work, and I am on the new installation now. I can see both. :)

Are there any totally free benchmarking programs? Anything better than PCMark and 3DMark?
 
Well I went ahead and ordered my new cooling stuff from Newegg, which included:

Zalman CNPS 9500 AM2 green LED cooler
2 AeroCool Silver White LED 80mm fans (33cfm)
1 AeroCool Silver White LED 120mm fan (65cfm)
CoolerMaster 40mm blue LED NB cooler
Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste
Arctic Silver thermal adhesive
Zalman ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller

I think it will look really cool with everything blue and white in my X-Dreamer II with a Hiper Blue Modular PSU, and the hint of green on the CPU cooler. And it will be cool

I also decided to get PCMark and 3DMark full versions for $40, because I have the money, and I want these testes to be good. And for future use, anyway. Not just for this project.

I completed the second installation of XP, so that I can have just XP and my benchmarking programs installed.
 
Well I have been running tests for a while, and I'm getting pretty good results. Here is what I have:

From 2200MHz to 2244MHz (200MHz to 204MHz core)
SuperPi times: 982 sec to 959 sec
PCMark05: 3189 to 3264
3DMark06: 853 to 873
3DMark05: 4027 to 4106
3DMark03: 645 to 660
HotCPUTest: 8593 to 8769
MetaBench: 3787 to 3902

Temps:
CPU Idle: 24C-27C
CPU Load: 33C-37C
NB Idle: 28C-29C
NB Load: 35C-37C

So I'm getting good results for my experiment. I plan to go as far I can with the overclocking. I believe that 230MHz core was as far as I could go last time I OCed and still have it boot.
 
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