Help overclocking AMD 3000+ winchester and A8N-SLI

[venomtalon]

I'm in the process of overclocking my system. I had it up to 2200mhz, but now when I started it failed at startup and I had to lower it to 2100mhz. I?m only using stock cooling on everything. What should I set my RAM timing at? can I leave it at AUTO on all the settings? and where do I set the RAM divider?

Here is what I done to overclock.

-lowered to HT freq to 4x
-lowered DRAM to DDR333
-Raised the HHT to 234 mhz
-set the memory timing to 1T

I also overclocked my MSI 6600GT to:

-525 core
-1060 memory

My system consists of the following;
AMD 3000+ winchester
ASAS A8N-SLI
MSI 6600GT
(2) 256 DDR 400 memory = 512mb
Maxtor SATA 120 gb Hard Drive

Any suggestions would be helpful.


Any sugestions would be helpful.

 

[CheesePoofs]

You already set the ram divider when you lowered the DRAM to DDR333, that is the same as a 5/6 divider.

 

[venomtalon]

I dont understand this crap. I tried a new setup:

HT to 3x
HTT to 250mhz
DRAM to DDR333
memory timing to T1
all other memory stuff to "AUTO"

My system ran fine and I ran Prime95 for an hour, but when I restarted today I got a message "system failed do to overclocking" What am I doing wrong? I really want to just overclock to 2200mhz. Thats what I'm at now but when I restart I will probably get that message again.

When running Prime95 do you just retest to keep it going? I see people running it for 2-3 hours but it said it was done after an hour.

What is DDR 266 as a divider?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

DDR266 = 2/3 mem divider ie HTT = 300 RAM = 200

You should be fine using the AUTO ram settings, it automatically keeps your memory at less than 200mhz as you increase the HTT

With Prime95 you need to run the "Torture Test", it runs until you stop it, or it fails due to an error.

To successfully overclock you will most likely need to increase your CPU voltage.

Try these settings

HTT multi = 3x
DDR=AUTO

HTT = 265
CPU multi = 9
CPU volts = 1.6375 (gives actual voltage of 1.50-1.57 depending on which bios you use)
DDR volts = AUTO

This will give you 2385mhz. You can increase HTT 2-5mhz at a time until Prime95 errors out, then backup to your previous setting (your best overclock). That chip will most likely do 2.5ghz no problem, some will do 2.6 or even 2.7.

If you get the overclocking message on startup, don't hit F1, select the option to enter bios. Then exit bios without saving changes. Then try rebooting again and the message should be gone.

Hope this helps

 

[venomtalon]

I dont see where in prime95 to run a Torture Test? All I see is Prime Net? I must be retarted, but where do I run that test?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Its like the 2nd or 3rd menu over to the right, I think it says options? If you can't find it PM me, and I will look when I get home.

 

[venomtalon]

I got it to work. Its been running for 2 1/2 hours and still running. How long should I let it run? and my CPU Temp under load(running prime95) is at 52 C. is this ok? I'm only using stock cooling. Here is what I finally overclocked to:

HTT 3x
HTT 250 mhz
CPU Volts 1.6375
Ram Divider: DDR333

So I'm only running at 2250 mhz.

Everything seems ok. My Aqua Mark 3 score is: GFX:7,905 CPU: 10,061 = 56,752 and my 3DMark03 score is 8537

Should I consider a new heat sink and fan?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

From my history, if Prime doesn't fail in 60mins it will most likely not fail in 24hrs. Looks like your good to go. Temps look fine for the given voltage, about the same as mine. You should be able to increase the HTT quite a bit and not see your temps go up. Increase the HTT 3-5mhz at a time . Periodically checking for stability by runing Prime for 10-15mins.

You should be able to get quite a bit more out of that chip, my current settings with the 3200+ and a single 6600gt are

9x289=2601mhz 1.6375v
ram=236mhz DDR333 2-3-3-5 2.8v

Benchmarks:
PCMark04 = 4998
3DMark03 = 9405
3DMark05 = 3708 cpu=5382
Aquamark03 gfx=8727, cpu=11947, Tot=63,938
Nbench3 = 3456
SuperPI 32m=29m06s 1m=32s


You can also overclock your GPU by enabling Coolbits(nVidia's OC tool) in the windows registry. Just google for "Overclocking Coolbits" there are several articles showing how to enable Coolbits

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: venomtalon

Should I consider a new heat sink and fan?

Only if you start to have heat related issues. From what I've heard the stock HSF does really well.
I,m using a huge TT heatpipe cooler with 120mm fan and my temps run 50-52 under prime load. So if you are in the same range with stock cooling don't spend the money. If however you try and raise the HTT and the temps go over 55 then you might want to get some better cooling.

 

[venomtalon]

when I restart I still get the message "system failed do to overclocking" and have to press delete and to enter bios and just save and exit or just exit and it always comes when I startup. I also get the RAID configuration on startup. Do you know how to get rid of that?

 

[farjuno]

Just disable the RAID from the bios.

Cheers!