How far can you push an XP2600+ on an ECS N2U400-A (nForce2)?

[passivex]

I jumped on the ECS N2U400-A (nForce2) + XP 2600+ (333Mhz Barton) for $89.99 deal a while back.

Have been trying to overclock this combo with a stick of 512MB Mushkin PC3200 Basic chip ($90-$20MIR). So far the highest I can go is 185x11.5 (Memory is at 185x2 or 370Mhz). This CPU is multiplier-locked so I can only modify FSB. The ECS board lets you step the FSB using 1Mhz increments but changes to CPU voltage and Multiplier are prohibited (don't know what CPU optimization settings of Aggressive and Turbo do. They did not increase CPU voltage according to Sisoft Sandra; cpu voltage is stuck at 1.65 = norm).

Everytime I push the FSB to 200Mhz (x11.5 = 2.3Ghz) the system would not boot. Same thing happens to anything outside of FSB 100, 133, or 166. What is going on? What is keeping my system from booting?
I noticed that when I run the memory at 120% of 370 (fixed setting in bios for memory are by spd, auto, and increments such as 50%, 75%, 85%, 100%, 120%, etc.) which is about 212Mhz while keeping the CPU at 185x11.5, the system would not boot. Same symptom as described before. I've tried different memory sticks so it's not the memory.

Anyhow, near XP3200+ performance out of a $90 combo is pretty good already. Just wanted to see if anyone out there could push it further.
Also, my system has been running extremely stable at a very comfortable 32-36 degrees Celsius. Left it on BT for about 4 days straight and not a single anomaly. Heck it runs cooler and more stable than my old XP1800+ system.

One last question: Just bought another PC3200 stick from Corsair to run a Dual Channel rig but don't know how much more performance I could get by spending another $80 for the second stick. Worth it?

 

[AkumaX]

hi! i bought that same setup at frys, after playing w/ the cpu, i sold it and got a 2400-m instead, so lets see how that goes but i'll reply to your q's w/ what i had experienced w/ my 2600+

Everytime I push the FSB to 200Mhz (x11.5 = 2.3Ghz) the system would not boot. Same thing happens to anything outside of FSB 100, 133, or 166. What is going on? What is keeping my system from booting?

cpu/mobo combo just doesn't like it, its either not enough vcore/juice or maybe the limitation on the cpu itself or cooling (btw, i previously ran a 2500+ -> 3200+ (11 x 200) on this board at 1.65v, so its not the chipset. also, i found running anything async from the cpu/mem config wouldn't boot at all. i was able to o/c the 2600+ to 2150 (11.5 x 185 @ 1.65v, just like you!) and doing the wiremod, increased it to 2265 (11.5 x 197 @ 1.85v). it did boot as high as 11.5 x 202, but i found it 100% stable @ 11.5 x 197fsb. i'm using an slk-900 w/ a 120mm fan.

One last question: Just bought another PC3200 stick from Corsair to run a Dual Channel rig but don't know how much more performance I could get by spending another $80 for the second stick. Worth it?

people say running dual channel might net somewhere between 5%-10% extra performance, but it depends what programs you're running. also going from 512->1024 makes a difference when you're running hi-mem apps, like photoshop or BF1942 (you could also change your swapfile to 0 at 512, but at 1024 its not as likely to reach the point in which you need a vmem)

 

[passivex]

I don't have a problem with temp. My system runs pretty cool (at 32-36 C). I use a heatsink similar to this and a TMD fan. Runs very cool and quiet.

Think I'm going to return the 2nd 512MB stick. Don't really need it. Benchmarks for dual-channel isn't that much different from single-channel. No point in wasting $80 for a negligible increase (not to mention more instability due to different brands).

What are your luck with the Mobile 2500+? And how much is it? Might want to do the same. Been hearing a lot about it lately. (a next-gen Celeron 300A? Hahah, I still have one of those!)