Max stable FSB for the ECS K7S5A?

[Azazel413]

I know there are overclocking bios' and programs out there for my board, but I'm wondering what they usually run stable at. This of course would be with RAM that can handle it, so don't put that into the equation, just the board itself.

I'm mainly wondering because I'm going to buy an Athlon XP chip and I'm wondering if I should go with maybe a 1700+ to overclock, or get a higher chip that won't overclock for a bit more...

Thanks!

 

[Buz2b]

Go to this ECS Forum for info on the "oc" BIOS. No one can answer what you are asking in any definative way. There are too many variables. Check that site for some general claims on OCing their boards.

 

[Azazel413]

I understand all of the variables, and I'm speaking ALL OTHER THINGS HELD CONSTANT (AOTHC).

I'm speaking with RAM, PCI Cards, and a Processor that would have no problem handling the FSB. I assume the same board (or at least the same revision of the same board) would not have wildly different outcomes without another bottleneck...

 

[Buz2b]

Look, please understand that I was not and am not trying to be argumentative here. However, even if you put the exact same processor, the exact same brand of RAM, PS, and PCI components in ANY board, you will get varying results; sometimes large variences. With CPU's alone, unless you get the exact same stepping chip that was made during the same production run, you can have varying results. You can find many such examples of this included in this database on overclocking abilities of various CPU's. Just take a look at the 1.4 T-Bird for example and in particular at the K7S5A's in that lineup. There is one near the top that is water cooled but since we are keeping things "similar", of the ones that use air cooling, they go from a low of 1480 MHz to has high as 1579 MHz. Now, that is of course just those that posted to that site. There are probably many more. That is a large difference. Of the ones listed, they go from 138 FSB to 147. I have also seen as high as 166 and more. Ram can also be a crap shoot. Yes, generally speaking, if you get two identical sticks of say, Crucial DDR you will get very similar results; but probably not exact. However, you can probably get higher FSB with the more exotic RAM out there. Same goes for the HSF. If you have two exact HS's and fans you will get similar results. Problem is, if one person applies the thermal paste too heavy or too light, his results will be different (worse). Then there is the MB. OK, you said all things being equal but it is possible to even get a varience with two of the same boards; that's the world of overclocking.
OK, "lecture" over.
So, I will now give you an "extremely generalized, no guarantee, can't say as I have seen it with my own eyes, YMMV, best as I can recall and go to that site I mentioned in my first post" kind of answer: I have seen posts of as high as 166 FSB and I believe I once saw higher (178). Don't remember who or on which site but I'm fairly certain that it was, again, (does this sound familiar), on the site I mentioned in my first post. You want a better answer? Call a psychic. J/K

 

[Confused]

With the O/Cers BIOS you will get the following FSB options (from my memory, so i might miss a couple! )

FSB/RAM/PCI
66/66/33
100/100/33
100/133/33
105/105/35
112/112/37
120/120/40
133/133/33
138/138/34
143/143/35
147/147/37
150/150/30
166/166/33


The 150 and 166 are very difficult to get the board to boot.

I run at 147 with an 1800+ to get 1686MHz (147*11.5). It will POST at 150 but not load Windows, and won't POST at 166


Hope this helps

Confused

 

[joe4324]

well, I am running a AXIA 1.2,266 with some cas2 crucial pc133 at 147FSB on a k7s5a in my wifes computer. runs great. I love it.