All Right... After I built my PC (No Overclock)... I had one Blue screen. So I ran the Prim95 test grinder for over 24 hrs and found no problem.I also put the PC through the Memtest86 grinder for an additional 24 hrs and found no problem.So I considered my basic PC Build to be stable.-----------------------------------------------------------------So now comes the Overclocking part.This website was what got me started on this PC Bulding and OC Adventure. I am not exactly sure who posted it here. But I found it in this forum.http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1075792And these sites helped educate me.http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=570&p=1http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.as...7&enterthread=yhttp://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/show...ad.php?t=138046http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=320351I read through all those sites (most of them atleast) and then this one tied em all together... and gave me the 60,000 feet overview."The Process/Theory of OVERCLOCKING"http://www.overclock.net/overclock.php?fil...cking-guide.htm------------------------------------------------------------------------Two days went by as I went about building my PCs and I forgot everything I had read on Overclocking. But I went ahead with the process of overclocking... I didn't have the patience to RMA my HD for a new one.I knew that Overclocking right way requires a lot of patience and a methodical approach... At least thats what I understood from reading those articles I posted on top.But... What the heck.. I threw caution to the wind and went for it.:)My Goal was (Greedy). To make my 2.4 CPU to run at 3.6 Gig. :(================================================================This ASUS MB ( ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard ) is very user friendly. I understood this from other articles about how the Intel Motherboard would lock you out and won't let you back in if you mess up and what not.. but this ASUS one would. And I tested that too. When my PC Locked up... after I turned off and turned on the PC, it gave me an option to load the default values and rebooted.... So with that basic info, I went for a quick and dirty OC.I also figured that others had increased the voltage of the CPU to slightly over 1.5Volts and I understood from Corsair that they warranty their memory upto 2.1V (I think). So those were my upper threashold as far as voltage is concerned.I increased my COREv to 1.45 and my Dimmv to 2.1V.And tried a few options..and these are my resultsHttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/157309.jpgSo..there... My 2.4Gig is now running at 3.1Gig... and I am sure.. If I do this more methodically, I could make this sucker run a little faster. I knoew..3.6 would be a stretch..but I was disappointed when the Prim94 failed after a while at 3.4Gig.So now,,,,, My target is to move from 3.1 o 3.4. I suspect its the memory latency or memory thats the weaklink... I need to read up somemore.Hmmmm.......MannyPS: I am looking for a tool that would display all the temperature at the bottom of my screen somewhere. I found one..but when I tried to install it, my MB was not one of the listed ones.. so quit install of that s/w.

If it's an Asus board you got then you should have a program called PC Probe on the installation disc. This gives you a number of items you can monitor including CPU and Mobo Temps, it also includes Vcore, +5V, +12V as well as Fan speeds (assuming you have fans connected to the Mobo fan slots).Nice little program not the most accurate in the world but it at least gives you a good ball park figure of what's going on.

Thanks for that Laughing Man.My MB Temp is 49deg and its giving me a warning in RED. and the CPU FAN is around 1990-2000RPM and thats in red too.Hmmmmm.....Now, is this bad? :) How much should bring down this temp and how should I go about it?Here is the screen shot of the temp.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/157318.jpg

OK... I understand why they are in red. the default threshold for MB was 45 and its now 49. When I increased the threashold to 53. it turned green. But I'd still like to know what if that 49 deg is too hot for the motherboard. And how to bring it down.I am not worried about the CPU Fan. I just set it to 2500 and it turned green. My CPU Temp is doing fine.. so I am not worried about that.

There is no way your motherboard is running at 49C if your CPU is running at only 35C. I would ignore this reading.Gary

Well Gary.. I get 47degree for the MB temp when I go to BIOS. My Case is open.. Don't know if that has anything to do with it.. But my room temp is around 79deg (29deg Cel)Manny

My GPU runs at about 61 deg. That doesn't seem to be a problem.Manny...are you running Benchmarks as you go thru the overclocking tests? I hope so!!!

In all the (10) years I have monitored system temperatures, the mobo may go up to a few degrees above ambient and the CPU is always higher than this because it lives in the mobo temperature environment and generates heat itself! If your CPU is 35C, then your mobo is at most 35C and likely much lower.Gary

>My GPU runs at about 61 deg. That doesn't seem to be a>problem.>>Manny...are you running Benchmarks as you go thru the>overclocking tests? I hope so!!!Benchmarks? Hmmm... no. What bench marks should I be doing?But I have been running FSX and getting the FPS. Thats what really matters. No? :)The only one I was planning was the HD RAID 0. When I get my HD replacement. (I am yet to ship the faulty one). Even that I am thinking of getting a 10,000 RPM Disk replacement. So I am thinking if I should do a 7200RPM RAID or just go with a single 10K HD for now and then for DX10 upgrade get another 10K HD and do a RAID then.MAnny

In all the (10) years I have monitored system temperatures, the mobo may go up to a few degrees above ambient and the CPU is always higher than this because it lives in the mobo temperature environment and generates heat itself! If your CPU is 35C, then your mobo is at most 35C and likely much lower.Yep, something isn't right about your temps, Manny. I've never seen the CPU be lower than the MB. I'd be very suspicious. You might want to take the time to resolve this before doing much overclocking. Absolutely imperative that you have total confidence in your temp and voltage readings before overclocking.Regards,Greg

Greg,My CPU is cool, cause I have a massive copper cooler. Maybe I need a cooler for the MB too.Here are the reviews. And they do mention the MB heat issue and one person even mention his temps... where is higher than the CPU.http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingRe...N82E16813131025It looks like I am not the only one with this thing.1. ons: No vista drivers. What's up with that? It's running a little hot too. 39C CPU and 44C MB. Gonna investigate better air flow.2. Cons: High temps. Up to 114F when connected to the internet and not doing much of anything. You

...heat pipes are not the best.Can't say that I'd disagree with him there. Also, don't be surprised if your MB temps suddenly go down when a new BIOS is released. Won't be the first time that's happened.On to your rig... If the MB temp holds releatively steady (+-2 dge. C) while testing then you can probably ignore what PC Probe (and in your case, the BIOS) shows. Of course, the temp to watch is the CPU (you already know that :-) ).Press on and see what that bad boy can do...Greg

Yeah..Actually. Even when I did not OC.. My CPU was lower than the MB temps.When I started, my CPU was 29deg C while I think the MB was at this 45 deg C temp.Well, anyway.. I have upped my FSB now to 366 to to run at 3.3Gig and the CPU temp has gone upto 54 deg C and again the MB temp is constant at around 45deg C. Obviously now the CPU temp > the MB Temp.I am running Prime95 test on this one.:)MannyPS: My DIMM Freq = 366. This is cause the ASUS MB automatically sets the Memory freq where the Ratio FSB:DIMM is 1:1. Since my Dimms can run at 400. Should I force the memory to run at a higher freq. Would this help any? The bottleneck is going to be the http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/157331.jpg

>Benchmarks? Hmmm... no. What bench marks should I be doing?>>But I have been running FSX and getting the FPS. Thats what>really matters. No? :)>Manny:There is no question that what is most important to all of us is the FPS we get on Flight Simulator. The trouble, as I see it, is that everyone has their settings different....and no standardized situation for a basis of comparison.Althought the benchmarks are not completely indicative of how a machine will perform in Flight Simulator, they are an excellent means to compare graphic and gaming abilities of one machine against another, as well as testing improvements and tweaks, overclocking etc as you build and tune the machine. I think that info is extremely helpful for all of us sitting out here trying to decide what our best move is. Both of the benchmarks on the thread are freeware:Aquamark3 and 3DMark05. Another plus is that after testing your machine you have the opportunity to visit a website that allows you to compare your results against others. By properly filtering the results, you will be able to compare your new rig with very similar setups and thus gain an idea as to whether you have properly optimized your new rig.Best wishes, Arch

Thx Arch.I shall run it today and post the results... ASAP. Provided Flight scenery don't release their Portland scenery.... ;) I'd have to grab that one and install it on my FS9 box then.:)MannyEdited to add:I just ran the Aquamark3. I got 103FPS. Aquamark score of: 103025But I couldn't submit the results for some reason.Where can I see other peoples benchmark for comparison?BTW.. I am downloading the other 3D benchmark tool. Its slow. It would take another 3.5 hrs.