I've read all the guides but I still can't overclock my A64.

[lektrix]

I've read all the guides but I still can't overclock my A64.

Ive read all the A64 guides and Ive been trying to overclock with my new hardware but my computer randomly resets/BSODs/freezes everytime I do ANYTHING.

Specs:
DFI NF3 Ultra-D Bios 824
Venice 3200+ E3 w/ SI-120 + Panaflo L1A
Patriot 2x512 PC3200 XBLK TCCD (Brainpower)
Seagate 160GB SATA
ATI X850XT
Windows XP SP2

Everything at stock seems stable (not sure if it' stable with memory @ 1T though). I've set AGP freq to 68Mhz to lock it, and my SATA HDD is also on port 4 so it should be locked too. Voltages are all on default.

Anyways, first thing is to find max HTT and max RAM correct? For HTT, I set multiplier to 6, DRAM to 100 (take RAM out of equation), set RAM @ 1T, then proceed to increase HTT. I increased HTT thru ClockGen in Windows. I hit up to 320HTT and more (can't remember) and computer seemed fine, but when I restart and try loading in 250HTT in bios, it wont even POST or go into Windows. This means ClockGen is useless doesn't it? No point telling me I can run 320HTT if I can't even boot up with 320HTT. So far finding HTT's been unsuccessful.

Next I try to find max RAM. Multi's at default, which is 10, DRAM is set on Auto, RAM is @ default timings which is 2-2-2-5 BUT I used 1T instead of 2T (1T is default). Again, I locked HDD + AGP. I go into Windows and increase ClockGen again, it freezes after I hit 225. I reboot and try to set that in bios and run Memtest for one round but again it doesnt POST.

Someone please help me

 

[Mogadon]

Don't bother using clockgen, make the changes in the BIOS.

Have you played with the voltages at all, you may need extra volts as you up the settings, you easily goto 1.55V if need be.

 

[RichUK]

EDIT: didnt read you post properly about SATA port 4, i was going to mention it, until i read it through properly

 

[lektrix]

Im just going to set it at 1.55V then.......

I hate how DFI labels the bios, I don't know what half these settings are..

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Is that an NForce 3 chipset board? I imagine it wouldn't be a good overclocker on a Venice if it is

 

[Leper Messiah]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Is that an NForce 3 chipset board? I imagine it wouldn't be a good overclocker on a Venice if it is

Why wouldn't it? The nForce 4 is just the nForce 3 with PCI-E. I can run my X2, which basically 2 venice cores up to 2.6 with fair ease.

 

[Kogan]

Nforce3's overclock great. I've got a 9nda3j with a venice that runs great at 2700mhz and 300htt.

Anyhow, I don't think you read the guides very well If you want to test your max memory for example, you need to set the timings slower, then start increasing the htt/fsb. Patriot xblk only works up to around 220 at 2-2-2-5, but gets to 300mhz+ at 2.5-4-4-8.

Usually the locking speed for AGP is 67mhz, not 68, but could be different for your board. I think i just left mine at 66mhz, and don't have any problems.

If you just want to go for it, set it up like this (your system should be capable of this):
htt multiplier 3x
htt/fsb 270
cpu 10x
cpu voltage +.2v
memory 1:1, 2.9v
timings 2.5-4-4-8

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: Mogadon
Don't bother using clockgen, make the changes in the BIOS.

Have you played with the voltages at all, you may need extra volts as you up the settings, you easily goto 1.55V if need be.

what?

blasphemy!

the thing that makes clockgen so nice is that it won't corrupt your windows due to trying to boot up at a speed higher than what your computer can handle.

i can't begin to tell you hwo many times i've had to reformat before i used clockgen.

now that i do use clockgen, i haven't had to reformat in... 3... 4... months? it's been a while for me... so long that i'm almost itching to reformat lol...

don't give up! keep going...

also for your ram... 225HTT 1:1 is pretty good with 2-2-2-5 timings.

since you are using tccd, you should be able to clock over 260ish (would be my guess) but will require you to loosen your timings to 2.5-3-3-X (x = 7,8).

give that a try.

 

[lektrix]

I dont know how to find max HTT..

I lowered multi to 6, LDT Multi 3x, RAM Ratio 100, timings of 5-2-2-2 @ 1T....

Then using ClockGen I increased HTT up to 320, then my comp froze and I reboot.. I put that in bios but it doesnt work.. sooo what's the point of clockgen?

 

[lektrix]

One thing from these guides, they dont tell you how much voltage to put, what timings to use, CPC on or OFF.... maybe I should just max it out everytime, say 1.65Vcore, 2.9Vdimm, 1.85Vdd, 1.6AGP, 8-3-3-2.5-2T.... cause really, im confused, i dont know which to use and whe nto use...

 

[Hacp]

wtf are you still using clockgetN??????

 

[Mogadon]

Put the Vcore to 1.55V.

Up the HTT in the BIOS by 5 and check to see the system boots up.

Repeat last step until system fails to boot.

Reduce HTT by about 5% and test system stability with Prime 95. Lower the HTT by 1 or 2 until you can Prime 95 for 24 hours with no errors.

That's you max HTT.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Don't use 1T! Some RAM won't run it at all - use 1T when you're tweaking your RAM. (okay, you have TCCD so it should do 1T no problem, but nevertheless test with 2T first. Btw, set RAM to 2.7V or so to start).

As for a 6X multiplier - how are you going to find max CPU speed with that? 1200MHz and up??? You gotta crank that sucker to the maximum first, and drop the memory ratio for your desired speed.

You've got a 3200+ so that runs stock at 2.0 Ghz, 10X multi. I'm sure your RAM will o/c like nuts but for the time being use DDR @ around 200 MHz as your target. Also 320HTT is very high, aim to use 300HTT max at first.

So, if your goal is 2.6 Ghz (a good starting point), set your RAM multiplier to 3:4 (meaning 150 MHz in the BIOS), multiplier to 10, and boot at 200 FSB. It should work no problem since this is your stock speed with lower RAM settings. If you're on a Venice chip, you can start at 1.45V or 1.5V for the core.

Now try 2.2 Ghz, so set the FSB to 220. If it POSTS then you can probably be ambitious and go back into the BIOS and set FSB to 240 to get 2.4 Ghz. See if it posts. You can either boot into Windows and try some more tweaking with clockgen or try POSTing at 2.6 Ghz. If it gets into Windows @ 2.6 Ghz then do some serious stability tests (Prime, etc).

--------------

^This is to isolate the CPU, which you should do first. Once you've done that then you can find your max RAM speed and HTT speed. In that case, use a low multiplier and do stability tests.

Hope this gives you a rough idea.

******** FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T SET 1.65VCORE TO START!!! ***** These Venice chips do not need that much voltage and you can cause damage! Start off with around 1.5Vcore, 2.7 - 2.9 Vdimm, leave VDD, AGP and HTT voltage at STOCK. Use 2.5-3-3-7 2T (meaning CPC off) to start, although if you're on real TCCD then 2-2-2-7 1T shouldn't be a problem @ 2.8V or 2.9V .

 

[Mogadon]

He's following this guide, don't confuse him ...

 

[lektrix]

Originally posted by: Mogadon
Put the Vcore to 1.55V.

Up the HTT in the BIOS by 5 and check to see the system boots up.

Repeat last step until system fails to boot.

Reduce HTT by about 5% and test system stability with Prime 95. Lower the HTT by 1 or 2 until you can Prime 95 for 24 hours with no errors.

That's you max HTT.

Ok. I understand that. What about memory settings? Leave them all at default?

 

[lektrix]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
Don't use 1T! Some RAM won't run it at all - use 1T when you're tweaking your RAM. (okay, you have TCCD so it should do 1T no problem, but nevertheless test with 2T first. Btw, set RAM to 2.7V or so to start).

As for a 6X multiplier - how are you going to find max CPU speed with that? 1200MHz and up??? You gotta crank that sucker to the maximum first, and drop the memory ratio for your desired speed.

You've got a 3200+ so that runs stock at 2.0 Ghz, 10X multi. I'm sure your RAM will o/c like nuts but for the time being use DDR @ around 200 MHz as your target. Also 320HTT is very high, aim to use 300HTT max at first.

So, if your goal is 2.6 Ghz (a good starting point), set your RAM multiplier to 3:4 (meaning 150 MHz in the BIOS), multiplier to 10, and boot at 200 FSB. It should work no problem since this is your stock speed with lower RAM settings. If you're on a Venice chip, you can start at 1.45V or 1.5V for the core.

Now try 2.2 Ghz, so set the FSB to 220. If it POSTS then you can probably be ambitious and go back into the BIOS and set FSB to 240 to get 2.4 Ghz. See if it posts. You can either boot into Windows and try some more tweaking with clockgen or try POSTing at 2.6 Ghz. If it gets into Windows @ 2.6 Ghz then do some serious stability tests (Prime, etc).

--------------

^This is to isolate the CPU, which you should do first. Once you've done that then you can find your max RAM speed and HTT speed. In that case, use a low multiplier and do stability tests.

Hope this gives you a rough idea.

******** FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T SET 1.65VCORE TO START!!! ***** These Venice chips do not need that much voltage and you can cause damage! Start off with around 1.5Vcore, 2.7 - 2.9 Vdimm, leave VDD, AGP and HTT voltage at STOCK. Use 2.5-3-3-7 2T (meaning CPC off) to start, although if you're on real TCCD then 2-2-2-7 1T shouldn't be a problem @ 2.8V or 2.9V .

OK you know what im jus gonna try this first.