Can't overclock for beans -- help -- AV8

[dansthunder]

I've been bitten by the overclocking bug, and it's bugging me that I can't overclock for beans.

I just replaced my NewCastle 3500+ with a Winchester 3500+ and the best I'm able to do is 2453.3 Mhz. This is on the very first Abit AV8 that was released (~Aug'04) -- I'm guessing rev 1.0 at best. I'm running -19 bios.

I'm running at 4.750 volts on the cpu, 223 Mhz HHT, DDR400 memory using DDR333 timings (memory at 175.2 Mhz), and HT mulitplier at 4x. I also have my AGP/PCI locked at 66/33.

I can get it to boot at 225, but it fails superpi after about 3 minutes.

I have a swiftech water cooling setup with an external radiator. Don't ask what my temperature is, because this MB gives totally errorneous readings. I can tell you the water is barely warm to the touch leaving the cpu.

My NewCastle topped out at 216mhz.

For the life of me, I can NOT change the multiplier in bios for the cpu. It stays at 11x and it's grayed out -- can't touch it.

I've bumped my cpu voltage up to 1.55 on the cpu, and still can't get a stable 225. I'm running a PC Power and Cooling 510W Deluxe powersupply.

I'm starting to get the feeling this board is a piece of junk!

Here's the specs on my cpu:

ADA3500DIK4BI
CBBID 0505MPMW
xxxxxxxB50092

Does it make any sense that I can't get to 2600 Mhz let alone 2500 Mhz?

Thanks

Dan

 

[Koyanisquatsi]

this is starting to sound pretty common on the new chips. could be your cpu's limit. however there is something wrong with your bios if you can't adjust the multiplier. i'm using the ~19 bios as well and i don't have that problem.

 

[bonzer54]

I believe the early AV8's did not have functional pci\agp locks, they started working with the rev 1.1 board. The good news is that they will replace it if you request an RMA for that reason 'non-functional locks'

 

[dansthunder]

Thanks so much! I didn't even think to contact Abit. My motherboard is a Rev 1.0, and my serial number is ~#900

It makes sense that the pci/agp lock isn't working, because I keep getting vpu recover errors on my ATI X800. Ahhh I'm so relieved. Maybe 2600 Mhz IS in my future after all.

Thanks again!

Dan

 

[the cat]

Hi,yes you can lower the mutli from x 11 on the Abit AV8 mobo by using the page up and page down keys. You can't press enter on the multi like other settings and the arrow keys do not work.

Just use the page up and down keys and you will be ready to go.

Catherine.

Oh, and you really do not need to bump up your Vcore as I am currently running my 64 3500 90nm 939 Winnie at:

260/66/33 x 10 @ 2.6 with stock Vcore @ 1.4 and all this on air with stock heatsink and fan. I have a sneaky feeling that given the proper conditions and the right cooling, that I can take this Winnie to well over 2.8. But that is for another day.

And just out of curiosity, how many amps do you have on the +12v rail on your PSU. As the Abit AV8 and AMD 64 like anything from 24amps upwards.

 

[richardrds]

With the 11x multi on your CPU you should be OK once you get the board RMAed to a rev 1.1

With the 9x multi on the 3000+ Winnies it is hard to get good OC's over 2.5Ghz because even on the rev 1.1 boards the AGP lock breaks down at about 260-265Mhz, but with your 11x multi you should be fine.

I goy my 9x 3000+ winchester up too 2.5Ghz by disabling the AGP lock and using the 8:2:1 ratio instead.

One other thing, the 3x multiplier for the HTT bus does not work either. use 4x or 2x. Since i am at 278Mhz on the HTT I should be using 3x, but i am using 2x because 3x causes constant stability pblms. The good news is i don't see any performance penanlty in my bench marks using the 2x multiplier.

Oh yeah, and your temps are probably being reported about 12*C too high.

Besides all those pblms it is a decent mobo though, LOL!!!!

 

[dansthunder]

The Cat: The multiplier section is grayed out. page up / down changes what ever field I'm on -- I just can't get to the multiplier. I'm glad to hear that the 3500 should be able to get to 2600mhz. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

My power supply puts out:
+5V @ 40A
+12V @ 34A/38A
-5V @ 0.3A
-12V @ 2A
+3.3V @ 30A
+5VSB @ 3A
power=510W
pk. power=650W

Richardrds: Thanks for the HTT tip. I had mine at 4x 223.

I have a feeling that when I get a new board, things will be much better. There's always drawbacks to being the first to buy a new board. I had my cpu a full month and a half before any 939 boards were out. The abit was the first one available to me, so I grabbed it. I didn't care about specs before, as long as it was 939 and dual channel.

Thanks for the tips guys & gals!

Dan

 

[the cat]

I too have one of the very first AV8 939 mobos.

Enter BIOS by pressing DELETE on Abit start-up screen.

Press ENTER on UGURU UTILITY. Press ENTER on CPU OPERATING SPEED.

Come down to USER DEFINE and press ENTER.

You should now find that the MULTIPLIER setting should not be greyed out now, and should be BLUE.

If not, then you should RMA your board. I have never come across this problem with an Abit AV8 board before.

Catherine.

 

[richardrds]

Originally posted by: dansthunder

Richardrds: Thanks for the HTT tip. I had mine at 4x 223.

4x is the correct setting for HTT speeds between 201 and 250Mhz, and if you do what the cat is saying in the reply above mine you should be able to change that multiplier.

 

[dansthunder]

I have my cpu speed on user define already. I can change everything but the cpu multiplier. It stays grayed out. I've already got a rma in the works.

Thanks

Dan