Is it my mobo or ram?

[Connoisseur]

Hey guys I've been fiddling around with this overclock for over a week now and I still can't figure out my problem. I have an Athlon XP-M 2200+ 35w (1.67Ghz) on a Biostar M7NCD Pro with 1x512mb Crucial PC3200 (Infineon) chip and 1x512mb Kingston PC3200 ValueRam (Kingston Branded) chip. Now after much tweaking I found out my chip can easily hit 2.4ghz on 1.75Vcore. Just to check, I ran the prime 95 CPU torture test (the one that DOESN'T stress memory) and it ran flawlessly for many hours. However, if I run the prime95 blend test, it crashes after a few minutes into it. I tried changing the FSB ranging from 133-166-200 as well as different multipliers of the CPU and the test always crashed. So I figured it might be one of my mem sticks so I ran memtest86 and sure enough it gave errors after a half hour. So I tried each chip individually (also in multiple slots) and it still gave me errors for both of them (regardless of which FSB I used)! Now here's my question... is it possible for Memtest86 to give me errors even if the fault is with the motherboard? Also, what's the likelihood that I got two bad sticks of ram from two separate (reasonably reliable) vendors within a month? The reason i'm asking is that I'd like some input from pros before I start the whole painful RMA process. My settings currently are as follows:
Vcore: 1.75V
Vdimm: 2.6V
FSB: 200mhz
CPU x: 12
CPU speed: 2400mhz
MEM speed: 200mhz

Also keep in mind that I have tried every combination of core voltage and memory voltage all the way up to Vcore=1.85V and Vdimm=2.9V as well as many combinations of FSB and CPU speed (fsb=133-200mhz). Sorry for the long winded explanation and any input would be appreciated.

:frown:

 

[Mik3y]

i think it may be both. biostar's arent really good motherboards, especially for overclocking, and valueram sux for overclocking.

 

[Connoisseur]

well that's the thing. i'm not going over 200fsb. i'm not overclocking the ram. I'm thinking it's the mobo but I want to wait for a more definitive answer

 

[Connoisseur]

also I've tried timings at 3-3-3-8 and 3-3-3-11, both supposedly factory specs for these PC3200 chips.

 

[Tostada]

That board has been around for a really long time, and it seems like a decent one. Out of 211 comments on Newegg, there are 4 that mention getting a DOA board.

Of course, the first thing I would do is try to find a 3rd stick of DDR to test with, but if you've tried the safest memory timings and lowest bus speed, I would first RMA the board before I RMA'd the memory.

 

[Mik3y]

so basically, it means that it could be either your memory or motherboard holding you back. even though the ram notes pc3200 on it doesnt mean you will be able to hit 200mhz fsb.

 

[Connoisseur]

I don't think the board is DEAD. This board was around since 166 was the highest FSB available. I don't think they properly tested it at any higher speeds. Although there aren't too many reports of DOA boards, there are a decent number of reports of ppl having trouble getting 200fsb stable on this board. I was just wondering whether this stability issue could affect memtest. This board WAS running an AthlonXP 1600+ (1.4ghz) @1.7ghz (162mhz fsb) with PC2100 ram fine. It was also running the crucial PC3200 on the system before I upgraded the processor. sigh. Can anyone suggest where I can get an NF7-S ver 2 for cheap?

 

[Mik3y]

check the newegg refurbished or the for sale/for trade section of the forum. btw, it could be the cpu that's not allowing you to get 200fsb also. not all cpu's are alike. some people get really overclockable chips and some dont.

 

[Connoisseur]

i'm almost completely sure it's not the cpu. like I said before I ram the Prime CPU test for several hours without getting an error. Furthermore, I also ran the cpu at 200x8 and 200x10 just in case it WAS the cpu. i'm still getting the same memory errors.

 

[StrangerGuy]

The two sticks you are using is rated at PC3200 and you are supplying 2.9V to them so I don't think the memory is the culprit. It may be the Biostar board that is crapping out.

 

[Connoisseur]

well just for the sake of not burning out the chip I run it at 2.6V (which is standard voltage at PC3200). But yeah, even at 2.9 it gives me errors.... man, I was hoping not to upgrade the mobo. now I gotta get an NF7 and reformat this sucker. GRRRR.... least all my important data is on the other two hd's.

 

[Connoisseur]

Errr... I just put in 2x256mb PC2100 sticks into the system. Runs prime rock solid at CPU=12x200fsb and Mem=133mhz....guess I just happened to get 2 bad sticks... which is retarded. Just plain retarded. Worst luck ever.