K7T Turbo switch to 266FSB problem

[superhornet]

Ok, I've got a MSI K7T Turbo and absolutely love it. I'd like to run my unlocked Thunderbird 1.1Ghz with a 266Mhz FSB instead of 200 for a bit of a speed increase. Now everything runs just fine with a 200 Mhz FSB but I pull off that jumper to switch to 133 FSB and bam, no bootup or anything. I set the CPU multiplier down to 6 before I switched the FSB so it wouldn't be skyrocketing the CPU speed but still nothing happens at all. Aybody have any advice?

MSI K7T Turbo - overclockers BIOS
512 MB PC133 Micron Memory ( 2 x 256 )
WinFOP38 7200 RPM CPU Cooling Fan (cools great but is stinking loud)
1.1 Ghz AMD Athlon Thunderbird
Hercules GeForce2 GTS Pro 64MB DDR
Enermax EG351VP-FC 350 Watt Power Supply (VERY high quality)
Maxtor 81.9 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive (Primary Master)
Plextor 12x10x32A CDRW (Secondary Master)
Pioneer 16X DVDROM (Secondar Slave)
Realmagic Hollywood Plus DVD Decoder
Diamond Multimedia SupraMax 56K v.90 Modem
Sound Blaster Live! Value
Teac 1.44MB Floppy Drive

 

[ivanov]

i disabled the spread spectrum modulator option in the bios... which sorta helped me to reach my current high fsb of 145

try it, it might help

 

[superhornet]

Nope, no good. I just get 4 red lights on the D-LED. Any ideas?

 

[ivanov]

bump up the voltage

 

[superhornet]

I've tried up to 1.90 volts. Thinks it's safer to go higher?

 

[ivanov]

hmmm... i dunno... i wouldn't do it if i were you :frown:

 

[gtd2000]

Actually I have the same problem with 2 x Duron 700's and the 133FSB on my Abit KT7A

I'm running stable at 950Mhz (100FSB) right now - but the moment I use 133FSB it re-boots randomly.
This is even at 667Mhz, 733, 800, 866, 933 etc..

I've been as high as 145FSB but it is not stable at all!

I think some CPU's just don't like the higher FSB's

 

[superhornet]

Man I aint having stability problems, I pull of my jumper to switch to 133 FSB mode and the computer won't even POST. I've heard that with motherboards that manually change the CPU multiplier, the CPU will momentarily boot at its default multiplier ratio until the BIOS changes it to the user selected value. If true, this would explain why mine won't run at 133. Simple put, 11 * 133 (1463) even for a few seconds is probably way out of the range of a 1.1Ghz CPU. Can anybody confirm this?

 

[gtd2000]

What I was trying to say is that maybe some CPU's will even refuse to boot at 133FSB?
Have you tried underclocking while using the 133FSB?
Also see what the max is you can get upto 133FSB?
Perhaps it's the cache of the CPU that does not like the higher FSB?

 

[superhornet]

Hmm, maybe. I've tried setting the multiplier to 5 and booting at 100 FSB to 500 Mhz and then shutting down the computer and switching to 133 and no POST whatsoever. But hey, I just found 1.333 Ghz Athlon Thunderbirds for sale on www.pcprogress.com so I think I'm gonna pick up one of those. Maybe my 1.1 Ghz just can't take the 11 * 133 for the instant before it's switched. Oh well - any more ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JustStarting]

Make sure your RAM is not set at host+pci when using 133FSB setting. Definetly wouldnt post if this was the setup.

 

[gtd2000]

OK new information - had a message from another guy who mentioned he was having the same trouble...the cause? His Hyundai PC133 RAM which worked at 133FSB on another board...hmm
Running 933Mhz right now with one stick of my PC133 Micron -75ns RAM.

Have a few things to say about the stick which I have removed - also Micron PC133 Micron -75ns RAM

the markings on the chips are as follows:

0045 4-2
MT 48LC8M8A2
TG -75 C

but they are not all the same - the other stick (which is running at 133FSB as we type) they are all the same but have 0036 instead of 0045 and are 2-2 instead of 4-2.

the RAM chips (on the removed stick) vary and are as follows:

3 sets of chips perhaps 4, sticker covering 1 - labelled
0045 4-2
MT 48LC8M8A2
TG -75 C

4 sets of chips - labelled
0045 3-2
MT 48LC8M8A2
TG -75 C

8 sets of chips (on the rear) - labelled
0036 2-2
MT 48LC8M8A2
TG -75 C

My CPU temperatures have also decreased after removing this stick of RAM

I'm hoping that the stick of RAM is the culprit - I have a friend that needs some PC100 RAM so perhaps we can swap

Those of you having trouble with 133FSB check your individual RAM chips for mixed units.
I'll be back to tell u if all remains stable

 

[superhornet]

There is no Host + PCI setting on the MSI K7T Turbo - at least none that I know about. I have never been able to run the FSB higher than 105 since it runs up the Memory bus to like 139. I wish there was a way to seperate the two!

 

[gtd2000]

Now running at 1000Mhz with 133FSB
Tested out last night with 3DMark2000, counterstrike and normal windows applications
Current temp 32C with 1.85v After gaming it soars into the 40's though...

My advice is look at all your RAM sticks - choose the one that looks like the highest performer.
Put it in place and then try for 133FSB again.

Remember my two sticks of Micron RAM were running at 143Mhz with the Abit memory options - so logic would dictate that 133FSB should be well within the reach of both sticks!

However, that logic was incorrect

 

[KevinH]

All Socket A's should be able to handle the 133 FSB and then some. The FSB is not really an issue, there's something else going on in your sytem.

 

[gtd2000]

<< All Socket A's should be able to handle the 133 FSB and then some. The FSB is not really an issue, there's something else going on in your sytem >>



What is that supposed to mean?

You mean the CPU can handle the 133FSB?

 

[dennilfloss]

Check this thread and others in the mobo forum that discuss the problem occurring with KT133A mobos that have a jumper to go above 132MHzFSB. It appears that for a fraction of a second, before the bios takes over, the mobo tries to boot at your default multiplier x 133MHz FSB. In your case, that means it tries to boot at 1463MHz for a little while and that is probably beyond the capacity of your cpu. The threads mentioned above have a fix for this so you can lower your default multiplier by linking some bridges on your cpu.

 

[JokerJKNY]

There's been word that currently the MSI bios resets to the original multiplier during initial bootup, thusly running 12x @ 133 FSB. not a good thing. you can wait for the new revision or you could first go into the bios safely and set the mulitplier low like 7.0 @ 100 FSB. then you shutdown and this time pull the jumper within your comp. then when you boot back up, POW, 133 FSB. works for some, others it don't.

 

[Mavo]

Gtd: What are you using for cooling?

I would like to hit the 1 gig mark but I don't have extravagant cooling. Right now I'm at 866 Mhz with a Duron 750. Any suggestions?

 

[gtd2000]

Mavo,
Well I'm using &quot;lectrolube&quot; heat transfer compound (UK sourced) and a &quot;Coolermaster&quot; 5000rpm heatsink and fan
Not an expensive fan - only about US$7-8?
The fan only runs between 4440-4600rpm though on my board.
Temps have never gone beyond 49C yet - the raising of the voltage seriously increases the temp readings
At default volts I can hit 850Mhz and max temps after gaming etc are generally 43C
With 1.85 (950-1000Mhz) it will hit 49C after gaming sessions - but I guess thats still not too bad
What 'board are u running on though?

 

[Mavo]

I'm running the Turbo (non-RAID). My CPU temp is around 45-46C idle. Voltage is 1.75. I think it may be the fact that the clip on my HSF (FOP32-1) doesn't apply anough pressure for proper cooling. I'm using a clip off an old heatsink until I get another FOP clip (should get it today). I also think that I applied too much thermal paste.

Can too much paste hinder cooling? Would I have to increase voltage to get (7 X 133) 933 Mhz or is 1.75 volts sufficient?

 

[Mavo]

I got my replacement FOP clip today. I re-installed the clip, re-applied the AS and found that my CPU temp. dropped 8-9 degrees C! I wonder how much of the temp drop is due to the clip and not a thinner layer of AS???

 

[gtd2000]

Well thats a good drop!

Yes too much paste can act as an &quot;insulant&quot; I'm sure - the thermal compound is essentially there to &quot;fill in the voids&quot; between the heatsink and CPU (well that's how I understand it anyway) and ensure maximum transfer of heat from the core to the heatsink.

Remember the CPU temperature methods are not necessarily accurate - only relative to your system.
So my temps will actually not be the true CPU temp - it is probably quite a bit higher in reality.
The way I look at it - standard voltage settings (1.60v) gives me a range of say 32/33C upto 43C with full load.
Overclocked with 1.85v gives me 34/36 upto 49C so that's a difference of +6C under full load which personally I don't think I need to worry about too much - the actual core temps could be (for example) in reality 20C higher but if the standard situation is producing that amount heat then I guess it is OK. Rememeber the ambient temperature of your home will affect the CPU temperature reading range. If you are in a warm roon temps will be higher than in a colder room.

The cooler you can get it running the better though - for peace of mind anyway

Have you tried to run the CPU at 933Mhz yet? The only way to find out is to try that setting don't be too worried about trying.
If you are worried about the voltage thing - monitor your temps at 866 with 1.75v then change to 1.85v and monitor the temps doing all the tasks you normally do - see what the change in temperature is.
If you don't feel happy with the increase then perhaps stick at a lower speed?
As you can see from my experience the change is +6C.

Something I would recommend doing is downloading/installing, &quot;Motherboard Monitor 4.18&quot;, it sits in your system tray and has identical readings to the Via Hardware monitor but it more user friendly once you have set it up - no more maximising and minimising windows to check CPU temps, fan speed etc

Rememeber the Maximum core temp of a Duron/TB is 90C so there is quite a bit room for temp increases
Naturally you don't want to be anywhere near that!

 

[Mavo]

I already have MBM installed. Thanks for the tip anyway.

The last time I tried for 933 I got a system.ini error or something like that. I'll try it again after I backup some of my data (mp3's ). I'm not as worred about the voltage as much now that idle temp is lower. I'll go for 933 (or even 1 gig) tomorrow after work.

Just curious, how does the temp reported by Sandra compare to the ones in MBM and bios? Sandra reports my temp to be 20 deg. C higher. It's probably an error since it reports my voltage as 0.29.

 

[gtd2000]

The only thing I use Sandra for is the benchmarks - I don't think the other stuff is very useful
There are large discrepancies between Sandra and MBM and VHM.
MBM and VHM are identical.