MSI 645 motherboard + Northwood 1.6A?

[oaaltone]

Anyone use this combo? I'm about to order it from Newegg to see what kind of OC I can get out of it. I'm all about new experiments 🙂

Let me know if any of you have used this combo before and what kind of OC you got, as well as any tips... thanks!

 

[KenAF]

ollie,

Well, the bios for this board seems to have a few bugs (particularly reboot issues)...you might want to read up on this boad in the forum before buying.

 

[McFear]

Get the epox 4bda2+ with raid or without the raid. No bios bugs and stable, im using it and its a good board.
Alot of the other brands have bios bugs especially in the overclocking area.

 

[kulki]

Also this mobo is not go for OCing in general. I would recommend that u go with the p4s333 MOBO. Its not that much more expensive but it much better, Read some of the reviews that compare these two mobos.

 

[McFear]

Heres a review of the 4bda2+ and it one of the best overclockers boards if not the best you can get.

http://www.tweakersasylum.com/Reviews/EPoX/4BDA2P/00000012.htm

Most of the pentium4 boards would be fine, except for the intel and a few others that have no overclocking options.
Epox and asus make a good sis645 also.
I overclocked just to see if it would and there was no problem, but i don't run my stuff overclocked when i don't need to.

 

[oaaltone]

Thanks for the tips. I already went ahead and ordered the combo before I got a chance to read your replies, so I'll see how the MSI works out first, and if it doesn't O/C very well, I'll just pop it in a customer's system and get an Epox or Asus. 🙂

 

[oaaltone]

Well I broke down and ordered an Epox 4BDA2+ from Newegg... free shipping! I'll try both of the boards out, but I'll end up keeping the Epox and either returning the MSI or selling it on Ebay. Thanks! 🙂

 

[Duvie]

I have the board...

My 1.8a northwood posted at 133mhz for a 2.4ghz and ran several test...but I had reboot issues and ram scores were worse then at 122...I think I was using the wrong ratio so I may tune it down so the memory works at 133mhz and see if that helps it...voltage was only at 1.625v or 1.57v actually being delivered...


Reboot issue??? I don't know what it is...maybe it does need a bios upgrade cause it is running a northwood...the fuzz logic program wouldn't detect anything right on this processor...Also even if you did the research many ( actual sites) had this board reported doing 140 to 176fsb stable. Maybe they were using p4 willamettes and unlocked multiplier p4's...I don't know...

stable at 125mhz fsb for 2.25ghz

little flaky at 122fsb, but is likely memory since maybe the pci divider hadn't taken over yet and my memory was too high like 333mhz plus for pc2100...

I will resolve the issues and run at 2.4ghz once I get it all setup software wise even with the reboot issue since I virtually never shutdown....


I think a bios fix should and could be done....IMO

 

[LoqT]

I have this board and a 1.6A I just put together the system today, and I'm happily typing this away at 145 mhz fsb with a lower 4:3 memory ratio (220) and default voltage. I'm gonna try putting the ratio at 1:1 but who knows. However I wish it wasn't by ratios and I could adjust the damn thing myself!

 

[oaaltone]

<< I have this board and a 1.6A I just put together the system today, and I'm happily typing this away at 145 mhz fsb with a lower 4:3 memory ratio (220) and default voltage. I'm gonna try putting the ratio at 1:1 but who knows. However I wish it wasn't by ratios and I could adjust the damn thing myself! >>

I have a few other questions then:
What other hardware are you using?
Are you using the stock HSF?

Thanks!

 

[MadRat]

The P4 at 2.4GHz using single channel DDR memory is like running a hotrod on kerosene. Great overclock, but no bandwidth to get up and go. I'd rather use RDRAM boards to get the 533fsb.

 

[LoqT]

Yup just stock HSF, and Crucial PC 2100 memory that I bought for 75 bucks shipped. The rest of my hardware is older too. Geforece 2 GTS, SQ2500 sound card, Netgear NIC, etc etc. I also just put the memory ratio 1:1 last night and it's AMAZINGLY running just fine, everything at default voltage. There are some benchmarking programs that report the CPU voltage as 1.47 however which is lower then default, but maybe that's what it's supposed to be. I left my voltage setting on "AUTO". Hope this helps.

 

[oaaltone]

<< Yup just stock HSF, and Crucial PC 2100 memory that I bought for 75 bucks shipped. The rest of my hardware is older too. Geforece 2 GTS, SQ2500 sound card, Netgear NIC, etc etc. I also just put the memory ratio 1:1 last night and it's AMAZINGLY running just fine, everything at default voltage. There are some benchmarking programs that report the CPU voltage as 1.47 however which is lower then default, but maybe that's what it's supposed to be. I left my voltage setting on "AUTO". Hope this helps. >>

Nice 🙂 That's encouraging! I have the same RAM, 2x 256MB Crucial PC2100, so it's good to see that won't be holding anything back! I'll probably try both the MSI and the Epox boards out and see which I like better anyway.

On the other hand, you haven't had any other issues with the MSI? I would be very interested to hear of anything, because I'm thinking about changing my default P4 board for custom P4 systems at work to that board because of the price.

 

[Duvie]

loqt,

Are you having reboot issues above 122??? What are your temps looking like??? I think the msi softwareware doesn't recognize chip right with current bios....

I am getting fluctuating voltage now and temps that jump 4c in like 4 secs then back down.. i THINK BULLSHIT....

I may return this board and get the asus...I am not happy at all..

The ps is perfect as it runs a tbird 1.4@1.5 with 1.77vcore being shown and no fluctuating...

 

[Tom]

I'm using an MSI 645 Ultra with a 1.8a at 2.52g(18x140fsb).

I haven't had any reboot issues. I did have to do the wire trick to get the vcore up to 1.67. Without the wire trick the max I could get stable was 2.25g because at a vcore setting of 1.6v the actual vcore fluctuates between 1.53-1.56v.

I'm running the stock HSF and Crucial DDR at 350mhz(cas 2.5, normal timing to run at that speed)

Other than the low vcore settings available and questionable temperature readings I haven't had any problems. Not bad for $73 but the Epox 4SDA for $80 might be easier to overclock with.

Some benchmarks at 2.52 gig
Sandra 2002
memory scores....2547/2549
CPU multimedia...9933/12119
CPU arithmetic......4721 1502/3087

3Dmark2001se .....8283 (GeForce3 ti200 at 220/500)

BTW, I plan to back off to 2.4g(18x133fsb) because this is stable at real vcore of 1.60v and all the software I use is plenty fast at that speed. It's nice to know the extra speed is possible though. 🙂

Some benchmarks at 2.4 gig
Sandra 2002
memory scores....2447/2426
CPU multimedia...9456/11528
CPU arithmetic......4502 1430/2938

3Dmark2001se .....8090 (GeForce3 ti200 at 220/500)

 

[LoqT]

Where do you guys go to see the voltage fluctuations? Right now I'm typing this on 147 with a 1:1 ram ratio at default FSB..... should I be worried? So far I haven't had any lock ups and the computer has been running benchmarks by itself all day through Sandra. I might try Prime 95 though it sounds like it puts the computer through more stress.

 

[mcvan]

<< I think the msi softwareware doesn't recognize chip right with current bios.... I am getting fluctuating voltage now and temps that jump 4c in like 4 secs then back down.. i THINK BULLSHIT.... I may return this board and get the asus...I am not happy at all.. The ps is perfect as it runs a tbird 1.4@1.5 with 1.77vcore being shown and no fluctuating... >>



You still havng these problems? Which BIOS version you using? I also have a P4-1.6A & MSI 645 Ultra. Main issue i have is with repoirted temps. In Windows, the temp ranges from 49 to 51C no matter what I do. This is not right. In the BIOS, it ranges from 30 to 42C, but wants to crash at 42, which is way too low, so that isn't right either. Have to find out where the problem is: in the CPU or the mobo? Anyone else with this issue??😕