4 GB 800 MHz RAM.
Windows 7 x64
9800 GTX+
C2D E8400 (stock 3.0 Ghz*)

*I would try overclocking, but the voltage
requirements for stability go way up with a 3.6
o/c and i'm not sure what kind of voltage is
safe with a 1.25 vID. (measured by CoreTemp)
Even at a Core Voltage of 1.208 (measured by
CPU-Z) a 3.6 overclock doesn't seem fully
stable, and I'm not sure how high is safe.

I was wondering how this system will fare for
running games at full speed. I'm sure it won't
run them all, but I'm specifically interested in
demanding games.
(Persona 3, Final Fantasy XII, etc.)

It should run most games at full speeds even without speed hacks, though you may need to enable them for a few games.

And as long as you don't plan on using that E8400 for over 5 years, you can raise the voltage up to 1.3625v. Any higher, and you may experience faster CPU degradation if you keep your PC on for extended periods of time.
The VID Voltage Range specified by Intel is 0.85V – 1.3625V.

i think that you can.but keep in mind that some games even if you have a nasa pc wont run full speed due to the emulator.

Safe voltage is not determined by VID. Known truth is that for 45nm CPU 1,36V is completly safe value, till 1,45V it reduces lifespan by a little. Above 1,45V its a suicide.

(10-28-2009 01:37 PM)dedica Wrote:  4 GB 800 MHz RAM.
Windows 7 x64
9800 GTX+
C2D E8400 (stock 3.0 Ghz*)

*I would try overclocking, but the voltage
requirements for stability go way up with a 3.6
o/c and i'm not sure what kind of voltage is
safe with a 1.25 vID. (measured by CoreTemp)
Even at a Core Voltage of 1.208 (measured by
CPU-Z) a 3.6 overclock doesn't seem fully
stable, and I'm not sure how high is safe.

I was wondering how this system will fare for
running games at full speed. I'm sure it won't
run them all, but I'm specifically interested in
demanding games.
(Persona 3, Final Fantasy XII, etc.)

Those processors overclock very well, follow the intel spec finder information. It was already given to you 0.85V – 1.3625V. It hsould be fairly safe to stay within those ranges, so bump up your voltage, overclock to a speed you like. Then slowly bump down your voltage until your system is unstable, then bump it up a little.

Your processor should be able to hit 4GHz just fine, and in that case you'll be able to run those games full speed.

My brother has a E8600 overclocked to 4.4ghz, forgot the voltage though. It was above spec.

I have a E6750 overclocked to 3.6Ghz @ 1.33v. I have a 65nm board with different voltage spec, my max on the spec is 1.5, so 1.33 is pretty good for a 1ghz overclock. Anyways I can run FFXII full speed, the vu cycle stealing hack does help a lot.

Thanks, everyone. I wasn't sure what was a safe value.
I guess there's a lot of room for vID then.

Then is it safe to assume that I can hit 4Ghz without risk?
Here is my CPU cooler if it it's a factor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6835233024

Also: Many thanks for the tip, I was unaware that 1.36v is considered
safe on all 45nm.

At 1.36 you should watch your cpu temperature though. And don't go above that with just air cooling, hmk?

(10-28-2009 05:03 PM)rama Wrote:  At 1.36 you should watch your cpu temperature though. And don't go above that with just air cooling, hmk?

No worries on that! I'm gonna be setting this as low as it
will work, stable.

Didn't realise there was even NEARLY that amount of safe
room to work with. (Or that the 1.36 value was safe on
all e8400s. I thought it varied chip to chip.) Great to know.

Sure you can run most games at full speed.
And your CPU ( with box cooler) can be easily overclocked to 3.6 GHz without raising up Core Voltage.

Should be, but dont have too. My should go to 3ghz at stock but it doesnt. Just bad chip ;/