Need help with FX-57 OC

[damelon]

I recently put together a gaming machine and now I'm looking to push it to its limits. The problem is that I'm an OC noob and am having trouble so far doing anything that remains stable. A quick rundown of the system:

AMD FX-57 Processor
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
2 GB of Corsair XMS XL-Pro 3200 Memory (4 x 512)
2x XFX 7800 GTX OC Video Cards
Enermax Noisetaker 600W PSU
Sound Blaster X-FI Fatal1ty Sound
2x WD Raptor hdds

2 independent watercooling lines (one for video, one for CPU/Chipset) using danger den blocks, 2 pumps, 2 reservoirs, 2 radiators, 1/2" tubing, etc.

I've read some of the basics, but haven't been able to go very far, plus not exactly sure what I'm doing so I thought I would get some input. I'm running the latest asus bios.

So far the basics I've tried are moving the hypertransport to 4x, the HTT to 210 and the multiplier to 14.5x, while upping the VCORE voltage to EDIT 1.5125 for stability. I'm trying out a prime95 run now, and under the first tests (most heat intensive) the highest temps get up to 53-54oC or so.. which I believe is kind of hot, but it is usually 51oC during max load. I don't have any case fans running other than the radiator fans. All suggestions welcome.

 

[Rasped]

You are using 4 modules of memory, as far as I know you need to run them at 2T for it to be stable... not 100% sure though. Maybe look into getting 2x1024MB modules instead.
Read this article: http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2560

Keep HTT under 1000 MHz at all times, you can lower the multiplier on it to keep it there. You won't loose alot of performance lowering it a little, not as much as you will gain from the extra speed anyway.
Also, remember that you have a pretty highend CPU, not a certainty it has alot of headroom, allthough you should be able to clock something out of it.

Hope it helps.

 

[Rasped]

"while upping the VCORE voltage to 5.125 for stability."

btw... 5volts for the core might be a bit on the high end

 

[damelon]

Originally posted by: Rasped
"while upping the VCORE voltage to 5.125 for stability."

btw... 5volts for the core might be a bit on the high end

My bad, I meant 1.5125

Yeah I just read the thread about the 4x512 dimms, and posted something in there too. Don't get me wrong, I'm getting 13,100+ 3dmark05 benchmarks now which is ok with me, but if my system is capable of more I want it to be able to perform at its best.

 

[Rasped]

Have you tried any of it yet?
Let us know if you get more out of the system.

 

[damelon]

So far I've done just the minimum. Like I said before... Running HTT at 210, HyperT 4x, multi 14.5x, VCore at 1.5125, (which clocks to 3.045) Manually reset the memory to DDR400 from the DDR333 the system defaulted it to, upped my 7800GTX speeds to 516mhz/1.35ghz and so far this is all running stable. Prime95 has been running over an hour on these settings so far with no problems, and the CPU temperature is averaging 51-52C under the prime95 load.

I'd like to optimize the memory if possible, but I'm not sure how much further I can push the HTT or the multiplier for the CPU, plus, like I said, I'm really new at this so I'm just guessing based on posts I've read on what to do at this point.

 

[Rasped]

Put the HTT multiplier down by one and the Command Rate to 2T... you should be able to go much higher right away.

 

[digiram]

What you're doing right now is fine. Once it's stable, and Prime doesn't error out or anything, go back to the bios and move the Htt up by increments of 2, boot back up, and I would recommend just doing some heavy gaming for an hour or so. Continue repeating, what I've stated.

Here's another hint. For the time being relax the mem timings a bit, 3-3-3-8 or something, and after you've hit the max CPU core speed, then start playing with the mem-timings.

 

[Shimmishim]

try not to use a half mult due to the way the processor handles half mults.

use a whole mult

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
try not to use a half mult due to the way the processor handles half mults.

use a whole mult

I never really had any issues with .5 mulitpliers..

What have you experienced?

 

[damelon]

Ok well I am running at DDR400 now with 3-3-3-7 2T timings on the ram, with 3x HT and 220 HTT, 14x multi and so far so good with prime, letting it run a bit. (Though the temp has gotten up to 56C under prime95 load)

Do I want to drop the memory frequency to DDR333 while I am upping the HTT? Once I find the stable HTT should I be manually setting the ram voltage? Should I be lowering frequncies of memory before lowering latency? 2T/1T?

Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[Ronin]

3-3-3-7? What's up with those timings?

http://server.counter-strike.net/images/misc/ddr500.png <---this is with mem set at DDR500 in the bios, and running at 2-2-2-5-1T (yes, I'm only using two sticks, but that's not the point). You're shooting yourself in the foot all over the place (the HTT at 3x is another one).

 

[obeseotron]

Half multipliers don't actually work with the a64 as far as I know. Certainly not for me.

 

[damelon]

Well the half multi is working just fine for me. I'm still running 210 HTT, 4x HT, 14.5x multi, then DDR400 2-2-2-5 at 2.75V and everything is stable. Even if I drop the HT to 3x, i have issues going over 210, unless I'm missing something. Maybe I can run 15x multi if I up the volts, but dont know if I should go over the 5.125VCore in bios, since CPU-Z shows the voltage at 1.552.

So it might be better to lower the multi below 14 and up the HTT?

 

[Hacp]

Try this. Set The ram divider to 166. Move HTT up to 235. Set Multipler down to 13.

 

[damelon]

Yeah that got through about 48 min of prime95. I'll play with it a little more.

 

[wolfemane]

hey damelon, I have a similar set up as you. there is a rule of thumb that temps for the a64's shouldn't run hotter than 50*c for OC'en... I'd get some fans sucken air outta that case, specially with your 7800's OC'ed... LOTS of heat there my friend.

But I can tell you I run my fx57 at 12x250 @ 1.5v, and my memory is runnen at ddr333 2.9v (though with the oc I run at 201.9)... thats 1000fsb and I score in the 15k in 3dmark05 and in the 35k for 3dmark03. I have been tryent o get the sucker to 3.1, but no matter how I do it I don't get a stable system. Prime95 just gives errors, 3dmark03 locks... but I do get 3dmark05 to run successfuly through... the score was lower than at 12x250.

I use the asus A8n-SLI premium board, but am thinking of going over toe h new ASUS thats being released ont he 19th or the ever popular DFI board.

But to be honest, I don't think the FX57 is gonna be able to clock to 3.125ghz without extreme cooling (phase change).

 

[alimoalem]

why do you want to overclock when you've got like the most expensive CPU out there and you're a noob at it? if you burn it out, you're out a $1000

 

[wolfemane]

well.. for starts... for some of us $1k ain't a whole lot, pocket change. Thats the life of overclocking.. it burns out, I toss it and get another.

why do I want to overclock it? I want to see how fast this so called great chip actually can go.

Why don't you add something creative that relates to the post instead of posting that crap. Everyone starts somewhere, and so far I think I'm doing a pretty good job of learning (thanks to stickies here, and at extremeoverclockers.com). Thats what these forums are for right...? You see a mistake, then how about you make a suggestion and maybe try and help...?

 

[lopri]

First thing I'd do is to switch the PSU from Enermax to PC P&C, Seasonic or OCZ Powerstream. Enermax Noisetaker will NOT survive such a heavy load. From my first hand experience, and backed up by several reviews including this.

 

[jwester]

I'm an even greater noob at things, but I run the multiplier at 15.5 and the htt at 215 resulting in running the FX-57 at 3.333 Ghz and my system is rock stable. I'm using the Vapochill XEII to cool the processor though. CPU-Z shows a voltage for the processor of 1.584V

 

[govtcheez75]

Originally posted by: jwester
I'm an even greater noob at things, but I run the multiplier at 15.5 and the htt at 215 resulting in running the FX-57 at 3.333 Ghz and my system is rock stable. I'm using the Vapochill XEII to cool the processor though. CPU-Z shows a voltage for the processor of 1.584V

I'm sure you have proof?

 

[jwester]

Proof? I visited this forum to find out how and how much I could overclock my new toy. Tell me, govtcheez, are there people that actually run around and make up posts about their hardware? It would be interesting to know what drives somebody to do that. Do you get girls? Fame? A better life?

***

Now, as a noob, I have a few question that I'm hoping that somebody could answer. When it comes to memory, CPU-Z says that the frequenzy is 175.4, FSBRAM is CPU/19, CAS# latency 2.5 clocks, RAS# to CAS# delay is 4 clocks, RAS# precharge is 4 clocks, tras is 7 clocks, bank cycle time is 10 clocks. What should I do in terms of tweaking performance out of my memory?

The memory I've installed is Corsair 1GB DDR XMS4400C25PT TwinX (2x512MB).

The second question I have is that my rig reports a temperature of -34 degrees celsius. This I suspect is not the temperature at the CPU? Is there a built in termometer in the actual CPU or how do I find out its temperature?

The third question is that efter I put my computer in standby mode and start it again, the HTT goes down to 200 again. When I restart the computer it goes back to 215. Is this a bios problem? Has anyone experienced this?

 

[edmundoab]

OMG, killer system man
though the 4 sticks of modules.. hmmm
maybe u should go for a TwinX 1GB x 2 modules instead.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Out of curiousity, if money is not an issue how come you didn't get a X2 4800+ and phase change? Also you should look into getting two 1gig OCZ DDR500 (250) sticks that would allow you to keep the 1t timings (not a huge deal but still) and get increased bandwidth (again not a huge deal but still). I have used the .5 multis on my X2 system without an issue either but in the end stuck with full multiplier and memory divider. (Bought two 1gig Patriot's before the OCZ DDR500 sticks came out and can't afford them, LOL)