Instabilities...

[Ilmater]

Alright, I've got an 8RDA+ with the newest revision NB (and BIOS), which posts as "Ultra 400 capable." However, I can't get my system stable at 400MHz. I'm running my T-Bred B at 1400MHz (which is below stock, as you know) and my two sticks of Geil PC3500 Ultra Platinum at the same timings it recommends for DDR433 operation. The voltage is set to default on the CPU and 2.77V on the RAM. I just recently installed Windows and barely have anything instlaled on it. No new hardware has been put on it since installing Windows 2k Pro. I'm up to date on all drivers, but that doesn't even factor in to the equation because everything's stable at 133MHz FSB. Things only mess up at 200MHz. I'm going to see after work today if things are messed up at 166MHz. I haven't modded the board in any way.

What could possibly causing instabilities?!

 

[pelikan]

Sounds to me like you need more vcore. Even though your cpu is running below stock MHz, the FSB needs more voltage. You could try that Prime95 it.
Also Memtest86 to see if that Geil is okay.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: pelikan
Sounds to me like you need more vcore. Even though your cpu is running below stock MHz, the FSB needs more voltage. You could try that Prime95 it.
Also Memtest86 to see if that Geil is okay.

Wait, are you saying I need more Vcore or more Vdd? The Vdd should be fine as (like I said before) it's "Ultra 400 capable." I can't imagine why Vcore would be needed.

I can't run prime95 at 200MHz FSB for more than 15 -30 minutes without errors. I'm running Prime 95 right now (if it's still running) at home at 166MHz FSB. We'll see how well that works.

 

[LastRide]

Run memtest86 to see if those sticks of memory are bad.Punch in C12230 when memtest pops up.This is for all 11 tests and CPU cache on.Just run the test with ram at default speed and set everything to default CPU and what not.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: LastRide
Run memtest86 to see if those sticks of memory are bad.Punch in C12230 when memtest pops up.This is for all 11 tests and CPU cache on.Just run the test with ram at default speed and set everything to default CPU and what not.

Actually, I forgot to mention the fact that I had already run Memtest, but I didn't know what settings. Thanks for the info. I'll give that a shot.

 

[pelikan]

I meant vcore, not vdd. CPUs need more voltage to run higher FSB.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: LastRide
Run memtest86 to see if those sticks of memory are bad.Punch in C12230 when memtest pops up.This is for all 11 tests and CPU cache on.Just run the test with ram at default speed and set everything to default CPU and what not.

i never thought of this! i'm gonna run memtest on my pc3200 XMS cuz it cant go past 170 FSB. thanx!

 

[Ilmater]

I'm going to try Memtest again with the new settings, but Prime95 ran for over 8 hours today without any hiccups at 166MHz FSB, so that's at least positive.

 

[pelikan]

Glad to hear it primed at 166MHz.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Ilmater
I can't imagine why Vcore would be needed.

Although you are running at below default clockspeed, your FSB is way out of spec. Default voltage might not be good enough.

It is very possible for a cpu to be perfectly stable at a particular speed with default fsb, but then be unstable at the same speed with a higher fsb. I have a chip that is living proof of that. I can run it at 21x133 all day, but it isn't stable above 144mhz FSB, no matter what the multiplier is.

 

[tchybrid]

have you had your t-bred B running at 200FSB before the instabilites? also what are the timings that you are using for the GeIL ram? more specifics on settings might be able to help us out, in helping you. tho you might need more vcore, and at higher voltages more voltage to your chipset will help alot also, there voltage mods for your MB, that should help out with your 200FSB.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: tchybrid
have you had your t-bred B running at 200FSB before the instabilites? also what are the timings that you are using for the GeIL ram? more specifics on settings might be able to help us out, in helping you. tho you might need more vcore, and at higher voltages more voltage to your chipset will help alot also, there voltage mods for your MB, that should help out with your 200FSB.

Alright, I ran at 200MHz FSB, 1.85 Vcore and a multi of 7. So I'm running below spec speed (1400 vs. 1470), and .25 V above spec voltage. Still no luck. I also got a new proc in order to test if it's the problem. I had a DUT3C (I think) 0302 stepping, which ran at 1.6V stock. My new chip is a DLT3C 0310 that runs at 1.5V stock. Both have topped out at 170MHz FSB. Now, assuming that so many others have no problems overclocking their systems with 1700+ CPUs, then this problem has got to come from the motherboard or memory, right?

FYI, Memtest checks out just fine at stock speeds (133 FSB and default Vcore and multi). My timings are 2-3-3-6. Since these sticks are rated for 2-3-3-6 at DDR 433, I expect them to be able to run at these speeds at DDR 400 as well. I have set the voltage to stock, 2.77Vdimm and 2.9Vdimm. None of this had any effect. My Vdd is 2.56V if that makes any difference.

 

[pelikan]

So, can't pass memtest86 at speeds higher than 133MHz FSB? Sounds like the memory to me. I have read plenty of threads where people have problems with Geil and nforce2.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: pelikan
So, can't pass memtest86 at speeds higher than 133MHz FSB? Sounds like the memory to me. I have read plenty of threads where people have problems with Geil and nforce2.

I haven't yet ran memtest at higher FSB, just Prime95 and 3DMark01. They both crash. I can try that tonight.

Shady, you mentioned that you maxed out at 170MHz. That's exactly what I maxed out at. Can you tell me what exactly you're running. I'm curious.

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: Ilmater

Originally posted by: tchybrid
have you had your t-bred B running at 200FSB before the instabilites? also what are the timings that you are using for the GeIL ram? more specifics on settings might be able to help us out, in helping you. tho you might need more vcore, and at higher voltages more voltage to your chipset will help alot also, there voltage mods for your MB, that should help out with your 200FSB.

Alright, I ran at 200MHz FSB, 1.85 Vcore and a multi of 7. So I'm running below spec speed (1400 vs. 1470), and .25 V above spec voltage. Still no luck. I also got a new proc in order to test if it's the problem. I had a DUT3C (I think) 0302 stepping, which ran at 1.6V stock. My new chip is a DLT3C 0310 that runs at 1.5V stock. Both have topped out at 170MHz FSB. Now, assuming that so many others have no problems overclocking their systems with 1700+ CPUs, then this problem has got to come from the motherboard or memory, right?

FYI, Memtest checks out just fine at stock speeds (133 FSB and default Vcore and multi). My timings are 2-3-3-6. Since these sticks are rated for 2-3-3-6 at DDR 433, I expect them to be able to run at these speeds at DDR 400 as well. I have set the voltage to stock, 2.77Vdimm and 2.9Vdimm. None of this had any effect. My Vdd is 2.56V if that makes any difference.

2.56v Vdd?? I'm sure you're either kidding or mistaken??

Anyway do you know the steppings of your northbridge chip?

 

[cow123]

actually im running a overclocked from stock of 1.533ghz to 1.615ghz running 8.5*190mhz at 1.4 vcore without a hitch.. so i guess my cpu doesnt care much about high fsb eh

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: marvie

Originally posted by: Ilmater

Originally posted by: tchybrid
have you had your t-bred B running at 200FSB before the instabilites? also what are the timings that you are using for the GeIL ram? more specifics on settings might be able to help us out, in helping you. tho you might need more vcore, and at higher voltages more voltage to your chipset will help alot also, there voltage mods for your MB, that should help out with your 200FSB.

Alright, I ran at 200MHz FSB, 1.85 Vcore and a multi of 7. So I'm running below spec speed (1400 vs. 1470), and .25 V above spec voltage. Still no luck. I also got a new proc in order to test if it's the problem. I had a DUT3C (I think) 0302 stepping, which ran at 1.6V stock. My new chip is a DLT3C 0310 that runs at 1.5V stock. Both have topped out at 170MHz FSB. Now, assuming that so many others have no problems overclocking their systems with 1700+ CPUs, then this problem has got to come from the motherboard or memory, right?

FYI, Memtest checks out just fine at stock speeds (133 FSB and default Vcore and multi). My timings are 2-3-3-6. Since these sticks are rated for 2-3-3-6 at DDR 433, I expect them to be able to run at these speeds at DDR 400 as well. I have set the voltage to stock, 2.77Vdimm and 2.9Vdimm. None of this had any effect. My Vdd is 2.56V if that makes any difference.

2.56v Vdd?? I'm sure you're either kidding or mistaken??

Anyway do you know the steppings of your northbridge chip?

Ooops, is it 1.56V? Yeah, that's right. Sorry, there are so many 2.xx and 1.xx voltages that I get them mixed up. Anyway, I have the newest revison of the NB. I installed the latest BIOS and if it detects the newest stepping, it displays nForce Ultra 400 Supported or something like that.

 

[screw3d]

You problem sure sounds like a Vdd problem to me. I think that the latest BIOS will display "nForce2 Ultra 400" no matter what?? I'm not sure about this but if it is true, then you might wanna pop off the northbridge heatsink just to make sure.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: marvie
You problem sure sounds like a Vdd problem to me. I think that the latest BIOS will display "nForce2 Ultra 400" no matter what?? I'm not sure about this but if it is true, then you might wanna pop off the northbridge heatsink just to make sure.

No, on Epox's site, it specifically states that it will only display that if I have the newest NB version. Plus, I know because I've taken off the heatsink. Just trust me, on this thing I'm 110% sure of which revision I've got.

But, that's not a problem any more.

EUREKA!!!! I went home last night, set the memory to run at 66% of the FSB, set the FSB to 200 (which makes the memory run at 133) and everything ran smooth as silk. Completed all tests. I'm running 3DMark01 and Prime95 torture test at the same time all day long, but considering that it ran like that yesterday without a hitch, I'm not too worried now. My memory WAS holding me back.

DON'T BUY GEIL!!! I'll make sure to post this in the general hardware section ASAP.

 

[pelikan]

I'm glad you figured out the problem. What memory are you going to try next?

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: pelikan
I'm glad you figured out the problem. What memory are you going to try next?

Corsair. I skimped before, so now I'll look to the best IMO. I always loved them and swore I'd put them in my system, but then I decided that Geil would be a good idea. Not... so... much...

 

[pelikan]

Sounds smart. It sure is nice to get exactly what you really want. Good luck.