Need Help from those with TH7-II's

[lastig21]

I have this motherboard paired with a 1.6a and some poor overclocking Samsung rdram (its the 8 device memory). I have 2 1.6a chips that I can only get to reach 125fsb. I believe there is something about my system holding me back since this is the max that either chip can hit. I am currently running my ram at (125*3) 375mhz, so I don't know if its that holding me back or not.

I found out that my board has the ICS 9212-03 memory clock generators which are only rated for 400mhz. Does anyone else with this board have these clock generators, and if so, what is the max clock speed you are able to hit.

I have also heard that the TH7-II's are now shipping with ICS 9212-13 (600mhz) chips. Can anyone confirm this? If you have a board with these chips where did you get it from. Also, give me any other ideas you have as to what is holding my system back.

Anyone looking for the 77beta bios for the TH7-II can download it here. I have not tested this bios myself, and found it at the HardForums. I probably won't flash to it until my new memory comes in. This bios allows for vcore adjustment up to 1.85, but I have read that a chip is not as stable at the same vcore as the official 38 bios. If anyone checks it out post how you like it compared to the 38 bios.

BTW, the thread I got this from is here

 

[lastig21]

bump to try to get some real numbers instead of hypotheticals

 

[christoph83]

I've got this same question. One reason I didnt jump on RDRAM right away was because of some of the mixed feedback I have been seeing on these clock generators. I'm thinking of just waiting for the new RDRAM chipsets to hit or go dual channel DDR. Either way heres a bump.

 

[Jgtdragon]

Here is a bump for people with Abit Th7-II.

 

[DN]

<< and some poor overclocking Samsung rdram (its the 8 device memory). >>



Can you elaborate on this statement, please..? I thought Samsung made good OC'in RDRAM..?

 

[lastig21]

Samsung is supposed to make the best overclocking Rdram, but only if you get the 16device for 256megs (8 device for 128megs). My Ram is single sided and higher density. While this allows for less latency, it also hinders pure room for overclocking. The double sided modules I'm getting should overclock much better.

 

[KenAF]

lastig,

Did you get the latest 77 bios for the TH7-II off hardforum? And did you increase the voltage to your processor?

Although your current RDRAM won't clock as high as those modules with 16 chips, you should still have no trouble doing 460+MHz RDRAM. And with the 3x bottleneck, the processor (or more specifically, the voltage to the processor) is the bottleneck.

 

[DN]

<< Samsung is supposed to make the best overclocking Rdram, but only if you get the 16device for 256megs (8 device for 128megs). My Ram is single sided and higher density. While this allows for less latency, it also hinders pure room for overclocking. The double sided modules I'm getting should overclock much better. >>



So, you are basically saying if I get the 256Mb RDRAM module aka "16 device", it'll handle OC'in better than the 128Mb RDRAM module aka "8 device"..?

 

[ginfest]

lastig, replyed to your pm, but just to reiterate:
I bought a TH7-II(no raid) from Newegg 2 weeks ago. I t came with the ICS 9212-03 DRCGs, which are rated for 400 Mhz. I also bought 2-256 MB Samsung Dram/double-sided/16 device from Googlegear.
I am running my P4 1.6A at 133 FSB, rdram at 400(4x) for an effective 533/PC1066.
Although I have heard that it's just luck to get the Rambus that high, I feel that there may be a couple factors here.
One, as with any ICs, there usually is some headroom built in, hence the 9212-03 parts could concievably(and do) go over 400 Mhz.
Second, it's possible that later yields on these DRCGs are so good, that parts are marked according to what is needed in the market place, rather than a definitive, limited speed.
Third, I feel that the Abit Th7-II construction, with the 6-layer PCB, and "OC Strips" added to the underside of the board, help immensely when running "out of spec".
AFA the Rdram is concerned, it's been noted that most Samsung produced in the past quarter can run at PC1066, probably related to the process refinememnt and the fact the PC1066 is supposed to be released in concert with the 133 FSB P4 in a few months.
I bought the Double-sided because at the time I was shopping there were more reports of the lower density chips OCing higher. Lately I have read that people are having luck with the Single-sided, so I am not really sure how much it matters at this point.

Mike G

 

[Daovonnaex]

Faster clock generators can be purchased from vendors of electrical components, such as DigiKey. You may as well buy some of these and replace the ones currently on your board (desolder the old ones, solder in the new ones).

 

[lastig21]

Thanks so much for the info Ginfest. That was exactly what I was looking for, but hopefully a couple more people will still post there setup in here.

So, you are basically saying if I get the 256Mb RDRAM module aka "16 device", it'll handle OC'in better than the 128Mb RDRAM module aka "8 device"..?

The 16 device 256meg and the 8 device 128meg should overclock to 133 equally as well because they are both low density modules. The 8 device 256meg and 4 device 128meg modules are both the high density modules and may not overclock as well. This may be disproven with Ginfests post, but I bought 2x256meg modules of 8 device from Googlegear about a week ago, and I can't get it to do 125x4. I'm hoping the 16 device memory I'm receiving will alleviate my problems.

 

[lastig21]

Daovonnaex - I really don't trust myself soldering those tiny chips to my board. It is still a consideration, but more of a last resort.

 

[ginfest]

Good luck with the new Rdram, let us know how you make out.

 

[SteelCityFan]

Bump..

How did you make out with the new RDRAM?

 

[lastig21]

It turns out that 2 of my rimm slots on my board are bad, but the replacement board comes tomorrow. I cannot currently run the ram at 1066 completely stable, I can run slightly under that just fine though. I've run it up to 150*3 and it doesn't have a problem, and has most of the bandwidth as it does at 1066. At fsb's above 140, I can score above 3000 in the memory benchmark in sisoft sandra. With the 8 device rimms, I couldn't hit a fsb of 125*4 (never tried for anything less). There is definitely an improvement with the new ram.

 

[SteelCityFan]

Good thanks... I am headed down the same road as soon as Uncle Sam returns my money....