Any problems changing FSB w/o overclocking?

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
1,430
0
0
I want to take an Athlon XP-M 2600+ (stock: 1.45V, 2 Ghz, 266 Mhz FSB) and alter its FSB to 400 Mhz.

I don't need to overclock the CPU itself. Remaining at 2Ghz is fine.

Is this easy to do without altering the voltage?
 

lavaheadache

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2005
6,893
14
81
changing the fsb to 400 is overclocking, regardless of the final speed. try gradually stepping up the fsb until you reach 400 mhtz, that way you wont make a new key chain
 

Toro 45

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
4,263
0
76
Should work fine just lower the multi and raise the fsb to 200, chances are it will do 2200-2300 at default. be sure to check the stock voltage some boards use 1.60 for default.
 

Wicked2010

Member
Feb 22, 2005
123
0
0
You gotta be kidding me if you think the mobo is going to go to 400 MHZ.

Why would you ever want to do this?

Do you have a PCI/AGP lock on the motherboard?
 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
1,430
0
0
Originally posted by: Wicked2010
You gotta be kidding me if you think the mobo is going to go to 400 MHZ.

Why would you ever want to do this?

Do you have a PCI/AGP lock on the motherboard?

Not 400 Mhz... 200 Mhz "double pumped," as in the DDR sense. :)

If it makes you feel better, I'll rephrase: I want to go from 133 to 200 FSB by lowering the stock multiplier, without adjusting the voltage if possible.

Sound better?
 

superkdogg

Senior member
Jul 9, 2004
640
0
0
It's possible that it won't work. Either your CPU, memory, or mobo could loose stability or quit on you altogether if you're increasing FSB by 50%. However, the good news is that if this happens all you have to do is reset CMOS and try something different. My guess is that if your mobo supports 200 MHz FSB and your ram is at least pc3200 you should be able to pull it off without a hitch. P.S.-You're really on the fence about OC'ing, aren't you? If you're going to OC the FSB to get the better performance, I'd say go for the gusto and see what the CPU has in it!
 

ty1er

Senior member
May 14, 2004
807
0
0
I want to take an Athlon XP-M 2600+ (stock: 1.45V, 2 Ghz, 266 Mhz FSB) and alter its FSB to 400 Mhz.

So at stock your running

133 fsb x 15 = 1995mhz

and you want

200 fsb x 10 = 2000mhz


Since you have a mobile chip, you should be able to go into you bios and change your multi from x15 to x10. After that is done, just run you FSB at 200. Done.

(Im assuming that your mobo and ram support this 200fsb setting. right?)


I did pretty much the same thing with my XP rig.

I had a 2800+xp 2080mhz 166fsb CPU (166 x 12.5 = 2080)

and i wanted to take advanage of my mobo abilty to run a 200mhz fsb....so i drop the multi and switch the fsb from 166 to 200. and ended up with:
(im using PC3200 ram)

200mhz fsb x 10 = 2000mhz

Then i deciede to OC a little. i have been stable running

206 fsb x 11 = 2266 1.575v

 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
1,430
0
0
Originally posted by: superkdogg:
P.S.-You're really on the fence about OC'ing, aren't you? If you're going to OC the FSB to get the better performance, I'd say go for the gusto and see what the CPU has in it!

You're right. :eek: I have never been too keen on overclocking the CPU core itself. But I don't want my Northbridge chipset to run asynchronously (266 vs. 400) ... I want both the CPU FSB and RAM to run at 400 Mhz DDR. And from what I understand, raising the FSB and lowering the multiplier to compensate doesn't really stress the CPU. But I've never tried it, which is why I ask.

Originally posted by: ty1er:
Since you have a mobile chip, you should be able to go into you bios and change your multi from x15 to x10. After that is done, just run you FSB at 200. Done.

(Im assuming that your mobo and ram support this 200fsb setting. right?)

Correct. I'll be running this in an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe (nForce2 Ultra), so I'm pretty sure this should work without too much hassle.

Thanks for all the responses. I'll give it a try later tonight. (f I am feeling really adverturesome I might try to OC a little...)
 

ty1er

Senior member
May 14, 2004
807
0
0
Correct. I'll be running this in an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe (nForce2 Ultra), so I'm pretty sure this should work without too much hassle.

Im using the Asus A7N8X-X, which i think is the lower end version mobo of what you have.
It should be pretty staight foward.
 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
1,430
0
0
How lame. It didn't work. :(

I'm trying to use a brand new AMD Mobile Athlon XP 2600+ (1.45V, 266FSB, 2 Ghz) in my Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard.

I thought I'd just be able to set the FSB to 200 and the multiplier to 10. But it won't post at those settings.

The highest settings at which I can post are FSB 200 and multiplier of 9.0 (which is 200 Mhz slower than the CPU's rated speed of 2.0 Ghz).

What could be the problem? The temps look fine, the rail voltages look fine... the VCore is already at 1.575V (lowest setting the mobo supports), which is 0.125V over stock.

Is there some trick to this I'm missing?
 

imported_snafu

Junior Member
Mar 12, 2005
6
0
0
just a question.. why are you afraid of moving the voltage up? im pretty sure i couldnt get my 2600mobile to hit 200x10 without increasing the vcore to 1.7ish if you have descent cooling you might want to try upping the voltage to see if you can boot into windows- just keep an eye on the temps (under 50c load is good)
 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
1,430
0
0
Originally posted by: snafu
just a question.. why are you afraid of moving the voltage up? im pretty sure i couldnt get my 2600mobile to hit 200x10 without increasing the vcore to 1.7ish if you have descent cooling you might want to try upping the voltage to see if you can boot into windows- just keep an eye on the temps (under 50c load is good)

I tried that. At 1.7V, I get random freezes during the POST process. No luck.

Here's a more fundamental question: This CPU is supposed to run at 2 Ghz. But it has a default multiplier of 14, which comes out to 1862. If it did 2 Ghz (as advertised), I would expect it to have a default multiplier of 15. Why the discrepancy?

And any other ideas why I am completely unable to run this thing at 2 Ghz using a FSB of 200?

I'm getting more and more suspicious that I got a bad CPU...
 

Bartman39

Elite Member | For Sale/Trade
Jul 4, 2000
8,867
51
91
Most likely your MB not your cpu... ;)

Have seen several instances where the board you are using just wont make 200fsb... MB`s are kinda like cpu`s some will make it others wont even if its an Ultra 400... Also what ram are you using...? Although it would be a backwards step you might run the ram at a lower percentage (not 1 to 1) and see if it affects it...?

I`m running an XP 2400+ mobile (35watt) @ 9.5X250fsb but this is on a DFI Lanparty NF2 B and with Geil PC4000 Ultra platinum (in dual channel) and the voltage is only at 1.625

I also ran an XP 1800+ Tbred B at this same speed in this board... But in my older 8RDA+ it would only run 200fsb even with the Geil PC4000 and at 100mhz less...

The MB does matter greatly... ;)
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Originally posted by: kylef
How lame. It didn't work. :(

I'm trying to use a brand new AMD Mobile Athlon XP 2600+ (1.45V, 266FSB, 2 Ghz) in my Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard.

I thought I'd just be able to set the FSB to 200 and the multiplier to 10. But it won't post at those settings.

The highest settings at which I can post are FSB 200 and multiplier of 9.0 (which is 200 Mhz slower than the CPU's rated speed of 2.0 Ghz).

What could be the problem? The temps look fine, the rail voltages look fine... the VCore is already at 1.575V (lowest setting the mobo supports), which is 0.125V over stock.

Is there some trick to this I'm missing?

I can't think of any trick you're missing.

AFAIK, all nForce2 mobo's do 200/400 w/o a prob. How much higher is the question.

My mobile 2600+ was doing 2200mhz within about 10minutes of installing.

I put it in, set BIOS for 11 x 166, no vcore change. It booted fine. The shut down and went to 11 x200. IIRC I had upped my vcore to 1.55v (where it sits now). Booted fine and passed P95 for 24hrs.

But it has a default multiplier of 14, which comes out to 1862. If it did 2 Ghz (as advertised),

This LINK confirms a 2600 at 15 x 133. But how do you KNOW the default is 14? The mobiles aren't designed for desktop. Most default to 6 x 100. I've seen some mobo advertising updated or modded BIOS to correctly identify the mobiles. Are you using modded BIOS, or does Assus claim to now have BIOS capable of handling mobiles?.

I'd be suspicious of the mobo as well as the cpu. Do you know the stepping codes ? Where'd you get the cpu?

Might have look over at nForcersHQ. They have an Asus forum you can search. I'm sure plenty of peeps over there are using mobile.

Fern

EDIT: A google search indicates that mobo has a prob with multi's of 10 & 10.5. Skip those and go to 11 x 200. Give it enough vcore too. BTW, with questions like these, you should be listing the specs.
 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
1,430
0
0
Originally posted by: Fern
EDIT: A google search indicates that mobo has a prob with multi's of 10 & 10.5. Skip those and go to 11 x 200. Give it enough vcore too.
Interesting. I'll give the 11X multiplier a try when I get a chance.
BTW, with questions like these, you should be listing the specs.
What specs do you need? To get this running at 200 Mhz FSB, I wouldn't think ANYTHING would be relevant except the CPU and motherboard (since the RAM can run asynchronously and is set to SPD settings).

For what it's worth, I'm running (in addition to what I've already stated):

1) Matched pair of Corsair Value Select 512 mb PC3200 DIMMs, CAS 2.5 (set to "auto" in BIOS for SPD EEPROM configuration)
2) Ati Radeon 9800 Pro, factory stock everything
3) twin 160 gig Maxtor SATA drives using the onboard SiI controller in Raid0
4) Silverstone 400-watt PSU w/ active power factor correction
5) 4 80mm case fans, Masscool CPU HSF w/ Arctic Silver Ceramique




 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
1,430
0
0
Originally posted by: Bartman39
Most likely your MB not your cpu... ;)

Have seen several instances where the board you are using just wont make 200fsb... MB`s are kinda like cpu`s some will make it others wont even if its an Ultra 400...
This is very disturbing to me actually. I waited nearly a year after 400 Mhz dual-channel motherboards first came out before I purchased the Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard. I figured most of the problems would be worked out by then. I mean, heck, they already had Intel CPU's up to 400 Mhz FSB. If this thing can't handle 200 Mhz FSB, what good is it?

If this is a motherboard issue, I'll really be down on Asus. I have a Gigabyte board purchased at the same time (uses KT600 chipset rather than nForce2) that runs a XP3000+ CPU at 200 Mhz FSB without any problems whatsoever. It's not technically "overclocked" but the 200 Mhz FSB works like a charm.

Also what ram are you using...? Although it would be a backwards step you might run the ram at a lower percentage (not 1 to 1) and see if it affects it...?
I don't think the RAM is the issue here, because I have tried several different configurations (using other sticks too), and I have the same issue no matter what RAM I use.
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
As far as the specs, Being in one place makes it earier for those trying help. I had to scan around an read serveral posts to see what mobo you had. Never did find ram (I just on assuming it was pc3200). PSU is nice to know too (the other peripherals give an indication of the laod its bearing).

In checking through several boards on the Asus, it seems BIOS are all over the place. Apparently some not-too-long ago versions did not allow for multi's as high as 15. I was unable to determine if official BIOS allow for auto recognition of mobile's. Either it does, or you've flashed to modded BIOS?

That mobo should NOT have a problem @ 200FSB, if it does it s/be RMA's as it doesn't meet advertised specs. Since it apparently does not provide an option for chipset voltage increase, the question is MUCH over 200FSB it will do. Although I did find peeps with your mobo and cpu running as high as 217FSB (or so they claimed, but I've no reason to doubt them).

If 11 x 200 doesn't work, b4 I went through the PITA of rma'ing I'd try a couple of things.

1) Put MBM5 on there, and select the "sys log" feature. Set it up to record in one second intervals and write to a text.file. It will record all voltages and temps every second and record to text doc. Roll the cpu back to 11 x 166 for the install. Then when you return to 200FSB and crash, you'll be able to see if there were voltage fluctuations that may have caused it (might have to return to FSB 166 to read it). I'm not familiar with the Silverstone, nor slick enough to do the math off the top of my head. But it's max load on the 12v rail is 18amps. Should be enough, but with a 9800 pro etc, you never know till you monitor it.

2) I'd try just one stick of ram. If you see "DC" on your bootup screen, you've got 'em in the right slots. But often, peeps don't get 'em in the right slots. etc.

3) There are many BIOS adjustments that can help/hurt. etc. Also do you know version you have? (Prolly on bottom right of initial post screen). Have you flashed b4?

4) Are getting any beeps at all? Its not real clear what its doing at 200FSB (I did see mention above of pauses in post), refusing to post or just failing to load windows etc.

5) Instead of cpu/dram ratio set to "auto", I prefer 1:1 etc. "Auto" or by "SPD" is fine for the timming though.

Your components are top-quality. That mobo is a good one. But I never assume new parts are in good-working order. Have had too many new parts which came defective. But when something doesn't work as advertised, I assume user error first (even me), cuz that's what it usually is :)

Hopefuly the switch to the 11 multi will clear it up. If not, definatly do the MBM5 sys log and rule out PSU.

Good luck with it.

Fern

EDIT: Which revision is this mobo. I have been *gasp* assuming its a NEW mobo. If its revision 1.0x, it prolly ain't gonna do 200FSB (although some claim it will with new BIOS)
 

Quentin

Member
Mar 14, 2005
119
0
0
Hello, everyone. My first post but hopefully a good one for you, kylef!

First, don't worry - everything is fine. No hardware problems, nothing to RMA. As said before in this thread, the A7N8X family (and many nForce2 boards with a stock BIOS) have "dead" multipliers with mobiles. Attempting to use these multipliers causes a no-POST situation like you've experienced.

It's not a problem to bother contacting ASUS about either, because these multipliers do work fine with desktop CPUs and of course ASUS will say they don't support laptop CPUs in their desktop motherboards.

11x200 should work fine for you and is the quick fix. If you really want all multipliers from 5.0-12.5, you'll have to get a modded BIOS. For the A7N8X-E Deluxe, Trats' 1013mod3 (or whatever it's called) is the best. I'm at work going by memory right now but can post again with the right name and a link.

This is an excellent BIOS and will allow an even higher FSB (I have gone to 235MHz in my A7N8X-E Deluxe) plus it will recognize the mobile as "AMD Athlon XP-M" instead of "Unknown CPU Type". And it is based on ASUS' latest official 1013 BIOS.

Really, 11x200 does not push your system at all. You should be able to do that at the lowest vCore and 2.6 vDIMM and decent stock cooling. I've gotten to 10x233 and 11x218 with decent cooling and 1.675v/2.6. No problems at all. I've pushed to 2.5GHz - just testing but feel 2.3-2.4 is fine and ensures stability.
 

Quentin

Member
Mar 14, 2005
119
0
0
Ok, more info after surfing a bit. Newbie's done good!

A7N8X-E Deluxe - Trats' modded BIOS (two versions)
http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=352326
C18e1013_1T (CPC on)
C18e1013_2T (CPC off)
(link below helps explain which BIOS to choose)
http://www.insanetek.com/index.php?page=cpcnf2


(In case someone's interested in the earlier board) - A7N8X 2.0 Deluxe - Trats' modded BIOS (two versions)
http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?p=3095488&postcount=62
1008mod3 (CPC on)
1008mod3_2T (CPC off)


And here is a top-notch ASUS FAQ:
http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=219041
 

Quentin

Member
Mar 14, 2005
119
0
0
Sorry to keep posting but a couple of things stated in this thread should be clarified. The A7N8X-E Deluxe and A7N8X 2.0 Deluxe have absolutely no problem running at a FSB/External CPU Frequency of 200MHz. Older versions did have trouble, seems like ver 1.04 and above usually would but might need tweaking first.

Also, it's best to run the FSB and RAM synchronous with Socket A boards (not a problem with A64 boards, though). I guess running 200 and letting the RAM run at SPD is ok if it's PC3200 RAM but it's probably better to set memory timings to User Defined in Advanced Chipset Settings and change SPD to 100% so the ram and FSB will "float" together in sync (especially if you're constantly changing the FSB - testing/optimizing).

I have three -Es and one 2.0 (all deluxes) with the corresponding Trats' _2T BIOS ( _2T because I have two 512MB PC3200 RAM sticks in each). From other's suggestions and lots of independent memtesting, I've found 2.5T-3-3-11 timings work best. All four systems have Kingston ValueRAM CAS 3 so you probably can go for tighter timings but hang on to that 11 till you're sure you can beat it!

Ok, I'll shut up and let someone else talk. Good luck, kylef!