COLIN help on my new A7N8x [Archive]

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

COLIN!!!!!... i jsut got my A7N8X mobo today. got everything to work. the dual channel ddr works great too. great increase in performance and great gaming sound too. the only thing is i can't get the overclocking right. i went into the advanced chipset menu and changed the System performance to agressive or user define then went into the CPU External Frequency and attemped to increase it by increments of 1 and 2 i've also tried going up to 150mhz fsb. and everytime i save and exit the bios just black out. i had to reset the CMOS many many times. and if i attemp to change only the multiplyer the next time i come back to the bios it'll just tell me that CPU over speed. and won't continue loading windows. still just can't get it right. i have a 2000+. al i want is to OC it to a 2200+. what am i doing wrong. is there some kind of voltage i need to change? i leave all the CPU Vcore to Auto and AGP core to Auto too. if i am not mistaken, don't you have experience with the A7N8x? please please!.. it's a bummer that i can't get a overclocker board to overclock. thanks!!! -howard BAM!

Avid6eek

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Howard....have you ever OCed this Proc to the 2200 speed on a different board?

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

no, previously i had a non clockable mobo. so this is my first CPU OC attemp. -bam!

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

oh by the way, shiznit. i saw your message before askin about building a quiet PC. and i see that now you got a coolermaster atc-210. good choice. i've had it for several month now.. i'll haev to say that it's the phatest case i've ever had. fans are quiet and great coolin. -bam!

DeanLowe

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

To overclock your XP200+(I'm assuming it's a Palomino), you will most likely have to raise the CPU core voltage. Make sure you have sufficient cooling otherwise you'll just cook that sucker to a crsipy brown lump of silicon, I've seen the results first hand and they're not pretty. Are you sure about the performance gains?? check out my post <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://bbs.pcstats.com/pcstats/messageview.cfm?catid=64&threadid=17324">here</a>

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

i've left the CPU vcore to auto wouldn't that auto adjust already? i'll i'll try your suggestion anyways.... let you know later. thanks -bam!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Hey Howard BAM!... Sorry, was at my parents place all night yesterday. Awesome choice on motherboard, it's very fast! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Would you happen to know which S-Stepping your XP2000+ is? Overclocking to 1.8 GHz (XP2200+ speeds) is not a given! I'm assuming your processor is locked right Howard BAM!? 12.5 x 150 = 1875 MHz is quite high and honestly most Palomino's can only get there with more powerful cooling like water. What exactly are you using for a hsf anyway?

Avid6eek

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Leaving your Core Voltage settings to Auto only gives the CPU it's suggested amount of voltage at stock speeds. Bump it up a little. 1.75 volts won't hurt anything. It'll create a little more heat so make sure you have a copper cooler at least.

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Hey Colin, here is my CPU detail from WCPUID: [ WCPUID Version 3.1a (c) 1996-2002 By H.Oda! ] Processor #1 : AMD Athlon XP (Model 6) / 59C246A0 Platform : Socket A (Socket 462) Vendor String : AuthenticAMD CPU Type : Original OEM Processor (0) Family : 6 (7) Model : 6 (6) Stepping ID : 2 (2) Brand : ---- APIC : ---- HT Log.CPU Cnt : ---- Name String : AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+ Internal Clock : 1670.46 MHz System Bus : 267.27 MHz DDR System Clock : 133.64 MHz Multiplier : 12.5 L1 I-Cache : 64K Byte L1 D-Cache : 64K Byte L1 T-Cache : ---- L1 Cache : ---- L2 Cache : 256K Byte L2 Speed : 1670.46 MHz (Full) MMX Unit : Supported SSE Unit : Supported SSE2 Unit : Not Supported MMX2 Unit : Supported 3DNow! Unit : Supported 3DNow!+ Unit : Supported Host Bridge : 10DE:01E0.A2 [NVIDIA nForce2] South Bridge : 10DE:01EB.A2 [NVIDIA nForce2 MCP] VGA Device : 10DE:0250.A3 [NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600] Memory Size : 512M Byte Memory Clock : ---- OS Version : Windows XP Version 5.01.2600 i've also tried up the FSB little by a little. like starting from 135 (default 133). and still the same thing happens. it won't boot. just the black screen. so CMOS again. should i up the DDR Reference Voltage too? along with the CPU Vcore Voltage as Shisnit said. the default Vcore that's running now is 1.7 i think. i've also tried up the CpuVcore to 1.85 this morning and still the same thing won't boot. CMOS again. what am i doing wrong!!!!!! -bam!

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

oh by the way. my CPU is locked. althought the bios does have the option which allow me to change the multiplyer raging from 6.5 to 12.5/13.0. just that everytime if i change the multiplyer it'll just boot up with a message saying "CPU over speed" and won't continue to boot. so i guess it's still locked. -bam!

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

oh and i am using the vantec's aeroflow. it keeps it pretty cool at a normal temp of 38c at stock speed. -bam!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Howard BAM! what speed is yoru memory running at with your FSB at 133 MHz? Are you running in sync (which gives the best performance) or is your memory running faster then the FSB? Yes, I would raise the memory voltage too, you probably don't want to go past 2.9V if you plan to keep the memory for a long time. Even though your motherboard has multiplier adjustments, I don't think you'd be able to change them because your processor is locked by default. The Vantec Aeroflow is a pretty good hsf, but to be honest I highly doubt it will get to 150 MHz FSB (1.88 GHz). <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> You'll need something much stronger like a Swiftech MCX462 or Alpha PAL8045 with a high CFM fan to hit those speeds.

Avid6eek

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Alpha...Swiftech....Personally I'd say the small performance improvment is not worth the noise, let alone buying those expensive heatsinks ($30-50) and Swiftech's don't come w/ fans!!!!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Haha, you always pay a premium for the best even if it's only a little bit better! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> I remember when I got my MC462A, it was only a bit better then a Thermalright SK6 w/36CFM Delta Screamer, but it was much quieter! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

hey Colin, my memory is running in agressive mode which is "in sync" at 133mhz together with the front side bus. when ever i change the FSB the memory frequency changes too. i don't really care if i get to 150 mhz or not. honestly i just want to get a taste of CPU overclocking. if i can crank it up to a 1.8Ghz i'll be more than satisfied. so you're saying i should increase the memory voltage too? i think the memory is running at 2.6 volt right now if i am correct. so if i increase fsb to 143 or 144 or anything around 140 i shold increase the Vcore by how much and memory core by how much? thanks -bam!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Hey Howard BAM!... Since your AthlonXP is based on the Palomino core, I'd say bump the voltage up to 1.85V don't worry you won't fry your chip. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> As for memory voltage, I'd give it a bump to 2.7-2.8V that should be ok as well. Howard BAM! I forgot, what size/brand PSU are you using again? Highly clocked Athlon's are picky on the type of PSU they use.

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

i am using a sparkle 300 watt power supply. do you think that'll be a problem?. it came with the coolermaster ATC case i bought. -bam!

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

another thing is i have samsung pc2100 (2x256DIMM) memory. would that be the problem? i mean even if it doesn't clock too well. shouldn't it even bootup at least? -bam!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Sparkle makes some nice power supplies, but 300W may be a bit small... How stable are your voltages? Some Samsung PC2100 is good, some is bad. Is this memory old?

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

the memory was part of the HP oem machine which i bought and took apart just about 9 month ago. so it should be pretty good memories. my voltage seem pretty stable. i mean i've never encountered a crash or anything. ummmm!!!... am i out of luck here? <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> -bam!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Hey Howard BAM! what's yoru ambient temperatures like?

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

my temp is very cool. cpu stays at 38c. everything is all very cool. i don't think it's any about the temp. i think it's something i am not doing right in the bios. either that or that worse scenario which could be memory incapability of overclocking. i have my memory set to agressive mode instead of optimized, and it's also Insync instead of Spd. do you think that could be the problem?. i think i am gonna try to call the asus tech support for this. don't know if they'll help me with this overclocking problem. wish me luck! -bam!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Howard BAM! don't bother calling Asus, they will not help you when it comes to overclocking. Just how far are you able to overclock while maintaining 100% stability?

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

you know what. i can't at all!!. that's the thing. i can't even get it to overclock at all. anywhere higher than 134mhz FSB it won't boot. the thing is. everytime i change the FSB in the bios the memory frequency changes too to match up with the FSB frequency. but when i go 1 MHz higher than 133 the FSB shows 134 and memory frequency still shows 133. and it'll boot ok. but anywhere after 134 it just won't boot. is there something wrong? also how can a manufactur produce something with a feature that they don't support. (i am just being a whining ****************************** here!!!, i kinda expected that they won't help me with that, although i am gonna try it anyway). -bam!!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Howard BAM! I don't remember if we discussed this, but lower your memory timings to the most conservative in the BIOS. By that I mean, change all the memory timings to the larger numbers. Other then that, I'm really lost. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I'm not sure what could be holding you back... As for calling Asus, they will not help you void your warranty on the processor. They give you those options, but they are unsupported. Give it a shot anyway though, you never know! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Avid6eek

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

I have the same overclocking problem with my system and I've been blaming it on the CPU....could it be the nForce2 chipset at fault??? hmmm

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Colin!... one thing i for got mention hehe!!... many times .. not everytime. when i increase the FSB and reboot. it gives me one of the system sound alert of "system memory fail test" and also doesn't boot up. so i think i'll try your suggestion when i get home. use a less intensive setting for memory see if that works. shiznit, what exactly is the problem you're having. is it exactly like mine? do you have the same board? do you get the same sound alert? -bam!

Avid6eek

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

I have the MSI K7N2. I push my FSB up a few MHz and the system gets real unstable. If I go a couple more Mhz, the system won't start. I have to reset CMOS and change the jumper on the board from the 133Mhz FSB to a 100Mhz FSB. On my old Mobo I tried overclock as well, and got the same results, so I thought it was the CPU. Then I tried changing the system bus to 166, and knocking my multiplier down to 12. This would bring the CPU clock down from 2000Mhz to 1992Mhz. The system would not boot.

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

ummmm..... ok colin, i officially give up. i tried your last suggestion and still didn't work. i increase the memory latency from 2.5, 3, 3, 6 to 3, 4, 4, 7 and exact same thing happens. anyways... thanks for all the help guys. colin and shiznit. apreciate it. i think i might just go for the cpu unlock. i just hope i won't screw it up. i am so afraid of fukin it up. -bam!

Avid6eek

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Does everyone see a pretty big space under my computer specs picture? or is it just me?

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

i see it now... tho it wasn't there before today -bam!

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Howard BAM!!! I think we found your culprit! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Try running the memory slower then the FSB, see if you can overclock higher then. << On my old Mobo I tried overclock as well, and got the same results, so I thought it was the CPU. Then I tried changing the system bus to 166, and knocking my multiplier down to 12. This would bring the CPU clock down from 2000Mhz to 1992Mhz. The system would not boot. >> Shiznit, when I was playing with the K7N2 I could not access the multipliers lower then 12.5x. If you want to use the lower multipliers you'll have to connect the last L5 bridge, when I do that with my XP 2700+ I have access to 5x-12.5x.

Avid6eek

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

I could have swore that this Mobo can Unlock the T-Bred CPU. To unlock it you have to connect 2 pins, and I'm guessing the Mobo does this somehow in it's circuitry. I'll go back into the BIOS and see what I can find out and edit this post. Colin is Correct. In my BIOS the Multiplier is set to be at 7.0X yet I'm still running at 2004Mhz.

Colin

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

<< Colin is Correct. >> Never thought I would hear that! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Shiznit, you gonna unlcok the lower multipliers on your processor?

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

<< Howard BAM!!! I think we found your culprit! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Try running the memory slower then the FSB, see if you can overclock higher then. << On my old Mobo I tried overclock as well, and got the same results, so I thought it was the CPU. Then I tried changing the system bus to 166, and knocking my multiplier down to 12. This would bring the CPU clock down from 2000Mhz to 1992Mhz. The system would not boot. >> Shiznit, when I was playing with the K7N2 I could not access the multipliers lower then 12.5x. If you want to use the lower multipliers you'll have to connect the last L5 bridge, when I do that with my XP 2700+ I have access to 5x-12.5x. >>

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

oopss... forget the last post. it was a quoting error. so colin how would i clock the memory slower? cause everytime i increase the FSB the memory frequency increases with it too. anywhere higher than 134Mhz FSB the memory matches up with it. -bam!

Avid6eek

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

Unclocking CPU, lowering Multipliers......that's too much work for me....I'll just order a faster CPU if i need more performance <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

BAM!

06-15-04, 01:25 PM

yeah i know what you mean shiznit, but i just want to get a taste of cpu overclock that's all i want. it's not the point of how much performance increase it's the matter of if i done it or not. oh and i tried lowering the memory frequency down to 85% (choices were sync, spd, 10-200%) and still wouldnt' boot up. so i guess there goes the end of my FSB overclocking attempt!!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> night guys! -bam!