Got the 8K5A2+/XP1600 AGOIA combo rolling...*OCing not going well, see thread*

[MichaelD]

Hi guys.

After many frustrating, busy days, I finally got the new stuff together, but am having some probs w/the BIOS settings...too many of 'em!! :Q

Epox 8K5A2+/XP1600 (AGOIA Y-step-week13)/Corsair PC3200.

I am running 10.5 x 166 right off the bat, stock voltage, no prob. 1750MHz is very nice! Benchmarks show it, etc. Check this out.

When at:
System performance: Normal
DRAM freq: 166
FSB: 166
Manually set Timings: CAS 2 2-5-2

All boots up and runs GREAT.

When at:
System performance: Turbo
It automatically sets all settings as above, but I get a three-tone beep on boot: HIGH-LOW-HIGH is what it sounds like. NO hard lock...I can get into BIOS to reset.

I also tried FSB=180MHz at stock voltage with no dice.

Help me out here...help me tweak the living crap out of this setup!!!!!!!

*edited for clarity in the details*

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

very nice
You have almost an identical set up to mine but I have the 8K3A. You may want to check the temperature alerts perhaps? I know mine gives me something like that when it doesn't read a CPU fan speed

FWIW, I've pretty much settled at 184x9.5@1.775Vcore w/Turbo settings on my RAM, you may want to unlock your CPU when you get a chance . I can hit 1.81 GHz stable but I need 1.9Vcore, so I figure those are 60 MHz I can live without

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for the speedy reply, Icecool83.

I must admit, I have not fooled around a great deal with the interactivity (is that a word?...interactivness?) of the BIOS settings...I'm just so damn glad the thing booted right off the bat...

I DO have auto CPU shut-down enabled in the BIOS, but I have it set at 75C. According to the BIOS, I'm at 39C while I'm in there poking around. Right now (W2K/SP3) I'm sitting at a comfy 43C according to MBM>

I am golden AFA temps go. I'm sure this is USER ERROR on my part.

There's no way this thing boots without an eyeblink at 10.5 x 166 but yet doesn't have more to give....GIMMMEEEEE!!!!!

Any other suggestions?

 

[mechBgon]

What kind of video card you got in there? This is not quite as unrelated of a question as it sounds.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
What kind of video card you got in there? This is not quite as unrelated of a question as it sounds.

Hello. It's a Palit (yeah, I never heard of 'em either) GF4 4200 128mb (no OC). It uses the reference design..right down to the NVidia-branded HSF. It has the purple PCB like the MSI...which is made by somebody else.

FWIW, at the current 10.5x166 @ stock voltage, I have no visual artifacting or anything else. All Bmarks run dandy as do games.

 

[BZeto]

What is the mobo/northbridge temp?

 

[mechBgon]

Have you tried bumping the DIMM voltage a wee bit? Might be worth trying about 2.7V...

 

[MichaelD]

According to MBM, I'm at 43C CPU/30C system/mobo temp at idle.

MBM has a separate option to read the Winbond chip specific to the Epox 8KH3-series of mobos. I have a 8K5A, but the Winbond chip is identical (I checked twice) so I'm going by that specific option in MBM. The readings are consistent with the BIOS-reported temps, so I'm 99% sure I'm good to go.

I have not bumped the DIMM voltage b/c I am running a 512mb stick of Corsair PC3200. Guaranteed to do 200MHz @ CAS 2.5. So, I don't think that 180MHz CAS 2 is unreasonable...also, when I select TURBO setting w/the memory options maxxed, I get no BIOS boot....maybe I need to raise the CPU voltage instead?

 

[Insane3D]

Michael -

When you set your memory to Turbo, the three timing values it sets to 5, 2, and 2, set them to 6, 3, 3 instead and see if that helps..

 

[MichaelD]

Hiya Insane3D! Thanks for dropping by

I will try that suggestion first-thing when I get home tomorrow...I figured I'd check this thread 1 more time before retiriing for the evening. I am getting up in four hours...that's about a regular nights' sleep for me...*shrug* I'll sleep when I'm dead.

I have A LOT to learn about how the different things interact in this very big, complicated BIOS. Good to know you're around to help me out.

Talk to you later. Thanks again. Nighty-night. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..................

 

[AMDBOY]

Bump to insane for all the hard work and help. We all appreciate it whether you here from us or not. I'm almost to where MichaelD is. My hardware arrived today. I'm gonna ask for a recap on the RAM. If I really wanna push it, later on , and for future upgradeability; would the PC3200 be a reasonable choice. Also, are there any advantages to using two 256 sticks vs. one 512 stick? Is Corsair the premium brand at cl2 or are there other "kickass" brands that are EASY to find. Of course you know I always like a great price as well, lol. You guys are the real world authorities here. All your help is truly appreciated. It's a rush when it all comes together & works well. Thanks.

 

[MichaelD]

*yawn-stretcccccccch* Good morning! Or is it still evening? I love working so much; it makes me a better person.

Anyway....

I am crunching the Prime95 torture test as we speak. It's run since *scrolls down to look at last post* 0037 hours. About 5 hours or so...no probs! Hooray! I'm going to let it keep crunching until I get home tonight at around 1730 or so. That ought to burn in this new combo quite well.

BTW, my temps right now are 49C CPU/30C System. Case temp is about 2.5C over ambient room temp. That ain't bad at all!!!

FYI: my CPU temp right now (100% CPU use) is exactly the same as on my Shuttle AK35GTR (KT266a)/XP1800(no OC) combo, but case temp (30C) is about 3-4C lower than on the Shuttle combo. I attribute this to the "new" case" I swapped cases w/my server; still the Chieftec "1040" full tower, but this PS has the dual-fan, with the second PS fan right over the CPU. Schaweeeet.

Insane3D A note for ya: it's not silent by any means; but I'd say 75% of the noise isn't fan noise, but WIND noise. Wind being sucked thru the front intake is what's making the noise. But, it's a low-pitched "whoooooosh" as opposed to a Delta 7K fan "whizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" Tolerable. Except for the PS (don't want to do the fan-mod on this nice, 420-watt, dual-fan PS) I"m running all Vantec Stealth fans. One on the AX-7 HS (with AS-III of course) One intake in the HD cage and one exhaust in the top position, right under the PS. I have the other exhaust grill taped-over with duct tape from the inside, so the rear exhaust fans don't draw thru that hole, instead of sucking thru from the front. <---that was your idea and it works VERY well. Props to you. <--I do believe that's why I have such great airflow and such a "whoosh" thru the front grill. I do believe my case temp speaks for itself!

Well, got to shave/shower and get to gettin' to work...long day ahead. I will be checking the boards every hour or so when breaks in meetings/activities permit, so please post away, guys! I KNOW I can get more out of this combo...especially the ram. Have a great day.

*EDIT*
FYI. SANDRA is quite confused. It's reporting my AGP/PCI as being way out of spec, but the BiOS reports AGP/PCI at 66/33. I am at 166MHz FSB right now...1/5 divider is doing it's thing. Do you all experience this problem w/SANDRA?

 

[Insane3D]

Sandra is reporting it wrong. It's a common error..it doesn't have support for reading the divider right. The bios is correct..

 

[Toro 45]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

I have not bumped the DIMM voltage b/c I am running a 512mb stick of Corsair PC3200. Guaranteed to do 200MHz @ CAS 2.5. So, I don't think that 180MHz CAS 2 is unreasonable...also, when I select TURBO setting w/the memory options maxxed, I get no BIOS boot....maybe I need to raise the CPU voltage instead?

The Corsair pc3200 200mhz @cas2.5 on their site shows 185@cas 2.5 So while it would be nice there is still a slim chance it won't do do 180 cas2.

The easy way to find out is to bump the ram voltage a little like mechBgon suggested

Did you increase your cpu voltage for your attempt at 180 I'm pretty sure you will not get to 180 with default voltage.

Corsair

 

[MichaelD]

Hey there,

Well lookee that; you're right about the Corsair. *shrug* I guess I read it wrong.

I haven't increased any of the voltages yet...didn't have too much time to play with it yesterday...allthough I did manage to get a few rounds of UT2K3 in. Gotta throroughly TEST the system, right?

I want squeeze some more oomph via the FSB out of this rig. What should I do first? Increase the mem voltage? Lower the timings? Increase the CPU voltage?

In my limited overclocking experience, I've found that you lose a lot of performance when going from CAS 2 to CAS 2.5...I'd like to keep the timings maxxed if possible.

But hey, in the end, I've got a 1.75GHz CPU for $52. Life is good.

 

[Insane3D]

Michael -

Try these settings in the bios...

Advanced Chipset Features --> DRAM Clock/Drive Control

System Performance - Turbo
DRAM Clock - 166mhz
DRAM Timing - Manual
SDRAM Cycle Length - 2
Bank Interleave - 4 Bank
(Trp) - 3T
(Tras) - 6T
(Tred) - 3T
DRAM Command Rate - 1T
Fast R-W Turnaround - Enabled
Continuous DRAM Request - Enabled



The few settings I did not list, leave alone. Also, you might want to try to flash to the official 8/15 bios, or the Beta 9/5 bios. Links to both bioses are listed in the first post of my Epox thread up top.

Once you've done that, inch her up to 172mhz FSB and try that...1.8Ghz.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Michael -

Try these settings in the bios...

Advanced Chipset Features --> DRAM Clock/Drive Control

System Performance - Turbo
DRAM Clock - 166mhz
DRAM Timing - Manual
SDRAM Cycle Length - 2
Bank Interleave - 4 Bank
(Trp) - 3T
(Tras) - 6T
(Tred) - 3T
DRAM Command Rate - 1T
Fast R-W Turnaround - Enabled
Continuous DRAM Request - Enabled



The few settings I did not list, leave alone. Also, you might want to try to flash to the official 8/15 bios, or the Beta 9/5 bios. Links to both bioses are listed in the first post of my Epox thread up top.

Once you've done that, inch her up to 172mhz FSB and try that...1.8Ghz.

Thanks very much, Insane3D. Luckily, my board came with the 8-15-2002 BIOS already on there. I will try those settings when I get home. Will do a before/after SANDRA memory b-mark and see what happens. You're a great guy for helping us all out.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Hey MichaelD, awesome temps brudda! I'm a little envious I knew you would be stoked with that setup, now push it till it hollers uncle

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Hey MichaelD, awesome temps brudda! I'm a little envious I knew you would be stoked with that setup, now push it till it hollers uncle

Hey BRUDDA'DAPUNISHER, how'ya'doin?

Thanks for the compliment; I'm very happy with the temps. The AX-7 is a mutha of a HS and the 80mm Vantec Stealth flows 27cfm @ 20db...not a lot of air at all, but QUIET. However, I think the most credit has to go to the dual-fan PS. That bottom fan on the PS is just a few inches above the AX-7 and sucks the air out of there nicely. For once, I've got it goin'on baby!!

With the great help I'm getting I'm sure I'll tweak the life out of this thing. It should be good for another 100MHz, stable. *crosses fingers and toes*

 

[MichaelD]

Hmm. I guess I should be happy with a 1.75GHz processor for $52...but we all know each other, right?


I tried the memory settings that Insane3D suggested above and tried for 172FSB.

No boot. Raised DIMM voltage to 2.7. No boot. Raised CPU voltage to 1.8. Success! 1.8GHz baby!!! Running 3DMark. Crash to desktop. Restarted...BSOD right after getting to desktop.

I reset the voltages to stock and set everything back to the following for the "usual" 1.75GHz:

166FSB
Normal timings
Manual
CAS 2
2
5
2
4-way interleave
Command=Auto
FAST R-W Disabled
Continuous req Disabled

But what happens like every-other boot is that the bios won't boot...I get that three-tone (high-low-high...sounds like "dee-doo-dee" real quickly) sound and the PC powers down.

I am also occassionally getting a "CPU setting has changed, please reset CPU" or something like that.<--and the CPU is reset to XP1600

Once it boots, it's rock solid. Prime95/3DMark/SANDRA/all games run spectacularly.

Maybe I just need to clear the junk out of the CMOS and start over?

I was thinking that maybe I should unlock the chip and lower the multiplier and raise the FSB more...but I have super memory!

Suggestions?

*edit*
BTW, according to MBM, I noticed my +5v line hovers around 4.75-4.8 volts. Could this be a prob? My +12v is always at or slightly above 12, my CPU voltage is dead-on @ 1.75v DIMM voltage is 2.5 as it should be.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

172-175FSB should be doable with the Vcore@1.85v which isn't dangerous for that CPU and your cooling solution is up to the task so no worries there. I would leave my timings by SPD for now to eliminate the ram as a potential source of instability and see if that 5v line dips even lower with the higher Vcore and FSB. BTW, I've read posts by people with cold boot problems with my 8K3A series but your's is the first I've read on the 8K5A series displaying the problem. What PSU are you using and what is it's rated combined output for the 3.3&5v rails? In the end you will almost undoubtedly get the most from your CPU by unlocking it but I know there is more left in it right now, just boost that Vcore brudda

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks Brudda DP! I haven't tried 1.85...just 1.8.

I don't have the PS in front of me, but it's a Turbolink PS (Chieftec case) 420-watter P4 approved, blahblahblah. I know it's got plenty of juice...lemme see if I can find a pic on Newegg.


*looking*

BINGO

If I set the RAM to run by SPD, then I won't have the synchronous 166MHz memory and CPU bus though. What I have been doing is SEPARATELY setting the CPU FSB to 166 AND the memory to 166...am I doing something wrong?

 

[MichaelD]

I already have some good leads, but bump for the heck of it.