Help with overclock stability...

[xSeongminx]

Well, I just purchased the NForce 3-A board and am running at 250fsb. However, it isn't stable, even though I run the Sempron 2800 at the max cpu voltage. I have also tried limiting the memory to 133 and 166 but haven't gotten passed a few runs of 3dmark.

I'm wondering if there is anything that I can do to make the computer stable? Btw, I relaxed the timings and increased the voltage in the memory as well, but the comp just keeps on freezing. The temps are also in the 40's range.

I know that overclocking is a gamble, but I'm just curious if someone can help me out.

 

[furballi]

Lower the HT to 3x. Set the memory timing to 3-3-3-8-2T. Could be a bad chip. My ECS NF3/Sempron 3100 130nm is Prime and Memtest86 stable up to 2.5GHz with 1.6Vcore. Currently running at 2.44GHz with 1.54Vcore.

 

[xSeongminx]

I tried 3x at 250 and it still keeps on crashing. The thing is, if I run at 245, it will run fine, at 3x or 4x. Also, when using clockgen, if I am to raise the fsb a hair over 250fsb, it just locks up. Did I get a bad board or am I doing something wrong?

Also, the computer locks up at different times, which leads me to believe that the problem must be heat related. However, the temps are around 40 all the time...

 

[furballi]

If the system is stable at 240-245, then you probably have a bad chip. Remember that the CPU is rated for 200MHz speed. There is no guarantee when you push the CPU past the factory specs.

Personally, I would prefer to overclock a 10x or 11x CPU. 9x if I'm working with a super budget rig. There's too much stress on RAM and MB if you're working with an 8x CPU.

 

[xSeongminx]

Update: I changed the memory to 100 in bios, and I was able to max out at 285fsb. Not bad..., now I need some ram .

 

[xSeongminx]

Ok, now I'm ESSTATIC!! My corsair value ram is maxing out at 230 right now... FSB is at 285, and by using my dad's 64 2800, I'm at 2.530... My 35$ eVGA 6600GT is running at 585/1170, netting me 59k in AQ3, 9.1k in 3DMark03, and 19.1k in 3DMark01. Computer won't stay stable at 290fsb . Any suggestions?

Also, I'm only running 512mb's of ram. Will an additional 512 get me passed 20k in 01 and 60k in AQ3?

 

[xSeongminx]

Well, I did it. Just tightened the timings, and got 60.1k in AQ3 and 20.1k in 3DMark01 . Not bad for a 300$> computer eh?