Can anyone help me with some tweaks on a new AMD System

[Philster]

Hey gang, I'm taking the plunge and deep sixing my P3 system in favor of a new Athlon 1.4 based system. I'm waiting for a new board based on the upcoming VIA KT266A chipset. I have just bought (2) 256MB modules of crucial PC2100 DDR Ram and would really like some help with setting the memory timings for optimum etc with this type of ram and CPU. I haven't been able to find a good article that explains tweaking the bios with DDR ram yet. I am leaning towards an ASUS board as I've had excellent success with my current CUSL2 board on the P3 platform. Can anyone point me in the right direction. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Philster.

 

[o1die]

If you plan on overclocking, stick with the default memory settings. They tend to be conservative. If you lower the settings too much, you may not be able to overclock as high. I've found that with ddram, 138 to 140 fsb settings are most likely to be stable. Sdram seems to overclock higher. With my budget power supply, I simply changed the multiplier setting from 9 to 10, and didn't have to raise the voltage. The system is stable and doesn't run hot (49-51 celcius is my normal range). To overclock to the max, you need 2 things. A superior heatsink such as the swiftech 462 with arctic silver II thermal paste, and the best power supply you can afford. The Enermax 431 and sparkle 400 will not only give you plenty of juice, but help keep your system running cooler. The best ps have dual fans and plenty of vents around the cover. If you can't afford these items (about $150 extra for the heatsink and ps), do as I do and settle for a more modest gain in speed.

 

[Philster]

Hey oldie...thanks for the reply. I doubt I will go over 140FSB as this means using HOda's FSB tweaker and I'd prefer not to. I neglected to mention I also purchased an Enermax EG365P-VE which is supposed to be a good powersupply albiet only a 350 watt model and also a Volcano II with Arctic Silver Compound. My case also has 2 ultra quiet 35cfm 120 mm fans 1 in the front pulling in and 1 in the rear pulling out. I'd be very content to reach 1500mhz but what I am most interested in is the actual bios settings for the ram? I have never used DDR ram before just Mushkin PC133 Rev2 modules on my old CUSL2 board. If you can give me any tips on settings within the bios I would most appreciative. Thanks.

Philster.

 

[RabidDragon]

Ok.. I'll state this right up front, I am no computer expert. I am building my first computer now (also waiting for the KT266a)

My question: Can you really talk about the best methods/settings on OC'ing a board that you DON'T have, when your not even sure of the brand? Does this board even allow OC'ing of all the settings, just some or none? I am aware that some boards are quite OC'ing UNfriendly.

Once again... I am new, don't know much and this is NOT a flame... just confused thats all.

 

[Philster]

No harm done bud. Maybe my posting does seem somewhat confusing. What I'm trying to say is that I would presume a board built by ASUS will most likely have as the vast majority of thier boards do (have aggressive overclocking ability). All I'm really after is some of the BIOS options present for memory timings on boards using AWARD's bios with DDR ram. I know they are different than standard PC133 ram settings seen on AWARD's bios on SDRAM boards. I can find lots of articles on tweaking PC133 ram timings etc but seem blind to finding ones where DDR ram is used. Hope this clears it up.

Philster.

 

[RabidDragon]

Yes that does clear up my confusion some
Award bios... Is that what the a7v266 boards use? is it possibe to use bios different that what the manufacturer sujests? kind of like using reference drivers for a vid card instead of the manufactures?

god I'm sick of waiting (month) for the a7v266-e board to come out, I really wanted a asus but if I have to wait much longer and another brand comes out.... (the giga dual bios mobo seems attractive, seen many people ruin a board on screwed up flashes)

 

[Philster]

To the best of my knowledge, you have to use the bios that is on the emprom chip that the board shipped with. I believe the boards that have 2 bios's simply have one default as a back up in case of a bad flash. I too really want the board. I know with a drawer full of new parts and no place to put em can be tough. I'm sure it won't be too much longer and I'd bet Anandtech will have the poop on them first. As for messing the flash (I've flashed my current ASUS CUSL2 I think 9 times and never once had greif. Call me lucky, call me cautious...but haven't had trouble once. Now.......how about someone replying with the needed ram timings I''m after.......PLS>>

Philster.