is RAM important to OC a CPU

[Creative]

Hey,
First off i am pretty new to overclocking things so go easy. I would like to know how important RAM is to OC a CPU, if at all important.
I have a Foxconn MCP73M05 motherboard and a Intel E7300 C2D processor. I overclocked the cpu from 2.66Ghz to 3.25Ghz no problem but no matter what i do i can't get past 3.33Ghz the system just hangs. I am using Foxconn's FOX ONE software to test the OC and then changing the bios accordingly. It's all running at stock voltages, i have changed the voltages and it makes no difference at all, it still hangs at 3.33Ghz. So i am just wondering if its my motherboard that's the problem or maybe RAM if that affects it as i only have 2x1Gb sticks of 667MHz (came bundled with a novatech barebones system). Or is it possibly the FSB of the mobo being restricted to i think 1333?

So anyway, i was going to buy an asus P5Q pro mobo and see if that will get my E7300 any higher. what do people advise? I mean do i need better RAM?
I would just like to make sure what buying all this kit will allow me to do.
Thanks very much

If this helps here is a print out of everest.


[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name CURTIS-HOME
User Name Curtis

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium III Xeon, 3252 MHz (8 x 407)
Motherboard Name Unknown
Motherboard Chipset Unknown
System Memory 2048 MB
BIOS Type Award (08/21/08)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)

Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB)
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (1823102904781)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter NVIDIA HDMI Audio Wave
Audio Adapter Realtek HD Audio output

Storage:
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive ST3160023AS (160 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA)
Disk Drive WD 5000AAC External USB Device (465 GB, USB)
Optical Drive Optiarc DVD RW AD-7200S
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 152617 MB (73558 MB free)
E: (FAT32) 476813 MB (376821 MB free)
Total Size 614.7 GB (439.8 GB free)

Input:
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse PS/2 Compatible Mouse

Network:
Network Adapter NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller (79.72.216.159)

Peripherals:
Printer Canon i560
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer Send To OneNote 2007
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB Device USB Mass Storage Device


--------[ DMI ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ BIOS ]

BIOS Properties:
Vendor Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Version 793F1P07
Release Date 08/21/2008
Size 1024 KB
Boot Devices Floppy Disk, Hard Disk, CD-ROM, ATAPI ZIP, LS-120
Capabilities Flash BIOS, Shadow BIOS, Selectable Boot, EDD, BBS
Supported Standards DMI, APM, ACPI, PnP
Expansion Capabilities ISA, PCI, USB

[ System ]

System Properties:
Manufacturer FOXCONN
Product MCP73
Version FAB 1.0
Universal Unique ID 00000000-00000000-08070605-04030201
Wake-Up Type Power Switch

[ Motherboard ]

Motherboard Properties:
Manufacturer FOXCONN
Product MCP73M05
Version FAB 1.0

[ Chassis ]

Chassis Properties:
Manufacturer FOXCONN
Version MCP73
Asset Tag Unknow
Chassis Type Desktop Case

[ Memory Controller ]

Memory Controller Properties:
Error Detection Method 8-bit Parity
Error Correction None
Supported Memory Interleave 1-Way
Current Memory Interleave 1-Way
Supported Memory Speeds 70ns, 60ns
Supported Memory Types SPM, EDO
Supported Memory Voltages 5V
Maximum Memory Module Size 2048 MB
Memory Slots 2

[ Processors / Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo ]

Processor Properties:
Manufacturer Socket 775
Version Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo
External Clock 324 MHz
Maximum Clock 3240 MHz
Current Clock 3240 MHz
Type Central Processor
Voltage 1.3 V
Status Enabled
Upgrade ZIF
Socket Designation Socket 775

[ Caches / Internal Cache ]

Cache Properties:
Type Internal
Status Enabled
Operational Mode Write-Back
Maximum Size 32 KB
Installed Size 32 KB
Supported SRAM Type Synchronous
Current SRAM Type Synchronous
Socket Designation Internal Cache

[ Caches / External Cache ]

Cache Properties:
Type External
Status Enabled
Operational Mode Write-Back
Maximum Size 32 KB
Installed Size 32 KB
Supported SRAM Type Synchronous
Current SRAM Type Synchronous
Socket Designation External Cache

[ Memory Modules / A0 ]

Memory Module Properties:
Socket Designation A0
Speed 60 ns
Installed Size 1024 MB
Enabled Size 1024 MB

[ Memory Modules / A1 ]

Memory Module Properties:
Socket Designation A1
Speed 60 ns
Installed Size 1024 MB
Enabled Size 1024 MB

[ Memory Devices / A0 ]

Memory Device Properties:
Form Factor DIMM
Type DRAM
Size 1024 MB
Speed 812 MHz
Total Width 64-bit
Device Locator A0
Bank Locator Bank0/1
Manufacturer None
Serial Number None
Asset Tag None
Part Number None

[ Memory Devices / A1 ]

Memory Device Properties:
Form Factor DIMM
Type DRAM
Size 1024 MB
Speed 812 MHz
Total Width 64-bit
Device Locator A1
Bank Locator Bank2/3
Manufacturer None
Serial Number None
Asset Tag None
Part Number None

[ System Slots / PCI0 ]

System Slot Properties:
Slot Designation PCI0
Type PCI
Usage Empty
Data Bus Width 32-bit
Length Long

--------[ Overclock ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPU Properties:
CPU Type Intel Pentium III Xeon
CPUID CPU Name Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E7300 @ 2.66GHz
CPUID Revision 00010676h

CPU Speed:
CPU Clock 3248.11 MHz (original: 2667 MHz, overclock: 22%)
CPU Multiplier 8.0x
CPU FSB 406.01 MHz (original: 100 MHz, overclock: 306%)

CPU Cache:
L1 Code Cache 32 KB
L1 Data Cache 32 KB
L2 Cache 3 MB (On-Die, ATC, Full-Speed)

Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID 08/21/2008-MCP73M05-6A61Nfk2C-00
Motherboard Name Unknown

BIOS Properties:
System BIOS Date 08/21/08
Video BIOS Date 08/15/08
Award BIOS Type Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Award BIOS Message MCP73M05 series 793F1P07 082108
DMI BIOS Version 793F1P07


--------[ Power Management ]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Power Management Properties:
Current Power Source AC Line
Battery Status No Battery
Full Battery Lifetime Unknown
Remaining Battery Lifetime Unknown


--------[ Sensor ]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sensor Properties:
Sensor Type ITE IT8712F (ISA 290h)
GPU Sensor Type Driver (NV-DRV)

Temperatures:
Motherboard 34 °C (93 °F)
Aux 54 °C (129 °F) (think i was running prime95 at this point)
GPU 38 °C (100 °F)
Seagate ST3160023AS 32 °C (90 °F)

Voltage Values:
CPU Core 1.17 V
+2.5 V 1.79 V
+3.3 V 3.30 V
+5 V 5.16 V
+12 V 11.97 V
+5 V Standby 4.92 V
VBAT Battery 3.09 V
Debug Info F 40 FF FF
Debug Info T 54 34 210
Debug Info V 49 70 CE C0 BB 04 4C (F7)

[mrbungle]

What Ram are you running?

Stock volts thats quite a decent clock if it is stable.

Without giving the cpu more volts that might be as far as you will get, or could be the motherboards limit.

[Creative]

not really sure what RAM im running, as i said it just came with the barebones bundle i bought off nova. I have upped the volts a lot just to see and no matter what i do i cant get it above 3.33 which in my bios equates to 1333 QDR FSB frequency, they give me the option of 2500! but i guess my mobo can't handle that.
So is it more likely going to be the mobo and not the RAM? I mean does the RAM even make a difference for overclocking a processor?

[TheMadDutchDude]

Up your CPU volts a notch or two, see if that will help to stabilize things.

[Creative]

Im not going to repeat this again, i have increased the core volts and even mem volts just to see and there was no difference, lol i even increased the volts to maximum just incase and still no difference, could not overclock further.
Currently my system is stable, ran prime95 for about 5 hours before i got bored with it and everything was fine, max temp i think was 56celc, so it doesnt really need more stabilizing from what ive heard of prime95. Oh and it idles around 26 so again pretty low temps.

[sniperdude]

"Im not going to repeat this again"

google it if your going to talk to people who are clearly trying to help you out in that tone

[mrbungle]

There is a chance that is is the ram as its only 667 stuff thats currently running over 800.

That said foxconn stuff aint amazing imo.

[Ciber]

To answer your main question, unless the CPU multiplier is unlocked (EE or Black edition CPU) then yes your RAM can make all the difference in oveclocking.

Try underclocking the RAM first by reducing it's divider/multiplier. Then see how high the FSB and cpu speed can go. Having done that try raising the RAM multiplier/divider again to see how fast your RAM can go.

[Creative]

"Im not going to repeat this again"

google it if your going to talk to people who are clearly trying to help you out in that tone

I wasn't trying to be harsh or anything, i am just getting tired of people suggesting to up the core voltage, i have also posted this problem on other forums and in my original post i always state "i have tried increasing the voltage" but no one seems to read that bit, and even when a reply to the first post the next person also suggests upping the voltage =/Can't you see my point? While i love suggestions i do like suggestions i haven't already tried and already stated that i have tried them. And i have tried googling it, its the first place i go to, i have been to numerous places but nothing has given me a definitive answer unfortunately. And yes while a lot of overclocking problems can be solved by raising the core volts, this isn't one of those problems, not as far as i can tell anyway.


Try underclocking the RAM first by reducing it's divider/multiplier. Then see how high the FSB and cpu speed can go. Having done that try raising the RAM multiplier/divider again to see how fast your RAM can go.Thanks for this, I tried lowering the RAM, i brought it back down to the original 667Mhz but it still made no difference, i think i set the RAM to be linked to the increase of the FSB if that makes any sense, in the bios. How far can i push this RAM do you think? i mean it's already pretty high xD i don't want to burn it out or anything. Do you suggest going lower than 667Mhz (if that's possible)?
I mean i read that the E7300 can get up to 4Ghz + so i just don't see how this can't go any higher lol, i just dont fancy spending £100 on a motherboard if i can overclock it more by buying new RAM, arhh i just don't know.

[Ciber]

Do you suggest going lower than 667Mhz (if that's possible)?
Yes set it lower than that if you can. Also have you tried loosening the RAM timings to get it to clock better? It's all a bit of a balncing act between fsb clock speed and timings! It could be of course that your maximum FSB is limited by the quality of the motherboard before you reach the limits of the RAM and CPU.

[Creative]

It could be of course that your maximum FSB is limited by the quality of the motherboard before you reach the limits of the RAM and CPU.
yeah thats what i thought, i just figured that its kind of coincidental that i can only get the fsb frequency to 1333 give or take 1 or 2 and that i believe is the maximum fsb my board can take.
And when i overclock the RAM it seems to loosen the timings for me, 5,6,6, 18 now, before hand i think it was 5,5,5,15.
Well thanks for all the help, much appreciated. I think i will just go with a new mobo for now, Asus P5Q pro should do it.

[system7]

Creative, as some folks mentioned, the trick here is to find a synchronous ratio for the RAM. CPU-Z will help you here:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Thus with your E7300 you get the RAM and the CPU both clocking at 266 MHz. Set the timings to the SPD settings for 333 MHz, which is likely 5-5-5-15-23.

Then when you up the processor FSB to near 333 MHz, the RAM is still within limits. When you take the CPU above 3 GHz, you will probably need to add 0.1V to VCore of the CPU. This is all done in the bios, not with some limited windows utility.

I can't locate the motherboard based on what you say, but a newish NVidia chipset is likely supporting 333 MHz processors, but you probably want good case and CPU cooling here.