Highest FSB on K8N Neo2 with BH-5 at 2-2-2-5?

[Aries64]

Fellow Athlon64 owners:

What is the highest STABLE FSB you are currently running on your K8N Neo2 with memory using BH-5? If not in your signature please specify:

(1) Brand, size, and number of modules, i.e. Mushkin PC3500 Level II 512x2
(2) Dual or Single-Channel operation
(3) Timing settings, i.e. 2-2-2-5 1T
(4) CPU speed divided by FSB, i.e. CPU speed 2,530 = 12 multiplier x 210MHz FSB = 2,520MHz

My system will run Memtest86+ v1.40 at 12x210MHz (2,520MHz) 24/7 for days, but won't run it reliably in W2K Pro. Errors out in Prime95.

Don't know if its the board, the memory, or something else in the system. The rails on my PS (PC Power & Cooling 510 Deluxe) are rock-solid and don't seem to fluctuate at all, although I am getting those reads from Core Center, and I know that it isn't the most accurate utility for this. That said, CPU and system temps are fine too. BTW, can anyone confirm that MBM 5 (Motherboard Monitor 5) works on the K8N Neo2? It isn't listed on MBM web site for the K8N Neo2, and neither is the (Winbond 82637THF) that is used on the K8N Neo2. They DO list the Winbond 82627THF-A (used in the Socket 754 K8N Neo) board.

I wonder if it is the Mushkin PC3500 Level II (which uses BH-5)? I seem to recall that some users were running 2-2-2-5 1T at 210MHz FSB with their BH-5, as that was the highest they could go with stability, but I don't rememberif those users are running K8N Neo2s' or what brand of RAM they were using that used the BH-5.

Any info anyone has would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[Stormgiant]

You have bh-5 and run 210 ? :Q

 

[Loki726]

drop your cpu multiplier and see if you still get errors. Also, try bumping up your dimm voltage; bh-5 loves voltage. I don't have a kn8 but my mushkin pc3500 level II won't go past 215 at 2225 at stock voltage.

 

[Aries64]

You have bh-5 and run 210 ?

Thanks for the reply Stormgiant. Actually, NO. My system isn't stable with 210MHz FSB! WTF?!!! As you know the BIOS for the K8N Neo2 only supports VDIMM up to 2.85V. I tried 2.85V but it was no-go stability-wise even at a lowly 210MHz (2-2-2-5 1T). I can loosen the timings to 2-3-2-6 (1T) and get to 217MHz but that isn't too stable either (at 2.85V).

I see from you sig that you are running 3.41V on your Kingston BH-5 sticks. Did you mod your mobo or are you running the OCZ DDR Booster? I'm not into modding so maybe I should try the DDR Booster?

 

[Aries64]

drop your cpu multiplier and see if you still get errors.

Thanks for the reply Loki726. Tried lowering the multi and raising the FSB, but in order to avoid lowering my HT speed too much this also forces me to lower the HT multi.

As I mentioned in my reply to Stormgiant without a volt-mod or the OCZ DDR Booster the max VDIMM allowed by the BIOS (v1.40) is 2.85V in the BIOS. Any experience with the OCZ DDR Booster? Maybe I should it. Hmmm...

 

[Duvie]

BH5 hashad known issues with the board for sometime....

I have also seen or heard about issues with this board and run anything 2,2,2.....It takes a lot of vdimm....

I dont know what the issue is, jack the HTT or FSB up and run the fvcker at cas 2.5 if you have to....It doesn't make that much of a difference and certainly not enough to sacrifice cpu clock speed over....You may be holding back yourself from a much bigger overclock cause you feel you need cas 2...That is a bunch of hogwash...

 

[Aries64]

You may be holding back yourself from a much bigger overclock cause you feel you need cas 2...That is a bunch of hogwash...

Yeah Duvie - I know what you mean. I was able (for a brief time) jack the FSB and memory speed up to 217MHz (loosening the timings to 2-3-2-6 1T and 2-3-3-7 1T on two such trials) and got a couple more FPS in Halo at 1,280x1,024 with everything turned-on and set at "High" but it wasn't worth the stability. 2 FPS = BFD. Loosening the timings further and my system would not boot.

Anyway, I was thinking about trying some OCZ Platinum or Corsair XMS but I don't relish the thought of spending more money on RAM when the performance difference I may achieve is still dependent upon other factors. My Mushkin BH-5 has served me so well on my Intel systems it pisses me off that I have issues on my FX-53 system.

 

[WA261]

Get a booster. Before I had mine installed I could not run past 250, now I can run 290fsb no problem at 3.4v

 

[Stormgiant]

Sorry for jumping in late.

Yes, i'm running now a Booster. With the P4C800 for P4 I did a vdimm mod because it was real easy, but with the MSi it's a little bit trickier.

You don't need to have great power. You could run the bh-5 with 166 or 133 dividor on BIOS, but loosing some performance of course. I run my bh-5 between 240 and 265, depending on the situation.

You can try lowering your multiplier to 11 or 10, and then upping the fsb. It will give you more mhz in cpu, more bandwith and some more power on memory.

Kinda 240x11 and memory set to 166 for instance. Try some combination, in order to keep memory at 210-215.

Max i've run was 265mhz with 2-2-2-5-7-12. I have seen many people run @275-280. World record I believe is near 300mhz, with 4v on it. Althought they need lots of voltage to run at high frequency, you have to love this old chips...

 

[Aries64]

Get a booster. Before I had mine installed I could not run past 250, now I can run 290fsb no problem at 3.4v

Thanks for the reply WA261. Maybe I can pick one up at Fry's this weekend...

 

[Aries64]

Yes, i'm running now a Booster. With the P4C800 for P4 I did a vdimm mod because it was real easy, but with the MSi it's a little bit trickierYou don't need to have great power. You could run the bh-5 with 166 or 133 dividor on BIOS, but loosing some performance of course. I run my bh-5 between 240 and 265, depending on the situation. You can try lowering your multiplier to 11 or 10, and then upping the fsb. It will give you more mhz in cpu, more bandwith and some more power on memory.

Thanks for the clarification, Stormgiant. I figured you had to have done a vmod or be running the Booster with 3.41V.

I'm going to see if I can get a DDR Booster this weekend if I can make it up to Fry's. Thanks for your help.

 

[Duvie]

What kind of cooling is needed for sticks with 3.4v??? Is it actually delivering that to the sticks???

 

[Stormgiant]

Originally posted by: Duvie
What kind of cooling is needed for sticks with 3.4v??? Is it actually delivering that to the sticks???

None. Just a good ventilated box. Bh-5 where designed at the beginning to run at 3.3V, but then DDR2 came at 2.6V.

The 3.41v were reading the vddr on the motherboard with a multimeter. OCZ Booster shows 3.4 on the display.