Can't overclock my Athlon 64 3200+ on ASUS A8N-SLI

[dababus]

I flashed to 1003 bios to get the pci lock. Seems like every time I set it to 33.33, ldt to 4x and the fsb to 210 to begin with, the system posts but hangs on the post screen.

I flashed to beta 1004-001 bios, still the same problem.

I flashed down to 1002, and still can't even get a 100 mhz out of the system.

What I am doing wrong.

 

[dababus]

someone help me.

 

[kindest]

what kind of memory do you got.

 

[dababus]

running 2 x 256 megs of ocz pc 3200 rev. 2 for now.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Check for the mfg's specs for voltage on your ram. I use OCZ and this board sets my DDR volts too low at default. My OCZ EL PC3200 Platinum rev2 call for 2.75 and the board gives them 2.60. I'm currently running at 2.80v 236mhz

There are three main components overclocking, and you need to start out by testing each one seperately to find your limitations for each one.

1. Chipset (HTT bus speed) - To find your maximun HTT, drop your LDT to 3x, drop the CPU multi to 6 or 7, set max ramclock to DDR200. Then increase your HTT in increments as far as you can and remain stable (test with Prime95 for 10min). I can get to HTT 335, the best I,ve seen is 342

2. CPU - change the CPU multi to 9-10(test both), Increase the vcore to 1.550, leave the rest of the settings as described above. Now increase HTT as described above until you reach your stability limit. My best CPU overclock with the 3200+ on this board is 9x289=2601mhz.

3. Ram - Drop the CPU multi back to 6 or 7, and reduce to stock CPU volts. Change the Max Ram clock to DDR400 and increase DDR volts to the warranty limit of you ram. Set your timings at 3-4-4-10 1T, now increase your HTT as described above, except now use memtest to test for stability instead of Prime95. This board currently limits ram at 240-250mhz 1T. So if you've got the same ram as mine, you can skip this step because it will run 240-250 with auto timings at 2.80v no problem.

Once you go through these testing steps you will be able to identify your limitations in each area, You go with you maximum CPU overclock and set your max memory clock to acheive you best combined overclock

 

[dababus]

I set multiplier to 6x, ldt to 3x, htt to 220, ram at 200, and restarted.

system posts but cpuz, clock gen, wcpuid, everest home edition all report htt @ 200.

 

[kindest]

set memory timings to 2.5-3-3-10-T1
and up the voltage on it to 2.75.
up the nforce4 voltage to 1.65.

 

[dababus]

tried all that except nforce voltage. its not available in the bios.

maximum i can go is 230 htt.

 

[dababus]

anyone else got a clue about this situation.

 

[ahurtt]

I'm in the same boat as you. I can run fine and prime95 stable with an auto AI overclock of 10%. The most I can get up to manually and be prime stable is 230 x 10, htt x 5, memory 1:1 @ 1T. This is only a 15% overclock. Whenever I go above about 230 even with the CPU multi set way down and the memory capped at 100, I start to get errors on bootup. LAME! I'm on BIOS 1004-01 beta as 1003 BIOS does not detect my Maxtor SATA drive. At least at 230 x 10 I can still run my memory 1:1 and HT multi at 5x so I'm getting 2300MHz, 460 DDR for RAM (2,3,3,5 1T), and 1150 for HT. So this isn't actually so bad as I am able to overclock everything without having to use any dividers or lower multipliers. . .but it really should do better. To get this OC stable I used DDR voltage of 2.8V and vcore to 1.525

[EDIT] One thing though, I do notice that sometimes, not always, in nTune monitor, it appears to automatically clock the HT multi down to 4x (shows HT 920) even though I hard-set it at 5x in the BIOS. Other times it correctly shows 1150. Have not figured out this conundrum yet.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

What power supplies are you guys using? Whats your amp rating on the 12v rail? The fact that you can only get to 230 even while underclocking CPU and Ram leads me to beleive one of two things is happening.

1. When HTT increases past 230 the increased speed of the NF4 chipset is causing the board to draw more juice than the PS can provide.

2. The problem is with the chipset itself. Perhaps the HSF wasn't properly installed at the factory? If you have a temperature probe, I would be real interested to know the temps at which your chipset is running. You might try removing the HSF clean and apply AS5 and reseat the HSF. Or worst case senario the chipset on your board is a dud?

It would sure be great if we could figure this out, because I am seeing more and more people hitting the wall on HTT at 230-235, and its just not logical that most seem to be able to go well over 300 HTT, and some hit the wall at 230? Wasup widat?

 

[dababus]

I am using pc power and cooling 510 deluxe sli psu.

i have a thermal probe to monitor the nf4 chip, but am hesitant to take off the factory chipset for now.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

what kind of temps do you read from the chipset?

 

[dababus]

I looked around in the bios didn't see any temps for the chipset.

Checked the asus probe utility didn't see any chipset temp reading.

 

[BigGreenMat]

dababus I have very similar issues, but for me the cap is around 218 FSB 1:1 and when run a memory divider I can't get over 235 HTT before Prime95 gets errors. I don't think it is your chipset temp as mine never raises above 30 C. I don't think it is your powersupply either. When did you receive your motherboard? I got mine right before new years when that shipment came out. If you got yours at a similar time I think that round of motherboards all have this issue as there are a number of people who are hitting this same wall with no apparent explanation. Something on this board just doesn't like overclocking and I don't know what it is.

 

[dababus]

I purchased mine from a seller on forums. he got it from a computer show. don't know when was that show taking place.

 

[seattledesi]

its not the psu? dang!

i was almost convinced its my 350W antec psu that was too weak to overclock this board..

me thinks its time for someone with the higher rated psu call Asus tech support and get an anwer.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: BigGreenMat
dababus I have very similar issues, but for me the cap is around 218 FSB 1:1 and when run a memory divider I can't get over 235 HTT before Prime95 gets errors. I don't think it is your chipset temp as mine never raises above 30 C. I don't think it is your powersupply either. When did you receive your motherboard? I got mine right before new years when that shipment came out. If you got yours at a similar time I think that round of motherboards all have this issue as there are a number of people who are hitting this same wall with no apparent explanation. Something on this board just doesn't like overclocking and I don't know what it is.

It certainly starting to look like some of these boards have a problem in the chipset area. But Im not sure if it can be tied to the earlier shipments. Because I was one of the first to get one of these boards and mine doesn't have this issue. I received mine on Dec 13th

 

[dababus]

Well, I can achieve 233 fsb but no sound from my audigy 2. the pci bus is locked at 33.33, but still nothing.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Have you disabled the onboard sound?

 

[dababus]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Have you disabled the onboard sound?

LOL, yes.