Amd64 3700+

EPZ Soldier

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Dec 18, 2005
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I Just bought the AMD64 3700 !!! yahooooo! I've upgraded from the barton xp2500+ which is a beast of a cpu I might add!!! I was using the abit an7 board and overclocking the 2500 was a breeze! now, with the 3700 I have a Soltek k8tpro-939 and looking to push the 3700 from 2.2 to maybe 2.4? Any input ??? Help! I'm using 1gig of Corsair Select ddr400 for memory right now. But, in the near future I will get my hands on the A8N32 from ASUS with 2 gigs of XMS.
 

Pyrokinetic

Senior member
Dec 4, 2005
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I have the same processor running on an ASUS A8V-E Deluxe (VIA K8T890) and have the chip stable overclocked to 2.8Ghz (255x11). To get there, you need to up the Vcore past 1.6v. Mine is at 1.63v (setting the Vcore to the max 1.5625v setting and also setting the CPU Vcore Offset to +200mv). Not sure your board can do the same thing, but at just the 1.5625v setting, you can get a stable overclock of 2.7Ghz (252x11). I run the memory at 333, which keeps the memory at stock speeds. (255x11=2805; 2805/14=200 or DDR400). The stock speed allows my memory to run at very low timings of 2-2-2-7. (I use two 512MB sticks of low latency Corsair XMS).

Upping the Vcore increases heat, so I use a Thermalright XP-120 heatsink with a Panaflo 120mm fan. With a stock unit, you should be fine as long as you keep the Vcore around 1.5-ish and have good airflow in your case. You should be able to hit 2.7Ghz with ease using the 333 memory divider; lower than 2.8Ghz will mean that your memory will be running lower than DDR400, but not all that much lower.

Having this thing clocked at 2.8Ghz makes it into a nice budget FX-57. How sweet is that?
 

EPZ Soldier

Member
Dec 18, 2005
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Oh that is sweeeet! I give you much thanks Pyrokinetic! I'll upgrade from the stock fan to the xp-120 (which i was already looking at) i will reply to what the outcome is !!
 

Hauk

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2001
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Pyro, your memory setting nearly answers a question I have...

I'm running my 3700 San Diego at 250x10 4xHT frequency.

What is the DDR333 setting being multiplied by in order to arrive at DDR400? I got the cpu clock thing down. A little confused about the memory settings. I'm currently at relaxed timings of 2.5 3-3-8 set to DDR433; but want to test tighter timings. Do I need to set to DDR333?
 

Pyrokinetic

Senior member
Dec 4, 2005
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SteelSix, the memory timings are dividers that divide your CPU multiplier before dividing your clock speed. I'll explain mine:

I use the 3700+ stock multiplier of 11
My CPU clock is set at 255
I use the 166 (DDR333) memory divider = (5/6)

255 x 11 = 2805

Now, to figure out the actual memory speed, you divide the multiplier by the memory divider: 11/(5/6) = 13.2

Now the 13.2 needs to be a whole number and using something called the CEIL function, you round up to the whole value thus 13.2 = 14. To get this, always round up. Thus values such as 12.1 and 12.9 would both equal 13.

Now take the CEIL value and divide the clock speed: 2805/14 = 200.35 (essentially DDR400).

The HT frequency multiplier must always keep the value below 1050. I use the 5x (1Ghz) setting: 200.35 x 5 = 1001.

On your setup (if using the stock 200 memory divider (DDR400) which is 1:1) you would have 250 x 10 = 2500; 10/(1/1) = 10; 2500/10 = 250 (DDR500).

If you have the memory setting above DDR400, you are effectively making your memory speed faster (thus making the CEIL value lower versus higher). Thus at stock CPU speeds (200 x 11 = 2200) you are dividing by 9 or 10 versus 11. 2200/10 = 220 (DDR440) or 2200/9 = 244 (DDR488). I don't use these because I want to overclock the CPU, NOT the memory to preserve my low latency timings.
 

Hauk

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2001
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Pyro, I'm thinking you just earned some serious points with the elders. Thanks for that excellent explanation!
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
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Yep, these SD3700+'s are overclocking monsters. Mine will run 247x11=2717mhz on stock voltage and with 1.55v set in bios (1.58-1.6 per cpuz) it runs 255x11=2805mhz

I also run the DDR333 divider which gives me a slight ram overclock around 208mhz. DDR416

Good luck, you will love this CPU:)
 

kellehair

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Nov 26, 2005
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Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Yep, these SD3700+'s are overclocking monsters. Mine will run 247x11=2717mhz on stock voltage and with 1.55v set in bios (1.58-1.6 per cpuz) it runs 255x11=2805mhz

I also run the DDR333 divider which gives me a slight ram overclock around 208mhz. DDR416

Good luck, you will love this CPU:)

How do you do with the Prime95 Torture Test? My machine ran fine in general at 240 * 11 and stock volts but would always fail the 3rd test. I had to raise the volts a bit to be able to pass a few hours of tests.
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
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Originally posted by: kellehair
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Yep, these SD3700+'s are overclocking monsters. Mine will run 247x11=2717mhz on stock voltage and with 1.55v set in bios (1.58-1.6 per cpuz) it runs 255x11=2805mhz

I also run the DDR333 divider which gives me a slight ram overclock around 208mhz. DDR416

Good luck, you will love this CPU:)

How do you do with the Prime95 Torture Test? My machine ran fine in general at 240 * 11 and stock volts but would always fail the 3rd test. I had to raise the volts a bit to be able to pass a few hours of tests.


It passed 12+ hours or more of all three Prime torture tests at the above settings. With the 255x11 settings (my 24/7 settings) I've tested even more extensively, Looped 3dmark05 for 12+ hours, S&M and OCCT overnight, and countless hours of gaming. I've been running this setting since June without a single crash or BSOD:)
 

EPZ Soldier

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Dec 18, 2005
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Ok I got to 2.6 using 230x11 @ 1.55v and memory is at 166 with 2.5,3,3,8 if I go any higher than 235 it goes unstable. I'm running at 2.6 for now...will update.

oh, can i change anything in the 4 settings for memory timings? like 2,3,3,8 ??
 

Pyrokinetic

Senior member
Dec 4, 2005
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Just a point of explaination for my setup with the 3700+, I set the Vcore to my board max of 1.5625v and set my CPU Vcore offset to +200mv.

These settings show a Vcore of 1.63v with ASUS AiBooster and ASUS Probe. After questioning some tech heads, they and I both think that the reading is incorrect. While I am unsure of what my actual Vcore setting is, it is best stated as 1.5625v with a microvolt boost and NOT 1.63v.

Just want to clear that up cause I don't want anybody with a board actually capable of 1.63v to accidentally fry their chip.

Thanks!
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
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Originally posted by: EPZ Soldier
Ok I got to 2.6 using 230x11 @ 1.55v and memory is at 166 with 2.5,3,3,8 if I go any higher than 235 it goes unstable. I'm running at 2.6 for now...will update.

oh, can i change anything in the 4 settings for memory timings? like 2,3,3,8 ??

Have you droped the HTT multi to 4x?


*edit*

I see on your board it's called "LDT bus frequency" and the settings are 1ghz,800mhz,600mhz, etc.... You need to drop it to 800mhz if you haven't already.
If your still using 1ghz with a 235 HTT your hypertransport bus is running 235x5=1175 which is too high and would cause the instability that you speak of.

 

EPZ Soldier

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Dec 18, 2005
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Ok I got to 2.6 using 235x11 @ 1.55v and memory is at 166 with 2.5,3,3,7 if I go any higher than 235 it goes unstable. all your info is taken in consideration and I dont hold anyone countable if I fry my board or not! heck how else would I find out if I dont try these things. Hold'n smooth for now but..looking to update to the A8n32 board with better memory ..might consider the xms pro
 

EPZ Soldier

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Dec 18, 2005
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Correct!!! change it to 800 and now able to run it at 240x11 giving me a CPU-Z of 2640mhz! gonna run it like this for awhile and may increase gradually to 2.8mhz
thanks a ton! guitardaddy!
 

kmmatney

Diamond Member
Jun 19, 2000
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I my opinion, you should keep the memory to as near stock speed as possible, that way you can keep decent timings. Just adjust all the multipliers to keep things near stock speed. You don't need a super expensive board or memory to overclock athlons - just enough adjustments.
 

EPZ Soldier

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Dec 18, 2005
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thanks guys for all your input !! i'm running problem free at 2640mhz and with NO crashes and a ton more SPEED! I guess I'm now a OC-Freak! hahaha :beer:
 

xgunnas32

Member
Dec 30, 2005
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glad u got it to 2.6, imo this core should go much faster than 2.8, im going btwn 32-38 with normal usage with stock heatsink and 42C with prime 95
imagine with some fast ram and a xp-120 or water cool, im still slamming myself for getting the wrong ram with a 3700+