1.6A on P4B533 w/goodies

[Mikki]

My purpose with this post was to give people a comparison between boards without all the goodies (raid, usb, etc) and those with. I know the performance isn't going to be as good with all this other stuff running, in some cases it might be horrible. But just like everyone else, I'm trying to get the best performance with what I have.

The only things I have disabled are the firewire and usb 2.0, I have everything else running. I have a raid setup, a bunch of usb devices, I'm using the on-board audio, and I'm even using an Asus iPanel (which I'm not impressed with, but that's another story).

My original goals were to break 10,000 on 3DMark, to overclock my cpu 1 gig over it's rated speed (which doesn't look like it's gonna happen), and to make my system totally stable at the highest speed I can. I'll keep this updated with my progress.

SYSTEM
P4 1.6A Malaysia
Asus P4B533-E, 1007e.006 bios
Stock HSF with AS3
Corsair XMS3200 2x 256mb (set Cas2.5/3/37)
Enermax 550W
2x 80G WD specials in raid array
GF4 ti4400


OVERCLOCK Voltage (PC Probe)
1600mhz 100fsb = 1.55v
2133mhz 133fsb = 1.55v
2400mhz 150fsb = 1.65v
2480mhz 155fsb = 1.72v
2527mhz 158fsb =
2560mhz 160fsb =
2656mhz 166fsb =


3DMark2001SE
1600mhz 100fsb = 8627 *8664
2133mhz 133fsb = 9735 *9075
2400mhz 150fsb = 9516 *10151 (one of my goals!)
2480mhz 155fsb = 10414 *10441
2527mhz 158fsb = 10956
2560mhz 160fsb =
2656mhz 166fsb =


SciSoft Sandra MEM >>> CPU >>> Media
1600mhz 100fsb = 1906 / 1905 >>> 3105 / 1966 >>> 6333 / 7947
* 1944 / 1945 >>> 3038 / 1966 >>> 6335 / 7950
2133mhz 133fsb = 1889 / 1889 >>> 4054 / 2621 >>> 8444 / 10605
* 1936 / 1936 >>> 3988 / 2620 >>> 8457 / 10604
2400mhz 150fsb = 1537 / 1537 >>> 4486 / 2920 >>> 9413 / 11815
* 2115 / 2116 >>> 4618 / 2919 >>> 9423 / 11810
2480mhz 155fsb = 2189 / 2191 >>> 4764 / 3017 >>> 9741 / 12204
* 2191 / 2193 >>> 4783 / 3014 >>> 9734 / 12210
2527mhz 158fsb = 2297 / 2297 >>> 4758 / 3072 >>> 9906 / 12453
2560mhz 160fsb =
2656mhz 166fsb =


JediKnightII default settings
1600mhz 100fsb = 61.3 *62.8
2133mhz 133fsb = 76.5 *68.3
2400mhz 150fsb = 74.4 *83.6
2480mhz 155fsb = 86.9 *86.7
2527mhz 158fsb = 94.1
2560mhz 160fsb =
2656mhz 166fsb =


BIOS SETTINGS
Halt On = No Errors
DDR Voltage = 2.6v
AGP Voltage = 1.5v
AGP/PCI Freqency Lock = 70.26/35.13
USB Legacy Support = Enabled
SDram Idle Timer = Infinite
Graphics Aperture Size = 128mb
Video Memory Cache Mode = UC
Delay Transaction = Disabled
Serial/Parallel Ports = Disabled
PCI Latency Timer = 32
USB Controllers = Enabled
Hardware Monitor = Ignore everything

I ran JKII and 3DMarkSE at default settings, I didn't change anything. Also, my video card is running at default.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome, if anyone wants to see anything in particular, let me know.

*Results after removing one stick of memory

 

[Mikki]

2592 @ 162 FSB
Able to boot into Windows, but not much else. That's the highest speed that I could get windows to come up. Temp was fine (39c) and maybe if I had a little more V-core I could have worked with it a bit, but I kept getting an overvolt error during post for 1.675 and 1.7v. My bios doesn't go above 1.7, not that it matters cause of the error. Isn't there an overvolt jumper or something? I've been looking and can't find anything about it.....

EDIT
Forget the jumper, I'm a doofus. Enabled overvolt, disabled alarm, let's see what I can get outta this.....

 

[Mikki]

Close but no cigar. 2.6 isn't going to happen. Tried different memory settings and bumped the voltage to 2.7v. My bios doesn't have a 2.8v setting, and I'm scared to go to 2.9v. Tried V-core at 1.725 also. Might be able to get close though....

 

[THUGSROOK]

keep tryin Mikki

 

[Mikki]

Thanks Thugsrook, I ain't givin up too easy....

Added benches @ 2527, checking stability right now....
Messed around with my memory settings quite a bit, found that 2/2/2/6 @ 2.7v is pretty much the sweet spot. Gonna continue to experiment with them though and try to get that 2.6...

 

[zzzz]

why is your ram score decresing from 100 to 133 to 150?

 

[Mikki]

Originally posted by: zzzz
why is your ram score decresing from 100 to 133 to 150?

I have absolutely no idea. 150fsb was an all-round disappointment, from 100 to 155 all I did was adjust fsb and the v-core. That's one of the reasons I'm posting this stuff, to get everyone's opinion.....

UPDATE: 158 fsb locked up during Prime95 run, time to try something else......

 

[Mikki]

Adjusting memory settings and/or the higher voltage must have helped with 155fsb, Prime95 has been running all night, I'm callings her good. Gonna start working on 158fsb stability.....

I've thought about my sinking memory scores and the only thing I can attribute it to is the 2 X 256 sticks as opposed to one. Anyone have any thoughts?

Sorry my layout sucks, I look at Thugsrook's post and now I'm embarassed.............

 

[THUGSROOK]

Mikki dont feel bad - thats a 6 month old <copy> <paste> job that i continuously reuse

couple things here...

is you memory @ cas2226? if not make it so.
is you apg/pci locked @ 66.66/33.33?
are you just doing benchmarks or can you run prime95 w/those settings for at least an hour?
prime95 will require .025v - .050v MORE vcore than just benching apps.
is PCI delay disabled?

HTHs cause youre almost outta voltage!
(use 1.75v max!)

 

[Mikki]

It's so EASY to read!

Yeah, memory's at 2/2/2/6, 2.7v. I tried some tests at 2/2/2/7, didn't work as good.
I had my agp/pci on auto for the most part, it's now set roughly the same as yours, I haven't really experimented with that though.
I ran benches only until I went above 150fsb (I've got 150 Prime stable before), I had 155 fsb running Prime all night.
I see what you mean about Prime and the voltage, 1.7v is the max I'll go, that gives me a little room. You're right, though, I'm outta voltage!
PCI delay is disabled.

I mucked about with some stuff and started Prime95 before I left for work, I'm trying to get 158fsb stable again. I'm not giving up on the 2.6 overclock, but it's not lookin good. I don't really want to disable anything cause my purpose was to do the overclock while using all the goodies on my board. I am thinking about getting rid of the raid, though, I'm not impressed with the performance......

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Mikki]

Changed my layout like Thugsrook's, so much easier to read. Hope you don't mind Thugs, I did try to be different...
Couldn't figure out how to bold the settings though without typing the code.....

**UPDATE**
158fsb with new settings didn't pass the torture test, back to the drawing board...

 

[Mikki]

After looking at my results so far, I've found some weird stuff. Thugsrook, I'm going to use you for comparison, I hope you don't mind.....
My 3DMark scores are pretty crappy, I haven't done ANYTHING with my card though, so I'll leave that alone.

My scores @ 150fsb are horrible, haven't figured that out yet.

My cpu went to 2.4 very easily, but getting it past that is like pushing a car uphill in the mud.

Through all of this my temps have been very good.

My memory scores are horrible, and the only things I can come up with are; maybe my memory is just not being tasked compared to 3000 or 2700, and/or having two sticks compared to one makes a big difference. I'm gonna pull one of my sticks and run the tests again...

Compared to Thugsrook's latest results, my first cpu scores are higher, the second ones are lower. I don't remember which ones are which (I'm not at home so I can't look), so I have no thought on that.

Also, my first media scores are slightly lower, my second scores are higher. My OPINION on that is that I'm running WinXP, and I think Thugs is running Win98SE, is that right? Anyway, that's my opinion on that.

I have nothing to compare the JKII scores to, I imagine they aren't all that great.

All my benches were run five times in a row, with each score being lower than the first (with the exception of JKII and the memory scores, which were roughly the same). A friend confirmed this on his machine, so I'm assuming that's the norm.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Sorry this was so long...................

 

[Mikki]

Removed one stick of ram, redid the memory benchmark at 150fsb and got a 2173/2173 score. That is 636 marks above my previous score! I'm going to do a full range of benches and then put it back in and run them again to make sure, but it looks like one stick has a HUGE advantage over two sticks! If this is a well known fact (I haven't read anything on it), please humor me.....

 

[THUGSROOK]

excellent progress!
you are well on your way and youre doing everything right

yes i use Win98SE.
remember my latest thread is on a fresh chip - my scores will improve slightly over the next week do to "break in/burn in". im also using a fresh OS install. (i havnt reloaded in 8 months! - i think thats a record for me) :Q

 

[Mikki]

Thanks Thugsrook, I've having an absolute blast!

Updated 100fsb results after pulling one stick of memory. Not much change, better score on 3DMark and much better memory scores! Idle temp 32c.
Off to 133..........

 

[Mikki]

Updated 133fsb results, I think the old 150fsb results were a fluke, my new results seem to be more on pace. Idle temp 33c. I've GOT to go to bed....

 

[THUGSROOK]

nice result, and find!

"2x DDR in a P4B533-V may cause performance loss, and overclocking instabilty"

thats both with and w/o using the ratio, right?

 

[Mikki]

Yeah, I did it both ways. For 133fsb, the 1:1 was better, those are the scores I posted. 150 fsb doesn't seem to be taking as easily. I bumped the ram voltage up to 2.7v and the v-core up to 1.6v and running Prime now, still doesn't seem right. I'm thinking of ordering a new 1.6A, to play with and as a back-up (while they last...).

 

[Mikki]

Updated 150fsb results. Had a lot of problems this time around getting 150fsb Prime95 stable. In the end, I set DDR voltage back to 2.5v, and reset the timings to 2.5/3/3/7. It didn't seem to have too much of an ill effect on my scores. One thing I noticed on this set also, on a couple of the tests, like 3DMark, the difference between the five runs was smaller. Instead of 11-150 point spread, I had a 1-47 point spread. Thought that was interesting.

On to 155..........

 

[THUGSROOK]

very weird how 133fsb is fine with 2 sticks - but nowhere else is.



is your memory ratio set to auto by chance? (or 1:1)
you may also wanna try reverting back to the v1006 official bios.

 

[Bobbyeyes]

Thanks Thugsrook, I've having an absolute blast!

NEVER put a price on a good time...!!

i think that mite be my signature

 

[Mikki]

Thugsrook
On the 133fsb run, 3:4 ratio memory scores were horrible (1411/1413). I set the ratio to 1:1 and retested to get the 1936/1936 score. Been thinking about the bios, since I'm not going to get much more than 2.4 anyway, I could revert and see what happens. I've got a couple other things I want to try also.....

BobbyEyes
I'm totally addicted again (it's been a long time). The only bad thing (if you can call it that) is that it's consuming ALL my free time, the stuff that I normally do on my computer is slacking....but I can't say I really mind!

 

[Mikki]

Updated 155fsb, and that's about it. I'm outta voltage. I could probably get a couple more MHz, but I'm gonna call it a day. At least as far as the 100fsb and 133fsb is concerned (because the test setup was roughly the same), I am confident in stating that one memory stick has a significant advantage over two in memory performance, and a decent advantage in system performance. I'm confident enough that I ordered a 512 stick. Maybe I'll run a one stick 512MB vs two stick 512MB test when I get it.

As far as overclocking, I've pretty much reached the end of the rope. Is it the cpu? Don't know. The only way to test is to test it vs a known good one, which I can't really do. I ordered another one from newegg for the heck of it, we'll see what happens. In the meantime, I'm going to go to a single drive, disable the sound and USB (hope I can find my old PS2 mouse, he he), and see how high I can get it. I would say it's either the board or the cpu that's limiting me, I'll test the board first and the cpu when it gets here.

 

[THUGSROOK]

yea i guess you can just forget about the 133fsb weirdness and just concentrate on where your at.

the 1006 bios may be good idea to try out tho. almost all of the 1007.beta bioses have been cr@p for me.

by the sounds of it - you are just plain outta voltage, overclocking game over.
would you like to now play the tweeking game?

you shouldnt miss out on the tweeking game - sometimes you could even find a wildcard that will restart the overclocking game automaticly!

 

[Mikki]

would you like to now play the tweeking game?

o yeah....