Apparently I'm an overclocking noob?

[Mean MrMustard]

I'm using a Athlon 64 3200+ 90nm, K8N Neo2, and Ballistix RAM. When I set the FSB to 204, 3DMark 2005 and 2003 stop half way through and the computer restarts. 3DMark 2001 runs just fine. Most of the BIOS settings are at default...

FSB: 204 Mhz
Multiplier: 10x
HT: 4x
CPU Voltage: 1.5v
CPU Ratio: Startup

AGP clock: 66 Mhz
AGP Voltage: 1.5v

Memory clock: Auto
Memory Voltage: Auto
Memory Timing: 2T
Latencies are set to Auto

I know I will have to tweak certain settings to get any kind of significant overclock, but after 204? Something's not right. Temps aren't bad CPU = 38-39C and System = 28C.

Specs:
Athlon 64 3200+
Zalman AlCu HSF
MSI Neo2
2x 512 Ballistix Ram in DC
BFG 6800GT
Audigy 2 ZS
10,000 RPM Raptor

Any suggestions?


EDIT: Memory Voltage set to Auto

 

[MDme]

memory @ 1.5v? usually they should be 2.6-2.8v right? the ballistix memory is definitely better than 204 fsb...mine does 255mhz just fine. what's your PSU?

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Typo..

Memory set to Auto

I have a Thermaltake 480W.

 

[MDme]

it doesn't make sense. 204 is LOW.....anyway, i don't know how reliable the thermaltake 480 is, but it should suffice at that FSB i presume. try to set vdimm to 2.8v and set HTT to 3x that would eliminate the ram and HTT limit for the meantime. see if you can go past 204.

 

[Zebo]

POS PSU = 3markcrash.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Still crashes...

Damn... I have a 350W Antec PSU, I guess I'll swap it in tomorrow.

Will 350 watts be enough as a permanent solution, even if I can get 2.5 out of this proc and do a bit of OC'ing the 6800GT?

 

[MDme]

antec makes good PSUs but you need their truepower series. don't know if an antec 350 would be enough.

 

[ZobarStyl]

I've got the same setup of CPU/mobo (w/ OCZ 4200) and I hit 2.5 ghz today even though my RAM is not as nice as yours, so definitely thinking the TT 480W isn't putting out the juice. I've got a Fortron 530W powering mine, definitely look into a more stable PSU.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

It's a SmartPower.

 

[MDme]

that's not a truepower PSU but you can try. i know antec is much better than thermaltake. at least if you go past 204 you'd know it's the PSU.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

I'll try it. I'll probably end up getting a new one anyway...

 

[Zebo]

You need minium 22A 12 v rail. Look into enermax 350 if on a budget.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Originally posted by: Zebo
You need minium 22A 12 v rail. Look into enermax 350 if on a budget.

The Antec SmartPower 350W didn't work. However I saw that it had a Max. of 21A on the 12V+ rail.

3DMark2003 errored out but didn't not restart the machine. 3DMark2005 restarted the machine as usual.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Originally posted by: Zebo
You need minium 22A 12 v rail. Look into enermax 350 if on a budget.

Anted True 480 has a Max of 22A on the 12V+ rail.

 

[Zebo]

Well your card is using 88W when running 3dmark, Processor is using about 70-80, HD 28, MOBO 25W (guess based on PCI card),

This equals ~18A on the 12 assuming you don't have any other HD's PCI cards or CDroms you did'nt mention. Should work. However one thing to keep in mind is these ratings are derived at almost freezing temps, they decrease substantially at case temps as shown by PCP&C's website. My suggestion is still try another PSU with a beefy 12.

 

[MDme]

note that the smartpower is not the same as a truepower PSU. the importance of having a reliable PSU is that the output of each rail is consistent. some PSUs (the cheap ones) will advertise the maximum load for a rail but that is NOT the consistent output of that rail....i.e. if the other rails draw power, the other rails lose power too.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: MDme
note that the smartpower is not the same as a truepower PSU. the importance of having a reliable PSU is that the output of each rail is consistent. some PSUs (the cheap ones) will advertise the maximum load for a rail but that is NOT the consistent output of that rail....i.e. if the other rails draw power, the other rails lose power too.

When I discovered the miracles of quality PSUs my overclocks improved dramatically... I don't love true powers though cause I burnt one, a 480 in 15 min, probably due to manufactureing defect but still it's specs are lower and reviews worse than enermax, OCZ, Zippy/emacs. and of course PCP&C

Zippy is the overclockers choice in taiwan/Japan from things I've seen at various BBS's, newegg has them but hella expensive.

OCZ also pricey because of flash like lights and chrome but if that's your thing it's worth it.

PCP&C is way up there in $$$ but probably the best.

Enermax is a nice balance. thier 350W is $60 and puts 26A out, thier 465W is $80 and puts 33A out etc. Just stay away from the "dual line 12's"

Anyway the OP should be fine with antec true, they are very quiet and lots of people like them from what I've read.

 

[Markfw]

Well, I have a true power 380, trying to power my 3200+ 90nm to 2.4-2.6 I can't get part 2180 !!!! WTF. I have an Abit AV*, HTT at 4x Tried the highest volts, and can't even get it to ost past 221, and won't boot past 218. Help for another OC noob....

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Well, I have a true power 380, trying to power my 3200+ 90nm to 2.4-2.6 I can't get part 2180 !!!! WTF. I have an Abit AV*, HTT at 4x Tried the highest volts, and can't even get it to ost past 221, and won't boot past 218. Help for another OC noob....

I told you already you need to tone down your mem setting. Set it to 166 in the "dram clock" setting.

 

[Markfw]

I tried the lowest, 200DDR, and it still wouldn't do anything different at all.

 

[Zebo]

YGPM

ed nm

 

[Mean MrMustard]

I still can't get past 204 FSB. I'm still using the Antec 350W PSU because I haven't got a new one yet.

I ran Sandra for the first time since I tried overclocking the computer and had to restart during the Cache and Memory Benchmark.

I ran Memtest (not 86) and I got my first error on pass 84. Do I have bad memory? Or is it because the PSU is bad, I get bad memory performance?

 

[Zebo]

I still think its your PSU because 3dmark crashing is tell tale sign of that when everything else is stable.. There are a couple issue with MSI board.
-SATA ports 1 and 2 are not locked so OCing will currupt bus
-issues with ram slots 3&4 not working very well causing memtest86 test 5 errors
-sometimes AGP lock does'nt work and you need to set agp to 67 mhz to get lock to kick in.

First I'd run memtest86 test 5 though.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

- Moving my SATA HD to slot 3 or 4 won't matter to the OS, right?
-I'm not using RAM slots 3 or 4.
-I will set the AGP clock to 67.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

I have my memory timings set to Auto.

According to Sandra:

Bank 0 - 1024MB DDR-SDRAM 2.0-2-2-2CL 2CMD
Bank 1 - 1024MB DDR-SDRAM 2.0-2-2-2CL 2CMD

:Q

That can't the correct timings, right? What is 2CMD? Does that mean 2T?