Can't get any overclock out of my Epox 8rda+

[DeepSeaDragon]

I just wonder what could be the problem - I see people mentioning that their FSBs are at 160, 170, 190, etc... with mine, I can't push the FSB above 133. If I go to even 134, Windows locks up. If I try 140, the system completely shuts down and I have to reset the jumper on the motherboard to even get it to POST.

Could it be my RAM? I have Crucial 2100DDR. Does it completely max out at 133mhz?

I'm running an XP 2000+ with 512 meg Crucial2100DDR on an 8rda+, with an Antec 300w. Retail, stock cooling on everything.

There's also something strange that happens with the system... if the power is turned off suddenly (as in, hit the power button, don't turn off Windows normally) the system won't boot for at least 15 minutes. If I hit the power button, nothing at all happens... I have to unplug it, wait 10-15 minutes, and then try it again. If I do a normal shutdown, it boots right back up without any problem. I don't know if this is related to the overclock problems.

My temperatures are fairly high - 52c idle, 58c load, but I still can't imagine that would completely prohibit even a 1mhz overclock. Maybe I'm missing something obvious?

 

[wetcat007]

Well your ram is only specified for running at 266 aka 133, however, i've used crucial 2100 b4 and gotten it to 150fsb on a palmino and a shuttle ak31a rock stable. Try increasing your ram voltages. Also are you using a Palmino, or tbred chip? Your temps are definitly on the higher side, what heatsink are you using?

My experience with the 8rda+ was that i took a 1.5 volt tbred 1700+ and oced to to 2250MHz 12.5x180, and only increased the voltage of the core to 1.6 volts rock stable in prime95 overnight. That board got toasted in a power surge, so I bought a Abit NF7-S, and although i like the board features way more, i need a little bit higher voltages for that oc to be stable, but I like the board anyhow.

Get Prime 95 and see if ur chip is even stable at default clock maybe?

 

[DeepSeaDragon]

Thanks for the response, wetcat.

I will try that Prime95 and see what turns up. That actually reminds me of another question; will the 8rda+ unlock the processor? I've tried several multiples on the CPU multiplier - 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, etc., and they don't seem to make any difference. Only the FSB adjusts the reported CPU speed - and then the system crashes.

Default heatsink and fan that came with the processor (retail).