Mobo or RAM limiting?

[manofice]

I had a 2500+ barton and I plugged in a floppy drives power backwards and fried the system so I bought some new parts but kept my hdd's and ram

The the issue is that I heard the opty 165 can OC pretty decent...I can only get it to like a 2.15ghz

FSB is at 236 I believe

I put FSB to 245 and it says my windows is corrupt so I put back to 236 and it booted fine....then I tried to put to like 240 rebooted and then I just got a constant long beep and it wouldn't boot and had to reset CMOS. I went little higher again and I got no video so I had to reset the CMOS again...

Edit: I'm also running stock vcore and stock cooler which is actually pretty decent.

Mobo = FOXCONN 6150BK8MC-KRSHN2 939
CPU = AMD|OPT 165 1.8G 939 2M 90N R
PSU = ROSEWILL|RD500-2SB 500W RT


My old RAM which might be my problem

KINGMAX SuperRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model MPXD42D-2K - Retail

The ram is about 2.5 years old...looks like high density cuz it has chips on both sides.

 

[MarcVenice]

Well, you OBVIOUSLY have to use a ram divider, did you try that or not, your ram is rated at 400mhz, but you are trying to run it at 480mhz+, thats 2*FSB, or 2*240, is 480. Also, no idea if your mobo has a PCI-lock, but if it doesn't then you should find out how to lock it, or everytime you push up the FSB, you're also gonna push up the PCI bus and the AGP bus, which is a BAD thing, and might lead to data corruption on your HD. So be carefull.

Maybe you know all this allready and I made a complete fool out of myself, but can't hurt to check, can it ?

 

[manofice]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Well, you OBVIOUSLY have to use a ram divider, did you try that or not, your ram is rated at 400mhz, but you are trying to run it at 480mhz+, thats 2*FSB, or 2*240, is 480. Also, no idea if your mobo has a PCI-lock, but if it doesn't then you should find out how to lock it, or everytime you push up the FSB, you're also gonna push up the PCI bus and the AGP bus, which is a BAD thing, and might lead to data corruption on your HD. So be carefull.

Maybe you know all this allready and I made a complete fool out of myself, but can't hurt to check, can it ?

I'm just hearing about this memory divider stuff...what you said makes sense!

I saw some memory settings and messed with them for a brief second.

I saw it was set to auto and 200mhz (1:1 I believe?) and the memory settings were auto set.

I dropped it to 166 for kicks and left the fsb at what it was...236 I think but can't be sure about the fsb and rebooted and it did nothing as in I nothing came on the screen and I had to reset cmos ...

 

[MarcVenice]

200mhz would be 1:1 yes, and I've overclocked my 3000+ venice myself, and I had to drop the divider down to 133, for some reason it wouldn't boot at 166, exept for 233fsb I think, but nothing else worked. So try 133, and then try 250fsb or so. But do make sure you've got a PCI lock Don't worry to much about it, in the end my 3000+ venice ran at 2.4ghz, 270fsb and ddr 380mhz, which is just 20 short of 400, which would be stock, you wont really notice the difference.

 

[manofice]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
200mhz would be 1:1 yes, and I've overclocked my 3000+ venice myself, and I had to drop the divider down to 133, for some reason it wouldn't boot at 166, exept for 233fsb I think, but nothing else worked. So try 133, and then try 250fsb or so. But do make sure you've got a PCI lock Don't worry to much about it, in the end my 3000+ venice ran at 2.4ghz, 270fsb and ddr 380mhz, which is just 20 short of 400, which would be stock, you wont really notice the difference.

Sweet, I will drop it to 133 when I get home, thanks for you info, you've been a huge help!

 

[duragezic]

Look at the stickied thread: Athlon 64 overclock info

That should address all your issues and get you a higher overclock.

In addition to using a memory divider, make sure your HTT (FSB) * HTT multiplier is less than 1000. When I moved from a overclocked Barton to an Opteron, I too wasn't familar with these new things to deal with when overclocking, so I barely got anything out of the chip until I read that stickied thread. From what I seen long ago, having a effective HTT less than 1000 makes little difference on performance. I'd say just keep it above 700 or so (use a 3x or 4x multiplier).

As the stickied thread states, take parts out of the equation. i.e. To find the max HTT (FSB) your mobo can run at: set your memory to the 100 Mhz/DDR200 which is HTT * .5 for your effective memory speed, make sure effective HTT is under 1000, lower CPU multiplier, then raise FSB. Some 939 motherboards can't go past 240 HTT, so that could be your limit right there. But the above settings take other components out of the equation so you can find your max HTT, then max CPU clock, then max memory speed.

 

[manofice]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: duragezic
Look at the stickied thread: Athlon 64 overclock info

That should address all your issues and get you a higher overclock.

In addition to using a memory divider, make sure your HTT (FSB) * HTT multiplier is less than 1000. When I moved from a overclocked Barton to an Opteron, I too wasn't familar with these new things to deal with when overclocking, so I barely got anything out of the chip until I read that stickied thread. From what I seen long ago, having a effective HTT less than 1000 makes little difference on performance. I'd say just keep it above 700 or so (use a 3x or 4x multiplier).

As the stickied thread states, take parts out of the equation. i.e. To find the max HTT (FSB) your mobo can run at: set your memory to the 100 Mhz/DDR200 which is HTT * .5 for your effective memory speed, make sure effective HTT is under 1000, lower CPU multiplier, then raise FSB. Some 939 motherboards can't go past 240 HTT, so that could be your limit right there. But the above settings take other components out of the equation so you can find your max HTT, then max CPU clock, then max memory speed.</end quote></div>

Thanks for the info! I didn't see anywhere to change my cpu multipler it seems to be set at 9x. That would stink if my mobo wouldn't go past 240 fsb

Edit: So terms are different now..? FSB = HTT??

Also If i'm reading you right.. you say I don't wanna be above 1000 with fsb x multiplier?
Cuz right now i'm at 236 x 9 = 2.12ghz
If what you say I want to do like 236x4 = 900 mhz?!?

I have to be missing something here

And if I can change my multiplyer i should change it to 4x and shoot the FSB to like 800?!

 

[MarcVenice]

Ah yes, I guess I should have pointed to that thread too. And no it's not the FSB * Multiplier of the cpu, there should be an option in your bios, and it can range from 5 to 1, if I'm not mistaken. Multiply that with your FSB, so 5*200, which is stock, is 1000, but since you're overclocking your FSB, it becomes 5*2xx and will exeed 1000. You have to lower that 5 to 4 or even 3, depending on how far you overclock.

And yes, when he sais HTT he means FSB, or the other way around, but it's basicaly the same thing.

 

[manofice]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Ah yes, I guess I should have pointed to that thread too. And no it's not the FSB * Multiplier of the cpu, there should be an option in your bios, and it can range from 5 to 1, if I'm not mistaken. Multiply that with your FSB, so 5*200, which is stock, is 1000, but since you're overclocking your FSB, it becomes 5*2xx and will exeed 1000. You have to lower that 5 to 4 or even 3, depending on how far you overclock.

And yes, when he sais HTT he means FSB, or the other way around, but it's basicaly the same thing.</end quote></div>

That makes sense, thanks!

Edit: I was reading about "max chip capable" section on the sticky

What If I can't edit the multiplier to it's max...I know it's at 9x right now but when I was in the bios yesterday I swear i didn't see the option to change it...maybe foxconn doesn't let you change the multiplier?

 

[MarcVenice]

Heh multipliers are often if not almost always locked, you can only lower them, not increase them, unless you buy an overpriced chip. The idea is to lower the multiplier to let's say 6, then, if you keep increasing the FSB/HTT to for example 300, you're cpu would be running at 1.8ghz, you know it's capable of doing this, because 9*200 = 1.8ghz. This way you can determine what the MAXIMUM FSB/HTT is of your motherboard.

My mobo for example wouldn't do anything past 275 FSB with my old 3000+ venice cpu. I think it's the mobo's fault, but will find out soon with my new x2 3800+. But that's how you can find out the max FSB. Sidenote, my rig wouldn't boot if I lowered the multi and kept the FSB at stock, or increased it.

 

[manofice]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Heh multipliers are often if not almost always locked, you can only lower them, not increase them, unless you buy an overpriced chip. The idea is to lower the multiplier to let's say 6, then, if you keep increasing the FSB/HTT to for example 300, you're cpu would be running at 1.8ghz, you know it's capable of doing this, because 9*200 = 1.8ghz. This way you can determine what the MAXIMUM FSB/HTT is of your motherboard.

My mobo for example wouldn't do anything past 275 FSB with my old 3000+ venice cpu. I think it's the mobo's fault, but will find out soon with my new x2 3800+. But that's how you can find out the max FSB. Sidenote, my rig wouldn't boot if I lowered the multi and kept the FSB at stock, or increased it.

Thanks, I printed out that long sticky and will try to find the max of everything and put it all togather, a lot of changed since I tried to OC my 2500 barton 2 years ago (which I didn't have much luck in ) probably because of these things i'm learning today, lol

My issue is though, I know it's a 9x multiplier because of a monitoring software I'm using but in the bios I never saw a "multiplier" option...to lower it or raise it.

 

[MarcVenice]

you might have to put the settings on manual. On my asus mobo I've gotta go to jumperfree settings, set things to manual, then it let's me mess around with things. Other mobo's ive seen need a special key combo to 'unlock' the overclocking screen. But perhaps your mobo doesn't let you change it.

IMO that guide is okay, but kind of obsolete too I simply downclocked my ram, started upping the FSB, watched the temps, even though I barely if at all had to increase the vcore, and then when I hit 275fsb and tried everything I could to get past it, but nothing worked, I setled for 270fsb = 2.43ghz, and starting tweaking my ram, so it would run the fastest it possible could, with the lowest timings possible. Of course I had my HTT below 1000ish, although I'm quite sure that 4*270 won't hurt. That's how easy it actually is.

To find out if your system is stable you've gotta run orthos and watch temps, easy peasy

 

[manofice]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
you might have to put the settings on manual. On my asus mobo I've gotta go to jumperfree settings, set things to manual, then it let's me mess around with things. Other mobo's ive seen need a special key combo to 'unlock' the overclocking screen. But perhaps your mobo doesn't let you change it.

IMO that guide is okay, but kind of obsolete too I simply downclocked my ram, started upping the FSB, watched the temps, even though I barely if at all had to increase the vcore, and then when I hit 275fsb and tried everything I could to get past it, but nothing worked, I setled for 270fsb = 2.43ghz, and starting tweaking my ram, so it would run the fastest it possible could, with the lowest timings possible. Of course I had my HTT below 1000ish, although I'm quite sure that 4*270 won't hurt. That's how easy it actually is.

To find out if your system is stable you've gotta run orthos and watch temps, easy peasy

Nice, I get outa work in an hour and a half then the fun begins!

 

[manofice]

Ok, here are my problems now that I"m home

The multiplier says "disabled" so I can't change it...it's at 9x

and I can't find the hypertransport information to change from 6 to 5 or 4...to keep below 1000

Some of my bios settings are

Auto Detect PCI CLK = enabled
cpu frequency (fsb) = 234
pcie freq = 100 mhz
x spu spread spectrum = disabled
pcie spread spectrum = enabled
sata spread spectrum = enabled
ht spread sprectrum = enabled
vdim volt 2.6
vcore = default



DRAM Config = enter
frame buffer size = 64megs
The fsb multiplyer is "disabled"

The only thing with a "#x" is the below

PMU = Auto
NB <-> NB HT Speed 5X
NB <-> SB HT Speed 4x
NB <-> SB HT Speed 4x
K8 <-> NB HT Width 16 16
err94 enhance = disabled
sse/sse2 instru = enabled
tpm cont - no change
sys bios cache - enabled

in the DRAM Config:

timing mode auto
mem clock - 200mhz
cas#TCL 2.5
min ras 8t
ras t cas 4t
trp 2t
bottom of 32 bit I0 = d0
s/w mem hole remapp = enabled
h/w " "

 

[manofice]

http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pic1cu5.jpg
http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pic2im1.jpg
http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pic3bz6.jpg

CPUZ results

 

[MarcVenice]

If I were to take a wild guess, but it is a wild guess indeed, I would say this is the HTT multiplier you have to change to 4 or 3: NB <-> NB HT Speed 5X

I could be looking at all the pics, but what exactly do you need to know ? First thing you should do is set a goal for yourself, at what OC will you be content? Then go for it and if you run into problems, ask about it. A small tip would be to loosen the memory timings to 4-12-4-4, often referred to as 4-4-4-12. This way you wont get any instability due to timings being set to low. Later on you can push them back down with a lot of stability testing.