ASUS A8R-MVP stable @325MHz HTT

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twoCenter

Junior Member
Jan 12, 2006
7
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Originally posted by: carma

But, I think you are still limited by the VCORE not the memory clock. I have tried setting mine to 133 and still achieve the same results; cannot go past 266 bus.

OK. I've gone a few rounds with the A8R with better success this time.
1) I backed the multiplier down to 5x and set the memory timing to 3-3-3-8 2T and set the divider to 133, and raised memory voltage to 2.8
2) I increased the FSB up to 290 (in increments of 10) without a problem. Couldn't POST at 300 or 295.
3) With FSB at 290, I raised the multiplier to 7, 8, 8.5 successfully. 9x290 resulted in blue screen once I got into windows.
4) I raised vcore to 1.4 and restarted. It has been stable for about 75 minutes (so far) running Prime95. I also ran SuperPi 16M to completion. (showing vcore=1.46 on PC Probe II monitor)

I'll let this run all night and if it doesn't fail, I will see if I can improve the memory timing.
Here's a summary of what I'm running (but I wouldn't call it stable):
CPU: Opteron 165 (retail)
Stepping: CCBWE 0550UPMW
Overclocked speed: 2610 9x290
CPU voltage: 1.4
Idle temp: 32C
Load temp: 54C
Cooling: stock HSF (w/ AS5)
Motherboard: Asus A8R-MVP (0402 BIOS)
Ram: G.Skill PC32000
Ram size: 2 x 1024 meg
Ram timings: 3-3-3-8 2T
Ram divider: CPU/14
Ram voltage: 2.8
 

twoCenter

Junior Member
Jan 12, 2006
7
0
0
Originally posted by: twoCenter
. . .
CPU: Opteron 165 (retail)
Stepping: CCBWE 0550UPMW
Overclocked speed: 2610 9x290
CPU voltage: 1.4
Idle temp: 32C
Load temp: 54C
Cooling: stock HSF (w/ AS5)
Motherboard: Asus A8R-MVP (0402 BIOS)
Ram: G.Skill PC32000
Ram size: 2 x 1024 meg
Ram timings: 3-3-3-8 2T
Ram divider: CPU/14
Ram voltage: 2.8

This configuration ran prime95 short fft for 10 hours. The stock HSF seems to have reached its limit. The load temp is 54-55. I once saw 57 briefly in the early going.

I have now set memory timings to 2.5-3-3-6 1T and it completes superPi 16M faster than ever. I'll do a longer test tonight.

One other note. I set the 'HT Link' value in BIOS to AUTO. After running and returning to BIOS this value was set to 400.
 

feelgood

Junior Member
Dec 22, 2005
7
0
0
Originally posted by: mamisano
Well, thats great for single core users, but us DC users are limited on our vcore ceiling.... that and the voltages fluxuate too much under load :(

That's pretty good OC for dual core system...
 

andepro

Member
Jun 8, 2004
44
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Mmm Nice...have the board - waiting for my 165 to come along and kiss my sweeeeet and juiiiiicy Scythe Ninja-ass :D
 

carma

Member
Jun 5, 2001
63
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0
Originally posted by: twoCenter


OK. I've gone a few rounds with the A8R with better success this time.
1) I backed the multiplier down to 5x and set the memory timing to 3-3-3-8 2T and set the divider to 133, and raised memory voltage to 2.8
2) I increased the FSB up to 290 (in increments of 10) without a problem. Couldn't POST at 300 or 295.
3) With FSB at 290, I raised the multiplier to 7, 8, 8.5 successfully. 9x290 resulted in blue screen once I got into windows.
4) I raised vcore to 1.4 and restarted. It has been stable for about 75 minutes (so far) running Prime95. I also ran SuperPi 16M to completion. (showing vcore=1.46 on PC Probe II monitor)

I'll let this run all night and if it doesn't fail, I will see if I can improve the memory timing.
Here's a summary of what I'm running (but I wouldn't call it stable):
CPU: Opteron 165 (retail)
Stepping: CCBWE 0550UPMW
Overclocked speed: 2610 9x290
CPU voltage: 1.4
Idle temp: 32C
Load temp: 54C
Cooling: stock HSF (w/ AS5)
Motherboard: Asus A8R-MVP (0402 BIOS)
Ram: G.Skill PC32000
Ram size: 2 x 1024 meg
Ram timings: 3-3-3-8 2T
Ram divider: CPU/14
Ram voltage: 2.8

Sounds good, I'll have to try that. Now, the big question now I have for you, have you tried a cold boot yet? As in, did you shut the system down the power it back up? I can got up to 2.8GHz almost but once I shut down and power back up the VCORE gets finiky.
 

EvertonB

Member
Jan 5, 2006
26
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I've just installed speedfan and I love it. It's great being able to micro-manage my fans as I now know which ones are effective and which ones aren't, and are just making additional noise.

Quick question: What temp is the 3rd sensor reading on the A8R-MVP? It's saying minus -128C........
 

EvertonB

Member
Jan 5, 2006
26
0
0
Originally posted by: carma
Now, the big question now I have for you, have you tried a cold boot yet? As in, did you shut the system down the power it back up? I can got up to 2.8GHz almost but once I shut down and power back up the VCORE gets finiky.

The VCore settings seem to have some kind of memory on this board. I find if I'm having problems starting with a overclock that was steady before, I just reduce it a bit, let the system 'learn' that it is safe, then go back to my original rate.

I only have to do this if I've been moving my settings around a lot to try and get a better overclock

 

twoCenter

Junior Member
Jan 12, 2006
7
0
0
Originally posted by: carma
Sounds good, I'll have to try that. Now, the big question now I have for you, have you tried a cold boot yet? As in, did you shut the system down the power it back up? I can got up to 2.8GHz almost but once I shut down and power back up the VCORE gets finiky.

Yes. I shut it down this morning and started back with the same settings 4 hours later.
 

carma

Member
Jun 5, 2001
63
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0
Originally posted by: twoCenter


Yes. I shut it down this morning and started back with the same settings 4 hours later.

Interesting. If I ran your exact settings on my system and powered down then powered back up it would not boot up. For some reason the vcore does not want to stay beyond 1.427 if I power down. I can achieve your same overclocking only by tweeking the BIOS until it gets there, and the BIOS seems to learn that the ship needs more juice or something. It seems like if I power it down though, the BIOS does not retain the high vcore, 1.45-1.5 setting.
 

nikbaj

Junior Member
Jan 6, 2006
1
0
0
hey guys, i just got this board and it's running alright...xp-120 on an x2 3800+ at 2.5 stable...maxed out on vcore for this mobo.

does the AT bios have better voltage options? it'd be really helpful if someone could send it my way...pm me or email me at nikbaj@gmail.com

thanks so much (in advance)
 

mamisano

Platinum Member
Mar 12, 2000
2,045
0
76
Originally posted by: nikbaj
hey guys, i just got this board and it's running alright...xp-120 on an x2 3800+ at 2.5 stable...maxed out on vcore for this mobo.

does the AT bios have better voltage options? it'd be really helpful if someone could send it my way...pm me or email me at nikbaj@gmail.com

thanks so much (in advance)

Thats a nice OC, I could not get my 165 or 170 stable above 2.4 because of voltage limitations. Yes, the 170 could boot Windows at a higher speed, but Prime95 was not stable.

The beta bios used during the review does NOT contain any other voltage settings... stick with the current bios.
 

RobDMB

Senior member
Mar 30, 2003
434
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I got my Opteron 165 up to 2.5 at what seemed perfectly stable. Admittably I didnt do very thorough testing to be sure though, but I did run windows for a few days with no problems. Unfortunately, I could not get my ram stable at 1T so I have now swapped out the motherboard for a DFI. Hopefully Asus can fix this board with updates cause it sure seemed like it could have been a great board.
 

twoCenter

Junior Member
Jan 12, 2006
7
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I have done some more tweaking on my A8R w/ opteron 165. I have found my best combination by lowering the multiplier to 8.5.
300x8.5 (2550) 1.4v
G.Skill 2x1GB NS 2.5-3-3-6 1T 2.7v
Memory is running at 196MHz (FSB is set to 133. With a divider of 13)
stock HSF (copper 4-pipe)
32/48 (idle/load) @ 21C ambient
memtest86, 2dMark05, Prime95 small stable
 

Tweakin

Platinum Member
Feb 7, 2000
2,532
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71
Does this chipset have the same SATA restrictions as the nVidia, i.e...are only specific SATA ports locked when you OC?
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
I actually did end up getting this mobo after all :)

Screenie of a little testing...

I had hoped i might miraculously achieve a better OC on this mobo vs. my Neo2, but they actually seem to be giving me literally identical results.

Haven't bothered to see how high the HTT goes, since really, it's kinda pointless with my current CPU.

One thing i do really like about the A8R-MVP so far is how i can just restart if the attempted OC hangs...no pulling out jumpers every 60 seconds like on the Neo2 :D

Also, temp sensor is actually accurate, instead of 7-8C too high like on the Neo2.
Excepting one thing, everything's been good.
Even RAM seems great @ 1T.

For some reason, the external USB connectors won't work with my case...keeps erroring saying too much power to them or something...

Also, the ethernet connection did crash once last night...i'm just hoping it was the router, not the mobo...
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
TBH, especially with newer CPUs like the X2s & Opterons, i don't think over 1.5V makes a huge difference.

With over-voltage enabled, i'm getting 1.5V instead of 1.4V, which really allows for a very decent OC.

Having more than an extra 0.1V isn't gonna make much difference on an X2 from what i've seen...
 

AllanLim

Junior Member
Dec 11, 2005
23
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You're probably right in that there's little more headroom, but I'm also interested in this mod supposedly curing the highly fluctuating Vcore.
 

carma

Member
Jun 5, 2001
63
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What is the highest HT setting ppl are getting? Highest I can go is 600. My bus is 270 x9 = ~2.4GHz. Any suggestions on improving the HT up to 800 or 1G?
 

AllanLim

Junior Member
Dec 11, 2005
23
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0
Originally posted by: carma
What is the highest HT setting ppl are getting? Highest I can go is 600. My bus is 270 x9 = ~2.4GHz. Any suggestions on improving the HT up to 800 or 1G?


System specs pls ... :p
 

carma

Member
Jun 5, 2001
63
0
0
Opteron 165, ASUS A8R-MVP, X1800XT, just like you :). OCZ PC4000 Gold, dual channel. Memory is pretty much auto except for the 1T. Bus is 270x9 and the over voltage is enabled. HT is set to 600.
 

AllanLim

Junior Member
Dec 11, 2005
23
0
0
165 at 288x9, 1.4v+ov, sb ove enabled, disable ECC
ram at 3-4-4-8 1T, 800 at 166 ie 235.6 with 11 multiplier at 2.7v
works for me, should for you.

 

Stoneburner

Diamond Member
May 29, 2003
3,491
0
76
So what's better for overall performance? 296 HTT with ram set at 2 2 2 6 , 2t command rate, or 290 at 2 3 3 8 with 1t command rate?