Does my cpu need a higher VCore?

[mshan]

I just bought a Biostar M7NCG rev. 7.2 and an used AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "barton" that was never overclocked by it's original owner.

When I attempted to increase the fsb from 166 to 200 (multiplier stayed at 11), the system would post, but hang before it began loading Windows.

VCore was initially 1.65 and I got the same problem at 1.675.

I had to clear the CMOS and reset at 11 x 166 to get the system to load Windows again.

Is this consistent with a cpu that isn't getting sufficient VCore?

Also, is the "default" VCore setting in my BIOS the same as AUTO in others (i. e. it adjusts to whatever VCore is needed)?

 

[imported_Phil]

It's consistent with:

1. Too low VCORE.
2. Overclocking thresholds reached
3. Overheating
4. Possibly a weak PSU.

Start with the temperatures - what does the BIOS say? If it's below 55C then you should be okay.

If that doesn't reveal anything, up the VCORE 0.25 at a time.

What PSU are you using? What cooling - heatsink/fan combo?

[Edit] I wouldn't go above 1.85v myself without a really good HSF.

 

[mshan]

CPU temp in BIOS is 35 at 11 x 166, and 37 at 11 x 200. HSF is the stick AMD HSF (aluminum with a copper core and a 60 mm fan at ~ 3300 rpm)

My PSU is a Fortron FSP350-60PN.

And I have only got a DVDRW drive, one hard drive, a modem, and Matrox g450 video card installed.

Case is Compucase LX-6A19 (Antec SLK3700AMB clone).

 

[bjc112]

You do have PC 3200 I assume?

Capable of 200mhz (DDR 400)

Did you loosen the timings? DId you increase the Vdimm?

If it's not posting period, it's probably the memory.

 

[mshan]

It's Corsair Value Select PC3200. SPD is 2.5 3 3 7 and I have it set at 2.5 3 3 11.

The computer posts (gets to the screen identifying it as an AMD Athlon 3200+, then hangs, and I have to use the power button to restart the system).

Also, I was under the impression that pretty much any AMD Athlon XP 2500+ should be able to do 3200+. True?

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: mshan
Also, I was under the impression that pretty much any AMD Athlon XP 2500+ should be able to do 3200+. True?

You are mistaken,if it was a 2500+ MOBILE then yes they pretty much all do 3200+ speeds easy but a regular barton 2500+ not much can do 3200+ without lots of voltage if ever.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Budman

Originally posted by: mshan
Also, I was under the impression that pretty much any AMD Athlon XP 2500+ should be able to do 3200+. True?

You are mistaken,if it was a 2500+ MOBILE then yes they pretty much all do 3200+ speeds easy but a regular barton 2500+ not much can do 3200+ without lots of voltage if ever.

Yep..

If it's a mobile chip, isn't your multiplier unlocked? Leave it @ 166 and knock that multiplier up one..

 

[mshan]

This cpu isn't a mobile, it's a regular desktop Athlon XP barton.

What type of voltage is typically needed for 11 x 200: 1.675? 1.70? greater?

(I used to own another Athlon XP 2500+ barton and it did 11 x 200 Prime95 stable at 1.675 and I never tried to overclock any higher than that)

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: mshan
This cpu isn't a mobile, it's a regular desktop Athlon XP barton.

What type of voltage is typically needed for 11 x 200: 1.675? 1.70? greater?

(I used to own another Athlon XP 2500+ barton and it did 11 x 200 Prime95 stable at 1.675 and I never tried to overclock any higher than that)

1.75v is around the safe limit for a barton.. You can run 1.8 through it without issues though..

 

[mshan]

If I am lucky and have a 2500+ that is capable of 3200+, what do you guys think is a most optimistic VCore to expect (Prime95 stable) and also what is typical VCore for others?

Also, I was planning on eventually using this cpu in my Asus A7N8X v2 Deluxe mobo and putting the mobile XP 2400+ currently there in the Biostar M7NCG. How much difference does the mobo make in whether or not 3200+ is possible?

 

[Ze Mad Doktor]

Threshold on my 2500+ non-mobile is 2.2@1.75v the same voltage gets me 2.4with the mobile version of the same chip.

Every CPU is different though. You have to experiment with the speeds and voltage to see what its thresholds are. Set a limit as to how high you want to go with the voltage (for A-XP mine is 1.75) and then work your way up to that until you get it stable. If you cannot acheive stability by the time you hit your max voltage, start lowering the fsb 3MHz at a time until it is stable that way.

 

[Ze Mad Doktor]

I just saw you've got a mobile 2400+ I would be think there is like a 95% chance that would be the better overclocker.

 

[mshan]

I am not really a heavy gamer and I am creating one HTPC (Asus A7N8X v2 Deluxe) and now and audio server (Biostar M7NCG rev. 7.2).

I was hoping to run the regular 2500+ barton with the Asus at 3200+ and then undervolting the mobile down to 1.45 or 1.35V in the Biostar for ultimate quietness (stock 2500+ speeds are fine here).

The Asus A7N8X v2 Deluxe has an ATI Radeon 9700 Pro in it and I do a little bit of light gaming (Tiger Woods 2004, Madden 2005, Pacific Fighters, and just got Unreal Tournament 2004), so 3200+ speeds would be nice. Also just got a 2 x 512 MB Corsair Value Select PC3200 kit for it, but one stick appears defective (over 200 errors in one pass of MemTest86!) and has to be RMA'd back to ChiefValue.

And the codes off of my 2500+ barton are:

AXDA2500DK4VD
AQZFA0351SPGW

 

[Ze Mad Doktor]

Well I would still say you have a better chance of hitting 3200+ with your XP-M as it has a default voltage of 1.45 vs the 1.65 of the regular XP. This gives you much more voltage to play with since the limit of the XP-M is the same as the XP it just has lower voltage to reduce power consumption in a laptop.

 

[mshan]

Like you guys said, I guess I am just going to have to test the various combos and see which ones work best.

Thanks!