PC Overclocking, Optimization, and Tuning - 2th Edition

Configurations of the system Tested

• Motherboard: Abit BE6-II (BIOS version — 05/2000).

• Processor: Intel Pentium III 550E (Coppermine core, 256 KB L2 cache memory that works at the full frequency of the core, Slot 1, in box).

• Hard drive: IBM DPTA-372050 (20 GB, 2 MB cache memory, 7,200 RPM, UltraDMA/66).

• RAM: 128 MB, PC100.

• Video adapter: Asus AGP-V3800 TV (TNT2 video chipset, 32 B SGRAM video memory).

• CD-ROM: ASUS CD-S400/A (40x).

• S: Windows 98 with installed UDMA/66 hard drive controller drivers.

Overclocking Mode

Frequency of the processor bus — 130 MHz, multiplier — x5.5, frequency of the processor — 715 MHz = 130 MHz×5.5.

Test Results

Motherboard Monitor v4.12 was chosen as the diagnostic program of the processor temperature. The temperature of the processor without using the software was 37°C (Sensor 1), which is 14 degrees higher than the temperature of the surrounding area — 23°C (Sensor 2). After loading the CpuIdle program, the temperature of the processor was 25°C (Sensor 1) which was only 2 degrees higher than the temperature of the surrounding area — 23°C (Sensor 2). In this manner, CpuIdle managed to cool the processor with software and lower its temperature by an entire 12°C, which allows for extreme overclocking. The amount that the temperature can be lowered by using the software depends on the level to which the processor is loaded with work: the less work, the more effective the software will be. The results of testing and controlling the temperature with the help of the Motherboard Monitor program are presented in Fig. 18.21 and Fig. 18.22.

Fig. 18.21. Temperature values without using the software

Fig. 18.22. Temperature values when using the software

Note that the CpuIdle program not only allows you to cool your processor with software, but in certain cases may even optimize its functioning. Modern processors have some additional functions that sometimes promote performance growth. If these functions are not enabled, the program is able to activate them, and with that, raise the performance of the system. For this, you have to check the optimize functioning checkbox when setting it up. Setting the parameters of CpuIdle 5.6 is illustrated in Fig. 18.23.

Fig. 18.23. Setting up the working parameters of CpuIdle

A series of tests from the WinBench 99 v1.1 package were executed with the aim of researching the optimizing ability of CpuIdle, first with the initialized CpuIdle program, and then without it. The configurations of the system used for this testing are the same as for the previous temperature monitoring test. The results of testing the optimizing abilities of the CpuIdle program are provided in the following table, and in graphic form in Fig. 18.24.

Fig. 18.24. CPUmark 99 test results

You should note that these results of the CPUmark99 test illustrates that as a means of optimizing the processor, the CpuIdle is not very effective; there was only less than a 2% improvement. However, there was some growth in performance, and therefore it is possible to draw the conclusion that the CpuIdle program, as stated in its description, does indeed optimize the functioning of the CPU.

In the process of its functioning, the CpuIdle program analyzes the degree to which the processor is burdened with work and allows you to assess the results (see Fig. 18.20). It's also possible to indicate the form in which the test results and analysis will be displayed on the monitor's screen: indicator mode — graphic or numerical, parameter renewal interval, etc. An example of setting the parameters is shown in Fig. 18.25.

Fig. 18.25. Setting the indicator parameters for the CpuIdle program

The CpuIdle program also has the ability to control the temperature of the processor. If the temperature goes higher than a certain value predetermined by the user, CpuIdle can, for example, increase the priority of cooling the processor, or even initialize the shutting down of the computer. For this to work, the system must support parameter monitoring of the processor, including its temperature, and the monitoring program Motherboard Monitor must also be installed in the computer. Setting up control of the temperature of the processor in the CpuIdle program is illustrated in Fig. 18.26.

Fig. 18.26. Setting the temperature control parameters

In the set up, you can assign a temperature value which, when reached by the processor, will trigger the program to take the appropriate action when the corresponding functions are enabled. The following options are possible:

• Ignore

• Incremental increasing of the priority (recommended)

• Highest priority (maximum cooling)

• Immediately shut down Windows (this makes sense if the system supports automatic turning off of the computer power supply — advanced power management)

When solving the problem of cooling the components of the computer, it makes sense to become acquainted with the material on certain Internet sites whose addresses are given at the end of the book. The following sites are highly recommended:

• http://www.kryotech.com

• http://www.tomshardware.com

• http://ixbt.stack.net/~termoscope