Asus K8N Overclocking problem

[vishnurao]

Hi all,

I have a K8N motherboard with a AMD socket 754 Athlon64 3000+. I was playing around with my bios and came across some overclocking options in the bios. I set it to overclock by 1% and booted up my computer. As soon as I was logged in, I get this error(or rather warning) message saying CPU frequency scaling is unsupported.

The CPU is stuck at 2.01 GHz and does not do dynamic scaling under low load. Its stuck at max speed. I have brought the bios to default settings and the bios reset by changing a couple of jumper settings on the mobo. (even tried resetting the bios battery, I knew it would not help.)

One more observation, I remember the clock frequency used to be 2.00 GHz. But now its somehow stuck at 2.10 GHz to be precise 2009.771 MHz.

Can someone suggest a solution? Did I screw up my motherboard?

Thanks,
Vishnu Rao.

 

[Assimilator1]

As soon as I was logged in, I get this error(or rather warning) message saying CPU frequency scaling is unsupported.
Yea ignore that ,it's a scare tactic by Asus to put people off overclocking:roll:[edit] doh! my bad, I was thinking of an MSI mbrd[/], actually I'd forgotten about that until you mentioned it. My 2nd rig, which has a K8N, has been updated to the latest beta bios (from 2/06) & it doesn't have the messege. I don't think you need a beta though to get rid of that daft messege.

The CPU is stuck at 2.01 GHz and does not do dynamic scaling under low load

That's either because you've turned off CnQ (generally a good idea for o/cing) or the mbrd automatically disables CnQ when manual FSB is switched on. TBH I don't know as I just disable it anyway, anytime my PCs are on their at 100% load anyway .

As for the last point, it's quite common for mbrds to o/c slightly on the auto setting, apparently a tactic done to keep their benchmark scores high.

Btw the K8N is a great overclocking mbrd in my experience , just for testing I set the multiplier low on my Sempron3100 & gradually wound up the FSB until it became unstable, only it never did! I hit its max of 300 MHz FSB!:Q. Anyway since then I set the Sempron to 2.5 GHz on a 278 MHz FSB.

Btw which version of the Ath64 3000 have you got? If its the Venice core then that high FSB could come in handy, don't give up on overclocking yet!

Re resetting the bios/clearing CMOS, did you unplug or switch off the mains 1st?

 

[vishnurao]

1. I too have the same beta version of the bios. i.e ver 1011 beta. But I do get the cpu scaling not possible, warning when I boot into my OS.

2. What is CnQ? I tried looking at the options in the bios, don't see anything like CnQ. I would like to have the frequency scaling enabled, because it mostly runs idle, like downloading torrents etc, playing music etc.

3. I think I have the NewCastle or the ClawHammer version of the 3000+.

I don't remember if I had the power turned ON/OFF while resetting the bios. Does it matter?

Thanks for the help.

Vishnu.

 

[vishnurao]

Oops my bad! A simple web search gave me the answer to CnQ. Cool n Quiet.

I enabled CnQ and it just disables the OCing totally. Hmm, strange. So I can not OC and get CnQ together?

Just to test, I went back to the bios and disabled CnQ. I can OC and the cpufreq is 2200 (2000 + 10%).

Does frequency scaling support while OCing, depend on the OS? I use only Ubuntu Linux on my machine.

 

[Assimilator1]

O/cing won't change an OSs support or lack of for CnQ. Did it work before?
Check this out, might be useful.

I've just enabled CnQ on my o/ced Sempron & got no such messege at bootup , CnQ isn't working though as I don't have the drivers installed.

Oh wait, I think I misunderstood your 1st post re CPU scaling, & I've just realised the messege I was thinking of was on an MSI mbrd!, sorry .

Anyhow, if I understand you correctly now the messege about CPU scaling refers to CnQs action of downclocking under light load.

Re clearing CMOS, yes you need to turn the power off otherwise the bios is still powered, also you could damage the mbrd using the reset jumper with the power on!

Your 3000 is an earlier version, they typically could only o/c to 2.3-2.4 GHz.

 

[vishnurao]

1. You got it right. The message is being posted by the OS not by the bios.

2. The issue at hand is that my OS does not seem to support OC and CnQ simultaneously. I.e. If I OC 10 % then I cannot downclock. But If I disable OC completely then downclocking works. I think its an OS issue.

3. Thanks for the input on turning off power before resetting the bios. I think I did turn off the power before attempting a reset. Next time, I will ensure OFF.

4. I am going to try install Xp on a spare HDD I have lying around and then try the OC with CnQ. Will update this thread after that experiment.

 

[Assimilator1]

Hmm, ok that's wierd, you wouldn't think o/cing on any OS would make a difference to CnQ.

Keep us posted on what you get out of that CPU :thumbsup:.

 

[vishnurao]

Sorry for the long delay in updating this thread. Been through a rough three weeks. Layoff time at work. . I am one of the lucky ones who still has a job.

Update: I installed Xp home on a spare HDD. Installed CPUZ and now its wierder! No OC and CnQ enabled. Please see screen shots in the zip file in the link below.

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/169603/cpuz_screenshots.zip

I notice that Windoze Xp does not do any dynamic frequency scaling. I tried OCing. Works as expected. But no scaling.

Question: Do I need to install some extra software or drivers for Xp to enable CnQ? I have installed Xp Home SP2.

 

[vishnurao]

Assimilator1,

Don't know if you are aware of this, the 1011 beta BIOS throttles the RAM speed to 166MHz when using 3 sticks for ram, instead of the 200MHz. Link: http://vip.asus.com/forum/view...page=1&SLanguage=en-us

Thinking of going back to BIOS level 1006. Any suggestions on how to update bios without a floppy?

 

[Assimilator1]

Yea use a flash drive, format it so it boots (search for HP Windows Format Utility for USB Drive Key or DiskOnKey ).Then copy your bios flashing program & rom to it, don't forget to change the boot drive.

Re 1011 RAM limitation, now you mention it I remember, I have 3 sticks but they are set to the 166 or 133 setting (can't remember which), because my FSB is set to 278 MHz the RAM is running at ~228 MHz , so the limitation doesn't affect me. Worth remembering when I sell the mbrd though, I'll back rev it then.

Btw that guy didn't say he was running the 1011 bios, he doesn't say which version at all. Are you sure the issue is with 1011?

Sorry to hear about the work troubles , what's your job out of interest?

Re CnQ for windows, as I mentioned in my earlier post you need drivers for it.

 

[vishnurao]

Thanks for info on bootable USB.

It seems only 1006 version of the BIOS supports DDR 400 speed when you have 3 sticks of RAM. They then broke it as they released newer BIOS versions.

Since I still have the spare HDD with Xp on it, I tried using the Windows utility that Asus provides. But it won't let me go back to older versions. 1011 for sure does limits it to 166 MHz.

You plan to sell your mbrd? Is there a market for it?

Job: Clue, I make the Deathstars , oops the Deskstars.

CnQ: I won't bother with the drivers. I use only Linux anyways and get the CnQ in there.

 

[Assimilator1]

Bleh!, I wouldn't ever use a window app to flash the bios!:Q, use the DOS version & then hopefully you can back rev, although I've never tried it, & it'll be safer to flash the bios anyway.

Btw that sucks about the 200MHz RAM support!:disgust:

I could sell the mbrd for a little (I sold a skt A mbrd, XP2100 & some DDR for ~£30 a month or so ago), however I won't be selling it as it'll be an upgrade for my sons PC, which is currently a skt A rig with an XPM 2500 @2.32 GHz.

Thier drives don't suffer from those problems like they used to now do they?

 

[vishnurao]

I created a bootable USB using the HP tool and downgraded the BIOS to 1006. And manually set the MEM Clock to 400. Now I have 3 sticks i.e. 1536 MB DDR400 ram at 200MHz.

Will not bother with the OCing for now. I guess I will post a query at the Ubuntu Forums and check with someone there.

Deskstars: Quite reliable now. Hitachi bought IBM's hard drive business in mid 2003. Pretty good now. Its Seagate's turn to make bad products now. Did you not read about their recent problems with some 1TB and 1.5TB drives because some faulty firmware would brick the drive?

Thanks for your help on the problem.
Vishnu Rao.

 

[Assimilator1]

Good to hear your RAM's running at the right speed now .

Re HDDs, I read a mention about it in an AT article but nothing more, I meant to read up about it but I totally forgot about it. Got any links on that?

NP btw .