HUGE V-core

[DanP]

so ya, I tried raising the voltage to 1.55v and it failed prime 95 instantly at 2.5ghz.....

I guess you guys haven't seen a problem like this before?

Do you think that if I replace the northbridge and cpu cooler with something better I will be able to push it? I think 49C at 2.4 is purdy hgih. I was gonna replace my northbridge anyway as it's a bloody vaccum cleaner, but I don't know whether to replace the cpu cooler. If for some reason, with a bios update, or whatever I'l be able to OC, I do not wanna have to pull out my motherboard AGAIN and change the cpu cooler, so I think I'l get one soon, and see what hapens.

Any other suggestions? anybody else wtih an a8n-e?

 

[DanP]

well, I got a cpu cooler from a buddy to see if heat is my problem. I managed to OC the pc to 2.5ghz (100mhz more) at 39C. If I close my pc case, I end up with 41C and my prime 95 fails. If I go back to 2.4 and close my case, I still get to 41C and I DON"T fail the bloody tests...

How does this work? 41C? lol. I guess I'l wait for a new bios from Asus as I don't think it's a dud processor since I managed to oc it more once the temp was lower at a lower voltage. I went to 2.5ghz at 1.375v.

 

[kwarkers]

 

[kwarkers]

Reason your cpu voltage reads higher in CPUz than what you set it in the BIOS is because im pretty sure your mobo has an offset voltage adjuster with options of 100 mV/200 mV, yours must be set at 200 cos of your reading in CPUz.

 

[DanP]

OH. when I run Prime95 to check for stability, I run the "Blend" option, right? that's what Ive been doing until now.

 

[DanP]

Originally posted by: kwarkers
Reason your cpu voltage reads higher in CPUz than what you set it in the BIOS is because im pretty sure your mobo has an offset voltage adjuster with options of 100 mV/200 mV, yours must be set at 200 cos of your reading in CPUz.

SOOOOOOOOOO is that good or bad? It's good right as I have a higher voltage limit...

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I would try the 9x CPU multi. My winchester 3200+ doesn't overclock nearly as well on the 10x as the 9x for some reason, maybe your venice is the same way

With my 3200+ my best OC with the default multi is 245x10=2450mhz @ 1.55
with the 9x multi I get 289x9=2601mhz @ 1.55

 

[DanP]

I am using the 9x multi right now. Trust me, I tried EVERY single multiplier from 7 to 10, and even those at .5 increments like 7.5, 9.5, etc.

Wierder thing still. I don't get this. I completely downclock my ram, and OC my processor to 2.5ghz. and it's stable on prime. I then put my ram back to what it was before, (same speeds, settings, etc.) and then i'm unstable. Even with my ram downclocked, I still can't get past 2.6ghz.

 

[kwarkers]

The higher voltage can be good, that is if it makes your system stable and it doesn't overheat your CPU. If you have stability issues then raise it a little. *thats only my recommendation, i suggest you read up on it first, dont blame me if you damage anything*

 

[sodcha0s]

Wierder thing still. I don't get this. I completely downclock my ram, and OC my processor to 2.5ghz. and it's stable on prime. I then put my ram back to what it was before, (same speeds, settings, etc.) and then i'm unstable. Even with my ram downclocked, I still can't get past 2.6ghz.

Well, I was going to ask what you're running your memory at.... frequency and timings. If you're going to run your ram 1:1 you might have to loosen the timings a little bit. Try 2-3-3-6, make sure it's set to 1T command rate though. Or you could use a divider and keep your lower timings.

Prime blend tests are not the one you want to use for stability testing anyway, you should test with large FFT's. Blends test the memory more, probably why you were failing. Try this...

HTT 240
Multi 10x
HT 4
1.5vcore
Ram 1:1 @ 2-3-3-6 1T
Prime test with large FFT's

If it fails, bump vcore up .025v up to 1.575.

Edit: Also, don't worry so much about using ram dividers, it will not affect performance in any noticeable way. Use memtest to check your ram. If it fails a lot it may be defective, and since it's OCZ it's under warranty.

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: DanP
I am using the 9x multi right now. Trust me, I tried EVERY single multiplier from 7 to 10, and even those at .5 increments like 7.5, 9.5, etc.

Wierder thing still. I don't get this. I completely downclock my ram, and OC my processor to 2.5ghz. and it's stable on prime. I then put my ram back to what it was before, (same speeds, settings, etc.) and then i'm unstable. Even with my ram downclocked, I still can't get past 2.6ghz.

Thats not wierd, thats exactly what will happen when you push your ram too far. do what it takes to get to 2.5 and leave it there. It is not garunteed that every venice will reach 2.6, and as a matter of fact, most of the new ones don't. If you want to try for 2.6, use a ram divider and/or looser timings.

 

[kwarkers]

With Prime 95 i use "in-place" which is high heat and power, but make sure you watch your temps wen running that and OCing cos it makes things heat up, alot!

 

[Regalk]

I have a similar system and run
322 X 8.5 (or 303 X 9)
Core at 1.55 (A8N-E overvolts to 1.6V)
HT at 3 (so HTT = 966 i.e under 1000)
OCZ 2.5 4 4 9 at 2.5 4 4 9 1T (you can play with other mem timings)
DDR at 333 speeds DDR volt at 2.85V
PCIe at 100 and PCI lock at 33.33
This setup runs me fairly speedy
May work for you
Oh I use the big typhoon but stock ran just as well a few degrees higher.

 

[DanP]

problem is:

My ram runs at 2.4ghz with those settings eg. 235mhz, 2-3-2-5, 1.85v. HOWEVER: IF i raise my cpu and keep my ram at the exact settings I had before: 235mhz, 2-3-2-5, 1.85v, my pc doens't start.

 

[kwarkers]

Does your mobo have sata port locks? Cos your RAM might not be the problem, you may be speeding up your HDD, what SATA port are you using???

 

[Furen]

Have you tried 2T command rate? The memory controller may be your problem.

 

[Interitus]

Why don't you try lowering your RAM by divider. 235mhz is right on the edge of what the OCZ Platinum can do. I would almost put money on the RAM being your issue.

 

[The Blue Factor]

i agree with interitus.... you might be pushing your ram to high with to tight of timings. try and lower your ram to ddr200 set your htt 250x10multi ldt x4 and run prime for a few hours on small and large fft. if it passes you know that your ram is holding you back.

is your 2gig of ram 4 sticks or 2 sticks. if its 4 stick your have to run it on 2t command rate. set your ram divider to 333 then run the primes again. i bet it will pass. had the same problem with my 4 xmsc2pro. with the divder at 400 boots but fails prime in about 20 seconds. put it at 333 doesnt boot (dont know why) set it to 266 boots prime stable 12hours with small and large fft. i dont mind the ram speed lost cause cpu beats ram.

hope this helps you out bro. good luck

 

[DanP]

it does work for around 20 minutes (I stopped it afterwards) at 2500mhz with my ram lowered at 147mhz. I raised my ram up to 212mhz, and it failed instantly at 2.5ghz. I still can't go past 2.5ghz even if I put my ram at 100mhz. also, I went from the verry bottom to the top. I manage to get to 2.35ghz at stock voltage and then as soon as I wanna raise it to 2.4 I need to go up from 1.42v to 1.485v. At 2.5ghz I was using 1.537v. I couldn't go faster than 2.5ghz even if I raised the voltage up to 1.55 which is the highest my mobo can do.....

This is annoying me, so I went back to 2.4ghz at 235mhz on the ram where I'm 100% rock solid. Do you think it could be a problem with the bios? I am doubting that.

My 2gb is 2 sticks. I am using 333 divider.

 

[Interitus]

Sounds like you're just out of room. I had a Winnie that wouldn't do past 2.3, and now an Opty 165 that is being stubborn about getting past 2.3 as well. Just keep in mind not all chips are created equal. You did get a 400mhz OC out of it y'know

 

[Regalk]

Sounds like his CPU is maxed as the last post said. His setup is not unlike mine's. I like the A8N-E board so far (only wish I had a bit more core voltage since I would have got to 2800 stably I get there run various appz/games but crashes out after a while).
I tried to 2X256 Corsair sticks 2326 and was able to get to 333 X 8 (mem at 266 2.5 3 3 8 1T). SO yes your OC mileage will vary depending on your components and cooling.

 

[DanP]

lol. I am using the big typhoon, and never go above 38C even on my oc of 2.4ghz....

 

[TraumaRN]

Yea you might wanna look into it being a RAM issue, when did you buy your proc? cuz we might have a similar week chip. Mine is a 3000+ tho, you see my specs in my sig, I'm satisfied at 270*9 or 2430mhz, and it was strictly cuz of my RAM, and I have OCZ Gold....guess I got a crappy batch of that too, since it doesnt NOT like running faster than about 235ish, even with relaxed timing and volt boostings, now my CPU will go faster, in fact I've got it up to 2745 prime stable but that was with my RAM running at 133 and 1.6 going to the proc, so I'm betting it's your RAM and maybe not your proc...but maybe it is your proc, either way good luck with you OC!

 

[DanP]

thing is. I can't OC even if I do not OC my ram at all. I downclocked it all the way to 130mhz I think, and I still couldn't oc. I am now running at 235ish no probs.