KT333 owners - O/C experiences

[loafbred]

Last week I got my first DDR board - an Epox 8K5A2. At the same time, I bought a retail XP2100+ (using AX-7 cooler) and 256MB Samsung PC2700. After running for a couple of days at default clock using 1.60v core, then another couple of days at 144/144 (X13) using 1.75v core, I tried last night to find all the limits. Here is an idea of what I can attain with stability, with default core voltage or less:

133/144 mem/fsb, "turbo" timings

144/144 "fastest" timings

166/144 "fastest" timings, but CL 2.5

166/138 "turbo" timings

I ran it a little at 148 fsb with the 'fastest, but CL 2.5' timings, but it needed 1.90v core. This idled at 40*C according to BIOS. I got my best 3DMark score by running 133/144 "turbo", but it feels faster at 166 memory with milder timings. I'm running it now at 166/138 "turbo" because it works with 1.70v core. Are these memory timing limits typical for KT333 with this memory, and have any of you been able to run "turbo" timings with PC3000 or 3200 memory at 166/140 and above?

 

[mrman3k]

Well one thing is for sure, there is really no use in running Athlon memory speeds above the speed of the bus. For example, you would have a big performance increase if you upped the FSB to 150MHz with a 1:1 FSB:Mem ratio. If you say use the 133MHz FSB and use a 166MHz Mem speed, you will have very small performance increases. Therefore I recommend always keeping FSB and Mem speeds synchronous.

I have a Soyo KT333 mobo with a Palomino 1700+ (1.46GHz) and I have it overclocked to a 145MHz FSB (effectively 1.6GHz CPU or 1900+) with fastest memory settings. I am using 1.775v instead of default 1.75v. I am pretty sure I can go higher than this, but I still have the retail AMD heatsink which is utterly crap and is better used as a paper weight. But at least I think this indicates that if I get real cooling like a Swiftech, I could probably go higher since my memory is rated at PC2700 CAS2.

 

[loafbred]

Everything I had read about KT333 and KT400 said that 166 memory asynch made very little actual difference, so I'm not disappointed in any way with what it does. It's a heck of an improvement over the KT133a and T-Bird 1.2 it replaced 🙂. I'm guessing it's just a noise thing that won't let it run "turbo" timings with any fsb over 138, since it will run "turbo" timings at 166 asynch with a 138 fsb. It won't run CL-2 while running asynch with fsb >138, but will run CL-2 at 144/144. Running at an actual 1875 MHz or higher, it seems as if memory timing changes just aren't as noticeable as they were with all the previous stuff I've had, so I'm not anxious about getting much more from it right now.

 

[dannybin1742]

I bought a retail XP2100+ (using AX-7 cooler

what a waste of money

should have gone with agoia Y from new egg or aroia

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

Originally posted by: dannybin1742

I bought a retail XP2100+ (using AX-7 cooler

what a waste of money

should have gone with agoia Y from new egg or aroia

not only that, he bought retail and used an aftermarket heatsink 😕 😉

(being more direct heh)

do some benchmakrs, take the average of a few benchmarks to know for sure

we can only tell theoretical, you can tell actual

 

[loafbred]

The cpu cost $98 w/free shipping, wanted the warranty, already had the AX-7 cooler, and it isn't completely stable at "turbo" setting at 166/138, even with 2.9v dimm.

 

[Goi]

Well, on my K7VTA3 and Athlon XP 1800+, I get only up till 140MHz FSB in the BIOS and the fastest timings. Since I have no voltage control and I'm using the default AMD HSF, I don't have much grounds to play. I can bump it up to 3-4MHz above that with SoftFSB, but that's about it.

 

[loafbred]

Last night I spent several hours unlocking my cpu - I don't recommend it for the impatient. Actually, it's only partially unlocked; I have 5,7,9 & 11 multipliers. I was surprised find that it runs great at 166 and higher at 1:1. I'm running at 11 multiplier - 172/172 at "fastest" timings (2-3-3-6-3-2T) with 1.8v core and 2.8v dimm.

 

[PliotronX]

Originally posted by: loafbred
The cpu cost $98 w/free shipping, wanted the warranty, already had the AX-7 cooler, and it isn't completely stable at "turbo" setting at 166/138, even with 2.9v dimm.

Well by overclocking your CPU, you voided your warranty.

 

[loafbred]

Originally posted by: PliotronX
Well by overclocking your CPU, you voided your warranty.[/i][/b]

If I run the voltage up later, or do something goofy to damage it, I won't shirk my responsibility to pay the price. As it is now, I'll let AMD decide.