Why don't you just leave the CPU at stock for the time being, and see how the video card improves your machine on its own? Some RAM won't overclock as well as others, period. Besides, the faster you run the RAM, the looser the timings need to be. (I think). What you haven't stated yet, is what was the CPU clock speed when the system locked up? Also, RAM needs to be over-volted slightly to run faster than stock. For example, the generic spec for DDR2, is 1.85 volts. But, most or all of the RAM that uses that voltage, won't go past 800Mhz. Most DDR2 1066Mhz RAM, requires about 2.1 volts, or it will default to running @800 Mhz! Here again, some RAM won't take the higher voltage, and you're going into a, "ride at your own risk" scenario. However, your CPU is 1066FSB I believe. So your memory is already running @ 1066, (I think). So, cranking the FSB up with that speed in place, requires high performance RAM since your memory is going to be running in the 1200 to 1300Mhz range. But, as I said, I wouldn't get all worked up over this just yet, see how the 4850 works out by itself with the games you want to play. Another quick question, is this an Award BIOS?
Solid advice. Keep everything stock for a while at least. If you run into any unforeseen performance problems or the refitted system starts throwing errors then it's one less branch on the troubleshooting tree to have to explore. Some RAM won't overclock at all. Running the RAM and FSB using 1:1 is usually a advantageous route. At 1:1 . If the RAM is DDR2-800 CL5 you can pretty much rule out overclocking it for bandwidth (speed) . 4-4-4-12 timings at DDR2-800 will equate to 5-5-5-15 at DDR2-1066, while a lot of 5-5-5-15 (or 5-5-5-15) DDR2-800 wont go much faster even if you relax the timings out to 6-6-6-18+. The added latency from CL/CAS 6 negates the increased speed/bandwidth. Pretty much, unless you opt for well binned performance RAM. Unfortunately the Foxconn board doesn't allow fine tuning of RAM values (especially tWR/ performance level) just the four major values -CL, tRCD, tRP and tRAS. For your stock CPU the FSB is 1066MHz. Divide by four (FSB is quad-pumped) equals a core/bus speed of 266MHz. The BIOS options for the board I think are the same as the Gigabyte P965-DS3/-4/-5 so... 1.00 = DDR2-533 (bus speed x 2) for Double Data Rate2 1.11 = DDR2-592 1.20 = DDR2-640 1.25 = DDR2-667 1.33 = DDR2-709 1.50 = DDR2-800 Yes. Phoenix-Award. Slightly less optioned than the Gigabyte BIOS for the same chipset. The overclock/performance tab is (bombastically) called "Fox Central Control Unit" -instead of M.I.T. Word of caution. You will see a section in the BIOS called "Fox Intelligent Stepping" -Foxconn's auto one-step overclocking. In a word...Garbage. The utility sets timings and voltage according to your star sign and the average rainfall figures for Guatemala with a few random numbers thrown in. Using this utility should ensure that you will never be at a loss for new and interesting ways to screw up the system. Always overclock manually in the BIOS. Once your base values have been revised (bus speed, DRAM voltage/timings etc.) change only one setting at a time, test for stability before changing any further values.
