RT-AC68R: Upgrade mem to 667, or Keep Turbo Mode for 1Ghz OC?

[IanEnc]

I picked up one of the RT-AC68R that were horded and re-sold when BB had their price down to $119.

I was wondering what your opinions were regarding using the ASUS DDR Configuration Upgrade Tool, which has been known to disable the Turbo Mode enabled via RMerlin's f/w.

My current uses for the modem:

- Up to 10 wireless devices on 2.4GHz running 802.11n and legacy (iPhones, smartphones, tablets, Wii, TV)
- Laptop and HTPC running on 5GHz with 802.11ac mode only
- 1 wired client

I plan to also throw one of my spare 240GB SSD in an enclosure, for some basic file sharing (possibly iTunes server) via NAS.

Would there be any benefit in running either increased mem clock speed, or CPU clock speed? If so, which one would show the most gains? Should I just run the unit on the original specs?

Your advice is much appreciated!

 

[IanEnc]

No takers?

Perhaps I should re-phrase my question to something more generic.

What would essentially give a better performance boost for this router?
Higher memory clock speed, or higher CPU clock speed?

 

[hggomes]

Both, but CPU has alot more impact.


Default speed is: 800/533

You can try different combinations:

1000/533
1000/667
1000/800

1200/533
1200/667
1200/800

Attention: Not all routers have the exact same behaviour, in my case i was able to use 1200/800 on one but not in other.

 

[IanEnc]

Thanks hggomes.

Have you run the DDR upgrade tool on your units?

 

[hggomes]

You're welcome. No, i used nvram command instead, in the end the result is the same. The tool will execute the same command "nvram set clkfreq=value + nvram commit + reboot"

 

[geonjay]

I'm usually hesitant to OC, as it's caused stability issues in the past with other routers - especially the rt-n16.

I just unwrapped my brand new ac68u AND I see that Asus released their own utility to for taking the mem clock rate to 667. So, I feel more comfortable about doing SOME overclocking...but after reading this thread I, too, am curious about which (or both) is better. Is the answer simply "try it and see" ?

 

[hggomes]

From my experience i can tell you this:

Overclock is always a "risk", you can suceed or not, is almost a loterry and it depends on several factors, its just like an Intel or AMD CPU if you pick up 10 CPU the exact same model they will all overclock differently, some more others less, they have different VIDS and others small manufactoring differences.

Regarding RT-N16 i can tell you are right about it, my first one even at "stock" speed (480MHZ) when using compressed files specially encrypted ones was showing randomly CRC errors (1/10) on those files generated, when i try it at 533MHZ was even worth (8/10), it rarely was created a good file and then after downgrading to 453MHZ no problems anymore, then later i bought a new one and i dont know if its related with a new PCB revision or not but its able to work perfectly well overclocked at 533MHZ, you need to be lucky

One thing i noticed was that the same ASUS FW on both routers by default clock differently, older to 453MHZ (i understood later why lol) and on newer at 480MHZ even this one was able to work at 533MHZ without a problem


So what i can say to you is, try and see what your router reserves to you, good luck

Is the answer simply "try it and see" ?

Oh yeah