My cele566 won't OC above 850

[klock]

I think I have done extensive research before I made my purchase and either it wasn't my lucky day when I bought my cpu or I missed something in my research, my cele566 will not post beyond 850. Here is my machine spec:

cele566 OEM stepping cB0
Infineon PC133 RAM setting 2-3-2-8
Asus CUBX with BIOS10006
CreativeLabs GeForce 2 GTS 32DDR (AGP)
Two chasis fans front and back (sucks in and out accordingly)
Thermaltake GoldenOrb CPU fan

Machine is doing 27C/36C mb/CPU temp. and it is stable at 850/100. The mb offers a fairly limited fsb/pci combo, currently running at 100/33.3 the next choice is 103/34.3 and the machine won't boot and I have no video signal. When the system reboots, I got a pitch black screen and I have to pull the plug. I believe my h/w combination has a very good potential to do better than 850/100, according to ANANDTECH GeForce 2 GTS can run out of spec 89MHz and it have done 80MHz (with P3 650 cA2) before. So am I just an un-lucky soul who happens to buy a not too good CPU? Is there anything I have to do anything thing to the Video Card?

Any suggestions?

 

[klock]

BTW, the CPU is currently running at 1.70v and I have tried boosting it to 1.80v when attempting to go to 103/34

I can't believe 850 is the limit of my cpu.

 

[Eug]

Try setting 3-3-3-10 for the memory and see what happens. By the way, why 2-3-2-8 and not 2-2-2-8? What are the corresponding settings? On mine the next step down is usually 3-2-2, not 2-3-2.

If that doesn't work, try increasing the VIO to 3.6 or 3.7 (instead of the usual 3.3 or 3.5). It probably won't help much, but it may, and I'm just interested in your results.

Yeah, IF it's 100% stable at 850, the CPU should hit at least 876 unstably, instead of doing what yours is doing.

By the way, my 533 requires 1.8 to go above 840. YMMV.

 

[klock]

The CuBX mb allows a manual CAS setting and basically u can set any combo u desired and reading from the web i realize i need 2-3-2-8 to get the best result. i will try 3-3-3-10 as u suggested, but doesn't that mean i am down grading the memory performance? what is the significance here? BTW, the default CAS is 3-3-?-10 and that didn't improve my chance of crossing the 850 line.

will give u result.

PS. anyone heard of 566 won't post when vcore is above 1.65?

 

[Nick Stone]

Are you using a good silver base thermal compound such at Artic Silver or Circuit Works between heatsink and Chip. It could make a big difference.

<<<< PS. anyone heard of 566 won't post when vcore is above 1.65? >>>>

Nope that's not right. Should post at default of 566 at 1.50. Something's wrong. Are you reading these voltages in the Bios? Could be a good reason to send it back.

BTW Compuwiz1 will tell you that O/C success rate (850 or above) is 75% unless he has new numbers this week.

 

[Eug]

Hmmmm... So you've already tried 3-3-3. I just recommended that because it will remove memory as an issue. If you set the timings slower, there's more chance it's gonna work properly. Once you get everything working at 876, then speed them back up.

&quot;PS. anyone heard of 566 won't post when vcore is above 1.65?&quot;

Huh? Where did you get that bit of incorrect info? I can run the Celeron 533A at 1.5 V (at 66 FSB) and at 2.0 V (just for testing), and lots of settings in between. I currently run 1.8 V. Some older boards won't boot if the voltage is set BELOW 1.8 V though.

&quot;Are you using a good silver base thermal compound such at Artic Silver or Circuit Works between heatsink and Chip. It could make a big difference.&quot;

Well, maybe at the extremes, but it should still POST and partially boot Windows with standard thermal grease if the chip is OK at that speed with better greases. His system doesn't even POST. Also, while it's probably OK for the CPU (since none of the electricals are exposed on the heatsink side), I'd personally prefer to not use Circuit Works silver grease in general because it's electrically conductive. The Arctic Silver (which I use) is NOT electrically conductive, and in fact is more thermally conductive than the Circuit Works stuff.

 

[klock]

http://www.morningstarcomputer.com/CUBX.htm
is the place where I found out about CUBX and C2-566 vcore issue. Not that I am having any problem like that at 850@1.7v. But I am just thinking if there IS a problem like that with CUBX and C2 566 then when I oc above 850/100 instead of raising the vcore like i would normally do, i should decrease it instead.

Can heat be a problem when my cpu is at 36~39C most of the time and like u said the cpu won't even post?

thanx.

 

[Lmandrake]

I would cut back the memory timings and then try higher core voltage. It seems very odd that your cpu wont post at a higher core. Perhaps you need to see if you can try it out on another board or try another cpu on your board.

My experience with the 566 is that going beyond 850 can be really tough and requires bumping the core voltage. With both air and water cooling I could not get my 566 stable above 900 even with 1.85 volts. I think the 566's hit their upper limit pretty fast, it is just that we remember the reports from people who got theirs to a gig.

 

[Eug]

Yeah, while I can get my 533A stable at 920 MHz, it's with a very high 1.9 V Vc and expensive cooling. Judging by the reports here and on www.overclockers.com, I just have a good chip. Many don't even hit the high 800's stably. (But it should still POST if everything else is working fine. I can get to the memory check at 992 and even run Windows at 976.)

 

[compuwiz1]

This may sound strange, but I have had a really strange bunch of 566s that would do 850 at 1.7v, but absolutely no more at any voltage, at least stable. Normally a cpu that will run at 850 with reasonable voltage should do 875 to 900 as well, but at higher voltages. I dont think Klock is seeing things, as I've been seeing it too. :Q

 

[minihoser]

I have the same problem, I have a 566@850 with 1.77 volts and completely stable. I try to go to 103 and run into all kinds of problems. I have upped the volts to 1.85 and it is still a no go. Granted I am using retail cooling but I can run prime 95 and UT loops all day and night at 850, but I get locks up and error in windows at 103, I cant even get games to run. So I am convinced that it is not heat related because I and just running normal windows app at normal temps and my comp freezes, I am still going to get better cooling. Maybe some of us have to setle at 850.

 

[compuwiz1]

Speaking of luck today, I'm typing this from a 566 @ 1054MHz..damn, not quite a full 500MHz overclock. Pretty good for air cooling. Just doing this though, it's 36c with a Gorb. I think I'll put an Alpha on in a few days. Right now, I'm running at 1.85v, but running FR and 3Dmark, it bounces back to the desktop and when I check the temp it's then about 45c.:Q
I'm definitely not gonna give it any more juice with just the orb.

 

[broadband]

D*MN!! compuwiz1, GIMME!!!


hehe

broadband

 

[Eug]

&quot;I have had a really strange bunch of 566s that would do 850 at 1.7v, but absolutely no more at any voltage, at least stable.&quot;

Yeah, but don't they at least POST at 876 with a little bit of a voltage bump? I suppose it can always happen that it won't, and did so with older chips like a Celeron 300A when the FSB MHz jumps were much higher (eg. 83 Mhz --> 100 MHz FSB - 20% jump). But this is only a 3% jump.

&quot;Granted I am using retail cooling but I can run prime 95 and UT loops all day and night at 850&quot;

Just out of interest's sake, is that P95 and UT together? I'm asking because I can run either fine for hours at 880 1.7 V, but to run them together takes 1.8 V. Just wondering.

 

[compuwiz1]

Eug, they'll post at 935, but wont load windows, registry errors and the usual crap you see when you've gone too far. They will load windows at 892, but are not stable, even with 1.9v applied. Sometimes, actually lowering the voltage to create less heat has helped some CPU's, others not.

 

[klock]

Eug I have tried 3-3-3-10, wouldn't post. Disabled L1/L2 Cache wouldn't post. Does not matter what vc I used wouldn't post. Seems like 100 I think it is my CPU problem, like I have mentioned before with P3650e I can at least run the machine at 650@780 stable. Speaking of which, that P3650 is another piece of wonder, it is a cA2 stepping and just like the C2 566, anything above 120 FSB it refuses to post. It's like yes or no, black or white, either it works perfectly or the system went to lunch.

Any more thought?

compuwiz 1that 1G coppon of yours, after how many cpu's you tested did you run into that piece? Some luck you have

 

[compuwiz1]

This is the first time I've ever had one that high, and as a matter of fact, 4 came out of the same batch, one would not do 850, one did 850 at 1.7v, 892 at 1.75 and 935 at 1.8. The other two, this one and one other one, both do the GHz. You cant go tell anyone to buy any particular S Spec or week, as nothing seems to be consistent. These are all week 14s and have traditionally been a poor week for me, then I get a couple diamonds.

I've now got it down to a science......it's all in the way you hold your mouth when you place the CPU in the slotket. :Q

 

[Lmandrake]

Klock: I feel your pain. The only other thing I can suggest is that you go to extreme cooling. My 566 will run stable at 952 at 1.8 volts when its thermal diode temperature is 0 degrees centigrade. The problem is that this requires a water cooled peltier rig to do this. A lot of work and a fair amount of expense and as I type I am wondering if all the precautions - a lot BTW - I have taken to prevent condensation and waterproof everything are enough.

I could be burned at the stake for uttering such heresy, but my earlier processor was a 366 running at 660 and other than benchmarks, I can't tell any difference between 660 and 952. My V3 3000 hit its max output with the 660 and hasn't been cpu limited in a long time. I know that with overclocking practical performance is not the point, but having gone to extremes myself in pursuit of mhz I sometimes wonder.....

 

[Eug]

Hmmmm... I'm not into Peltiers but...

I am surprised you get no improvement with the 660 --> 952.

800 --> 897 with my V3 2000/180 is a noticeable improvement (albeit small) in games. On the other hand, 880 -- > 897 is not noticeable at all except for the 1 fps gain in benchmarks.

I wonder if the slower AGP, FSB, and memory have anything to do with it, since at 660, you were running a 120 FSB, considerably faster than the 112 you have now. (I'm assuming your memory was running 1:1, either on a Via or a BX board.)

Have you overclocked your V3 3000? You should be able to get at least 180 out of it, and maybe 190, with good air cooling.


(Actually to be honest, with a maxed settings at 800x600, I did the overclocking really just to hit my holy grails of 40+ fps in UTBench and 65+ in Q3 demo001, but in reality slower speeds were quite playable for me, so I agree, the heavy duty overclocking often isn't quite justified.)

 

[LarryJoe]

Lmandrake

<< I could be burned at the stake for uttering such heresy, but my earlier processor was a 366 running at 660 and other than benchmarks, I can't tell any difference between 660 and 952. >>



LOL Lmandrake, I don't think I could notice the difference between my P2 350 and my current P3 700E@933, but it doesn't stop me from upgrading Is there a cure for this disease?

LJ

 

[Lmandrake]

Eug:

You make very valid points. I perhaps spoke to soon when i said there was no improvement as all I have had time to do was to run benchmarks. But with those benchmarks I picked up one or two fps going from 660 to 950. Now I was running my V3 at default speed when it will go 180, but I try to restrict my tweaks to one at a time so I can diagnose when stuff goes wrong. Maybe I will have to actually play some games and try my V3 at 180 before I make any declarations.

I do have the feeling, however, that at 950, my cpu is way out front of all my other hardware.

 

[Chuffmaster2k]

I can't wait. Early next week I should have my Cel II 566 and Abit BE6-II MB and my GeForce. I am planning on OC it to 850. From what I hear I have a pretty good chance at doing that. I hope I can get at least 850 out of mine.