ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe PCI lock?

[Insomniak]

Ok, I want to start overclocking and testing my system. However, before I do so, I want to make sure I'm adjusting ONLY the things I'm adjusting. To that end, I want to make sure a working PCI lock is in place on this board.

How would I go about doing so? I am on the 1002 BIOS that shipped with the board - need I flash?

Furthermore, since their are no settings in the BIOS having to do with a PCI Lock (and, according to some reports, the supposed "locked" PCI bus isn't locked at all), how would one verify that their PCI bus is locked? Is there a windows utility that can report on PCI bus speeds?

I have pretty much everything else ready to go, but before I launch, I want to make sure everything is by the book. Any feedback here would be appreciated.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

In bios 1002 thu 1003.004 you enable the lock by raising the FSB/HTT to 201 or above in bios. In 1003.05 they added a manual setting in the jumperfree section where you set the PCI to 33.34

 

[Insomniak]

Thanks. Now, about this issue I hear that some people's locks are working and some aren't...

How can you tell? I realize nTune reports PCI bus speed, but can it be trusted? Is there something better?

Also, it seems that when you set overclocking to manual, RAM speed increases along with FSB/HTT speed. Is there any way to cap the RAM clock? I have the "maximum clock" option in the BIOS set to the correct amount, but from what I understand, those are dividers, not actual clock cielings...

 

[Insomniak]

I think I figured it out. It seems than when the overclocking options in the BIOS are left on auto, the PCI Bus tracks the FSB/HTT. However, when the overclocking options are set to manual, the PCI Bus is locked, but RAM clock follows the FSB HTT.

Really wish there was a way to lock everything down seperately...I hate jumping through hoops like this.

Anyway, a 200Mhz OC still has nTune reporting the PCI Bus at 33Mhz, so I think all is well.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

You are correct on the PCI lock. And there is no way to cap the Ram speed, all you can do is use a lower divider DDR333 = 5/6 divider DDR266 = 2/3 divider

 

[seanp789]

I am currently having the exact same problem,

I will post whatever i find works

 

[DerKaiser]

CPU-Z also reports PCI bus speed. It always reports the PCI bus at 33 mhz. I'm using the 1003 BIOS which has the separate option to lock the PCI bus however.

 

[seanp789]

Ok, I got it working...


Had to update to bios 1003

and leave EZPLUG unplugged. It was causing some instability. I think my MAD DOG psu is a bit weak on the +12v rail and doesnt want to supply different components.

after that, ...

FSB clocked to 270 * 9 = 2430Mhz

CPU voltage 1.525v

I'm pretty sure i could clock it higher, but im happy with 2.4Ghz

ram is 2.5/4/4/10

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: Insomniak
Thanks. Now, about this issue I hear that some people's locks are working and some aren't...

How can you tell? I realize nTune reports PCI bus speed, but can it be trusted? Is there something better?

...

Good question. . .last night I installed nTune and it reported my PCI clock at 19MHz!! WTF?? I am not doing anything overclocked right now. . .only thing I did was disable Cool n quiet, and manually set the memory command timing to 1T. . .pretty much everything else on Auto.