2.4C can't get past 3.0 Ghz

[Dunadan]

You can see my full using the link in my sig, but here are the essentials -

P4 2.4C @ 3.0 Ghz (D1 stepping) Vcore @ 1.625
1 GB Crucial DDR400 (5:4 ration) Vramm @ 2.65
Thermalright SP-94 w/ Thermaltake Smart Case Fan II
Abit IS7
FSB = 250
PCI/AGP Fixed at 66/33
NBStrap PSB800 (or something like PSB...it's at 800)
GAT = Auto
Lian Li PC65 Aluminum Case w/ 4 Fans
Case Temp = 32C
CPU Idle Temp = 39C
CPU Full Load = 50C

So...I have no problems running at 250 FSB. I have run the Prime95 torture test, Super Pi, 3DMarks, Sans Sandra Burn-in, and Hot CPU Tester, all while doing my normal web surging stuff. I've played Quake3 (and various Q3 mods) for hours, as well as playing Halo, Warcraft, and all the normal stuff I do.

The couple times I have tried to raise my FSB to anything above 250 (I tried 270, 260, and 255) my system freezes up after Windows loads. At 270 I believe Windows would not even load.

At a 5:4 ratio, I can't think it's my memory. I've seen articles that rate this Crucial memory up to DDR470 and with a FSB OC of 270 we're only talking DDR432. Just to make sure, when I attempted this OC I boosted my Vramm to 2.70.

I did try to raise my Vcore to 1.65 also, but that didn't do any good.

Am I not raising my Vcore enough? Would going to 1.70 make that much difference?

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Thor86]

In your GAT settings, the two bottom settings should be DISABLED. Good luck.

 

[joe2004]

Almost certainly memory.

 

[Dunadan]

At lunch I was able to get a 260 FSB to take. I had to disable the last 2 options in GAT and raise my memory timings from 2.5 3 3 7 to 3 3 3 8.

Problem is...my 3DMark2001 score fell about 2,500 points (from 18,000 to 15,500). Not gonna do that. I'll stick with my 3.0 GHz and be happy...for now.

 

[nick1985]

why do people get crucial 3200? i dont get it. its cas3 and its expensive. buffalo 3700 is by far a better deal, yet people just keep on buying that crap. crucial was the best ram like 4 years ago, its just not the case anymore. mushkin, twinmos, corsair, buffalo are the best now.

 

[Evdawg]

ram, imo, makes a machine... processors are processors, its how much their speed is and how much you oc em... hard drives are typically the same way... ram, you get crap, and u will get sudden shut downs, reboots, slow timings. Course you have to be careful and make sure thats not your PSU. Anyways, imo... buy good ram or youll pay for it.... in crappy performance that is

 

[Dunadan]

Originally posted by: nick1985
why do people get crucial 3200? i dont get it. its cas3 and its expensive. buffalo 3700 is by far a better deal, yet people just keep on buying that crap. crucial was the best ram like 4 years ago, its just not the case anymore. mushkin, twinmos, corsair, buffalo are the best now.

Why then did AnandTech's review 865PE & 875P Memory Guide conclude that -

Crucial PC3200 memory modules are the best bang-for-the-buck memory modules available for your 865PE or 875P motherboard

They don't think it's junk. It's also not very expensive compared to the other brands. $180 for 1 GB is pretty cheap.

 

[Mav3N]

Originally posted by: Thor86
In your GAT settings, the two bottom settings should be DISABLED. Good luck.

do that under the gat settings

then make sure memory is dual channel mode
drop cpu to 1.575 or 1.6 u wont ever need to raise it higher and raise ur mem voltage 2.7 or 2.8

its a memory issue for you

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Dunadan

Originally posted by: nick1985
why do people get crucial 3200? i dont get it. its cas3 and its expensive. buffalo 3700 is by far a better deal, yet people just keep on buying that crap. crucial was the best ram like 4 years ago, its just not the case anymore. mushkin, twinmos, corsair, buffalo are the best now.

Why then did AnandTech's review 865PE & 875P Memory Guide conclude that -

Crucial PC3200 memory modules are the best bang-for-the-buck memory modules available for your 865PE or 875P motherboard

They don't think it's junk. It's also not very expensive compared to the other brands. $180 for 1 GB is pretty cheap.

That review was totally out of whack. First of all, the whole point was to see which ran at the tightest timings, which doesn't make sense for the P4 C. It's all about bandwidth.

Second, they didn't seem to test that many of the top memory types there -only the cheaper stuff. There's no Muskin, no Corsair XMS, no OCZ, not even GEIL. I would not be surprised if that TwinMos stuff they used was the dreaded CH5 chips also, and not the excellent BH5. Also, the Buffalo PC3700 was also clearly exempt from the tests.


I have no idea what that whole test was all about really, as I said before: timings mean much less on the P4 C platform. And the Crucial runs at Cas 3 by default also (even "crappy" timings on PC3200 should be no worse than 2.5-3-3-7).

It's definately all about Buffalo PC3700 BH-5 chips for a good deal on the P4C.