Article: The Journey with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6320, The Last Ditch Effort for 100% overclock (Part IV)

Being the fourth and final installment of the article, I will share my benchmarks and notes about my attempt to bring this processor to new overclocking heights on air. If you haven't read up on it yet, make sure to check out the previous installments here (3rd), then here (2nd), and first installment here. Expand to read the continuation...

The 500MHz wall has been breached already, and at this kind of overclocking, there's no other way but up. The motherboard, processor, and memory are all operating way beyond their stock settings, and at the brink of hitting the wall. But this is not an excuse to stop, as I have stated from the start that I will push the processor farther than my earlier attempt. I am now focusing my attention of breaching 100% overclock. It's daunting to say the least, unless I use better aftermarket cooling device, this is looking more and more impossible. As much as I am a chicken in overclocking, I have just got to try it this time.

::Overclocking and Benchmarking Notes::
Reaching for 100% overclock is certainly not easy, specially with a freaky ambient temperature of 36c, an old unlapped overused Thermalright* XP-90, unmodded Asus* {5B Deluxe and a mere OCZ* DDR2-800MHz Platinum Rev2 memory. The processor and motherboard chipset are both overclocked at ~95% while the memory hits a good 30% overclock at CL5-5-5-15. The processor needed massive voltage of 1.6v just to make it post at 532MHz. After tweaking other settings, 100% overclock is breached! Click on the image for the validation.



However, at 100% overclock, I can't complete any kind of 3D benchmarks save for Aquamark 3, only 2D benchmarks are working fine. After several tweaking hours, like lowering the multi and loosening RAM timing, or bumping the NB and SB voltage, I gave up and pushed down the overclock to just 520MHz. At this clock speed, it is rock solid, and no benchmark can bring it to a halt. I have added a link to FutureMark ORB for all the 3D benchmarks run as well as PCMark05 for comparison and proof of testament to its rock stability. Click on any of the 3DMark and PCMark05 benchmark to visit the ORB compare link.

::Benchmarks::
Gaming:
Doom3: Low Quality-640x480


3DMark Benchmarks:
3DMark01: Overall


3DMark03: CPU


3DMark05: CPU


3DMark06: CPU


Aquamark03: CPU


Multimedia/Multitasking/Multithreading Benchmarks:
Cinebench: Render Score


Cinebench: Render Time


PCMark05: Overall


SANDRA: CPU


SANDRA: Multimedia


wPrime: 32M


SuperPi: 1M


Memory Benchmarks:
SANDRA: RAM Bandwidth


Others:
WinRAR


Temperature


::Concluding Thoughts on Overclocking Experience::With this final installment, it is clear that the new breed of processor, Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6320, is overclocking nicely compared to its younger brother Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6300. The additional 2MB of L2 cache didn't pose any threat to overclockability, but instead helped boost scores by a noticeable margin when benchmarking.

While I am not able to find the maximum clock frequency that the processor can achieve due to limitation, I am quite sure that enthusiats who have more money to burn for better cooling, memory, and motherboard can achieve much higher. Given the problems I encountered with overclocking, I can only conclude that the motherboard and temperature are the two primary culprits that has prevented me from reaching rock stability with 100% overclock.

The Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6320 is an overclocking king like the original Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6300, FSB wise and clock frequency wise. Till next, I hope you have enjoyed reading and learning from this article like I have enjoyed testing and tweaking it. FanBoy out...

Article: The Journey with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6320, Breaking The Norm (Part III)

This is the third part of the article about overclocking the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6320, and it picks up where the the second part left off. If you haven't seen it yet, you may also want to check out the first part of the article. Expand to read the continuation...

After the successful 75% overclock, which translates to 465MHz from the stock of 266MHz, I decided to try and see if I can still push the system. At this overclock of the motherboard, and processor, I am also overclocking the memory for about 16%. System memory aren't really known to overclock beyond 10%, but this is no ordinary memory, and I will rely on this memory to help me push my overclock further. With the limitations at hand, the processor and motherboard at 75% overclock, RAM at 16%, I set my eyes to reaching the coveted 500MHz. At this settings, the overclock will hit an astounding 88% for the processor and motherboard, and it will be 25% overclock on the system memory.

::Overclocking and Benchmarking Notes::
At this settings, the RAM can not work with full stability if the voltage is not set to 2.3vDIMM. I also have to loosen the timings to CL5. I know that this will significantly increase latency, and may affect benchmark scores. However, I am not after an improved benchmark score in terms of effiency, but more of how far I can push the processor before it bends on its knees.

At first, 500MHz which translates to 3.5GHz and DDR2-100MHz, it would seem really impossible. I am against all odds with such a limited parts in my arsenal, an unmodded motherboard, a RAM that runs at DDR2-800MHz and an aging Thermalright XP90. Couple that with an ambient temperature hovering at 35c to 36c, I am just pushing this baby with mere guts and passion for overclock. Like what I mentioned on the first part of the article, I am changing my stance now and ready to give this processor all that I've got.

While I push the FSB 10MHz at a time, I eventually reach 500MHz. But this doesn't come without a price, 1.38vCore is needed to make it fully stable. While it doesn't seem like a whole lots of voltage, the impact on the core temperature is overwhelming. The system is now idling at 44c, and full load at 67c, my Thermalright is working at full speed, and I can feel all of its four heatpipes brimming with heat. Adding a fan to cool these heatpipes did helped, but there's only so much that this solution could work. But luckily, the system held well, and unbelievably, completed all benchmarks like its nothing. The memory, processor, and motherboard are all working fine and dandy. As such, I can now show more benchmarks and results. Check them out...

::Benchmarks::
Gaming:
Doom3: Low Quality-640x480


3DMark Benchmarks:
3DMark01: Overall


3DMark03: CPU


3DMark05: CPU


3DMark06: CPU


Aquamark03: CPU


Multimedia/Multitasking/Multithreading Benchmarks:
Cinebench: Render Score


Cinebench: Render Time


PCMark05: Overall


SANDRA: CPU


SANDRA: Multimedia


wPrime: 32M


SuperPi: 1M


Memory Benchmarks:
SANDRA: RAM Bandwidth


Others:
WinRAR


Temperature


Loaded Temperature Screenshot


::Closing Thoughts with 88% Overclock::With how things are going, I know that it won't be long till hit the ceiling. Whether it's the processor, memory, or motherboard, I still have yet to see. For now, things are going well, but a little over the edge already. If you plan on overclocking your system at this settings, a good aftermarket cooler can really help. I still plan to overclock it even further, and I hope you'll come back again to accompany me with my journey. Till next...

Article: The Journey with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6320, An Uphill Battle! (Part II)

This is the second part of the article I started a couple of days ago. If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest to check it out as I have put in lots of information in there. I have also submitted my 3DMark06 score over at hwbot.org, and sadly, it never really got too far.

While the previous overclock reached was 50% above nominal, the score is not enough to be a stand out. Compared to other processors, it would seem that 50% is still relatively conservative. However, with the current memory that I have, the default speed it runs is at DDR2-800MHz. Apacer* really worked well, and it served me well till I hit a wall at 450MHz FSB or DDR2-900MHz. No matter what voltage and cooling I tried, it won't get stable enough to complete 3DMark06. At 2.4v with timing of CL5-5-5-18, stability is a big question. For this reason, I am forced to change strategy and tore open an OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Platinum Revision 2 Dual Channel memory.

Memory: While I always drool for two sticks of 1GB OCZ DDR2 PC2-7200 Special Ops Edition, lack of $$$ and availability prohibited me. If not for FUGGER of XS, I would have not been able to acquire this memory, free of charge. Thanks FUGGER and XS, you and the forum rocks! Anyway, back to the memory, it has a pretty good timings of CL4-4-4-15 at DDR2-800MHz at 1.9v. It'll be the first time I'll be using this memory and it's fresh right out of the box. I am expecting it to perform much better than Apacer Value RAM. As such, let me report the new test set up:

Test Set Up
Processor Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6320(1.86GHz) Dual Core
Motherboard: Asus® P5B Deluxe BIOS 1011
Memory: OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Platinum Rev2 2x1024MB(CL4-4-4-15 SPD)
Hard Drive: Seagate* Barracuda 120GB SATA RAID 0
Video Card: Asus® 7900GTX 512MB v93.74
Power Supply: Delta 670W EPS12V (server grade)
Chassis: N/A
Ambient Temperature: 35c

::Overclocking and Benchmarking Notes::
After reaching 50% overclock, the next target would be 75% overclock of 465MHz FSB. At this stage, overclocking is already beyond all the nominal settings, from the processor, to motherboard, to memory. Previous settings of 399MHz still puts the memory at its nominal speed, and at this speed, the memory will now run way above stock of DDR2-930MHz from DDR2-800MHz. The processor and motherboard is overclocked by ~75%, while the memory is running ~16% at this settings.

While it would seem that the system is holding out, the main challenge is the ambient temperature which is now hitting 35c to 36c which is way too hot. This will definitely be interesting to see if the 75% overclock on the motherboard and processor, and 16% overclock on memory will survive the rigorous benchmark runs.

Aside from adjusting the vCore manually to 1.3v, the vDimm is also set at 2.1v. All other settings on the motherboard are still left at their default or "auto" values.

::Benchmarks::
Gaming:
Doom3: Low Quality-640x480


3DMark Benchmarks:
3DMark01: Overall


3DMark03: CPU


3DMark05: CPU


3DMark06: CPU


Aquamark03: CPU


Multimedia/Multitasking/Multithreading Benchmarks:
Cinebench: Render Score


Cinebench: Render Time


PCMark05: Overall


SANDRA: CPU


SANDRA: Multimedia


wPrime: 32M


SuperPi: 1M


Memory Benchmarks:
SANDRA: RAM Bandwidth


Others:
WinRAR


Temperature


Loaded Temperature Screenshot


::Closing Thoughts with 75% Overclock::It is clear that all the components in my possesion are a gem to behold. The processor is holding out at such 75% overclock, with a mere 1.3vCore and aging Thermalright XP90 cooler. The motherboard never seems to be giving any hiccups and has been a stable platform. And the memory is just showing its fangs at overclocking. Stay tuned as I continue to push this processor, motherboard, and memory! Till next installment, enjoy the benchmark results...