A7N8X Set Up issues (ver2 1005 BIOS)

[baddreams]

Here is what I have:
AMD2800
PC3200 400Mhz DIMM
Above listed board
WinXP

I want to get the maximum out of this board without over clocking. What are the freq and mulitplier settings I should be using:

Right now I have it set at 166 with a 13.5 and the post says AMD2800, but the memory comes up as only Single Channel 200Mhz

Where is the 400 and the 2800 says it is at 2Ghz should it be higher than that?

Thanks!



I really hate this board!

 

[mechBgon]

Which model of 2800+ do you have, the Thoroughbred variant with 256kb of level-2 cache, or the Barton variant that has 512kb of L2 cache?

Thoroughbred version: 2.25GHz (166MHz fsb x 13.5 multiplier)
Barton version: 2.08GHz (166MHz fsb x 12.5 multiplier) <--- lower clockspeed is offset by the double-sized L2 cache

In either case, you should operate your memory at 100% of the FSB speed, which means 166MHz or DDR333, not 200MHz or DDR400. The system will benefit more from the low latency of running in sync than it will from the extra bandwidth of running the memory at DDR400 speed.

 

[NesuD]

Like mech said you are better off running the ram sync with the fsb. exzmple: fsb 166/333ddr then run the memory at the same speed 100% of the fsb. The 400mhz is only a representation of 200mhz@double data rate(DDR). Set the FSB frequency to 166 and the multi to default if you have no desire to overclock. make sure the ram is set to run at 166mhz actual clock speed which would be 333DDR or 100% of the fsb for best performance. You list a pc3200 dimm as in a single ram module. It is indicating single channel because you are only using 1 dimm module. Dual channel requires 2 dimms of matching size typically installed in the 1st and 3rd dimm slots. Refer to your board manual to verify the dual channel dimm slot arrangement for your particular make and model motherboard.

 

[baddreams]

Ok so a AMDXP2800+ and two sticks of 512Mb PC3200 my BIOS settings should be?

Processor:
166
no multilplier

Memory:
1st slot and 3rd slot
Bios set to auto

Doesn't this defeat the purpose of a 2800 processor?

 

[baddreams]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Which model of 2800+ do you have, the Thoroughbred variant with 256kb of level-2 cache, or the Barton variant that has 512kb of L2 cache?

Thoroughbred version: 2.25GHz (166MHz fsb x 13.5 multiplier)
Barton version: 2.08GHz (166MHz fsb x 12.5 multiplier) <--- lower clockspeed is offset by the double-sized L2 cache

In either case, you should operate your memory at 100% of the FSB speed, which means 166MHz or DDR333, not 200MHz or DDR400. The system will benefit more from the low latency of running in sync than it will from the extra bandwidth of running the memory at DDR400 speed.

How do I tell which is which in regards to the Barton vs TB?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: baddreams
Ok so a AMDXP2800+ and two sticks of 512Mb PC3200 my BIOS settings should be?

Processor:
166
no multilplier

Memory:
1st slot and 3rd slot
Bios set to auto

Doesn't this defeat the purpose of a 2800 processor?

I'm not sure what you mean. Were you expecting the 2800+ to literally run 2800MHz? If it did, it would end up with a rating somewhere approaching 4000+, which is sort of cool but not gonna happen unless you have LOTS of liquid nitrogen you want to get rid of.

You can tell the Bartons from the Thoroughbreds in several ways. One of them is simply to look at your invoice. If it says the CPU has 512kb of L2 cache, you have the Barton, and if it says 256kb of L2 then you have Thoroughbred. Another way is by their physical shape... in this photo, the one on the right is the Barton, with the more rectangular core. Both are good... here are some benchmarks at XBit Labs that you might find interesting, comparing the two types of cores in a bunch of different disciplines.

I have the 2500+, which is only produced in the Barton variant. It runs 1833MHz (11 x 166). I also have PC3200 memory, which I run at PC2700 speeds because sync is optimal. Same board too. Seems quite satisfactory, now I just need some more 15000rpm hard drives and a gigabit switch for my office, and I'll be happy for a little while

 

[MrAce72]

I have this motherboard and run an Athlon XP 3000+ on it with 1Gig ogf Mushkin PC3200 Level II Ram.

Just as an FYI, it runs VERY STABLE if you set everything for "Aggressive" mode in the BIOs. I think agressive mode bumps the FSB by 13%.

I have the Rev2 BIOs 1.05 also.

You should not see system instability in aggressive mode unless there is a weak link somewhere.

 

[baddreams]

Thanks for the help guys!

Fo geewhiz though I went back in to my old databse to see exactly what CPU I bought andfhere I thought I had a 2800+ in reality I only have a 2700. oops!

It is running fine now except for the sound.

I found the error that I kept getting casuing exception errors was a PCI/IDE card I had installed to run my ZipDisk. Once I removed it the machine_check_exception errors went away and it's running smooth as silk.

Now I need to dump the 2700 and get me one of those hot Bartons 400!

If folks would buy more of myspare parts I might get enough to buy it..........

hint hint...........

hehe

You guys Rock!!!

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