A8N-SLI O/C Memory Divider Oddity

[Big Bunny]

I have been tweaking the overclock settings on my A8N-SLI system, and came across something that seemed a bit odd to me. Maybe it's to be expected, which is why I am posting...

I am able to push my O/C up to 240 MHz using the 1:1 (DDR400) memory divider setting, and everything works pretty well. Half-Life 2 runs OK, but I still get an occasional looping problem that freezes my system. So, I am thinking this is a memory issue, so maybe if I reduce the memory frequency by using a divider, it will work better. The typical system tests (Prime95 & memtest86) run OK with these new settings, BTW.

Wrong...I change the memory divider to 5:6 (DDR333) while leaving everything else exactly the same. Half-Life 2 immediately freezes upon startup. The typical system tests (Prime95 & memtest86) run OK with these new settings, too.

Is this simply a software issue with HL2 not liking your memory to run async? I am missing something else that I should have changed when I changed the divider, maybe in the HL2 software config?

 

[mofrack]

I'm using that divider and just beat HL2 today, played it for like 3 hours. Something else is going on. Have you confirmed that your overclocks at EITHER divider are stable? Run some memtest, or Prime, or 3dMark loops and see if the machine chokes then. If all goes well, and HL2 still freaks, I dunno what to tell you. My specs and current OC are in my sig.

 

[Big Bunny]

Thanks for the info, was mostly looking to see if this was an idiosyncrasy of the game, or if something else is to blame. Your experience tells me it's not the game, so back to the troubleshooting for me it is >:-o

 

[CCityInstaller]

It sounds like your board may not have a fully functional AGP/PCI lock. I am using an Abit AV8 MB with my 3000 clocked @ 8.5x300, and the system is rock solid with Prime95 pls any other apps. Whenever I would try to run a 3d app (mostly CSS) I would get the same issue with the looping, then ATI VPU recover would kick in. I am so tired of Abit not listening to its users and providing a bios that supports a proper lock. I actually ordered an A 3200 to replace my current CPU just so I can still have a high O/C with a lower FSB. I do know that this will be the last Abit MB I buy.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I've found HL2 to be the most demanding App. My overclock primed for 18hours, memtest ran for 24hrs, and all benchs would loop indefinately. But I still got occasional blue screens in HL2. I bumped the vdimm from 2.85 to 2.90 and now I can play HL2 completely stable.

I guess gamers should start looping the HL2 demo to determine ultimate stability.

 

[mofrack]

Guitardaddy,

This is also my experience with HL2. It can bring a system that seems otherwise stable screeching to a halt sometimes...

When I first determined the overclock I was comfortable running (which is the OC I show in my sig), my CPU was set at 1.4 volts, stock for Winchesters. All benches and tests and whatnot ran fine for hours and hours. I fired up HL2 and after playing a Deathmatch for about 15 minutes, I BSOD'd. Went into BIOS and bumped Vcore to 1.45, and havent had so much as a hiccup since then.