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Gonna try OCing my A64 3000+ a bit and have a question or two... Updated

K

KillerAngel

Senior member
Relevant system specs are below if you're wondering. Basically, I want to OC my A64 a bit because I think it's preventing my new 7800GT's performance a bit from reaching its potential. However, I'm really only willing to run the processor out of specs (it's a year old, and easy to replace if something goes wrong). I'd like to keep everything else within spec: RAM, PCI Bus, etc.

So I did a little calculation, and I think I'll start with 240 HTT, which would give me 2160MHz, 960 HTT, 200MHz RAM, etc. It looks like everything will be running within specs with that, right? My big question is: will I have to increase my CPU or RAM voltage to compensate? It seems to me I tried this configuration a while back without increasing voltages and the system didn't post, but it was a while back and I could be wrong about the settings I used.

So, if a voltage increase is warranted, how high should I increase it for this settings? Also, if I wanted to take it all the way to 2400MHz, I would need to increase HTT to 300 to keep everything else in spec. I've read some mobos have a problem with this. Does anyone know if 300 HTT is possible with my mobo? Thanks a million, guys.

System specs:
A64 3000+ Winchester
1GB Mushkin Green RAM
XFX 7800GT PCI-E
MSI K8N Platinum mobo
Antec 480w NeoPower PSU

Update: OK, I finally got around to messing with it a little last night. I've had good results thus far: completely stable at 2160MHz (240 FSB, 166 RAM, 4x HTT) with no voltage modification and the temps don't exceed 38C on full load. However, I seem to hit some kind of invisible wall. If I try to take it above 240 to 245 or 250, it won't POST. I've tried lowering the CPU ratio, memory down to 133, HTT down to 3, nothing. I even tried upping the NF4 voltage to 1.55 and it still won't post.

Am I overlooking something? The only thing I can think of would be the CPU's voltage, but I don't see why that would need modifying as the actual speed is actually less than the stock value and it shows total stability at just a couple MHz lower FSB. Thanks in advance for your advice.
 
Nobody can give you numbers to punch in, there are too many variables. The best way to do this is to gradually test the limits of your CPU. Put your HT multi at 3x and your RAM at the lowest divider option to keep them out of the equation. Then gradually increase your FSB with Clockgen, testing for stability along the way (SuperPi, Prime95, etc.) If you encounter instability, bump up voltage (assuming you have the proper cooling.)

I'd suggest starting with THIS THREAD. as it has all the info you need to get started.
 
You shouldn't be worried... The mobo you have is probably a MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum... Not? If so, this message is written by someone who has the exact same mobo, and the processor in it is the very same A64 3000+, running at a not-exactly-the-same 2.4GHz...

What you will have to start with (when you want to reach 2.4GHz), is updating your BIOS to the newest one (given that it is indeed a Neo4 Platinum we're talking about here)... Use LiveUpdate, it is just too easy...

When you're ready, you can start lowering your multiplier to 8x and the HTT to 3x, set your RAM speed to 133MHz and stay off, and leave the rest like it is (the PCI bus etc. is locked)...

If that has been done, you can start by gradually raising your "FSB"... Do this in jumps of 10MHz at the beginning (until you reach 250MHz, after that in jumps of 5MHz), check your stability after each jump (use OCCT's thirty minutes "Torture" testing for that)... Keep an eye out for the temps too... MBM supports the Neo4 Platinum...

Stable? Go on with raising your "FSB"... If not, up the voltage just a little bit, and proceed... When in Windows, read the actual voltages with CPU-Z, if you're going over 1.65V to reach your overclock, you're going too high...

The best thing to do then is to put everything back to stock and let your CPU burn in, use CPU Burn-in for that... Choose the "K7" option (it works for K8 too), and let it run some 8 hours each day and that for some 3-4 days, then start your overclocking again...

If all goes well, you should be able to go higher than before without touching the voltage... Do it the same way, and that 300MHz "FSB" will be attainable... If your overclock is ready, you will see that your RAM's clock has risen to 200MHz, which is stock speeds, so that wasn't going to pose any problem...


Now, before you start... You do have adequate CPU cooling, do you? If you don't, it would be a wise thing to shell out some bucks and buy yourself a Zalman CNPPS7000-AlCu... If you don't like spending that much money on a HSF, buy one of these... It will already be an improvement over your stock HSF...

Does your case has enough airflow? It matters too... Your PSU is going to keep up easily with your overclock, don't worry about that one...

Good Luck!
 
Thanks for your replies. Yes, I do have the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum, Went, I just didn't type all of that. I'll certainly take the advice and see what I come up with. I'm just curious, Went. If you're running your 3000+ at 2400, that's great because it's my goal. I'm wondering what is your current voltage at? What kind of temps do you get? Have you had any stability problems in sensitive games? Thanks again.
 
one thing i might add: dont just go into the bios and set the HTT at 240, do it gradually, like, 5mhz at a time. some boards just dont like big changes, and it might crash.
 
KillerAngel, my current voltage is around 1.5V (I have a 3000+ that is stable at 1.4V, yours may only be stable at 1.5V, dunno)... For the temps, I have installed an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64, which is a very good cooler I would recommend to you too, and my idle temps are around 32°C, my load temps (while using OCCT) hardly surpass 40°C...

I have thoroughly tested my CPU with OCCT, which is even more intensive than games, to be sure I wasn't having stability issues... My overclock is exactly like I described in my previous post... I didn't overclock my RAM too, that's still running at 200MHz...
 
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